Chapter 304
Chapter 304: You Again?
Defeating three renowned Hundred Star Realm experts alone, Shao Ling’er stood invincible for the moment.
Everyone was frozen in awe.
From another direction, Ke Mu Sheng burst forth, calling out loudly: “Everyone, this woman has crossed the line! I will fight her to the death for your sake. Please, lend me your strength!”
Shao Ling’er turned sharply toward him, killing intent flashing in her eyes: “It was you, wasn’t it, Ke Mu Sheng? You’re asking for death.”
Wu Yuan soared into the sky, compelled to fight now that he had promised Ke Mu Sheng his support.
At the same time, Chen Song unleashed his palm, his voice clear and firm: “Junior Sister Ling’er, your stubbornness has gone too far. This is the Big Dipper Bridge Pillar; you can take much, but the bridge-building coordinates must remain.”
Yun Jian wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, sighing softly: “Attacking a woman together isn’t my style, but you’ve pushed too far. Leave the coordinates.”
The four powerful masters joined forces against Shao Ling’er.
Gasps and exclamations spread across the battlefield.
The cultivators from the Sincere One Dao Club angrily cursed their shamelessness, yet even they were struggling to protect themselves.
Looking down at the four masters, Shao Ling’er sneered coldly: “Ke Mu Sheng has always been our Sincere One Dao’s enemy. His actions don’t surprise me. But you three—are you representing the Big Dipper Bridge Pillar to drive away outsiders? What, can no one else take what’s yours? When it was our things, you fought just as fiercely.”
She called sharply, “Yuan Qiao Qiao, Guan Shan Club, what are you waiting for? Do you truly believe they’ll spare you after finishing me?”
Without hesitation, Yuan Qiao Qiao drew her sword, thrusting directly at Yun Jian.
Forced to withdraw his blade to defend himself, Yun Jian clashed fiercely with Yuan Qiao Qiao’s strike, sparks scattering.
Below, Wang Jie watched the chaotic battle high above. Shao Ling’er was clever enough to draw in both the Nine Swords Club and Guan Shan Club, transforming the fight into one between the Big Dipper Bridge Pillar and all other pillars, effectively shielding herself.
Yu Zhi exhaled deeply, his voice grim with resolve: “It seems we must settle this now. Senior brothers and juniors, prepare yourselves well,” and he dashed forward into the fray, for the Nine Swords Club disciples were already approaching.
An unprecedented melee erupted.
Immediately, Wang Jie distanced himself from Shen Yan. That man’s strength surpassed even Six Dao Wanderers; he was not someone Wang Jie could currently face.
Yet Shen Yan clearly had no intention of targeting him either.
Having entered the Four Seasons Train, Wang Jie had lost his value. Only Pei Lin remained focused on him. Because of Wang Jie, Pei Lin had been reprimanded and faced further punishment back in his sect, making revenge inevitable.
Dense Sword Qi clashed against the Sword Rain Technique.
Pei Lin swiftly altered his sword art, compressing sword qi into the blade’s three-foot edge. Vibrations rippled outward, Force fully shattering the Sword Rain Technique.
Surprised, Wang Jie acknowledged inwardly: [He truly deserves his reputation as a Sword Court master. One encounter was enough for him to counter my moves.]
But Wang Jie had more than just the Sword Rain Technique.
The Thunder Pattern burst forth, charging fiercely ahead.
Pei Lin raised an eyebrow, invoking the Green Moss Sword Art. Sword qi formed steps beneath him, colliding directly against the Thunder Pattern.
A thunderous boom erupted as the Thunder Pattern fractured.
Pei Lin ascended the steps, striking downward in a single fierce stroke. Wang Jie quickly lifted his left arm, wristguard intercepting the sword. Pei Lin’s gaze sharpened as he pressed the blade down relentlessly. With a metallic clash, the sword rebounded, stunning Pei Lin. Wang Jie swiftly extended a finger, infused with the Starry Finger technique, striking directly toward Pei Lin.
Forced into defense, Pei Lin desperately raised his sword to block.
Wang Jie’s finger pressed upon the sword’s edge, steadily forcing Pei Lin backward.
Pei Lin stared in disbelief at his shaking sword, about to retaliate when a familiar sound of thunder echoed nearby—another Thunder Pattern attack, from Mo Wan Yin.
Dodging Mo Wan Yin’s sudden strike, Pei Lin was caught off guard as Wang Jie closed in with a swift Sword Step, delivering a simple yet mighty punch.
