Firmament Sword

”Back then, my family was against my relationship with him, and the sect was filled with voices of opposition. But he was a peerless hero, and I loved him. So, I had to make up a lie, because that ancient ruin... I had always been the one leading its exploration.”

Xie Wanrou looked at her niece with a smile and said, ”This was my conviction!”

Xie Yurou looked at her young aunt, speechless for a long moment before sighing softly. ”Yes, everyone has their own convictions.”

Xie Wanrou nodded and then said, ”That’s right. So, I don’t plan on stopping your Brother Luo anymore. It’s just... his conviction is for another woman. Are you okay with that?”

Although Xie Wanrou had only just returned to Celestial Brilliance, with her status and position, finding things out was as simple as could be.

Xie Yurou bit her lower lip, a flicker of sadness in her eyes. She shook her head gently and said, ”I met him... after Sister Su did. And he has more than one close female friend besides Sister Su. I’ve thought about giving up, but I can’t bring myself to do it.”

”If you can’t bring yourself to give up, then persevere,” Xie Wanrou said. ”Those in the Venerable Realm have long lifespans. We, who are gods in the eyes of mortals, don’t need to act like them. Liking someone doesn’t necessarily mean you have to possess them.”

”Then... you just said that those old monsters and all of you can’t enter that ancient ruin. What’s that about?” Xie Yurou asked.

”That ancient ruin has a restriction placed on it by a Great Power. Anyone in the Venerable Realm is completely unable to enter. Even if they force their way in, their cultivation will be suppressed to the Great Saint Realm!” Xie Wanrou explained. ”Moreover, the entrance is guarded by terrifying protectors. Outsiders who want to enter will have their cultivation suppressed to the Great Saint Realm, but inside the ruin... there are Great Powers of the Venerable Realm!”

”This... doesn’t this just scream ’keep out’?” Xie Yurou muttered, exasperated.

”Of course they don’t want anyone getting in. It’s an ancient tomb!” Xie Wanrou said, looking at her young niece with a smile. ”No one who dies wants future generations to enter their grave!”

”What... it’s a tomb?” Xie Yurou asked, staring at her aunt in shock.

”That’s right. A tomb from the Immortal Ancient Era. We all suspect that the one buried inside is an immortal from a forbidden zone!” said Xie Wanrou.

”Are there... really immortals in this world?” Xie Yurou gasped, covering her mouth.

”Who can say for sure? In any case, there’s definitely a Great Power buried in that tomb, with a world-shaking inheritance inside.” Xie Wanrou’s voice was filled with a certain longing. ”After those old fossils from Blazing Flame Province occupied the area, they’ll surely bring their disciples and grand-disciples over to explore that ancient tomb!”

”Then we...” A light flashed in Xie Yurou’s eyes as she looked at Xie Wanrou.

”Of course we’re going to fight our way back! And this matter... it can’t be settled so easily!” A cold glint flashed in Xie Wanrou’s eyes. ”They killed so many of my fellow sect members. I won’t let it go! They want to hide this... but I refuse to let them succeed!”

”You want to... spread the news about this?” Xie Yurou was somewhat surprised.

”I want every expert in Jiuzhou to know about this! If they don’t want me to have it, they can forget about keeping it all for themselves!” Xie Wanrou sneered. ”When the time comes, whoever gets the inheritance will have to rely on their own abilities!”

”But... if you do that, won’t our chances... be very slim?” Xie Yurou said. ”With Celestial Brilliance’s strength, couldn’t we just crush them by force?”

”That wouldn’t be a problem, of course, but the foundations of Celestial Brilliance cannot be mobilized lightly. You’re still young... there’s much you don’t understand.” Xie Wanrou said patiently, ”There is great terror within that tomb. It’s not a place where just anyone can gain an advantage. When the time comes, if more people go in, the risk... can also be shared.”

”And with all the years your uncle and I have spent researching that great tomb, I believe my insights will still be very useful!”

”I understand...” Xie Yurou nodded, her gaze filled with adoration as she looked at her aunt.

This noble lady of the Xie Family was a true, peerless prodigy!

”Now we’ll see to what extent that little fellow, Luo Tian, can comprehend the Star River Map...” Xie Wanrou murmured softly.

”The Star River Map?” Xie Yurou looked at her aunt. ”Didn’t you say you couldn’t comprehend it?”

”Just because I can’t comprehend it doesn’t mean I don’t know what it is,” Xie Wanrou scolded with a laugh. ”You underestimate your young aunt too much! That ancient scroll is the Star River Map, and your Brother Luo... is a Star Reincarnator!”

”Did you think your young aunt was just speaking empty words, just spouting nonsense, when I said I’d give him a great fortune?”

As she spoke, Xie Wanrou looked at Xie Yurou seriously and said, ”You must keep your lips sealed about this. Even if people from the family ask, you must say you don’t know. Otherwise, it will do your Brother Luo no good!”

”I know, don’t worry, I definitely won’t say a word!” Xie Yurou promised, and then thought to herself, ’How does my young aunt seem to know everything about things I know nothing about?’

”All we have to do now is wait!” Xie Wanrou glanced at the distant palace, a hint of anticipation in her eyes. She, too, wanted to see what kind of transformation the Star Reincarnator would undergo after obtaining the Star River Map.

