Firmament Sword

Wei Ziting was sick, gravely so, and they had no choice but to immediately dispatch people to take him to the Imperial Capital in the finest carriage.

According to the rumors, this time... Wei Ziting’s life was in danger. A doctor who had treated him privately revealed to a friend that the young master from the all-powerful Prime Minister Wei’s family had been suffering from pent-up rage that he couldn’t vent. It had accumulated to this day, and now his illness was beyond cure.

When Xu Luo and his group heard the news, they were somewhat shocked, but only for a moment. They had no other reaction.

’What did Wei Ziting’s life or death have to do with them?’

On the surface, it seemed as though Xu Luo and his group were in the wrong, having helped people from an enemy nation to brutally humiliate one of their own.

But anyone who knew the truth of the matter would never think that way. Setting aside his motives for ambushing Mo Yun’s remnant forces, just consider the fact that he had secretly appeared in the north and mobilized a private army of over ten thousand men. Did he really intend to join the battle on the front lines?

Absolutely not!

In that case, there was only one other possible target...

Therefore, Xu Luo and his group felt not the slightest bit of guilt or remorse for utterly ruining Wei Ziting.

If anything, the incident had allowed Xu Jie to find love, which was a truly gratifying outcome.

The days passed one by one. In the blink of an eye, Xu Luo and his group had been in their fiefdom for over three months. All the construction projects were nearly finished. Just as Xu Luo had said they would, they had transformed the fiefdom into a nearly self-sufficient, independent kingdom!

After an initial period of difficulty adjusting, the soldiers under Mo Yun’s command had now almost completely integrated into the community.

Just because their nations were at war didn’t mean these soldiers actually enjoyed that kind of life. Now, living a peaceful and prosperous life in Xu Luo’s fiefdom, they had found the existence they truly desired.

Although they still missed their homeland and their families, they had come too far. There was no longer any possibility of returning.

They were Xu Luo’s soldiers now, not soldiers of the Cangqiong Kingdom. This... was perhaps the fundamental reason these warriors could truly commit themselves. ’It felt a bit like self-deception, but in life, you have to take responsibility for your actions, don’t you?’

Tang Yong, Li Yu, and the others were busy every day training the soldiers. They had also recruited many young men from within Xu Luo’s fiefdom. These recruits were all tall, sturdy natives of the north who, with training, could become warriors capable of fighting on the battlefield.

Counting everyone, the population of the fiefdom had now grown to over four thousand people. These four thousand-plus souls were the foundation of Xu Luo’s and his friends’ power!

While the number wasn’t huge, it was astonishing considering how little time had passed.

On the northern battlefield, war had broken out between Xu Ji and the General of Da Han, Hao Liancheng. With victories and defeats on both sides, they remained locked in a stalemate.

As for Xu Luo’s eldest brother, Xu Su, there had been no word. Not even Xu Luo knew where he had gone, guessing he must be on some important mission.

Xu Luo was in no hurry to contact his father either. Although the Emperor had given them instructions before they came to the fiefdom, Xu Luo and his friends had no love for war, nor did they wish to accumulate too many military honors at a time like this.

They couldn’t be bothered to get involved in the various affairs of the imperial court. The entire group poured all their energy into cultivation!

This was especially true for Huangfu Chongzhi. Li Yueru’s sudden departure had caused a tremendous shift in his mindset. For the first time, the peace-loving Eldest Prince was prioritizing cultivation over alchemy.

Xu Luo, too, was cultivating with all his might. His strength could already be considered top-tier in the mortal world; he could even hold his own against some experts in the Sword Venerable Realm. But Xu Luo wasn’t satisfied. What he wanted... wasn’t just to become a top expert in the mortal world!

He wanted to become an existence capable of crushing the sects!

His mother’s plight, the fact that she was being hunted by the Young Master Tianquan’s subordinates—all of this cast a shadow over Xu Luo’s heart that he could not shake.

To bring his mother back safely, to no longer be regarded as an insignificant ant by people like Young Master Tianquan, Ark, there was only one way... to get stronger!

Even stronger!

It was just as Xu Luo had once sworn: ”Today... I am a prize in your eyes. Tomorrow... you will be nothing but ants in mine!”

The five brothers cultivated desperately every day, and Mo Yun refused to be outdone!

Already a Tier Nine Great Sword Master, what Mo Yun wanted most now was to break through to the Sword Venerable Realm and become one of the true top-tier experts in the mortal world.

But taking that step... was far from easy.

Countless exceptionally gifted young talents had swiftly reached the realm of Great Sword Master, only to remain stalled at the level of Tier Nine for the rest of their lives, unable to take that final step.

Between a Great Sword Master and a Sword Venerable lay an impassable chasm.

It was another evening. The sun was setting, and its last rays lingered on the horizon, gilding the edges of the clouds.

