Chapter 282
Chapter 282: Neither Head nor Tail
Wang Jie felt excitement stir in his heart at Shu Rang’s words, quickly replying, “Disciple will surely cultivate diligently.”
Shu Rang nodded in satisfaction and said, “You are now my official disciple; within this Black White Heaven, you may roam freely and without worry. I have observed you for a long time. You aren’t one to oppress others through power, but sometimes the influence you can borrow should be borrowed, and what you can claim must be taken.”
“There’s no need to hesitate so much.”
“At least here in Black White Heaven, there is no one you need to fear. Even the likes of Zhi Qing or Jun Qian are no better than clay chickens or pottery dogs.”
“The only ones worth paying attention to are Zhi Yu and that lass Bai Ye.”
Wang Jie asked in surprise, “Celestial Master Bai Ye?”
Shu Rang nodded. “That lass doesn’t belong to Black White Heaven. It wouldn’t hurt to establish good relations with her. But of course, there’s no need to overly worry either.” After speaking, he handed Wang Jie a piece of jade stone. “This technique will help you quickly integrate the lock force into your bones and blood.”
“Your body is overloaded with lock force, making it very difficult for you to step into the Star-Roaming realm. For most cultivators, this would mark the end of their path, but this method can aid you greatly.”
Wang Jie took the jade stone, remembering the unbearable pain of the Bone Tempering Method, and cautiously asked, “Master, this… will it also be very painful?”
Shu Rang glared at him sternly. “What is a bit of suffering in the journey of cultivation? Your master endured far more pain than you have.”
“Yes, disciple understands and will certainly work hard,” Wang Jie quickly reassured him.
“Rest well for a while. When the war begins, I’ll bring you to observe,” Shu Rang said before turning and leaving.
Wang Jie tightly grasped the jade stone, exhaling deeply before sitting down wearily.
Though this master he had stumbled upon had harsh methods, at least he had not truly abandoned him. He wasn’t so bad.
It was finally time to rest. He had been exhausted for too long.
With that thought, Wang Jie quickly fell asleep.
Perhaps it was because he had returned to his own side or perhaps because of his unexpected master’s presence, but Wang Jie slept more peacefully than ever before. He did not awaken until five full days later.
Five days passed, and when Wang Jie emerged from his room, he found the people outside bustling hurriedly about, their expressions tense.
The appointed time for the stream domain’s counterattack was nearing, and preparations for the Big Dipper Bridge Pillar naturally had to be thorough. Yet from the outside, one could hardly sense the tension of imminent war.
Walking to the warship’s edge, Wang Jie looked out into the starry void.
Countless vessels and vehicles filled the expanse, darting swiftly here and there.
He saw the Twin Wind Line.
Across it stood another enormous gathering of cultivators. At the very front was a Thunder Roar Hound, its body glowing with Heaven Thunder, majestic and fearsome. Around it swarmed numerous cosmic giant beasts.
The Big Dipper Bridge Pillar’s side likewise had many cosmic giant beasts.
His unexpected master appeared again, this time not surprising Wang Jie, simply materializing slowly by his side.
“After all, there are very few cosmic giant beasts humans can truly tame,” Shu Rang remarked gently. “What you see now is merely the tip of the iceberg among countless star-beings. Many of the most powerful cosmic giant beasts are utterly beyond our control.”
Curious, Wang Jie asked, “Master, what is the strongest cosmic beast you have ever encountered?”
Shu Rang pondered for a moment before answering, “Perhaps it was that fish whose head and tail couldn’t be seen.”
“A fish?”
“Yes, covered with rainbow-colored scales, exceedingly beautiful. Clearly a fish, yet you couldn’t glimpse either its beginning or end. Just like that bridge; though it was clearly a bridge, no one could find its start or finish.”
“Where is that fish now?”
“I don’t know. I only glimpsed it once by accident, and when I looked again, it had vanished.”
Wang Jie couldn’t imagine such an immense form, so vast that neither head nor tail could be seen, suddenly disappearing without a trace. He had no idea what level of cultivation his unexpected master held, but he guessed it couldn’t be lower than the Star Refining realm. In fact, he was likely already in the World realm.
