Firmament Sword

News of what happened in the Cangqiong Imperial Capital had finally reached them. However, what truly enraged Xiang Wentian wasn’t the arrival of people from the Ancient Race Continent, but Xu Luo!

In Xiang Wentian’s view, it was no big deal even if people from the Ancient Race really showed up. If they wanted a share of the benefits, they would need to demonstrate the necessary strength. As long as they had the power to stake a claim, he was fine with giving them a portion. It would even be an opportunity to build good relations with the powers on the Ancient Race Continent.

If they couldn’t demonstrate such strength, the people from the Ancient Race Continent probably wouldn’t dare come looking for trouble anyway.

But Xu Luo was different!

This young man was a homegrown Noble Family Descendant from the secular world. Not only did he have the support of sects like Jade Balance, Celestial Cauldron, and Merak, but he had also displayed astonishing talent.

This talent made him feel uneasy!

What he found even harder to accept was that Xu Luo not only possessed astounding talent and strength but could also unite the two massive powers of the Celestial Cauldron Sect and the Jade Balance Sect!

He was convinced that without Xu Luo’s influence, there was no way the Celestial Cauldron Sect and the Jade Balance Sect would be as closely united as they were now!

The reason was a bit hard to swallow, but it was an undeniable fact!

Heaven knew what Ling Fengwu and Xushan were thinking to be so optimistic about Xu Luo.

That was why he had dispatched that group to the Imperial Capital to annihilate the Xu Family, completely eradicating the source of his unease.

Once Xu Luo was dead, the bond between the Celestial Cauldron Sect and the Jade Balance Sect would be gone!

This was also why Xushan had just furiously condemned him for his underhanded schemes.

But despite all his calculations, he had never imagined that the force sent to the Cangqiong Imperial Capital—a force powerful enough to wipe out two small sects—had been utterly defeated at Xu Luo’s hands.

This... was simply too hard to accept. At the same time, a chill ran down his spine.

Even Xiang Wentian himself couldn’t guarantee that he could easily eliminate such a force. To annihilate them completely, he would have had to pay a price.

Yet Xu Luo... had actually done it!

At this moment, people from the other sects began to file in, reporting to their respective groups about the events in the Imperial Capital.

A wave of low gasps and murmurs immediately spread throughout the large assembly tent.

Ling Fengwu and Xushan exchanged a glance, and both saw a faint smile in the other’s eyes.

”This kid is not bad,” Ling Fengwu said with a smile. She had already received news that her daughter, Lianyi, had become Xu Luo’s fiancée.

If she had initially disapproved of the secular-born boy and opposed his relationship with her daughter, now—after learning certain things and witnessing Xu Luo’s accomplishments over the past few years—Ling Fengwu’s stance on his relationship with Lianyi had completely shifted to one of support!

Xushan, the Sect Leader of the Jade Balance Sect, had also grown quite fond of the young man from the secular world, thanks to Xu Luo’s previous help to Xu Qing and his own understanding of Xu Luo’s character.

Xiang Wentian’s judgment was correct. The reason the Jade Balance Sect and the Celestial Cauldron Sect had united so quickly to form a powerful force had a great deal to do with Xu Luo!

Xushan nodded. ”He really is impressive. I never expected the kid to develop so quickly. What’s even more surprising is that the group of young brothers around him, who also come from secular noble families, have all shown remarkable progress. Their rate of advancement... is enough to make many so-called genius disciples of the sects feel ashamed.”

”Yes, the boy is loyal and righteous, just a bit of a womanizer,” Ling Fengwu said. She was a woman, after all. Though she had decided not to interfere in her daughter’s love life, she was still a little uncomfortable with Xu Luo taking three fiancées at once.

”What girl wouldn’t like such an outstanding young man?” Xushan sighed softly. ”Forget others, even my own niece... after she heard about Xu Luo’s engagements, she was gloomy for a whole day. She’s still mad at me now...”

”Oh? That little girl, Xu Qing? Why would she be mad at you?” Ling Fengwu asked, looking confused.

”Because for this trip into the secular world, she really wanted to go to the Cangqiong Imperial Capital. But the thought of all the beautiful women around that kid made her feel a bit put off... So I ignored her pleas and brought her here instead. And as a result...” Xushan gave a wry smile.

Ling Fengwu shot Xushan a look. ”See? You also think the kid is a womanizer, don’t you?”

Xushan shook his head gently. ”I’m not worried about him being a womanizer. I’m worried he has no interest in my precious niece! If that’s the case, Xu Qing would be even more heartbroken than she is now!”

Ling Fengwu paused for a moment, then murmured, ”I suppose you have a point.”

”Let’s not talk about that. It seems the kid is heading this way. Sigh, he really is a troublesome little fellow. This time, we’ll have to keep a close watch. It’s hard to say if the Kaiyang Sect will make a move... but the people from Dubhe definitely won’t let him go.” Xushan had switched to a voice transmission at this point.

Ling Fengwu’s shapely brows arched as she replied coldly, ”Whoever dares to touch my son-in-law will have to go through me first!”

”Let’s just watch for now,” Xushan said with a smile, glancing at the others in the tent. ”It’s truly hard to imagine that a Noble Family Descendant from the secular world could become a peerless expert capable of giving all the super-sects a headache in just a few years...”

