Firmament Sword

The blow was like that of a powerful cat that had spent half the day toying with a mouse, only to suddenly discover its opponent was a ferocious tiger in a mouse’s skin…

A deep sense of defeat suddenly washed over him. Only then did Fang Ping realize that he had always underestimated this youth from the secular world, a member of a minor sect.

His opponent’s strength was far beyond his assessment. In that instant, a seed of regret sprouted deep within Fang Ping’s heart.

He had never thought much of Ark and had been extremely unhappy with how his older brother, Fang Jing, had spoiled the boy. But no matter what, Ark was his own nephew, and he had died right under his nose.

Even he himself had been knocked unconscious by his opponent’s spiritual attack. That humiliation and hatred had driven him to make his current choice.

’But now... it seems I was wrong.’

’But there’s no turning back now.’

Fang Ping roared and charged at Xu Luo, and the two clashed once more.

As a Martial Artist at the peak of the fourth minor stage of the Transformation Realm, Fang Ping possessed more than enough combat power. He had trained at the Jade Balance Sect since childhood and had dabbled in all sorts of High-tier Techniques. In all his battles against his peers, and even against Martial Artists many years his senior, Fang Ping had never known a single defeat!

His stellar combat record had made him lose his way. He was far too confident in himself!

It wasn’t until he met Xu Luo, this monstrously talented youth, that Fang Ping was reminded of the old saying: ”There is always someone better, and a higher heaven.”

’My opponent’s aura is clearly only at the level of a High-tier Sword Venerable, yet his combat strength is absurdly high. And that vigorous qi and blood... what High-tier Sword Venerable possesses that? Even a Sword King of the Transformation Realm wouldn’t have such powerful qi and blood!’

The two of them fought a world-shaking battle that lasted for over two hours. As dusk approached, the fight was still raging on!

The Merak Disciples, who had initially held little hope for Xu Luo and had even been preparing to die protecting their new junior brother, were all completely stunned.

They didn’t dare get too close to the heart of the battle. The power released by a fight of that caliber was far more than they could withstand. All they could do was retreat to a safe distance and watch the intense clash.

Phoenix’s expression, initially fraught with worry, gradually calmed.

’The boy I had such high hopes for has finally matured. One day, he’ll become a true, world-supporting titan!’ Phoenix’s eyes shimmered with a brilliant light.

Ji Bingyu’s eyes flashed as she watched the fierce battle. She turned to Lianyi beside her and said, ”This brother of yours is really something else!”

A happy smile spread across Lianyi’s face. ”Of course! You didn’t believe me before. I bet you believe me now, don’t you?”

Ji Bingyu nodded. ”But I’m still so curious. He has no major sect backing him and grew up in the secular world. How in the world did he acquire such terrifying combat strength? I think if I were to fight him, I’d probably be defeated in less than an hour.”

Lianyi just smiled and said, ”That, I don’t know.”

’Do I really not know? Wasn’t it him who taught me my own world-shaking Shaking Light Step? And… Shaking Light Step… Shaking Light!’

’The Centennial Star Festival, the fall of the seven stars…’ Lianyi’s eyes crinkled into smiling crescents.

Worried about Xu Luo and fearing someone in the Small World might try to cause trouble for him, Lianyi had secretly left the Celestial Cauldron Sect’s group with Ji Bingyu and snuck over, never expecting to witness such an astonishing scene.

”Alright, Xiaoyu, let’s head back. We’ve been gone for too long, they’ll get worried. It wouldn’t be good if they found us here.” Lianyi could see that even if Xu Luo couldn’t kill his opponent, he certainly wouldn’t lose. Completely reassured and not wanting too many people to discover Xu Luo’s true strength, she motioned for Ji Bingyu to leave.

”Hey, what’s the rush? Just let me watch a little longer! A battle of this caliber is a rare sight. You can learn so much from it!” Ji Bingyu whined coquettishly, unwilling to leave.

It was true that such battles were incredibly rare, and witnessing one could indeed lead to many new insights.

Lianyi sighed in resignation. ”Just don’t tell anyone about this.”

Ji Bingyu replied without even turning her head, ”Relax, you’re such a nag.”

Lianyi shook her head helplessly and fell silent, turning her full attention to the battle between Xu Luo and Fang Ping. Once she pushed aside her worries for Xu Luo, carefully observing this fight was also of immense benefit to her!

’So Brother Xu Luo has already gotten this strong! It’s unbelievable!’ Hidden in the woods, Huangfu Shishi’s large eyes were glued to Xu Luo’s figure. She could barely follow his movements.

Although she also knew the Shaking Light Step, she was completely unable to perform it at Xu Luo’s level.

Huangfu Shishi had secretly run away. After finally managing to shake off Jiang Tianhai’s pestering, she had rushed impatiently in Xu Luo’s direction.

Her worry and longing for him were so strong that Huangfu Shishi was willing to risk anything, even an open confrontation with Jiang Tianhai.

Within this Small World filled with treasures and dangers, a legacy of a powerful Ancient Sect, a group of young disciples from the various major sects of the Central Plains Star Continent were on an adventure.