Shu Rang glanced at Wang Jie and nodded approvingly. “You rested well. Don’t cultivate for now; just rest or amuse yourself. Empty your mind completely, and relax your body.”
Wang Jie agreed wholeheartedly.
Indeed, it was time for a proper rest.
Days passed by one after another. Wang Jie rested leisurely on the warship, neither cultivating nor pondering anything. He didn’t think or act, just aimlessly wandering around all day, irritating many people. After all, everyone else was busy, and seeing him idle naturally caused resentment.
Some even sought trouble with him, but soon enough those troublemakers mysteriously vanished.
Afterward, nobody dared bother Wang Jie again.
Wang Jie thoroughly enjoyed this carefree idleness. Occasionally, he’d stroll into the command center, greeting Zhi Xing Xue or Tong Shou and Shuang Jin. Anyone witnessing these casual interactions became even more uneasy, treating him with the same cautious respect they’d show to a Star Refining realm cultivator.
A month passed swiftly.
War finally arrived.
Wang Jie watched as two colossal forces collided. First, innumerable cosmic giant beasts clashed violently. Then the warships began their fierce bombardments, and countless cultivators charged through the asteroid belt.
Shuang Jin and Zhi Xing Xue both stepped out simultaneously, joined by over ten Star Refining experts from various positions of the Big Dipper Bridge Pillar.
Facing them, equally numerous Star Refining cultivators appeared.
The moment the battle began, the universe itself seemed to tremble. Unrestrained waves of starforce erupted chaotically, Force fully tearing starforce even from cultivators’ bodies. Above the endless void, powers intertwined so dazzlingly it was impossible to discern clearly.
The warship shook constantly amid explosions.
At the same time, in the Cloud Stream Domain, Gu Xun Yi, Grandmaster Qi, and the Black Realm Lord emerged, the three great Star Refining cultivators striking swiftly from behind. With all eyes fixed on the Twin Wind Line confrontation, no one was guarding the rear, allowing them to slaughter countless Hundred Star realm guardians from the Ancient Sword Pillar. Forced into desperation, the Ancient Sword Pillar’s Star Refining realm experts had no choice but to return to aid their forces. This brief moment was enough to shift the entire battle.
Shu Rang stood with Wang Jie amid the vast, starlit heavens, gazing into the distance, and spoke solemnly: “The ancient sword pillar keeper has lost this battle.”
Wang Jie agreed quietly. The ancient sword pillar keeper had been too passive. Attacked from behind by three Star Refining Realm cultivators, he had no choice but to rush back to defend, leaving the frontline unstable. Going back and forth wasted precious time—enough for the Star Refining Realm attackers to slay many allies.
They weren’t foolish; they simply had no choice.
The battle had been beyond their control from the start.
They had lost not only to cunning strategy but also to the terrain. Who could have imagined the Big Dipper Bridge Pillar would still organize a counterattack, despite being blocked at the Twin Wind Line? And who would have guessed Gu Xun Yi’s group would flee not toward the Big Dipper Bridge Pillar but instead into Yunxi Domain?
It could only be said they lacked everything—heaven’s favor, advantageous ground, and harmony among people.
“Observe carefully,” Shu Rang advised, “In warfare, a supreme expert can control everything, but when strengths are matched, you must rely on your mind. Cultivators are not reckless brutes.”
Wang Jie respectfully nodded: “Disciple understands.”
Shu Rang continued gently: “Come, your master will take you closer to observe.” Without making any visible movement, the space beneath their feet shifted, and Wang Jie’s vision blurred. When clarity returned, they hovered above an asteroid belt. Below stood a lone figure—Xiao Hui.
Wang Jie exclaimed softly, surprised: “Armor One Sect’s Xiao Hui?”
From above, Shu Rang spoke calmly: “A prodigy from the Xiao family of Armor One Sect. He’s reached the pinnacle of Wandering Star Realm, second only to the Wandering Gods. Watch his moves carefully.”
Wang Jie stared intently downward.
To his astonishment, Xiao Hui’s opponent was a Hundred Star Realm cultivator whose starforce surged frighteningly, transforming into gigantic palm prints pressing aggressively toward Xiao Hui.
