Firmament Sword

”Ahem, is everyone here?” Xushan, seated in the center of the high platform, coughed lightly. With a faint smile, he glanced at the sect leaders of the other major sects seated to his left and right before announcing, ”In that case, I declare the Sect Assembly officially open!”

A wave of applause immediately rose from below. The conflict between Merak and Tianquan was merely a minor interlude for this Sect Assembly; to everyone, the most important matter was the trial within the Ancient Ruins!

Looking at the excited expressions in the eyes of the young people below, Xushan said softly, ”I won’t waste any more words. I’m sure everyone is clear on the purpose of the Sect Assembly: to foster communication between the major sects, to provide a trial for the younger generation, and to hold various markets where everyone can trade for treasures they desire. As many of you may already know, the arena tournament for this Sect Assembly has been canceled, because… we discovered a set of Ancient Ruins…”

Xushan’s voice wasn’t loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

The sect leaders of the other major sects, seated on the high platform to Xushan’s left and right, maintained composed expressions, but inwardly they were all speculating about Xushan’s current cultivation level.

Meanwhile, the young disciples from the various sects below were hanging on Xushan’s every word.

”Inside those Ancient Ruins, there is a mysterious space. Each time that space opens, you can stay inside for seven days. After seven days, you must leave promptly, or you risk being trapped inside forever.”

”Furthermore, people over the age of twenty-five cannot enter that mysterious space. If they try to force their way in, they will be mercilessly obliterated by the rules of that space…”

As he spoke, Xushan let out a soft sigh. ”Many skilled members of our own sect paid a heavy price for us to finally figure out this rule. So I am reminding all of you here: do not attempt to enter if you are over twenty-five. If you face unbearable consequences, don’t blame me for not warning you beforehand.”

”In addition, that space is fraught with danger. There are cubs with the bloodline of Holy Beasts!”

BUZZ!

Xushan’s personal confirmation sent a wave of astonishment through the crowd below.

”I can’t believe it’s real!”

”A cub with a Holy Beast bloodline! If I could catch one and make it my mount, that would be so cool!”

”A Holy Beast is a treasure from head to toe! Its sinews, bones, hide, and even its flesh and blood can be used in medicine. And if you could get some Holy Beast Essence Blood, your cultivation would soar to the heavens!”

The people below murmured amongst themselves, their faces alight with intense excitement.

Clearly, the vast majority of them didn’t realize the true danger. After all, most had never seen a real Holy Beast and assumed a cub with a Holy Beast bloodline was about the same as a High-tier Spirit Beast.

Only a handful of people wore solemn expressions, showing little excitement.

Xushan watched the excited youths with a smile, then said, ”Besides the cubs with Holy Beast bloodlines, there are also many treasures from the Ancient Era, ancient Spirit Medicines, Divine Springs... But most of these treasures are accompanied by danger. You must all be careful. Remember, your own life is what’s most important!”

The sect leaders of the other major sects sitting beside Xushan all nodded in agreement. His words were sincere, but how many would actually heed them was another question.

”Alright, I’ve said all that needs to be said. In two days, we will open the mysterious space within the Ancient Ruins. I wish you all good luck!” Xushan announced. Then he added, ”Now, let’s have the sect leaders of the other major sects say a few words!”

Amidst another wave of thunderous applause, Xushan handed the floor over to the sect leaders of the other major sects on the high platform.

These major sects were the Dubhe Sect, the Kaiyang Sect, the Celestial Cauldron Sect, and the Shaking Light Sect. Including the Jade Balance Sect, represented by Xushan, these five were the most powerful sects on the Central Plains Star Continent.

The strength of these five great sects was roughly equal, and each Sect Assembly was hosted by one of them in rotation.

The sect leaders of the other four sects weren’t long-winded either. They all said more or less the same thing: encouraging the younger generation to cultivate diligently, reminding them to be safe in the Ancient Ruins, not to kill one another, and to remain united.

Afterward, Xushan announced a period of free exchange and that the Ancient Ruins would be opened in two days.

Xu Luo curled his lip and muttered under his breath, ”This isn’t very interesting. And look at all of them, acting so excited…”

Hearing this, Li Wenxi turned her head and chuckled. ”You were born in the secular world and have seen many lively scenes like this, so of course you don’t find it novel. But for most sect disciples, they’ve never seen anything like this before. Naturally, they’re excited!”

’So they’re just a bunch of country bumpkins…’ Xu Luo thought with a hint of malice. He was well aware that sect disciples almost universally looked down on people from the secular world, holding a natural sense of superiority over them.

”Let’s go check out the market next. Maybe we can find some treasures,” Phoenix suggested softly from the side.

Li Wenxi furrowed her brow slightly. To be honest, she didn’t want to agree. She was truly worried that the Tianquan Sect Master, Fang Jing, would retaliate in secret.

But cowering and refusing to show their faces was not the proper mindset for a Martial Artist.

With that in mind, Li Wenxi said, ”In that case, be extra careful. Try not to get into any conflicts here.”

