Firmament Sword

”There, there, Qiqi, don’t cry. It’s all my fault. I couldn’t get back sooner, or this never would have happened. It’s all on me…” Xu Luo softly comforted Qiqi, completely ignoring the young man across from them.

”It’s not your fault… I’m just… sad… *sob*…” Huangfu Shishi’s sobs were filled not only with sorrow but also a powerful sense of having been wronged.

’Wronged?’ Xu Luo raised an eyebrow, then his brows furrowed. ’So many days have passed, and the Kaiyang Sect hasn’t made a single move. Now that we finally meet, their first instinct isn’t to console the Cangqiong Royal Family or promise to get to the bottom of this. Instead, they’re trying to put us in our place…’

Xu Luo thought to himself, ’I see. The Kaiyang Sect is more than just wary of the Dubhe Sect. And by the looks of it, they aren’t willing to offend a behemoth like Dubhe over a mere secular royal family!’

’I originally thought the Kaiyang Sect Master, Shangguan Qing, was a respectable figure. I never expected that at such a critical moment, he would choose silence—such a contemptible way to respond to this…’

As Xu Luo mulled this over, a flicker of anger began to burn within him.

The young man mounted on the giant, scaled bird had a handsome face that appeared calm, but the chilling coldness in his eyes was terrifying.

”Is… this how you people of Cangqiong treat your guests?” the young man’s voice was ice-cold as he questioned them condescendingly.

”You? Guests?” Xu Luo chuckled softly. He handed Huangfu Shishi over to Xia Muyao, Lan Xin, and the others beside him. Then he looked up at Shangguan Qing and said, ”Sect Master Shangguan, it has been over half a year since we last met. Your distinguished presence is as striking as ever. Truly a cause for celebration!”

A flash of intense anger crossed the eyes of the young man on the giant, scaled bird. He looked as though he was about to explode. This man had repeatedly ignored him to speak directly with the Sect Leader, a clear sign he wasn’t being taken seriously.

’Good. Very good! I have no idea how skilled you are, but your arrogance is off the charts. I sincerely hope your power is as impressive as your attitude!’ The youth seethed internally.

Shangguan Qing, however, gave Xu Luo a deep look, his heart filled with a mix of emotion and regret.

Originally, he had genuinely wanted to accept Xu Luo into his sect. This monstrously talented youth had truly piqued his interest.

Unfortunately, plans can’t keep up with changes. A sudden prophecy, coupled with the rumored appearance of an unprecedentedly massive Spirit Stone Vein in Cangqiong, had suppressed Shangguan Qing’s desire for talent!

Talent was certainly rare, but resources were fundamental!

Without resources, even the most outstanding genius could not go far. This was why the larger the sect, the more powerhouses it had. It was precisely because they controlled immense resources!

Therefore, in the face of what Dubhe had done, Shangguan Qing had not lashed out immediately but had chosen silence instead. Because if it had been the Kaiyang Sect… they probably would have made the same choice!

His silence wasn’t because he feared Dubhe. Rather, he wanted to use it to pressure Dubhe and get a piece of the pie!

’But in that case, it’s a pity for this extraordinarily gifted young genius. He killed several of Dubhe’s Transformation Realm Powerhouses; Dubhe will never let him go.’

Shangguan Qing looked at Xu Luo calmly and said lightly, ”Xu Luo, we haven’t seen each other in half a year, and you’ve done quite well for yourself. It seems your strength has improved again. What do you say? Are you willing to join my sect? Perhaps… this is your only chance.”

”Sect…” The young man on the giant, scaled bird raised an eyebrow, about to say something.

Shangguan Qing shot him a cold glance, immediately silencing him. Though Shangguan Qing wasn’t very old and hadn’t been the Kaiyang Sect Master for long, his authority and status within the Kaiyang Sect were nearly unrivaled!

Even the numerous elders who had been in seclusion for years had to treat this Sect Leader with the utmost respect.

Xu Luo glanced at Shangguan Qing with some surprise. He understood the meaning behind Shangguan Qing’s words: if he joined the Kaiyang Sect, Shangguan Qing would guarantee his safety and stop Dubhe from retaliating against him.

’But the question is… is that even possible?’

’Never mind whether I’m even willing to join the Kaiyang Sect. Given the enmity between me and Dubhe, even if they were to truly let me go, I would never let them off the hook!’

’The deaths of Xu Zhongtian and Sui Wanli, the deaths of the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince—all were caused by Dubhe. My own father was nearly executed because of Dubhe. To say nothing of the others, I’ll never let Huangfu Haoyue go.’

Shangguan Qing’s words, however, caused a huge uproar among the people from the Kaiyang Sect.

”Sect Leader… is this… appropriate?” an elder from the Kaiyang Sect hesitated and whispered in Shangguan Qing’s ear. ”For him… for a mere secular boy, offending a super-sect like Dubhe… it’s not worth it!”

”An arrogant secular brat—what right does he have to be personally recruited by the Sect Leader?”

”Exactly! What makes him qualified to become the Sect Leader’s Direct Disciple!”

”Tianhai… looks like it’ll be hard for you to get your revenge! This kid is probably going to become our sect’s little junior brother…”

The people from the Kaiyang Sect murmured amongst themselves. Jiang Tianhai’s handsome face turned ashen, and his gaze toward Xu Luo was filled with indignation and rage.

