Chapter 289
Chapter 289: Can’t Afford Not to Go
“Why has this news spread across the Leading Pillar? It must have been deliberate. But what’s the purpose? Could it be a trap?” one disciple asked.
Another disciple beside him added, “Moreover, if the Nan Clan was wiped out, wouldn’t the killers have already taken their hidden treasures? How can we be sure the Nan Clan’s ruins still hold anything?”
“However you look at it, it seems like a trap.”
“But who would bother setting it up?”
The disciples freely voiced their questions and doubts. Here in the club, there was no separation between elders and juniors; anyone could speak openly.
Han Song leaned closer to Wang Jie, asking, “Captain, what do you think?”
Wang Jie replied plainly, “I don’t know.”
Han Song laughed lightly, “Captain, you’re sharp-minded. If you have thoughts, please share. Otherwise, we might all get ambushed again. I still clearly remember the battle at the spaceport.”
Wang Jie nodded deeply in agreement.
Yu Zhi noticed Wang Jie’s nod and prompted, “Junior Brother Wang, if you have anything to say, speak freely.”
Everyone turned their gazes toward Wang Jie. Some felt curiosity mixed with envy that someone with a mere Full-Star Realm Lock Force had become a Six Dao Wanderer; others sincerely wanted his opinion. After all, word from the Ying Yang battlefield was clear: Wang Jie had contributed most to ending that fight.
Moreover, he came from Third Nebula’s Frost Radiance Sect, and might possess unique insights about the Nan Clan.
Wu Yuan also watched him quietly.
Wang Jie pressed his lips together, finally speaking, “In my opinion, we can’t afford not to go.”
[That’s obvious.]
Everyone fell into speechless silence. Whether it was a trap or not, since the location had already been revealed, of course they couldn’t afford not to go.
Wang Jie then added, “Since we have no choice but to go, what’s the point in discussing it further?”
The disciples silently turned their attention to Wu Yuan.
Wu Yuan nodded slowly, “Well said. No point in further debate. We should instead focus on how to go, how to find the Red Moon, and how to handle powerful enemies.”
“Elder, will the top experts from the First and Second Star Clouds go as well?” Han Ling asked.
Wu Yuan shook his head, “I don’t know.”
Mo Wan Yin spoke up, “I’m not sure about the others, but those fellows from Three Chan Heaven will definitely show up.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because they’re hypocrites.”
Yun Que laughed softly, “It seems true that Senior Sister Mo has suffered losses at the hands of Three Chan Heaven.”
Han Ling disagreed, “Actually, Three Chan Heaven isn’t hypocritical. Quite the opposite—they’re very honest.”
Yu Zhi nodded in agreement, “Exactly. Because they’re honest, they do whatever they please. One moment they’re friends, and the next, perhaps enemies.”
Wang Jie suddenly recalled the Three Chan Heaven master his casual mentor had shown him on the battlefield. Such behavior went beyond mere hypocrisy.
[Senior Sister Mo truly holds deep grievances toward Three Chan Heaven.]
Yu Zhi suddenly asked, “Elder, I only want to know if the club where the Star Guardian resides will come.”
Instantly, all eyes fixed anxiously on Wu Yuan.
This was the critical question. Against experts from the First and Second Star Clouds, they might still have a chance. But if a Star Guardian appeared, things would become complicated.
Wu Yuan remained calm, “I don’t know.”
Yu Zhi’s expression grew solemn, “If a Star Guardian appears, I propose we retreat immediately.”
Han Ling nodded in agreement.
Zhi He suddenly asked, “Will Death Realm cultivators show up too?”
Another troublesome question. Star Guardians and Death Realm cultivators—neither was easy to deal with.
The weight of these concerns plunged Drunken Serenity Forest into silence.
Only now did Wang Jie truly feel how vulnerable Black White Heaven was; they held no advantage against anyone.
Wu Jiang coldly interrupted, “Has everyone lost their nerve before the battle even begins?”