Xu Luo and Huangfu Chongzhi sat by the river, watching the water flow silently past.

Xu Luo looked at Huangfu Chongzhi. ”What’s wrong? Thinking about Li Yueru again?”

Huangfu Chongzhi nodded silently. In a heavy voice, he said, ”The two of us... we’re like me and the fish in this water. We seem so close, yet we live in two different worlds. A fish can only dream of walking on land, and I... I can’t possibly live in the water. Xu Luo, do you think we’ll ever really see each other again?”

Xu Luo smiled. ”Eldest Brother, that’s not the right metaphor. You aren’t from two different worlds. We... we all live in the same one! You know, a lot of people look at us and think we live in a different world from them, too.”

”You mean the common folk?” Huangfu Chongzhi gave a slight smile and looked at Xu Luo. ”They must think that even though we all live under the same sky, our paths will never cross in this lifetime. Is that what you mean?”

Xu Luo nodded. ”Exactly. But you’ve seen it yourself. Do you think Xu Jie and Mo Yun are from the same world?”

Huangfu Chongzhi shook his head slightly. ”That’s different. I admit, I never thought they would end up together. But in truth, if there wasn’t a war, if the Great Yan and Cangqiong were allies, it wouldn’t be all that surprising for them to get together.”

”Perhaps. You have a point,” Xu Luo said. ”But I still think that whether it’s the sects or the mortal world, people aren’t fundamentally different. I’ve met people from the sects, I’ve killed people from the sects, and of course, I’ve been looked down on by them. But... so what? We’re still young. Your skills in alchemy are not far behind those Alchemists from the sects. Given the right opportunity, you’re bound to achieve great things!”

Xu Luo said, glancing into the distance, ”Besides, I believe Li Yueru will come back for you. One day, you two will be together!”

Huangfu Chongzhi gave a bitter smile. ”I hope so.”

Just then, a fast horse came galloping from the distance. The last rays of the setting sun glinted off the rider’s armor, flashing with a golden light. Xu Luo’s eyes narrowed slightly as he stood up. ”That doesn’t look like one of our men.”

Huangfu Chongzhi stood up as well. ”He certainly doesn’t. But if he was able to get in, he can’t be an outsider.”

The fiefdom was now heavily guarded on all sides. While you couldn’t say it was so secure that not even a fly could get in, it was absolutely impossible for a stranger to just brazenly ride in like that.

The horseman rode on from afar, heading straight for the castle.

”Let’s head back,” Xu Luo said, patting the dust from his clothes.

Upon seeing the knight, Xu Luo was surprised to find Tang Yong and Li Yu speaking warmly with him. A thought stirred in his mind: ’Has Father finally sent someone?’

Seeing Xu Luo, the knight broke into a smile and bowed. ”You must be the Second Young Master? I am one of the Grand General’s personal attendants. My name is Su Tong.”

”General Su,” Xu Luo said, returning the bow.

”You’re too kind, Second Young Master. I’ve come on the Grand General’s orders,” Su Tong said. He took a letter from his robes and handed it to Xu Luo. ”Although you haven’t contacted the Grand General, he has been paying close attention to your progress. We are all deeply impressed by you, Second Young Master.”

Xu Luo smiled and accepted the letter, but he didn’t open it right away. Instead, he looked at Su Tong and asked, ”General Su, how are things with my father?”

Su Tong smiled. ”Everything is fine. Da Han keeps sending reinforcements, but we’re no pushovers. We’ve fought many battles, winning more than we’ve lost. We haven’t gained a significant advantage, but we haven’t suffered any real losses either.”

Su Tong continued, ”I came this time not only to deliver the Grand General’s letter, but also to give you a warning, Second Young Master.”

”Please speak, General Su,” Xu Luo said, his expression turning serious.

”Having failed to break through our lines for so long, Da Han has grown impatient. We recently received intelligence that they may try to sneak troops in through the border regions of your fiefdom. If so, your territory will bear the brunt of it. The Grand General sent me to remind you to keep a close eye on any movements over there. If anything happens, call for aid immediately, and we will send reinforcements.” As he spoke, Su Tong glanced at Xu Jie and suddenly smiled. ”This must be the young master from General Xu Zhongtian’s family, correct?”

Xu Jie smiled and nodded. ”You’re too kind, General Su. I am Xu Jie.”

”Yes. You’ve done well,” Su Tong said with a laugh. ”Those are the Grand General’s own words, not mine. I’m merely relaying his message.”

”’I’ve done well?’” Xu Jie was completely baffled.

Su Tong glanced around. ”Why don’t I see that world-renowned Female General?”

Xu Luo and the others froze on the spot, staring at Su Tong in astonishment.

They had never told a soul that Mo Yun was here. The route they had taken to rescue her that day was one no one should have been able to trace. They had no idea how this news could have possibly reached the ears of the Grand General of National Guardian.