Firmament Sword

”I was wrong, Senior Brother Luo, I truly know I was wrong. I’m begging you… please spare me just this once!” Tu Wanli wailed, tears and snot streaming down his face as he kowtowed repeatedly.

”How did you do that to your arm? How did it get so injured? How tragic!” Xu Luo sneered at him.

”I fell! I swear! I was just careless and fell on my own!” Tu Wanli howled.

The corners of the mouths of the few Celestial Brilliance Inner Sect Disciples nearby twitched violently.

A look of disgust flashed in Xu Luo’s eyes. ”Then what are you waiting for? Scram!”

”I’ll scram! I’ll scram! Right now!”

Tu Wanli scrambled to his feet, not even bothering to wipe the snot and tears from his face. He stumbled and crawled as he bolted out of the Ancient Dao Pavilion.

A prodigy of his generation, scared out of his wits and completely broken.

The few Inner Sect Disciples who followed Jin Ming trembled with fear, not even daring to look Xu Luo in the eye. If Tu Wanli had been scared out of his wits, then these Inner Sect Disciples had their very souls scared out of their bodies.

If Xu Luo were to even glare at them now, they would probably die of fright on the spot.

Su Qianqian walked to Xu Luo’s side and said softly, ”That’s enough. Let’s go.”

Xu Luo glanced at Zhao Hongzhang and said, ”Shopkeeper Zhao... I’m sorry for causing you trouble again.”

Zhao Hongzhang could only manage a wry smile. He cupped his hands and said, ”This incident... I can only report it truthfully.”

The situation was too serious. One was the son of the Hall Master of Sui Feng Hall, a major sect in Xi Hezhou, who had his forearm crippled and fled in terror with his spirit broken. The other was the Senior Brother of Celestial Brilliance’s younger generation, who had been used like a ragdoll to smash an untold number of flagstones.

And the one who acted... was Celestial Brilliance’s new Medicine King. This matter was completely beyond Zhao Hongzhang’s control. Even if he tried to hide it, there was no way this incident could be suppressed.

Perhaps someone already knew about this incident.

Xu Luo nodded. ”Just tell the truth!”

”Oh, right. Didn’t that Young Master Tu say his arm was injured because he fell? Don’t forget that part.”

A wry smile appeared on Zhao Hongzhang’s face, and he nodded.

Then, Xu Luo glanced at Jin Ming, who was lying there like a dead dog, and said flatly, ”Stop playing dead. I know you can hear us. Jin Ming, to be honest, ever since I joined Celestial Brilliance, I never planned to do anything to you, much less compete with you. Everything that happened today, you brought upon yourself. You’ve ended up in this state… and it’s all your own doing!”

”I’m not killing you this time, not because I’m afraid, but because I don’t want to dirty my hands!”

”If there’s a next time… even if the King of Heaven himself were here, he couldn’t save your life!”

With that, Xu Luo turned and left.

Xie Yurou glanced at Zhao Hongzhang and said softly, ”The Xie Family will be paying attention to this matter. You just need to report the truth!”

Zhao Hongzhang nodded, thinking to himself, ’Even if you hadn’t reminded me, I wouldn’t say a single bad word about Luo Tian. After all... I’m a Medicine Garden Disciple!’

After Xu Luo’s group had left, the few Inner Sect Disciple followers of Jin Ming finally mustered the courage to approach him.

”Senior Brother, are you alright?” one of the followers called out softly.

Jin Ming didn’t react at all, as if he were completely unconscious.

Seeing this, the others quickly hoisted Jin Ming onto their backs and made a sorry retreat from the Ancient Dao Pavilion.

The moment Jin Ming was carried out of the Ancient Dao Pavilion, his eyes opened a tiny crack, a venomously hateful light flashing within.

’Xu Luo... You and I cannot exist under the same sky!’

News of what happened in the city quickly spread throughout all of Celestial Brilliance. Instantly... all of Celestial Brilliance... was in an uproar!

”I can’t believe it. Luo Tian fought two opponents at once, and one of them was even Senior Brother Jin Ming. And he won!”

”Luo Tian’s cultivation is at the Peak of the Great Saint Realm, not even at the Venerable Realm yet. But his opponent, Senior Brother Jin Ming, has already entered the Venerable Realm. Even though it’s the initial tier, the realm suppression had no effect on Luo Tian? Not to mention the other guy... who was also at the Initial Tier of the Venerable Realm. It’s truly incredible!”

”Two cultivators at the Initial Tier of the Venerable Realm were defeated by one at the Peak of the Great Saint Realm... and I heard they were defeated miserably. Is he trying to defy the heavens?”

”Luo Tian’s combat prowess... is simply unprecedented!”

”Jin Ming’s reputation is completely ruined now. Not only did he help an outsider bully one of our own, he got beaten to a pulp. Did you guys hear? At the time...”

All of Celestial Brilliance was abuzz with discussion. This time, the vast majority of people sided with Luo Tian.

As disciples of Celestial Brilliance, they still had integrity.

After hearing about something like this, no one would sympathize with Jin Ming.

Helping an outsider bully a fellow sect member—no matter how you looked at it, Jin Ming was the one in the wrong.

Even if Luo Tian had been at fault, Jin Ming’s actions were still contemptible!

Not to mention, after the cause of the incident got out, everyone knew what had really happened.

”The ’great’ Senior Brother of the younger generation, actually helping an outsider bully his own sect brother! Is Sui Feng Hall so mighty? Is their Young Master so high and noble?”

”Sui Feng Hall may not be weak, but to come to Celestial Brilliance and act all high and mighty... that’s going too far.”

