Firmament Sword

At the foot of the Celestial Break Mountain Range, a great lake glittered like a pearl set upon the edge of a vast plain. A gentle breeze swept across its mirror-like surface, kissed by the sun, stirring up a field of golden ripples.

The sky was an endless blue, the mountains a vibrant green, the lake a perfect mirror. Standing by its shore and gazing out at the boundless plain, Qiqi felt intoxicated by the view.

She murmured, ”If only he were here.”

”Junior Sister, so you’re here!” a youthful, boyish voice called out.

Huangfu Shishi’s elegant brows furrowed slightly, and a flicker of impatience crossed her eyes. The newcomer was the Sect Leader’s favorite genius disciple. He had just turned eighteen this year but had already stepped into the Sword King Realm—a level countless sect disciples could never hope to reach in their entire lifetime!

A young genius. Perhaps the word ”peerless” should be added to that description.

A genius of his caliber was a rare sight, even for a super-sect like theirs—one might not appear even once in several hundred years.

As such, the youth’s status in the sect was second only to the Sect Leader himself, and above all others!

Naturally, a peerless genius like him had countless admirers. Whenever he appeared in the sect, innumerable female disciples would excitedly try to strike up a conversation with him, hoping to win the favor of this young genius with a boundless future.

Of course, there were exceptions. Huangfu Shishi was one of the few.

Huangfu Shishi and Xu Luo had been childhood sweethearts. The bond between them hadn’t faded as they grew up; instead, it had only grown deeper.

This was especially true after Xu Luo braved immense danger to bring back the Seven-Colored Light, which had finally allowed Huangfu Shishi to live like a normal young woman and do as she pleased. That act of devotion had caused her feelings for him to take firm root in the depths of her heart.

These were feelings that no so-called peerless genius could ever sway. Besides, deep in her heart, ’Brother Xu Luo is the true peerless genius.’

She had no interest in even looking at any man other than Xu Luo, let alone developing feelings for one.

”Is there something you need, Senior Brother Jiang?” Huangfu Shishi asked, turning around with a calm expression. She looked coolly at the young man before her, the one so adored by everyone in the sect.

The young genius’s name was Jiang Tianhai. Like any spoiled child, he never cherished what he could easily obtain. To him, the grass was always greener on the other side.

And so, Jiang Tianhai, the most outstanding disciple of his generation in the Kaiyang Sect, had long been trying to win the heart of this junior sister of his, the one from the secular Royal Family.

However, he was constantly rebuffed but never discouraged, always coming back for more.

Originally, Huangfu Shishi hadn’t wanted to attend this sect assembly. She was at a critical point in her cultivation, on the verge of breaking through from a Tier Seven Sword Venerable to Tier Eight!

In fact, Huangfu Shishi was also a once-in-a-century genius of the Kaiyang Sect. In the eyes of some, the talent of this Princess from the secular Royal Family was in no way inferior to Jiang Tianhai’s!

After all, Jiang Tianhai had been cultivating since childhood to reach his current realm of a Tier Two Sword King.

Huangfu Shishi, on the other hand, had been cultivating for less than two years, yet she had already reached the level of a Tier Seven Sword Venerable.

It was truly difficult to say whose talent was superior.

Therefore, Huangfu Shishi was also extremely popular within the Kaiyang Sect!

But few male disciples dared to pursue her. With the peerless genius Jiang Tianhai already in the picture, the others either lacked the courage to provoke him or felt too inferior to even approach Huangfu Shishi.

Although Huangfu Shishi didn’t want to attend, Jiang Tianhai had strongly recommended to the Sect Leader of the Kaiyang Sect that she be brought along to gain some experience.

His reasoning was legitimate enough. After all, the chance to enter the trial in the Ancient Ruins was incredibly rare. Even if one gained no direct benefit, it was still good to meet people from other sects and broaden one’s horizons.

Jiang Tianhai’s suggestion was not without merit, so the Sect Leader of the Kaiyang Sect had agreed to the request. He was also somewhat aware of his favorite disciple’s intentions and was happy to see such a development.

After all, Huangfu Shishi was also a genius of the Kaiyang Sect!

If the two of them could really get together, it would be a great boon for the entire Kaiyang Sect.

Of course, for Huangfu Shishi, it was extremely irritating.

She had no feelings whatsoever for Jiang Tianhai, the sect’s heartthrob, and was deeply displeased that he had so casually made a decision on her behalf.

But Huangfu Shishi was from the Royal Family, after all. Her understanding of human nature was far beyond what the young men and women who had grown up in the sect could compare to.

Therefore, despite her deep inner dissatisfaction, no one could detect the slightest thing amiss on the surface.

An ardent light flashed in Jiang Tianhai’s eyes. He smiled at Huangfu Shishi and said, ”I just saw you were here and came over to say hello. The scenery is beautiful, but you’re even more so!”

After speaking, Jiang Tianhai gave what he considered a very suave laugh. To his disappointment, however, his junior sister’s face showed none of the bashfulness he expected from a girl. Instead, she just gave a polite smile.

Although Jiang Tianhai wasn’t very experienced in such matters, he could still tell that his junior sister was just humoring him.

He desperately wanted to shout, ’Why? Why are you always so cold and distant with me? Am I, Jiang Tianhai, not good enough for you?’

