Firmament Sword

Xu Luo smiled and turned away. He didn’t want to make things difficult for Qiqi.

After all, Qiqi and Jiang Tianhai were fellow disciples of the same sect, and she would have to remain in the Kaiyang Sect in the future.

To Xu Luo’s surprise, however, Huangfu Shishi walked out from the crowd, a smile on her face.

Many who recognized Huangfu Shishi stared at her in surprise, wondering what the stunningly beautiful Royal Princess was about to do.

”Brother Xu Luo.” Huangfu Shishi walked up to Xu Luo and parted her lips, her smile captivating and her gaze brimming with deep affection.

BOOM!

Huangfu Shishi’s ”Brother Xu Luo” sent the crowd into an uproar.

The Kaiyang Sect disciples who had been clustered around Jiang Tianhai were now dumbfounded. They had speculated that this beautiful princess from the Royal Family of the Mortal World might know Xu Luo, or even have a friendly relationship with him.

But they had never imagined their connection was... so deep it was shocking, almost unbearable!

’What is this? On one hand, you have Jiang Tianhai, the sect’s peerless genius and a favored son of the heavens, who just declared his life-and-death enmity with Xu Luo. On the other hand, you have the sect’s most popular ”little junior sister” gracefully walking right up to the guy and affectionately calling him ”Brother”... Holy crap!’

The Kaiyang Sect disciples’ eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. They felt stares from all directions piercing them like cold arrows, leaving them utterly exposed!

Jiang Tianhai felt his insides churn violently, and he had the urge to vomit blood!

”You... damned... dogs!”

PTUI!

Forcing the two words out through gritted teeth, Jiang Tianhai finally lost control and sprayed a mouthful of fresh blood.

He swayed twice and collapsed, unconscious. Even if he hadn’t fainted, he likely couldn’t have faced the humiliation of staying awake.

When Xu Luo heard the two words Jiang Tianhai spat out, a hint of killing intent flashed in the depths of his eyes.

’You insulted Qiqi... Even if you don’t come for me, I won’t let you off the hook!’

As he thought this, Xu Luo looked at Huangfu Shishi and said softly, ”Qiqi, why did you come out?”

”Someone was threatening and insulting you. I couldn’t stand it.” Huangfu Shishi lowered her head slightly, like a child who had done something wrong, but there was little fear in her lively eyes.

She had received a massive opportunity in the Small World this time. She believed that once the Sect Leader learned of her transformation, he would surely accept her as a Direct Disciple!

At that point, even if Jiang Tianhai remained the pride of the Kaiyang Sect, the cream of its younger generation, she would no longer fear him!

Just then, a man in his fifties strode forward. He glanced at the unconscious Jiang Tianhai and boomed, ”Hurry and get him treated! What are you waiting for!”

A group of flustered Kaiyang Sect disciples nervously carried Jiang Tianhai away.

The old man’s gaze then fell upon Xu Luo, filled with unconcealed fury, but he said nothing.

When he turned to Huangfu Shishi, however, the old man dropped all pretense of civility. ”Huangfu Shishi, what do you think you’re doing?” he said coldly. ”Some role model you are! Helping an outsider drive your own fellow disciple to vomit blood. What an impressive, vicious display!”

The old man’s words were far too harsh, and the surrounding crowd couldn’t help but jeer.

No one there was blind. Jiang Tianhai had lost to Xu Luo in the Small World. After getting out, he acted all high and mighty again, bringing his cronies to threaten Xu Luo, only to find that Xu Luo was just as domineering and completely unafraid of him.

Stuck in a difficult position, all Huangfu Shishi had done was step forward to greet Xu Luo. From start to finish, she had only called him ”Brother Xu Luo.”

And that... was helping an outsider? That was being vicious?

Everyone could see that the old man’s partiality toward Jiang Tianhai went beyond mere favoritism; it was outright indulgence!

He didn’t bother to find out the truth of the matter, simply jumping to conclusions.

A cold glint appeared in Xu Luo’s eyes. Just as he was about to speak, Huangfu Shishi stepped in front of him. ”I don’t understand what you mean, Law Enforcement Elder,” she said softly. ”What have I done to deserve such criticism?”

”You know full well what you’ve done!” the old man snorted. ”To behave this way in front of everyone... if you’re not ashamed, I’m ashamed for you! Once we return to the sect, you will be dealt with according to the rules!”

Huangfu Shishi was taken aback. The Law Enforcement Elder’s attitude was completely unexpected. Even if she were at fault today, it was hardly a major transgression.

Jiang Tianhai had coughed up blood because of his own narrow-mindedness. Was she not even allowed to greet an acquaintance?

Yet, from the Law Enforcement Elder’s attitude, this matter was clearly far from over...

Huangfu Shishi didn’t feel wronged—she had wanted to stand up for Xu Luo. But the Law Enforcement Elder’s attitude filled her with rage.

It was true she was from the Mortal World, but she was also of true imperial blood!

Most sect disciples might look down on those from the Mortal World, but how many of them could boast a lineage as noble as Huangfu Shishi’s?

An Emperor of the Human World was, in its own right, a symbol of supreme authority!

In terms of presence alone, ignoring martial strength, the Kaiyang Sect Master might not even be a match for the Cangqiong Emperor, Huangfu Haoran!

Xu Luo reached out, took Huangfu Shishi’s hand, and pulled her behind him. He chided her with a smile, ”Silly girl, as long as I’m here, you don’t need to stick up for me.”

