Chapter 1360: Star Light Like Arrows

Journeying eastward from the realm of Asahi, one arrives at the territory of Qi.

To minimize the possibility of a direct clash with the Tian clan of Great Marsh, Jiang Wang no longer felt the need to conceal his presence or hide his form. He altered the style of his Ruyi Immortal Robe, donning a cloak instead. [Mobile device users, remember to check 《》 for a wonderful reading experience!]

Having learned of Yu Beidou's support for him at Heaven Punishment Cliff and his subsequent recognition by the Three Punishment Palace, Jiang Wang had originally envisioned a grand return to Qi. Instead, upon reaching Qi, he found himself still resorting to furtive movements.

However, his heart was so consumed with worry over the matter of Grandmaster Guan Yan that there was no room for disappointment.

Since he had to proceed with stealth, he couldn't indulge in unrestrained flight within the borders of Qi. In a hegemonic state like Qi, flying openly without revealing one's identity was an extremely perilous act, potentially leading to being shot down in an instant.

During the day, Jiang Wang blended in with various merchant caravans, riding horses and carriages. By night, he traveled alone beneath the stars and moon. Thus, without rest, he pressed on day and night, reaching Great Marsh County at the fastest possible speed while keeping his identity concealed.

From the moment he stepped into Qi until he entered Great Marsh County, only three days had elapsed.

Great Marsh County lay in the northern reaches of Qi's border. Ji City served as its administrative center, and Seven Stars Valley was situated north of Ji City's domain.

Jiang Wang had visited Ji City on multiple occasions. His first visit was by carriage alongside Li Fengyao. The second time, he flew directly by imperial decree. This third visit, however, saw him moving in secrecy... it felt like he had regressed.

The character "Ji" in Ji City's name resembled a person near a food vessel. This had given rise to a courtly and popular rumor: "The Tian clan possesses the appetite of a Taotie, insatiably greedy." He wasn't sure if Wu Lie and the others were responsible for spreading this.

Jiang Wang didn't pay much heed to this. His sole focus now was on how to infiltrate Seven Stars Valley.

The Tian clan had erected watchtowers, established arrays, and stationed a clan army here. Ostensibly, there was only one path into and out of the valley. When the Seven Stars Tower secret realm wasn't open, this passage was also closed. Some might assume that with the secret realm inactive, guarding Seven Stars Valley was unnecessary. This was not the case. The quotas for the Seven Stars Tower secret realm were incredibly precious and not easily obtained. Many individuals were willing to lie low within the valley, merely awaiting the day it opened – similar events had transpired in the past.

However, the defenses in place to deter such individuals would surely be insufficient to stop Jiang Wang. Tian Chang had provided him with a secluded, minor route, one that passed through the mountain forest on the eastern side. Jiang Wang had specifically gone to examine it; it was, in truth, merely a beast trail. He wondered how Tian Chang had discovered it.

Based on his existing understanding of Tian Chang, it was likely that he possessed a wealth of similar intelligence. Even among those most familiar with the Tian family's inner workings, Tian Chang undoubtedly ranked high. If there was anyone whose insights into the Tian family surpassed Tian Chang's, Jiang Wang could only think of one person: Tian He. He couldn't help but wonder what Tian He was doing now... This individual, Tian Chang's absolute confidant, had not been taken to the Star Moon Plain.

Jiang Wang had no intention of using the minor route provided by Tian Chang. While he needed Tian Chang's intelligence, he didn't fully trust him, even though the information he had so far verified was largely accurate. He possessed the Seamless Hidden Robe, a trump card known to few, and this was his reliance for infiltrating Seven Stars Valley. With a complete understanding of the sentry points, he donned the Hidden Robe, moving in stages, perfectly avoiding the monitoring points mentioned in the intelligence. He ascended the mountainside and entered Seven Stars Valley openly.

Everything went smoothly in the quiet night... until that beam of starlight struck him the moment he descended into the valley!

This ray of starlight, arriving from an unknown distance, connected heaven and earth, illuminating the long night, and instantly enveloped Jiang Wang. The sudden descent of this starlight outlined Jiang Wang's form, making it difficult for the Hidden Robe to adapt quickly. It took a full two breaths before his form was concealed – but by then, what did it matter? The starlight was so brilliant that the Tian family guards, surely, weren't all blind!

The entire Seven Stars Valley erupted.

"Intruder!"

"Report the alarm to Ji City immediately!"

"Take him down!"

Noisy shouts exploded from all directions, followed closely by the sounds of numerous cultivators, blades drawn and swords wielded.

Jiang Wang was stunned. If this beam of starlight hadn't been the familiar light of the Jade Balance star, bearing traces of Grandmaster Guan Yan, he would have undoubtedly turned and fled. But now, fleeing also seemed futile... What if Tian Xili came? What if Tian Anping came? Grandmaster Guan Yan... what in the heavens was he doing?!

As Jiang Wang stood in a daze, he could already hear the sound of chains dragging on the ground...

Lost in a flurry of conflicting thoughts, his body suddenly felt light, and he was enveloped by a gentle force, steadily ascending. Jiang Wang surrendered himself, following the force, rising towards the sky with astonishing speed.

Just at that moment, a figure, slightly thin with a refined temperament, suddenly appeared in Jiang Wang's vision. This person remotely stepped through the air, each step causing ripples in the night.

"Unknown guest, what brings you here so stealthily! Could it be you fear my Tian family won't entertain you properly?" It was Marquis High Chang, Tian Xili!

Where would Jiang Wang dare to reply? His only hope was that the combination of the Hidden Robe and his cloak could truly conceal his face. As for hiding his presence, he had given up all hope; the Hidden Robe was already hard-pressed to deceive Divine Arrival cultivators, let alone while rapidly ascending within a pillar of starlight.

"Stay!" Tian Xili extended his right hand from afar. Jiang Wang saw the surrounding night colors surge, quickly forming a colossal, pitch-black hand that clawed towards him!

The Dao Origin within his body surged wildly; he was about to act and attempt to block it—

In the boundless black night, at the very apex of the starlight beam, a point of light suddenly expanded, revealing a brilliant star tower. It traversed space, and in a single flash, the glory of the star tower enveloped him. Then, before the pitch-black giant hand could fully grasp him, it lightly sprang upwards, breaking the shackles and soaring back into the high sky!

Instantly leaving Tian Xili far behind.

Enveloped in the glory of the star tower, suspended beneath the brilliant edifice, Jiang Wang had just breathed a sigh of relief when the Warning of the Voice Hearing Immortal State sounded again... An extremely light, extremely fine, sharp whistling sound was approaching at terrifying speed!

He saw... In the distant sky, a beam of starlight like an arrow was flying towards him at extreme speed. It seemed to pierce the curtain of night, leaving a faint crack in the night sky!

The arrow-like starlight had not yet arrived, but Jiang Wang already felt a pang in his heart. Before his eyes, he indistinctly saw a strange small tower, and beneath its sky window... the disheveled Tian Anping, dressed in single layers, looked up!

The distant starlight arrived like an arrow, its momentum piercing the heart! It had been emitted from this small tower, from Tian Anping!

Did he see me? Did he see me clearly? A question of shock flashed through Jiang Wang's mind. That feeling of being locked onto, however, had already dispersed. He fell into the brilliant star tower, finding sudden peace within its glorious light.

And in Seven Stars Valley, those who watched saw the star tower, which had enveloped the mysterious individual, vanish in a single flash, utterly disappearing. In the night sky, neither the descending starlight nor the brilliant star tower remained. Only a single, horizontally streaking starlight pierced the empty night sky, like a lonely rainbow.