Chapter 339

Chapter 339: The Darkness It Brought

Jun Qian’s brows drew together. “What did you say?”

Gu Qing He looked at him as if Jun Qian were hard of hearing. “Was that unclear?”

“I’m here to pressure Black-White Heaven.”

“To crush your people.”

Jun Qian’s gaze turned cold. “Your Excellency is very confident. This is Black-White Heaven.”

“Try me,” Gu Qing He said.

He moved.

Jun Qian’s expression tightened. The air seemed to change color.

In an instant, endless starforce gathered into a vast army—countless figures forming, countless techniques flickering within them.

And yet, despite the overwhelming power, the surrounding space was untouched, undisturbed. Jun Qian’s control over starforce was terrifyingly precise.

His presence itself burned like a massive star.

Gu Qing He only smiled faintly.

He lifted a finger.

And pressed down.

The starforce army collapsed like water poured from a broken vessel, turning into a roaring waterfall that spilled into Black-White Heaven like an ink-splashed landscape painting.

Jun Qian’s face drained. Cracks split through the starforce inside him. He spat blood and staggered back.

One move.

Just one move, and Jun Qian had lost.

The disciples watching went numb with shock.

The White Realm Lord couldn’t even take a single exchange?

Jun Qian stared at Gu Qing He as if the world had flipped upside down.

Gu Qing He’s gaze drifted toward the distance. “What gave you the confidence to think you could stand against me?”

“You and I were peers—both Guarding Star Realm once.”

He didn’t wait for an answer.

“You know why I’m here. You can send anyone you want, including Zhi Yu.”

“But if I’m forced to retreat, then the one who comes next will be my master.”

His smile deepened, faintly mocking. “And from what I can see… you can’t force me to retreat.”

—

In Suo Xing Jian, Shu Rang looked toward the Third Star Chain, his expression dark.

Zhi Yu appeared beside him. “Da Yan’s disciple has arrived.”

“I know,” Shu Rang said.

“I’ll do what I can to block him,” Zhi Yu said quietly, “but I can’t promise I can stop him.”

“Gu Qing He was once Tian Cang Guarding Star Realm. Now, at Star-Refining Realm, he can already fight across realms against World Realm.”

Shu Rang looked at him for a long moment. “I won’t put you in a difficult position.”

Zhi Yu’s expression shifted. Complicated. Heavy.

He sighed and left.

Black-White Heaven shook.

Old Ancestor Zhi Yu came out of seclusion to face the enemy.

Zhi Xing Xue and Zhi Qing gathered at the Ring-Sect Corridor—and their eyes went to the second man standing behind Gu Qing He.

That man wore the same easy smile.

“Shen Zhou,” he said, bowing politely. “Greetings, seniors.”

Zhi Qing’s breath caught. “A Tian Cang Guarding Star Realm… White-Robed Shen Zhou?”

Black-White Heaven erupted.

A Guarding Star Realm of the current era had come.

No one dared evaluate their personal strength lightly, but their status was unquestionable.

In theory, they had the authority to mobilize the forces of all sects and factions.

That authority came from their duty—protecting the Bridge Pillars.

“In theory” meant there were giants—like Jia Yi Sect and Cheng Yi Dao—that might not bend.

But Black-White Heaven wasn’t one of them.

Gu Qing He was terrifying, and he had been Guarding Star Realm in a previous era—but the moment he left Tian Cang, his authority was gone. If a sect repelled him, it was just repelling an enemy.

Shen Zhou was different.

He was Guarding Star Realm now.

Behind him stood the full weight of the four great Bridge Pillars.

Black-White Heaven had considered capturing him.

The moment they learned he was Shen Zhou, the thought died.

Attacking a Guarding Star Realm was the same as begging to be erased.

Shen Zhou smiled at the assembled crowd. “I’m here to deliver a message.”

“For every day Wang Jie remains in Black-White Heaven, I, Shen Zhou, will target Black-White Heaven for that day.”

“From this moment on, Black-White Heaven will mobilize all sect resources to support Tian Cang.”

“The Black-White Heaven club is forbidden from operating outside. If it does—kill.”

“Black-White Heaven disciples are forbidden from being dispatched beyond the Fourth Nebula. If they leave—kill.”

His voice carried outward, relayed from mouth to mouth, spreading like poison through the entire sect.

