Chapter 336
Chapter 336: You’re Unworthy
At this moment, news shook the universe.
The cultivation technique Ting Chen practiced was named—Time Three Tribulations. Someone had found this name in ancient texts, and the historical records related to it shocked everyone.
In the current age, sects blossomed like countless flowers, powerful masters appeared endlessly, and forces filled the skies. Though the world seemed prosperous, compared to the records in those ancient documents, it was clearly lacking.
History had experienced a gap.
Above that gap lay an age called—Star Position.
The name of that era had just two words: Star Position.
There weren’t many records left from the Star Position era, as if a great disaster had caused that historical fracture.
Countless people in this age searched endlessly for any fragment from that lost era, and among the few words that survived was this term: Star Position.
“Star Position,” it was said, was the title reserved only for the absolute strongest of that era.
No one knew exactly how many Star Positions existed back then. But even world-level cultivators weren’t qualified to earn the title, and yet world-level cultivators today were already standing at the peak of existence.
Perhaps there were cultivators beyond the small-world realm, but such beings remained hidden from public view.
Yet the existence of legends left behind by Star Positions showed that in their era, cultivators beyond the small-world realm weren’t entirely concealed. This alone proved how far beyond our current era the Star Position age was.
Among those Star Positions was one known as the “Walker of Time.”
And this Star Position cultivator had passed down a technique known as—Time Three Tribulations.
In other words, the technique Ting Chen practiced originated from an ancient cultivator whose strength surpassed even small-world level.
As soon as this news spread, countless people were terrified. Ting Chen’s odds of victory instantly soared to nearly absolute certainty. From the outside world, no one believed Wang Jie had any chance at all.
Along with this revelation came Ting Chen’s true identity: she was the Young Miss of Star Dome Visage.
Countless people praised her.
Ting Chen’s popularity instantly rose to unimaginable heights.
In contrast, Wang Jie was utterly ignored. It wasn’t that anyone deliberately looked down on him, but compared to Ting Chen now, he had lost all radiance.
Meanwhile, in Black White Heaven, Wang Jie knew nothing of these events.
Nor did he need to.
He quietly waited for dawn.
Under the eager eyes of countless people, a curtain of light appeared. On the battle platform stood Wang Jie and Ting Chen, facing each other.
Only a day had passed.
But Ting Chen’s gaze toward Wang Jie had completely changed.
It was no longer calm and restrained as before. Instead, her eyes showed anger, even contempt.
Seeing her expression, Wang Jie understood immediately—he had been exposed.
She certainly knew his true objective.
If the enemy of his cheap master could track him down, then Star Dome Visage would obviously do so even faster.
They stared silently at each other.
As the barrier vanished—
The final battle began.
Ting Chen raised her hand immediately, glaring at Wang Jie and speaking with an icy voice: “After this fight, never appear before us sisters again. You’re unworthy.” As she finished speaking, she curled her fingers slightly.
Countless people stared—this move again.
Wu Ming had vomited blood three times from this very move, with absolutely no way to resist.
Just as Ting Chen launched her attack, Wang Jie’s aura completely vanished. Without any defense, he charged toward Ting Chen like an ordinary person.
In the next instant, a strange, indescribable distortion appeared, as though his body and the space around him folded together. He finally understood exactly how Wu Ming felt at that time. This move was utterly incomprehensible.
It felt as though his internal organs had been crushed.
He couldn’t help but spit out a mouthful of blood.
No one watching was surprised—indeed, no one could withstand this technique.
Such was the power of a Star Position method.
Yet, compared to Wu Ming, Wang Jie was much better off. He merely staggered slightly and then kept charging toward Ting Chen. “Whether I’m worthy isn’t for you to decide. I’m going to find you both regardless.”
Ting Chen frowned, saying coldly, “You seek death,” and attacked again.
Wang Jie spat out blood once more.
But this time, he fared even better than before. After just a brief pause, he resumed his charge.
He wasn’t moving quickly because he didn’t use any footwork techniques or even lock force.
He had replayed Wu Ming’s three injuries repeatedly over the past day. In this world, there was no martial technique without some kind of flaw.
He kept recalling those moments until he thought of one possibility.
Even though he couldn’t understand the mechanics of Ting Chen’s attack, he could still test something.
For example—
Completely abandoning all defenses.
Wu Ming’s three injuries differed each time. If Ting Chen’s strength had stayed the same, then the difference could only lie within Wu Ming himself.
Wu Ming had failed utterly to defend against this attack, so if the injuries worsened each time, it meant only one thing—his defenses had actually gotten stronger.
The stronger the defense, the worse the injury.
Wang Jie had precisely considered this possibility, so he started without deploying any defenses at all, directly charging forward and letting Ting Chen strike him freely.
As he expected, he got injured, but much less than anticipated.
However, during the first strike, he had been cautious and didn’t completely abandon defense. But by the second strike, he had entirely let go. Although he was injured again, it was even lighter than the first time.
Ting Chen would certainly not hold back.
This result proved Wang Jie’s guess was correct.
Her attack couldn’t be countered directly—but it could be managed.
Ting Chen was startled. This person had actually resisted—no, he had endured it!
Seeing Wang Jie closing in, she stepped back.
For the first time, she retreated.
She had never retreated before anyone else before, yet now Ting Chen stepped back to avoid Wang Jie.
Outside, countless onlookers were stunned at this reversal. Ting Chen’s mysterious and incomprehensible power had actually been endured. Was Wang Jie’s defense really so powerful?
On Opposing Illusion Mountain, Wu Ming stared deeply at the scene projected on the screen.
Only after his return had Wu Ming finally understood. Judging by Wang Jie’s actions now, he must have realized it too. But did Wang Jie comprehend it himself, or did someone teach him?