Then, Xu Luo looked at the old man, raised an eyebrow, and said, ”Old dog, have you no shame?”

”You little bastard, are you courting death?!” The old man flew into a rage, his aura erupting from his body.

The crowd of onlookers instantly fell back. The weaker ones among them were so oppressed by this aura that they could barely stand, their legs trembling with the urge to kneel in submission.

This old man was a true expert!

Many in the crowd looked at Xu Luo with pity.

Those who disliked Xu Luo, however, all wore expressions of schadenfreude.

’He’s courting death. Let’s see how he gets out of this one!’

’He truly doesn’t know his own limits. He thinks that just because he beat a few opponents his own age, he can do whatever he pleases.’

’Heh, he’s from the Mortal World, so he’s ignorant. It’s to be expected. Once he learns what a major sect truly is, he won’t be so arrogant.’

In the crowd were Gu Xing of the Shaking Light Sect, Xiaohai of the Black Water Sect, and their entourages. While they remained silent, their fellow sect members grew excited at the prospect of someone finally putting Xu Luo in his place.

Although Gu Xing and Jiang Tianhai had been the most humiliated in the battle within the Small World, their fellow sect members also felt they had lost all face!

When had anyone ever dared to provoke them like this?

”Old dog, you think someone like you is fit to be a Law Enforcement Elder?” Xu Luo sneered, ignoring the immense pressure radiating from the old man. ”I may not know Sect Master Shangguan of the Kaiyang Sect, but I truly pity him. To use a blind fool who can’t tell right from wrong as a Law Enforcement Elder... he must not be afraid of humiliation!”

The old man was thoroughly enraged. He wasn’t some powerless elder from the Jade Balance Sect. As the Law Enforcement Elder, his position in the Kaiyang Sect was one of great power and authority.

When had anyone ever dared to challenge his authority like this?

”Kill!” The old man took a step forward, a low growl rumbling in his throat.

Instantly, a murderous aura surged toward Xu Luo!

Xu Luo felt as if he had been plunged into a battlefield of ten thousand men. The clang of battle shook the heavens, rivers of blood flowed across the earth, and the pungent stench of gore filled the air. Even the sky itself seemed to be stained crimson.

This was a powerful Spiritual Power attack!

Though it wasn’t real, it felt more real than reality itself!

If Xu Luo’s Spiritual Power was no match for the old man’s, the consequences would be dire. Being scared to death would be getting off easy; in the worst case, his very soul would be shattered and dispersed!

The moment the elder unleashed his Spiritual Power attack, the Jade Balance Star Soul in Xu Luo’s Dantian erupted with an incredibly brilliant light.

A vast surge of Star Power instantly flooded Xu Luo’s Sea of Spiritual Consciousness. In that moment, Xu Luo felt his own spirit swell to an ultimate state of fullness.

Like water from a high-pressure fire hose, this immense and boundless Spiritual Power erupted from his Sea of Spiritual Consciousness.

”Begone!”

Carried by that single word, an immense and unrivaled wave of Spiritual Power crashed down upon the Law Enforcement Elder from the Kaiyang Sect.

The Law Enforcement Elder’s eyes flew wide open. A look of utter disbelief replaced the murderous expression on his face as he let out a soul-tearing shriek, ”No!”

VMMM!

In that instant, the Law Enforcement Elder felt like an egg struck by a speeding mountain.

There could only be one outcome: to be utterly shattered!

The elder felt his entire Sea of Spiritual Consciousness go blank. He spat out a mouthful of blood, and an extreme weakness washed over his entire body.

His last thought before losing consciousness was one of pure regret. In a daze, he thought he saw the Sect Leader’s frowning face.

Shangguan Qing caught the unconscious Law Enforcement Elder with one hand. With the other, he formed a hand seal, dissipating the remnants of Xu Luo’s Spiritual Power attack.

Had he not arrived in time, the Law Enforcement Elder would have been killed without a doubt!

”Young man, your methods are too vicious,” Shangguan Qing said calmly, his gaze fixed on Xu Luo.

Then, several more figures descended.

They were Xiang Wentian, Sect Leader of the Dubhe Sect; Gu Jianfeng, Sect Leader of the Shaking Light Sect; Heavenly Cauldron Sect Master Ling Fengwu; and Jade Balance Sect Master Xushan.

Next, Tianxuan Sect Master Li Wenxi and Qiushuiduan arrived with a group from the Merak Sect. Without a word, they took their places at Xu Luo’s side, their expressions serene, as if they weren’t facing opponents who could easily crush them, but ordinary people.

Phoenix slowly emerged from the crowd, gave Xu Luo a dazzling smile, and took her place firmly at his side.

Lianyi and Ji Bingyu also walked over to stand with Xu Luo, facing Kaiyang Sect Master Shangguan Qing together.

Heavenly Cauldron Sect Master Ling Fengwu’s gaze on Xu Luo was a bit peculiar. When her eyes fell upon Lianyi, however, her expression turned to one of resignation.

She owed her daughter too much. So, even though she wanted to scold Lianyi for her foolishness, she couldn’t bring herself to say the words.

’Oh, well. It’s unlikely that Shangguan Qing would actually make things difficult for a child... I’ll let her be willful this once,’ Ling Fengwu sighed to herself.

Meanwhile, Xu Qing, who had been standing by Xu Luo’s side all along, ignored the tense atmosphere and the crowd’s complicated stares. She looked at Xu Luo and said, ”Wow, you’re really famous now!”