Firmament Sword

Xu Luo left with Nannan. Beneath this ancient castle was an extensive system of underground fortifications; the wide tunnels could fit six horse-drawn carriages traveling side-by-side!

The carriage driver said the place had existed for thousands of years and remained remarkably well-preserved to this day.

On the surface, this manor belonged to a powerful figure in Baihua City, one whose influence was immense.

That was why the people tailing them today stopped here, daring not to proceed any further. In fact, over the past few days, large numbers of black-robed figures had made the rounds, visiting nearly every faction in Baihua City!

Thus, no matter how powerful the factions secretly watching Xu Luo were, they had long since lost their true target.

In truth, this manor had been the property of Xie Yudie’s family for over ten thousand years!

Now, the manor belonged to Xie Yudie; it was her private property! And as for this secret... the number of people in all of Xi Hezhou who knew could be counted on one hand.

So, Xu Luo could leave without a single worry. No one would ever imagine that the person who had actually received the enormous sum had already left Baihua City and disappeared into the crowd.

...

...

Inside the castle, Xie Yurou looked at her sister with concern. ”Sis... you just handed Nannan over to him like that? Aren’t you afraid he’ll be like Brother-in-law and try to refine Nannan... to raise his own cultivation level?”

Xie Yudie shook her head slightly. ”He’s not an evil person. I have a feeling... that we’ll meet again.”

”Sis... don’t tell me... you’ve fallen for him, have you?” Xie Yurou asked cautiously.

Xie Yudie shook her head, laughing. ”What are you thinking? I don’t even know what he looks like or what his name is. How could I possibly have fallen for him?”

”Why would that be impossible? Matters of the heart are about feelings... You and Brother-in-law have no real relationship, yet you’re saddled with the title of Lady of Piaomiao Palace. It’s nothing but a political marriage, so why shouldn’t you be able to pursue your own happiness?”

Xie Yurou continued, her face filled with indignation, ”Brother-in-law can keep so many women on the side and have illegitimate children, so why can’t you, Sis?”

”Don’t be ridiculous!” Xie Yudie frowned, displeased. ”You’re a young girl. Don’t spout nonsense all day, or people will laugh at you.”

”I’m only saying this to you, Sis! It’s not like I’d say it to anyone else!”

Xie Yurou pouted, but then a smile broke through. ”Still, I loved that last bit of information you gave him, Sis!”

Xie Yudie smiled as well. ”Some people just have to learn... you can offend anyone, but you should never offend a woman!”

...

...

Far from Baihua City, Xu Luo shed his black robes and transformed into a handsome, white-clad youth of seventeen or eighteen. He looked just like a young master from a noble family, out to gain experience in the world.

By now, Xu Luo had cultivated his Transformation Skill to a very high level. He could freely change his appearance and had made great strides in controlling his aura.

At the very least, anyone whose cultivation realm didn’t completely surpass his would be unable to see through his disguise.

Even those with a higher cultivation realm would find it nearly impossible to see through him at a glance, as long as the gap wasn’t too large.

That was why, after changing his attire, Xu Luo had so casually transformed into a young man.

He had placed Little Nannan inside the world of the Bronze Divine Hall, right where Master Tao and Song Banban were.

As Xu Luo had expected, the moment Little Nannan saw Song Banban and the Ancient Peach Tree, she felt a great sense of affinity.

The two ancient trees, the Ancient Peach Tree and Song Banban, were in turn very friendly toward Little Nannan. At the same time, they were shocked that her cultivation realm was so much higher than their own.

”The secrets of reincarnation are hidden within her!” Master Tao finally concluded after observing Little Nannan for a long time. He grew even more affectionate toward her.

It is extremely difficult for plant-based lifeforms to cultivate Spiritual Wisdom. Thus, even though many of them possess lifespans of hundreds of thousands of years, they might not gain Spiritual Wisdom until more than half that time has already passed!

Once their Spiritual Wisdom awakens, they no longer wish to live and die in obscurity as they did before. They desire a longer lifespan... and that requires cultivation!

After cultivating to a certain realm, their horizons broaden. They want to leave their homeland and see other places... and that requires transformation!

After transforming, they discover more of the world’s unknown wonders, their Spiritual Wisdom grows, and so... they begin to pursue eternal life!

The way of the Celestial Dao is a cycle of life and death, and all things are subject to it.

Where there is life, there must be death; this is to follow the Celestial Dao.

Once a living being develops the desire for eternal life, then... that is tantamount to defying the heavens!

Defying the heavens... how could that ever be easy?

The Celestial Dao is without form or shadow, and its location is unknown, yet it governs all things in the world. Everything is under its purview. To try and deceive the heavens... how difficult must that be?

After cultivating to a certain realm, if one attempts such a heaven-defying act, they will eventually be discovered by the Celestial Dao, which will then send down Celestial Thunder!

According to the Ancient Peach Tree’s knowledge, there had never been a single plant-based lifeform that was able to live for several million years.

And during that time... she had even undergone Nirvana Rebirth multiple times!

