Firmament Sword

”You want a heaven-sent opportunity? You want to take that next step? How could there be no danger? It’s impossible! All you delusional, timid, and weak fools should just scram and go home!” The skeletal Elder Rui, a foundational powerhouse from the Honglou Sect with a face like old tree bark, had a cold light glittering in his eyes. He let out a strange cackle and shot through the air, following the carriage ahead.

A large group of ”living fossils”—the foundational experts of the Honglou Sect—followed Elder Rui’s figure in pursuit. At this moment, not a single one of them looked back.

These so-called ”foundations” and ”living fossils” were actually a group of experts who had failed in their attempts to break into the Saint Realm. They had fallen into a deep slumber, serving as their sect’s final trump card.

Without a world-altering opportunity, it was almost impossible for them to take that final step in this lifetime.

And so, they were merely living on borrowed time. For people like them, life no longer held much meaning.

Take Elder Rui, for example. His strength was Tongxuan, unbelievably powerful. Even a Basic-level Saint might not possess greater combat prowess!

But he was not a Saint.

A Saint could live for a hundred thousand years. If fortune favored them and they acquired a Divine Medicine of the Human World, they could extend their lifespan. If they obtained a world-class treasured medicine, they could even live a second life!

But those in the Divine Power Realm could not.

Through various methods, they might live for seventy or eighty thousand years, but even with a Divine Medicine of the Human World, they couldn’t extend their lifespans for long. Even with a heaven-defying opportunity and a world-class treasured medicine, they could not live a second life!

No matter how powerful a Divine Power Realm expert was, it was no use. One day, they would die.

In the eyes of mortals, those who reached this realm were already like Land Immortals—lofty and unattainable.

But they wanted to live longer. They even... wanted to achieve immortality!

Only by entering the Divine Domain would one have a chance to pursue that illusory path of eternal life. But since time immemorial, how many had ever managed to set foot on the path to the Divine Domain?

And so, for this single, heaven-sent opportunity, this group of ”living fossils” had all awakened. They were now charging recklessly toward it, throwing all caution to the wind.

Even if there was only a one-in-a-hundred-million chance... they would not let it pass!

After the ”living fossils” from the Honglou Sect departed, another group appeared: several dozen aged Suffering Ascetics, each as gaunt as a skeleton, arriving together.

”Look, those are the Ascetic Monks from Western Buddhism! Judging by their appearance... they must be just like those ’living fossils’ from the Honglou Sect—all Elder Cultivators with little time left. Are they also here to fight for this opportunity? I thought the Buddhist Family preached universal salvation and benevolence... Why are they getting involved in this?”

”That’s right. I heard a Great Vajra from Western Buddhism publicly announced that they would not get involved in matters concerning Beidou’s Eighth Star.”

”Hmph, this is just their own personal affair. Who among those who have cultivated to the Divine Power Realm Peak doesn’t want to take that next step? And after becoming a Saint, who wouldn’t want to enter the Divine Domain?”

”He’s right. Aren’t we also deluding ourselves, hoping to get that opportunity?” someone said with a bitter smile. ”It’s a shame we were blinded by greed and couldn’t see the truth. That recent calamity claimed thousands of lives. Every single one of them was a great powerhouse, renowned in their own region, yet they died just like that...”

”Indeed. This is truly not something people like us can get involved in. Before, we only saw that Beidou’s Eighth Star was weak, and we thought any one of us was many times stronger. We thought if we were lucky, we could seize this opportunity. Now, it seems we were too naive. The reincarnation of a celestial star... if he could be captured so easily, he wouldn’t be worth so much in the first place!”

”I’ve made up my mind. I’m not getting involved in this any further. This is where it ends for me!”

A group of Martial Artists who had just experienced the great calamity and were lucky enough to survive were gathered here, discussing amongst themselves. They had lost the courage to press forward. Having lost their confidence, their minds had finally cleared.

Immortality is tempting, and apotheosis is even more so, but if it means throwing away the tens of thousands of years of life one still has... it’s simply not worth it!

There are many opportunities in the world. Though hard to find, they aren’t impossible to come by. Many people were now deeply contemplating whether it was truly worth it to charge ahead so recklessly for an illusory legend.

Immediately after, another group of elderly Daoists flew over from the distance. Without giving the hesitating crowd so much as a glance, they flew toward the seven great stars hanging in the sky.

”It’s the foundational experts from the Liejiang Daoist Sect... Almost all of the older generation has come out,” someone murmured.

”Heh... If the sects that are slightly weaker than the three great powers were to attack right now, I bet the three powers would be crushed one by one! They’d have a hard time defending themselves!” someone suddenly chuckled.