”He actually wanted the winner of our Outer Sect’s annual competition to be his Maid... Ptooey! How shameless!”

It was a good thing that Sui Feng Hall’s Young Master, Tu Wanli, had already left Celestial Brilliance. Otherwise, once this news broke out, with the crowd so enraged, he wouldn’t have been able to leave in one piece.

Jin Ming lay in bed, his eyes radiating a venomous hatred. He could not accept this. He was utterly unreconciled.

’To think that I, the esteemed Senior Brother of Celestial Brilliance, who has reached the Venerable Realm, would be defeated by someone at the Great Saint Peak... and in such a disgraceful manner! Luo Tian... I, Jin Ming, swear we are enemies to the death!’

Jin Ming moved slightly, and a sharp pain shot through him. It was an agony he had never experienced before, one that nearly drove him mad.

The thought of how his fellow sect members would see him after this news spread was especially torturous, like ten thousand ants gnawing at his heart.

But something even more unexpected was yet to come.

The Sect Leader’s personal attendant, a middle-aged man Jin Ming knew well and who had always been polite to him, appeared before him with a blank expression, holding a decree personally written by the Sect Leader.

”Celestial Brilliance Disciple Jin Ming, out of jealousy for the talented, has secretly harmed his fellow disciples and repeatedly violated the sect’s rules. His crimes are unforgivable and, by rights, punishable by death!”

”In consideration of past contributions, this will not be pursued. However, from this day forward, Jin Ming... is no longer a disciple of Celestial Brilliance! He is expelled from Celestial Brilliance! He is to leave at once, effective immediately!”

”After leaving Celestial Brilliance, you are forbidden from identifying yourself as a Celestial Brilliance disciple. If you are discovered doing so, you will be executed without mercy!”

”It is hoped that you will sincerely repent in the future and not let jealousy and hatred blind you.”

The middle-aged man’s icy voice was like a series of heavy hammers striking Jin Ming’s heart. By the time the man finished reading the decree and turned to leave...

With a cry, Jin Ming spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

”Luo Tian!”

He let out a furious roar and passed out.

The middle-aged man’s steps paused for a moment. Without turning back, he left, murmuring, ”You reap what you sow. This... is all your own doing. The Sect Leader has been shut in his room for a full day over this matter.”

The semifinals of the Celestial Brilliance Annual Competition had not even begun, yet such a world-shaking event had already erupted.

The Senior Brother of the younger generation, Jin Ming, had actually been expelled from Celestial Brilliance!

This was something that had never happened in the history of Celestial Brilliance.

The Senior Brothers of Celestial Brilliance throughout history had all been men of both talent and noble character. When had one ever been... directly expelled from the sect?

For a time, nearly everyone in Celestial Brilliance was stunned.

Many people felt it was a pity. The old Jin Ming had seemed to be a decent person, and they didn’t know how he had degenerated into his current state.

There were also many who gloated over his misfortune. They had never liked Jin Ming in the first place, and now that he was expelled, they were overjoyed.

Xu Luo, however, didn’t have much of a reaction. He stayed behind closed doors, completely ignoring the commotion outside.

On the night of the incident, Yuwen Ji had a long talk with Xu Luo, telling him to be careful of the Jin Family’s revenge when traveling in Xi Hezhou in the future.

Xu Luo understood. He had now made a true enemy of the Jin Family.

Setting aside the matter with Jin Ming, there was also the death of Jin Xian... the Jin Family would definitely pin the blame for that on him.

However, Xu Luo wasn’t particularly concerned. He didn’t like to provoke others, but if someone came looking for trouble, he was never afraid!

”Sui Feng Hall is a very powerful sect. The current Hall Master, Tu Dahai, has unfathomable strength. Tu Wanli is his most doted-on youngest son. You must be careful of their revenge.”

Xu Luo recalled Yuwen Ji’s warning and shook his head slightly. He wasn’t worried. He was not the one at fault, and he believed that as the master of a sect, Tu Dahai wouldn’t be so impulsive.

Even if he were impulsive and wanted revenge, he would have to find Xu Luo first.

At the very least, he wouldn’t have the guts to march right up to Celestial Brilliance and demand retribution!

The final four of the Annual Competition had suddenly become the final three. Tang Xiao, who originally had almost no chance of winning, had advanced directly to the finals in this manner, leaving many unsure whether to laugh or cry.

And so, the sole semifinal match began five days later!

The spectator stands surrounding the arena were packed with a sea of people. Some had even arrived two or three days early to wait for the match to begin, eating, sleeping, and cultivating... all in the stands!

They were afraid of arriving late and not getting a spot.

In the ring of VIP boxes, flashes of light flickered continuously before the match began as numerous senior figures of Celestial Brilliance appeared within.

The name Luo Tian was no longer just circulating among the younger generation; even many of the senior figures had begun to pay close attention to this rising star of Celestial Brilliance.

Ming Youyue stood on the arena stage, ignoring the clamorous spectator stands around her, quietly lost in her own thoughts.

She remembered contacting her older sister with a Sound Transmission Stone last night. When talking about the recent series of events at Celestial Brilliance, she had felt somewhat indignant on Jin Ming’s behalf.

After all, Jin Ming was the Senior Brother of Celestial Brilliance’s younger generation, an idol to countless people!

Even though unfavorable rumors about Jin Ming were now circulating throughout Celestial Brilliance, to many people, Jin Ming... was still the Senior Brother in their hearts!

That was what Ming Youyue believed. She didn’t think Jin Ming had done anything wrong.