Chapter 90

Chapter 90: Master, You’ve Been Put Through Hardship

Wang Jie thought Kuang Lei had lost its mind. This was suicide.

Did it really believe the Eight Prisons Realm would protect it?

If anything, the Eight Prisons Realm would be the first to slap it to death.

As the two sides collided, Wang Jie slipped through the worst of the shockwaves. Mad Clan creatures tried to snatch him up, only to find they couldn’t.

Unless a Full-Star Realm expert intervened, ordinary Star-Breaking Realm fighters could no longer threaten him.

For now, he hid among the ruins of Qing Shan Cheng. Creatures prowled everywhere, tightening the circle around him; it was only a matter of time before they found him.

The battle had barely begun when news arrived from beyond the field: the Fourth Defense Line had collapsed.

Too fast.

Without Kuang Lei, the defense line couldn’t hold back the Frost Splendor Sect at all.

And when Kuang Lei learned the news, its assault on Jiang You Sheng grew even more savage. The warhammer whirled, smashing nearby stars to pieces. Shattered peaks hurtled toward Qing Fang Star, raining down in an endless bombardment.

Qing Fang Star was doomed.

How could the Puppeteer Tower possibly withstand Kuang Lei?

Jiang You Sheng could match Kuang Lei, but the creatures Kuang Lei brought were elite troops from the Fourth Defense Line. They swept through the Puppeteer Tower in short order and dragged Wang Jie out.

Wang Jie stared at the sea of creatures surrounding him—Star-Breaking Realm figures among them. He lifted his voice and shouted, “I’m a Chen Refiner. No matter how great my crimes are, taking me away can offset them, right, Kuang Lei?”

From afar, Kuang Lei flicked a glance his way. Hadn’t he just said that?

So why say it again?

Because Wang Jie wasn’t talking to Kuang Lei. He was talking to Xia Bei Yi.

Xia Bei Yi was still hidden within the Qing Fang Star cluster. If Wang Jie didn’t want the Mad Clan to haul him away, Jiang You Sheng alone wouldn’t be enough.

The creatures closed in.

Wang Jie didn’t resist. He had no intention of fighting to the death.

White streams of air erupted from the ground, surging upward and hardening into towering ice pillars that speared the sky.

Xia Bei Yi finally moved.

Kuang Lei and Jiang You Sheng’s expressions shifted as they looked into the distance.

Arrows whistled in, carrying sharp, birdlike cries.

Wang Jie exhaled, relief loosening his chest.

“Jiang You Sheng,” he called, “deal with the enemy first!”

Jiang You Sheng’s eyes flashed. If the master was taken to the Eight Prisons Realm, there might still be a chance to snatch him back. But if the Frost Splendor Sect took him…

Then he was gone for good.

With that thought, Jiang You Sheng and Kuang Lei struck at the same time.

But Xia Bei Yi’s move was a surprise attack, and he was already closest to Wang Jie. The instant they moved, Xia Bei Yi was at his side.

“Brother,” he said.

Wang Jie forced excitement onto his face.

Xia Bei Yi wanted nothing more than to smash this bastard’s skull in with a palm, but a Chen Refiner was far too valuable. He had to capture him. “If you don’t want to die, come with me.”

“I absolutely don’t want to die,” Wang Jie said quickly.

“Let go of the master!” Kuang Lei bellowed.

Kuang Lei and Jiang You Sheng attacked together.

Xia Bei Yi sneered, seized Wang Jie tighter, and surged straight toward them.

Kuang Lei’s pupils shrank. It pulled back in panic.

Jiang You Sheng reflexively tried to stop Kuang Lei, terrified it would cut Wang Jie down in the chaos.

“Come on,” Xia Bei Yi laughed. “Strike if you dare. Let’s see whether he dies first or I do.”

Wang Jie realized Xia Bei Yi wasn’t stupid. He was stalling.

The Fourth Defense Line had already fallen; the Frost Splendor Sect was closing in.

The Mad Clan didn’t dare cross the Third Defense Line. Sooner or later, this region would become the Eighth Star Chain’s territory.

Kuang Lei ground its teeth, eyes locked on Xia Bei Yi, unable to decide.

