Firmament Sword

”If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have learned so quickly that there’s always someone stronger out there.”

”If it weren’t for you, I never would have realized that even royal status isn’t all-powerful in this mortal world...”

”And to show my gratitude, I’m going to kill you with my own two hands! Then, I’ll make that woman of yours... mine!”

As Huangfu Haoyue pictured Su Qianqian’s exquisitely sweet and delicate face, a deep flash of desire crossed his eyes.

He wanted that girl!

If he hadn’t, he never would have clashed with Xu Luo today.

Huangfu Haoyue was extremely proud, but he was also intelligent and a deep thinker. Otherwise, he never would have thrived in his sect.

KNOCK KNOCK.

Two soft knocks came from outside, followed by a woman’s gentle voice. ”Young Master Haoyue, may I come in?”

Huangfu Haoyue stiffened for a moment before recognizing the voice. ”Come in,” he said flatly.

The door opened to reveal an alluringly beautiful woman. She smiled at Huangfu Haoyue, then lifted the hem of her skirt and curtsied.

”Young Master Haoyue, you honor us with your presence. I was unable to give you a proper welcome, so I hope you will forgive me.”

”Miss Crystal, you’re too kind,” Huangfu Haoyue said calmly, then looked at Crystal. ”Is there something else?”

The smile on Crystal’s face faltered. She then chuckled softly. ”It seems Young Master Haoyue isn’t too pleased to see me. I only have something I wish to say to you.”

”Speak,” Huangfu Haoyue said, his expression growing even calmer, his face an unreadable mask.

”If you wish to deal with Xu Luo, I can help. That is all I have to say. I will leave you to consider it.” With that, Crystal smiled at Huangfu Haoyue and turned. The moment her back was to him, her face went cold. ’So arrogant. If I didn’t want to use you against Xu Luo, I wouldn’t waste a single glance on someone like you!’

”Wait.”

Just as Crystal turned to leave, Huangfu Haoyue’s deep voice stopped her.

Crystal turned back around, her radiant smile perfectly in place. ”Does Young Master Haoyue have further instructions?”

”Not instructions. I’m just curious. What is your feud with Xu Luo? Why do you want to move against him?” Huangfu Haoyue’s gaze was piercing. He hated Xu Luo—partly because someone had intentionally instigated him earlier, and partly because today’s incident had made him want to kill.

But he refused to be used by anyone!

”Anyone in the Imperial Capital who matters already knows about the feud between myself and Xu Luo, so I won’t bore you with the details. If you truly wish to know, you can ask the person you’re scheduled to meet later.”

Crystal’s voice was soft, carrying not a hint of a threat. She smiled at Huangfu Haoyue. ”I came here mainly to give you a warning, Young Master. Xu Luo... is much stronger than you think!”

Huangfu Haoyue’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched her. He suddenly laughed. ”Alright. I understand. Thank you for the warning.”

”You’re welcome.” Crystal gave a slight nod and turned to leave.

The instant she turned, Crystal’s face went cold again, a deep look of contempt flashing in her eyes.

’So what if he’s from a major sect? So what if he’s powerful? His experience is a joke, yet he’s as proud as a little peacock...’ Crystal thought to herself.

She hadn’t come here to genuinely team up with Huangfu Haoyue against Xu Luo. It was true she wanted Xu Luo dead, but how could she pass up an opportunity to have someone else do the dirty work for her?

She had come only to fan the flames of Huangfu Haoyue’s anger, to make him hate Xu Luo even more. And from the looks of it, she had succeeded.

Crystal had proactively mentioned her grudge with Xu Luo to show Huangfu Haoyue she had no ulterior motives. Though they hadn’t known each other long, she understood his personality perfectly.

’A man that proud would never cooperate with me,’ Crystal sneered internally as she walked away with light steps.

But she didn’t see the look in Huangfu Haoyue’s eyes the moment the door closed behind her. They, too, were filled with utter derision.

’Thinks she’s so clever? Came to add fuel to the fire?’ Huangfu Haoyue sneered and muttered to himself. ’Trying to use me... she really thinks she’s somebody. But... what does it matter to me whether you came or not? As if I need to work with *you* to deal with Xu Luo.’

Crystal hadn’t been wrong. Huangfu Haoyue was exceptionally clever, but he also had a fatal weakness: he was far too proud.

By the time the Sixth Prince arrived, Huangfu Haoyue had already drunk a good deal of wine, yet his face showed no sign of intoxication.

”Uncle...” the Sixth Prince said with a smile, bowing to Huangfu Haoyue.

Huangfu Haoyue stood and smiled. ”Sixth Prince, there’s no need for such formalities. Although I’m technically of your father’s generation, we’re close in age. We can speak as equals.”

The Sixth Prince smiled. ”Propriety must not be abandoned.”

The two then sat down facing each other. The Sixth Prince glanced at the empty wine jar and untouched dishes on the table and chuckled. ”I hear you just had a little run-in with Xu Luo, Uncle?”

Huangfu Haoyue nodded, his gaze clear as he looked at the Sixth Prince. ”What kind of person is Xu Luo, really?”

The Sixth Prince’s expression also turned serious. He thought for a moment before replying, ”He’s someone I can’t quite figure out.”