Wu Ming believed it was the former.
“The Three Tribulations of Time,” someone remarked quietly. “According to ancient texts, the first tribulation is called Tracing Shadow. Its principle isn’t fully recorded, but to endure it, one merely has to let go of all defenses. If Wang Jie can withstand this, he must have guidance from a Star Path master behind him.”
“Not necessarily,” another voice interjected softly. “During Blue Star’s trials, this same boy defeated Shu Mu Night. He was always extraordinarily gifted.”
“It’s a pity we of Armor One Sect failed to see through his supposed death. Had we realized, he’d be representing us now.”
In the realm of Black White Heaven, Zhi Yu turned to Shu Rang with curiosity, asking softly, “Did you teach him?”
Shu Rang laughed lightly, answering, “Of course not. If I had to teach him even this, how could he complete his mission?”
Zhi Yu shook her head gently. “This lass has even grasped the Three Tribulations of Time, yet you still expect him to accomplish the task? The further one cultivates, the greater the gap between Lock Force and Star Force cultivators. In this Full-Star Martial Meet, he might have reached this far, even glimpsing victory, but the Traveling Star Martial Meet is another matter entirely.”
She continued thoughtfully, “Those he once fought will only grow stronger; some may even transform entirely. Not to mention the prodigies who’ve been holding their breath for this competition. Their true target is none other than the Four Traveling Gods.”
Shu Rang rolled his eyes and replied carelessly, “Who cares? One step at a time. My disciple, Shu Rang’s disciple, always accomplishes what others can’t.”
On the stage, Wang Jie punched again. He used no Lock Force, no Qi—only pure physical strength.
Ting Chen seized the chance and repeated her earlier technique.
This time, Wang Jie didn’t dodge. His fist still aimed straight toward her.
He broke through indeed.
Ting Chen’s eyes flickered thoughtfully. [He’s better than I expected.] Swiftly, she released a palm strike, just like when facing Wu Ming.
With a thunderous crash, Wang Jie staggered backward, fist trembling. Ting Chen stood perfectly still, astonishment in her eyes. [Such tremendous strength. Is he a humanoid fiend beast?]
“No wonder Wu Ming said that,” Wang Jie muttered, gazing at his shaking fist. Just now, he’d unleashed his absolute physical limit. Even without Qi or harmonization, the power of that punch was remarkable.
But Ting Chen had struck twice simultaneously.
Two identical palm strikes—the first halted his punch, and the second pushed him back, shaking his insides violently. The internal damage was far greater than before.
Yet to the spectators, she’d released only a single strike.
[Amazing, indeed, this mysterious battle technique.]
Ting Chen’s voice was cold as ice: “You can’t defeat me in this state alone. Eventually, you’ll have to endure.”
Wang Jie nodded, determination in his eyes. “True. But even endurance must be approached step by step.” Raising his hand, he summoned the falling rain—the Sword Rain Technique.
Six swords hovered behind him.
Ting Chen moved her palm once more. That mysterious attack caused Wang Jie to cough up blood, much more severe than before. If he activated Lock Force, the backlash would worsen.
Countless blades of sword qi flew toward Ting Chen.
Her eyes rose, pupils black and white. Graceful and fluid, she moved effortlessly through the falling rain, untouched. Even with sword qi covering the entire stage, none could graze her, far easier than when fighting Gui Xiao Die.
Yet, with each step, she struck Wang Jie once.
Wang Jie endured again and again, staining the stage with blood. Yet he stood tall, eyes fixed on Ting Chen, until finally, he closed them.
Suddenly, Ting Chen drew close, lifting her finger delicately. She redirected the rain and borrowed the sword qi itself, turning it back toward Wang Jie.
Wang Jie opened his eyes, gently flicked his fingers, and scattered the sword qi with a burst of energy. Locking eyes with Ting Chen, he stepped forward.
Ting Chen attacked again—but this time, shock filled her eyes. For the first time, disbelief crossed her face.
[It failed?]
[How could my Tracing Shadow fail?]
Wang Jie moved steadily across the stage, his steps bizarre and unpredictable.
Far away in the depths of the starry sky, Qing Huan stared wide-eyed, mouth agape. [Isn’t this the Madman’s Steps? Has this kid truly grasped it?]
In Black White Heaven, Shu Rang’s expression became complicated.
Wang Jie hadn’t fully mastered these steps, but he’d seen through Ting Chen’s method clearly. She twisted shadows to distort time itself. Indeed, twisted shadows.
Each attack had given him insight. He noticed his own shadow twisting first before each strike. Since his shadow was tied to himself, it wasn’t merely shadows or light being twisted—it was time itself.
[So, this is the truth behind the Three Tribulations of Time.]
Facing the power of time directly was impossible, so he decided to test the Madman’s Steps.
Qing Huan once said these steps might allow him to enter the realm of space-time.
He had no interest in fully entering that realm yet, but perhaps touching the threshold could interfere with the Three Tribulations of Time.
And it worked exactly as he’d hoped.
Ting Chen attacked again, but this time, he wasn’t affected.
[Now things are easier.] Wang Jie launched himself forward using the Madman’s Steps. Qi and harmonization surged, and he punched fiercely.
Ting Chen stared calmly, undisturbed. [Does he think countering Tracing Shadow means victory?]
Under black-and-white eyes, she glided forward to meet Wang Jie.
To observers, both rushed toward each other—one mighty as thunder, the other delicate and weightless.
Yet, in the next instant, Wang Jie’s fist met empty air, while a palm slammed into his chest. He flew sideways, landing heavily on the stage.
Blood sprayed from his lips as he lay stunned. [What is this now?]