Jiang You Sheng didn’t care about the Ninth Star Chain. He only cared about keeping Wang Jie alive.

“Master, don’t worry,” he said hoarsely. “I’ll save you. I swear it.”

Xia Bei Yi’s smile turned cold. “Relax. As long as you don’t move, I’ll take very good care of this master.”

Kuang Lei attacked anyway, slamming the hammer down at Xia Bei Yi.

Xia Bei Yi retreated at terrifying speed. A candle flame flared before him—no more than a wavering ember—yet the hammer couldn’t push forward even an inch. Its starforce burned away, and the hammer itself began to melt.

Jiang You Sheng drove a puppet forward to knock the weapon aside and roared, “Kuang Lei! What are you doing?”

Kuang Lei’s stare never left Xia Bei Yi. “That human can use Chen Art. He looks young—he’s probably a True Inheritance Disciple. Kill him and it’s a great merit all the same.”

“You’ll get the master killed!” Jiang You Sheng snapped.

“War has no mercy,” Kuang Lei said. “There’s no time to care.”

Jiang You Sheng threw himself between them, tangling Kuang Lei up.

Xia Bei Yi retreated with Wang Jie, carving through the creatures that tried to block him. His voice dropped, low and dangerous. “I hope you really can help me offset my merits and faults. Otherwise…”

He gave Wang Jie a look of pure frost. The threat didn’t need words.

Wang Jie sighed. “Brother, I didn’t expect you to be this strong. If I’d known, I’d have sworn brotherhood with you long ago—live together, die together.”

Xia Bei Yi sneered. Like you’re worthy.

Still, Wang Jie was a Chen Refiner. His value was immense.

And Xia Bei Yi had never actually lived within the sect. He’d cultivated alone for years, ignorant of many things.

The Qing Fang Star cluster continued to crumble. Cities had already become rubble.

Kuang Lei was desperate to either kill Xia Bei Yi or seize Wang Jie. Jiang You Sheng could only block it, even as he searched for a way to rescue Wang Jie.

Then the entire Qing Fang Star cluster shuddered.

Starforce—visible to the naked eye—rose from the earth in streams, transforming into transparent beams that shot skyward. The pressure became a gale that swept over everything.

Kuang Lei and Jiang You Sheng froze, hands stilled.

Snow began to fall.

Xia Bei Yi’s eyes shone. It was here.

Jiang You Sheng’s face went gray. Kuang Lei didn’t hesitate—it turned and fled.

A Hundred-Star Realm expert.

Kuang Lei hadn’t imagined anyone of that level had been hiding until now.

But before it could reach the void, the snow between heaven and earth abruptly crystallized. In a heartbeat, Kuang Lei was frozen solid. No matter how it struggled, it couldn’t resist. It became a lump of ice and crashed to the ground.

The entire process lasted less than three seconds.

A Roaming-Star Realm powerhouse died like it was nothing.

Wang Jie stared, stunned. So this was the power of the Hundred-Star Realm.

The difference was absurd.

The Qing Fang Star cluster became a world of white. Creatures of the Ninth Star Chain froze one after another, dying in the bitter cold.

Jiang You Sheng landed slowly, face pale, not daring to move.

No one in the Puppeteer Tower dared move either.

The Frost Splendor Sect had prepared too thoroughly. If this Hundred-Star Realm expert had acted earlier, the Fourth Defense Line would never have held this long.

He’d been hiding.

“Greetings, Domain Lord Ning,” Xia Bei Yi said, bowing toward the sky.

At some point, two figures stood atop the ice and snow above them—one was Deputy Domain Lord Yan, the other an elderly man with a ruddy complexion and an imposing presence.

Wang Jie looked up. Deputy Domain Lord Yan again.

Because of Xia Bei Yi’s salute, Deputy Domain Lord Yan glanced over—and immediately spotted Wang Jie. His gaze jolted.

How was this guy still alive?

And why was he standing with Xia Bei Yi?

Wang Jie gave him a small, knowing smile.

Deputy Domain Lord Yan felt a wave of absurdity.

The elderly man spoke, voice steady and heavy. “Who are you?”

He was the Domain Lord of Congealing Splendor Domain, a Hundred-Star Realm powerhouse—the one who had just killed Kuang Lei.

