Firmament Sword

”Song Chengfeng, even if I die today... I’m dragging you with me! Xiaoya? Haha, she could never truly be with you! I’m telling you, stop dreaming! Come with me... to hell...”

As Huo Wannian’s roar echoed, the aura around him grew increasingly intense, constantly surging upward. On the horizon, an immense Dharma Aspect of an Ancient Deity appeared, towering between heaven and earth! No... it was as if this world itself... could not contain this deity!

The monstrous pressure crushed the mountains below, causing them to crumble. The earth split open, revealing enormous, unfathomable fissures!

Although Xu Luo was some distance away, he was still caught in the powerful shockwave. The mountain beneath his feet shattered with a BOOM and began to collapse.

Xu Luo couldn’t help but curse inwardly: ’He’s insane!’

He could no longer worry about staying hidden. Executing the Shaking Light Step, he descended along with the collapsing mountain peak.

He didn’t know if the two over there had noticed him. But he figured that at such a critical moment, even if they did spot him, they wouldn’t have the energy to bother with him.

”I’m very happy right now, happier than I’ve ever been. Speaking of which, I really have you to thank, Huo Wannian. Your disguise was too good. It wasn’t until after you hurt Xiaoya that she truly gave up on you. How about that? I bet you’re surprised by this news, aren’t you?” Song Chengfeng’s voice rang out again.

”Aaargh!”

Huo Wannian let out a roar of absolute grief and fury. ”Die!”

BOOM!

BOOM!

Two earth-shattering bangs followed in quick succession. Xu Luo had covered his ears in advance, but even so, the spreading shockwaves still rattled his internal organs.

He looked up at the high heavens, at the edge of the sky.

An immense, dazzling sphere of light was constantly expanding outward. The sight was like a sun falling from the sky!

Huo Wannian’s Dharma Aspect of the Ancient Deity shattered into countless fragments, which rained down from the sky. Each fragment carried a peculiar Dao rhythm!

This was the culmination of all the epiphanies Huo Wannian had experienced in his life, all poured into this one Dharma Aspect. When the Dharma Aspect exploded, the insights of this top-tier expert scattered across the world.

If no one were here, these fragments would eventually transform into the purest form of worldly energy—in other words... what ordinary people call Spiritual Qi!

Why is it that some people find it easier to have epiphanies and break through to new realms in places with abundant Spiritual Qi? It’s precisely because this pure worldly energy contains knowledge corresponding to the attributes they cultivate...

Xu Luo himself had no use for the insights of the Huo Family. He and the Huo Family walked two completely different paths.

The problem was... Huo Feng could use them!

And Xu Luo’s Transformation Skill... had turned him into Huo Feng!

So, how could Xu Luo possibly let these fragments of insight go?

Risking being swatted to death by the great expert, Xu Luo shot out from his hiding place using the Shaking Light Step and began frantically collecting the fragments of insight.

Huo Wannian’s body was nowhere to be seen; it was unclear if he was dead or had escaped. But in Xu Luo’s opinion, death was the more likely outcome.

As for the other great expert... After collecting more than half of the fragments, Xu Luo suddenly felt an icy chill run down his spine. He immediately stopped what he was doing and said cautiously, ”Elder, should this junior... not have appeared here?”

”You little rascal, you hid yourself quite well, managing to evade the Divine Sense of us both. If these fragments of insight hadn’t drawn you out, I’m afraid I still wouldn’t have found you!” a deep voice said with a laugh. ”Since that’s the case, your appearance here is meant to be! Huo Wannian, that man, deserved to die—he was scum—but his life’s work was quite impressive. However, insights are one thing, but I hope you don’t walk the same Killing Dao as he did...”

Xu Luo hadn’t expected this great expert named Song Chengfeng to be such a peaceful person.

He turned around, and what met his eyes was a young man who looked to be only around thirty years old. Dressed in green robes, he wasn’t strikingly handsome, but he possessed an indescribable spiritual charm. His entire face seemed somewhat hazy; although one could see his features clearly, it felt as if you would forget them the moment you looked away.

”This junior, Luo Tian, greets Elder Song!” To be safe, Xu Luo still didn’t give his real name. Since this person knew about the two consecutive humiliations the Huo Family had suffered on the Central Plains Star Continent, it wouldn’t be strange if he knew Xu Luo’s name as well.

Besides, you can know a person’s face, but not their heart. Xu Luo had become much more cautious.

”Not bad!” Song Chengfeng said, sizing Xu Luo up with a smile. ”Those fragments of insight are about to dissipate into the world. Aren’t you going to hurry up, kid?”

”Oh, oh... My thanks, Elder! I’ll treat you to a meal later!” Xu Luo said. He then activated his Shaking Light Step and resumed his diligent collection efforts.

Song Chengfeng watched Xu Luo’s Body Technique thoughtfully, a slight smile on his face. He then muttered to himself, ’Treat me to a meal? Heh heh... This kid probably has never heard the name of the Demon King, Song Chengfeng... Otherwise, how would he have the guts to invite me to eat? But... this is rather interesting!’

Song Chengfeng casually sat on an intact boulder, watching Xu Luo bustle about anxiously. By the time the sky was full of stars, Xu Luo had finally collected the last fragment of insight. Of course, some fragments had still dissipated, turning into pure worldly energy and scattering into the heavens and earth.