”Haha, it’s true! All their foundational experts are out, risking everything for a sliver of an illusory opportunity. The three great powers must be quite vulnerable right now. I’m sure they’re all on edge.”

”If you ask me, there’s probably no force left that could threaten the three great powers now. In that cataclysm just now, how many experts were instantly turned to dust? They died without a sound, but for the entire Sect Continent and Ancient Race Continent, the losses were devastating! In this situation, do you think any power... is still whole?” someone suddenly interjected.

Everyone fell silent upon hearing this.

What had just happened was too sudden. Too many powerful experts had been turned to ash before they could even react.

Even these survivors of the calamity felt their spirits tremble, and they had lost all courage to move forward.

”Forget it... Let’s leave!” someone sighed. ”If we stay here, a stray ripple of energy could kill us at any moment. It’s too dangerous! I’d rather just go home and live out my days as a Land Immortal!”

With that, the person’s figure transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the distance.

Someone gasped in surprise. The person who had just spoken was a great expert at the Ninth Layer of Divine Power Realm!

He was famous on the Sect Continent, known for his belligerence. To think he would be so frightened today that he’d retreat and lose all ambition.

After that, a few more people sighed and left.

As some departed, others arrived.

A steady stream of experts from all corners of the land arrived. Some looked with disdain at the group that had halted, not bothering to give them a second thought. Others cast strange glances, wondering why they were lingering here.

A few who knew people in the stationary crowd stopped to ask what was happening.

After hearing the answer, their faces all turned pale, their eyes filled with fear.

With so many people gathered here, it was impossible they were all lying. Even many great experts at the Ninth Layer had been silently reduced to dust in the recent cataclysm. What right did they have to press on?

”To die without even seeing the battlefield, without even knowing where the energy fluctuations came from... it’s just too tragic!”

A newcomer sighed. But among them was one who was unwilling to give up. He gritted his teeth and charged forward, following the figures of the others. For people like him, curiosity... outweighed everything!

Others were terrified by the story and left at once.

Su Qianqian sat inside the Divine Wood Carriage, her gaze piercing through the window curtain. Listening to the crowd’s discussion, she thought to herself, ’Was that destructive calamity really his doing? If it was, then I have nothing to worry about.’

Su Qingyi stood outside, a complex light in her eyes. ”Let’s go back,” she said softly. ”We’re not needed here anymore.”

Su Qianqian said stubbornly, ”I want to see for myself that he’s safe!”

”If a calamity like that one happens again...” Su Qingyi didn’t finish her sentence. Just moments ago, high in the sky, the shockwave from that cataclysm had brushed past them, drenching them in a cold sweat.

They had watched with their own eyes as thousands of Divine Power Realm experts—many of whom they knew, or were at least familiar with—were turned to ash in an instant, vanishing from the world. It would be impossible to say they felt no fear at all.

Otherwise, so many people wouldn’t have stopped here, unwilling to advance.

”Then let’s fall back fifteen hundred miles,” Su Qianqian’s voice drifted out from the carriage. ”No matter what, I will have confirmation of his safety!”

”If he emerges from this battle unharmed, then I believe you will be safe as well.” A smile suddenly broke across Su Qingyi’s solemn face, as if she’d had an epiphany.

”I... I wasn’t thinking about myself,” Su Qianqian said quietly.

Song Chengfeng and Chu Xiaoya stood still in the void, hidden from sight. Almost no one had noticed the couple’s presence.

The two watched the hesitating Divine Power Realm experts with cold eyes. Chu Xiaoya sent a voice transmission, asking, ”Should we take care of this group, too?”

Song Chengfeng shook his head slightly. He looked at his wife with affection and chuckled, ”For the sake of that little brother of yours, you’re becoming more of a Demon King than I am!”

”He gave me a second life and restored my appearance. Before we could even repay one percent of that debt, he gave us this enormous opportunity. Chengfeng, tell me... isn’t he the greatest benefactor of our lives?” the peerlessly beautiful Chu Xiaoya said softly. ”So if anyone dares to bully him, I will stand in his way, even if it means death. If someone has to die... it will be me first!”

Song Chengfeng smiled faintly. His gaze was profound and far-reaching, as if it could pierce through the void itself. ”This group has already lost their courage to advance,” he said softly. ”Even if they make it back alive, they’ll likely never make any progress in this lifetime. People like that... what’s the point in killing them?”

Chu Xiaoya nodded. ”You’re right. If we’re going to kill someone, let’s go kill those reckless failures who don’t know what’s good for them!”

Song Chengfeng burst out laughing. ”My wife is the one who knows me best!”

With that said, the two of them transformed into streaks of light, shooting through the void and straight toward the direction from which the monstrously terrifying aura was emanating.