Firmament Sword

This was something no one... had expected.

Shock!

Nothing but shock filled their minds!

Although Xiahou Kaiyuan had visited Luo Tian before, it was only because Luo Tian had killed Wind—an assassin the Celestial Brilliance Sect hated to its very core.

By killing Wind, he had rid the Celestial Brilliance Sect of a menace, performing a great service.

Coupled with the fact that Luo Tian was severely injured, it was understandable that the Sect Leader would come to check on him.

But what was this?

On a grand scale... it was a tangled feud between two exceptionally talented young men. On a smaller scale... it was just a somewhat intense conflict that had gotten a little out of hand.

Even though a murder was involved, that was all there was to it!

No one would read anything more into it.

No one believed the Sect Leader was unaware, but by the same token, no one believed he would actually intervene in person!

At the very most, they expected that if the conflict was about to escalate uncontrollably, an emissary from the Sect Leader might appear. They would arrive with a decree, arbitrate the dispute, and then punish both parties equally to put the matter to rest.

This sort of thing wasn’t unprecedented, so almost everyone, including the people from the Medicine Garden, never believed the Sect Leader would get involved in this matter.

Who could have imagined that the Sect Leader would actually show up!

The moment Xiahou Kaiyuan’s figure appeared in the warship’s doorway, the valley—not particularly large, but packed with people—fell utterly silent.

Except for Xu Luo, almost everyone stared nervously at the figure high in the sky.

Their nervousness was mixed with a powerful sense of awe.

This was the Sect Leader of Celestial Brilliance, the helmsman of a Supreme Great Sect that had held sway over Xi Hezhou for a million years!

At the same time... he was also a true titan of immense power.

”Zuo Mingyu? Does the Scripture Pavilion not need someone to oversee it? What are you doing here, getting mixed up in this? Get back there at once!”

”And you, Yuwen Ji! The Medicine Garden is incredibly busy right now. What are you doing here with a whole group of Elders? Are you trying to join in a children’s brawl?”

”And all of you... you bunch of little brats. The Heritage Clans have never participated in the sect’s internal feuds. Didn’t your elders teach you that? Now scram!”

While Xiahou Kaiyuan was still high in the sky, his voice boomed down, directed entirely at Luo Tian’s supporters.

Standing there, Jin Ming, whose face had been ashen, suddenly had a flash of light in his eyes. He felt the world before him become vibrant once more.

’No matter what, I am still his disciple!’

’Even if he favors that Luo Tian, in his heart, my status is still higher. The future... still belongs to me, Jin Ming!’

’I am the Sect Leader’s Direct Disciple! Of course the Sect Leader will protect my dignity!’

’This time... I’ve won!’

Jin Ming lifted his head and looked at Xu Luo, who was still lying on the soft couch with a lazy expression. A cold sneer touched his lips. ’Luo Tian... you’ve lost! Today, I will cast you into an abyss of eternal damnation!’

Just as he was thinking this, the Heavenly Brilliance Sect Master’s voice came again: ”Luo Tian, aren’t your wounds healed yet? What are you doing out here? Being carried by a bunch of girls... what kind of spectacle is this? Who told you to come out? Get back inside and rest up!”

An uproar swept through the crowd.

Almost everyone felt as if their jaws had dropped to the floor.

This was especially true for Jin Ming’s supporters. It was truly the first time... they had witnessed the Sect Leader’s attitude toward Luo Tian.

The disciples of the Heritage Clans, still smarting from the scolding and about to depart, couldn’t help but stare, their mouths agape. They could hardly believe what they were seeing.

”Jin Ming, what are you doing here?” Xiahou Kaiyuan descended from the sky, landing in the space between the two sides. Only after scolding Xu Luo did he turn around and look at his Direct Disciple with a faint, unreadable smile.

Without the slightest hesitation, Jin Ming dropped to his knees with a THUD. Tears streamed down his cheeks. ”Disciple Jin Ming greets Master! I implore you, Master, to right this wrong and grant me justice!”

Xiahou Kaiyuan looked at Jin Ming quietly and said indifferently, ”What justice do you want?”

”My brother, Jin Xian, was murdered last night. All the evidence points to Luo Tian of the Medicine Garden. I came to verify this, but was obstructed at every turn. I beg Master to deliver justice!”

”And them?” Xiahou Kaiyuan glanced at the vast, intimidating crowd standing behind Jin Ming.

When these people saw Xiahou Kaiyuan look over, they all lowered their heads, hoping the Sect Leader hadn’t noticed them.

Xiahou Kaiyuan only swept his gaze over the crowd before his eyes fell back on Jin Ming.

All along, Jin Ming had been a disciple he valued greatly, and he had indeed intended to groom him as a successor.

And Jin Ming’s performance had always been outstanding.

He was mature and level-headed, with an inherent air of magnanimity.

He not only shouldered the responsibilities of a Senior Brother by actively participating in sect affairs, but he also cared for his peers, looked after his junior brothers and sisters, and respected his elders.

Overall, Jin Ming was a very successful Senior Brother.

’But when did... he turn into this?’ Xiahou Kaiyuan lamented internally, feeling a bit of self-reproach. ’Have I been too busy and neglected his guidance?’

”They... saw an injustice being done and came to support me...” Jin Ming didn’t dare raise his head. A light flickered in his eyes, and his heart pounded with anxiety.

He was lying. He knew his Master must know he was lying, but he wanted to take a gamble!

He wanted to confirm whether his status in his Master’s eyes... was truly higher than Luo Tian’s!

