Firmament Sword

”Oh?” Yang Qingchuan faltered for a moment, looking at Xu Luo.

Over on the side, Yang Dan stuck her tongue out at Xu Luo in disbelief. She shot him a disdainful look, as if to say he was all talk.

A look of disbelief also crossed Yang Ming’s face. In his eyes, while Brother Xu was a talented expert for his age...

...he wasn’t a top-tier genius. Both the Blazing Fire Sect and other major sects had young experts in their early twenties who had reached the Transformation Realm. *Those* were the true prodigies!

Xu Luo smiled faintly, looked at Yang Qingchuan, and said, ”Sect Leader Yang, you should currently be at the Sixth Layer of the Transformation Realm... no, you’re somewhere between the Sixth and Seventh Layer...”

Yang Qingchuan shot to his feet, his eyes flashing with a cold light as he stared at Xu Luo. His face was filled with alarm as he said icily, ”Who exactly are you? Did the Blazing Fire Sect send you?”

The siblings, Yang Dan and Yang Ming, were also stunned by this sudden turn of events, not knowing what to do.

Xu Luo chuckled. ”Why would they send me? To get myself killed? Sect Leader Yang, please calm down. I’m sure you’ve investigated my background during this time and come up with nothing, correct?”

Yang Qingchuan frowned, staring at Xu Luo for a moment. Just then, Yang Ming cautiously piped up from the side, ”Father... Brother Xu isn’t a bad person.”

”That’s right, Father. Brother Xu can’t be a bad person,” Yang Dan added.

Yang Qingchuan shot his children a wry smile. ’You have no idea what this Xu Luo is capable of,’ he thought. ’He’s merely at Sword Venerable Peak, yet he can see right through my cultivation... I wouldn’t believe he has no significant background for the life of me!’

However, Xu Luo’s explanation was plausible. After all, when Yang Dan and Yang Ming found him, he was unconscious and barely breathing. If their master hadn’t pointed out he was still alive, they might have buried him right then and there.

More importantly, if Xu Luo had truly been sent by an enemy, he would never have revealed his abilities so openly.

At that thought, Yang Qingchuan let out a long sigh. He looked at Xu Luo apologetically and said, ”My apologies. It’s not that I’m being overly sensitive, but lately... the entire Starlight Sect has been in a precarious position.”

Xu Luo nodded. ”Yes, I’ve heard your son and daughter mention it...”

Without realizing it, Xu Luo had begun speaking to Yang Qingchuan as an equal, and Yang Qingchuan, for his part, didn’t find anything amiss.

”The Blazing Fire Sect wants to annex the Starlight Sect simply because the land you occupy is abundant in Spiritual Qi, as well as various Spirit Medicines and mineral deposits...”

”Their greatest advantage is likely their Supreme Elder, the expert who just broke through to the Divine Power Realm. If the Starlight Sect also had an expert at the Divine Power Realm, wouldn’t they... pull back a bit and not dare to be so audacious?” Xu Luo asked.

”That’s a given...” Yang Qingchuan sighed. ”But breaking through from the Transformation Realm to the Divine Power Realm... is far from easy.”

”I heard that the Starlight Sect has a senior who has been at the Peak of Transformation Realm for many years but has been unable to break through. If this senior were to reach the Divine Power Realm, the Starlight Sect’s current crisis would be resolved, wouldn’t it?” Xu Luo said.

Yang Qingchuan shot a glare at his children. ’These two foolish kids,’ he thought, ’they’ve really spilled all our secrets. How can I possibly entrust the sect to them in the future when they’re so naive!’

Despite his thoughts, Yang Qingchuan said coolly, ”Yes, that’s true. Don’t tell me you have a solution?”

It wasn’t that he looked down on him, but Yang Qingchuan simply didn’t believe a young man at Sword Venerable Peak could possibly have a way to help someone at the Peak of Transformation Realm break through to the Divine Power Realm. It was utterly preposterous!

His initial impression of Xu Luo had been quite good, but now, Yang Qingchuan suddenly felt that the young man before him was nothing but a smooth-talking charlatan! In reality... completely useless!

Although the siblings Yang Dan and Yang Ming had an excellent impression of Xu Luo, even they felt he was laying it on a bit thick.

”There is certainly a way. It just depends on whether Sect Leader Yang... is willing to give your ancestor this opportunity,” Xu Luo said with a faint smile.

”Brother Xu...” Yang Ming called out cautiously, trying to signal Xu Luo with his eyes. He was afraid Xu Luo would keep spouting nonsense and anger his father.

Yang Dan also watched Xu Luo with concern. Her father usually had a good temper, but he was mentally exhausted from dealing with the Blazing Fire Sect. The failed plea for help from the Cyan Leaf Sect had only worsened his mood. If he snapped now while listening to Xu Luo’s wild claims, a conflict would be disastrous.

Yang Qingchuan glanced at his children and, instead of getting angrier, let out a laugh—one born of fury. He turned to Xu Luo. ”So, you’re telling me my children saved a peerless expert?”

”I wouldn’t call myself a peerless expert. But as long as you’re willing to believe me and give me a chance, Sect Leader Yang, I believe you will see a very different Starlight Sect,” Xu Luo said calmly.

It was true that they had saved his life, and Xu Luo was determined to repay them one way or another.

