Chapter 285

Chapter 285: Full-Star Realm

The Beidou Bridge-Pillar surged forward in a sweeping counterattack. Working in tandem with Gu Xun Yi and the others who struck from within, they forced the Ancient Sword Bridge-Pillar’s experts back into the Three Domains.

But that was all they could do—push them back, and no more.

And so, the war ended.

In the end, both sides took the space outside the Three Domains as the boundary line and agreed to a truce.

With the Three Domains in the Ancient Sword Bridge-Pillar’s hands, Beidou was fighting with a crippling disadvantage. Even if Beidou someday gained enough strength to press in, the Ancient Sword Bridge-Pillar had been laying foundations there for years—more than enough to make Beidou bleed for every step.

For now, there was no other option.

Wang Jie could only marvel at his cheap master’s terrifying strength. One move, and a war on this scale came to a dead stop. This was already brushing against the World Realm—an existence far more frightening than the Star-Refining Realm.

Across the entire Fourth Nebula, perhaps only that Old Ancestor possessed such power.

A whole Bridge-Pillar could barely scrape together more than a handful of World Realm experts.

That was the absolute peak.

Shu Rang explained calmly, “My intervention only gave both sides a way to step down.

“You think they truly wanted to fight? The Ancient Sword Bridge-Pillar already pushed to the outskirts of the Three Domains. They know perfectly well that no matter what they do, they can’t break the Dual-Wind Line. If they tried, it would become total war—no retreat, no end. They can’t afford that kind of attrition.

“And Beidou knows even more clearly that it’s impossible to fight their way back into the Three Domains.”

He continued evenly, “So their true bottom line was always the same—draw the boundary outside the Three Domains and call a temporary truce.

“But wanting it isn’t the same as saying it, and it isn’t the same as doing it. Even if you’re World Realm, you still have a crowd watching. If you don’t fight, you still have to fight. Otherwise, once history records it, your name will reek.”

He smiled faintly. “So when I moved, I handed them the excuse.”

Wang Jie finally understood. “Even so, Master… that’s still incredible.”

Shu Rang’s eyes crinkled. “You did well too. Full-Star Realm, killing a Six-Path Roamer. Next, prepare for the starry sky martial tournament. It isn’t far off.

“And you should start getting ready to step into Roaming-Star Realm.”

Wang Jie immediately thought of Black-White Heaven’s Roam-Refining Scripture.

It was said to be the best method for a Full-Star Realm cultivator to break into Roaming-Star Realm—a so-called standard breakthrough method. No detours. Anyone who cultivated it had a breakthrough rate three-tenths higher than other methods.

So he asked.

Shu Rang’s expression turned openly disdainful. “Standard is just another word for mediocre. What’s there to ask? Stop thinking about it and do the training I gave you. That Roam-Refining Scripture will never take you into Roaming-Star Realm.

“And if it were truly that amazing, Black-White Heaven wouldn’t be stuck only in Fourth Nebula.”

“Yes, disciple understands.”

With the fighting halted, there was still a mountain of work to do.

Beidou began strengthening defenses. The Ancient Sword Bridge-Pillar did the same.

And there was something even more urgent—exchanging prisoners.

Both sides had captured people who mattered. Keeping them accomplished nothing. Trading them for benefits did.

It would be a long process.

As for Wang Jie, a proposal from the Black Realm Lord dragged him into countless pairs of eyes.

Black Realm Lord Mo Lian proposed that the sect grant Wang Jie a special exception and name him a Six-Path Roamer.

The proposal shook Black-White Heaven to its core.

The black-and-white realms, the Council of Elders, the Zhi family—everyone turned to look. Debate erupted at every level.

Especially inside the Council of Elders. A dozen elders argued fiercely, most of them opposed.

“Black-White Heaven has never had a precedent for a Full-Star Realm cultivator to become a Six-Path Roamer.”

“What is a Six-Path Roamer? Six refers to number—only six exist. Path refers to Black-White Heaven’s cultivation path. Roamer refers to Roaming-Star Realm.”

“This man isn’t even Roaming-Star Realm. How can he be called a Six-Path Roamer?”

“That’s not right,” another elder snapped back. “Wang Jie killed the traitor Fang He fairly on the battlefield. His combat power is absolutely on the level of a Six-Path Roamer. Why can’t we make an exception?”