But he knew that if he were to ask that, things would almost certainly take a turn for the worst, and that was the last thing he wanted.

’Anyway, there’s still plenty of time,’ Jiang Tianhai thought. ’Once we enter the Ancient Ruins, with all the different sects contending, there’s bound to be danger. When that happens, I’ll stay by your side and protect you. I refuse to believe your heart won’t be moved!’ With that, he politely bid farewell to Huangfu Shishi and turned to leave.

Noticing the flicker of resentment deep in Jiang Tianhai’s eyes, Huangfu Shishi gave a faint smile. She turned back around, gazing toward the far end of the vast plain, and thought, ’You might be a great catch, but I’m just not interested!’

As the date of the sect assembly drew near, more and more sects gathered in the area. People had already started setting up stalls, and a bustling market quickly formed.

Lin Luoxue was dressed as a man in a crescent-white long robe, holding a folding fan. With her fair complexion and red lips, she looked incredibly dashing and suave, attracting the attention of many a smitten young maiden as she walked by.

Nangong Yu Yan, accompanying her, wore a helpless, wry smile. ”Luoxue, the next time you dress up like a man, can you please not drag me into it?”

”And why not?” Lin Luoxue asked, her voice tinkling like silver bells as she giggled.

”Don’t play dumb!” Nangong Yu Yan rolled her eyes and grumbled. ”Didn’t you see the way those young girls were looking at me? If looks could kill, I’d be dead a thousand times over!”

Lin Luoxue grinned, flicking open her fan. With a dashing tilt of her eyebrow, she declared, ”What’s the big deal? You’re my girl!”

As she spoke, she reached out and gave Nangong Yu Yan a playful slap on her shapely rear.

”You’re impossible!” Nangong Yu Yan’s face flushed crimson. She shot Lin Luoxue an annoyed yet flirtatious glance and pouted, ”If you keep messing around, I’m heading back!”

”Alright, alright, dear wife, don’t be cross. Your humble husband... COUGH, COUGH...” As Lin Luoxue was speaking, her gaze suddenly landed on a distant part of the market. ”What’s he doing here?” she murmured in surprise.

Nangong Yu Yan followed her gaze and was also taken aback. She gasped softly, ”That little rascal came too? Huh? He seems to be with people from a sect. Don’t tell me... he joined one? And that girl in red with him is gorgeous!”

”Prettier than me?” A roguish grin spread across Lin Luoxue’s face. ”Hey, what do you say we go over and tease that pretty little thing? I bet that kid will get the shock of his life.”

”Luoxue, stop fooling around!” Nangong Yu Yan protested. ”Master will be angry if he finds out!”

”How is this fooling around? It’s a reunion with an old friend!” Lin Luoxue said. With a sharp SNAP, she closed her fan and strode in that direction.

Resigned, Nangong Yu Yan had no choice but to follow close behind.

...

It was the first time either Xu Luo or Phoenix had attended a sect assembly, so they found the marketplace novel and exciting, constantly looking left and right.

”Xu Luo, look! Isn’t that beautiful?” Phoenix said with a delighted expression, pointing at a piece of jewelry displayed at a stall.

”Heh heh, the young lady has a keen eye! This hairpin is forged from black gold and fused with Star Iron. It’s incredibly beneficial for restoring one’s Spiritual Power!” The stall owner was a short, sleazy-looking man in his forties. He had shifty, triangular eyes, gaunt cheeks, and a wisp of a goatee, and his eyes darted about as he sized up the young couple, Phoenix and Xu Luo.

Phoenix ignored the owner, walked up to the stall, and crouched down. She picked up the hairpin, which was inky black with shimmering flecks of gold. It shone with a lustrous light, and a black phoenix was attached to it, its wings spread as if about to take flight.

”How much is it?” Xu Luo asked, looking at the stall owner.

”That’ll be, ahem, just twenty Spirit Stones!” the stall owner said without batting an eye. ”For two people of your means, that’s practically nothing! Just imagine, if this young lady wears this, she’ll look even more captivating!”

Xu Luo and Phoenix looked at each other in bewilderment. Phoenix said in disbelief, ”What? Twenty Spirit Stones for a single hairpin? Why is it so expensive?”

Spirit Stones were the basic currency among the sects. They could be used to rapidly restore depleted True Essence, making them an essential item for every cultivating Martial Artist.

Xu Luo also frowned slightly. He looked at the sleazy middle-aged man with displeasure and said, ”Yeah, that’s way too expensive. Are you trying to rip us off because we’re young and inexperienced?”

The sleazy-looking man sneered at Xu Luo. ”If you don’t believe me, go ask around! See if this isn’t worth twenty Spirit Stones! Listen, kid, if you can’t afford it, just say so. It’s no disgrace. But don’t you dare belittle my treasure!”

”You...” Phoenix was instantly annoyed. Twenty Spirit Stones was nothing to them, but the man’s attitude was completely insufferable.

Just then, an androgynous voice spoke up from nearby. ”It’s just a hairpin. If the young lady likes it, your big brother here will buy it for you!”

Phoenix paused, looking up. She then frowned and said coolly, ”That won’t be necessary.”

Xu Luo, however, found the voice incredibly familiar. He looked up and froze, stunned. ”It’s you?”