Liang Chen, Qian Yu, Niu Shouren, and Chen Jiaojiao's gazes clung to Wang Jianqiang as if glued, greed flooding their eyes to the point of overflowing. In their sight, this man was no longer the "Useless Wang," but a walking spiritual vein—a chance to soar to the heavens in a single step.
After leaving the site where the jade stone emerged, they had been taking the safest route, avoiding all risk. Not long ago, when they sensed the terrifying fluctuations of battle in the distance, even Liang Chen and Qian Yu had tensed—such an aura was far beyond their ability to meddle with. The four chose to detour, preferring to avoid trouble. Yet who would have thought, upon circling around to the rear of the battlefield, they would stumble right into Wang Jianqiang's line of sight?
"Searching high and low, only to find it here so easily!" Niu Shouren rubbed his hands, his voice brimming with excitement, Chen Jiaojiao's breathing quickening along with him.
Wang Jianqiang frowned as he faced their naked malice, subconsciously taking a step back. "What do you want?"
"Wang Jianqiang, you probably don't know yet, do you? Your secret has already been exposed." Niu Shouren sneered, his tone full of dominance.
Exposed? Wang Jianqiang's first thought was the system—but the system was hidden deep in his mind; no one but him could possibly perceive it. How could it be revealed? Unless… His eyes darted to Chen Jiaojiao, heart skipping a beat: was it about those entangled nights with her?
But the next instant he dismissed it—if Niu Shouren really knew, with his protective yet prideful nature, he would have already exploded. How could he calmly speak of "secrets" here? He might be named Niu Shouren, but he wasn't truly as slow as an ox's head.
Seeing Wang Jianqiang's bewilderment, Niu Shouren's smirk deepened. "Wang Jianqiang, your acting skills are quite something. But your helping Wang Yuyao break through—I've long since learned of it. Playing dumb won't save you. Hand over that rapid breakthrough method obediently, and we might spare your life."
Wang Jianqiang froze, then turned with a strange expression toward Chen Jiaojiao—the truth was obvious. Both Wang Yuyao and Chen Jiaojiao often visited him. Even if they hadn't seen him aiding her breakthroughs directly, they must have guessed from changes in cultivation, with Chen Jiaojiao passing the news along.
Catching his gaze, Chen Jiaojiao's fingers clenched her robe so tightly her nails nearly pierced the skin. Hatred surfaced on her face, but underneath it churned a panic she didn't want to admit. "That's right, I spread it. Wang Jianqiang, you clearly have a method to help people break through, but you refused to help me—your 'goddaughter'—and instead favored that outsider Wang Yuyao. You've gone too far!"
She spat the words through gritted teeth, yet her heart was in turmoil. Who was truly "too far"—him, or herself? She was the one who had sought him first. On those nights, there had been coercion and humiliation, her unwilling struggle, but also moments of losing control. His fingertips' warmth, his deep breath, the strength with which she once clutched his arm of her own accord—none of it was false. She hated that he favored Wang Yuyao, and hated even more that, though she should despise him, her heart twisted in pain at the thought of him coming to harm.
Wang Jianqiang only glanced at her indifferently, without a ripple in his eyes—those entanglements had always been absurd. He had no interest in defending himself.
"Enough reminiscing." Liang Chen suddenly spoke, his glance at Chen Jiaojiao tinged with impatience. "We're too close to the battlefield; it's not safe to linger. Let's get down to business." He turned toward Wang Jianqiang, voice heavy with authority. "You know what we want. Hand over the method of breakthrough."
"And if I hand it over, you'll let me leave unharmed?" Wang Jianqiang asked flatly.
Liang Chen chuckled, his tone dripping with scorn. "Your life is worthless. Behave, and sparing you isn't impossible."
Wang Jianqiang nodded calmly. "The method is simple. Alchemy—I'm a gifted alchemist."