Ling Fengwu nodded, completely agreeing with Xushan’s words.

...

Xu Luo traveled at lightning speed. He had left Master Mao at home but had borrowed Sister Ying from Phoenix to help him.

He could have traveled alone, of course, but it would have consumed too much stamina. Besides, with Sister Ying flying high in the sky, he could avoid many detours.

Traveling from the Cangqiong Imperial Capital to the eastern coast took Xu Luo just over two days. He had to admit, Sister Ying’s speed was getting more and more impressive.

An endless azure sea was now visible before them. Xu Luo signaled for Sister Ying to descend.

Sister Ying descended from the sky and landed beside Xu Luo. ”Xu Luo,” she said, ”I hear a lot of powerful sects are gathered there this time. You need to be careful!”

”Haha, Sister Ying has learned how to care about people?” Xu Luo laughed and nodded, taking a Chaos Peach from his person and tossing it to her. ”Thanks for your help. This is... a small token of my appreciation!”

”Whoa! This is good stuff!” Sister Ying definitely had a keen eye. She caught it in her beak, swallowed it in a few gulps, and then carefully tucked the pit into her feathers. ”Thanks, Xu Luo! I’m off!”

”Go on!” Xu Luo waved. He knew Sister Ying was in a hurry to find a place to refine the Chaos Peach, so he didn’t waste any words and bid her farewell.

The place where Xu Luo landed was a small mountain, still two or three hundred li from the Spirit Stone Vein.

With a flicker of thought, he activated his Transformation Skill. In the blink of an eye, the elegant and handsome young man vanished, replaced by a dashing, thirty-something-year-old man of the Ancient Race—Huo Feng!

’This guy... he really is all looks... so weak!’ Xu Luo frowned slightly and muttered.

The heaven-defying aspect of the complete Transformation Skill was its ability to change a person into someone else entirely, from the inside out!

This technique was heaven-defyingly powerful, but it also had a flaw: if the chosen target for transformation was weaker than oneself, then after transforming... one’s own strength would be suppressed!

Xu Luo had originally thought that even if he transformed into Huo Feng and his Star Power was converted into True Essence, he should at least still be able to use his various Cultivation Techniques.

But after trying, he discovered... it didn’t work!

Aside from the Shaking Light Step, he couldn’t use Breaking Army Seven Kills, Shaking Light Burst, Jade Balance Demon Sound... or even his most powerful technique, the Three-Star Dharma Aspect!

The Tyrant Technique he had comprehended in the Small World was usable, but when executed with Huo Feng’s physical body, its power was far weaker than before he transformed!

’It seems only my Star Constitution can wield Star Power...’ Xu Luo was stunned for a long time when he realized this. He also understood that the Seven-Star Soul entering his body could not be explained away as mere coincidence or luck.

After discovering this problem, Xu Luo decided that he would not use the Huo Feng persona unless it was absolutely necessary. He absolutely could not let anyone connect Huo Feng with him.

But now that he had arrived at the Spirit Stone Vein, Xu Luo had an idea.

Because even the Elders from the Ancient Race Continent were unlikely to be at the vein right now. If he appeared as Huo Feng and did something, the major sects would only pin the blame on Huo Feng!

In the future, if these sects were to clash with the Ancient Race Continent, it would also relieve a great deal of pressure on him!

With this in mind, Xu Luo no longer hesitated. As he watched the sky gradually darken, he utilized Huo Feng’s Body Technique and sped toward the vein.

The journey of several hundred li didn’t take long, and Xu Luo soon arrived.

Under the cover of night, he saw many people standing guard around the mine pit that had been opened by Dubhe.

The guards were split into several groups, each wary of the others. It looked less like they were guarding against outsiders and more like they were monitoring each other.

Xu Luo paid them no mind and, cloaked by the night, silently approached the edge of the mine pit.

The surroundings were silent save for the chirping of various insects, and the stars of Cangqiong twinkled overhead.

Xu Luo quietly slipped into one of the mine shafts. As soon as he was inside, a rich wave of Spiritual Qi washed over him.

’As expected of a Spirit Stone Vein. The Spiritual Qi is already leaking out,’ Xu Luo thought to himself as he followed the path dug by miners deeper inside.

Xu Luo hadn’t expected to get into the vein so easily. In truth, he had overthought it. Although the people outside were guarding against intruders, they weren’t overly vigilant.

The reason was simple: even if someone got into the vein and mined desperately... how much could they possibly take?

With that in mind, Xu Luo decided to change back to his original form. Only the Seven-Star Soul could absorb the energy in this vein.

Xu Luo activated the Transformation Skill and instantly reverted to his own appearance. The familiar sensation was a great comfort to him.

The instant he changed back, the Tianquan and Phecda Star Souls in his Dantian suddenly pulsed with an incredibly strong tremor, nearly causing Xu Luo to lose his composure!

’Two Star Souls are sending out strong signals at the same time... what’s going on?’ Xu Luo could clearly feel the intense throbbing from Tianquan and Phecda. He was utterly astonished, and a thought surfaced: ’Could it be... they’re both about to awaken?’