Firmament Sword

That’s right. With a single word—”Scram!”—he had nearly screamed the Kaiyang Sect’s Law Enforcement Elder into a stupor. And now he was facing a truly powerful figure like the Kaiyang Sect Master with perfect composure...

If before, inside the Small World, Xu Luo’s fame had only circulated among the young disciples of the major sects, then now, his name would become known throughout every single one!

Fang Jing stood in the crowd, watching that slender, upright figure with jealousy and resentment. He turned to the young man in black beside him and said, ”If you were to face him, would you truly have no hope at all?”

Fang Ping glanced at Fang Jing. ”Brother, if I were you, I would hurry up, find a few more women, and have a few more sons. Then, I’d get as far away from him as I possibly could. I’m all for taking revenge, but I can’t support senselessly throwing your life away.”

”Are you telling me... that my son... just died at his hands for nothing?” Fang Jing’s face twisted with rage. He lowered his voice and snarled through clenched teeth, ”Never!”

”Sigh. I’ve said all I’m going to say. From now on, this has nothing to do with me.” After speaking dispassionately, Fang Ping, dressed all in black, turned and walked away, never once looking back at his brother, who looked like a man possessed.

’Don’t court death, and you won’t die.’ This was the greatest lesson Fang Ping had learned after entering the Small World and encountering Xu Luo.

In the crowd, a dashingly dressed, handsome youth was impatiently shoving people aside. ”Make way! Let me through!”

”Stop blocking the way! You’re in my path!”

”What? You got a problem with that? Looking for a fight?”

A stunningly beautiful and much more mature-looking woman followed beside the handsome youth, a resigned look on her face.

However, when faced with those unwilling to step aside, the stunning beauty would typically utter just a few cold words, and whoever was blocking the path would immediately and obediently make way.

”If you think you’re tougher than the Dubhe Young Master, then by all means, keep blocking the way!” The stunning beauty’s expression was placid, her voice quiet.

But after hearing that, very few people dared to remain in their path.

These two were, of course, Lin Luoxue and Nangong Yu Yan.

The pair had emerged rather late and were so preoccupied with the excitement of their own fortuitous gains that they hadn’t initially noticed what was happening.

By the time they heard what was going on, the area was already packed several layers deep and was nearly impenetrable. They had to use every trick in the book and expend a great deal of effort just to squeeze their way through.

Seeing the bevy of beauties surrounding Xu Luo, Lin Luoxue muttered in discontent, ”That scoundrel, he’s such a hopeless flirt!”

Nangong Yu Yan looked on helplessly, thinking, ’If you know that, why are you still rushing in? I’ll humor your madness this one time, but who knows how the Sect Leader will punish me for this afterward...’

Fortunately, however, they had both experienced great fortuitous gains this time, giving Nangong Yu Yan far more confidence than before. Otherwise, she really wouldn’t have dared to join Lin Luoxue in this madness.

Even so, Nangong Yu Yan didn’t dare glance in her Sect Leader’s direction. She knew the expression on his face at this moment must be a real sight to behold.

”Hey, kid, we meet again! It’s your Brother Lin Luo!” Lin Luoxue strode brazenly toward Xu Luo. Then, as if just noticing Shangguan Qing was there, her eyes widened and she gasped, ”Oh, Uncle Shangguan, what are you doing here?”

”Nonsense!” Xiang Wentian shot Lin Luoxue a fierce glare from the side. ’What has gotten into this girl?’ he thought. ’How did she get mixed up in this? There was never the slightest indication that she had any connection to Xu Luo!’

The expression on Shangguan Qing’s face was also something to behold.

From the moment he appeared and saved the Law Enforcement Elder, to his speaking those words to Xu Luo, to all these people now appearing at Xu Luo’s side—it had all happened in the span of a few moments.

Shangguan Qing could understand why people from the Merak Sect, like Li Wenxi and Qiushuiduan, would appear at Xu Luo’s side to stand with him. Of course, understanding it was one thing; he couldn’t care less.

In his eyes, people like Li Wenxi and Qiushuiduan posed no threat whatsoever—they weren’t even as significant as Xu Qing standing next to Xu Luo. At the very least, that young lady was Xushan’s most beloved niece. Shangguan Qing had to show Xu Qing some degree of respect.

But the people who appeared after them were each more surprising than the last. By the time Lin Luoxue also got involved, Shangguan Qing was left nearly speechless.

’Just look at the people around this kid,’ he mused. ’The top talents from the younger generations of three of the five major sects are standing with him. Xu Qing from the Jade Balance Sect, Lianyi and Ji Bingyu from the Celestial Cauldron Sect, and Lin Luoxue from the Dubhe Sect... And every last one is a peerless beauty.’

Even he, Shangguan Qing, who was long past that age, had to admit that the beauty of these young women was truly captivating.

Shangguan Qing wasn’t concerned about a few young disciples. The problem was that the attitudes of their backers were quite thought-provoking.

Xu Qing had been standing by Xu Luo’s side the entire time, yet Xushan remained silent!

Lianyi and Ji Bingyu openly sided with Xu Luo, yet Ling Fengwu remained silent.

Beneath Lin Luoxue’s joking and playful antics was blatant support for Xu Luo, and in response, all she received from Xiang Wentian was a simple ”Nonsense.”

