Firmament Sword

Yang Dan’s advancement had already been a wonderful surprise for Yang Qingchuan. He never expected that, immediately after, Xu Luo would give him an even greater one!

Under normal circumstances, Yang Ming would have needed another year before he could even attempt to break through to the Ninth Tier Sword Venerable. Even then, whether he could succeed on the first try was only a fifty-fifty chance.

As for Yang Dan, she was even further behind!

Yang Qingchuan had never even considered his daughter attempting the barrier to the Transformation Realm...

Because in his mind, for his daughter to try for the Transformation Realm, she would need at least a decade or more!

And that... was assuming the Starlight Sect faced no mishaps and could provide a massive amount of resources to make it happen!

Considering the crisis the Starlight Sect was currently facing, his daughter Yang Dan would likely never have had the chance in her lifetime.

The Blazing Fire Sect would never wait for them to grow stronger... before moving in to annex them.

”Wonderful... This is truly... wonderful!” Yang Qingchuan was so moved he was on the verge of tears. Fighting them back, he murmured, ”Ever since you were little, I taught you to be kind and generous, to be good people. It seems good deeds are truly rewarded... When I went to the Cyan Leaf Sect for help and was refused, I once thought being a good person was useless. Now I see I was wrong... I was so wrong!”

”That’s right. Selfishness... may bring temporary glory, but that glory can’t last forever. One day, they will lose everything,” the Starlight Sect’s Ancestor said from the side.

”Now, even if the Blazing Fire Sect truly comes knocking on our door, I am no longer afraid... At least my two children have begun to grow! If the worst comes to pass, I’ll have them leave with the sect’s younger generation. One day, they will truly rise!” Yang Qingchuan said emotionally.

”Dad, don’t be so pessimistic. Brother Xu Luo can definitely help us. He said he could help us resolve this crisis,” Yang Dan interjected.

Yang Qingchuan looked at Yang Dan with a loving expression and said softly, ”My dear daughter, what young friend Xu Luo has done for us is already more than enough. One must know one’s limits. The debt of gratitude he owed us has long since been repaid, many times over! It’s laughable; your father, who prided himself on being a good judge of character his whole life, actually misunderstood him for a time...”

The Starlight Sect’s Ancestor nodded. ”That’s right. He no longer owes us anything. Our business with the Blazing Fire Sect has nothing to do with him.”

Being young, Yang Dan couldn’t fully comprehend the words of her father and great-grandfather.

In truth, although Yang Qingchuan and the Ancestor were endlessly grateful to Xu Luo, they were also keenly aware of one thing: no matter how strong Xu Luo was, he was only a Ninth Tier Sword Venerable. They didn’t know why he could help his daughter advance to the Transformation Realm but hadn’t done the same for himself... but even if Xu Luo was a Transformation Realm Powerhouse himself, the Blazing Fire Sect... was a powerful sect with a Divine Power Realm expert overseeing it!

How could they possibly drag Xu Luo into this vortex for the sake of their own sect?

They couldn’t bring themselves to do such a thing, nor would they stoop so low.

BOOM!

Another incomparably tyrannical aura erupted from the room before them!

It stirred the clouds in the sky.

The powerful aura enveloped almost the entire Starlight Sect mountain gate!

”Heavens... Did someone else break through?”

”What in the world is going on? What’s with today? One breakthrough after another?”

”I’m not dreaming, am I? What am I seeing?”

”Could it be that the Ancestor has come out of seclusion to help the disciples advance?”

For a time, the entire Starlight Sect was abuzz with discussion. Everyone was whispering amongst themselves in surprise and excitement.

Not a single person connected this to the man the Young Master and Young Mistress had rescued the other day.

Yang Qingchuan and the Ancestor stood there quietly, their gazes fixed on the room, filled with fervor and a trace of... awe!

This was the first time in their lives they had felt this way toward a young man whose cultivation realm was far beneath their own.

”*Phew!*” Yang Qingchuan let out a long breath and said, ”Ming’Er... has finally... advanced as well!”

BOOM!

Before they could even react, an even more powerful aura erupted...

This time... nearly everyone in the entire Starlight Sect, from top to bottom, including the Ancestor and Yang Qingchuan, was stunned silly, frozen in place, almost losing the ability to think.

”Transformation Realm... Second Stage?”

”My heavens!”

This was the first reaction of Yang Qingchuan and the Ancestor when they came back to their senses.

Yang Dan’s delicate little face was first filled with excitement, but then it fell. She grumbled, ”Brother Xu Luo is so biased! He actually helped my brother break through to the second stage of the Transformation Realm... Hmph... I was happy for a little while, thinking I could finally one-up my brother...”

Yang Qingchuan and the Ancestor couldn’t help but chuckle. Yang Qingchuan looked at his daughter and smiled, ”Silly girl, isn’t it a good thing that your brother advanced to the second stage of the Transformation Realm?”

”It’s good, but... I want to be stronger too... so I can give those bad guys from the Blazing Fire Sect a good beating when I face them!” Yang Dan said with a pout.

”Hahaha, don’t you worry, girl. You’ll get your chance!” The Starlight Sect’s Ancestor was amused, his face wreathed in a happy smile.

