Firmament Sword

As Xu Luo spoke, he glanced at the extinguished Everlasting Lamp on the wall. A large amount of Power of Origin remained within it—a power from the very same source as the energy in his own body. For that reason, it was an immense temptation.

No wonder the Kunpeng’s Divine Thought had assumed Xu Luo was after this Power of Origin. Anyone else would likely have thought the same.

With a wave of his hand, the Everlasting Lamp on the wall appeared in his grasp. He murmured softly, ”Cyan Dragon… this is all the Power of Origin extracted from your body. I’ll keep it safe for you for now. When I find the rest of your true form, I’ll use this energy to resurrect you!”

With that, Xu Luo took a deep breath and stored the Power of Origin away.

Monkey looked at Xu Luo with a hint of respect.

Xu Luo turned, saw Monkey’s expression, and chuckled. ”What? Are you moved?”

Monkey pursed his lips but still nodded in acknowledgment. ”You really are a good person!”

’A good person…’ Xu Luo gave a wry smile. ”I don’t know if I’d really call myself a good person.”

With that, Xu Luo and Monkey left the treasury, leaving most of the treasures behind—including the Chaos Heaven Armor that Monkey had been fixated on.

They had a new problem to consider now. Since something related to the Kunpeng had appeared in this treasury, the nature of the situation had changed completely.

Even if the Infinite Saint Emperor had a moment of madness and decided to let them go, the Kunpeng… certainly wouldn’t.

Therefore, Xu Luo and Monkey decided not to touch anything that could be instantly recognized as coming from this treasury, at least for now.

As for those Top-level Immortal Spirit Stones, it didn’t matter. Once they were used, they were gone. Even if others grew suspicious, they couldn’t produce any evidence.

Xu Luo and Monkey had just exited the world within the Bronze Divine Hall when he suddenly felt someone summoning him from inside the Divine Hall World.

After a quick word with Monkey, Xu Luo immediately returned to the Divine Hall World. He went to Su Qianqian’s home, only to find her sitting on a swing outside the house with a dazed expression, her lips pursed as if deep in thought.

”Qianqian… what’s wrong?” Xu Luo asked, a little cautiously.

He had a feeling Su Qianqian was different than before.

A person’s disposition could change, and when it happened between two people who knew each other well, it was easy for one to notice.

And that’s exactly what was happening to Xu Luo; he could feel that Su Qianqian’s entire aura had changed drastically.

It was a bit… like the feeling she gave off before she was possessed.

But it wasn’t exactly the same… That was why Xu Luo was being so cautious, testing the waters.

Su Qianqian turned her face, her pair of exquisite eyes gazing at Xu Luo, and suddenly asked, ”Brother Xu Luo, who am I, really?”

”…” Xu Luo frowned slightly. He looked at Su Qianqian and asked in a gentle voice, ”Why would you ask that?”

Su Qianqian tilted her head thoughtfully. ”I had a dream. I dreamed that I… was a powerful Fire Dragon, soaring through the nine heavens. With a single flap of my wings, I could fly for thousands of miles! The feeling… was so real, and so freeing! But after I woke up, my intuition told me that wasn’t me! That the dragon was a bad guy! So… I’m a little lost. Xu Luo, can you tell me what’s going on?”

Xu Luo took a deep breath, thinking, ’It seems that Ancient Fire Dragon is unwilling to remain sealed. It’s trying every trick in the book to mislead Qianqian, even using dreams to influence her and make her believe she *is* the Fire Dragon.’

’If this method works, Su Qianqian will instinctively believe she *is* that Fire Dragon! When that happens… even if I manage to get the Soul Scripture, I’m afraid it will be too late.’

”Qianqian… listen to me.” Xu Luo walked over and squatted in front of her. He took her cool little hands in his, looked up at her, and said in a soft, gentle voice, ”You are Su Qianqian. You’re not some Fire Dragon. You can fly on your own, without wings, and soar freely through the nine heavens just the same!”

”Really? The dreams Qianqian had were so chaotic… Brother Xu Luo was there, too. For some reason, in all of Qianqian’s memories, I only remember Brother Xu Luo. I’ve forgotten everyone else.” Su Qianqian leaned over and rested her head on Xu Luo’s shoulder, her voice frail. ”When I woke up, I couldn’t remember anything from the dream, but the feeling… it was so sad, so heartbreaking!”

”Don’t be sad, Qianqian. I’ll come and spend time with you whenever I can. And… I’ll find the Soul Scripture as quickly as possible to help you get your memory back!” Xu Luo said.

”Mhm, you’re the best, Brother!” A smile appeared on Su Qianqian’s devastatingly beautiful face.

…

…

Xu Luo and Monkey walked down the main street of an ancient city. The blazing sun hung high in the sky, making them feel a little lethargic.

Master Mao had snuck into Xu Luo’s pocket to slack off. Xiaojin was coiled around Monkey’s iron staff, also looking drowsy.

The street was bustling with a lively crowd.

The calls of vendors echoed from all sides, giving Xu Luo the illusion that this place was no different from the streets of the Cangqiong Imperial Capital.

For a moment, he found himself lost in his memories.

