Firmament Sword

”Me?” Xu Luo asked, his face a mask of surprise and disbelief. ”How could it be me?”

”Do you remember your name?” Dubhe’s youthful voice carried a hint of ancient weariness.

”Fu?” Xu Luo recalled the unfamiliar name Dubhe had mentioned when he first awakened.

”That’s right. Fu... That name wasn’t given to you by us. It’s the name you were born with!” Dubhe explained. ”Now... walk into the Celestial Extinction Array. This array... was formed in the Era of Opening the Heavens. It will stop anyone, but it will not stop you.”

Xu Luo was filled with doubt. ’Even if I really am the reincarnation of Beidou’s Eighth Star,’ he thought, ’I shouldn’t have such Divine Techniques, should I?’

However, out of his trust for the Seven Star Souls, he still chose to step toward the Celestial Extinction Array.

”The Celestial Extinction Array does not tolerate even the heavens, yet it tolerates you. The Source of Creation, in this starry sky, will only recognize two people, and you... are one of them.” Dubhe’s voice entered Xu Luo’s Sea of Spiritual Consciousness as he stepped into the Celestial Extinction Array.

”Why?” Xu Luo was full of questions. He wanted to know the reason for all of this.

”This endless starry sky was once a primordial chaos, filled with Chaos Qi. This Chaos Qi is extremely dangerous. A single strand the width of a hair can destroy suns, moons, and stars!”

”After countless millennia, two sparks of Spiritual Wisdom were born within the chaos. Of these two, one was named Zhu, and the other, Fu. The one named Zhu was also called Kaitian, and the one named Fu was also called Pidi!”

”Kaitian Pidi? Opening the heavens and splitting the earth?” Xu Luo’s mouth twitched. He couldn’t wrap his head around it. He couldn’t imagine what such a scene would be like, much less that he... would be one of the two beings who presided over it all.

”The Celestial Extinction Array and the Source of Creation are both products of the Chaos Era. The Celestial Extinction Array extinguishes the heavens, while the Source of Creation... is born from opening the heavens and splitting the earth!” Dubhe’s youthful voice was filled with an ancient, nostalgic tone, as if lost in memory.

”Therefore, they can only belong to you!” Dubhe said, his voice softening. ”So now, begin refining them!”

”I want to know everything.” Xu Luo did not immediately begin refining the Celestial Extinction Array and the Source of Creation. He spoke calmly, the light of stars seeming to flash and fade within his eyes, as if re-enacting the process of opening the heavens and splitting the earth.

”I will tell you!” Dubhe said. ”We came looking for you this time precisely to tell you all of this. However, that must wait until the day you fully awaken!”

”Can’t you tell me now?” Xu Luo asked. ”You’ve already said so much!”

”I’ve said all this just to make you understand that you were once a master of this starry sky. Your future does not lie here!” said Dubhe.

Xu Luo was silent for a long time. He nodded quietly, sat down cross-legged, and began to circulate the Shadow Shaking Heart Method, silently absorbing and refining the Source of Creation within the earth beneath him.

The Source of Creation was colorless and formless. Using the Treasure Hunting Skill, one could only sense its power and radiance. It was like the air—invisible and intangible, but undeniably real!

...

When the brothers Li Ye and Li Hua found their way here, they were stunned to find Xu Luo sitting cross-legged amidst a sea of chaos. The area was hazy and indistinct, and they could only make out a silhouette seated there, exuding a mysterious aura, like a deity that inspired an urge to worship.

”This... This is the place they said would have a great treasure?” Li Hua stared at the scene in astonishment, muttering, ”How did Brother Xu Luo get in there? I feel like there’s endless danger inside!”

Li Ye wore a solemn expression and nodded lightly. ”You’re right, this place is very dangerous. I don’t know how he was able to get in.”

Li Hua thought for a moment and said, ”Isn’t he Beidou’s Eighth Star? Maybe... he’s the only one who can enter this place?”

Li Ye was momentarily taken aback, then smiled and put an arm around his younger brother’s shoulder. ”Come on. We’ll wait for him outside.”

Li Hua nodded, a warmth spreading through his heart. He finally knew what it felt like to have an older brother who cared for him. It was something he had yearned for over the past decade... but had never received.

To Li Hua, things like Beidou’s Eighth Star or peerless great medicines... none of them were as precious as the familial bond right in front of him!

Only those who have lost something can truly understand how to cherish it.

...

Pang Xiaogou appeared in Honglou Ancient City in a pathetic state. His steps were staggered, and his injuries were not light. Using that Secret Skill had taken a heavy toll on his body. This was the most severe setback he had ever suffered in his life.

His eyes glittered with resentment and fury. He ignored the people who came up to greet him, heading straight for the place where his great-grandfather was in seclusion.

”Isn’t that Young Master Pang? How did he get into such a sorry state?”

”Did he get into a huge fight... and get injured? But Young Master Pang is at the Fifth Layer of the Divine Power Realm! With that kind of power, how could he get hurt?”

”Yeah, within the Honglou Sect’s sphere of influence, who would be so bold as to provoke Young Master Pang?”

”To be able to injure Young Master Pang, they’d have to be a great power at the sixth or seventh layer of the Divine Power Realm, at least!”

The crowd’s murmurs reached Pang Xiaogou’s ears, causing the young man’s face—who had never suffered such a huge loss—to burn with shame. A venomous resentment even began to sprout in his heart.

From beginning to end, he hadn’t even found the courage to attack Li Kai’an, let alone fight to the death... He had never even considered it!

