Firmament Sword

”We were discussing wiping out the Xu Family. Why did you have to bring up the Saintess?” the man, who looked to be in his forties, asked, glaring at the ugly middle-aged woman with a hint of displeasure.

”Can’t I?” the ugly middle-aged woman sneered. ”She and that little bastard Xu Luo were making eyes at each other. Does she think everyone else is an idiot and can’t see? Do you really think the Sect Leader is completely unaware? He just doesn’t mention it. After we annihilate the Xu Family, if she knows what’s good for her, she can continue on as the Saintess. If not, we’ll just arrange for her to have a little ’accident’!”

It was safe to say that everyone in the room belonged to the same faction. They represented a powerful force within the Dubhe Sect, which was why this ugly middle-aged woman spoke with such recklessness.

”In that case, I find this plan feasible,” the bitter-faced old man finally agreed, nodding his head.

Seeing him nod, the others finally relaxed. After all, this bitter-faced elder was the most powerful Martial Artist among them, second only to Elder Meng—who had been beaten to death by Xu Luo with a single punch that left him with Broken Tendons and Bones.

Ninth Layer of Transformation Realm!

This elder was usually very low-key and not well-known, but his status within the sect was quite high.

The elder and Elder Meng were the closest of friends. He hadn’t gone with Elder Meng to stir up trouble at the Xu Mansion today because, before the incident, none of them had thought it was even necessary for Elder Meng to go personally. To deal with a mere secular disciple, there was no need to be so cautious.

But who would have thought that Elder Meng would never return, and that Elder Li would be slapped into a stupor by Xu Luo? He’d lost half his teeth and was still lying in bed, unable to move.

Xu Luo’s strength had truly shocked the rest of them, and they now felt an immense threat.

The feud between the Dubhe Sect, the Cangqiong Royal Family, and the Xu Family was growing ever deeper. Reconciliation was almost impossible. In that case, they might as well go all the way and annihilate the entire Xu Family!

As high-ranking leaders of a massive sect, none of them lacked such ruthless determination.

...

Night had fallen, and silence descended upon the once-bustling Imperial Capital. Only Vermilion Bird Avenue remained brightly lit.

The Xu Mansion was still bustling with activity. Xu Ji was drinking with a large group of men, all of whom were his brothers-in-arms from his many years in the military.

Most of them had long since left the army and now worked in all sorts of different professions. Some had traded their swords for brushes and become officials, others had started small businesses and become merchants, and one had even returned home to inherit his family’s craft and become a Blacksmith. There were even two old men who were clearly farmers. The years had etched deep lines into their faces, and they wore brand-new clothes, clearly made for the occasion, that looked somewhat awkward on their frames.

But now, in Xu Ji’s presence, they showed no restraint. They talked and laughed boisterously, reminiscing about the old days. They would sigh with emotion, their eyes growing red, then burst out cursing and laughing as they raised their bowls and drank deeply.

These men might have been away from the battlefield for many years, their backs bent by the burdens of life, but the moment they came together, they radiated an aura that could only be forged by iron, blood, and the hardships of war.

Xu Ji raised his bowl and declared, ”My old brothers! Back in the day, we were all just a bunch of raw recruits. We lived under the same roof, ate from the same pot, trained together, and fought side-by-side on the battlefield. Though... many are gone, we’re still here! Today, we’re together again. So let’s drink until we drop!”

”Drink until we drop!” the crowd roared in unison.

”This bowl is for the brothers who have left us. A toast to them!” As Xu Ji spoke, he slowly poured the wine from his bowl onto the ground, and a rich, fragrant aroma instantly filled the air.

The others fell silent, each one pouring the wine from their bowl onto the ground.

Afterward, with his eyes slightly red, Xu Ji said emotionally, ”I never thought we’d all be able to get together again in our lifetimes. To be honest, I’m surprised, and incredibly gratified!”

”When the Second Young Master sent someone to inform me, I couldn’t believe it was true,” a slightly plump, middle-aged man in a brocade robe lamented. ”I can’t believe that after all these years, Big Brother hasn’t forgotten us old comrades...”

”What kind of talk is that, Ma the Second? When has Big Brother ever forgotten us?” an old man with a deeply wrinkled face and calloused hands retorted, rolling his eyes. ”You’re well-off now, so maybe you don’t pay attention, but has there ever been a New Year when Big Brother didn’t have someone send us a pile of gifts? For me, that’s the one time of year I get to eat my fill of meat!”

”Wang the Third, you stubborn mule! You have the nerve to talk?” the plump middle-aged man shot back. ”Remember what Big Brother told you back then? He wanted you to stay in the army, but you said you had to go home and have kids. He asked you to come to the Imperial Capital and offered you a post, but you said you were used to the countryside and didn’t want to trouble him. That was all you, wasn’t it?”

”You two haven’t seen each other in years, and you start bickering the moment you meet? Why rehash all that old stuff?” a burly, broad-shouldered man boomed, raising his bowl. ”It doesn’t matter who we are now, whether we’re rich or poor. The fact that we can all be here together today is a blessing of fate. We have Big Brother to thank for that! This one’s for Big Brother!”

