Firmament Sword

Perhaps fueled by the bone-deep hatred in his heart, Sui Yan’s strength exploded after he consumed the Chaos Peach!

Sui Yan, who had been at the same level as Little Fatty, directly shattered the bottleneck of the third minor stage, reaching the Fourth Layer of the Transformation Realm!

This outcome left Little Fatty both envious and frustrated. ’The guy doesn’t even care about the Martial Dao, yet he’s a whole minor stage ahead of me now.’ This solidified Little Fatty’s resolve to cultivate with all his might. He absolutely could not let Sui Xiaoshi leave him in the dust.

Huangfu Chongzhi was stunned by the effects of the Chaos Peach. He said to Xu Luo, ”I’ve been studying the Pill Scripture for some time now. Even the most miraculous elixirs recorded in it probably only have this kind of effect. Third Brother, these peaches... did you get them during the sect assembly?”

Sui Yan and Little Fatty were also ecstatic, and they knew exactly how immense a debt of gratitude they now owed their Third Brother!

They were sworn brothers, having kowtowed together and vowed not to be born on the same day of the same month in the same year, but to die on it—that much was true. But everyone has a selfish side. Few people were like Xu Luo, who would think of his brothers the moment he obtained any advantage.

All of them were top-tier nobles in this secular world and knew human nature all too well. Thus, after their breakthroughs, their understanding of what it meant to be brothers deepened in the very depths of their hearts.

”Since you two have already broken through, you should skip tonight’s banquet,” Xu Luo said, looking at Little Fatty and Sui Yan. ”Focus on stabilizing your new realms. Besides, we don’t want Kaiyang Sect Master Shangguan Qing to notice anything amiss. That man’s power is unfathomable; none of us are his match at the moment.”

Little Fatty and Sui Yan nodded, their expressions turning solemn. With their strength now in the Transformation Realm, their perspective on matters had naturally changed.

”Your Cultivation Techniques are still a bit lacking. I’ll figure out a way to get some High-level Techniques for you!” Xu Luo said.

A look of delighted surprise appeared on both Little Fatty’s and Sui Yan’s faces. The shortcomings of their Cultivation Techniques had indeed become apparent back when they reached the High Tier Sword Venerable stage.

It was like a teapot. With their current Cultivation Techniques, the teapot’s spout was only as thick as a chopstick, so very little water could be poured out at a time. If they could practice a High-level Technique, the spout would become much wider. The power they could unleash would be on a completely different level!

At this, Huangfu Chongzhi, who was standing to the side, looked puzzled. He turned to Xu Luo and asked, ”Third Brother, if this Chaos Peach is so miraculous, how can your realm... possibly be only at the Fourth Layer of Transformation Realm?”

”That’s right, I was just wondering the same thing, Third Brother. It can’t be that you gave all these Divine Peaches... to us and didn’t keep any for yourself, right?” Little Fatty asked, looking at Xu Luo with equal confusion.

Sui Yan was even more direct. He handed the remaining Chaos Peach in his hand straight to Xu Luo. ”Third Brother, you can’t always be thinking only of us and not yourself. Take this peach back. Your strength increasing is our greatest security!”

Little Fatty also decisively offered up the remaining Chaos Peach in his hand. ”He’s right, Third Brother. You can’t just think about us all the time...”

Huangfu Chongzhi said nothing, but the look on his face showed he was about to do the same.

A warmth spread through Xu Luo’s heart. He knew he hadn’t been wrong about these brothers of his.

He shook his head slightly and said with a smile, ”Don’t worry. While I don’t have a ton of these, I have enough. I’m advancing slowly because I’m intentionally suppressing my power. I want to build a more solid foundation and reach a state of perfection at every minor stage before I break through!”

Xu Luo couldn’t just come out and tell them about his seven bottomless pit-like Star Souls, so this was the only excuse he could offer. It was also the truth, however. Every step of his advancement was indeed made only after he had reached the absolute peak of his current level. ’Of course, it’s not like I have a choice. The Star Souls won’t let me advance otherwise.’

”So that’s how it is...” The three of them had a sudden realization, and they all looked at Xu Luo as if he were a monster.

Everyone else was desperately trying to break through to higher realms, but Xu Luo was here striving for perfection at every single minor stage. This made the three of them extremely curious about his current combat prowess. ’Just how strong is he now?’

”I suppose I could hold my own against any Transformation Realm Sword King below the Eighth Layer,” Xu Luo said modestly, rendering the other three speechless.

Even though the three of them were not yet aware that one could manifest Dharma Heaven and Earth at the Fifth Layer of Transformation Realm, they were already astounded by Xu Luo’s combat strength. The ability to challenge experts four minor stages above him spoke volumes.

Huangfu Chongzhi did not consume his Chaos Peach immediately. He still needed to attend the evening’s banquet and didn’t want anyone to notice a change in him.

Neither Little Fatty nor Sui Yan left the Imperial Palace, beginning their cultivation on the spot to consolidate the realms they had just broken through to.

That evening, Xu Luo, Huangfu Chongzhi, and their party attended the banquet.

The Cangqiong Empire was powerful and exceedingly wealthy, and this banquet was of the highest possible standard. As such, every dish served was made from the finest ingredients!

