Firmament Sword

”Cangqiong White Crane Palm!” Another powerful Transformation Realm Powerhouse roared, and the massive phantom of a white crane spread its wings behind him. It cried out to the heavens, exuding an endless, majestic might.

”Vajra Bursting Ape Roar!” The last Transformation Realm Powerhouse let out a bellow. The phantom of a gigantic black chimpanzee, over a dozen meters tall, rose up. It pounded its chest with its thick arms, opened its cavernous maw to reveal clearly visible fangs, and roared at Xu Luo.

”Three Dharma Heaven and Earth manifestations... Damn it, it really is them!” Xushan howled. With a BANG, his figure vanished, using Shrinking Inches to rush over and help Xu Luo.

The eyes of the other gray-robed, masked men who had retreated to the side shone with a fanatical light. How many years had it been since they saw their three bosses attack together?

This boy’s death was more than worth it!

At the center of the storm, the pressure Xu Luo was enduring would have made anyone else—even a Transformation Realm Powerhouse of the same level who could also manifest a Dharma Heaven and Earth—feel chilled to the bone with despair.

Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit!

They either held back or went straight for the kill!

This was the true code of a powerhouse! Never give your opponent any chance to counterattack!

The moment the three powerhouses unleashed their Dharma Heaven and Earth, the three awakened Star Souls within Xu Luo’s body, as if suffering a great insult, erupted in an incomparably dazzling light. From behind Xu Luo, three great stars rose into the air!

Starlight illuminating Jiuzhou!

Shattering all dharmas!

The incomparably ferocious tiger phantom shrieked in terror as if its tail had been stepped on, and then shattered with a POP!

The middle-aged leader spat out a mouthful of blood.

That aloof, arrogant white crane phantom didn’t even have time to let out a cry before it was pulverized by the light radiating from the three great stars behind Xu Luo!

That high-level Transformation Realm Powerhouse also coughed up a mouthful of blood, suffering from the massive backlash.

As for the dozen-meter-tall, incredibly mighty Vajra Bursting Ape, it was only halfway through its roar. The sound wave had just formed in its mouth when the light from the three great stars swept its head clean off. The terrifying sound wave exploded with a BOOM, and a thunderous crack echoed through the air.

The Transformation Realm Powerhouse who had used the Vajra Bursting Ape Roar was also sent flying like a kite with a broken string. He was blasted into the distance by the terrifying force, smashing violently against a mountain wall. A large section of the cliff face shattered, and giant boulders came crashing down.

The Seven Star Sword in Xu Luo’s hand also radiated a monstrous killing intent. It hummed like a dragon, nearly tearing itself from his grasp to fly out and slay his enemies!

Unfortunately, at that moment, Xu Luo was weakened to the absolute limit!

The three Star Souls, unwilling to be suppressed, had burst forth in unison. But Xu Luo had not yet reached the realm to control them. If not for his incredibly resilient body, that single burst would have been enough to make him disintegrate completely!

He simply couldn’t withstand the pressure from the simultaneous appearance of all three great stars!

Xushan, who had already rushed close and was poised to strike, froze in his tracks. He stared, utterly aghast, at the three great stars slowly fading from behind Xu Luo. His mouth hung wide open, his eyes filled with shock.

”How... How is this possible?” The middle-aged leader’s voice was no longer feigning hoarseness. He didn’t need to pretend anymore; the blow had severely injured him, and his throat was genuinely raspy.

”How can someone at the level of a Sixth or Seventh Tier Sword Venerable possibly use Dharma Heaven and Earth? And... what... what kind of Dharma Aspect is that? How could anyone use stars as their Dharma Aspect? It’s impossible! It must be an illusion!” another middle-aged Transformation Realm expert mumbled, his spirit flagging as he stared with disbelief.

In truth, he was voicing the exact questions Xushan wanted to ask. Even though Xushan knew that Xu Luo had previously broken through to the Transformation Realm—only to suppress his cultivation level again using some unknown method, while his combat power remained at the level of a Transformation Realm Sword King—he still found it impossible to accept.

To be able to use Dharma Heaven and Earth, one had to have the strength of at least a Tier Five Sword King. The three powerhouses who had just used it were at least Tier Six Sword Kings!

And Xu Luo... how on earth did he do it?

Only Xu Luo knew the bitterness of his situation. If his three Star Souls hadn’t become enraged and acted on their own, how could he possibly have had the ability to manifest a Dharma Heaven and Earth?

However, after that experience, his understanding of that supreme realm was now far greater than that of his peers.

The killing intent from the Seven Star Sword in his hand soared to the heavens, thirsting for blood. But at this moment, the spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak. Otherwise, he would have truly gone on a killing spree.

The middle-aged leader’s eyes turned cold and sinister. If he had felt a shred of regret about killing such a young genius before, now he was truly filled with murderous intent.

”Too monstrous, too terrifying!” the leader muttered to himself before looking at Xu Luo. ”You must die!”

Xu Luo hesitated, calculating his options in his mind.

Just then, a sneer full of contempt suddenly came from the side. ”To think that the three Manor Masters of Chengfeng Manor would actually resort to robbing and plundering like common bandits. And your target is just a child, no less. How impressive. Truly admirable!”

”Who’s there!” Beneath his mask, the middle-aged leader’s expression changed drastically. He couldn’t believe someone could recognize their true identities in a place like this.

