Chapter 356
Chapter 356: Old Jiang
Wang Jie smiled and replied, “So what if you admit it? So what if you don’t? Would it really change anything?”
“What audacity!” Jiang Yu scolded fiercely, “With Two Chan Grandfather here, if you’re truly a spy, I’ll make your life worse than death.”
Wang Jie shrugged, saying calmly, “I entered Three Chan Heaven by the Chan Token. The sect has never questioned me about my past before, nor will they ever.”
Before Jiang Yu could argue, he continued, “Besides, if I were a spy, why would I spend resources so extravagantly? And how could a brat like you see through my disguise? What kind of spy would be so foolish?”
Jiang Yu shouted angrily, “Who are you calling a brat?”
Wang Jie laughed heartily, “Aren’t you one? Hey, weren’t you crying at the Miao Clan earlier?”
At these words, Jiang Jing Yue, Lao Ji, and the others instinctively turned their gazes toward Jiang Yu.
Even Two Chan’s eyes opened slightly wider.
Jiang Yu’s face flushed with fury, turning green and white alternately as he roared, “Lu Bu Qi, you’re lying! Who cried? I’ll kill you! Lao Ji, finish him off!”
But Lao Ji dared not move. Two Chan was watching, and this was Chan Mountain territory. Lu Bu Qi was also an officially recognized Chan Disciple here. Truthfully, Lao Ji himself thought Lu Bu Qi’s point made sense. What spy would act so obviously?
Jiang Jing Yue finally spoke, sternly reprimanding Jiang Yu, “Jiang Yu, enough.”
Jiang Yu looked toward Jiang Jing Yue desperately, pleading, “Clan Sister, you have to stand up for me! This Lu Bu Qi is absolutely suspicious. How can a lock force cultivator have so many resources? He even fought evenly with Shu He—Shu He was personally instructed by Grandfather! Even among Wandering Star Realm cultivators, few could match him, yet Lu Bu Qi is merely a Full Star Realm!”
Jiang Jing Yue frowned slightly. “Enough for now. I understand.” Then she turned toward Wang Jie and said, “Junior Brother Lu, sect rules indeed dictate that past matters are never questioned for those who enter with a Chan Token. However, Junior Brother, your case is somewhat extraordinary.”
Wang Jie hadn’t realized Jiang Jing Yue had family ties to Jiang Yu. He responded evenly, “Senior Sister, are you questioning my loyalty?”
Jiang Jing Yue’s eyes studied him deeply. “Certainly not. If Junior Brother wishes to speak, you may; if not, you may remain silent. But as the Senior Sister of Chan Mountain, I will not allow our people to be bullied by outsiders, as long as everything remains within sect rules.”
Wang Jie respectfully bowed toward Jiang Jing Yue, “Thank you, Senior Sister.”
Jiang Yu was anxious, “Clan Sister, I—”
Jiang Jing Yue turned toward him, her voice growing heavy, “This is Chan Mountain, not the Chan Hall. Everything here is decided by Two Chan. Mind your conduct.”
Lao Ji stepped forward quickly and pulled Jiang Yu back.
Jiang Yu was unwilling, glaring at Wang Jie in resentment.
Silence fell.
After a brief pause, Two Chan finally spoke up lazily, “Finished?”
Jiang Jing Yue replied respectfully, “Yes.”
“Then withdraw,” Two Chan said dismissively.
Jiang Yu suddenly shouted again, “But Lu Bu Qi knows the Armor Eight Steps technique!”
No one moved at these words.
Wang Jie’s heart tightened slightly.
Two Chan waved his hand, “Armor Eight Steps isn’t some secret art. I know it too.”
Jiang Yu stood frozen in shock.
“Enough, withdraw. It’s nothing but a farce,” Two Chan said, rising to leave.
As Two Chan departed, Wang Jie finally relaxed. Indeed, the Chan Token still held sway. As long as they didn’t confirm his origins from the Death Realm, he would be safe.
He flashed Jiang Yu a mocking smile.
Jiang Yu glared back coldly, growling, “Kid, you’d better watch yourself. I won’t let this go.”
Jiang Jing Yue snapped sternly, “Enough nonsense!”
Jiang Yu turned to Jiang Jing Yue, bitterness in his voice, “Clan Sister, why do you side with an outsider?”