Though straightforward, its strength was overwhelming.
Pei Lin hastily avoided the blow, only to be struck by Mo Wan Yin’s follow-up attack. Unable to dodge, he was hurled back by the force.
“Thank you, Senior Sister,” Wang Jie called.
“We have numbers on our side. Surround and kill him,” Mo Wan Yin declared firmly.
Alarmed, Pei Lin immediately fled.
“Stop right there!” Mo Wan Yin pursued him swiftly. Wang Jie hurried after her, unwilling to risk Mo Wan Yin facing Pei Lin alone, knowing her victory would be uncertain.
Nearby, an icy chill engulfed the battlefield. Shen Yan single-handedly battled multiple masters, including Six Dao Wanderer Han Ling, the woman named Xue Jian from Yun Jian’s side, and another Wandering Star Realm expert from the Alliance Club.
The three attacked together but still could not overcome him.
Instead, Shen Yan turned the tables, chasing down Xue Jian.
This forced Yun Jian to abandon Yuan Qiao Qiao and confront Shen Yan. Yuan Qiao Qiao chased after Yun Jian, adding further chaos.
The battlefield grew increasingly disorderly, spreading wider and wider.
Zhi stood rooted in place, gazing upward with uncertainty. [If this continues, that grand formation will activate soon.]
[No, I must leave immediately.]
[Or it’ll be too late.]
Decisively, she dashed off in a particular direction.
“Senior Sister Zhi, save me!” a fellow disciple shouted desperately, but Zhi ignored the plea, single-mindedly sprinting onward.
Moments later, Wang Jie and Mo Wan Yin, pursuing Pei Lin, abruptly halted when they saw Zhi suddenly darting across their path.
[We completely forgot about her.]
In the chaos, Shao Ling’er couldn’t protect Zhi anymore, and seeing her urgency, she was clearly up to something important.
Wang Jie quickly grabbed Mo Wan Yin: “Senior Sister, come with me.”
“We’re not chasing Pei Lin anymore?”
“There’s something even more crucial.”
Leading Mo Wan Yin, Wang Jie carefully followed Zhi, cautious not to alert her.
Mo Wan Yin whispered in confusion, “Who is she?”
Wang Jie’s eyes flashed with suspicion: “This woman is hiding something.”
Mo Wan Yin had saved him more than once; if he left her now to pursue Pei Lin alone, she might fall into danger. Reluctantly, Wang Jie chose to bring her along.
In the distance, the two of them stopped chasing Pei Lin, yet Pei Lin, turning back, secretly began following them instead. His movements were slow and cautious, fearful of alerting Wang Jie and Mo Wan Yin.
From another direction, a pair of eyes watched closely—Wu Ming spotted Wang Jie, his figure quietly approaching.
Meanwhile, Zhi remained unaware that many eyes were locked onto her. She hurried onward, caring only about reaching her destination.
[Almost there, almost.]
Without warning, heaven and earth changed colors. Starforce erupted from nowhere, piercing through space and flooding the entire train. With the emergence of starforce, everything blurred, twisted, and vanished. The world that had been clear became distorted, the known now unknowable.
Wang Jie stared blankly at the starforce before him, confused: [What’s this?]
Mo Wan Yin spoke quickly: “This isn’t good—it’s a Lost Track Formation.”
“The formation that distorts space and time?” Wang Jie blurted out, recognizing its name from tales he’d heard.
Mo Wan Yin nodded gravely, explaining: “The formation dao must have activated during the chaos. This Lost Track Formation was surely laid by the Nan Family. Once trapped inside, unless the starforce drains completely or someone greatly surpasses the formation master’s strength, escape is nearly impossible.”
“Given its scale, whoever created this formation must be at least at Star Refining Realm.”
Breaking out by force was clearly impossible.
Wang Jie rushed forward, saying urgently, “We can’t afford to stay hidden. After her!”
Mo Wan Yin immediately followed. Now that the formation had activated, losing sight of Zhi meant they might never find her again.
This Lost Track Formation warped space with starforce, misleading all five senses, and altered the flow of time itself, perfectly suited to the Nan Family’s Four-Seasons Bridge Technique.
None could confidently move freely here except those of the Nan bloodline.
Zhi glanced around, finding herself trapped within a changed world—no train roof, no people, not even the colors of the land.
Thankfully, she was not far from the exit.
