Chapter 546: Chapter 189 Life and Death of Wu Ji

Above the heavenly vault, the stars were scattered like sparks of fireflies.

Zhou Yan knew that was the starry sky. Beyond the endless expanse of the starry sky was a Galaxy Universe, within which lay a Milky Way Galaxy, home to a planet known as ‘Earth.’

“Big brother said that since he arrived at the Sword Burial Ancestor Star, the time gap shouldn’t have exceeded twenty years. Twenty years, I wonder how things are back there, the parents of my master… which means my own parents on that planet, are they still doing well? And the vegetative body, has it passed away?”

Zhou Yan murmured to himself. He really wanted to visit, but how would he embark upon the vast path through the stars and traverse the Star Universe, cross the cosmos?

“Nine Changes of Sword Void… according to their arrangement, I should have reached this realm. Yet… I ultimately did not obtain the Emperor Blood and only mastered up to the Sword Void Fifth Transformation. The remaining four transformations, that path, I will have to walk by myself.”

Zhou Yan pondered a great deal, recalling all that had transpired in his cultivation up until now, eventually converging all his thoughts into a long sigh.

…

The night was the same, the air carried the same essence, and someone else found tranquility elusive.

This person was Wu Ji.

No one knew what he was thinking.

He simply gazed silently at the heavenly vault, at the starry sky, as if it held all the answers he sought.

“The Nine Layer Supreme Dao Refining Technique, it’s my insight, an amalgamation of ancient inheritances, corresponding to the realms of the Nine Sword Ancestor Paths that I derived. My Artifact Refining Ability as an Artifact Sword Cultivator that rivals the Nine Sword Ancestors, lacking the Saint’s Path, can only reach the top-grade Soul Device and Low Grade Saint Artifact levels.”

“However, after meeting him, I could vaguely sense his familiarity with the ‘Nine Palace Artifact Dao’ and ‘Sun and Moon Qiankun Dao’ that I hope to learn. He also possesses the Heaven and Earth Purple Fire, making my chances of victory not so great.”

“But this is a rare opportunity for me to give my all in a competition, regardless of the outcome, to validate my Path of Artifact Refining, it’s worth it.”

Wu Ji mused to himself, then he sighed and thought, “Brother, I might disappoint you. Although your genius accelerated my growth, even leaving behind an obsession in my heart with hopes of controlling my thoughts, in the end, you don’t understand me. This kind of strife is not what I enjoy.

I thought I could fight for you and the family, but I suddenly discovered that even if I fought my all, even if I won the world, I would never be liked by mother, forever the ominous and despicable person in her heart.”

Wu Ji chuckled bitterly, then sighed again. Subsequently, he derived a mysterious energy that formed a mirror, which reflected his image.

The reflection bore a striking resemblance to that of the Emptiness Saint and Ji Wu.

But this resemblance lasted only a moment before fading away. The next moment, Wu Ji’s figure inexplicably grew much taller, and his appearance became even thinner.

At the same time, a flesh-colored mole the size of a pinky finger appeared on his forehead, looking somewhat abrupt and peculiar.

His features were handsome and enchanting, likened to those that would even incite jealousy in women.

However, after looking in the mirror for a moment, the reflection began to twist gradually, transforming into the spitting image of Ji Wu.

He sighed once more, his gaze returning to the void, his eyes shimmering with an understanding of the Original Dao at the level of minor completion.

“Perhaps I’m truly not their child after all, my real face bears no resemblance to them. Why is that… However, it is comforting that now my Combat Power… is approaching ten. Is it time to endure the trials after the Nine Changes of Sword Void? Do I… still have a chance to overcome them?”

Wu Ji, with his hands clasped behind his back, had eyes filled with infinite sorrow.

“What are you doing here? The Artifact Dao competition starts tomorrow, and you still haven’t dedicated yourself to diligent cultivation?! You’re truly hopeless!”

From the void, a very cold voice rang out.

“Mother.”

Wu Ji bowed respectfully and greeted her.

“You are not my son; I do not have a genius son like you. In tomorrow’s Artifact Dao competition, as long as you and Zhou Yan are not too far apart in skill, the Yaochi Saint will intervene to grant you victory. But if you lose without putting up a fight, I will not show any leniency because you are nominally my son.”

The Wuxu Saint said with a displeased and frosty expression.

Wu Ji’s lips twitched; there were things he wanted to say. For instance, the Artifact Refining Ability of Zhou Yanxuan was bound to be strong, something he had sensed and was sure of.

But he ultimately said nothing because the deep disgust in the Wuxu Saint’s eyes stabbed at that sealed memory in his heart.

