Firmament Sword

Not long after, all sorts of news began to spread throughout Baihua City!

”A powerful expert of unknown identity forced their way into the Peony Pavilion Inn, most likely searching for a target, but never came back out!”

”An unknown expert barged in, searched room by room, and after entering the rear courtyard... was never seen again!”

”The owner of the Nether Flower Seed has likely been alerted...”

All kinds of news reached the ears of interested parties. Everyone chose to wait and see what would happen. After all, as long as the two targets had not yet appeared, there was no need for them to make a move.

Even now, the people watching the Peony Pavilion Inn still didn’t know that one of the targets they were responsible for monitoring had already left quietly several days ago.

However, that ”reckless fool’s” intrusion had made this group of observers a bit more wary of their targets.

At the same time, they all mulled over the same thought: ’To be able to produce a Nether Flower Seed... they’re clearly no ordinary person!’

In the room, the old woman who had previously been with Xie Yudie appeared silently before Xu Luo, her gaze icy as she looked at him.

”The mistress heard you were attacked and sent this old servant to check on you.” As the old woman spoke, the expression on her face didn’t change in the slightest; it seemed as if not a single muscle twitched.

Xu Luo said flatly, ”It’s over.”

”And the attacker?” the old woman asked, glancing at Xu Luo.

”They ran.” Facing this frigid old woman, Xu Luo wasn’t in the mood for conversation. Besides, he always felt that this crone seemed to have a big problem with him.

Since she clearly disliked him, Xu Luo wasn’t about to kiss up to her.

The old woman gave Xu Luo a suspicious look, then closed her eyes to sense the aura in the room. But she couldn’t find a single valuable clue. With a cold snort, she turned and left.

After the old woman left, Xu Luo turned and entered the Bronze Divine Hall World. Master Mao and Xiaojin were both staying with Qianqian, so at least she would have some company.

Upon entering, Su Qianqian saw Xu Luo and hesitated. She didn’t rush into his arms and affectionately call him ”Brother Xu Luo” like she always did.

Master Mao sent a telepathic message to Xu Luo: ”Xu Luo, her condition... isn’t good.”

”Tell me.” Xu Luo’s expression grew solemn.

Master Mao said directly, ”Her consciousness... seems to have fully awakened!”

”What?” Xu Luo almost cried out. Then, he sent back a telepathic message, chiding with a laugh, ”Her consciousness awakening... is a wonderful thing! You rascal... and you’re telling me her condition isn’t good?”

”Sigh... Just see for yourself.” Master Mao grumbled something dejectedly and turned to leave.

The corner of Xu Luo’s mouth twitched. He walked over to Su Qianqian and pretended that nothing was wrong. ”Qianqian, aren’t you happy to see your brother?”

”Of course... I’m happy.” The Su Qianqian before him was indeed like a completely different person. She seemed very unnatural when facing Xu Luo.

”This... is your world?” A complex, indescribable light flickered in Su Qianqian’s eyes as she gazed at Xu Luo. ”For my sake... you’ve done so much, Xu Luo... It’s been hard on you.”

”What did that cat tell you?” Xu Luo sighed softly and casually sat down in a chair.

”He didn’t tell me anything. I saw it myself!” Su Qianqian gave Xu Luo a small smile and said, ”Ever since my Divine Soul was damaged and the Ancient Fire Dragon occupied my body, everything that happened has been like a dream to me...”

”But this dream was too real. I was like a spectator, unable to stop anything, unable to object, unable to voice any opinion. I could only stand by... and watch coldly.”

”Watching my consciousness get devoured bit by bit, watching the ’me’ in the dream... become so naive, always clinging to you, calling you Brother...”

”Watching you rack your brains for me, doing everything you could, even... when you entered the Divine Domain, you only brought me with you!”

A faint smile touched Su Qianqian’s lips as she looked at Xu Luo with tender eyes. ”It’s been hard on you!”

As she spoke, two streams of clear tears flowed down her cheeks. She slowly stood up, walked over to Xu Luo, then... turned sideways and sat in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Pressing her cheek against his, Su Qianqian let out a sigh of contentment and joy. ”It feels... so good to be awake! In the dream, watching you do so many things for me, I’ve long wanted to sit in your lap and hold you just like this!”

Xu Luo reached out and wrapped his arm around Su Qianqian’s soft, slender waist, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

It felt as though... this fairy-like woman could leave him at any moment!

”Qianqian...” he called out softly.

”Don’t talk... Just like this, let me lean on you quietly for a little while... okay?” Su Qianqian said, as if talking in her sleep.

Before Xu Luo could speak, he suddenly noticed that Su Qianqian’s full head of beautiful black hair was, at a speed visible to the naked eye... turning red!

”Qianqian!” Xu Luo was horrified.

But Su Qianqian held onto Xu Luo tightly, murmuring, ”Don’t... don’t push me away, Xu Luo... I love you! Right now it’s me, but in a moment... it might not be! Sob... I don’t know... when I’ll ever be able to sit in your lap like this again... holding you, and being held by you!”

Tear after tear, carrying a desolate aura, fell on Xu Luo’s shoulder, soaking through his clothes and spreading across his skin, chillingly cold.

”Qianqian... listen to me, you absolutely cannot give up!” Xu Luo hugged Su Qianqian’s slender waist forcefully and said in a deep voice, ”Do you hear me? You absolutely cannot give up! Because you are Su Qianqian! The proud Su Qianqian! You cannot give up!”