Few would have ever imagined that a battle between Transformation Realm Powerhouses would break out at such a time and in such a place.

Thanks to the constant refinement by the Kaiyang Star Soul, Xu Luo’s physical body had long since become absurdly powerful. Though he didn’t know many martial arts, every single one he did know was a Top-grade Technique, the likes of which these disciples from sects large and small could never even fathom.

When he channeled Breaking Army Seven Kills through the Seven Star Sword, its power rose to an even greater level.

By this point in the fight, the scales of victory were already tipping in Xu Luo’s favor!

If not for that preemptive Shaking Light Burst, it would have been truly difficult to say which of them would have won.

Xu Luo’s true cultivation realm was the first minor stage of the Transformation Realm, but his combat strength was comparable to a Martial Artist at the fourth minor stage. This meant he was actually on equal footing with Fang Ping, who was at the peak of the fourth minor stage.

But the Cultivation Techniques Xu Luo practiced were simply too savage. A single Shaking Light Burst was enough to completely suppress every technique Fang Ping had ever learned.

And that was to say nothing of his Shaking Light Step, which was unrivaled in speed, or his astonishingly powerful Breaking Army Seven Kills.

Furthermore, the Seven Star Sword in Xu Luo’s hand was no ordinary weapon.

With all these factors combined, Fang Ping, the great Sword King at the peak of the fourth minor stage of the Transformation Realm, was utterly doomed.

Fang Ping found himself growing weaker the longer he fought. This weakness wasn’t just physical—the consumption of True Essence in his Dantian was staggering—but spiritual as well!

Xu Luo, on the other hand, was like a tireless iron man. Despite fighting for so long, he showed not a single sign of weakening.

’If every Sword Venerable in the world had this kind of power, then all the Sword Kings might as well just kill themselves.’

Fang Ping’s heart sank lower and lower. The monstrous youth before him had shattered all his pride and dignity with his actions. When he thought back to his earlier boasts, they seemed like a complete joke. The mere memory made his face burn with shame.

”Do you want to continue?” Xu Luo asked, looking at Fang Ping calmly. ”Sect Leader Xu and I have a friendship that transcends our age difference. I don’t think he would want to see this happen. Are you... going to continue down this stubborn path?”

”I promised my brother I would avenge my nephew,” Fang Ping said through gritted teeth, his face tense. Inside, however, he was stunned. ’Xu Luo is friends with the Sect Leader? How have I never heard of this?’

”I’ve told you, Ark brought his death upon himself. He sent assassins after me before, and this time, he repeatedly tried to kill me. Therefore, his death was well-deserved.” Xu Luo lowered his hands and stood still, watching Fang Ping. ”But you’re different. You may be arrogant, but at your core, you’re a decent man. So, I have no desire to personally kill a Martial Artist with such a promising future.”

With that, Xu Luo gave Fang Ping, who had also stopped fighting, a deep look. ”Although I don’t know how you managed to get in here, I don’t believe your true purpose was to kill me. You have your own path and your own future. You should seriously consider whether it’s worth risking your life for a degenerate like him.”

”We’ve been fighting to a standstill. What makes you so sure you can kill me?” Fang Ping’s eyes were a complex mixture of unwillingness, confusion, and, most of all, contemplation.

”That technique I used to injure you at the start of our battle? I can still use it ten more times.” Xu Luo gave Fang Ping a cool glance. ”And don’t think you’re safe just because you’ve put up your guard. I can still hit you with it. Don’t believe me? Go on, try me.”

”Try me… Try me… Try me…” Suddenly, Xu Luo’s voice echoed deep within Fang Ping’s Sea of Spiritual Consciousness. The once mirror-calm sea instantly stirred, sending out ripples that caused a jolt of extreme pain in Fang Ping’s head.

Fortunately, Xu Luo didn’t press the attack. How could the Jade Balance Demon Sound be so easily defended against?

”I see. You had the power to kill me from the very beginning, but you never intended to. Is that right?” Fang Ping’s face was pale as he looked at Xu Luo, his eyes filled with a complex, unreadable expression.

’He isn’t humiliating me. He’s using his tyrannical strength to show me the bloody truth: You are nowhere near my match!’

”First, as I said, your Sect Leader Xu and I are friends, and I still owe him a favor. I don’t want to kill a disciple he values. Second, you are not some irredeemably wicked person. And third, I also needed a battle like this to temper myself.”

Xu Luo looked at Fang Ping. ”Are those three reasons enough for you?”

A muscle in Fang Ping’s jaw twitched violently. After a long silence, he finally nodded. ”They’re enough.”

After he spoke, Fang Ping seemed to age several years in an instant. The light in his eyes dimmed, but then, a flame of unyielding spirit reignited within them. He looked at Xu Luo and said, ”I admit that I’m not your match right now, but I won’t give up. I won’t be grateful to you for letting me go today. As you said, you’re mostly just giving face to Sect Leader Xu. One day, I will defeat you and avenge my nephew!”

Xu Luo smiled. ”I look forward to it.”

Fang Ping turned and walked away.

Just then, an earth-shattering roar suddenly erupted from the distant mountain forest. The entire world seemed to tremble with it.