What seemed like a simple matter might have much more hidden beneath the surface. For a man in Shangguan Qing’s position, it was only natural to read more into it.

Xu Luo was also surprised. He hadn’t expected that almost everyone he had some connection or friendship with would show up.

Lin Luoxue’s appearance, in particular, was a surprise to Xu Luo, and it warmed his heart.

”He tried to kill me. I was merely defending myself,” Xu Luo said calmly as he looked at Shangguan Qing.

Although the handsome, refined man before him looked to be only in his mid-thirties and radiated no oppressive aura whatsoever, Xu Luo still felt as if he were facing a catastrophic force of nature.

’Unfathomably powerful!’

This was Xu Luo’s assessment of Shangguan Qing, and it was almost identical to the feeling he got from Xushan.

”I know I’m an outsider and shouldn’t meddle in your sect’s internal affairs, but I have to say this, Sect Master Shangguan. Your Law Enforcement Elder really needs to be replaced. The man is blind to talent. He viciously suppressed a sect disciple who had a great fortuitous gain in the Small World, all while protecting a so-called former genius to the point where he can no longer distinguish right from wrong.”

Xu Luo looked at Shangguan Qing and continued, ”Originally, this matter had nothing to do with me. But Huangfu Shishi and I are childhood friends. Out of jealousy, a disciple from your esteemed sect, Jiang Tianhai, made things difficult for me at every turn. In the Small World, he nearly did something that could have sparked a war between major sects...”

Shangguan Qing’s expression had remained placid, but upon hearing this, the corner of his eyebrow twitched slightly. He still said nothing, however.

Xu Luo didn’t elaborate, much to the disappointment of the onlookers. They all realized that while Xu Luo seemed reckless and arrogant, he was actually quite shrewd and knew exactly where to draw the line.

It was better to leave some things half-said, allowing both sides to save face. He was confident that if Sect Master Shangguan truly wanted to investigate, he would undoubtedly find the truth.

If Xu Luo had blurted it all out in front of everyone, there would be no room left for negotiation. That would have been tantamount to cutting off all his own paths of retreat.

”I know a major figure like Sect Master Shangguan wouldn’t spare a thought for a small fry like me. But in front of members from all the major sects, I must say, the actions of your esteemed sect’s Law Enforcement Elder were... rather childish.” Having said his piece, Xu Luo fell silent.

He had said all that needed to be said, because Xu Luo could already tell that Shangguan Qing’s dissatisfaction with the Law Enforcement Elder was anything but ordinary.

With Shangguan Qing’s power, it would not have been difficult to rescue the Law Enforcement Elder before he was severely wounded by the Jade Balance Demon Sound.

The Jade Balance Demon Sound was powerful, but Xu Luo’s cultivation realm was limited. Compared to a powerhouse like Shangguan Qing, at least, the gap was far too vast.

But Shangguan Qing had not rescued the Law Enforcement Elder at the first opportunity, which was proof enough that the man did not hold a particularly high place in his estimation.

Shangguan Qing glanced at Xu Luo and suddenly cracked a small smile. ”Not bad.”

The surroundings fell deathly silent. Many people wondered if they were hearing things. To actually hear such a positive assessment of Xu Luo from Shangguan Qing himself...

’This is insane!’

Shangguan Qing paid no mind to the others. His gaze shifted to Huangfu Shishi at Xu Luo’s side. After studying her for a moment, he said with delight, ”It seems your harvest in the Small World was immense!”

He then looked toward Lianyi, Lin Luoxue, and the others, nodding repeatedly. ”Excellent. Your transformations make all the effort we put into this joint venture worthwhile.”

Over on the side, Xushan now chimed in with a laugh. ”No need for you all to thank me. In the future, just have each of you send me a thousand or so pounds of Top-Grade Spirit Medicine, and we’ll call it even!”

”Hmph. If you could have hogged it all for yourself, would you have ever let us know?” Xiang Wentian sneered from the side. He then turned to Lin Luoxue, his face beaming with delight. ”Good child, your gains this time were truly immense! I never thought even Yu Yan would have such a great opportunity. Excellent, truly excellent!”

Ling Fengwu looked at Lianyi and Ji Bingyu. ”Come here, quick. Tell me all about what you experienced inside. Your gains are astonishing!”

Gu Jianfeng’s expression had soured. He had already received the news: his son, Ancient Star, had joined Jiang Tianhai in a failed attempt to ambush and kill Lianyi and Ji Bingyu, only to be severely wounded by Xu Luo instead.

His only consolation was that Ancient Star hadn’t been as foolish as Jiang Tianhai and hadn’t jumped out to threaten Xu Luo directly.

But what did that matter? This time, while many disciples of the Shaking Light Sect had made significant gains, his son, Ancient Star, had come away with nothing!

Worse, he had to watch as his son was surpassed by many who were originally less talented.

Apart from Gu Jianfeng, the other four sect leaders were all busy praising their own disciples, leaving Xu Luo completely ignored on the sidelines.

Xu Luo was completely baffled. ’What is wrong with these bigwigs?’ he wondered. ’Or are all powerful people this good at changing the subject?’

Xu Luo desperately wanted to walk up to Shangguan Qing and ask, ”I injured your sect’s Law Enforcement Elder. So, what are you going to do about it?”