Firmament Sword

The geniuses from the major sects had naturally been drawn over by the battle between the giant black tiger and the massive golden bird. They had even arrived a bit earlier than Xu Luo. These people were all extremely clever; they didn’t act rashly, and no one wanted to be the one to stick their neck out.

They hid themselves cautiously, their gazes locked on the dazzling peach tree on the small mountain. In their hearts, each was making their own calculations, plotting… how to get a piece of the pie.

Don’t be fooled by the giant black tiger and the great golden bird fighting to the death as if they’d thrown all caution to the wind. In reality, if anyone dared to approach that peach tree right now, the two beasts would surely join forces in an instant to eliminate the intruder.

To them, humans… were the true foreign enemy!

...

Ji Bingyu and Lianyi stood beneath a massive fallen log, looking up in horror at the great golden bird that blotted out the sky.

Ji Bingyu gasped softly, ”Is that a Holy Beast?”

”I’ve heard that the Holy Beasts here are all in their juvenile stage and haven’t truly matured into adults,” Lianyi said softly.

”How terrifying. To have such astounding strength even as juveniles… If they reached adulthood, who could possibly be their match?” Ji Bingyu had always been confident in her own strength. But after witnessing the battle between these two behemoths, she suddenly felt that her power, before these two so-called ”juveniles,” seemed somewhat… lacking.

”That’s why they say this Small World is fraught with danger,” Lianyi said. Her gaze fell upon the small mountain, her eyes fixed thoughtfully on the dazzling peach tree.

Ji Bingyu saw the peach tree as well and exclaimed in pleasant surprise, ”That must be a treasure tree! The Peaches of Immortality on it must be Top-Grade Treasure Medicine!”

”Don’t be rash. I’m sure we’re not the only ones hiding nearby. If we go out recklessly, we might just be used by someone else,” Lianyi said. She then glanced at the two behemoths fighting a world-shaking battle. ”Besides, don’t be fooled by how fiercely those two big guys are fighting now. If we dare to touch that peach tree, I guarantee they’ll unite against a common enemy!”

A hint of unwillingness flashed in Ji Bingyu’s eyes. This was an opportunity that no Martial Artist, regardless of their strength, would want to miss. Everyone knew that obtaining even just a few of the purple Peaches of Immortality could allow one to soar to new heights.

’Besides, wasn’t the whole point of their group entering this place for training and treasure hunting?’

’A treasure was right before her eyes. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t tempted.’

”Be patient. I believe we’ll get our chance,” Lianyi said.

...

Phoenix led a group of Merak Disciples, carefully retreating while observing the distant battle.

Someone beside her suggested, ”Senior Sister Phoenix, let’s just wait for Little Junior Brother here.”

Phoenix glanced at the Merak Disciple, a young woman who blushed slightly as she explained, ”This place is too dangerous. Peril lurks at every step. I’m afraid if we go too far...”

Phoenix said softly, ”If that’s the case, then why did we come in here at all?”

”...” The Merak Disciples all flushed, at a loss for words.

Phoenix said, ”I know you’ve all seen too many geniuses on this trip and feel discouraged, thinking you’re not as good as others. In the eyes of those super-sects, our Merak is just a tiny sect. But... have you never thought about one day changing that?”

”Of course we have.” Fervent light gleamed in the eyes of the young men and women of Merak, but it soon dimmed again.

”But Senior Sister Phoenix, it’s just too hard!”

”Yeah, Senior Sister. We don’t have the resources of the major sects. Our strength is several levels below theirs...”

”We also want to make a name for ourselves and strengthen the sect, but it’s just so difficult...”

Phoenix looked at them and said softly, ”So, you want to give up?”

”No!”

”We don’t!”

”We will never give up!”

They were all young, all exceptionally talented youths from their sect. Which of them didn’t have a fire in their belly? And which of them... didn’t possess their own pride, deep in their bones?

”Good. We can’t just rely on Little Junior Brother alone. We have to work hard ourselves!” Phoenix said, her tone resolute.

’This thought had been in her heart for a long time. She knew Xu Luo’s character. She knew that since he had joined Merak, he wouldn’t give up on helping them.’

’But she didn’t want to be left too far behind. She wanted to prove to Xu Luo through her own efforts—that she was formidable, too!’

”Senior Sister Phoenix, just tell us what we need to do. We’ll all listen to you!”

”That’s right! We have to work hard ourselves!”

”I don’t want to be looked down on!”

”We don’t want to be disdained by disciples from other sects anymore!”

The group of Merak Disciples all declared their intentions excitedly.

Phoenix nodded. She took one last look in the direction of the fierce battle, then made up her mind and said decisively, ”Let’s go. We’ll find our own opportunities. Of course, we will definitely encounter danger. So, if any of you are worried, you can stay here and wait for Xu Luo. I won’t blame you!”

”We’ll go with you!”

”Senior Sister Phoenix is right! We have to work hard ourselves and find our own opportunities!”

”We’ll prove with our actions that we’re no worse than anyone else!”

Phoenix smiled and nodded firmly. Then, leading the group of Merak Disciples, she resolutely turned and departed in another direction.