Firmament Sword

Xu Luo remained silent, quietly gathering all the pine nuts. He then looked up at the Ancient Peach Tree with a wide grin and asked, ”So, Master Tao, are there any other beings like the Ancient Pine Tree here in this Small World?”

The rough human face on the Ancient Peach Tree’s trunk rolled its eyes. ”What do you think a Spiritual Object of this level is? Cabbage? You think they’re growing all over the place? Stop dreaming! This Small World has plenty of various Top-Grade Treasure Medicines, and many of them are spirit-connected, but one on the level of that old swindler, the Ancient Pine Tree... he’s the only one!”

”Spirit-connected Top-Grade Treasure Medicines are fine too! Take me to them!” Xu Luo recalled the old ginseng that had bolted away at top speed, thinking to himself: ’Even a treasure medicine on the level of a spirit-connected old ginseng would be enough to cause a bloody war over it in the outside world.’

It wasn’t that the outside world lacked Spiritual Objects, but compared to this somewhat freakish Small World, there was still a considerable gap.

The Ancient Peach Tree sighed. ”Those Spirit-Connecting Treasure Medicines cultivate for tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of years before they become spirit-connected. It’s not easy for them. They’re not like you humans, uniquely blessed by heaven, born with a spirit but ignorant of true heart. Those spirit-connected medicinal ingredients have extremely long cultivation lives. After much difficulty, they become spirit-connected and turn into Spiritual Objects, only to become targets. They’re either eaten by Spiritual Beasts and Fierce Birds or by humans. It’s quite tragic, really. If possible, I hope you can treat them with kindness. You should know, there are more ways to use a Spirit-Connecting Treasure Medicine than just refining it!”

Being on the receiving end of such a heartfelt, serious lecture from the unreliable Ancient Peach Tree made Xu Luo feel a bit awkward. However, he could tell that the Ancient Peach Tree’s words came from the heart.

”Then what other way is there?” Xu Luo asked. ”Elixirs... aren’t they all made by refining them into pills before they can be consumed?”

”Bullshit!” the Ancient Peach Tree cursed. ”It’s all the fault of those sorcerers from the Ancient Primordial Era! They researched this Alchemy stuff, which is utterly cruel. They take all sorts of Spiritual Objects that have just barely become spirit-connected and refine them directly. In the end, they call the most essential part an Elixir...”

Different races truly saw things from vastly different perspectives. In Xu Luo’s eyes, Alchemy was a perfectly normal practice.

But in the eyes of the Ancient Peach Tree, Alchemy had become a heinous crime.

”As the head of all spirits, humanity’s desire is the most terrifying thing!” the Ancient Peach Tree grumbled complainingly. Then it said, ”Actually, there’s a better way. A way for you to get the essence of a Spirit-Connecting Treasure Medicine without having to harm them!”

”There’s a way to do that?” Xu Luo was skeptical.

”Of course. As long as you can make them follow you willingly, find them a suitable place to live, and guarantee their safety... then, when you need it, would they refuse if you took a little bit of essence from their bodies?”

The Ancient Peach Tree said with a touch of sadness, ”It’s like back then, with the Behemoth Race. Even if they didn’t give me the Fountain of Eternal Youth, if they had just treated me well, why would I have insisted on leaving? I’m just a tree. What does it matter which patch of soil I’m rooted in?”

”They’re all spirit-connected beings... Why would they willingly follow me?” Xu Luo gave a bitter, self-deprecating laugh. ”I’m not some great power who is unrivaled in the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, nor do I have any special soil for them to grow in. Why on earth would they follow me?”

”Freedom,” the Ancient Peach Tree said, uttering only a single word.

Xu Luo’s eyes lit up slightly. He suddenly thought of the Ancient Pine Tree, Song Banban, who was desperate to leave the Small World. Wasn’t what he sought... the same thing all spirit-connected beings pursued—freedom!

If the Ancient Pine Tree wanted freedom, then what about that old ginseng that sprinted away to escape from humans? And all the other various spirit-connected treasure medicines?

As he considered this, a fire seemed to ignite in Xu Luo’s heart. He thought to himself: ’If I can really bring a large number of Spirit-Connecting Treasure Medicines back with me, and with all the resources I have now, if I gather my brothers together... could I already establish my own sect?’

Once this idea was born, it was like a single spark that could start a prairie fire, quickly growing uncontrollable.

Before, this could only be a fantasy, but now, Xu Luo finally had what it took to make it a reality!

”In that case, let’s give it a try! But the job of persuading those Spirit-Connecting Treasure Medicines has to be yours. If I show up, they’ll just compete to see who can run away faster,” Xu Luo said.

The Ancient Peach Tree agreed, but it also demanded that Xu Luo search for the Fountain of Eternal Youth once he became powerful in the future.

Xu Luo was also extremely curious about a spring whose name alone was so alluring, so he agreed on the spot.

In the days that followed, Xu Luo’s figure appeared in various places throughout the Small World.

High mountains, great valleys, vast rivers, immense marshes... he traveled across nearly every inch of the Small World’s land.

With the Ancient Peach Tree, a local guide who had lived in the Small World its entire life, Xu Luo managed to avoid all the young disciples who had entered the Small World for training and treasure hunting. The places they went were all locations that others couldn’t reach or would never even think of!

