Chapter 293
Chapter 293: Goods in High Demand
At the same moment, another beam of light appeared.
Everyone looked toward it.
“Armor One Sect, Yun Clan’s adopted son, Yun Jian,” Wu Yuan instantly recognized him. Yun Jian had already reached the Hundred Star Realm.
Mo Wan Yin added, “Unexpectedly, we meet an old acquaintance. Yun Jian was adopted into the Yun Clan and accidentally obtained a Bridge Law, making him incredibly powerful. Back when I trained at the First Star Cloud, he was already at the peak of the Wandering Star Realm. He must now be in the Hundred Star Realm.”
“But who is that woman beside him?”
Yu Zhi and the others were curious as well. Armor One Sect had arrived, but with only two people—Yun Jian and this mysterious woman.
“Senior Sister Mo, even you don’t recognize her?” Wang Jie asked. He knew Mo Wan Yin had trained at the First Star Cloud and was somewhat renowned there.
Mo Wan Yin shook her head, saying, “I’ve never seen her. She might not belong to Armor One Sect.”
Nobody could identify the mysterious woman.
After entering the Silver Radiance Empire, the Virtual Phoenix Club headed directly toward the Imperial Capital Planet.
“Could they be planning to seize control of the Silver Radiance Empire?”
“Junior Brother Wang, if they want to control Silver Radiance Empire, just let them. But we must intercept their transmissions without being discovered.”
Wang Jie nodded: “I understand.” He immediately contacted Jun Hua, suggesting they move locations, as the Accompanying Lake Residence had become conspicuous.
Shortly after, everyone relocated to a mountain within the Imperial Capital Planet, continuing to intercept the transmissions there.
As expected, the Virtual Phoenix Club entered the imperial palace and approached Jun Hua.
“Who ordered you to monitor the borders earlier?” a female disciple questioned.
Jun Hua answered nervously yet respectfully, “Someone from Ornate Jade Gate.”
Su Su was surprised: “Ornate Jade Gate was here? That’s not unusual—they’re the closest.”
Su Ji Kong turned to Jun Hua: “Where are they now?”
“They left immediately after noticing your approach,” Jun Hua replied quickly.
Su Ji Kong nodded reassuringly: “Don’t be afraid. We won’t harm you, as long as you cooperate.”
Jun Hua immediately replied, “Rest assured, Senior. We’ll certainly cooperate.”
“From now on, continue monitoring the borders and give us all previous records.”
“Yes.”
“Three Chan Heaven Club?” Su Su exclaimed, astonished. Qing Xiao glanced over, confirming, “It’s really them.”
“Also Yun Jian from Armor One Sect.”
“As expected, they’re all gathering. The attraction of the Nan family’s hidden inheritance is immense.”
“This will truly be a fascinating battle. Let’s see who claims it.”
In the mountain, Wang Jie and his group continued observing through the light screen, seeing exactly what the Virtual Phoenix Club saw. Jun Hua didn’t falsify the images; it wasn’t necessary.
“It’s the Darkness Under the Lamp Club,” Wu Yuan pointed out, observing two unusual figures in the projection.
They were a man and a woman of similar age. Strikingly, the woman held a lantern, its flame burning strangely to reveal faces—a clearly abnormal phenomenon.
Wang Jie questioned, puzzled, “Darkness Under the Lamp Club?”
The others were equally unsure.
Wu Yuan explained, “Chu Zhao Mian and Han Mu are master and disciple, yet close in age. Chu Zhao Mian has reached the Hundred Star Realm, considered an exceptional rogue cultivator among Big Dipper Bridge Pillar practitioners. Few can achieve her strength without joining a sect.”
“As for Han Mu, I’ve seen him once—he’s extremely gifted. By now, he could perhaps rival Six Dao Wanderers.”
Wang Jie had never imagined rogue cultivators could possess such talent.
Yet, it wasn’t surprising. The universe was vast, full of unpredictable opportunities. Yun Jian had accidentally obtained a Bridge Law—that itself was extraordinary fortune. The appearance of Chu Zhao Mian wasn’t any stranger.
