Firmament Sword

”Is this the Earth Core?” Xu Su muttered. ”Isn’t the Earth Core of legend supposed to be a place filled with lava and fire? How is it... so calm here? And it’s not hot at all?”

”Idiot,” Master Mao chided mercilessly. ”This is obviously some kind of mystical space. How could it possibly be the Earth Core?”

Xu Su gave a wry smile. ’Of course I know this is a mysterious and strange space.’ The problem was, his eyesight wasn’t as good as Xu Luo’s, nor did he have Master Mao’s night vision. Naturally, he couldn’t tell what kind of place they were standing on.

THUD!

THUD!

THUD!

Before the two brothers and Master Mao could even process what was happening, they heard a series of dull, earth-shaking thuds.

”Not good, that big guy... it’s coming our way!” Master Mao exclaimed in alarm. ”It doesn’t actually want to eat us, does it? Heavens, I haven’t even tasted a female...”

”Shut up!” Xu Luo cut off Master Mao’s roaring, rolling his eyes. He said coldly, ”That thing doesn’t want to eat us.”

”It doesn’t want to eat us? Then what does it want? To save us? Don’t make me laugh!” Master Mao sneered.

”If it hadn’t blown that gust of air, do you really think we would have survived a fall from that height?” Xu Luo retorted with a cold smile.

Master Mao wanted to argue, but he was speechless.

It was true. After being pulled down from such a height by a terrifying, irresistible suction, they would have been in real danger if the beast hadn’t blown that gust of air at the last moment.

Even with all their strength, it counted for nothing against that suction.

The difference in power was like that between an ant and an elephant!

THUD!

The sound grew closer. Two eyes like giant lanterns appeared in the distant darkness, resembling two massive, crimson moons floating in the sky.

”A... a Holy Beast!” Master Mao finally stammered out the creature’s origin, his fur, which had been standing on end, strangely settling back down.

In the face of a being of this level, forget his fur standing on end; even if he fought for his life, he wouldn’t be able to inflict even the slightest bit of harm!

”A Holy Beast?” Xu Luo and Xu Su were both stunned. Even if this was the Ancient Ruins of a place that once had the illustrious name of the Ancient Emperor Tribe, for a Holy Beast to actually appear here... it was still too incredible to believe.

Just a moment ago, they were ordinary mortals. Although Xu Luo had had many extraordinary encounters, they still seemed utterly insignificant even before a powerful sect, let alone a Holy Beast that existed only in legends.

Xu Su was even more speechless. He was just a soldier from the mortal world. Despite his distinguished family background and an enviable status, there was still an unimaginable gulf between him and the world of sects. He had never imagined that exploring ancient ruins would lead to him seeing a Holy Beast he had never even heard of before!

”It really is a Holy Beast.” Master Mao’s voice began to tremble. ”Only a Holy Beast could survive the long river of time and live to this day. Originally... originally, my ancient ancestors... also had Holy Beasts... But, but they should have all been annihilated long ago. I don’t know... how a Holy Beast could survive until now. This... this is unbelievable.”

THUD!

THUD!

With every step the giant beast took as it approached from the distance, the ground shook and the mountains swayed. It felt like a massive mountain was moving on its own.

Finally, it stopped a few hundred meters away from them.

Those two huge, bright eyes stared in their direction. Clearly, this enormous creature that Master Mao called a Holy Beast had come for them.

WHOOSH!

Xu Luo let out a long breath. He felt the Seven Star Souls in his Dantian release a gentle power, instantly lessening the immense pressure on him.

That’s right. The power radiating from all of them, including the five unawakened Star Souls, suddenly made Xu Luo feel less nervous.

”Little human children, it is... so good to see you again.” A sound like rolling thunder suddenly boomed through the mystical space. The voice was desolate and ancient, so loud it felt like it would shatter their eardrums.

”See us again?” Xu Luo asked in surprise, looking at the mountain-sized beast hundreds of meters away. ”You couldn’t have met us before, could you?”

”I mean... to see you humans again...”

The voice boomed, echoing through the space like continuous peals of thunder.

”Where... is this place?” Xu Luo asked. ”Also, could you please speak a little more quietly?”

”This is the Ancient Emperor Tribe.” The beast’s desolate voice carried a hint of grievance. ”This is already the quietest I can speak...”

”...” Xu Luo shrugged helplessly. ”Alright, then... are you a Holy Beast from the legends? And... is there something you need us to do?”

”No... there is nothing I need you to do. The once glorious and prosperous Ancient Emperor Tribe has long since turned to dust and smoke. Only I remain... clinging to life. What unfinished business could I possibly have? It was you... who triggered the last remnants of the Ancient Emperor Tribe’s ruins left in the mortal world, which brought you to this place.”