Nothing is ever perfect. Being able to collect over ninety percent was enough to leave Xu Luo satisfied. These insights would be of great use to his avatar! He was confident they could easily raise Huo Feng from the Transformation Realm to the Divine Power Realm.

’With this, this avatar should be able to secure some status even within the Huo Family of the Ancient Race, right?’

”Young man, are you done? If you’re done, come sit with me for a bit. I’m still waiting for that meal you promised,” Song Chengfeng said with a light chuckle, patting the boulder beside him.

”Of course, Elder! You’ll be eating in just a moment!” Xu Luo readily agreed. He then gathered a pile of dry wood, built a bonfire, and lit it. Once the fire had burned down to glowing red coals, Xu Luo took out a large chunk of meat from the Frost Giant Python, skewered it on an iron rod, and placed it directly over the coals to roast.

Soon, fat began to drip from the Frost Giant Python’s meat, falling into the fire with a SIZZLE and a POP. A rich aroma filled the air, whetting one’s appetite.

Xu Luo took out some salt and sprinkled it evenly over the meat. As he turned the skewer, the fragrance grew even richer.

At first, Song Chengfeng maintained the dignified air of a master, sitting there and watching quietly, a flicker of appreciation in his eyes from time to time.

But eventually, like an impatient, gluttonous child, he stood up and started pacing around Xu Luo, sniffing the air forcefully now and then. Finally, he couldn’t hold back any longer and asked, ”Um... is it almost ready? Don’t roast it for too long, right? It’ll burn... It’s a Frost Giant Python... you can even eat it medium-rare, you know!”

”...” Xu Luo was speechless. He thought to himself: ’Is this really the same great expert whose life force just filled the entire region? And not some greedy foodie? Medium-rare... why don’t you just eat it raw!’

But he only dared to think such things; he certainly didn’t have the guts to say them out loud.

With a smile, Xu Luo took out a dagger, sliced off a large piece of meat, and tossed it, dagger and all, directly to Song Chengfeng. ”Elder, please!” he said with a laugh.

”Aha! Thanks!” Like a child, Song Chengfeng deftly caught the dagger and took a huge bite of the Frost Giant Python meat. Sucking in air from the heat, he exclaimed indistinctly, ”Delicious! So delicious! You kid, you’ve actually got some serious barbecue skills. Impressive! Truly impressive!”

Xu Luo smiled faintly as he watched Song Chengfeng. The man’s age... could probably be described as ancient, yet his mentality was truly like that of a small child.

As a great expert of the Divine Power Realm, how could a mere mouthful of food possibly burn him? He could probably survive for a long time even if he jumped into lava! But he had completely let down all his defenses, acting as naturally as an ordinary person.

The heart of an innocent!

A thought struck Xu Luo. He suddenly recalled a supreme state in cultivation!

People are too easily influenced by the outside world. Aside from newborn infants, few in this world could claim to have maintained the heart of an innocent.

This man before him... seemed to have touched upon this state!

”How can we have such delicious roasted snake meat without any wine?” Song Chengfeng said. He took out two gourds from his robes, tossed one directly to Xu Luo, and kept the other for himself. He bit the cork off with his teeth and tipped the gourd back to drink.

Xu Luo could smell the rich, fragrant aroma of the wine even from Song Chengfeng’s gourd. ”Good wine!” he exclaimed.

Opening the wine gourd in his hand, Xu Luo was taken aback. This gourd was actually a spatial container!

The same principle as a Storage Ring!

Except this gourd was filled entirely with fine wine!

After a quick scan with his Spiritual Power, the corner of Xu Luo’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch violently. The amount of wine in this gourd... if not ten thousand jin... was at least eight thousand!

’He really is... an oddball!’ Xu Luo couldn’t help but mutter to himself. He looked at Song Chengfeng with a wry smile. ”I only treated you to a bit of snake meat, Elder, yet you gave me an entire gourd of wine... How can this junior accept?”

”Can you not be so phony? You say you can’t accept, but I don’t see you handing it back!” Song Chengfeng chided with a laugh. ”Look, while I was talking, your hand subconsciously tightened its grip a little...”

Xu Luo could only give a wry smile. This guy who looked young but was actually an old monster had incredibly sharp eyes.

”Also, look at this handsome, dashing face of mine. Why are you calling me Elder? Just call me Big Brother!” Song Chengfeng said with a wide grin, then casually glanced at Xu Luo.

”That... that wouldn’t be right, would it?” Xu Luo had heard the conversation between Huo Wannian and Song Chengfeng, including the line ”avoided me for one hundred and twenty years”... Xu Luo remembered it vividly. Based on that line, the Song Chengfeng before him had to be an old monster of at least two or three hundred years old—a true elder.

How could Xu Luo have the nerve to call him Big Brother?

”What’s not right about it? What, you look down on me?” Song Chengfeng’s expression darkened as he stared at Xu Luo.

”This... Alright. Little Brother...” Xu Luo had just begun to speak, intending to introduce himself as ’Little Brother Luo Tian,’ when he inadvertently looked up and suddenly saw the half-smile on Song Chengfeng’s face. His heart skipped a beat.