She breathed deeply, recalling the method every Nan descendant learned to navigate the formation.
Suddenly, footsteps behind startled her. Turning swiftly, she gasped: “It’s you two?”
“Move,” Wang Jie ordered, immediately charging at Zhi using Armor Eight Steps, Mo Wan Yin striking alongside him.
Zhi’s eyes flickered sharply. Without hesitation, she took one step back and disappeared.
Their strikes hit only emptiness. Glancing around, they found no sign of Zhi.
Mo Wan Yin stated thoughtfully, “Ordinary people wouldn’t dare move recklessly in a formation dao, yet this woman retreated without hesitation. She clearly knows this formation—she must be from the Nan Family.”
Wang Jie nodded seriously, “It must be her. She was the one who earlier provoked Young Ling’er against Elder Wu Yuan—I should have realized sooner.”
Mo Wan Yin stayed silent at this misunderstanding: [Provoked? She didn’t provoke anyone. You really were targeting Young Ling’er.]
“What now?” she asked aloud. “She vanished, and finding her again seems impossible. Wandering blindly here would be dangerous.”
Wang Jie frowned deeply; they had acted a step too late.
“Let’s look around first,” Mo Wan Yin suggested. “If I remember right, the Lost Track Formation isn’t lethal on its own. It’s mainly meant to trap.”
Wang Jie agreed.
Together, they carefully explored, cautious to stay close.
Elsewhere, Nan Zhi glanced back warily—Wang Jie again. Earlier, during the clash between Senior Sister and Wu Yuan, he’d already paid special attention to her. Now, once more, he was pursuing her. Clearly, he suspected her identity.
[But he’s too late.]
Even if he knew the truth, what could he do? She was near the exit; she could escape, leaving them trapped forever. Once she reclaimed the family inheritance, she would vanish completely. A smile curled her lips as she confidently recalled the method to exit the formation. It would take some effort, but soon she’d be free.
The Lost Track Formation stretched throughout the entire train; just one wrong step and you could wander forever. Nan Zhi had no fear of Wang Jie finding her.
At the same time, Wang Jie and Mo Wan Yin stared speechlessly at the figure before them—Pei Lin. This fellow had ended up trailing them here?
Pei Lin eyed them warily, cursing inwardly at his misfortune. He’d been cautiously following from a distance but took only a few steps before unexpectedly appearing right in front of them.
Mo Wan Yin stepped forward decisively, “It seems our battle will happen after all.”
Pei Lin sneered, “You truly think you can defeat me? You underestimate a True Inheritor of the Sword Court.”
“Oh? Junior Brother, it appears we’ve been underestimated,” Mo Wan Yin mocked lightly, drawing out her Thunder Pattern and attacking without hesitation.
Pei Lin immediately retreated, vanishing from sight. Mo Wan Yin pursued briefly, soon stopping as he disappeared. Turning back, she wondered aloud, “Junior Brother?”
Wang Jie stood frozen, staring ahead. Mo Wan Yin had vanished just like that?
“So suddenly? Senior Sister?” he called.
No one answered.
Only heaven knew how far away she had ended up. The formation’s starforce blocked even sound.
Now utterly alone, Wang Jie dared not move recklessly, wary of encountering powerful enemies.
After a moment’s thought, he took out the Star Disk. [Perhaps the methods of a Star Path Master can help? They say a Star Path Master’s abilities are mysterious and mighty. Let’s test them against this formation.]
He channeled qi into the disk, observing closely.
The next instant, strands of qi appeared around the Star Disk.
Wang Jie’s eyes lit up: it worked. Though the formation dao disrupted space and time, it couldn’t block the detection abilities of the Star Disk.
He focused on the qi around the disk, sensing three distinct presences within range. All three were about equal in strength. Among them, one was moving away quickly. Without hesitation, Wang Jie chased after the retreating presence—it was likely Nan Zhi. Others would surely be cautious, unwilling to act recklessly here.
After several steps, space shifted strangely around him. Turning back, he felt he could no longer find the path he’d come from.
No one was there.
Checking the Star Disk again, he saw the presence was still moving. He continued pursuit.
Elsewhere, Nan Zhi carefully observed the starforce threads crossing space, quietly calculating her way out. Decisively, she chose a direction to move forward.
But just as she began stepping forward, a chill suddenly struck from behind. She quickly dodged aside, but she was too slow. A powerful force grasped her firmly, and she turned in shock, recognizing the figure immediately.
“You again?”