“I admit his combat power is terrifying,” someone else said coldly. “Even if he cultivates lockforce, the sect can tilt resources toward him. We could even grant him the cultivation resources of a Six-Path Roamer.”

“But the title? No. He isn’t Roaming-Star Realm.”

“Exactly. If you’re not Roaming-Star Realm, how can you be a Six-Path Roamer?”

“We’re being too rigid.”

“Who are you calling rigid?”

“Old Brother, don’t get angry. We’re just discussing the matter.”

“You were the one who started insulting—”

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Si Shang He rapped the table. The hall fell silent at once.

Besides the Council elders, dozens of stewards were present, along with even more disciples. None of them had the right to speak. They could only listen.

Si Shang He said, “Enough.

“Recommending Wang Jie for Six-Path Roamer was Black Realm Lord Mo Lian’s proposal. And this proposal is the price for Wang Jie risking his life to deliver the warning and activate the Dual-Wind Line for the decisive battle.

“If Black Realm Lord Mo Lian cannot fulfill this, then he will have broken his word.”

He paused, then continued, “As for the Zhi family…”

His gaze swept the room. “Old Ancestor Qing has entered seclusion.”

Old Ancestor Qing—Zhi Qing.

With Zhi Qing in seclusion, the message was obvious. For now, the one leading the Zhi family was Zhi Xing Xue, especially since Zhi Ye had been captured by the Ancient Sword Bridge-Pillar.

And everyone knew the relationship between Zhi Xing Xue and Wang Jie.

Those elders who had been most opposed fell into silence.

No matter how you looked at it, the backing behind Wang Jie was heavier.

Li Tong He’s voice rang out. He had already returned from the Ying Yang Battlefield with great merit and looked positively radiant. “Let me remind everyone of something.

“The decisive battle at the Dual-Wind Line happened when it did because of Wang Jie. He crossed Deadland to deliver the warning.

“If we don’t reward that, how do we raise morale? How do we get disciples to risk their lives in the future?”

It gave the opposition something to cling to.

Faces eased.

Si Shang He glanced at Li Tong He, then looked toward Wu Yuan, who had remained silent the entire time. With the Ying Yang Battlefield ended, Wu Yuan had naturally returned as well, but he was already burdened with other tasks. He was only here because he had forced the time.

Wu Yuan’s voice was blunt as ever. “War is not a child’s game. Black Realm Lord Mo Lian promised it. If he can’t deliver, he might as well stop being realm lord.”

Several people sucked in a breath. Wu Yuan truly never softened a word.

In the end, the Council of Elders agreed.

Wang Jie would become a Six-Path Roamer, replacing Fang He.

Once the Council agreed, the White Realm Lord’s objections meant little. The Zhi family certainly wouldn’t oppose it. And so Black-White Heaven directly appointed Wang Jie as one of the Six-Path Roamers, ranking him ahead of a million disciples.

Six-Path Roamer didn’t just mean resources.

It meant status.

When the news spread, all sides were shaken.

Even though Six-Path Roamer was technically only a disciple title within Black-White Heaven, its weight was enormous. Even First Nebula cared.

A Full-Star Realm Six-Path Roamer had appeared—wind enough to sweep the entire Beidou Bridge-Pillar.

And once word spread that Wang Jie was now a Six-Path Roamer, the invitation from Jia Yi Sect for him to go cultivate there only added another layer of brilliance to his name.

Wang Jie blinked. “Jia Yi Sect?”

Zhi Xing Xue nodded. “First Milky Way Defense Corporation, now Jia Yi Sect. It seems you can’t avoid First Nebula anymore.”

“Who invited me?”

“I don’t know. It was sent in the name of Jia Yi Sect.”

Xi Liu’s face flashed through Wang Jie’s mind.

Who else could it be?

The Myriad Stars Cliff…

He was tempted—truly.

But going to Jia Yi Sect now was still too dangerous.

Others might not know him well, but Jia Yi Sect did.

Back during the Blue Star Trial, how many of them had witnessed his battle with Shu Mu Ye? Plenty.

“Disciple still wants to refuse,” Wang Jie said seriously. “I won’t go to First Nebula.”

Zhi Xing Xue studied him. Refusing Qi Xue Yin before had been clever—he’d understood that as a lockforce cultivator, First Nebula held no benefit for him. Refusing now meant something else.