Suddenly, Mo Wan Yin gasped, “Now I remember—Lady Candle Shadow, Chu Zhao Mian! She once stood before a Star Guardian!”
Everyone was shocked. Mentioning a Star Guardian elevated things to a whole new level. Star Guardians represented a realm unto themselves.
Wu Yuan confirmed solemnly, “Indeed, she challenged a Star Guardian directly. Although she lost, merely having one’s name remembered by a Star Guardian is an honor few can achieve. Anyone who has stood before a Star Guardian is a supreme master by universal standards.”
Including himself.
Even if they had little awareness of Chu Zhao Mian before, now things had changed completely.
This woman might indeed become one of their toughest opponents in this expedition.
“Elder, all who’ve arrived are from Big Dipper Bridge Pillar, but still no word from the Red Moon. Could the informant be awaiting other Bridge Pillar Clubs?” Yu Zhi speculated.
Wu Yuan nodded thoughtfully, “It’s possible. If so, this battle will be even more difficult than we imagined.”
Wang Jie was amazed—other Bridge Pillar Clubs? Clubs truly moved freely between pillars. No wonder his unreliable master had thrown him into this club. Only here could one truly witness the breadth of the universe.
As images continued arriving, even the projection screens felt insufficient. The Silver Radiance Empire had no time to investigate thoroughly; everyone looked suspicious.
Yet, neither Wu Yuan nor Yu Zhi could possibly recognize every club that appeared.
For instance, a particular group arrived, clearly elites of a club—their aura alone was extraordinary—but Wu Yuan and the others did not recognize them.
Though unknown to Wu Yuan, Wang Jie recognized one woman among them.
Si Yao had once shown Wang Jie images of prodigies, one of whom was a stunning beauty with natural purple eyes. Born already at the peak of Ten Seal Realm, legends said her first cry reached the Star Breaking Realm.
Now, that woman appeared in the Silver Radiance Empire.
She belonged to another Bridge Pillar.
“Little Ling’er?” Han Ling suddenly cried out in shock.
Everyone immediately turned to another projection. Wang Jie also looked, following their gaze.
Wu Yuan’s expression grew serious as he spoke: “Southern Dipper Bridge Pillar, Sincere One Dao, Shao Ling’er—called the Mirror Flower Water Moon. I never imagined even she would come. Sincere One Dao is truly daring; aren’t they worried she’ll perish here at our Big Dipper Bridge Pillar?”
Yun Que gazed at the glowing screen thoughtfully, asking softly: “Isn’t it said that when Shao Ling’er was born, all the mirrors around her shattered instantly? Her Bridge Law is unlike anyone else in Sincere One Dao’s Shao clan, and she’s praised as the genius most likely to surpass Shu Mu Night?”
Wu Yuan nodded slowly, responding: “That’s what our sect’s records say. But as to the specifics of her Bridge Law, we have no idea. The sect knows far too little about the other bridge pillars.”
“As for surpassing Shu Mu Night, well, Sincere One Dao loves to brag. Shao Ling’er is one they boast about, Shao Gu Chen another. Who can really know?”
Wang Jie stared deeply at the bright, cheerful girl displayed on the glowing screen, struggling to believe this playful youth was truly a powerful Hundred-Star Realm master who even Wu Yuan feared. [She looks even younger than me.]
With Shao Ling’er’s arrival, people from other bridge pillars began to appear one after another.
Yet their numbers were far fewer than those from the Big Dipper Bridge Pillar itself. After all, crossing bridge pillars was not simple, and weaker clubs didn’t dare compete for resources elsewhere.
Of course, under these circumstances, all clubs daring enough to come from other pillars were unquestionably formidable.
The only comforting news was that no clubs harboring a Star Guardian had appeared—at least, not yet.
Half a month passed calmly, and the number of figures displayed on the glowing screens diminished. Those who intended to come had already arrived. But on this day, a shocking message spread rapidly, shaking everyone’s composure:
“Only cultivators of Lock Force can find the Red Moon.”
Just this one sentence shattered the calm among all the clubs.
