Firmament Sword

’People from the Ancient Race Continent... why would they come to the Central Plains Star Continent?’ Xu Luo wondered. ’If Su Qingyi came here before to seize the treasure from Su Qianqian, then what are these two people doing in the Central Plains Star Continent?’

’Could that ethereal saying, ”A treasure lies in Cangqiong; obtain it and ascend to immortality,” really be that alluring?’

Thinking about the benefits the Soul of the Big Dipper had brought him, Xu Luo felt a little resigned. ’Because the truth... is most likely just that!’

’The Seven Star Souls in my body have already attracted the attention of many powerful figures.’

’This is really not good news,’ Xu Luo thought.

Afterward, Xu Luo put away the jade tablet and left with the still-shaken Huangfu Shishi.

「Several days later, the Cangqiong Imperial Capital finally calmed down.」

The sects that had entered the Cangqiong Imperial Capital all adopted a much lower profile, as word of what happened on the night of Xu Su’s wedding had long since reached everyone’s ears.

The strength of this second young master of the Xu Family left everyone stunned.

If before, in the eyes of these sect members, Xu Luo was merely an outstanding young man, he had now become a true, peerless expert!

A supreme prodigy of his generation!

Those sects that had wanted to encroach upon the Cangqiong Royal Family and get a piece of the pie had all changed their perception of Xu Luo, shifting from casual indifference to high priority.

”There’s no point in staying here any longer. I think we should head to the Spirit Stone Vein first. We can’t just let Dubhe have it all to themselves,” Liu Wushang said, speaking in their inn.

”Leave? Why should we leave? We came to the Imperial Capital to establish a foothold and secure our sect’s interests in the secular world. The Sect Leader and the others are at the Spirit Stone Vein, so there won’t be any problems there!” Liu Wuyan said with an arrogant expression. ”Wushang, don’t tell me you were scared off by that Xu Luo?”

Liu Wushang didn’t deny it. ”He is indeed very strong, and there’s no reason for us to clash with him.”

”No reason? I think there’s every reason!” Liu Wuyan sneered. ”If we want to establish a foothold in the secular world, the Xu Family is an unavoidable obstacle. We’ll never truly gain a firm footing until we get rid of them!”

Liu Wushang fell silent. Liu Wuyan was right—to establish a foothold in the secular world, the Xu Family was indeed an unavoidable obstacle. The problem was, he had always felt there was more to Xu Luo than met the eye. This young man, whom he’d never even heard of before, seemed to be hiding endless secrets.

”Alright, you don’t need to worry about this. I know you’re wary of Xu Luo. Just wait until I defeat him. Then he’ll have no choice but to do as we say!” Liu Wuyan declared, brimming with confidence.

Liu Wushang sighed softly and nodded.

Soon after, news arrived: large numbers of experts from the Celestial Cauldron Sect and the Shaking Light Sect were entering the Imperial Capital!

It seemed many new uncertainties were now stirring in the recently pacified Cangqiong Imperial Capital.

...

”Lianyi, you’re back!” Xu Luo’s face lit up with joy as he looked at Lianyi, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.

Lianyi gazed intently at Xu Luo, her eyes filled with deep affection.

”Hey, Xu Luo, aren’t you going to welcome me? How come you only have eyes for Sister Lianyi and are acting like I’m not even here? Are you trying to pretend you don’t know me?” Ji Bingyu chided playfully from the side, a hint of jealousy in her tone.

Lianyi blushed faintly and gave a soft smile.

Xu Luo rolled his eyes. ”What would a little girl like you understand? This is a long-awaited reunion. Seeing you… is like having an unwelcome guest arrive at the door!”

”You—!” Ji Bingyu glared at Xu Luo, then linked arms with Lianyi and pouted adorably. ”How dare you say that! Sister Lianyi, let’s go!”

Xu Luo quickly smiled apologetically. ”Xiaoxue, it was a joke… just a joke! Please, come in!”

”Hmph, that’s more like it!” Ji Bingyu walked past Xu Luo with her chin held high and entered the Xu Mansion.

This all took place at the entrance to the Xu Mansion. Vermilion Bird Avenue had quieted down, so not many people witnessed the scene.

However, the group of Celestial Cauldron Sect disciples behind Lianyi and Ji Bingyu took in the entire scene, their faces filled with astonishment.

Xu Luo’s relationship with Lianyi was a given, but they never expected him to be so familiar with Ji Bingyu. The two of them seemed like old friends reuniting after a long separation.

’But the thing is… before the great sect assembly, Xu Luo and Ji Bingyu didn’t even know each other at all!’

Among the Celestial Cauldron Sect crowd, a handsome young man, who stood as the clear center of attention, looked at Xu Luo with a faint expression of displeasure. ”You’re Xu Luo?”

At that, Ji Bingyu, who was about to enter the mansion, stopped in her tracks. She cursed inwardly, ’How could I have forgotten about him? This is bad. Given his temper, a run-in with Xu Luo won’t end well.’

With that thought, Ji Bingyu immediately turned back to face the handsome young man and Xu Luo. ”Silly me, I forgot to introduce you two. Uh… Xu Luo, this is my Eldest Senior Brother, the true genius of our Celestial Cauldron Sect! Eldest Senior Brother, this is Xu Luo. He’s a good friend of mine!”

As she spoke, Ji Bingyu shot the handsome young man a meaningful look, trying to warn him not to go overboard. After all, this was the secular world, and they were at the Xu Family’s home.