Jiang Jing Yue’s brow furrowed deeply, “I’ll say it once more. Lu Bu Qi is an acknowledged Chan Disciple of our Chan Mountain. Unless he betrays Three Chan Heaven, no one may harass him. If you do, I will personally have you confined in the Chan Hall.”
Jiang Yu wanted to argue further, but Shu He quickly intervened, giving him a meaningful look. In the end, Jiang Yu held back his anger, casting one last venomous glare toward Wang Jie as he prepared to leave.
“Wait a moment,” Wang Jie suddenly called, glancing briefly at Jiang Yu before addressing Jiang Jing Yue, “Senior Sister, so we’ll let it go even though he tried to kill me?”
Jiang Yu exploded, “You still dare bring this up?”
“Why wouldn’t I? I’m a Chan Disciple officially recognized by Chan Mountain, yet I was nearly killed by someone from my own sect—one of them even a Hundred Star Realm cultivator.”
“I only thought you were suspicious and wanted to bring you back for questioning! Who tried to kill you?”
Wang Jie chuckled mockingly, “You truly are a brat, afraid to admit even your own actions. You’re no man.”
“Lu Bu Qi, you—”
Jiang Jing Yue shouted sharply, “Enough!” She fixed Jiang Yu with a severe look. “Jiang Yu, from now on you are forbidden to approach Lu Bu Qi. You may not entTwo Chan Mountain territory again, or you alone will bear the consequences.”
Jiang Yu seethed in rage but was dragged away by Lao Ji and Shu He.
Once they were gone, Jiang Jing Yue turned to Wang Jie, “Junior Brother, forgive us for the trouble you faced. Please do not harbor resentment.”
Wang Jie smiled gently, “Senior Sister is too kind. There’s no resentment, but my spaceship was destroyed—and it was a Star Cloud-class vessel.”
“Charge it to Jiang Yu. Junior Brother can have another crafted when you visit OutTwo Chan. I’ll give instructions for it.”
“Many thanks, Senior Sister. May I go now?”
“You may.”
Wang Jie did not intend to demand anything further, nor would he get anything else. He simply didn’t want Jiang Yu to trouble him again in the future.
Though Two Chan and Jiang Jing Yue had not asked him many questions directly, they undoubtedly remained cautious. He would need to act more discreetly from now on.
Jiang Jing Yue watched Wang Jie’s departing figure, her gaze thoughtful.
Returning to the Sunset Mountain Range, Wang Jie resumed a calm life of cultivation. He didn’t rush off to seek resources from Nian Wei nor take any action, choosing instead to focus solely on his cultivation in the mountain range.
From time to time, he took out the wooden figurine, simply staring at it.
Truthfully, he himself didn’t know what exactly he was supposed to see. Ting Chen hadn’t told him clearly either, just instructed him to look at it.
Thus, two years passed swiftly.
During these two years, he concentrated on fusing lock force into his meridians and bones. His progress wasn’t slow, but neither was it fast. Considering the overwhelming amount of lock force within him, if it weren’t for the special technique created by his master, he’d never have reached even the speed of a normal cultivator. Indeed, he might never have reached Wandering Star Realm in his entire lifetime.
Having already reached such speed, he was content.
Because of the wooden figure, Wang Jie had never practiced the Heavenly Dipper Form Refining Diagram.
Two years had passed.
Back then, Ting Chen had given him only two years.
Now that the deadline was approaching, anxiety filled his heart. He had tried everything during this time—sleeping while holding the wooden figure, dripping blood on it to form a bond, even using his lock force to penetrate it. Nothing worked.
[Perhaps this thing simply isn’t destined for me.]
He put away the wooden figure. It was time to visit Nian Wei at OutTwo Chan. They hadn’t seen each other since returning from the Miao Clan.
Fortunately, Jiang Yu hadn’t found anothTwo Chance to make trouble for him.
Even Su Qing had remained oddly quiet, despite her vow to never let him off. Wang Jie had hoped she’d cause trouble, as he desperately needed those eyelashes. But if she wouldn’t come, going after her would be even more difficult. Surely, he couldn’t resort to robbery.
There were less than eight years remaining until the Wandering Star Martial Assembly.
Time pressed upon him urgently.
Leaving the Luoxia Mountain Range, Wang Jie boarded a starship at the port, heading straight for OutTwo Chan.
