Heavenly Star (Web Novel)

He had considered the accidents that could occur, he thought there could be a part in his plan that would be out of his control, but he would just have one less thing to tease Tao BaiBai with; he also considered possible miscalculations in the timing which would mean him getting caught in a little of the blast; he had thought for a while that Tao BaiBai might retreat… but he clearly did not expect such a horrible accident to happen.

Based on his speed and the burn time of the ignited rope, even if he was not at the center of the explosives, he would have been close enough. In this world where nobody knew anything about fuses and explosives, he certainly would not have been able to prepare for them. But now, to Ye Wuchen’s surprise he only had some minor injuries on his body, and for Heaven-Level experts, they were nothing serious.

How could this be possible? The explosion to an unshielded Heaven-Level, would have made their body and limbs fly everywhere. Even if he had subconsciously defended himself with all his might, it would not have been an instant death but he would have been gasping for breath, or at least have a serious injury…

Although Ye Wuchen maintained a calm composure on the surface, internally he was in a spectacular mess.

“You must have used some kind of defensive device.” Ye Wuchen heaved a long sigh of relief, as he spoke plainly. He did not believe that Tao BaiBai only used his own powers to have defended against it.

Bang!

As if responding to Ye Wuchen’s words, a mirror-like object fell from Tao BaiBai’s chest, smashing to the ground. The mirror’s surface had split in pieces and was now evidently destroyed.

“If it wasn’t for this Heavenly Tool, the Imperial Mirror of Heaven, I would already be dead. You… actually made me desperate…”

Tao BaiBai was exceptionally calm. After the explosion, he knew that Ye Wuchen no longer has anything more to rely on. And he also knew that he himself had already lost against this young man whose powers were not as good as his. He had been repeatedly tricked, trampled on, and humiliated. A while ago if he had not been able to spread out the strongest defense of the Imperial Mirror of Heaven during that one crucial moment, he would have surely lost his life to this last trick. And he only managed to hurt Ye Wuchen, a slash across his neck, because Ye Wuchen had permitted the action, he didn’t even reach the corner of Ye Wuchen’s clothes.

Even if he had preserved his life, this precious Heavenly Tool, which had saved him numerous times before, was now thoroughly destroyed and he would not be to restore it.

“So that’s the way it is. Apparently I had missed something.” Ye Wuchen shook his head helplessly.

“This is already your last trick.” Tao BaiBai said.

“That’s right, this is indeed my final trick. Because I did not believe that I would not have been able to kill you, so I didn’t prepare a back-up.” Ye Wuchen’s expression became more perceptive, “But just because I lack a back-up, doesn’t mean that I don’t have an escape route. Although I am a very confident person, when it comes to important matters like anything related to my life, if I don’t have a perfect plan I would surely make a way out for myself in case everything failed.”

Tao BaiBai’s face went grim as he approached Ye Wuchen step by step.

“This place was claimed to be a cursed forest. Less than a mile from me is the Devil’s Trap Pagoda that nobody dares to approach. Do you know why I choose this place? Because… this place not only allows me to easily conceal myself and the traps, but it also has the Devil’s Trap Pagoda!!”

Tao BaiBai was unable to understand what he was saying, and his body charged into Ye Wuchen like lightning. The dagger in his hand struck out numerous times in fierce arcs. Ye Wuchen took action at the same time; using his fastest speed, he ran east. Tao BaiBai followed closely behind, after a narrow escape from mortal danger, if he still failed to capture his target, then he would no longer be worth his title as the number one killer. Whether or not an escape route existed, he must trap his target and take Ye Wuchen’s life.

The chase resumes, but this time the duration was obviously shorter.

Withered trees which had been dead for so many years now littered the surroundings. Darkness came from all sides and the dead atmosphere nurtured no life. This kind of ambience caused Tao BaiBai’s heart to become somehow terrified.

And soon, before his eyes, was the impressive facade of the Devil’s Trap Pagoda.

Tao BaiBai’s heart thumped harshly. What could the escape route he was talking about be?

Up ahead, the forest cleared into an empty space. Trees no longer remained, only the dark grey soil and the same dark grey Devil’s Trap Pagoda was in sight. Ye Wuchen did not slow down, but directly rushed towards the pagoda’s door. With no signs of taking any detours, he looked like he was planning to…

Tao BaiBai halted his steps, bewildered as he looked at the man he was chasing.

Pass through halls of the King of Hell, but dare not enter the Devil’s Trap Pagoda. This was a well-known saying throughout the Heavenly Star Continent. Entering the Hall of the King of Hell only resulted in death, but entering the Devil’s Trap Pagoda would surely result in a very mournful death after extremely frightening fear. No corpse would come out intact.

Ye Wuchen stood before the door of the Devil’s Trap Pagoda. His hand pressed against the pitch-black door. Looking at Tao BaiBai with a cold smile he said, “Tao BaiBai, do…you… dare… to… enter…”

Tao BaiBai was silent and refused to proceed.

“Apparently, you don’t. But I do!”

After a loud laugh, Ye Wuchen pulled the door open, turn away and headed inside without hesitation. The door shut with a loud bang.

Tao BaiBai stared blankly, The crazy actions of Ye Wuchen caught him unprepared.