Lianyi also caught on and, after glancing at the handsome young man, said, ”Senior Brother, this is the place where I grew up.”

Lianyi’s words were a clear reminder for the young man to mind his words.

’The handsome young man already had a bone to pick with Xu Luo. The revered Sect Leader’s daughter had been his Maid for more than ten years, and now the sect’s most beautiful prodigy, Ji Bingyu, was also on familiar terms with him. By what right?’

This sort of reaction was actually quite common. They were all young, high-and-mighty sect disciples who already looked down on the secular world. They couldn’t stand to see the beautiful women in their circle fancying an outsider, let alone some kid from the secular world.

Now, seeing both Lianyi and Ji Bingyu simultaneously hinting that he shouldn’t go too far, the handsome young man’s temper immediately flared.

He flashed a smile that didn’t reach his eyes and said to Xu Luo, ”I’ve long heard of your great name. Seeing you today, you truly have an impressive bearing. I imagine you must be considered a top-tier noble in this secular world, yes?”

Xu Luo’s sharp brows twitched slightly. He smiled at the handsome young man and asked, ”And you are?”

”My name is Wang Xu,” the handsome young man replied.

”Ah, Senior Brother Wang. Please, come in,” Xu Luo said with a smile. The man was arrogant, but he was still a guest, and Xu Luo had never considered the Celestial Cauldron Sect to be strangers.

Although Lianyi’s mother, the aloof Sect Leader of the Celestial Cauldron Sect, Ling Fengwu, didn’t seem to care for him, Xu Luo wasn’t bothered by it.

’No one would be happy about their daughter serving as a Maid in another family’s house for over ten years, especially not someone of Ling Fengwu’s status.’

”Don’t presume to call me that. I’m no Senior Brother of yours,” Wang Xu said coldly, pointedly disrespecting the gesture. ”Xu Luo, you may be close with Lianyi, but there’s a piece of advice I have for you.”

”Speak,” Xu Luo said, his own smile vanishing.

He had been polite for Lianyi’s and Ji Bingyu’s sake, not because he was afraid of anyone. Xu Luo wasn’t the type to offer a warm reception only to be met with a cold rebuff.

”Senior Brother Wang, today is the day I’ve come home. Can’t this wait for another time?” Lianyi said, frowning slightly as she sensed the tense atmosphere.

Ji Bingyu’s devastatingly beautiful face tensed up, and she too felt a surge of displeasure at Senior Brother Wang’s behavior.

”Heh, it’s just a piece of advice I feel compelled to give,” Wang Xu said with a smile at Lianyi before turning back to Xu Luo, his voice cold. ”I hear you’re quite outstanding. Very bold, too, daring to kill even an Elder from Dubhe. You’re considered quite the figure among the younger generation. However…”

”You… are from the secular world. Lianyi and Bingxue, on the other hand, are outstanding disciples of our sect. The secular world and the world of sects are two completely different things.”

”Perhaps you think you’re quite impressive, but in my eyes, you are nothing.”

”Therefore, I suggest you learn your place and stay away from Lianyi and Bingxue from now on.”

”As for your conflict with Dubhe, that is your own affair. Do not go around doing things under the banner of the Celestial Cauldron Sect.”

”If I find out that you have used the name of the Celestial Cauldron Sect, Xu Luo… even if Lianyi and Bingxue try to stop me, I… will not spare you!”

After he finished, Wang Xu stared at Xu Luo. ”Have you got that?”

”Senior Brother, you’ve gone too far! Xu Luo is my brother! The Xu Family is my family, so their business is my business! And you have no right to make decisions for me!” Lianyi may have seemed as gentle as water, but she was a woman with a will of steel beneath a soft exterior.

The one thing she would not tolerate was any slight against Xu Luo or the Xu Family. No matter who it was—even her own mother—she would never back down an inch on this issue.

Ji Bingyu’s mouth opened slightly as if to speak, but seeing Wang Xu’s face turning livid with rage, she thought better of it and kept quiet, though she was furious inside.

’That’s right, you’re my Senior Brother, and you’re the most outstanding disciple of the younger generation in the Celestial Cauldron Sect. But what does that have to do with me? What right do you have to make decisions on my behalf?!’ Though young, Ji Bingyu was a girl with a very strong personality. The fact that she didn’t say this out loud was already a great show of respect toward Wang Xu.

Wang Xu shot Lianyi a look, his expression ugly. ”Lianyi, this concerns the sect! This is no time for you to be capricious!”

With that, Wang Xu stared coldly at Xu Luo. ”Do you disagree with what I’ve said? If you’re a man, stop hiding behind women and answer me!”

Overbearing!

Tyrannical!

This was the character of Wang Xu, the number one genius of the Celestial Cauldron Sect.

”What is there to say?” Xu Luo laughed. ”First, while the Celestial Cauldron Sect is a major power, I, Xu Luo, have never had any intention of clinging to it for support, let alone using its name to my own advantage. Second, it’s true that I’m from the secular world, but what does that have to do with you? Third, who are Lianyi and Bingxue to you? What right do you have to make decisions for them? Whether or not I associate with them is my business. Your concern… is rather unnecessary, isn’t it?”

”Furthermore, guests from afar should be treated as such. If you wish to be a guest in my home, you are welcome. If not, then feel free to leave.”

Xu Luo’s tone was level, but his words were unyieldingly firm.

’I tried to show you respect, but you refused to take it. Respect is given by others, but dignity is something you lose on your own. If you’re going to offer up your face, I don’t mind giving it a slap!’

This was Xu Luo!