This was especially true for Yang Dan and Yang Ming. Xu Luo had already decided to use a Chaos Peach, along with some of the other Spirit Medicines he possessed, to help the siblings transform their bodies and raise their strength.

As for the Starlight Sect’s crisis, he wouldn’t just stand by and watch. If their enemies truly came knocking, he would step in to help.

If Yang Qingchuan was willing to trust him, he wouldn’t mind helping them even more. But if not, Xu Luo certainly wouldn’t force the issue.

After all, the most important thing between people... is trust.

Staring at the perfectly composed young man before him, Yang Qingchuan realized he couldn’t see through him at all. He couldn’t fathom the source of the young man’s confidence.

He had pinpointed his true cultivation realm in a single sentence, and now he was brazenly boasting that he could help his grandfather break through to the Divine Power Realm... Was that even possible?

’If I had to choose, I would definitely choose not to believe it! How could that be possible?’

’But then again, why would Xu Luo lie? Especially a lie so easily exposed... It wouldn’t benefit him in the slightest!’

He observed the young man closely. He was composed, neither arrogant nor impetuous, and possessed a steady bearing. His aura was in no way inferior to his own as a Sect Leader; in fact, it was faintly... nobler.

’Perhaps... giving him a chance really could create an unexpected miracle?’ Yang Qingchuan thought. Then, for reasons he couldn’t explain, as if guided by some unseen force, he agreed.

”Fine... Young man, I’ll give you this chance! My grandfather may be in year-round seclusion, but I will go and ask him to come out. If he blames me, I will bear the consequences myself! If you can truly do as you say... then you will be the entire Starlight Sect’s... greatest benefactor!”

”But if this proves to be nonsense...” Yang Qingchuan looked at Xu Luo, his voice grave, ”then I’m sorry, but I will ask you to leave immediately. The Starlight Sect may be small, but we don’t welcome charlatans and liars!”

Xu Luo smiled and nodded. ”Deal!”

Yang Qingchuan turned and left. Immediately, Yang Dan and Yang Ming rushed to Xu Luo’s side, their faces etched with worry.

Yang Dan stomped her foot and glared at Xu Luo, huffing, ”You’ve gone too far! Do you have any idea what you’re doing? Great-Grandfather is in year-round seclusion, contemplating the Great Dao. Father will face serious consequences for disturbing him... Ugh, why are you grinning like that? You... you’re infuriating!”

Yang Ming drew closer as well, his expression grave. ”Brother Xu, this isn’t a joke. Great-Grandfather might not punish Father too harshly, but as for you... that’s another story. Sigh, if it comes to it, you should just leave now!”

”Yeah, if this goes wrong, you should run! Great-Grandfather is terrifying when he’s angry!” Yang Dan added.

”You two... have that little faith in me?” Xu Luo asked, looking at the siblings with a wry smile.

Yang Ming and Yang Dan shook their heads in unison.

The corner of Xu Luo’s mouth twitched. He was speechless. ”Don’t worry,” he finally said. ”Not just your great-grandfather and your father, but both of you as well... I’m going to give you all a surprise.”

”A surprise? More like a shock...” Yang Ming said, his face grim. ”Brother Xu, I’m begging you. You’re playing with fire, and the consequences will be severe!”

Xu Luo smiled, and two purple peaches suddenly appeared in his hand. ”Here,” he said. ”One for each of you. Eat up.”

”Huh? What kind of peaches are these? Why do they smell so fragrant?” The siblings were immediately captivated by the peaches in Xu Luo’s hand. Yang Dan’s eyes widened as she asked the question.

Yang Ming also sniffed the air deeply. ”It smells amazing! I’ve never seen peaches like these before!”

”Hey... you’re not trying to poison us with these two peaches, are you?” Yang Dan asked, eyeing Xu Luo warily. ”We saved your life, you know!”

”You silly girl... Do you want it or not?” Xu Luo said with a helpless look, pretending to put the peaches away.

”I do! Of course I do! I trust you’re not that kind of person. We have no reason to be enemies, so why would you harm us? I was just joking!” Yang Dan snatched a Chaos Peach from Xu Luo’s hand and took a big bite.

”Wait—” Yang Ming tried to stop his sister from eating it so quickly. It wasn’t that he distrusted Xu Luo, but he felt that something like this shouldn’t be consumed so casually.

A single glance was enough to tell that these peaches were no ordinary fruit; they were most likely a very potent type of Spirit Medicine.

But he was a step too slow. In the blink of an eye, Yang Dan had already devoured half the peach.

”WOW... WOW! This is delicious! Is this an Immortal Peach? Mmm... so good... Ah, my stomach!” Yang Dan’s exclamations were cut short as she suddenly leaped up, her expression changing drastically.

She pointed a finger at Xu Luo. ”What was that?!”

Beside her, Yang Ming clutched the other peach, his expression turning grim. He stared coldly at Xu Luo, but before he could speak...

...Xu Luo had already strode to Yang Dan’s side. ”Sit down cross-legged and focus your mind, now!” he commanded in a deep voice.

As he spoke, he pressed down on Yang Dan’s shoulder. She followed the pressure and sat on the ground. A solemn expression fell over her youthful, pretty face, yet a trace of delighted surprise remained.

Yang Ming stood to the side, his mouth twitching as he watched them, dumbfounded. He glanced down at the peach in his hand, a feeling dawning on him that he had... misunderstood something.