The source of this news matched the source of the rumors that the Red Moon had appeared nearby—someone was deliberately guiding the clubs to find it.
The motive was unknown.
Perhaps it was a trap. Yet if it was, who was its target? Powerful masters from every bridge pillar had now gathered here, and all would suffer losses. Another possibility was that someone wished to locate the Nan Clan’s hidden legacy but lacked the strength to do so alone, spreading the news across the universe instead.
This second possibility seemed more likely.
Various factions began speculating about the messenger’s true intentions and, simultaneously, began searching for Lock Force cultivators.
Why could only Lock Force cultivators find the Red Moon?
The message’s sender gave no explanation, but there were countless theories. The most widely accepted was that the Red Moon originated from Star Force, yet was hidden so deeply that ordinary Star Force cultivators couldn’t detect it. Only Lock Force, a completely different power, might sense its presence.
This explanation sounded very reasonable.
Similar circumstances had occurred before.
Thus, the Silver Radiance Empire fell into chaos, and Lock Force cultivators became precious targets everyone scrambled to capture.
A great battle erupted in the Imperial Palace, as someone tried to seize control of the Silver Radiance Empire, intending to use Jun Hua to gather all Lock Force cultivators. Naturally, the Void Phoenix Club wouldn’t allow it. Although the battle lasted briefly, it shook the very stars, forcing countless people to flee the Imperial Capital.
Jun Hua grew increasingly uneasy in the Imperial Palace.
[Why do more and more Hundred-Star Realm masters keep appearing?]
Deep within the mountains, Wu Yuan withdrew his gaze, stating: “It’s Yuan Qiao Qiao.”
Yu Zhi was astonished: “Ancient Sword Pillar Keeper, Nine Swords Club’s Yuan Qiao Qiao?”
Wu Yuan nodded solemnly.
The rest looked puzzled.
Yu Zhi explained gently: “The Nine Swords Club is the strongest club in the Ancient Sword Pillar Keeper’s Nine Sword Domains Sword Court. They’re named after the Nine Sword Domains they control. Yuan Qiao Qiao is one of the club’s three Hundred-Star Realm masters.”
Zhi He’s eyes turned icy. [Sword Court? Zhi Ye seems to be imprisoned there now.]
Wu Yuan continued gravely: “Yuan Qiao Qiao’s attack on the Imperial Palace was just a probe—a warning to the Silver Radiance Empire not to interfere. Now, every side is gathering Lock Force cultivators. This is our only advantage.”
As he finished speaking, everyone turned silently toward Wang Jie.
Indeed, when it came to Lock Force cultivators, Wang Jie was undoubtedly the strongest known cultivator at present.
Wang Jie’s heart grew heavy: “But it’s also our greatest danger.”
Everyone’s expressions darkened.
Once Wang Jie’s presence here became known, every faction would target them. Ordinary Lock Force cultivators were of little use—only Wang Jie was truly valuable.
Wang Jie himself had never imagined things would unfold like this.
[Now, I’ve become everyone’s prize.]
“We need to relocate immediately; we can’t stay here,” Wu Yuan swiftly decided. “If Jun Hua and the others buckle under pressure and reveal our location, we’ll become everyone’s target. Even if they don’t, those from Ornate Jade Gate will.”
Wang Jie agreed fully.
Countless starships began departing toward the outskirts of the Silver Radiance Empire.
Each ship carried countless people from Silver Radiance, forced to leave their homes behind, as their homeland had already become a battlefield.
Jun Hua deliberately issued a public announcement across the entire Silver Radiance Empire. The Void Phoenix Club did not stop her—their target wasn’t the empire’s citizens. Indeed, the more who left, the better, for it would clear their way.
As days passed, clashes between the clubs grew increasingly frequent.
Several days later, people finally discovered the mountains previously occupied by the Black White Heaven Club, but they were already deserted, leaving behind only the glowing screens still receiving signals.
“They’ve fled.”
“Search for them. Since they’ve come, they won’t leave easily. Wang Jie has the greatest chance of locating the Red Moon.”