Firmament Sword

”Captain... Luo Tian. Team members: Yu Tianjie, Lv Di, Shao Zheng, Tang Xiao, Wang Tong, Ming Youyue, Zhong Jiuyan, Yu Tianying.”

Xiahou Kaiyuan’s aide stood beside him, looking at the group of youths. He said in a low voice, ”This is a team mission, and the burden on your shoulders is not light. If it were possible, the sect would not have sent you all out together. This mission... will very likely result in death!”

Jiang Botao added from the side, ”Not ’very likely.’ It is certain that there will be sacrifices! For those among you who wish to withdraw, you still have the chance. This matter... is top secret. No one in the sect will gossip about anyone who quits.”

”After all, you only live once. You are all still young. Some of you have already stepped into the Venerable Realm, and for the rest, it is only a matter of time. And a Venerable... possesses a long lifespan. You have not yet truly seen how magnificent this world is. There’s no need to put life and death on the agenda so early.”

”So, this time, the sect will not force you.”

”Elder Jiang, I have a question!” The one who spoke was a young man, Zhong Jiuyan. He was one of the top eight in this year’s Celestial Brilliance Annual Competition, narrowly defeated by Ming Youyue, and was a very sunny and handsome young man.

”Speak.” Jiang Botao looked at Zhong Jiuyan. Everyone else’s eyes fell upon him as well.

Zhong Jiuyan’s gaze was clear as he looked at Jiang Botao and said, ”What I want to ask is, since this mission will involve sacrifices... are we allowed to kill?”

Jiang Botao glanced at Zhong Jiuyan and answered coolly, ”Aside from fighting amongst yourselves, you may kill... anyone else!”

The group of youths all felt a slight chill. Elder Jiang’s words were heavy with killing intent. It was obvious that this mission was anything but ordinary.

”Does that include the other people from Xi Hezhou participating in this mission?” Zhong Jiuyan looked at Jiang Botao and slowly asked, ”Including... the likely appearance of... the Celestial Brilliance renegade, Jin Ming!”

Jiang Botao glanced at Zhong Jiuyan and saw that everyone’s eyes were fixed on him. After a moment of contemplation, he slowly nodded. ”If... he makes a move against you, then show no mercy! Remember... you are a single unit! You are disciples of Celestial Brilliance! When you are out there, you represent not only yourselves, but also the face and dignity of Celestial Brilliance!”

”And the face and dignity of Celestial Brilliance... are inviolable!”

Jiang Botao said, his voice firm and decisive.

”I... I understand. I have no more questions.” Zhong Jiuyan nodded and stepped back.

The expression in Ming Youyue’s eyes was somewhat complicated. She hadn’t expected to have a chance to meet her former Senior Brother so soon.

’It makes sense, though. Jin Ming’s strength is by no means weak. Although he was defeated by Luo Tian, that doesn’t mean Jin Ming is a weakling.’

The Jin Family was already extremely dissatisfied with Celestial Brilliance. A young expert like Jin Ming would definitely participate in this treasure hunt. If the two sides were to meet, a conflict was highly likely.

Inside that ancient ruin, within the sealed Small World, anything could happen.

Even if a conflict occurred, those outside would be completely unable to interfere.

Celestial Brilliance had dispatched a total of just nine people this time. Seven of them were from the top eight of this year’s Celestial Brilliance Annual Competition. Of the remaining two, Shao Zheng was chosen for his Ten Extremes Pill Array, and Lv Di was chosen for his True Dragon Armor.

It could be said that these nine individuals already represented the strongest power of Celestial Brilliance’s younger generation!

Jiang Botao looked at the nine and continued, ”This time, a few true ancestor-level figures will be holding down the fort for you. Then, Xie Wanrou and her dao companion... ah, Mr. Old Golden Monkey, will accompany you. So, before you enter the ancient ruin, you have nothing to worry about. Although those old monsters from Blazing Flame Province are powerful, they wouldn’t dare to openly tear all face with us, Celestial Brilliance!”

Just then, Xu Luo asked, ”Elder Jiang, this disciple has one more question.”

”Ask.” Jiang Botao’s gaze was exceptionally gentle as he looked at Xu Luo. This disciple, who had only been at Celestial Brilliance for a year, had already managed to conquer the hearts of almost all the upper echelons and elders, becoming the youth they favored most.

”That ancient ruin contains a Small World of its own. Anyone at the Venerable Realm who enters will have their cultivation suppressed to the Initial Tier Ultimate Venerable, correct?” Xu Luo asked.

Jiang Botao nodded. ”No matter how powerful a person is, as long as they enter that ancient ruin, they will inevitably be suppressed to the Initial Tier Ultimate Venerable. Moreover, anyone who has surpassed the Venerable Realm cannot enter at all!”

”And the true danger of that ancient ruin lies in the fact that... inside, there are beasts of the Celestial Venerable Realm!”

Everyone couldn’t help but suck in a cold breath, their gazes toward Jiang Botao now filled with dread.

Beasts of the Celestial Venerable Realm... To think there were great beasts of the Celestial Venerable Realm inside that ancient ruin!

Doesn’t that mean if people entered the ruin and encountered such a beast, they would face certain death, with no hope of survival!

”That is why I told you it’s not too late to withdraw now. For this mission, what you need to be wary of isn’t just the threats from your own kind, but more so, the threats from the world within that ancient ruin!” Jiang Botao said.

