Firmament Sword

Not long after Xu Luo disappeared, a terrifying aura erupted from the Starlight Sect’s seclusion grounds. Though formless, it seemed to blot out the very sky!

Across the land, winds howled and clouds gathered. Vast, dark clouds rolled in, churning and surging—a truly terrifying celestial phenomenon!

An incomparably cold voice boomed out, ”You scum of the Blazing Fire Sect! You have gone too far!”

RUMBLE!

An earth-shattering, mountain-shaking BOOM! The sound was so immense it threatened to pierce one’s eardrums.

A figure radiating a monstrous aura soared into the sky, rushing in this direction.

”Ah! The Ancestor! The Ancestor has come out of seclusion!”

”The Ancestor broke through!”

”The Ancestor has entered the Divine Power Realm!”

”The Ancestor has become a Sword Saint! Our Starlight Sect… we finally have a Sword Saint powerhouse watching over us! Kill those dogs from the Blazing Fire Sect!”

”Kill them!”

At that moment, the morale of the entire Starlight Sect soared to its peak!

Everyone charged out. Even the Martial Artists at the Sword Venerable Realm mustered limitless courage and began to surround and slaughter the Sword Kings of the Blazing Fire Sect!

The slaughter began anew!

In the end, more than half of the invaders from the Blazing Fire Sect were dead or wounded. The lucky few who escaped were terrified, scattering like stray dogs. None dared to return to their sect; they simply fled and went into hiding.

The mighty Blazing Fire Sect suffered a devastating blow in this battle. Its strength was so depleted that it plummeted from its position as a top sect on the Southern Celestial Divine Continent to the level of a minor one. In the end, the Starlight Sect didn’t even need to lift a finger; a coalition of the smaller sects the Blazing Fire Sect had once annexed rose up and annihilated them completely.

But that is a story for another time.

Back at the Starlight Sect, they took stock of their forces and found that their casualties were not severe. Aside from Sect Leader Yang Qingchuan, who was grievously wounded, not a single one of their Transformation Realm Powerhouses had been lost!

This was all thanks to Yang Qingchuan’s desperate struggle and Xu Luo’s aid. Otherwise, the Starlight Sect would have been the one wiped out today! Even if the Ancestor had broken through, he would have been no match for Chu Tianlie.

Although Yang Qingchuan’s injuries were grave, it was a blessing in disguise. He had gained much insight during the life-and-death struggle. Once he recovered and spent some time in seclusion, he should be able to comprehend the mysteries of the Divine Power Realm!

Excitement swept through the entire Starlight Sect. Nearly everyone shed tears of joy.

What was once a situation of certain death had turned around so dramatically. Everyone’s heart was filled with a flood of emotions.

It was then that everyone suddenly realized that the young man who had slain the Blazing Fire Sect’s most powerful ancestor, Xu Luo… was gone!

”Where did Brother Xu Luo go?” Yang Dan asked, her beautiful eyes welling with tears as she looked at the crowd.

Yang Ming also looked anxious. ”Where did Brother Xu go? He… he hasn’t left, has he?”

Just then, a Starlight Sect Disciple who had fought in the battle spoke up. ”Elder Xu… I think he left. The moment the Blazing Fire Sect’s ancestor died, he just vanished…”

”Yes, I saw it too. Elder Xu killed their ancestor in the sky, and then he was gone…”

”Yeah, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. The Elder was so fast, I couldn’t even follow his movements!”

Although Xu Luo was very young, in the hearts of the Starlight Sect Disciples, he was already a great power on par with their own Ancestor. Thus, they all addressed him as ”Elder.”

”He’s gone…” Disappointment was written all over Yang Dan’s delicate face as tears streamed from the corners of her eyes. ”Why…? Didn’t you promise you’d stay here for a long time?”

”Sigh… He said before that he would leave after helping us with this crisis. He doesn’t belong here…” Yang Ming patted his sister’s shoulder, his own heart a mix of emotions as he spoke in a low voice.

”Waaah…” Yang Dan could no longer hold back and cried on her brother’s shoulder.

The other Starlight Sect Disciples carefully backed away, not wanting their joyful expressions to upset her further.

For the people of the Starlight Sect, the life-and-death crisis had been averted, and they had vanquished their greatest enemy. Their excitement was simply beyond words.

But for Yang Dan, whose heart was just beginning to flutter with the feelings of first love, Xu Luo’s sudden departure left her feeling utterly empty…

The Starlight Sect’s Ancestor gazed at the sky and sighed softly. He glanced at his crestfallen great-granddaughter and said, ”Someone like him is destined for a world beyond our own. Try not to dwell on it. Or perhaps, if you can one day reach his level… maybe you’ll have another chance to meet.”

”Really?” Yang Dan’s eyes suddenly lit up as she looked at her ancestor.

’The Starlight Sect’s Ancestor had only meant to comfort his great-granddaughter and get her to give up the notion. He never expected to ignite her fighting spirit instead… but perhaps this was a good thing.’

With that in mind, the Starlight Sect’s Ancestor nodded and said, ”It’s true! As long as you reach that realm, you should have a chance to meet again. Because by then, for you… distance in this world will be meaningless!”

”I will work as hard as I can!” Yang Dan declared with unshakable resolve.

...

「Cyan Leaf Sect.」

More than 1,300 li from the Starlight Sect, a peaceful and quiet atmosphere permeated the Cyan Leaf Sect.

Most of the young disciples were cultivating in their respective areas.

On the Main Peak of the Cyan Leaf Sect, clusters of ancient buildings sat nestled on the mountainside.