On the ground, Jiang You Sheng bowed. “Tower Lord Jiang You Sheng of the Puppeteer Tower, Qing Fang Star cluster, Seventh Star Chain, greets Senior.”

Domain Lord Ning’s brows drew together. “Why were you fighting Kuang Lei? Wasn’t the Seventh Star Chain supposed to support the Mad Clan?”

Jiang You Sheng didn’t know where to begin. Everything had changed too fast.

Xia Bei Yi stepped forward, respectful. “This matter can be explained by this disciple.”

Domain Lord Ning looked at him. “You carried out the mission?”

Xia Bei Yi’s heart sank. “Yes.”

“Then why did you fail?”

Xia Bei Yi bowed deeply. “This disciple was trapped by the Puppeteer Tower the moment I arrived. I’ve been trapped until now, unable to complete the mission. I ask Domain Lord to punish me.”

Domain Lord Ning descended beside Jiang You Sheng and beckoned.

Xia Bei Yi hurried over, bringing Wang Jie with him.

Deputy Domain Lord Yan had a dozen questions burning on his tongue, but it wasn’t his place to speak first. He might hold the title of deputy, yet his cultivation and standing were worlds apart from Domain Lord Ning’s.

Domain Lord Ning’s gaze swept them. “Speak. We have time.”

Jiang You Sheng and Xia Bei Yi exchanged a glance. Feeling Domain Lord Ning’s eyes on him, Jiang You Sheng forced himself to speak first. “This junior’s conflict with Kuang Lei began because of this Chen Refiner…”

The moment the words “Chen Refiner” left his mouth, Domain Lord Ning’s eyes lit up. His gaze locked on Wang Jie without hesitation.

Deputy Domain Lord Yan froze.

This guy was a Chen Refiner?

How?

Xia Bei Yi glanced at Deputy Domain Lord Yan, confused by his expression.

Wang Jie could feel Domain Lord Ning’s attention warming, almost approving.

Right. A Chen Refiner’s greatest value was refining stars for the Hundred-Star Realm. And Domain Lord Ning was Hundred-Star Realm.

That made things very interesting.

When Jiang You Sheng finished, Xia Bei Yi explained as well, largely the same.

When they were done, Domain Lord Ning smiled at Wang Jie. “My apologies, Master. War has no mercy. You’ve been put through hardship.”

Wang Jie stepped forward and bowed. “This junior, Wang Jie, greets Domain Lord.”

Domain Lord Ning nodded. “Were you hurt, Master?”

“No.” Wang Jie kept his tone careful. “Thanks to Brother Bei Feng and Tower Lord Jiang protecting me. Otherwise that monster would’ve eaten me.”

Domain Lord Ning laughed, pleased. Xia Bei Yi visibly relaxed—this Chen Refiner’s value was even heavier than he’d expected.

Jiang You Sheng, meanwhile, felt only bitterness. The Chen Refiner was lost to him now. The fact that he was alive at all felt like luck.

Domain Lord Ning’s smile deepened. “War is not over. If Master is willing, I can invite you to join the Frost Splendor Sect as a guest elder.”

Wang Jie didn’t hesitate long. In this universe, he’d learned, no one offered protection for free.

He bowed again. “This junior will do his utmost for the sect and for the people of the sect.”

Domain Lord Ning was clearly delighted.

A moment later, Wang Jie stepped forward once more. “This junior obtained an item by chance. Senior, please see whether it’s useful.”

He offered a storage ring.

Domain Lord Ning took it, checked within, and his eyes flashed. He abruptly turned toward Deputy Domain Lord Yan.

Deputy Domain Lord Yan accepted the ring, his expression shifting. He glanced at Wang Jie, then at the ring, then drew out a tube of blood and dripped it onto it. A beast-hide map slid out from within.

Wang Jie watched the entire process, and the more he watched, the steadier his heartbeat became.

It was real.

Deputy Domain Lord Yan nodded to Domain Lord Ning. “This is it.”

Domain Lord Ning’s gaze returned to Wang Jie, sharp and intent. “How did Master obtain this item?”

Wang Jie met Deputy Domain Lord Yan’s eyes. “Because it was my mission,” he said calmly. “Right, Deputy Domain Lord Yan?”