The group members exchanged glances, each seeing the shocked expression in the others’ eyes, but not a single one chose to withdraw.

The disciples of Celestial Brilliance had their own pride and dignity. Even when facing death, they would not choose to withdraw so easily.

Yu Tianying spoke up from the side, ”I will not withdraw, but I have an objection to the choice of captain!”

As soon as he said this, the room fell silent. Everyone looked at Yu Tianying, including his younger brother, Yu Tianjie, whose gaze toward his older brother was also tinged with confusion.

Luo Tian had achieved god-like status in Celestial Brilliance’s annual competition, becoming the publicly acknowledged number one of the younger generation.

Even Yu Tianying himself was full of praise for Luo Tian in private, so Yu Tianjie found it very strange that his brother would say such a thing.

Jiang Botao looked at Yu Tianying and said, ”Let’s hear it.”

Yu Tianying said, ”A true captain shouldn’t just be the one with the greatest strength. They must carry the weight of the entire team. I have no objections to Luo Tian’s strength, but I am not familiar with his leadership abilities. Therefore, I propose that Ming Youyue... serve as our captain!”

”Your reason?” Jiang Botao asked coolly, his expression unreadable.

”The reason is that Ming Youyue is the only girl on the team. Girls are more meticulous and considerate in their thinking. At a critical moment, she won’t act on impulse and doom the entire team!” Yu Tianying answered earnestly.

”Very well. Ming Youyue will be the vice-captain and will assist Luo Tian!” Jiang Botao decided instantly, with almost no hesitation. It gave one the feeling that this matter... had been decided long ago.

Yu Tianying was stunned for a moment, then a wry smile appeared on his face. His suggestion truly hadn’t been born from selfish motives; he genuinely believed a girl would be more meticulous and thorough in her considerations.

As for selfish motives, it wasn’t that he had none at all. He liked Ming Youyue but had never confessed, and he wanted to use this mission as a chance to grow closer to her.

He just hadn’t expected Elder Jiang to accept only half of his proposal, making Ming Youyue the vice-captain. Still... it was better than nothing.

At least at critical moments, the vice-captain would also have some say.

However, this thought was quickly shattered by Jiang Botao.

Jiang Botao looked at the group. ”You all may not know Luo Tian very well, but I do. He is suited to be this captain! Therefore, as long as he is present, everything he says goes!”

Saying this, Jiang Botao glanced at everyone. ”Is that understood?”

”Understood!” the group answered in unison.

Although the disciples of Celestial Brilliance were proud, most were of high caliber. They would not openly defy a decision made by their superiors, even if they felt confused or dissatisfied.

”Alright, go back and make your own arrangements. Then head to the Artifact Refining Pavilion and the Medicine Garden to receive some equipment. We depart in one day!” After speaking, Jiang Botao turned and left.

The group of youths let out a long sigh of relief. Facing a forceful Elder like Jiang Botao was still quite stressful.

Yu Tianjie looked at Xu Luo, cupped his fists, and said, ”Captain, I finally have a chance to go on a mission with you! Don’t worry, I will definitely cooperate with you fully!”

Over on the side, Yu Tianying rolled his eyes. ’You little brat,’ he thought, ’aren’t you just undermining me?’

After a moment’s thought, Yu Tianying also walked over and said to Xu Luo, ”Luo Tian, my opinion just now wasn’t directed at you. It’s just that I don’t know you very well. If you demonstrate your leadership abilities, I will certainly cooperate with you!”

Xu Luo smiled and nodded, thinking to himself: ’If I don’t demonstrate my leadership abilities, you’ll probably be the first one to jump out and oppose me.’

Ming Youyue also walked over at this moment, feeling a little awkward. Crying right after losing in the annual competition... was truly a bit humiliating.

If she hadn’t been selected for this mission, she wouldn’t have even shown her face in public.

”Luo Tian, as vice-captain, I will cooperate with you!” After saying her piece, Ming Youyue turned and left, her heart still pounding. She cursed herself inwardly for being so useless: ’Why did I say that? Weren’t you supposed to go up and tell him, ”Don’t even think I’ll listen to you”? How did it come out... like that?’

Next, Wang Tong, Zhong Jiuyan, Tang Xiao, Shao Zheng, and Lv Di all came over to greet Xu Luo.

Overall, these individuals were quite convinced of Xu Luo’s suitability as their captain.

Xu Luo hadn’t expected this matter to be so urgent. He had originally promised Xie Yurou that after the annual competition, he would take Su Qianqian with him and visit Baihua City together.

It seemed now that this promise would have to be postponed.

Of course, this was also what Xu Luo had hoped for. The second half of the Soul Scripture was in that ancient ruin, and only by obtaining it could Qianqian’s problem be completely resolved.

As for the various difficulties that would arise in the process, Xu Luo was already mentally prepared. From his rise in the Lower Realm until today, when had his life... ever been truly peaceful?

Therefore, no matter who it was, if they stood in his way, he would charge forward and blast them aside!

And if he couldn’t blast them aside, he would find another way. In short, no difficulty could ever stop his advance!

Back at the Medicine Garden, Xu Luo let out a long breath and whispered, ”Soul Scripture, Transcendence Chapter... I will definitely obtain you!”