“Hundred Star Realm cultivators incorporate the force of a hundred stars into their bodies,” Shu Rang explained. “In terms of starforce alone, no genius can easily surpass this realm—it’s a hundredfold gap.”
“But battles aren’t decided solely by the amount of starforce,” Shu Rang continued patiently, breaking down the Hundred Star Realm cultivator’s every technique into pieces, carefully showing Wang Jie each detail. “Victory hinges upon one’s comprehension, creativity, physical body, consciousness, and wisdom.”
Wang Jie had never expected such patient guidance.
This teaching was incredibly thoughtful.
Strangely, the two combatants below were completely unaware of their presence.
Yet under Shu Rang’s explanation, Wang Jie watched each move as if time had slowed down especially for him.
Xiao Hui continued parrying the huge palm prints with his saber techniques. Even though his starforce couldn’t match the Hundred Star Realm expert, he didn’t retreat a single step, his gaze eerily calm.
Suddenly, Xiao Hui’s body trembled, and invisible saber light surged toward the heavens.
Shu Rang’s eyes gleamed: “The Xiao family’s Bridge Law is called—Blade Bone Aspect.”
“Any Xiao family disciple who masters this Bridge Law practices saber techniques because Blade Bone Aspect naturally complements them, making cultivation twice as effective.”
“Observe carefully Xiao Hui’s Blade Bone Aspect and tell me what you see,” Shu Rang instructed.
Wang Jie stared at Xiao Hui, watching him wield his saber, counterattack, and slash forward. He clearly saw each saber stroke, yet couldn’t understand how the Hundred Star Realm cultivator sustained injuries. Some saber lights seemed unnecessary to dodge, others unavoidable.
When Wang Jie imagined himself in the opponent’s position, he realized he couldn’t even withstand two slashes.
The gap between him and Xiao Hui was immense.
He focused even more deeply.
Shu Rang waited patiently.
Xiao Hui gradually overpowered the Hundred Star Realm cultivator, leaving bloody gashes all over his opponent.
“Illusion and reality,” Wang Jie suddenly exclaimed, looking toward Shu Rang with sudden realization.
Shu Rang smiled warmly: “You’re teachable indeed.”
Wang Jie turned back to Xiao Hui, finally understanding—his saber could shift between illusion and reality. One couldn’t discern the truth until directly confronting it, only then recognizing its terrifying nature.
“Is this Xiao Hui’s full strength? Then how powerful must the Skeletal Clan cultivator who defeated him be?” Wang Jie wondered aloud.
Shu Rang shook his head: “This isn’t his full strength.”
Confusion filled Wang Jie’s expression.
Without explaining further, Shu Rang simply stated: “It’s ending.”
Wang Jie looked toward Xiao Hui once more. He saw Xiao Hui grip his saber’s hilt firmly, and at that instant, the blade transformed, growing without bound until it seemed to fill the entire universe.
The saber became heaven above and earth below.
As Xiao Hui made one single slash, heaven and earth split apart. The Hundred Star Realm cultivator stared downward in disbelief, his body severed in two as he fell dead.
Wang Jie watched, shaken.
A single slash had killed a Hundred Star Realm expert. What kind of saber technique was this? He couldn’t comprehend it at all.
Shu Rang’s voice became solemn: “This saber technique divides Yin and Yang, creating a unified truth between them. Xiao Hui’s understanding of the saber arts is already profound. One more step, and he’ll enter another realm entirely, equaling the Wandering Gods.”
“But that step is exceedingly difficult, and whether he’ll succeed remains unknown.” Shu Rang then turned toward Wang Jie and asked, “If you exhausted all your methods, could you withstand that slash?”
Wang Jie shook his head decisively.
He couldn’t withstand it.
Even if his wristguard could block it, he’d first have to raise his arm, which under that overwhelming saber might be impossible.
Shu Rang smiled gently: “It’s good you’re neither arrogant nor impatient.”
Wang Jie gave a bitter smile: “Disciple doesn’t know when he’ll ever catch up to Xiao Hui.”
Shu Rang assured him: “No need to hurry. Once a Star Path Master makes a breakthrough into Wandering Star Realm, your name will surely echo throughout this universe.” Saying this, the space beneath them shifted once again, transporting them instantly to another battlefield.