”There must be... the power of reincarnation at work here!” Song Banban exclaimed in amazement after observing Little Nannan for a long while. ”So don’t be fooled by her appearance as a little girl. In reality, her seniority is who-knows-how-much higher than that of myself and the Ancient Peach Tree combined!”

The usually unreliable Ancient Peach Tree wore a rare, solemn expression. ”That’s right,” he said. ”She is our senior!”

Xu Luo wasn’t as sensitive to these matters. Seeing that Little Nannan would have no problem living here, he withdrew from the world within the Bronze Divine Hall.

Then he brought Master Mao and Xiaojin out as well.

”The Lady of Piaomiao Palace... gave me some information,” Xu Luo said to Master Mao. ”I’m tempted, but I can’t quite make up my mind.”

”Let’s hear it.” Master Mao was lying lazily on a stone, sunbathing. Xiaojin, meanwhile, had crawled into the shade beneath the stone; it didn’t like the sunlight.

”That Advanced Disciple from the Dubhe Inner Sect, Wanghai, who competed with me for the attack Talisman at the auction—he came to Baihua City to obtain an ancient inheritance!”

”The reason he wanted that attack Talisman so badly was also for that inheritance.”

”This information is very secret; very few people know about it. Besides Wanghai and his people, the Lady of Piaomiao Palace was likely the only other person who knew. And now... she’s told me.”

Master Mao thought for a moment. ”Why would that little minx tell you this?”

”That day at the auction...” Xu Luo recounted how the arrogant Heavenly Brilliance Disciple, Wanghai, had competed with Xie Yudie for the Nether Flower Seed. He then added, ”On the surface, it seems that’s the reason, but if you think about it more deeply... things probably aren’t that simple.”

”Yeah, none of these little minxes are simple. Who knows what they’re hiding?” Master Mao sneered. ”Isn’t your most important task right now to get into Celestial Brilliance, obtain their Soul Scripture, and save Su Qianqian? Everything else should be irrelevant to you!”

”But this inheritance is different...” Xu Luo murmured. ”It was left by a top-tier Cultivator from the Ancient Era. It should contain a Supreme Technique.”

”Most importantly, this person targeted me too.” Xu Luo thought about his recent experiences. If Xie Yudie hadn’t stepped in to help, it would have been incredibly difficult for him to secure the fortune.

”HAHAHA! In that case, this guy and that little minx who helped you... they’re pretty much the same, aren’t they!” Master Mao said with a toothy grin.

”Perhaps...” Xu Luo couldn’t be bothered to explain the difference. Master Mao was on his side, after all. Besides, Xu Luo himself wasn’t certain if Xie Yudie truly had no ulterior motives, as she claimed.

To become the Lady of Piaomiao Palace, to mobilize numerous powerful experts, to produce such astonishing wealth... no matter how you looked at it, this Xie Yudie had to be anything but simple.

Yet, the Xie Yudie that Xu Luo had come to know was a well-read, reasonable, and gentle woman... It clearly didn’t add up.

However, Xu Luo wasn’t too concerned. At least, so far, Xie Yudie had only shown him her friendly side.

”If it’s really as that little minx says, then I think we can go check out the excitement first. We can make our plans based on the situation on the ground!” Master Mao suggested after some thought.

Xu Luo nodded. ”That’s what I was thinking, too. The place is right on the way to Celestial Brilliance, so we can check it out without going out of our way...”

...

...

”Young Master... there’s been a snag... with the Money Shop.” An attendant by Wanghai’s side, who was also a Heavenly Brilliance Outer Disciple, looked at him and said, ”The source of the information... has been cut off.”

”What happened?” Wanghai’s expression was frosty as he sat in the head seat, his brows furrowing slightly.

”It seems... the Chief Shopkeeper of the Money Shop sensed something. He even sent people... to give us a warning.” The Heavenly Brilliance Outer Disciple’s face was grim. Clearly, the words of warning had not been pleasant.

”Warn... us?” Wanghai sneered, his expression turning icy. He stood up and said coldly, ”He’s just some Inner Sect Disciple from a hundred years ago who has already entered the mortal world and become a mere Shopkeeper. Does he still think he’s back at the sect? If he were truly that capable, who would leave the sect so easily?”

”Yes, the Young Master is right! That Chief Shopkeeper... is far too arrogant!”

”Right! We have to teach him a lesson when we get the chance!”

Several of his confidants also wore ugly expressions, feeling deeply insulted.

Wanghai’s gaze was frigid. ”Once I obtain that inheritance and my combat power reaches a new level, I’ll have a chance to become a Direct Disciple of the Sect Leader! When that time comes... I’ll return and see what this ’senior brother’ of mine... has to say then.”

”Senior Brother is right! By then, I’m afraid this Chief Shopkeeper... will be bowing and scraping, begging for forgiveness the moment he sees you!”

A handsome young man beside Wanghai sneered, ”It’s just a shame about that enormous fortune. To think that guy actually managed to slip away with it. I never imagined this mysterious person would have so much influence in Baihua City... My investigation revealed that many of the local factions here seem to have ties to him!”

Wanghai sneered. ”Nine times out of ten, that woman, Xie Yudie, is the one pulling the strings!”