Chapter 1149 - An Acquaintance in Foreign Land

Liu Wuxie stared at the man in disbelief as images surged through his mind. The middle-aged figure overlapped perfectly with someone from his memories.

It couldn't be a coincidence. Lookalikes weren't rare, but even twins could be told apart with a careful eye. Liu Wuxie had already used his Ghost Eye to inspect him, and he became certain that there was no mistake.

"Beat him up!" Chen Gang roared.

His lackeys surged forward, fists and feet flying at the middle-aged man.

Though all of them had reached the Heaven Profound Realm, they ranked at the bottom in the Astral Domain. Their techniques were crude and unpolished.

The middle-aged man staggered under the barrage, retreating step by step until his back slammed into the wall.

Chen Gang delivered a vicious kick, sending the middle-aged man flying through the air. He crashed down beside Liu Wuxie.

Now face-to-face with the middle-aged man, Liu Wuxie finally confirmed his identity.

The middle-aged man struggled to his feet with a footprint stamped on his chest.

Chen Gang and his crew pressed forward to seize his food.

"Thousand-Faced Saint?" Liu Wuxie whispered, his voice low enough for only the injured man to hear.

The nearby slaves glanced at him in confusion, unsure why he'd uttered such a strange title.

However, the middle-aged man's eyes widened in shock. His wide eyes confirmed Liu Wuxie's suspicion. He was definitely the Thousand-Faced Saint.

Many had long forgotten the Thousand-Faced Saint's existence, but not Liu Wuxie. When he joined the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy, he had seen the academy carve that name into the monument honoring past prodigies.

The Thousand-Faced Saint had vanished during a mysterious expedition.

Liu Wuxie's name now adorned that same monument.

"You're really the Thousand-Faced Saint!" Liu Wuxie hurried over and helped the man to his feet.

He had earned the title through his unmatched mastery of disguises.

"Who are you?" the middle-aged man asked, voice trembling, not from fear, but from disbelief.

He had never revealed his past to anyone in the Astral Domain. Only someone from the True Martial Continent would recognize that title.

"We'll talk later. Just tell me, are you the Thousand-Faced Saint from the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy?" Liu Wuxie asked urgently.

He hadn't expected to meet anyone from the academy in the Astral Domain. Whether it was fate or coincidence, he had no time to dwell.

"You—" the middle-aged man began, recognizing Liu Wuxie's background the moment the latter mentioned the academy.

But before he could finish, Chen Gang arrived with his goons.

"Brat, you dare meddle in my business?" Chen Gang snapped.

"He's my friend. Let this matter go," Liu Wuxie said, cupping his hands politely. He had no desire for trouble. His top priority was protecting the Thousand-Faced Saint. He had many questions for the latter.

If the fight were allowed to escalate, the Thousand-Faced Saint wouldn't survive.

Slaves died here every day, and Liu Wuxie was a new face, and the guards assumed that he was from the latest batch of slaves.

"Who the hell are you? Why should our boss give you face?" barked a youth behind Chen Gang, jabbing a finger at Liu Wuxie.

In their eyes, Liu Wuxie was just another Earth Profound rookie—fresh meat, not worth respecting.

New arrivals had no status and were often targets of abuse.

Liu Wuxie's expression darkened. Though the astral laws heavily suppressed his cultivation and left him barely stronger than a mortal, they suppressed everyone else just the same.

These slaves had lived in the Astral Domain since birth. None, aside from him and the Thousand-Faced Saint, had ever heard of the True Martial Continent.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Liu Wuxie's eyes glinted coldly.

The youth stumbled back, unable to meet his gaze.

"Fuck, cripple that brat!" Chen Gang roared.

He, too, had noticed Liu Wuxie's terrifying aura and ordered his men to act.

Liu Wuxie gently set the Thousand-Faced Saint down before surging forward. He used no techniques, only raw strength.

Powered by the True Dragon Physique, Divine Thunder Physique, and Panwu Divine Art, his body rivaled the peak of the Heaven Profound Realm.

