Firmament Sword

”Lv Di... I never thought you’d get involved in this mess. I really misjudged you!” Jin Ming said through gritted teeth. ”I didn’t realize Luo Tian had such powerful charisma he could even win over his defeated foes.”

Jin Ming’s words were filled with mockery.

But Lv Di’s expression remained unchanged as he said coolly, ”That’s right. Your charisma is far lacking. I’ve lost to you so many times, yet I was never won over.”

”Fine... Very good! A murderer, and you all protect him like this. He even has so many supporters. Just wonderful!” Jin Ming’s face had become twisted and ferocious, his voice turning ice-cold.

Just as he was about to order an attack, a weak voice suddenly drifted from the courtyard behind them, causing everyone present to fall silent, even holding their breath.

”Jin Ming, who are you calling a murderer? Even if you’re jealous that I stole your spotlight, there’s no need to use such despicable tactics against me, is there? Didn’t you want to see me? Then why don’t you come over and pay your respects?”

The voice was weak, sounding feeble and out of breath, but the words sent a jolt of shock through everyone present.

There were some things that everyone understood, but no one would ever say out loud.

For instance, everyone knew perfectly well that Luo Tian’s arrival had stolen Jin Ming’s spotlight, but no one would mention it.

No one had expected Luo Tian to be the one to bring it out into the open, and with such sharp, cutting words, demanding that Jin Ming come and pay his respects.

As the leading disciple of Celestial Brilliance’s younger generation, how could Jin Ming endure such humiliation? He was about to retort with a sneer when his gaze swept over the people standing near Yuwen Ji, and his heart suddenly clenched.

Those people... were all from the Heritage Clans of Celestial Brilliance!

What made Jin Ming’s heart tremble wasn’t the support these Heritage Clans were showing Luo Tian, but the sudden memory of that incident where Huyan Qingshan, a young master from a Heritage Clan, had been utterly humiliated by Luo Tian!

’He’s the New Medicine King! The Sect Leader himself declared that his status is equal to his own!’

’How could I have forgotten about that...’

Jin Ming wanted to slap himself. His mind had been clouded by hatred, and he had never taken Luo Tian’s title of ”New Medicine King” seriously. So when he came here today, full of rage, he had completely forgotten that Luo Tian had another layer to his identity.

”And all of you... so many people. How lively. Are you all... here to pay respects to me? Thank you. I’m very tired... Just leave your gifts and go. As for your kind intentions... Luo Tian accepts the sentiment.”

Xu Luo was seated on a soft couch, which was being carried by four stunningly beautiful women. Their expressions were casual, but everyone who saw these women felt their eyelids twitch uncontrollably.

’Fuck... Isn’t this a bit too much?’

’Does he have to be like this...? We never said he was the murderer. Does he really have to intimidate us like this?’

’Several of the Scripture Pavilion’s great beauties are personally acting as his porters... A noble lady from a Heritage Clan is fanning him from behind, and who’s that beauty massaging his shoulders on the side? I’ve never seen her before.’

’That’s the new Direct Disciple of the Scripture Pavilion’s Chief Grand Elder, Zuo Mingyu. I heard her name is Su Qianqian...’

’Just how many people support this Luo Tian? People from the Scripture Pavilion are here, and there are a few of those lunatics from the Precepts Hall hiding in the crowd. Do they think we can’t recognize them?’

’So many from the Heritage Clans came too. Damn it, wasn’t everyone saying the Heritage Clans all hated Luo Tian’s guts?’

Xu Luo actually felt a bit resigned. If he had a choice, he would never have used the great beauties of the Scripture Pavilion as porters.

But Su Qianqian had said this was an order from Elder Zuo, and they were here specifically to back him up!

Xu Luo was touched and could only accept Zuo Mingyu’s great favor with trepidation.

The beauties carrying Xu Luo were all somewhat famous throughout Celestial Brilliance. The Scripture Pavilion was known for its beauties, and these women were among the most outstanding.

They were all now as close as sisters with Su Qianqian and knew a little about the relationship between her and Luo Tian. Coupled with the Grand Elder’s orders, they didn’t feel the least bit ashamed. In fact, each one of them wore a smile, as if they were taking part in something very amusing.

In response, Xu Luo could only feel grateful while sighing to himself, ’What a bunch of bored kids! They can even treat something like this as a bit of fun.’

Jin Ming stood frozen, caught in a dilemma.

If he didn’t pay his respects, he’d surely be branded as disrespectful. But if he did, what would be the point of them coming here with such fanfare and aggressive momentum?

”Oh? Weren’t you just clamoring to see me? Shouting about killing and attacking? Now that I’m here, why have you gone silent?” Jin Ming’s dilemma didn’t mean Xu Luo would let him off the hook. Though his voice still sounded weak, his words were enough to infuriate Jin Ming.

Just then, the withered old man from before, Jin Shen, slowly stepped forward. His eyes were like lightning as he glanced at Xu Luo and said, ”Medicine King, would you dare let me examine your meridians?”

”Insolent!”

”Bastard! How dare you insult the Medicine King?”

”Even if you were once a Celestial Brilliance Elder, you shouldn’t be so out of line! The Medicine King’s status is equal to the Sect Leader’s. The juniors may not know their manners, but you don’t either?”

”You’ve got some nerve... Asking to examine someone’s meridians, why don’t you just ask them to commit suicide in front of you?”