As Wang Jie’s ship soared into the skies, someone immediately reported his movements to Jiang Jing Yue.
Jiang Jing Yue opened her eyes slightly. [Going to OutTwo Chan?]
How could she ignore Jiang Yu’s earlier warnings? Due to the Chan Token’s rules, she couldn’t openly investigate. Yet Wang Jie was indeed too peculiar, so she naturally kept watch.
“Monitor every move he makes. I want to know everywhere he goes and everyone he meets.”
“Yes, Senior Sister.”
At OutTwo Chan, Wang Jie went straight to the Star Fusion Center.
Unaware he was being watched, Wang Jie learned of it only when Nian Wei informed him.
“Jiang Jing Yue is keeping an eye on me?” Wang Jie asked.
Nian Wei nodded.
Wang Jie sighed helplessly, “That brat Jiang Yu really caused me trouble this time. Jiang Jing Yue suspects me; it’s only natural she’d watch closely.”
“Don’t worry,” Nian Wei reassured. “You just need to visit a few more places openly. As long as you’re not from the Death Realm or haven’t betrayed Three Chan Heaven, it won’t matter even if she guesses you come from Armor One Sect or another Bridge Pillar.”
“Besides, you won’t be staying here long, right?”
Wang Jie didn’t deny it.
Nian Wei didn’t know his exact identity, but she could sense it through his actions. Wang Jie no longer behaved as cautiously as he once did at Frost Radiance Sect. He’d remain in Three Chan Heaven only ten years. Afterward, he’d leave without care.
What others here thought of him mattered little.
“Do you think Jiang Jing Yue will figure out my connection with Star Dome Visage?” Wang Jie asked.
Nian Wei shrugged helplessly. “If she does, it’s only speculation.”
“Fine,” Wang Jie said, “I’m heading to Lock Force Devour Star for replenishment. In the meantime, find me some powerful formation manuals, a Five Tribulations Star Artifact—preferably a blade—and lastly, help me buy a piece of old ginger.”
Everything else sounded normal, but the last request stunned Nian Wei. Something felt strange.
“What was that last thing?”
“Old ginger.”
Without another word, Wang Jie left. He needed to order a new starship first.
His previous Star Hope vessel had been destroyed. Jiang Jing Yue had promised a replacement, with costs billed to Jiang Yu. Since that was the case, Wang Jie wouldn’t hold back.
At the Star Dome Starship Trading Center, he customized a new ship for the price of—seven hundred million starstones.
Had it not required a longer waiting period, he would’ve gladly spent one billion or even more.
Seven hundred million was decent enough. More than twice the price of the Star Hope, quite luxurious indeed.
It would take ten days to complete.
Thus, Wang Jie returned to cultivation.
At Chan Mountain, Jiang Jing Yue reviewed Wang Jie’s whereabouts. His first stop was the Star Dome Star Fusion Center—just like before. Could he have ties to Star Dome Visage? It made sense. Otherwise, how could a mere lock force cultivator obtain a Chan Token?
But would Star Dome Visage truly value a lock force cultivator?
Everyone knew Star Dome Visage had people in every faction. Even their Three Chan Heaven had agents everywhere.
As long as no one committed betrayal, there was no reason to interfere.
Yet she couldn’t be certain Wang Jie truly belonged to Star Dome Visage.
Her communicator chimed—Jiang Yu calling.
“Clan sister, that bastard Lu Bu Qi spent seven hundred million starstones on a starship!”
Jiang Jing Yue replied calmly, “So what? You hunted him down; he’s merely spending a bit of your money in return.”
“That bastard’s suspicious. Clan sister, have you investigated him?”
“It’s none of your concern. I’ll handle his matters. Just don’t cause further trouble.”
Jiang Yu angrily ended the conversation.
Ten days later, Wang Jie departed aboard his new starship. He couldn’t even be bothered to name it, thinking perhaps an unnamed vessel would last longer.
Arriving at Lock Force Devour Star, he replenished his lock force and returned.
Upon seeing Nian Wei again, she handed him several formation manuals—more than ten in total.
Wang Jie happily accepted them, billing everything to Ting Chen’s account.
“We couldn’t find a Five Tribulations Star Artifact blade,” Nian Wei explained apologetically. “After all, weapons at Star Refining Realm level are scarce.”
“As for your request, that piece of old ginger…”
Nian Wei double-checked one last time, then handed it over.