Chapter 313

Chapter 313: Investing in the Future

White Realm Lord personally met with them, questioning everyone in detail. When it was over, he looked genuinely relieved that Wu Yuan had survived. If Wu Yuan had died, Black-White Heaven club would have fallen into the same state as Xuan Gate and the others—a situation the sect could not accept.

After some reassurance, everyone was dismissed.

Unless the next mission was as significant as the Nan Family matter, the sect wouldn’t gather them all again.

Wang Jie went to Zhi Upper Realm and met Zhi Xing Xue.

She listened in silence as he recounted the entire process, her expression growing heavier with every word.

“Grand Elder,” Wang Jie asked at last, “who do you think the killer was?”

Zhi Xing Xue shook her head. “I don’t know.”

Then her eyes narrowed slightly. “But something is strange.”

Wang Jie’s heart jolted. “What?”

“Why did Zhi Ye know about Red Moon so early?” Zhi Xing Xue asked.

Wang Jie blinked. “Zhi Ye?”

Zhi Xing Xue nodded. “He already knew the rough area where Red Moon might exist. Do you remember when he spent money to buy you a ship?”

“The Shen Wang,” Wang Jie said.

“Exactly. Back then, he told me that one day he might use your lockforce to draw out Red Moon.”

Wang Jie frowned. “That doesn’t match what I heard. I asked Elder Wu Yuan—the club only spread the Red Moon location after that.”

“That’s the point.” Zhi Xing Xue’s gaze sharpened. “Zhi Ye learned the rough location before Nan Zhi ever sent any message through club channels.”

She leaned back slightly. “His knowledge of Red Moon had nothing to do with that Nan Family descendant.”

Wang Jie’s voice lowered. “Then only two types of people could know Red Moon’s location. Nan Family descendants… or the killer.”

Zhi Xing Xue shook her head. “Zhi Ye doesn’t have the ability to wipe out the Nan Family. Besides, he was still young when they were exterminated. It’s impossible.”

Wang Jie hesitated, then pointed upward with a small motion.

Zhi Xing Xue actually laughed. “My father?”

Wang Jie didn’t deny it. Based on what they knew, it seemed like the only reasonable guess.

Even though he knew it wasn’t true. Ban Xia had nothing to do with Black-White Heaven.

“My father couldn’t wipe out the Nan Family either,” Zhi Xing Xue said. “You’re underestimating them.”

She spoke slowly, as if reminding him what the name meant. “The Nan Family used the Four Seasons train to roam across the four bridge-pillar. Every major force feared them, and yet all they could do was issue warnings. Why?”

“Because the Nan Family was strong. The old ancestor was strong. That train—no matter which bridge-pillar it appeared in—had power enough to rank in the top five, maybe higher.”

She met Wang Jie’s eyes. “If my father could wipe out the Nan Family, Black-White Heaven wouldn’t only control Fourth Nebula.”

She gestured faintly, as if indicating the whole grim map of politics above them. “Fourth Nebula is suppressed from above by three great nebulae, and dragged down below by the Ancient Sword bridge-pillar war. It can’t develop.”

Wang Jie nodded slowly. “Then maybe Senior Zhi Ye found other Nan Family descendants.”

“It’s possible,” Zhi Xing Xue said. Then she exhaled. “Enough. This is in the elders’ hands now.”

“The elders?” Wang Jie echoed.

Zhi Xing Xue’s expression turned grim. “You didn’t think the Nan Family matter ends here, did you? Whoever exterminated them must be identified. Otherwise no one will feel safe.”

Wang Jie took his leave.

Zhi Xing Xue sent Little Lan to escort him. Otherwise, traveling anywhere at his current level took time—and there were only three years until the Starry Sky Martial Tournament.

Time mattered.

Wang Jie didn’t refuse. He thanked Little Lan and, on the way, contacted his old friends from Blue Star to report he was safe.

Then he began to plan.

Three years. Too much to do.

He needed to use the ruler his cheap master had given him to sharpen his control of lockforce and reach the A Drop Hides the Sea stage as early as possible.

He needed the next step of Yi Sword Art.

He needed to cultivate Red Moon and train sword rig.

He needed to gather swords to match sword rig.

He needed to deepen thunder pattern—and, more importantly, fuse lockforce into his blood and bones to push toward roaming-star realm.

And when he could, he should keep practicing the madman’s footwork pattern, chasing that thin chance of touching time and space.

He had a long list.

After weighing everything, he decided Thunder Well would give him the greatest immediate return.

Training there could strengthen thunder pattern, use lightning pressure to temper lockforce, accelerate fusion through his nameless method and exercises, and slowly increase qi.

For him, right now, it was the best path.

Zhi Xing Xue hadn’t given him advice—not because she didn’t want to, but because it was hard to advise someone like him.

Wang Jie cultivated too many things. Each one was strong, yet none was an absolute trump card. Everything was good. Nothing was decisive.

Even she couldn’t tell him which road to choose.

Under the starry sky, Little Lan carried Wang Jie in repeated jumps toward Great Chen Mountain.

Then she stopped.

Ahead, a man stumbled toward them with a wine gourd swinging from his hand.

Wang Jie’s face lit up. “Master!”

Little Lan’s eyes widened. She bowed at once. “Junior Little Lan greets Senior.”

Everyone in the sect knew Wang Jie had a Star Dao master behind him. The “Master” he was calling now could only be that person.

Before a Star Dao master, even star-refining realm would show respect.

Shu Rang took a drink, waved a hand casually, and said, “Go back.”

Little Lan glanced at Wang Jie, then withdrew respectfully.