He was already a Six-Path Roamer. No matter what, if he went to Jia Yi Sect, he would be treated as a guest.

So why refuse unless he was hiding something?

But she didn’t press. Everyone had secrets.

Wang Jie’s were already more than enough.

“If you won’t go, I’ll refuse for you,” she said calmly.

“Thank you, Great Elder.”

That title was something he’d only used back in Frostflor Sect. Zhi Xing Xue smiled. “I haven’t congratulated you yet. Becoming a Six-Path Roamer means the pressure will be even greater from now on.”

Wang Jie gave a bitter smile. If not for the materials needed for undying body, he wouldn’t have wanted to become a Six-Path Roamer at all. It was too high-profile.

A lockforce cultivator becoming a Six-Path Roamer… trouble was inevitable.

Zhi Xing Xue handed him something. “This is for you.”

Wang Jie accepted it. “This is…?”

“Roam-Refining Scripture.”

He jolted.

Zhi Xing Xue said softly, “I know you have a master who can help you step into Roaming-Star Realm. Whatever he gave you will be better.

“But Black-White Heaven’s Roam-Refining Scripture still has its merits. Read it. It may help.”

Wang Jie was genuinely moved. He bowed. “Disciple thanks Great Elder for your kindness.”

Zhi Xing Xue laughed. “You’ve helped me plenty too. Go rest.”

Wang Jie left. As far as he was concerned, Zhi Xing Xue had treated him well in every way.

Now that he had the Roam-Refining Scripture, and his cheap master had also given him another method he hadn’t even studied yet, it was time to sit down and truly dig in.

—

Black-White Heaven, Lockspace.

A planet hung here with the name Fengyu.

Windwhisper Star was a sky-blue world of endless water, its shape remarkably similar to Blue Star. Its gravity was close too—only its size dwarfed Blue Star by dozens of times.

This planet now housed the people of Blue Star.

It had been two and a half years since Wang Jie earned merit at the Ying Yang Battlefield and requested that the people of Blue Star be brought into Black-White Heaven.

They had arrived in Lockspace a year ago, choosing a suitable planet along the route. They had lived here for over a year now—long enough to begin adapting.

This was Lockspace, Wang Jie’s territory. The lockforce cultivators here treated them well.

Windwhisper Star itself wasn’t dangerous.

The only issue was cultivation. To train, they had to leave the planet for nearby slaughterstone planets.

Even so, many people from Blue Star had already stepped onto the cultivation path within Black-White Heaven.

A ship descended slowly. Two women stepped out.

One hugged a black cat. She was beautiful, but sorrow clung to her brow so deeply it seemed it wouldn’t lift even when she smiled.

Her name was Bai Xiao.

The other wore a bright red qipao. She moved with bold confidence and carried a quick temper.

Sister Tang.

They landed in Jinling on Windwhisper Star—a city name copied directly from Blue Star, like so many others on this planet.

Hong Jian came to meet them. “You’re early. Qing Zheng and the others are still asleep.”

Sister Tang frowned. “Still sleeping? What a dead pig. Where are Old Five and Old Nine?”

“Also asleep.”

“What were they doing last night?”

“Don’t worry. Just wait. I already sent someone to hurry them.”

Sister Tang shook her head. “Every one of them has no sense of urgency, letting Wang Jie fight outside while they laze around.

“If we don’t keep up, we’ll be completely left behind sooner or later. Right now there’s still a chance to catch up.”

Bai Xiao tightened her grip on the black cat. She had to catch up. She needed to go to Jia Yi Sect and find her father.

They headed toward Qing Zheng’s place. Hong Jian sighed. “Don’t be too anxious. We’ve never slacked off. We were already cultivating back in Silver Radiance Empire.

“Now that we’re here, we’ll probably break star soon. Lockspace doesn’t lack lockforce materials.”

“And I’ve heard Lockspace is Wang Jie’s territory.”

Sister Tang shook her head. “Wang Jie is still just a lockforce cultivator. He earned enough merit to bring us here.

“But he can’t decide everything in Black-White Heaven. I heard a Roaming-Star Realm lockforce cultivator named Xiao Rong can’t even return—he’s stuck on the battlefield.

“I’m afraid Wang Jie will end up like that too.”

Bai Xiao’s voice went thin with unease. “Could this… could this be the price Wang Jie paid to bring us here?”

Hong Jian’s expression shifted. He fell silent.