The more they heard, the angrier they grew.

And the heavier their hearts became.

At Drunken Gloomwood, Yu Zhi closed his eyes.

Guarding Star Realm members held absolute authority.

Even if they didn’t abuse it directly, Shen Zhou’s own club alone was enough to wipe out Black-White Heaven’s club.

Back when they fought over the Nan Family inheritance, the moment any Guarding Star Realm club joined in, everyone else became irrelevant.

Whether it was the Four Great Wandering Gods or Tian Cang Guarding Star Realm—

Those were existences Black-White Heaven couldn’t oppose.

Shen Zhou’s declaration didn’t just threaten them.

It strangled their future.

As long as Wang Jie stayed even a single day, Black-White Heaven disciples would never rise.

That day brought darkness to Wang Jie.

And it brought darkness to Black-White Heaven.

—

Wang Jie woke and heard the news like a blade across his throat.

Shu Rang appeared before him. “Let’s go.”

Wang Jie didn’t hesitate. “Okay.”

Shu Rang’s gaze held on him. “Do you resent me?”

“No,” Wang Jie said. “Without Master, this disciple would’ve died long ago.”

Shu Rang’s laugh came out rough. “I gave you benefits… and I brought you disaster.”

“From now on, there’s no place for you beneath the four great Bridge Pillars. If you lose the Wandering-Star Tournament, those enemies will strike.”

“Then I’ll keep winning,” Wang Jie said simply.

Shu Rang’s eyes gleamed. “Exactly.”

“That’s why I gave you a way out from the beginning.”

Wang Jie understood at once. “Marry those two girls.”

“Correct.” Shu Rang nodded. “Ting Can of the Star Vault Vista is your only lifeline.”

“Marry them, and even if your enemies want to move against you, they won’t dare.”

“And marrying two?”

“So that old ghost can’t abandon one of them,” Shu Rang said, as if it were obvious.

Wang Jie exhaled. “Master really thinks ahead.”

Shu Rang laughed. “Not as far ahead as you.”

“You were brilliant in that final battle.”

“A man has to be forceful. Chasing, liking—those are lies.”

“You carve yourself into her heart by force. Make her remember you for life. Make it so she can’t marry anyone else.”

He waved a hand, grinning. “I underestimated your methods. Impressive.”

Wang Jie was speechless.

If Ting Chen hadn’t shoved “you’re not worthy” into his face again and again, he wouldn’t have done it.

Doing that in front of the entire universe… it wasn’t fair to her.

Still—

He didn’t regret it.

He only wondered how he would ever explain it to Ban Xia.

Though Ban Xia might not even care.

—

Back at Black-White Heaven, on the Ring-Sect Corridor, Zhi Yu and Gu Qing He had already stopped fighting.

Zhi Yu looked into the distance and exhaled. “He’s gone.”

Gu Qing He nodded. “Thank you, Senior, for showing mercy.”

Zhi Yu’s eyes were deep. “Tell your master this: leave a line for others.”

“Why bully people to the point of ruin?”

Gu Qing He turned away as if he hadn’t heard.

Zhi Xing Xue rushed forward, voice trembling. “Father. Wang Jie just brought merit to our sect.”

Zhi Yu lifted a hand, stopping her. His expression was helpless. “I know.”

“But Black-White Heaven is too small. We can’t endure the storm.”

Zhi Xing Xue wanted to argue, but when she met his eyes, her voice died.

That feeling…

She knew it too well.

When Frost Splendor Sect had fallen, she’d been powerless.

Now Wang Jie was forced to leave, and she was still powerless.

Star-Refining Realm.

And still… nothing.

In the distance, Zhi Qing said nothing at all.

Whether Wang Jie lived or died was not her concern.

But Gu Qing He had humiliated Black-White Heaven.

That debt would be paid.

—

Under the starry sky, Shu Rang led Wang Jie out of Suo Xing Jian and headed toward the Third Nebula.

At the same time, Gu Qing He and Shen Zhou drew close—as if they knew exactly where Shu Rang was.

Before long, they met.

Gu Qing He bowed. “Greetings, Senior.”

Shen Zhou bowed as well. “Greetings, Senior.”

Shu Rang stared down at Gu Qing He with cold contempt. “Who gave you the nerve to stand before me?”

“Is that old ghost Da Yan planning to send white-haired men to bury black-haired ones?”