”For a senior figure to say such a thing, it’s truly shameless!”

Xu Luo’s supporters all started talking at once, their taunts nearly making Jin Shen’s nose twist with rage.

Forcing himself not to explode, he fixed his eyes on Xu Luo and said coolly, ”Let’s just say I’m pulling rank with my age today. Does the Medicine King have the courage?”

Xu Luo scoffed, ”You pulling rank with your age... what does that have to do with me? The face is on your own head; it’s not me who’s losing it. As for courage... I’ve never lacked that. If I had no courage, I would have fled long ago when that assassin, Feng Shi, found me with a map. I wouldn’t have faced him!”

With that, Xu Luo shot Jin Shen a sidelong glance and said, ”So, whether I have courage or not is not for you to confirm.”

”So you’re saying... the Medicine King agrees to let me inspect his meridians?” At this point, Jin Shen had cast all shame aside, completely ignoring Xu Luo’s taunts, single-mindedly focused on proving that Xu Luo was faking his condition.

”I say... you old man, how can you be so shameless? In front of all these Medicine Garden Elders, you want to inspect their disciple’s meridians? Are your medical skills that superb? Does he need you to examine him?” Su Qianqian taunted as she gently massaged Xu Luo’s arm.

This was the Little Witch of old. After experiencing so many hardships, Su Qianqian’s temperament had changed a lot, but whenever Xu Luo was in crisis, the Little Witch of the past would reappear.

”Who do you think you are, to dare speak to me like that?” Jin Shen roared, glaring at Su Qianqian.

Facing Xu Luo, he had to grit his teeth and bear it; who could argue with the man’s damned status as the Medicine King? But when facing others, even the various Elders of the Medicine Garden, Jin Shen was full of confidence! Naturally, he couldn’t tolerate Su Qianqian’s mockery.

”And who do you think you are? Does my disciple need a lesson from you?”

Along with this icy voice, a figure descended from the sky. It was none other than the Scripture Pavilion’s Chief Grand Elder, Zuo Mingyu, arriving in person!

Aside from the Medicine Garden Grand Elder, Yuwen Ji, this was the second truly powerful and high-ranking figure in all of Celestial Brilliance to arrive on the scene.

But Yuwen Ji was Xu Luo’s master, so his appearance wasn’t too surprising.

Zuo Mingyu’s arrival, however, put immense pressure on Jin Ming’s supporters. The figure was not tall, but standing there now, he was like a great mountain, inspiring awe and fear.

Most of Xu Luo’s supporters who had arrived earlier were young people, including those from the Heritage Clans and other divisions of Celestial Brilliance. They were almost all from the younger generation.

Zuo Mingyu’s arrival pushed the matter to a whole new level, making the situation even more serious and uncontrollable.

And this... was the last thing Jin Ming and his followers wanted to see!

Facing Yuwen Ji, Jin Shen had some confidence; he could accuse him of shielding and condoning his disciple. But facing the Chief Grand Elder of the Scripture Pavilion... Jin Shen’s confidence was truly wavering.

The man was openly laying his cards on the table... he was here to support the Medicine Garden and Luo Tian, without any pretense. Standing there, he gave off a distinct air of: ’If you’ve got a problem, come and get me.’

Did he dare?

No one dared!

Who didn’t know what the Scripture Pavilion was? Who didn’t know what the status of its Chief Grand Elder signified?

Jin Shen was already beginning to feel regret, reflecting that he shouldn’t have been so reckless, and especially shouldn’t have stuck his neck out like this. And now... he was riding a tiger and couldn’t get off!

”Hehe... So it is the Grand Elder of the Scripture Pavilion. My apologies,” Jin Shen said, cupping his fist in a salute to Zuo Mingyu.

He could afford to ignore the Medicine Garden’s Grand Elder, because everyone knew a little about Alchemy and Medicine Making; leaving the Medicine Garden wasn’t a death sentence. But he didn’t dare offend the Grand Elder of the Scripture Pavilion, because he would have descendants, and his descendants would need to cultivate. Cultivation required Heart Methods and scriptures...

If he offended Zuo Mingyu, a single word from the man in this regard could easily ruin a genius!

”Spare me. I wouldn’t dare ask for your respect. You’re a senior figure, a retired Elder, coming here so aggressively. Who would dare provoke you?” Zuo Mingyu replied coolly. He then glanced dotingly at Su Qianqian and said, ”Qianqian, don’t be afraid. Master is here. If anyone dares to bully you again, Master will knock their teeth out!”

”Mm!” Su Qianqian beamed, her face a picture of happiness.

Everyone around was speechless. They all thought to themselves, ’We’d never heard that the Scripture Pavilion’s Chief Grand Elder, Zuo Mingyu, was such an unreasonable person.’

Jin Ming’s face was ashen and incredibly ugly. By now, he finally saw things clearly. In Celestial Brilliance... while his own support was still high, Luo Tian of the Medicine Garden had already amassed a powerful following that was in no way inferior to his own!

This following... it made him a little... afraid!

Just then, a colossal warship appeared in the distant sky, streaking toward them like a beam of light and arriving in an instant.

Everyone who saw the warship stared, stunned, especially Jin Ming’s supporters, whose legs began to feel weak.

Everyone... looked up at the sky, gazing at the massive warship that blotted out the sun. Only a single thought remained in their minds: The Sect Leader is here!