The words dropped, and Liang Chen's expression darkened instantly, as if he'd just heard the joke of the century. "You mean Wang Yuyao went from sixth level Qi Refining to perfection in half a year—all because of pills you made? Old fool, do you take me for an idiot?" A man branded a useless outer sect disciple for years suddenly claimed to be a "talented alchemist"? He'd sooner believe a mortal pig could cultivate than accept that.
Chen Jiaojiao and Niu Shouren both laughed coldly, though Chen Jiaojiao's smile stiffened. She knew he could refine pills, but had never seen the true extent of their power. Yet recalling how, at the peak of those frenzied nights, he would mutter "hurry, the furnace's heat is almost ready," she found herself half-believing him—and half-fearing he couldn't prove it, angering Liang Chen further.
"This old fool's tongue is sharp." Qian Yu chuckled, and a crushing aura of late-stage Qi Refining rolled down over Wang Jianqiang. Normally it wouldn't touch him, but with his spiritual energy nearly exhausted, he was forced to bend, face paling.
To the four watching, it only reinforced the image of a "useless man." Looking down from on high, Qian Yu said, "I'll give you one more chance to rephrase."
"I'm telling the truth." Wang Jianqiang straightened with effort, pulling a wry smile. These days, honesty was the least believable thing of all. Only Dong Yue and Wang Yuyao knew he could refine perfect first-grade pills; he had never flaunted it, so their doubt was expected.
Qian Yu shook his head and turned to Liang Chen. "Seems we'll need harsher measures."
Liang Chen sneered, raising his palm slowly as spiritual light gathered there. "Old fool, if you insist on courting death, then I'll kill you first and refine your soul to get the answers."
"Senior Brother Liang, don't!"
Chen Jiaojiao surged forward instinctively, blocking him, her voice trembling. Niu Shouren froze—he thought she hated Wang Jianqiang to the bone, so why stop this? Chen Jiaojiao herself panicked. She had wanted him to suffer, yes—but at the sight of that blazing light in Liang Chen's palm, her mind was filled with chaotic memories: him pressing her down, her chance to bite his neck away deliberately missed; his whisper, "Do you regret it?" met only with silence instead of the word "yes." She couldn't let him die—at least not at Liang Chen's hand. His life shouldn't end so cheaply.
Liang Chen shot her a cold glance. "Move."
"Senior Brother Liang—" she tried again, only to be struck in the chest by his spiritual-force-laden "Move!" She was flung back like a kite with cut strings, slamming into a tree trunk, the pain making her vision blur.
"Jiaojiao!" Niu Shouren rushed to catch her, bewildered. "Are you insane? If that old man dies, what does it matter to you?"
Leaning against him, too pained to speak, Chen Jiaojiao still fixed her eyes on Wang Jianqiang. She saw Liang Chen's palm strike tear through the air, carrying destructive might toward him. Terror rose in her chest. She squeezed her eyes shut, but images flooded her mind unbidden: his roguish grin, his low "don't move" when she resisted, even the moment he had brushed her hair gently… Scenes laced with shame and confusion, leaving her nose sour—she had only wanted to force him to help her break through, not see him dead!
Just then, a light flared. Chen Jiaojiao snapped her eyes open to see a magnificent gown enveloping Wang Jianqiang—rippling with waterlight, moon shadows drifting, bathing him in pure moonlight. The beauty of it was stunning, yet paired with his weathered face, the sight was undeniably strange.
"It's Wang Yuyao's high-grade artifact!" Liang Chen and Qian Yu both cried out in shock. High-grade artifacts were priceless—each of them only possessed one. That Wang Yuyao would lend hers to Wang Jianqiang?
Chen Jiaojiao froze too, but relief bloomed in her chest—he had a trump card left.
"So what if it's a high-grade artifact?" Liang Chen quickly recovered, sneering. "No matter how strong, it depends on the wielder. You're weak—how much power can you draw from it? Today you'll die regardless!" With that, he unleashed another palm strike, this one sharper, more terrible than the last.
Wang Jianqiang said nothing. With a wave of his hand, two shoes flew out—one toward Liang Chen, the other toward Qian Yu.
The next moment, with a thought—
Both shoes exploded simultaneously.