Yu Zhi turned to Wu Jiang, calmly replying, “It’s not fear but caution. Does Junior Brother Wu think you could battle a Star Guardian?”
Wu Jiang stated bluntly, “All I know is that Star Guardians won’t inform us of their movements. Whether they appear or not is beyond our control. It makes no sense to give up simply because they might come.”
Yu Zhi acknowledged, “That’s true enough.” Turning to Wu Yuan, he continued, “Elder, I propose we go to the region around the Red Moon, but avoid reckless action. If a Star Guardian or Death Realm cultivator appears, we withdraw.”
Han Ling quickly voiced support, “Disciple believes this is best.”
Mo Wan Yin agreed, and soon the rest followed.
Wang Jie naturally joined their agreement. Remembering how Qing Huan split the spaceport with a single strike, he knew clearly: both might be Wandering Star Realm, yet such foes belonged to a different world entirely. Fighting them meant certain death.
“Good,” said Wu Yuan. He activated his personal terminal and outlined the area where the Red Moon might appear.
Wang Jie glanced at it in surprise—the location wasn’t far from the Silver Radiance Empire, situated in the latter half of the Eighth Star Chain within the Third Nebula.
“The location is here,” Wu Yuan continued, “I propose we head first to Silver Radiance Empire. Elder Zhi Ye had foresight and previously brought the empire under Black White Heaven’s influence. We can openly rest there.”
Everyone promptly supported this suggestion.
Wang Jie noticed again how different the club was from sects or external battlefields—even an elder like Wu Yuan needed everyone’s approval, not simply command by authority alone.
Yu Zhi stared thoughtfully at the star chart, “If we can go to the Silver Radiance Empire, so can other clubs. We need a way to block their path.”
“Then we must first talk with whoever currently rules the Silver Radiance Empire,” suggested one disciple. “After all, it’s their territory. They can help us monitor others.”
“I’ll do it,” Wang Jie suddenly spoke up. “I know the place well.”
All eyes immediately turned toward him.
Wang Jie faced their gazes, smiling softly as he said, “I am a guard to the emperor of the Silver Radiance Empire.”
Under the endless stars, a spaceship soared swiftly, crossing the Fourth Star Cloud and entering the Third Star Link, heading straight toward the Third Nebula.
Gazing outside in wonder, Wang Jie marveled at the incredible speed. This spaceship was far beyond anything he’d ever imagined.
This was the speed of a cosmic-grade vessel—crossing an entire star link in just half a day.
The fastest spaceship he’d ridden before was only star-cloud grade, taking a full five days to cross a star link.
Now, this ship called the Leap was racing toward the Silver Radiance Empire within the Third Nebula.
Two days later, Wang Jie opened his personal terminal and found Jun Hua’s contact information.
Ever since leaving the Silver Radiance Empire, he’d had no contact with her.
He waited a moment before the connection went through.
“Wang Jie?” Jun Hua’s voice came through, sounding confused.
“It’s me,” Wang Jie said.
“What is it?” Jun Hua asked.
Wang Jie glanced up and saw Wu Yuan, Yu Zhi, and the others waiting quietly nearby. “I’m on my way back to the empire.”
“You’re returning? When will you arrive?”
“Soon.”
“Then suit yourself,” Jun Hua replied lightly. “Your Accompanying Lake residence is still there; no need to inform me.”
“Alright. Thank you.” Wang Jie ended the call and turned to Wu Yuan and the others with a serious expression: “Something has happened in the Silver Radiance Empire.”
His conversation with Jun Hua had felt wrong.
Her tone shouldn’t have been like that. Since Silver Radiance Empire was now under Black White Heaven’s influence, she should have been warm, even welcoming his return from Black White Heaven. Yet, there had been distance in her voice.
Yu Zhi looked at Wang Jie. “Someone may have reached the empire ahead of us.”
“No matter. Soldiers fight soldiers,” Wu Yuan said calmly.
The ship continued onward toward the Silver Radiance Empire.
Meanwhile, in the Silver Radiance Imperial Palace, Jun Hua put down her personal terminal and turned toward another woman who was staring directly at her. This woman was Lan Qi, said to be from Fallen Bow Palace.