Shangguan Qing turned a deaf ear to the discussions. He gave a slight nod to the elder beside him, indicating that he knew what he was doing. Then, he turned a gentle gaze on Xu Luo and said softly, ”Xu Luo, I am truly doing this for your own good!”

The group of young Kaiyang Sect disciples was practically going mad with jealousy. When had they ever seen the Sect Leader speak to someone so pleasantly? They had never imagined that their lofty Sect Leader would one day think so highly of a young man and try so hard to recruit him.

Xu Luo looked at Shangguan Qing and, with almost no hesitation, shook his head and refused. ”I’m sorry, Sect Master Shangguan. First, I already have a sect and do not wish to join another. Second, the grudge between myself and Dubhe is irreconcilable, and I don’t want to bring trouble to the Kaiyang Sect. Therefore, I can only accept your kind intentions in spirit.”

The moment Xu Luo’s words fell, a dead silence descended. Even the Spirit Beasts ridden by the members of the Kaiyang Sect seemed unable to believe it, falling utterly quiet.

Everyone else stared at Xu Luo, stunned.

Little Fatty murmured, ”Third Brother… what did he just refuse? I’m not dreaming, am I?”

Suiyan secretly clenched his fists, cheering for Xu Luo in his heart: ’Third Brother is truly Third Brother! To be able to refuse an invitation from a major sect so bluntly… He’s got guts!’

Huangfu Chongzhi’s gaze held a touch of complex emotion as he thought to himself: ’Third Bro has finally grown up. For this loyalty alone, my Huangfu Family owes him far too much!’

Although Xu Ji and Luo Xinlan’s gazes toward Xu Luo held a hint of regret, they were filled more with relief and pride.

”You must be a man who takes responsibility!”

”A man must be upright and indomitable! He must have a sense of responsibility!”

”A man’s spine is like a great dragon. It can bend, it can straighten, but it must never break!”

These were the words the couple had taught their two sons since they were children.

So they were not surprised by Xu Luo’s choice.

Xu Su and the others also looked at Xu Luo with gazes full of complexity and admiration.

Not just anyone had the courage to refuse an invitation from a major sect. After all, having a major sect as a backer almost guaranteed a smooth and rapid rise to power, a path with no more obstacles!

Not to mention, Xu Luo’s current feud with Dubhe was terrifying to even consider.

But Xu Luo… had just refused it, so casually.

Shangguan Qing was also stunned for a long moment. Then, a look of ’just as I expected’ flashed in his eyes. He nodded at Xu Luo. ”I had a feeling you would choose this, but I wasn’t certain. Xu Luo, you have truly exceeded my expectations. You may be even more outstanding than I imagined.”

”Sect Master Shangguan, you praise me too much,” Xu Luo replied, his expression serene.

Shangguan Qing said, ”I have come this time for two matters. First, I have brought Tianhai to fulfill the half-year pact we made last time! Second, I am here to give the Cangqiong Royal Family an explanation for what happened recently.”

”Then… might I ask, Sect Master Shangguan, what kind of… explanation do you intend to give the Cangqiong Royal Family?” At that moment, Huangfu Chongzhi slowly stepped out from the side. His demeanor was calm and composed, his bearing graceful, and the aura of an Emperor emanated from him.

”You… are a member of the Royal Family?” Shangguan Qing asked, looking at Huangfu Chongzhi.

Huangfu Chongzhi nodded and said, ”The late Emperor was my father!”

”Oh, so you’re the Eldest Prince, the sole remaining heir of the royal bloodline. I heard you gave the throne to your son? An infant not even a year old? How utterly absurd!”

Facing Huangfu Chongzhi, Shangguan Qing was far less courteous than he had been with Xu Luo. The aura of a superior burst from him as he questioned him coldly.

”This is an internal affair of the Royal Family. It has nothing to do with the Sect Leader… does it?” Huangfu Chongzhi replied slowly, neither servile nor overbearing.

”How insolent!” The young man on the giant bird was already suppressing a bellyful of rage. He had been so angered by Xu Luo that he felt on the verge of suffering an internal injury, and he was already forcibly restraining his temper. He never thought that a member of a minor, secular royal family would dare to take such an attitude toward their backing sect.

”Am I being insolent?” Huangfu Chongzhi glanced coldly at the young man on the giant bird and said flatly, ”I don’t think so.”

”Audacious! As a scion of the Royal Family, how could you not know that the Kaiyang Sect is the sovereign sect of the Cangqiong Royal Family?”

”You’re in the presence of the Sect Leader, and you still haven’t knelt!”

”You disrespectful thing! How dare you take such an attitude with your master? You’re simply courting death!”

Several people from the Kaiyang Sect glared and began to berate him coldly.

Shangguan Qing raised his hand slightly, silencing the incensed crowd. He said to Huangfu Chongzhi, ”I know you hold a grudge against the Kaiyang Sect, and that may even include your sister, my Kaiyang Sect’s disciple Huangfu Shishi… But there are reasons for everything. Matters are by no means as simple as you think! I can promise the Cangqiong Royal Family right here and now: the Kaiyang Sect will definitely get justice for the Cangqiong Royal Family in this affair!”