The first attacker flew backward from a single punch. Due to the density of laws in the Astral Domain, even a basic strike demanded a tremendous amount of true essence.

Using the Seven Dipper Steps, Liu Wuxie weaved through the crowd, landing blow after precise blow, sending bodies flying.

His impeccable footwork made him untouchable. Slaves nearby watched in awe, unable to comprehend how he could be so powerful.

"What a terrifying physique," someone muttered.

"He's still going! I can barely throw ten punches before needing an astral stone. How is his true essence so pure?" another whispered.

Even the old man who had first guided Liu Wuxie stood frozen in shock. He had already found it strange that Liu Wuxie knew nothing about the Astral Domain, but now, everything made sense.

After disabling dozens of foes, Liu Wuxie locked eyes with Chen Gang.

"Get lost," he said coldly.

Chen Gang paled. Though fists clenched in frustration, he chose to retreat with his lackeys.

With the threat gone, Liu Wuxie returned to the Thousand-Faced Saint. The crowd instinctively cleared space around him, wary of his strength.

Though many believed Liu Wuxie wouldn't live long for offending Chen Gang, who had ties with the guards. For now, peace settled on them.

"You're from the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy, too?" the Thousand-Faced Saint asked, voice trembling.

It had been so long since he heard that name that he had nearly forgotten it.

"That's right," Liu Wuxie said, nodding.

Tears welled in He Yingwu's eyes. Though centuries old, he wept like a child.

Liu Wuxie gently embraced him, understanding the pain.

In a distant land, seeing someone from home brought indescribable comfort. Though strangers before, they now shared a bond.

"Senior Thousand-Faced Saint, how did you end up here?" Liu Wuxie asked.

He Yingwu wiped his tears away and straightened his back, color returning to his face.

"Don't call me that anymore. My real name is He Yingwu. And you are?" The Thousand-Faced Saint asked, regaining his unusual heroic demeanor as he introduced himself.

"Liu Wuxie, disciple of Heavenly Gate Peak," he replied respectfully.

The two burst into laughter, ignoring the strange stares.

Perhaps due to long years of isolation, He Yingwu clung to Liu Wuxie, asking endlessly about the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy and the True Martial Continent. He smiled and frowned as he listened.

"Senior He, how did you end up in the Astral Domain?" Liu Wuxie asked.

He had entered through an astral storm, but He Yingwu clearly arrived much earlier. He read many books and was certain there was no similar astral storm in the past millennium.

"I was chasing a beast through the sky when I was caught in a lightstream," He Yingwu replied wryly.

When he awoke, he wasn't on Anlu Star, but somewhere else. Weakened and vulnerable, hunters had captured and sold him while he was still weak. He had been living here for decades since then.

"I see," Liu Wuxie nodded.

Extreme lightstreams appeared upon the collision of two planes, warping space and time.

"Brother Liu, what about you? How did you arrive here?" He Yingwu asked.

Liu Wuxie recounted his journey without hiding anything. When he mentioned being the chosen one, He Yingwu abruptly stood and gave a deep bow.

"To think you carry such a burden. From today onward, I swear to help you reconnect the True Martial Continent with the Astral Domain," He Yingwu said, pledging from the bottom of his heart.

"Senior, you're too serious," Liu Wuxie said, helping him up. With He Yingwu's support, however, he felt confident. Now, their priority was escaping Anlu Star and locating the Heavenly Dragon Sect.

"Senior, do you know a way off this star?" Liu Wuxie asked.

Then again, if He Yingwu had one, he would have escaped a long time ago.

"I do... but it won't be easy," He Yingwu replied. Since he had pledged loyalty, he would share all he knew.

"Please tell me," Liu Wuxie urged.

Escaping took more than slipping past guards. Even cultivators at the Transcendent Realm couldn't fly here. Astral stones were required to activate a teleportation array, and the teleportation array on this planet was undoubtedly heavily guarded.