Exotic delicacies from the mountains and seas, each perfect in color, aroma, and flavor, yet presented with an elegance that avoided ostentation. This genuinely impressed the members of the Kaiyang Sect, who had always looked down upon the mortal world. For the first time, they felt a sliver of respect for it.

”I guess the mortal world isn’t completely without its merits. At least this food... is pretty amazing!” Jiang Tianhai said, stuffing his face with gusto.

”Luxury and hedonism. Mortals focus on pleasure, fine clothes, and gourmet food. How much energy could they possibly have left for cultivation? You must remember, these things are all Heart Demons. It is one thing to taste and see them, but you must never let them blind you!” The youth who had ridden the great, scaled bird earlier—Jiang Tianhai’s older brother—admonished his younger brother from the side, his face stern and his tone earnest.

Jiang Tianhai nodded, but grumbled inwardly, ’You’ve got some nerve. A minute ago, you were eating more heartily than anyone else!’

Shangguan Qing sat at the head of the table, merely sampling each dish. His face remained impassive, but inwardly he was sighing. ’No wonder everyone in the mortal world wants to climb the ranks, get rich, and become the Emperor. This kind of life... is truly something to aspire to! Our pursuits may differ, but to live a life of such opulence... that would certainly not be a life lived in vain!’

These were Shangguan Qing’s genuine thoughts. At his level, he would not be led astray by such temptations, so he could entertain them casually. He saw his disciples with their heads bowed, gorging themselves, but he felt no displeasure. This was a trial of the mortal world to temper their hearts. If they couldn’t even overcome this, they would have no great prospects in the future.

”Sect Master Shangguan, allow me to offer you a toast! Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality.” Huangfu Chongzhi raised his wine cup and gave Shangguan Qing a slight smile. ”I will drink first, as a show of respect!” With that, he tilted his head back and drained his cup.

Shangguan Qing returned the smile. ”As an elder, allow me to offer you some words of advice. I trust you won’t take offense.”

Huangfu Chongzhi smiled faintly. ”I am listening intently.”

Holding his wine cup, Shangguan Qing said in a heavy tone, ”Several ancestors of your Huangfu Family are highly respected elders within the Kaiyang Sect. Though they are in seclusion year-round, they have always been deeply concerned for your branch in the mortal world. If they were to learn of this incident, they would be heartbroken. That is why, upon receiving the news, I decided to come personally and resolve this matter.”

”I appreciate your concern, Sect Master Shangguan, but...” Seeing Shangguan Qing circle back to the same topic, Huangfu Chongzhi’s brow twitched as he prepared to argue.

Shangguan Qing waved a dismissive hand, the domineering aura of a superior naturally flowing out from him and causing Huangfu Chongzhi’s breath to hitch. He then said lightly, ”You will listen to me. I know you harbor misunderstandings about the Kaiyang Sect, and about me. You believe we don’t dare to face Dubhe, but that is not the case. Furthermore, neither the Kaiyang Sect nor I, Shangguan Qing, have any interest whatsoever in your secular imperial power!”

As Shangguan Qing spoke, a haughty expression crossed his face. He glanced at General Xu, who sat across from him, and said coolly, ”I have heard of General Xu before. I know you are a hero of this mortal world. As you are also Xu Luo’s father, you should understand that if the Kaiyang Sect truly wished to topple the Cangqiong Emperor’s Authority, it would be a matter of blinking.”

Xu Ji glanced at Shangguan Qing, remained silent for a moment, and then said, ”That sects do not interfere in mortal affairs is a rule handed down from antiquity. If Sect Master Shangguan insists on speaking in such a manner, then there is, of course, nothing we can do.”

”Sects don’t interfere in the mortal world because there is nothing in the mortal world worthy of their interference!” Shangguan Qing said coolly. ”But if something that warrants a sect’s attention suddenly appears in the mortal world, then... a sect’s interference becomes an inevitability! This world... is one where the strong prey on the weak. All of you are people who stand at the pinnacle of the mortal world; you should have no argument with that.”

Huangfu Chongzhi and the others fell silent. They had never expected Shangguan Qing to disregard his status and lay the matter out so plainly. Xu Luo had originally planned to let these super-sects fight it out among themselves, only making his move once a single winner emerged. But it was now clear their opponents were far from foolish. How could they let his plan succeed so easily?

Shangguan Qing’s directness had put Huangfu Chongzhi and the others in an awkward position.

He was basically announcing it to the world: ’We could overthrow your imperial authority as easily as flipping a hand, but we haven’t. We’re giving face to your Huangfu Family’s ancestors, and we’re giving you an opportunity!’

This was power—simple, direct, and utterly naked.

After he finished speaking, Shangguan Qing drained the wine in his cup. He then stood up, glanced at Xu Luo, who had remained silent the entire time, and said, ”Whether you choose to be our friends or to be an ant trying to shake a tree... the choice is yours.”

”What do you think you’re doing! Ah—”

SLAP!

Just then, from a distant table, an angry shriek suddenly pierced the air. A beautiful young woman was standing there, her face flushed crimson as she glared furiously at a young man who remained seated.

A bright red handprint was starkly visible on one of her cheeks. Her beautiful eyes welled with tears as she glared at the man, her expression a mixture of fury and humiliation.