Wang Jie stared at the pair.

Just two men—and they had forced Black-White Heaven into a corner.

Gu Qing He straightened, smiling. “Master said Senior doesn’t like bullying the young with power.”

Shu Rang’s eyes sharpened. “You’re not young enough to be spared.”

“A Star-Refining Realm is worth killing.”

“And you were once Guarding Star Realm.”

Wang Jie’s breath caught.

Gu Qing He… had been Guarding Star Realm?

Gu Qing He didn’t flinch. “Senior surely hasn’t forgotten.”

“At Star-Refining Realm, it’s possible to be added back into Guarding Star Realm.”

Shu Rang’s gaze turned colder. “What do you want from me?”

“I’ve already left Black-White Heaven.”

“And my disciple is the Full-Star Tournament champion. Does that old ghost Ting Can dare lay a hand on him?”

“I’d love it if he tried.”

Gu Qing He glanced at Wang Jie. “Of course he wouldn’t dare.”

“I’m here to deliver my mentor’s message.”

“The Star Palace still has a seat for Senior.”

Shu Rang laughed—loud, mocking. “Belief is greater than life itself. Your master has lost his mind.”

“To say that now.”

“Senior, why be stubborn?” Gu Qing He said evenly. “Under the tide of history, right and wrong are already decided.”

“Nonsense,” Shu Rang snapped. “It’s not your place, little junior, to lecture me.”

The stars shifted.

A ruler appeared in the sky.

And Gu Qing He stood at its center.

Gu Qing He’s expression tightened, but his voice stayed steady. “Senior won’t consider yourself… and you won’t consider your disciple?”

“Belief and inheritance are bigger than heaven. You finally took in another disciple—do you really want to repeat the past?”

Wang Jie’s mind stirred.

If marrying those two girls was the “way out” his master had prepared…

Then why had Shu Rang taken him as a disciple in the first place?

What was Shu Rang really after?

Shu Rang snorted.

The ruler shifted.

Blood slid from the corner of Gu Qing He’s mouth.

Black-White Heaven’s experts—Star-Refining Realm, even Zhi Yu—had failed to injure him.

Yet Shu Rang had done it with an idle gesture.

Shen Zhou stared at that blood, then looked at Shu Rang as if seeing a legend step out of myth.

This was the powerhouse who could contend with a mentor?

Even Senior Brother Gu Qing He couldn’t resist him.

“Senior can kill me,” Gu Qing He said quietly. “My death will be for belief.”

Shu Rang’s eyes narrowed. Then he waved a hand.

The ruler vanished.

Gu Qing He wiped the blood from his mouth and smiled again. He turned to Wang Jie.

“As fellow star dao, I’ll call you junior brother.”

“Junior Brother Wang, if you want to live, persuade your master.”

“It’s only belief.”

“If your master sits in the Star Palace, then among these four Bridge Pillars, no one’s status will surpass yours.”

“You would rise in a single step.”

Wang Jie met his gaze without blinking. His voice was calm—and very serious.

“Nonsense.”

“It’s not your place, little junior, to lecture my master.”

Gu Qing He’s smile faded.

Shen Zhou’s brows lifted.

Shu Rang glanced at Wang Jie and grinned, silently amused.

Gu Qing He’s eyes narrowed. “Junior brother doesn’t know what happened, does he?”

“You had a senior brother and a senior sister.”

“They’re both dead.”

“Do you want to follow them?”

Wang Jie’s brows tightened. “Don’t call me junior brother.”

“You’re not worthy.”

Gu Qing He’s face went cold.

Shu Rang flicked his hand. “Enough. Get lost.”

“I won’t kill you.”

“But I don’t want to see you again.”

Gu Qing He nodded. “Fine. Junior takes his leave.”

He turned and left—so quickly and decisively that even Shu Rang and Wang Jie blinked.

Shen Zhou remained.

Shu Rang and Wang Jie looked at him.

Shen Zhou bowed again. “Now it’s my turn.”

“My master instructed me: if Senior won’t sit in the Star Palace, then I will watch over Junior Brother Wang.”

He smiled at Wang Jie, polite and sharp. “Not much.”

“I’ll suppress you for ten years.”

“That’s all.”

Wang Jie’s expression didn’t change.

Ten years.

The day of the Wandering-Star Tournament.