Firmament Sword

The underclassmen who hadn’t managed to leave yet, as well as some other students just passing by, were all completely stunned by the scene.

How could Li Tie possibly have the energy to answer at a time like this?

Snot and tears mingled with the bright red blood from his nose. His mind was a complete blank. The sharp, stabbing pain from his broken nasal bone, combined with the deep shame of having his pride utterly shattered by a single slap, made him wish he could just pass out... or find a hole to crawl into and disappear.

”Is... is that Xu Luo? The guy they call the Civil Servant’s Rice Bowl?”

”It... it seems so!”

”’A piece of trash who can take down a Tier Seven Swordsman with a single punch so he can’t even get up... Now that’s something I’ve never seen before!’ said someone who recognized Li Tie, looking sympathetically at the blood-soaked boy on the ground.”

The crowd of onlookers grew, and everyone quickly realized that the boy who had just struck the blow was none other than Xu Luo, the very same person who had been the subject of rampant rumors for the past few days.

But they found it difficult to reconcile the scene before them with the Xu Luo of the rumors.

”Isn’t Xu Luo supposed to be a sickly weakling, practically living on medicine?”

”Wasn’t he said to be so frail since childhood that he fainted all the time?”

”And isn’t he supposed to be a piece of trash who can’t even cultivate?”

”So... what in the world is this? Am I hallucinating?”

Xu Luo looked at Li Tie, still lying on the ground, and shook his head slightly. ’This guy seems radical and arrogant on the surface,’ he thought, ’but deep down, he completely lacks the courage to face the consequences. My punch only broke his nose. It wasn’t even enough to knock him out... but here he is, playing dead. He’s clearly just afraid of the humiliation of standing up and facing everyone.’

’A person like this... is useless for anything important.’

With that thought, Xu Luo had already passed judgment on this supposedly outstanding student of True Martial Academy.

Shaking his head slightly, Xu Luo turned to leave, his face devoid of expression.

”Hit someone and just walk away? Things aren’t that easy in this world.” A soft, somewhat effeminate voice spoke up as a group of people pushed through the crowd and approached.

The one in the lead was a boy of about seventeen or eighteen. He had delicate, refined features and was so pretty he almost looked like a girl.

However, upon seeing him, fear flashed in the eyes of many students, and they instinctively backed away.

”He just told me that at True Martial Academy, fists are how you settle arguments. Was he lying to me?” Xu Luo asked, blinking innocently at the newcomer.

”Ha, haha, hahaha!” The pretty-faced youth let out a strange laugh, then looked mockingly at Xu Luo. ”You’re right. He wasn’t wrong at all. Here at True Martial Academy, we do settle arguments with our fists. Your fist is harder than Li Tie’s. Very good. You win. But Li Tie is my friend, and as his friend, I can’t just stand by and watch him get bullied. So, I’m also going to have a little ’argument’ with you.”

”Alright then, let’s settle this with an argument,” Xu Luo said with a small, sincere-looking smile. ”How exactly would you like to proceed, fellow student?”

”It’s over. This guy is toast. Does he have any idea who he’s talking to...”

”Haha, daring to ’argue’ with the Speed King, one of the Four Junior Heavenly Kings? He must be insane!”

”Has he never bothered to find out who you can’t afford to mess with at this academy?”

”Once he’s learned his lesson, he won’t be acting like this anymore, hahaha.”

Expressions of schadenfreude appeared on many faces as the students whispered amongst themselves.

Meanwhile, the few students who had spoken up for Xu Luo earlier now looked worried, wanting to warn him but not daring to speak up.

The pretty, soft-spoken boy chuckled. Without any perceptible movement from his upper body, he was suddenly in front of Xu Luo. He leaped into the air, aiming a punch straight at Xu Luo’s head. ”This is how!” he sneered.

”Sand Falling Goose Fist!”

WHOOM!

The pretty boy roared, his fist creating a sonic boom as it cut through the air.

The students who had defended Xu Luo couldn’t bear to watch, while the rest stared wide-eyed... It wasn’t every day you got to see one of the Four Junior Heavenly Kings in action!

How could they miss this?

THUD!

”And now for the landing... the Desert Sand Falling Geese Form!” Xu Luo chuckled, retracting his leg.

With a dull thud, the pretty boy’s body sailed through the air in a graceful arc, landing more than ten meters away.

Just like a goose falling onto the sand...

Unfortunately, he landed butt-first. He slammed onto the ground and rolled over several times. The pretty boy struggled for a while, but he couldn’t get back up.

The area fell deathly silent. Everyone stared blankly at the scene, as if they’d been hit by a Body Fixation Technique.

If one could argue that Li Tie had his nose broken because he underestimated his opponent...

...the Speed King was a different story. As one of the Four Junior Heavenly Kings, while he wasn’t the absolute top genius at the academy, he was leagues stronger than someone like Li Tie.

He was a Tier One Sword Master!

Yet in front of Xu Luo—the so-called Civil Servant’s Rice Bowl, the laughingstock everyone called trash—he had been sent flying before he could even complete a single move!