The Sixth Prince’s expression grew nostalgic. ”He was very close with my seventh sister when they were children. He used to come to the Imperial Palace often to play with her. At the time, Father was even considering a marriage alliance with the Xu Family, to wed my seventh sister to him.”

”But then it was discovered that Xu Luo had a particularly weak constitution and would often faint for no reason. His family spent years seeking out doctors and remedies, but they never found a solution. Father gradually abandoned the idea. He couldn’t very well marry the esteemed Princess of the Cangqiong to a sickly weakling...”

”Over the years, Xu Luo always gave off that impression. He’s extremely close to Xu Jie from Xu Zhongtian’s branch of the family, Sui Yan from the Sui Wanli family, and Liu Feng, who’s also from a great noble family in the Imperial Capital. I’ve heard they’re even sworn brothers. It’s just that no one ever paid much attention to that sort of thing.”

”His real transformation began after the failed Star Festival last year. At the time, I desperately wanted to be the Drummer. So did the Crown Prince and several other princes. We all coveted that honor...”

The Sixth Prince raised his cup, took a drink, and said with some frustration, ”But then Xu Luo’s father, the Grand General of National Guardian, Xu Ji, personally returned to plead with my father. As Xu Ji is the number one figure in the Cangqiong Army, my father had to grant him this favor. So, the right to be the Drummer was given to Xu Luo.”

”An opportunity that comes once a century!” The Sixth Prince sighed, a mocking smile on his face. ”And he still failed. I remember it clearly. My father’s expression was grim. He said one thing to Xu Ji: ’The Civil Servants in the Imperial Capital had better watch out. Your son might be coming for their jobs...’”

”’Coming for a Civil Servant’s job?’” Huangfu Haoyue mumbled, then shook his head. ”Was Xu Luo really so... pathetic back then?”

The Sixth Prince nodded. ”Even more pathetic than you can imagine.”

”So you’re saying that after failing at the Star Festival, it took him less than two short years to gain the power he has today?” Huangfu Haoyue’s brow furrowed, his mind reeling in shock.

”Unless he was pretending all those years, then yes, that’s the truth,” the Sixth Prince said. ”I can’t think of any reason a scion of a Military General Clan would need to hide his power.”

”Neither can I,” Huangfu Haoyue said grimly. ”Which means, in less than two years, he grew into a mighty Sword Venerable who stands at the pinnacle of the mortal world...”

The Sixth Prince gave a wry smile. ”As much as I hate to believe it, it’s true.”

”This whole affair... feels incredibly strange, no matter how you look at it,” Huangfu Haoyue said with a frown. ”Within the major sects, it’s not that there aren’t methods for rapid advancement. On the contrary, there are many. But the price is staggering. Only the children of a Sect Leader could ever afford such a thing.”

”Such methods really exist?” the Sixth Prince asked.

”They do,” Huangfu Haoyue answered with certainty. ”Generally, the children of Sect Leaders in major sects are not allowed to advance their strength too quickly before they are fifteen or sixteen. That’s the perfect age for building a foundation. They will do everything they can to use those golden years to solidify their base. Only with a strong foundation can one achieve greater heights in the future!”

”Is that so?” the Sixth Prince asked in surprise. ”Was it the same for you, Uncle?”

Huangfu Haoyue gave a wry smile. ”I wasn’t so privileged. I advanced step by step on my own. I’ve used plenty of elixirs to boost my power, but most of my strength comes from my own painstaking cultivation.”

”Doesn’t that mean... it’s very likely that after failing at the Star Festival, Xu Luo used one of those methods you mentioned—the ones for the children of Sect Leaders—to rapidly raise his cultivation?” The Sixth Prince frowned. ”That seems unrealistic... The Xu Family holds a respected position in the mortal world, but how could they have that kind of influence within the sects? I’ve never even heard of these things you’re describing...”

”Didn’t someone say Xu Luo’s mother came from a sect?” Huangfu Haoyue asked.

The Sixth Prince nodded. ”That’s true. After the failed Star Festival, Xu Luo’s mother did indeed go to her sect to seek an elixir. She left the Imperial Capital afterward. There were rumors she traded her freedom to obtain an elixir that could change her son’s constitution...”

”In that case, it’s highly likely that his mother is the reason,” Huangfu Haoyue said softly, his eyes narrowed. ”And if so, killing him requires careful consideration.”

”Because of his mother’s sect?” the Sixth Prince asked.

Huangfu Haoyue nodded. ”To be able to produce an elixir of that caliber for a mere mortal disciple to consume... unless he’s the illegitimate son of that sect’s Sect Leader... I truly can’t imagine any other possibility.”

”Illegitimate son?” The Sixth Prince was taken aback. ”Surely not?”

”Then what’s your explanation?” Huangfu Haoyue retorted.

The Sixth Prince shook his head. ”I can’t think of one. But I suppose the possibility you mentioned... might exist.”

”To think that an ordinary mortal disciple would have such an unbelievable identity,” Huangfu Haoyue said in a low voice, his eyes narrowed. ”If that’s really the truth, then we truly cannot move against him rashly.”

The Sixth Prince nodded. ”He’s achieved repeated military honors this past year. And while he’s also caused a great deal of trouble, his standing in my father’s eyes is still very high. So, if you can avoid making a move against him, it’s best not to.”