Lan Qi watched Jun Hua closely. “You answered well. Who is this Wang Jie?”
Jun Hua answered softly, “A cultivator who originally came from my Silver Radiance Empire.” Then she deliberately emphasized, “A lock force cultivator.”
Lan Qi scoffed, “Lock force? So, mere cannon fodder.”
Jun Hua didn’t reply, turning instead to look at Yu Dong nearby. Yu Dong sat with a pale face, clearly severely injured.
Just days before, a group had entered the Silver Radiance Empire and suppressed them effortlessly, rendering them unable to resist. This group was terrifyingly powerful but, fortunately, hadn’t killed anyone, only taking control of the empire.
Wang Jie would meet disaster by returning now.
Yet, Jun Hua couldn’t warn him.
If she spoke, she might be killed.
Onboard the Leap, Wang Jie continued studying the Silver Radiance Empire star maps. He tested his Accompanying Lake privileges, attempting to mobilize imperial battleships, and found his authority still intact.
Han Song came over, handing him a drink.
“Thanks.”
“Captain, I didn’t realize you had status in the Silver Radiance Empire. Did you really come from here?”
Wang Jie nodded, putting away the star map. “I’m originally from a planet called Blue Star. Blue Star once served as a Slaughter Stone Planet, setting me on the path of cultivation, located within the Silver Radiance Empire’s territory.”
He did not conceal it, nor was there any need. Everyone from Blue Star had already been taken to the Lock Path Interval.
Hearing Wang Jie’s story, Han Song sighed emotionally. “Captain, your journey from a Slaughter Stone Planet to here is legendary. But what about your fellow Blue Star people?”
“They’ve already been relocated to the Lock Path Interval.”
Han Song admired Wang Jie. Not everyone who gained strength would remember their homeland. Wang Jie had struggled for every step and still hadn’t forgotten his people. His character was worth trusting.
Soon, the Leap entered the Ninth Star Chain of the Third Nebula, less than a day away from the Silver Radiance Empire.
Wang Jie found Wu Yuan and asked what they should do if the empire had indeed fallen under enemy control.
Wu Yuan bluntly replied that if the enemy didn’t have a Hundred Star Realm expert, he could directly intervene. The key was identifying the enemy and their cultivation level. They couldn’t discount the possibility of powerful experts from the Second or even First Star Cloud.
“Our clubs are full of elite experts,” Wu Yuan spoke seriously. “Anyone beyond our Black White Heaven Club must surely possess Hundred Star Realm strength. We mustn’t be careless.”
Wang Jie nodded, showing he understood.
“By the way,” Wang Jie asked, “might older-generation cultivators get involved?”
Wu Yuan didn’t deny it, but explained, “Clubs have their own rules. Normally, elders shouldn’t intervene, as that would worsen the situation. But secret interference isn’t impossible, as long as they’re not discovered.”
“Club rules?” Wang Jie questioned.
Wu Yuan explained patiently, “Resources might appear in any corner of the universe. Their location doesn’t guarantee they belong to that region’s power. Anyone can fight for resources—it depends on ability alone.” Wu Yuan gazed into the starry distance. “For example, if a World Realm cultivator’s Dao ground appeared in our Black White Heaven’s territory, does that mean it automatically belongs to us? Not necessarily. Yet, other factions can’t directly initiate war to claim it, or endless battles would erupt. Clubs are the simplest and most effective means to compete.”
“We can’t stop other factions’ clubs from entering the Fourth Star Cloud. Similarly, they can’t stop us if resources appear elsewhere. That’s the rule.”
“So, if someone outside a club intervenes and is discovered, that faction forfeits their right to use clubs to compete for resources in the future. All clubs protect this rule. If they attempt direct warfare afterward, they’ll face joint retaliation from every faction within the Big Dipper Bridge Pillar. No one could bear that.”
Wang Jie absorbed this carefully, eyes fixed thoughtfully upon the vast sea of stars.