A moment later, Yang Ming walked out of the room, looking a bit dazed, as if he couldn’t believe it. In such a short time, a single peach... and the help of this Brother Xu Luo whom he had rescued, had allowed him to advance from the Eighth Tier Sword Venerable all the way to the second stage of the Transformation Realm... If someone had told him this was possible before, his first reaction would have been to spit in their face.

He wouldn’t have believed it at all!

”Ming’Er... how do you feel?” Yang Qingchuan immediately walked over, his gaze burning as he looked at his son.

Yang Ming finally snapped out of it. He took a deep breath, his expression turning serious, making the others outside a little nervous. Then, he declared, ”Better than ever!”

”You rascal!” Yang Qingchuan said, laughing through tears.

”Good!” The Ancestor gave his descendant Yang Ming a look of praise, his eyes filled with gratification.

”Hmph, he’s a little bit stronger than me again...” Yang Dan pouted and muttered under her breath.

”Hahaha, dear sister, this time... it’s not just ’a little bit’ stronger!” Yang Ming rarely spoke in such a tone. He then added with emotion, ”I never imagined... that the feeling of being powerful... would be this good!”

”Your future is long. You still have a long way to go. I’ve already helped you clear your meridians, so you will only become stronger!” A clear voice came from behind, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.

”Brother Xu Luo!” Yang Dan called out sweetly and ran over to him.

’If this were before,’ Yang Qingchuan thought, ’my first reaction would definitely be to slap to death any guy who dared entice my daughter. But now... I almost wish he’d open his arms for her.’

”Brother Xu Luo, some debts of gratitude are too great for words. Yang Ming will remember this in his heart!” Yang Ming said as he formally bowed to Xu Luo.

Although they weren’t master and disciple, what Xu Luo had done for him was practically a gift of rebirth!

Xu Luo smiled and waved his hand. ”You saved my life, and you never thought of asking for anything in return, did you? What I’ve done... doesn’t even compare to what you did!”

Yang Dan’s eyes, as she looked at Xu Luo, were already filled with adoration. In her bright eyes, it was as if countless little stars were twinkling.

”Xu Luo, please forgive me for my previous distrust!” Yang Qingchuan apologized to Xu Luo, then bowed to him as well. ”Thank you for what you’ve done for my two children!”

Xu Luo quickly returned the gesture. ”Sect Leader Yang, you’re too kind. It was only right to be suspicious of me. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t have believed it right away either. As for your son and daughter... this is what they deserved!”

Xu Luo said with a smile, then his gaze turned to the Starlight Sect’s Ancestor. Before the old man could speak, Xu Luo took the initiative, ”This junior, Xu Luo, greets Senior!”

The Starlight Sect’s Ancestor looked at Xu Luo and smiled slightly, but his eyes held a hint of anticipation.

His age, identity, and status didn’t allow him to cozy up to Xu Luo and curry favor like a younger person, but his heart was filled with expectation!

It had been many years since this sort of restless feeling had appeared in him.

The reason was simple: Xu Luo had already proven with facts that he was not one to make empty boasts!

’So, since he said he could help me break through the shackles of the Transformation Realm and step into the Divine Power Realm, it... must be true, right?’

”Seeing you... I’ve suddenly become a bit... insecure, hahaha! My apologies for making a fool of myself, young man!” The Starlight Sect’s Ancestor shook his head with a wry smile and sighed. ”Perhaps being stuck at that realm for so many years has affected even... my state of mind.”

”It’s only human. There’s no need for you to feel embarrassed, Senior. Do you have a place for secluded cultivation?” Xu Luo said seriously. ”Yang Ming and Yang Dan’s breakthroughs might have been astonishing, but it was only to the Transformation Realm. For you, Senior... I’m afraid that if you break through, the resulting aura eruption will...”

”I understand, I understand! A place for seclusion? Let’s go right now!” The Starlight Sect’s Ancestor interrupted Xu Luo like an excited child.

He finally... couldn’t hold it in any longer!

Ascending from the Transformation Realm to the Divine Power Realm!

How many people in this world could truly keep their composure in such a situation?

The fact that the Starlight Sect’s Ancestor had managed it this long was already a sign of rare restraint!

Anyone else would probably be on their knees begging by now!

”Alright, let’s go now,” Xu Luo said with a smile.

”Ancestor... Xu Luo just helped Yang Dan and Ming’Er advance. Will he be...” Yang Qingchuan hesitated for a moment but decided to remind the Ancestor.

Xu Luo had now become a great benefactor of the Starlight Sect, an honored guest who could not be treated lightly.

It wasn’t that Yang Qingchuan was opportunistic; it was simply a fact of life. The treatment one received depended on the abilities one possessed!

”Ah, look at me... I’m getting old and muddled.” The Starlight Sect’s Ancestor gave a self-deprecating, bitter smile, then said to Xu Luo, ”My apologies, young friend. I was too excited and neglected you...”

”Senior, you’re being too polite. It’s really nothing. Yang Ming and Yang Dan were able to advance for two reasons. First, I happened to have two Spirit Fruits on hand that could provide them with a large amount of energy. Second, advancing from Sword Venerable to the Transformation Realm... is actually not as difficult as you might think. I just gave them a helping hand. It wasn’t tiring at all,” Xu Luo said with a smile.