”’Saw an injustice being done’...” Xiahou Kaiyuan looked at Jin Ming kneeling before him and couldn’t help but sigh. Then, he looked at Jin Ming and said, ”Luo Tian just suffered grave injuries. Isn’t it a bit rash to say he’s the one who murdered your brother?”

”Master, all the evidence... points to Luo Tian!” Seeing that his master hadn’t exposed his lie after all, Jin Ming instantly felt emboldened. He raised his head and said in a righteous tone, ”My brother may have been mischievous, but he always knew his limits and never made enemies with fellow disciples.”

”Only Luo Tian! As soon as he arrived at the Celestial Brilliance Medicine Garden, my brother went to pay him a visit but was humiliated by Luo Tian. My brother couldn’t stand it and retorted with a few words, only to be savagely beaten by Luo Tian. The people who were with my brother... can all testify to this!”

At these words, everyone around Xu Luo was in an uproar. They stared at Jin Ming in astonishment, unable to believe he could so brazenly twist the truth.

But Jin Ming didn’t even raise his head and continued, ”Luo Tian acts domineering and arrogant. Considering my status, I did not stoop to his level, hoping he would correct his ways on his own. Besides, I also wanted to use this incident to teach my brother a lesson—that you can’t just trust anyone, and not everyone can be a friend...”

”After that incident, my brother matured a lot and learned his lesson. He stopped coming to the Celestial Brilliance Medicine Garden and gave up any thought of befriending Xu Luo. Gradually, the matter... just faded.”

”Who would have thought someone would exploit this conflict between my brother and Luo Tian, bribe the people around him, and then hire an assassin to ambush Luo Tian... Although Luo Tian hasn’t been in Celestial Brilliance for long, he has made many enemies. I’m sure I don’t need to go into detail; many people are well aware of this!”

”When Luo Tian was attacked, my brother was implicated and terrified. I sent him a Defense Array Map to put his mind at ease. I comforted him, saying that Luo Tian is a smart man; he wouldn’t come after you indiscriminately, so you would definitely be safe!”

”Who could have imagined... Who could have imagined...” Jin Ming’s voice choked with emotion. ”I had just left when my brother... was murdered... Not even his bones were left... He died such a miserable death!”

”You already said that Luo Tian isn’t the type of person who acts indiscriminately, so why... are you pointing the finger at him now?” Xiahou Kaiyuan asked.

”That was... that was just my own wishful thinking. I naturally don’t want to wrongly accuse a good person, but I can’t just stand by and do nothing while my brother has been murdered!”

”Before coming here, I wasn’t entirely sure this matter was related to Luo Tian. It was him... he himself is acting extremely guilty!”

”Master, look! Even now... Luo Tian refuses to let me investigate. Isn’t that proof of his guilt? If he had nothing to hide, why would he refuse such a simple request?” Jin Ming cried out, his face a mask of sorrow.

Anyone who didn’t know the truth, upon seeing this, would surely feel indignant on his behalf and develop a negative opinion of Luo Tian.

After all, Jin Ming was speaking through choked sobs, his face stained with tears. To force Senior Brother Tianhuang into such a state—how profound must his grievance be?

And then there was Luo Tian, being carried on a soft couch by four beautiful women, lying there lazily. A noble lady fanned him, and a Direct Disciple of the Scripture Pavilion’s Grand Elder massaged his shoulders... His eyes were half-closed, the very picture of a villainous young master!

The people beside Xu Luo were livid. If Xu Luo hadn’t held her back, Sun Xiaohong would have erupted.

Endless anger flashed in Yuwen Ji’s eyes. Even he could barely resist the urge to start cursing.

He had seen shameless people, but never someone this shameless!

To twist the truth so brazenly... truly, not everyone was capable of such a feat.

To lie so naturally right to your face, as if it were the absolute truth...

Xiahou Kaiyuan’s face showed no expression. He turned, glanced at the indolent-looking Xu Luo, and asked with a frown, ”Luo Tian, what do you have to say?”

”Sect Leader, what do you want to hear?” Xu Luo opened his eyes, his gaze pure, and looked at Xiahou Kaiyuan with a faint, unreadable smile.

”Insolence!”

”How audacious, to be so disrespectful to the Sect Leader!”

”This kind of behavior must be severely punished!”

”Publicly disrespecting the Sect Leader calls for severe punishment!”

”Whether he’s the murderer or not, this act of contempt for the Sect Leader alone is enough to warrant death!”

A group of very senior figures next to Jin Ming, seeing that the Sect Leader seemed to be leaning toward Jin Ming’s side, suddenly felt emboldened and began to loudly berate Xu Luo.

Xiahou Kaiyuan, however, showed no reaction. He just kept a straight face and asked, seemingly seriously, ”What do you have to say? Don’t you want to explain yourself?”

Yuwen Ji and the others watched Xu Luo with growing concern. They felt that even with his status as the Medicine King, he shouldn’t treat the Sect Leader with such an attitude. After all, a title was just a symbol. If no one acknowledged it, it was useless—even if you were the Jade Emperor himself.

Xu Luo chuckled, his voice weak. ”Lord Sect Leader, you are a truly mighty figure, a titan of Xi Hezhou. You don’t even need to lift a finger; you can see my current condition with a single glance. I’m having trouble just walking. With what strength would I commit murder?”

”Furthermore, I’m not familiar with the various places in Celestial Brilliance. I haven’t even fully familiarized myself with Jiulong Ridge in the Medicine Garden yet. How would I know where Jin Xian lives?”

”As for everything Jin Ming just said, it’s a pack of lies, complete bullshit. He’s slandering me out of thin air, just slinging mud. What do you expect me to say in response? What is there to even answer?”