He believed the terrible legends, because there were numerous tragic deaths that supported it. Twenty years ago, since the Cursed Woman had been trapped inside the Devil’s Trap Pagoda, anyone who entered did not come out. If they did, their body exploded and they died without exception.

Ye Wuchen had mentioned that he had an escape route. Did this imply that he knew the secrets of this Devil’s Trap Pagoda to be able to enter without dying!?”

Tao BaiBai did not leave and his gaze firmly fixed on the sealed door. Although the dead air here was relatively strong, it was nothing serious for a Heaven-Level expert.

Ten seconds… thirty seconds… one minute… two minutes… three minutes…

Tao BaiBai did not do anything but stand there like a dried mummy. He did not seem to even blink as his eyes were like those of a dead fish. Before him, there was still no sound of any activity from the Devil’s Trap Pagoda. Those who had entered before, as they died horrible deaths, let out extremely mournful screams of death, but in this lonely silence, he did not hear any sounds.

At last, a burst of footsteps broke the deadly silence. Shui Mengchan’s subordinates, Feng, Hua, Xue, and Yue had sped their way there with gritted teeth.

Devil’s Trap Pagoda was a place they had been to before. The Southern Empire Clan had come here on more than one occasion, accompanied by some masters of the clan. Though, all of them had died tragically, and the leader of Southern Empire was unable to determine the cause of their deaths. After probing numerous times, they finally gave up. It seemed like the environment around this pagoda stripped away a person’s vitality. Ordinary people were absolutely not allowed to come near it. For them, aside from the feeling of exhaustion, they did not feel any pain, so they were not afraid to approach the pagoda.

Following the trail, they finally met with Tao BaiBai again, but only he was present in the area.

Ting!

Four sharp swords unsheathed together. For the Southern Empire Clan, swords were their only weapons. This was because their beliefs and the reason for their existence was heavily influenced by the Sword of Southern Empire. Four Spirit-Level Masters faced a higher Heaven-Level Master. They did not have any thoughts of fear, only hostility. They had allowed Tao BaiBai to escape before, but this time the four of them, with their swords drawn, blocked all his paths. They would n not let him escape one more time.

“Where is Master Ye?” Feng lowered her brows and asked.

Tao BaiBai firmly looked forward. From the time they arrived until they surrounded him, he had not shown any reaction. Upon hearing the demand, his eyeballs did not move, but he finally opened his mouth, “Inside.”

The four of them startled, then simultaneously looked at the Devil’s Trap Pagoda. Their expressions quickly changed, as the sky spun and the earth went around.

The only outcome from entering the Devil’s Trap Pagoda was death as a mangled corpse. If Ye Wuchen were to die, then the information regarding the Sword of the Southern Empire was lost. A pleasant surprise they had very recently acquired was now nothing more than an illusion.

The four of them look at each other, their hands and feet went icy cold. The reason they left Shui Mengchan was to protect Ye Wuchen and, in conjunction, his information the Southern Empire could not afford to. However, in less than a day’s time, they found out that Ye Wuchen had entered Devil’s Trap Pagoda… Even if Shui Mengchan were to forgive them, the clan leader surely would not. If they were not to die, they would be severely punished.

Their gazes resentment and desire to commit murder were tightly fixed onto Tao BaiBai’s body. “You must have compelled him to enter… So, you need to die. From this moment on, you have become one that our Southern Empire Clan must kill!”

“Clan of the Southern Empire!?” Tao BaiBai’s eyes violently flickered. These words hit him like a huge stone crushing his heart, as his innermost being shook violently. He cannot afford to provoke the Southern Empire Clan. No one can ever provoke the Southern Empire Clan.

He did not doubt their words. He could feel that every one of these women had Spirit-Level powers, which were considered exclusive to the best masters of Heavenly Start Continent and the fame of a Spirit-Level Master’s fighting prowess was quite impressive. To be able to dispatch these four for just one mission, and all of them females... aside from the Southern and Northern Empires, who would have such resources?

Tao BaiBai put away his unsympathetic attitude along with his desire to commit murder and his heart now showed regret. He did not expect this kill to have caused him to suffer from humiliation, the painful loss of the Imperial Mirror of the Heaven, nor involvement of the Southern Empire Clan. His only option now was to kill all four of them. He could not to allow them to leak his involvement to the Southern Empire Clan, or else he would never find peace.

Although, at this moment, he did not take any actions. Then the atmosphere in the area had become abnormal in an instant.

A murderous spirit boundlessly arrived in an onslaught!

Tao BaiBai was the epicenter of it. He continuously radiated the earth-shattering murderous spirit, just like a wild beast’s wrath, he was reckless with the intention to destroy everything. Under such powerful might, anyone would not be able to help the fear to rise from the bottom of their heart. It was the same fear that a small and weak organism would have against an unstoppable disaster.

Number one killer—how could this be an underserved title?

In the midst of the area under the sky reeking of blood and the murderous intention, the air began to freeze in the shroud of the aura of death. The four women felt their breaths were ill at ease and their hearts shivered. At the same time, they gave a loud yell and four swords weave up an air-tight net of wind around Tao BaiBai’s body from four directions.

Spirit-Level and Heaven-Level were just one level of difference, but they were as distant as the sky was to the and earth.

Translated by: Fatty_Uncle

Edited by: seriouspotato and patrick_father_of_dragons