”I don’t want to either...” Su Qianqian said softly. ”If I give up, all your previous efforts, everything you’ve done for me, will all go to waste. So... Qianqian won’t give up, but... but it’s really hard... it’s really, really... hard!”

Xu Luo reached out, turned Su Qianqian’s delicate and beautiful face toward him, gazed at her, and then lowered his head and kissed her.

”Mmph...”

Su Qianqian’s body stiffened slightly, her pair of stunningly beautiful eyes widening in an instant. Then, her eyes closed gently, leaving only her long eyelashes fluttering softly. The arms wrapped around Xu Luo’s neck gradually tightened their grip.

After a long time, Su Qianqian finally pulled back, gasping for breath. She rested against Xu Luo’s chest and murmured, ”This is the feeling... I’ve been waiting for so long.”

With that, Su Qianqian suddenly raised her head and gave Xu Luo a sweet smile. ”Now... seal me!”

Xu Luo’s heart ached as if it were being squeezed, but a gentle smile appeared on his face. He nodded and said, ”Alright!”

”Qianqian is going to dream again... I hope this dream won’t be too long!”

”It definitely won’t be!” Xu Luo said with a serious and incomparably determined expression.

Immediately, Xu Luo took out a large quantity of Top-level Immortal Spirit Stones. Using the laws of the Bronze Divine Hall World, he completely melted these top-tier stones and reshaped them... Finally, a coffin made of Top-level Immortal Spirit Stones appeared before him!

The coffin was crystal clear and radiated a powerful aura of energy. The surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi instantly became denser!

Master Mao and Xiaojin stood in the distance, watching silently.

Xiaojin said, ”Human emotions... are so complicated. It’s hard for a cold-blooded animal to understand, but why do I feel a sting in the corner of my eyes?”

”Dames... what’s so great about them?” Master Mao turned his head away haughtily, but a single tear fell from the corner of his eye.

Xu Luo gently placed Su Qianqian inside the coffin of Top-level Immortal Spirit Stones. Then, he closed the lid and murmured, ”Qianqian... you must stay strong. Wait for me. No matter what, I will make you stand before me, happy and carefree, just like before!”

Then, Xu Luo began to form various hand seals, completely sealing the coffin made of Top-level Immortal Spirit Stones!

Using the laws of the Bronze Divine Hall World, he directly suppressed the coffin. No matter how powerful that Ancient Fire Dragon was, it would be impossible for it to completely devour Su Qianqian’s consciousness and then break the seal.

At the very least, as long as Xu Luo did not die... as long as the Bronze Divine Hall World did not perish, the Ancient Fire Dragon... could forget about completely occupying Su Qianqian’s body!

After finishing all this, Xu Luo felt his state of mind ascend to a new level. In that same instant, his power directly broke through to a higher realm.

The Shadow Shaking Heart Method began to circulate automatically. Within a few cycles, Xu Luo’s power broke through directly to the High Tier Saint Realm!

Then, Xu Luo slowly opened his eyes. There was no joy in them. On the contrary, an icy light flickered within, overflowing with killing intent!

Xu Luo left the Bronze Divine Hall World and returned to the inn. Calculating the time, exactly ten days had passed since the auction!

Not long after Xu Luo appeared, the old woman from Xie Yudie’s side appeared before him again. She said flatly, ”Everything has been arranged. This way, please!”

Xu Luo nodded without a word and gestured for the old woman to lead the way.

A flash of anger crossed the old woman’s eyes. ’What an arrogant little thing!’ she thought.

But in the next moment, a look of horror appeared in her eyes, because she could feel an unfathomably deep aura coming from this black-robed man!

It was completely different from the aura she had sensed from him just a few days ago!

’Could it be... that there’s really someone in this world who can break through several minor realms in just a few short days?’

’That’s impossible!’

The old woman’s mind was in turmoil. In that moment, her attitude toward Xu Luo changed drastically.

Just as the old woman was leading Xu Luo away through an underground tunnel, a dozen or so people dressed in black robes, with figures almost identical to Xu Luo’s transformed shape, walked out of the Peony Pavilion. They sauntered leisurely... toward the Celestial Brilliance Bank in Baihua City!

”Damn it! This guy is too cunning! It’s impossible to tell which one is the real one!” The people responsible for watching from the outside were instantly thrown into a panic.

Xu Luo followed the old woman out from behind a shop in a bustling market district. Not far ahead was the Celestial Brilliance Bank.

At that moment, Xu Luo saw a large number of black-robed figures rushing toward the Celestial Brilliance Bank from all directions!

Every single one of them had a figure that looked exactly like his current appearance. Even he would have a hard time telling the real from the fake!

Just then, a voice suddenly caught Xu Luo’s attention.

”Everything I’m telling you is true!”

”My Su Family may not be a major clan in the Divine Domain, but we are still reputable! This old man ascended from the Lower Realm and experienced this firsthand. Why would I lie about it?”

”Beidou’s Eighth Star has been reincarnated! Whoever can capture him and refine him will be able to step from the Great Saint realm into the Supreme realm!”

The voice was somewhat old, and it sounded... very familiar.

The Su Family Ancestor!

Thinking of the Qianqian he had personally sealed in the coffin of Top-level Immortal Spirit Stones, a torrent of rage surged through Xu Luo’s heart.

Glancing at the old woman, Xu Luo said flatly, ”Wait here. I have to take care of something. I’ll be right back.”