Li Kai’an’s words still echoed in Pang Xiaogou’s ears.

”You’re nothing but a delicate flower raised in a greenhouse. Have you ever seen a real storm? Back in my day, I could have killed you when I was only at the Third Layer of the Divine Power Realm...”

’I’m not a delicate flower... I’m not!’ Pang Xiaogou muttered to himself as if in rebuttal, but he couldn’t help but admit that Li Kai’an was right.

His life, from childhood to adulthood, had been far too smooth. He had hardly ever encountered any real difficulties.

From the moment he was born, he was tested and found to have exceptional talent. He was a chosen one, a Son of Heaven! He could rightfully claim a vast amount of resources that others could only dream of.

His great-grandfather was a Grand Elder of the Honglou Sect and held an extremely venerated position. Therefore, he, Pang Xiaogou... had grown up under the envious gazes of others since childhood.

Pang Xiaogou staggered on, his heart filled with despair. He naturally interpreted the gazes from those around him as mockery.

The rage in his heart grew stronger, and the venomous resentment intensified. Finally, he saw someone walking toward him. It was one of his subordinates, a disciple from a side branch of the Pang Family in the Honglou Sect named Pang Xie, who had always been completely loyal to him.

”Young Master, you... what happened?” Pang Xie looked at the pathetic Pang Xiaogou in shock, a flash of anger in his eyes. ”Who injured you, Young Master? I’ll go get revenge for you right now!”

”Are you... here to laugh at me too?” Pang Xiaogou’s face was grim as he stared daggers at Pang Xie. He misinterpreted the flash of anger in the other’s eyes as ridicule, as veiled mockery.

”Young Master... how can you say that? How could I ever laugh at you?” Pang Xie said, looking at Pang Xiaogou and trying to step closer to support him.

”Get lost!” Pang Xiaogou flung out his hand, and the power of the Fifth Layer of the Divine Power Realm erupted.

Caught completely off guard, Pang Xie was sent flying like a kite with a snapped string. He flew a great distance, spat out a mouthful of blood in mid-air, and crashed heavily to the ground dozens of meters away with a dull THUD. His body twitched a few times, then went still.

Everyone around was stunned. They had no idea what had just happened. The gazes they directed at Pang Xiaogou were now filled with fear. They couldn’t understand why he would attack one of his own men.

The moment he struck, Pang Xiaogou instantly sobered up. But it was far too late to pull back his attack. He could only watch as a loyal subordinate was beaten to death by his own hand.

Seeing the astonished looks from the crowd, Pang Xiaogou said in a cold, sinister voice, ”Traitor. You betrayed me and tried to attack me while I was injured... If I didn’t kill you, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself!”

With that, he didn’t spare another glance at the lifeless Pang Xie and walked away.

The people who witnessed this scene looked at each other, all wondering the same thing: ’Is that really what happened?’

Most of these people had lived in Honglou Ancient City for years, so they were well aware of the relationship between Pang Xie and Pang Xiaogou. To put it bluntly, Pang Xie was nothing more than a dog at Pang Xiaogou’s side.

People had heard of cats betraying their masters, but a dog betraying its master... that was truly unheard of.

But Pang Xiaogou’s confident expression made many choose to believe the young man who might one day become the Sect Leader of the Honglou Sect. After all, why would the normally level-headed Pang Xiaogou suddenly fly into a murderous rage without reason?

And so, poor Pang Xie died an innocent, unjust death. Even at the moment he died, he had no idea what he had done wrong for the Young Master to deliver a fatal blow.

Arriving at the secluded cultivation place of the Honglou Sect’s Grand Elder, Pang Xiaogou requested an audience.

Soon, the Grand Elder summoned him inside. Seeing Pang Xiaogou looking dazed and disheveled, the Grand Elder was deeply puzzled.

Pang Xiaogou suddenly dropped to his knees with a THUD and burst into tears. ”Great-Grandfather, you must seek justice for your great-grandson!”

”What happened?” A chilling killing intent flashed in Grand Elder Pangtian Star’s eyes. Someone had actually dared to harm his most favored great-grandson. No matter who it was, they were unforgivable!

”Li Kai’an has betrayed us!” Pang Xiaogou looked up, tears still on his face, and said with immense grievance, ”He colluded with Li Ye and Li Hua to harm me! Thankfully, I realized something was wrong and used a Secret Technique to escape. And what’s more...”

”What’s more?” The killing intent in Pangtian Star’s eyes intensified. ’This branch of the Li Family... are they getting restless?’ he thought.

”And what’s more, Li Kai’an has captured Beidou’s Eighth Star! He has probably already fled with the Eighth Star by now!” Pang Xiaogou said with a look of grief and indignation. ”I originally wanted Li Kai’an to present Beidou’s Eighth Star to you, Great-Grandfather, but I never expected him to turn on me!”

”What?” Pangtian Star shot to his feet, a terrifying light exploding in his eyes as he stared at Pang Xiaogou. ”You’re saying Li Kai’an... has captured Beidou’s Eighth Star?”

Pang Xiaogou nodded. ”That’s right. I don’t know how he captured him, but I heard Li Kai’an say that once he refines Beidou’s Eighth Star, he will become the most powerful person in the world, and the Li Family will become the only branch of the Honglou Sect!”

”What a Li Kai’an! What a Li Family!” Pangtian Star gnashed his teeth. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he frowned at Pang Xiaogou. ”That Li Kai’an... didn’t you place a restriction on his body?”