...

...

Xu Luo felt a vast, boundless aura rush directly into his Sea of Spiritual Consciousness. Even with his incredibly powerful Spiritual Power, he couldn’t resist it at all, and could only let this aura merge into his Sea of Spiritual Consciousness.

Then, standing within his Sea of Spiritual Consciousness, Xu Luo saw that the ancient scroll had completely transformed. It grew larger and larger in the sky above his spiritual sea until it finally became a sky itself, replacing the original one!

The sky formed by the scroll was filled with countless, densely packed stars!

The stars shone brilliantly, twinkling with light.

Streams of Star Power flowed from the countless stars, pouring into his Sea of Spiritual Consciousness.

There was no need to study it, no need to comprehend it. The Star River Map... was like one of his own arms, fitting with him perfectly!

It had become a part of Xu Luo’s body!

”The Star River Map, born of chaos.”

A piece of information appeared in Xu Luo’s mind.

It was only six words, but the amount of information they contained was astounding. This was a treasure from before the dawn of creation!

’Nun Wanrou said she was giving me a great fortune... and she wasn’t exaggerating in the slightest!’

’This fortune could completely transform me!’

Xu Luo couldn’t say how much his realm would improve after obtaining the Star River Map, but his combat power... would definitely more than double!

Standing in his Sea of Spiritual Consciousness, Xu Luo pointed a finger, and the stars in the sky came crashing down!

Tens of thousands of stars fell from the sky at once, turning into countless fireballs. The sheer momentum alone... was enough to scare a person’s soul from their body!

Then, Xu Luo pointed again, and the stars that had become fireballs shot straight back into the sky.

It was all like a divine miracle!

The wondrous uses of the Star River Map didn’t end there; Xu Luo would need to explore them slowly over time.

Soon after, Xu Luo awoke from his unconscious state. He didn’t look much different, but in the eyes of the older generation figures who had been watching him, he had become completely transformed!

Xu Luo found Xie Wanrou and bowed. ”Thank you, Nun Wanrou, for gifting me this supreme treasure!”

”That thing was of no use in my hands. Though I knew it was a treasure, I couldn’t use it, so to me... it was useless,” Xie Wanrou said, looking at Xu Luo. ”It’s for the best if it can be put to good use in your hands.”

Xie Yurou stared at Xu Luo with her bright eyes and couldn’t help but say, ”My aunt said she can take you to the ancient ruin now!”

”Really?” Xu Luo had been thinking he’d have to secretly go ask Monkey’s uncle for help, but he hadn’t expected Nun Wanrou to change her mind after her breakthrough.

”There is great terror in there. Are you sure... you still want to go?” Xie Wanrou said, glancing at her niece.

Xie Yurou repeated what her aunt had told her earlier to Xu Luo.

After listening, Xu Luo burst into laughter.

”Hey, don’t think you can be reckless just because you’re powerful. Don’t you know how dangerous it is over there?” Xie Yurou said, a little angry at Xu Luo’s nonchalant attitude.

Xie Wanrou glanced at her niece from the side and thought, ’Looks like my little niece has fallen completely. Her whole heart belongs to him now.’

Xu Luo said, ”I was a little nervous before, thinking I’d have to deal with some powerful Venerable Realm experts. But the situation is much better now. Even if there are Venerable Realm guards in the ancient tomb, won’t there be... other people going in as well?”

”If you think that way, don’t you think others will too?” said Xie Yurou.

”Alright, Yu Rou, you don’t need to worry about him so much. He knows what he’s doing.” Xie Wanrou glanced at Xu Luo and said coolly, ”Am I right?”

Xu Luo looked at the two women before him. ’Anyone who didn’t know their relationship would surely mistake them for sisters,’ he thought, nodding.

Xie Yurou sighed internally. She knew she couldn’t stop Xu Luo from going. Since that was the case, saying too much would only annoy him, so she fell silent.

”Then it’s settled. After the annual competition, I will personally take you, along with some other elites of the younger generation, to that place.” With that, Xie Wanrou stood up and left with Xie Yurou.

Afterward, Yuwen Ji found Xu Luo and asked with a solemn expression, ”Has Martial Sister Wanrou told you about the situation over there?”

Xu Luo nodded.

Yuwen Ji sighed softly. ”In that case, I won’t say much more. I... have a Substitute Talisman here. Take it. At a critical moment, it can save you from death once!”

Xu Luo was astonished. ”Such a Talisman actually exists?”

Yuwen Ji nodded. ”I found these Substitute Talismans in an ancient ruin when I was young. There were three in total. I gave one to your master’s wife, used one myself, and this last one... is for you.”

”You’ve used one?” Xu Luo couldn’t help but look up at Yuwen Ji. ’Using one of these... doesn’t that mean Master once faced a life-and-death crisis?’

”How would I know it worked if I hadn’t used it?” Yuwen Ji smiled nonchalantly. ”That was all in the past. You don’t need to overthink it.”

Xu Luo accepted the Substitute Talisman, a warmth spreading through his heart.

’Having a sect and a master is actually pretty great,’ he thought.