It seemed that the disdain, hatred, and even extreme loathing in those eyes pierced into the depths of his heart like a sword, allowing the endless pain to emerge again.

Wu Ji remembered that when he was very young, he was actually stronger than his elder brother Zhou Yan in every aspect and did everything better, but each time it was Zhou Yan who received their parents’ praise and love, while he received beatings and insults.

Kneeling was the least of it; often, it was a savage beating, with spit showering down on his head, his face, his body.

He always wanted to show his worth in front of his parents, but each time he performed better was a prelude to disaster. He had even thought that maybe he was not truly their child; otherwise, why would there be such a stark difference in their treatment?

But… he ultimately said nothing, from the initial unwillingness, to the pain, to the calm, and then to indifference. This cycle of emotions had persisted for a long time.

Until one day, he became completely numb.

That day, he desperately saved his brother, only to find that it was Zhou Yan who had been plotting against him, entrapping him, all to seize a special inheritance of talent.

At that moment, he thought he would be in great pain, but actually, his heart was very calm.

…

After staying in the Outer Star Domain for a long time, he had returned this time only because he felt troubled by his brother’s death. Brothers, even if they became sworn enemies, were still brothers.

Bearing these emotions, he inherited all of Zhou Yan’s talents and became even more powerful. He originally thought that with Zhou Yan gone, his own status would change; the reality proved, however, that the days of being shunned remained the same.

“Don’t think that just because Wu Xu is dead, you can replace him. You lowly thing, you’ll never be as good as your brother!”

The Wuxu Saint scolded again, her voice still cold and merciless.

Wu Ji bit his lip, his body trembling slightly. He was silent for a long time before suddenly looking up and saying, “Mother, am I really that despicable? Am I really so lowly? Where exactly have I gone wrong? Please tell me; I am willing to correct my ways.”

The Wuxu Saint was stunned by his question, then her pretty face immediately showed a complex expression as if a terrible nightmare was rising and awakening in her heart.

Her eyes were filled with fear, despair, and an All Hope Lost sort of terror.

After these emotions surfaced, she went mad and suddenly struck towards Wu Ji with a fierce palm, shouting in frenzy, “Monstrosity! I want you dead! What are you?! Can you even make amends?! You deserve to die, you deserve to die!”

With a slap from the Wuxu Saint, the Void exploded, and the Heaven and Earth almost shattered.

Wu Ji’s body was instantly crushed, with almost no strength to resist, nearly killed on the spot.

“You’re crazy! You’ve lost your mind! You’re utterly insane! What does this have to do with Wu Ji?! You’re a lunatic!”

Another wave twisted through, and the broken and twisted ripples of the Void were restored to calm; then, a figure stood in front of Wu Ji, enveloping him within the Saint Halo while also repelling the Wuxu Saint.

“Kong Ji!”

The Wuxu Saint staggered backward several steps, then regained her composure, her face regaining a semblance of calm, but with an indescribable pain.

She looked at Wu Ji with a complicated expression, a hint of guilt in her eyes, but her voice was still icy cold, “Here is a Holy Soul Pill. Eat it and refine it, and you will recover soon. During tomorrow’s competition, just do what you can.”

After speaking, she didn’t pay any more attention to the Emptiness Saint and left, breaking through the sky.

In the spot where she had stood, there was a glittering elixir, shining resplendently.

“Sigh… Really… Wu Ji, don’t take your mother’s crazed cultivation to heart. Your father left a trace of Saint Power for you. Absorb and understand it more, your injuries will soon heal. As for tomorrow’s competition, it’s okay to fail, it’s normal for you to not surpass Zhou Yan, he’s the next life of Lei Yan King’s Residual Soul after all, with extraordinary talent that probably no one can match. We’ve accepted this.

So, those who need to accept their fate should do so; you will never be able to compare with him. The Holy Daughter, that’s not something for you to even think about, don’t feel pressured.”

The Emptiness Saint sighed and left behind a trace of Saint Power, disappearing like a wave of light.

Wu Ji, whose life had almost instantly extinguished, was now like a heap of rotten flesh placed in the tattered Void.

A cold wind blew over, the night became even darker, and the Starry Sky seemed to dim.

Wu Ji’s broken Soul, carrying his Bloodline, slowly rose from the darkness. He looked at the Holy Soul Pill and the trace of Saint Power, but his newly condensed frail body did not approach either of the two.

The Holy Soul Pill was very powerful, and that trace of Saint Power was even more formidable, both of them were like heaven-defying fortuitous resources. However, Wu Ji did not take them; instead, he gave those two items an indifferent glance and dragged his broken body away, his figure stooped as he left.

…