The largest of these was the Cyan Leaf Sect’s assembly hall, where a dozen or so people were currently seated.

At the head sat a man who appeared to be in his forties. He had a fair, beardless, and scholarly face, with a faint smile playing on his lips. This was none other than the current Sect Leader of the Cyan Leaf Sect, Fan Feilong.

To his left sat an elder who looked to be in his seventies. He was vigorous and hale, with a thin face that bore few wrinkles. His eyes glinted with a sharp light, marking him at a glance as a powerful Martial Artist.

The elder smiled. ”It seems the Starlight Sect is doomed this time. Sect Leader, what do you say… should we go and get a piece of the pie?”

A gray-robed elder to the right chimed in, ”Indeed. The Blazing Fire Sect is powerful, but they won’t be able to swallow the entire Starlight Sect in one bite. If we go to claim a share now, there shouldn’t be any problem!”

Nearby, a dignified and graceful woman in her forties frowned slightly. ”Is that really wise?” she said softly. ”After all, the Starlight Sect did us a great favor in the past. It’s one thing not to help them, but to kick them while they’re down… that is simply wrong!”

”A woman’s shortsightedness!” the gray-robed elder sneered, glancing at the woman. ”Don’t be so biased just because you had a fling with Yang Qingchuan back in the day!”

”How… How is this bias? This is a matter of basic principle and integrity!” The middle-aged woman was instantly furious, her shapely brows arching in anger. She glared at the gray-robed elder. ”Are you even speaking like a human being?”

”Heh heh, and why shouldn’t I speak this way? Am I wrong? If not for that little affair, why would you care so much about the Starlight Sect?” the gray-robed elder sneered. ”This isn’t kicking them while they’re down! At most, we’re just picking up some scraps! The Blazing Fire Sect is far too powerful. Even if we allied with the Starlight Sect, we’d be no match for them! So why should we throw our lives away?”

The thin elder on the left nodded in agreement. ”Fei Yan, you are being impulsive. Elder Qi is right. From a practical standpoint, we are simply no match for the Blazing Fire Sect. Choosing to watch from the sidelines is merely wise self-preservation. If we were to truly confront them, our entire sect would be plunged into danger!”

The middle-aged woman, Fan Feiyan, let out a cold laugh. She stood, her voice like ice. ”When the Starlight Sect helped us all those years ago, our Cyan Leaf Sect was facing this very same kind of peril! I was in seclusion and didn’t know what had transpired. When I heard, I wanted to remind you all: repay kindness with kindness, and vengeance with vengeance. That is the code we should live by! It’s bad enough that you won’t repay their kindness, but to think you’d actually plot to kick them while they’re down… Do you even deserve to be called men? You’re nothing but a pack of disgusting filth!”

”Fei Yan!” Fan Feilong, seated at the head, snapped, his face turning ashen. His sister’s words had included him in her condemnation, and he was deeply embarrassed.

”Don’t be so insolent! Don’t think you can speak such nonsense just because you are the Sect Leader’s sister!” the thin elder on the left said coldly.

”Hahahaha!” Fan Feiyan let out a few loud, sorrowful laughs. ”To be associated with the likes of you is the greatest shame of my, Fan Feiyan’s, life! As of today, I am leaving the Cyan Leaf Sect. Henceforth, I will have nothing more to do with you! If you won’t go and help, then I will!”

With that, Fan Feiyan turned to leave.

”Fei Yan!” Fan Feilong shouted sternly. ”Don’t be a fool! Even if you go now, it’s already too late! The Blazing Fire Sect… has already launched its attack on the Starlight Sect! And as for what you just said… I can pretend I didn’t hear it. Now hurry back and reflect on your transgressions in seclusion!”

As Fan Feilong spoke, he gestured for his sister to stop. He had always found her to be a handful. She was far too principled, and her past relationship with Yang Qingchuan meant she was fixated on helping the Starlight Sect.

But as Sect Leader, he couldn’t just indulge her whims; he had to consider the well-being of the entire sect.

”Sect Leader, Fan Feiyan’s behavior is treasonous and insubordinate! You can’t protect her just because she’s your sister!”

”That’s right! Fan Feiyan, you have no respect for your station! Your actions today have gone too far!”

”Sect Leader, I recommend we dispatch our people to the Starlight Sect immediately! If we’re late, I fear we won’t get any of the spoils!”

”Yes, the Starlight Sect has several rather excellent Spirit Veins!”

”Indeed. And the Starlight Sect has a few treasures I’ve had my eye on for a long time!”

”Sect Leader…”

In an instant, the assembly hall erupted into a cacophony of voices. Some demanded severe punishment for Fan Feiyan, while others urged that they send men to the Starlight Sect to pick up the scraps. It was a chaotic din.

Disappointment flooded Fan Feiyan’s graceful face, and her eyes began to mist over. She didn’t know when it had happened, but the sect she had always known had become completely unrecognizable.

It was as if only a single word remained in everyone’s hearts: Profit!

Even her brother, the man she had admired most since childhood, had changed.

’Forget it,’ she thought. ’There’s nothing more to say to these people. I might as well leave!’

With that thought, Fan Feiyan stepped forward to leave.

”Don’t let her ruin our plans!” At that moment, the gray-robed elder let out a great shout, leaped into the air, and actually attacked Fan Feiyan!

”Stop!” Fan Feilong cried out, but it was too late. He could only watch, helpless, as the elder beside him struck a palm toward his unsuspecting sister’s back.