”Don’t worry, he may be a human, but he’s different from the others!”

”Every race has its good and its bad. For example, in our Tree Race, don’t we have an old swindler like Song Banban?”

”If even I can follow this human, what reason do you have to refuse?”

”What? Why would I follow a human? HAHAHA, have you heard of the Fountain of Eternal Youth? Kid, even if you don’t get a turn at the Fountain of Eternal Youth, there’s still mud and sand underneath it, right? Just imagine, if you were planted in that kind of soil...”

”Don’t you feel miserable in this cage-like Small World? Anyway, I’m leaving! Give me liberty, or give me death!”

It had to be said, for an ancient, sentient tree like Master Tao, who had no integrity and no shame, tricking other Spirit-Connecting Treasure Medicines was truly second nature.

Its formidable prestige in the Small World also greatly lowered the guard of the Spirit-Connecting Treasure Medicines. Besides, the Spirit-Connecting Treasure Medicines in the Small World had not been having a pleasant time lately. Many of their companions had already been captured and suppressed by those powerful human youths.

The fate awaiting them, naturally, was to be refined into Elixirs that would help those people increase their strength.

As spirit-connected Spiritual Objects, they naturally didn’t want to be wiped out like this. So, under the Ancient Peach Tree’s instigation, in just two or three short days, a surprising seven or eight Spirit-Connecting Treasure Medicines agreed to leave with Xu Luo.

A few more were still considering it.

Xu Luo had been very happy these past few days. Following the Ancient Peach Tree, he had roamed the mountains and rivers, touring the famous peaks and great streams of the Small World, living a life of extreme leisure and joy.

However, this comfortable life finally came to an end this morning.

After careful consideration, only one of the Spirit-Connecting Treasure Medicines decided not to leave the Small World. It was a He Shouwu that had been growing for tens of thousands of years.

It was very spiritual and had high intelligence. It believed that leaving the Small World was not a wise move, as it would add too many uncertainties and variables to the future.

Xu Luo didn’t force it. Since he had decided to have the Spirit-Connecting Treasure Medicines offer their essence willingly, he naturally couldn’t do something like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs by murdering the He Shouwu that didn’t want to go with him.

After bidding it farewell, Xu Luo took a total of thirteen Spirit-Connecting Treasure Medicines and left the desolate, uninhabited region. He returned to the area frequented by the sect disciples on their training expedition in the Small World and heard some very shocking news.

A great treasure had appeared in the Small World!

It was a string of ancient bells. The Jade Balance Sect’s objective for entering this time was that very string of bells!

Back then, the Jade Balance Sect Master, Xushan, had even made a special deal with Xu Luo, asking him to help his niece, Xu Qing, obtain that string of bells.

This matter was originally top secret. Even among the disciples of the Jade Balance Sect, only a few people knew about it.

But somehow the secret got out, and now the matter was known by almost everyone.

Then, a day ago, someone saw a string of bells fly across the sky, leaving a vibrant, dream-like trail in the air like a rainbow.

It shocked countless people on the spot, and so, many chased after that trail.

”That string of bells is a Spirit-Connected Magical Artifact with immense divine power!”

”The Jade Balance Sect’s purpose for entering the Small World this time is that string of bells!”

”I heard that not only have the bells become spirit-connected, but they also have extremely high Spiritual Wisdom and don’t want to accept a master at all. Whoever can obtain them will surely have a meteoric rise!”

”I once heard those bells speak! They scolded a talented disciple from a major sect, saying things like ’Don’t be delusional’ and ’You think you’re worthy of controlling me?’”

”Xiaohai from the Black Water Sect has already gone after it!”

”A group from Dubhe has gone after it too!”

”Xu Qing of the Jade Balance Sect was the first to find that string of bells. Unfortunately, it seems she wasn’t acknowledged by it! Otherwise, so many people wouldn’t have seen it.”

”Heh, it’s a shame about Ancient Star from the Shaking Light Sect and Jiang Tianhai from the Kaiyang Sect. I heard they were both seriously injured and can’t join the fight for this Spirit-Connected Magical Artifact...”

”What? Two peerlessly brilliant young geniuses like them could get seriously injured? Did they run into a fierce beast?”

”Apparently, they were fighting with two talented girls from the Celestial Cauldron Sect over a treasure when Xu Luo of Merak stumbled upon them. Then Xu Luo defeated both of them, one by one!”

”Huh? How is that possible? A small sect like Merak, how could they have the resources to support a young genius of that level?”

”It’s said to be true. Xiaohai from the Black Water Sect was there too. After both Jiang Tianhai and Ancient Star were defeated, Xiaohai turned and left, admitting he was no match for that Xu Luo!”

”So the biggest dark horse of this sect assembly turns out to be a disciple from a small sect... I really don’t know how he cultivates.”

All sorts of rumors began to spread among the human youths in the Small World, and many of them were about Xu Luo.

After all, many people had witnessed that battle. Trying to suppress the news was simply impossible.

So, amidst all the news about the first great treasure appearing, the various rumors about Xu Luo were spreading with just as much intensity.

As the person in question, Xu Luo merely gave a faint smile when he heard them.

He had finally fulfilled the vow he had made before, proving that he had been continuously improving over the past two years.

And that was enough.