Phoenix nodded emphatically. ”Don’t worry, Master. We’ll be careful.”

Xu Luo was also very interested in the Sect Assembly’s market. Besides, he really wanted to see Qiqi. It had been so long since they’d parted, and he truly missed her.

Then, Master Mao silently slipped back into Xu Luo’s pocket and sent him a voice transmission. ”Your little Princess lover knows you’re in a world of trouble and is very worried about you. I told her not to come over for now, so you don’t drag her into this mess!”

”You’re being that kind?” Xu Luo asked in surprise.

”Hey! Kid, don’t mistake kindness for malice! That little lass was about to come over and fight alongside you. I told her not to look for you yet, but to help you in secret once you’ve entered the Ancient Ruins!” Master Mao said.

Xu Luo fell silent for a moment, a bitter smile on his face. ’I really did oversimplify things,’ he thought. Just now, among the Dubhe Sect’s contingent, he had not only seen the tomboy Lin Luoxue and Nangong Yu Yan, but also that Elder Dubhe with whom they had clashed in the Great Marsh! Xu Luo hadn’t expected such a coincidence. Several of his enemies from within the sects had actually all shown up.

Although he wasn’t afraid, it was still a bit of a headache.

”Alright, if we can’t meet, we can’t meet. Let’s go check out the market,” Xu Luo sent back to Master Mao. Then, he and Phoenix started walking toward the market.

With all the sects gathered, the originally modest market had become incredibly lively. The somewhat rustic marketplace was now bustling with noise, filled with sect disciples looking around with curiosity.

Lianyi, with Ji Bingyu in tow, came up to Xu Luo and Phoenix, smiling. ”We finally found you! There are so many people!”

Xu Luo looked at Lianyi’s nonchalant expression and felt a pang of emotion, knowing she had come to show her support for him.

Sure enough, many people’s expressions turned peculiar when they saw Lianyi and Ji Bingyu approach Xu Luo.

From a distance, the Tianquan Sect Master, Fang Jing, stared at Xu Luo, his eyes filled with icy hatred, but he didn’t approach. The group of Tianquan Disciples behind him also glared at Xu Luo with venomous resentment.

Ark’s death had caused the entire Tianquan Sect to lose face, unable to hold their heads high in front of the other sects. In their hearts, they utterly despised Xu Luo and the people of Merak.

”Sis, you really didn’t have to come over,” Xu Luo said to Lianyi.

Lianyi glanced at Xu Luo and said, ”Are you treating me like an outsider?”

Xu Luo shook his head.

”Then that settles it,” Lianyi said. ”No matter what, I’ll always be on your side. I won’t let anyone bully you!”

Just then, a group from the Dubhe Sect walked over from a distance. Lin Luoxue and Nangong Yu Yan were among them. Seeing Xu Luo, one of them said, ”So that kid is Xu Luo from Merak? He doesn’t look like much. Handsome, I guess, but just another pretty boy!”

The speaker was a young man in his twenties, dressed in a white robe with a golden coronet holding back his hair. With sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, he was quite handsome himself.

Lin Luoxue was displeased. ”How do you know he’s not much?” she said.

The young man smiled faintly. ”To kill a sect’s Young Master right in front of an elder from the Jade Balance Sect… one can imagine what kind of character he has!”

Lin Luoxue retorted, ”You’ve heard the whole story, cause and effect. On what grounds can you say he has bad character?”

The young man sneered. ”Cause and effect? It was just a squabble over a woman. What kind of future could someone like that possibly have?”

Lin Luoxue grew angry, not understanding why this young man had such a poor impression of someone he’d never even met.

Nangong Yu Yan gave the young man a thoughtful look but said nothing, a glimmer of understanding dawning in her mind.

’Wasn’t there an elder from our sect who took a group of disciples to some Ancient Ruins for a trial, but only the elder himself came back? Could… could this have something to do with Xu Luo?’ Nangong Yu Yan guessed internally, because the young man mocking Xu Luo was that very elder’s grandson!

Ignoring Lin Luoxue, the young man strode toward Xu Luo, his expression cold and hard.

Seeing this, Lin Luoxue and Nangong Yu Yan also followed behind.

Xu Luo was chatting with Lianyi when he suddenly sensed someone approaching him. He looked up and saw the young man from Dubhe walking over. He raised an eyebrow slightly, watching the newcomer.

”You’re Xu Luo?” The young man was very tall and looked down at Xu Luo, his eyes filled with contempt.

”Who are you?” Xu Luo glanced at the young man and asked calmly in return.

”Once we’re in the Ancient Ruins, you’d better watch your back!” the young man said with a sneer before turning and walking away.

”How bizarre!” Lianyi knitted her delicate brows, watching the young man’s retreating back.

”Is he crazy or something?” Ji Bingyu said innocently, her pretty eyes wide.

The young man’s steps faltered for a moment, but he didn’t turn back and left without another word.

Xu Luo, however, simply watched the young man’s back and gave an unconcerned smile.