The ancient voice was very deep. Although it was still like thunder, making their eardrums ache, Xu Luo could detect a hint of loneliness in it, like... a senile old man muttering to himself with cloudy eyes.

”Excuse me... Senior, what kind of Holy Beast from the Ancient Era are you?” Master Mao, now in his true form as a Heaven-Swallowing Fox, prostrated on the ground like a docile kitten and asked softly.

”Oh, a Heaven-Swallowing Fox. Your bloodline... is quite pure. I was friends with your ancestors.” The thunderous voice sounded somewhat gratified. ”As for me... back in that era, they all called me the Thunder Beast.”

”The Thundering Saint Beast!” Master Mao seemed extremely excited. ”I-I’ve heard of your great name from the memories passed down by my ancestors!”

”That is all in the past,” the Thunder Beast said, its voice filled with desolation.

”I’ve heard there are higher worlds than this one. Why didn’t you go to one of them?” Master Mao asked.

”I am too old. My entire life was spent with the Ancient Emperor Tribe. Now that the tribe has turned to dust, I have no desire to go anywhere else. Besides, I was sealed away back then. Otherwise, I would have died long ago. I am already very happy just to see the descendants who carry the blood of the Ancient Emperor Tribe...” the Thunder Beast said gently.

By now, Xu Luo and Xu Su had somewhat adapted to the Thunder Beast’s thunderous voice. They were stunned to suddenly hear that the blood of the Ancient Emperor Tribe flowed within them.

Because Master Mao was a Heaven-Swallowing Fox, and the blood that flowed in his body was that of the Ancient Sacred Beast Heaven-Swallowing Fox, the Thunder Beast couldn’t have been talking about him. That meant it could only be the two of them.

”The blood of the Ancient Emperor Tribe? What do you mean? Senior, are you talking about the two of us?” Xu Luo asked in surprise.

”That’s right. Only those with the blood of the Ancient Emperor flowing in their veins can truly open the ruins of the Ancient Emperor Tribe...” the Thunder Beast said.

”Really? Then why were the ruins filled with all sorts of terrifying traps? We were almost killed...” Xu Luo grumbled. ”What kind of ancestors would scheme against their own descendants?”

”Hehe...” The Thunder Beast laughed, its voice like rolling thunder. It sounded quite happy. ”But didn’t you arrive here safely?”

”Well...” Lines of dismay appeared on Xu Luo’s forehead. ’That counts?’ he thought.

”Descendants with the blood of the Ancient Emperor Tribe always have something special about them. Besides, since you were able to enter that passage, the traps within were not traps for you, but for others,” the Thunder Beast said in a deep voice. ”Even if you trigger those mechanisms, they will not harm anyone with the blood of the Ancient Emperor in the slightest!”

”But I don’t have the blood of the Ancient Emperor...” Master Mao piped up weakly from the side.

The Thunder Beast chuckled. ”Then you were in danger.”

”Erk...” Master Mao rolled his eyes. ’In that case, I guess this bastard Xu Luo is a little useful after all...’ he thought.

”However, the blood of the Ancient Emperor in you two... is already very thin. Hmm, the little one with Star Power in his body... your bloodline, eh?” The Thunder Beast paused here, its thunderous voice filled with surprise and even a faint tremor.

Its huge eyes stared at Xu Luo for a long time before it spoke, a note of disbelief in its voice. ”How can this be? Star Power? It’s Star Power! Could it be...”

As it spoke, the Thunder Beast seemed to think of something and abruptly shut its mouth.

Xu Luo and Xu Su were both completely baffled. Xu Su, however, hearing the Thunder Beast mention the Star Power within Xu Luo, showed a knowing smile.

’I knew it. My brother gained an unimaginable benefit from the Centennial Star Festival. Although the festival failed, it ended up being a blessing for him!’ As he thought this, Xu Su grew worried for his brother. ’When we get back, I have to tell Xiaoluo he must not speak of this to anyone. Not only does it touch upon some taboos of the Cangqiong Royal Family, but it could also attract the covetous eyes of those major sects!’

’From what I know, all Martial Artists in this world cultivate True Essence, yet my brother’s body contains Star Power. In just over a year, he has already reached the Sword Venerable Realm, completely surpassing me. Given time, Xu Luo’s future achievements will surely be limitless.’

’If he were targeted by someone with ill intentions, it would be a disaster.’

”I cannot see through you.” The Thunder Beast stared intently at Xu Luo for a long time before finally shaking its head and sighing. ”It seems I truly am too old. Seeing you has already made me very happy and content. I won’t waste any more of you young people’s precious time with idle chatter. Before I die, there are some inheritances from the Ancient Emperor Tribe that I wish to give to you.”