Everyone else raised their bowls and downed the wine in one gulp.

Xu Ji was already tipsy, but he was in an exceptionally good mood. He had never imagined Xu Luo would be so thoughtful as to track down all the comrades who had enlisted with him. Aside from those who had died in battle or passed away since, nearly every member of his old squad was gathered here. It was a wonderful surprise.

It had been Xu Ji’s wedding day, so he’d been too busy to spend time with them. But as evening fell, he had canceled all his other social obligations to be here, reminiscing with his old friends.

For Xu Ji, nothing was more important than this reunion with his old comrades. He pushed all other worries from his mind, ready to drink the night away with his brothers.

...

Several banquet tables were also set up in Xu Luo’s courtyard, but the atmosphere was nowhere near as boisterous as his father’s gathering.

Huangfu Chongzhi, Xu Luo, Little Fatty Liu Feng, and Sui Yan sat at one table, sipping their wine and speaking in low voices.

Nearby, the three women—Lan Xin, Phoenix, and Huangfu Shishi—were gathered together, their soft laughter occasionally ringing out.

”Third Brother, is the intel solid?” Little Fatty asked in a low voice. ”Are those people from Dubhe really going to attack tonight?”

Xu Luo nodded slightly, a cold glint in his handsome eyes. ’Those Dubhe Sect fools are truly courting death. They suffered a major defeat during the day and think they can just get even at night. They’re just a bunch of bigwigs who’ve been cooped up in their sect for too long. They probably never imagined that I’d already overheard their supposedly secret conversation at the inn.’

”It seems our conflict with the Dubhe Sect truly is irreconcilable,” Huangfu Chongzhi sighed.

Little Fatty sneered. ”Let them come! Who’s afraid of them? With Third Brother here, I don’t care how many of them show up!”

Sui Yan added quietly, ”They’re probably hoping to rescue Huangfu Haoyue, too.”

As he spoke, a cold smile touched Sui Yan’s lips. Just a short while ago, he had personally slain Huangfu Haoyue!

A wave of satisfaction washed over Sui Yan as he recalled the look on Huangfu Haoyue’s handsome, almost-perfect face, and the sight of him kneeling, begging for mercy with tears streaming down his face.

The enmity for his father’s murder was a blood feud that could only end in death. His heart had been filled with endless hatred as he struck, killing Huangfu Haoyue with a single thrust of his sword. He’d given him a quick death, and in doing so, untied a great knot of obsession in his own heart.

He was still emotional just thinking about it. He glanced at Xu Luo and said, ”Sorry for causing you trouble, Third Brother!”

Xu Luo just smiled and shook his head. ”What are you talking about? We’re brothers! He had it coming.”

”You really are an arrogant brat!” a cold voice filled with hatred rang out from above. A moment later, several figures descended from the sky, landing in Xu Luo’s courtyard.

The speaker was the ugly middle-aged woman. Her eyes were locked on Xu Luo, filled with venomous hatred. ”You will die today! And not just you. Your family, your women, and every single person here tonight—they will all die!”

”I’ve been waiting for you. I thought you’d be here sooner,” Xu Luo said calmly, remaining seated. ”I’ll give you this much: you were smart enough not to disturb my father and his guests. For that, I’ll do you a favor and leave your corpses intact.”

”Arrogant!” the ugly middle-aged woman snarled. ”Those people are nothing but ants. They aren’t even worthy of our attention! We could send a few disciples to deal with them at any time!”

”Then what are you waiting for? I’m right here. Come and kill me,” Xu Luo said with a slight smile. ”It’s a pity you’re so ugly. If you were a beautiful woman, I might actually have to hesitate.”

”You’re courting death!” Enraged, the ugly middle-aged woman roared as a colossal Dharma Aspect erupted behind her. It was a terrifying, ferocious Black Python, more than thirty meters long. It flicked its scarlet tongue, radiating an immense pressure as it opened its cavernous jaws and lunged, trying to bite Xu Luo in one go!

...

Over at the other party, the men drinking with Xu Ji were startled when they suddenly saw a ferocious black python manifest in the sky nearby.

”What is that thing?”

”Is that a Spirit Beast?”

”What’s that thing doing here?”

Surprise was written on every face, but none of them showed any real fear. For one, they had never encountered anything like Dharma Heaven and Earth. For another... these were old soldiers who had fought and killed on the battlefield, men who had crawled out from under piles of the dead. Even if they lived comfortable lives now, they still faced the prospect of death with far more composure than any ordinary person.

Xu Ji glanced over and said nonchalantly, ”Pay it no mind. We’ll continue drinking!”

...

’Finally learned your lesson? Using Dharma Heaven and Earth right from the start?’ A cold smile played on Xu Luo’s lips. Facing the massive Black Python Dharma Aspect, he sat there, unmoving. Not until the instant the giant python’s gaping maw was about to close over his head did Xu Luo suddenly stand up and hurl the wine from his bowl directly at the python’s head.

”Begone!”

With a great shout, the rich aroma of wine filled the air as the bowl’s contents transformed into a torrential curtain of rain, pouring directly into the black python’s mouth.

BOOM!