The other powerhouse capable of using Dharma Heaven and Earth had been about to check on his companion who was sent flying, but he now froze. His face turned ice-cold as he glared in the direction of the voice. ”Get out here! Stop hiding and show yourself!”

The other gray-robed, masked men had managed to rescue the Transformation Realm Powerhouse who had been smashed into the mountain wall. But he was so gravely injured that he couldn’t even speak.

Xushan walked out with a mocking expression and looked at the man who had just spoken. ”He Chengfeng, it’s been a few years. You’ve really improved, haven’t you? Now, who’s the one hiding and afraid to show their face—me, or you?”

With that, he turned to the middle-aged leader and said coolly, ”Hu Chengfeng, you too. So impressive. The great Manor Master of Chengfeng Manor, setting his sights on a mere boy. Not just for his money, but for his life too. Tsk tsk... Truly worthy of admiration!”

”Xu... Xushan? Why is it you? What are you doing here?” The middle-aged leader, Hu Chengfeng, frowned and said in a low voice, ”My Chengfeng Manor and your Jade Balance Sect have always minded our own business. Are you sure you want to get involved in this mess?”

”It’s true that we’ve always minded our own business,” Xushan said with a nod. Then, his tone shifted. ”However, are you aware that for this year’s sect conference, my Jade Balance Sect is the host? Not only has your Chengfeng Manor killed participants of this conference, but you’re now trying to rob a young man... and you have the nerve to say I’m getting involved in a mess?”

Hu Chengfeng was silent for a moment before replying, ”Chengfeng Manor will naturally give your Jade Balance Sect an explanation for this matter. But today, this boy must die! He knows too much.”

Standing to the side, Xu Luo couldn’t help but roll his eyes. ’If you hadn’t gotten greedy in the first place, who the hell would want to know about your damn business!’

Xushan smiled and said, ”Since I’ve come out, I’m naturally going to protect him. I can overlook what you’ve done this time, and you will stop troubling this boy. Since no serious harm was done, I think we should just wipe the slate clean.”

”Wipe the slate clean? Easy for you to say! Our third brother, Yuan Chengfeng, is seriously injured, and you think we can just call it even?” He Chengfeng’s eyes burned with fury as he stared at Xushan. ”We admit that you, Sect Leader Xu, are exceptionally powerful. But you can’t kill all of us brothers, can you? As soon as word of what happened here gets back, Chengfeng Manor might not be able to afford to provoke you, Sect Leader Xu. But your disciples... they’re fair game.”

The middle-aged Hu Chengfeng remained silent, seemingly consenting to his second brother’s words.

A cold glint flashed in Xushan’s eyes. He looked at Hu Chengfeng and asked, ”Hu Chengfeng... do you... think so as well?”

Hu Chengfeng coughed twice, then said in his hoarse voice, ”Sect Leader Xu, it’s not that we brothers refuse to give you face. If it were any other matter, we would let it go. But you saw what happened today. Even if we back down, will he? The feud has already been forged. So... I advise you, Sect Leader Xu, not to interfere in this matter!”

”It seems you... are determined to have your way. If this weren’t the territory of my Jade Balance Sect, perhaps I would have pretended I saw nothing. But I’m sorry, this... is the Jade Balance Sect.” Xushan sighed, then looked at Hu Chengfeng and said, ”Go on, make your move. Since we can’t reach an agreement, then I’ll give you this chance. All of you can come at me together. If you can defeat me, then I won’t interfere in today’s events.”

Hu Chengfeng’s eyes glinted. ”Is Sect Leader Xu perhaps a little too confident in his own strength?”

”Further words are useless,” Xushan said flatly. He stood there, as still as a deep pool and as tall as a mountain, his tall, straight back giving off an unshakeable presence.

Meanwhile, Xu Luo took out several Top-Grade Spirit Stones and began rapidly absorbing them, desperately trying to recover from the massive drain on his body.

Xu Luo wasn’t sure of Xushan’s motive for his sudden appearance. After all, he had no relationship with the Sect Leader of this super-sect. He even had some conflict with Elder Xiao of the Jade Balance Sect.

Never rely on others. Relying on oneself was the only true path to power.

This had already become Xu Luo’s personal creed. So, he focused on his recovery. The Spirit Stones, brimming with Spiritual Qi, quickly turned into ordinary Stone in his hands.

Watching from the side, Hu Chengfeng and He Chengfeng felt a pang in their hearts. That was all their loot! And now this brat was absorbing it so carelessly. It was outrageous!

Although Xu Luo’s Three-Star Dharma Aspect had shattered theirs, they had also seen his subsequent state of weakness.

If Xushan hadn’t appeared in time, Xu Luo would already be a corpse!

But they had no time to worry about Xu Luo now. The man before them, Xushan, was their true enemy. And his meddling had earned him their seething hatred.

Hu Chengfeng and He Chengfeng each took out a few Elixirs from their robes and swallowed them to suppress their injuries. Then, the Tiger Dharma Aspect and the Crane Dharma Aspect rose up once more, and a vast aura pressed down upon Xushan.

Xushan stood his ground, motionless. Behind him, slowly, a green plant began to rise. It was a vibrant, glistening green, as if carved from jade, and it radiated a mystical light.

It... was a green lotus!