And Xu Luo’s line, ”And now for the landing... the Desert Sand Falling Geese Form!,” was a little too fitting. It was the kind of insult, delivered so nonchalantly, that could infuriate someone to death.

”So, is our ’argument’ settled now?” Xu Luo asked seriously, glancing at the boy dozens of feet away. ”That punch of yours... you weren’t just trying to break my nose. You were trying to cripple me. If I’d let that fist connect with my face, my brain would probably be scrambled. You’re far too ruthless.”

The area was silent. Xu Luo’s voice was calm, with no trace of anger, yet everyone who heard it felt a chill run down their spine.

”So with this one kick, I’ve only made it so you won’t be getting out of bed for half a month. By comparison, I’d say I was being merciful,” Xu Luo said calmly, then turned and walked away.

The tightly packed crowd of students automatically parted, creating a path for him. As they watched the slender, handsome boy’s figure recede into the distance, the expressions on their faces were a sight to behold.

The few students who had spoken up for Xu Luo looked thrilled. They all came from prominent backgrounds themselves—they were scions of Military General Clans. Naturally, they felt an affinity for Xu Luo, who came from the same background.

They just never imagined that Xu Luo was this powerful.

As one of the Four Junior Heavenly Kings, nicknamed the Speed King, and a Tier One Sword Master to boot, the pretty boy was certainly no weakling.

In fact, with his speed, even many Tier Two and Tier Three Sword Masters would have a hard time getting the upper hand against him.

But against Xu Luo, he couldn’t even block a single kick!

Only after Xu Luo’s back had completely disappeared from view did the crowd finally erupt with gasps of astonishment, followed by a wave of excited chatter.

”Did anyone even see how he threw that kick?”

”Didn’t see a thing!”

”Me neither!”

”I just saw the Speed King get sent flying with extreme speed...”

”Shh! The Speed King might not be able to beat Xu Luo, but he can still beat you! Watch out, or he’ll come after you for revenge!”

”He won’t be getting out of bed for half a month, remember?”

Lying on the ground, the pretty boy—the Speed King—had a mind that was completely blank. He didn’t even hear the crowd’s chatter.

Xu Luo was long gone, but the Speed King’s heart was still reeling with shock and disbelief.

’No one knew better than him just how terrifying the speed and power behind that kick had been!’

’He himself was famous for his speed, and his own leg techniques were formidable. That Sand Falling Goose Fist had just been a feint; he hadn’t even used his true killing blow!’

’And now he’d never get the chance. His opponent’s leg techniques were in a completely different league!’

’What’s more, that strange power his opponent used... it didn’t feel like he’d reached the Sword Master realm, but his technique completely surpassed any Sword Master at this level!’

’The Speed King knew in his heart that Xu Luo hadn’t been exaggerating. Given his current condition, being able to get out of bed in half a month would be the best possible outcome.’

’Because Xu Luo’s kick had struck him squarely on his Dantian!’

’It had heavily damaged his Dantian!’

’But aside from fear, he felt surprisingly little hatred. He knew that his opponent had held back!’

’Otherwise, that single kick would have been enough to kill him outright!’

’’Young Master Wei, I’m sorry... It’s not that I didn’t try. I’m just no match for him...’ As the thought crossed his mind, another sharp pain shot from his Dantian. The Speed King finally succumbed and passed out.’

Leng Ping lounged lazily on a comfortable recliner. The single-person dorms at the academy were quiet and comfortable, with excellent amenities.

The news he’d just received made him feel smug about his wise decision.

”’One punch, one kick. Xu Luo has barely arrived at True Martial Academy and he’s already ’settled two arguments.’ Heh, hehehe. Wei Ziting, I wonder how you’re feeling right now? Could it be... that you’re just thrilled?’”

”’Lianyi, Lianyi... Princess of Vulture,’ he murmured, his icy eyes devoid of any mirth. ’Thank you for scolding some sense into me. But because of it, I’ve fallen for you. And you... you must only have eyes for that brat Xu Luo, right? But I won’t give up! I, Leng Ping, have never truly fallen for a woman in my entire life. So, I will win you over!’”

...

SMASH!

An exquisite teacup was hurled to the floor, shattering into a thousand pieces.

Wei Ziting’s face was ashen. He panted heavily, roaring in a low voice, ”Why?! How is this possible?! I don’t believe it!”

Several of his lackeys stood nearby, heads bowed, not daring to breathe a word.

Wei Ziting snapped his head up, his eyes bloodshot. He turned to the handsome youth who had previously beaten his chest and made a guarantee. ”Did you see it clearly? That piece of trash... did he really send the Speed King flying with just one kick?”

The handsome youth had promised Wei Ziting that he would handle the matter perfectly. He never expected that not only would he fail, but the Speed King himself would be kicked straight into the infirmary.

An examination revealed that his Dantian was damaged. He wouldn’t be recovering for at least half a month!

Nodding awkwardly, the handsome youth said, ”I was there. I didn’t even see how the guy moved his leg before the Speed King went flying. Young Master Wei... that guy’s strength is no joke!”