Shu Rang flicked his hand again. Space shifted.

When Wang Jie blinked, Great Chen Mountain was already there—an immense peak slanting through the starry sky.

His cheap master rarely acted, but even the smallest gesture was enough to make the world feel fragile.

“How was the trip?” Shu Rang asked, as if they were discussing a stroll. “How did it feel?”

Wang Jie gave a bitter laugh. “I almost died. Club missions are dangerous.”

Shu Rang chuckled. “If it wasn’t dangerous, why would I send you? Several hundred-star realm died. Did you gain anything?”

About Ban Xia, Shu Rang didn’t ask, and Wang Jie didn’t volunteer.

“This disciple obtained the complete Red Moon method,” Wang Jie said, “and gained many items from the Nan Family’s stores.”

Shu Rang’s eyes brightened. “Not bad. Red Moon is ordinary, but it’s enough for you for now. Show me.”

Wang Jie cast it.

Shu Rang watched, nodded, and clicked his tongue. “Standard Red Moon. Clean.”

Wang Jie hesitated. “Master, you’ve seen Red Moon before?”

Shu Rang rolled his eyes. “Of course. The Nan Family was famous. That Four Seasons train was even stranger—it could appear anywhere. For a time, its name even overshadowed Jia Yi Sect. How could I not know?”

Wang Jie couldn’t help himself. “Then who exterminated the Nan Family?”

Shu Rang snorted. “How would I know? A Star Dao master isn’t Star Vault Vista. I don’t know everything.”

Wang Jie blinked. “Star Vault Vista knows?”

Shu Rang shook his gourd lightly. “Not necessarily. Star Vault Vista’s methods of prying into secrets are sharper than the Nan Family’s—more accurate, more complete. But some people aren’t meant to be peered into.”

He grinned faintly. “Secrets are funny. If two people know, a third can learn. But if only one person knows…”

He took another drink. “Then it’s a real secret.”

Wang Jie half understood.

Shu Rang looked him over. “Star Vault Vista gave you a mission?”

Wang Jie nodded. “They wanted this disciple to obtain the complete Red Moon method.”

“Star Vault Vista cares about Red Moon?” Shu Rang scoffed. “Then it’s tied to deeper secrets.”

Wang Jie’s mind stirred. “It is.”

He described the images he’d seen within the Red Moon—carefully, but without hiding the core truth.

Shu Rang listened in silence. When Wang Jie finished, Shu Rang said, “So Red Moon is not only a method.”

He lifted the gourd slightly. “It’s a key.”

Wang Jie bowed. “Master… should this disciple hand Red Moon over to Star Vault Vista?”

Shu Rang studied him. “Why are you asking me?”

Wang Jie blinked. “Because you’re my master.”

Shu Rang laughed. “Because I helped you, you think I won’t covet your secrets. You trust me. You think my status is too high to bother stealing from you.”

He leaned in a fraction, eyes sharp. “So tell me—what’s the difference between me and Star Vault Vista?”

Wang Jie froze.

Shu Rang’s smile turned almost mocking. “Star Vault Vista spans the four bridge-pillar. You think it needs to steal your things? Covet your secrets?”

He waved a hand. “And as for relationship—you belong to Star Vault Vista now, don’t you? So what difference is there, from your point of view?”

Wang Jie’s mouth opened, then closed.

A master was a master. He trusted Shu Rang.

Star Vault Vista was an organization. A ladder.

Shu Rang’s voice turned calm, almost lazy again. “I didn’t stop you from joining Star Vault Vista, so use it well. Don’t only focus on what’s in your hand. Look further.”

He tapped the gourd against his palm. “Everything you have now can be exchanged for resources in the future.”

The words hit Wang Jie like lightning.

Right.

The “secrets” he held might not even be that important to Star Vault Vista. If they wanted Red Moon, give it. If they wanted the Nan Family’s hidden doors, give it.

He couldn’t even use them himself.

But offering them could become the foundation of his standing within Star Vault Vista.

Even if he somehow hoarded every Nan Family secret, what then? The Nan Family had still been exterminated. Was he supposed to surpass them alone?

His cheap master was right.

Only by letting go could he gain.

Wang Jie bowed deeply. “Thank you for the teaching, Master.”

Shu Rang stared at him for a moment, something complicated flickering in his eyes. Then he waved it away like smoke.

“By the way,” Wang Jie said, “this disciple once learned a footwork pattern at skyport. I can’t get started. I’d like Master’s guidance.”

“Show me,” Shu Rang said.

Wang Jie walked the pattern—the madman’s strange steps, the odd rhythm, the faint sense of something brushing at the edge of time.

When he finished, he looked up.

Shu Rang was drinking.

“Master?”

Shu Rang blinked. “Hm? Sorry. The craving hit. I didn’t watch all of it.”

Wang Jie hesitated. “Then I’ll do it again—”

“No need.” Shu Rang waved him off. “Everyone has their own fate. I’m not interested.”

He paused, then let out a strange laugh. “You little brat. Trying to trade that to me for future resources?”

Wang Jie gave an awkward smile. “This disciple just can’t get started. I hoped Master would teach.”

“There’s nothing to teach,” Shu Rang said lazily. “A Star Dao master isn’t all-powerful. I don’t know everyone else’s methods.”

He tipped his gourd toward Wang Jie. “You’ve got small cleverness. You need bigger wisdom.”

Then he turned his gaze outward. “Enough. I’ll send you to Thunder Well.”

Wang Jie nodded at once. “This disciple plans to strengthen thunder pattern before the Starry Sky Martial Tournament.”