Just then, a sudden cry of alarm came from the distance, mixed with the sound of wailing.

”Get out of the way!”

”Lowlifes, hurry up and get out of the way!”

”You’re in the young master’s way! Watch out, or we’ll run you down!”

A series of shouts thundered from the distance, booming and echoing.

Xu Luo frowned slightly and looked into the distance, only to see a vehicle pulled by two ink-black, scale-covered leopards, speeding towards them from afar.

The two leopards were ferocious, baring their fangs and letting out low, threatening growls. Their eyes gleamed menacingly, and their bodies emanated incredibly powerful fluctuations.

Holy Beasts!

These two ink-colored, scale-covered leopards were actually two Holy Beasts!

Their qi and blood surged with power, marking them instantly as two Holy Beasts with incredibly strong bloodlines. Yet, here they were, willingly pulling a carriage.

The carriage behind them was pure white, as if carved from white jade. It emanated waves of cold air. Looking closely, the entire vehicle was seamless, without a single crack!

Monkey’s eyes went wide. He exclaimed, ”Top-level Immortal Cold Jade… Who the hell is this person? Damn it… isn’t this just too extravagant?”

Xu Luo asked from the side, ”What’s Immortal Cold Jade?”

Monkey exclaimed in amazement, ”It’s a treasure two grades higher than Immortal Spirit Stones! It contains a huge amount of Immortal Spirit Qi. Immortal Jade is already above Immortal Spirit Stones, and Immortal Cold Jade… is even rarer! If an ordinary Cultivator had even a single piece, they’d treat it as a priceless treasure, an heirloom! This guy… actually used such a huge piece of Immortal Cold Jade… to carve a carriage!”

”What a powerful icy aura!” Master Mao popped his head out of Xu Luo’s pocket, watching with an amazed expression.

At this moment, the carriage carved from Immortal Cold Jade, pulled by the two Pure-blooded Ink Leopard Holy Beasts, had drawn near, hovering about three feet off the ground as it sped forward. The pedestrians on the street scattered in panic.

An elderly man, too slow to dodge, was about to be hit by the two Pure-blooded Ink Leopard Holy Beasts…

Xu Luo’s gaze turned cold. Just as he was about to act, he saw Hao Nu, the driver, raise his whip and lash it viciously toward the old man.

CRACK!

The whip, made of some unknown material, let out a sharp report in the air. Its tip struck the old man directly, sending him flying to the side. He collapsed on the ground, unable to get up.

”You old coot, didn’t you see where you were going? Getting in the Young Master’s way… can you afford the consequences?”

Hao Nu cursed, his eyes glinting with spiritual light. He swept a cold gaze across the surroundings and roared, ”What are you looking at? All of you, scram!”

Xu Luo took a deep breath. Monkey suddenly grabbed him and whispered, ”Don’t cause trouble. The people in that carriage have a huge background!”

Just then, the carriage sped past Xu Luo and Monkey. The curtain on the window was lifted by the wind, revealing a handsome and elegant man inside. Beside the man sat a long-haired woman wearing a veil. Her figure was graceful, and though it was just a fleeting glimpse, it was stunning enough to take one’s breath away.

”Hm?”

A surprised sound came from the woman in the carriage.

Immediately, the carriage carved from Immortal Cold Jade came to a sudden halt up ahead. Despite its incredible speed, it stopped abruptly without the slightest shudder from either the two Ink Leopards or the Immortal Cold Jade vehicle itself.

Then, the man in the carriage seemed to give some instructions to Hao Nu.

Hao Nu immediately stood up, his eyes glittering with spiritual light as he looked in Xu Luo and Monkey’s direction. He then rose into the air and strode through the void, stopping directly above them and looking down.

Xu Luo frowned slightly but said nothing.

Monkey was hot-tempered. It was remarkable that he had managed to restrain Xu Luo earlier. Now, seeing a mere servant standing condescendingly above his head, he instantly became furious.

Before Monkey could speak, Hao Nu looked coldly at Xu Luo and said, ”Our Young Miss has taken a liking to that cat in your pocket. Name a price. I’ll buy it.”

’The cat? You’ll buy it?’ Xu Luo was furious inside, but his expression grew calmer. He raised his head, looked at Hao Nu in mid-air, and said flatly, ”Not for sale!”

”I tried to be polite, but you insist on being shameless!” This Hao Nu looked to be in his thirties, dressed in a long brown robe, and exuded a terrifying aura. He looked coldly at Xu Luo. ”Do you dare say that again?”

The bustling street was now dead silent. Everyone was looking at Xu Luo with worried expressions.

Someone nearby advised in a low voice, ”Young man, just sell it. It’s just a cat. There’s no benefit in offending people you shouldn’t offend!”

Xu Luo looked at the man in the air and suddenly smiled. ”I said it’s not for sale. Are you going to try and take it by force?”

”We of the Piaomiao Palace always do things fairly. Young man, don’t think you can be so arrogant just because you have a bit of cultivation. You’re just a frog in a well!” Hao Nu looked coldly at Xu Luo and said flatly, ”Today, whether you want to sell it or not… you will sell it!”

”Or else what?” Xu Luo said with a smile on his face, looking up at Hao Nu in mid-air.