Firmament Sword

In the stands filled with millions, and before the Crystal panels scattered across Celestial Brilliance, everyone erupted into a frenzy of cheers at the Referee’s announcement.

The sound waves shook the heavens!

In that instant, all of Celestial Brilliance... erupted!

Tang Xiao scratched his head, a faint hint of disappointment finally flashing in his eyes.

No matter how mentally tough he was, it was impossible not to feel a sense of loss at this moment.

The earth-shattering cheers weren’t for him, but for the man standing before him.

’In the end... I was just the supporting act.’

’I thought... I actually thought... I’d have a chance to be the star for once.’

A wry smile appeared on Tang Xiao’s face, but he graciously clasped his hands toward Xu Luo. ”Congratulations, Senior Brother Luo, on becoming the champion of the Annual Competition!”

Xu Luo smiled faintly and looked at Tang Xiao. ”If you had mastered just a few more verses from your ancient scripture, you would have been the one to win today!”

”I know you’re just comforting me, but thank you anyway!” A smile touched Tang Xiao’s lips. ”Perhaps it won’t be long before I join Senior Brother Luo on a mission. When that time comes, I hope Senior Brother Luo will look out for me!”

”Don’t worry!” Xu Luo understood what Tang Xiao meant and nodded. Then, watching as Tang Xiao prepared to leave, he said, ”Go on, wave to the audience. Today... you were by no means just a supporting act!”

Tang Xiao trembled slightly and stopped in his tracks. He raised an eyebrow, then finally broke into a happy smile. He turned to the stands and gave a small wave.

BOOM!

From all corners of the stands, a wave of fervent cheers erupted. The shouts of millions were enough to shake the very heavens.

Tang Xiao had only been testing the waters. Although he had performed well today and used his ultimate trump card, he knew full well that cheers were always reserved for the victor!

No matter how well he had fought, he was still the loser, the defeated one.

Therefore, he had never dared to hope for applause or cheers directed at him.

In fact, it wasn’t just those at the arena. Across the rest of Celestial Brilliance, all the Celestial Brilliance People watching the battle before their Crystal panels also gave him their applause and cheers the moment Tang Xiao waved.

To them, today’s championship match... had no loser!

Tang Xiao had displayed a combat power that surpassed his realm; he deserved the applause and cheers!

Tang Xiao clasped his hands and bowed to the surrounding stands, his eyes growing a little misty.

”Tang Xiao!”

”Tang Xiao!”

”You were amazing, Tang Xiao!”

”You didn’t lose, Tang Xiao!”

From the stands came shouts of encouragement, support, and consolation.

A joyful smile bloomed on Tang Xiao’s face. He bowed to the crowd, then... ceded the stage to Xu Luo, thinking to himself: ’Luo Tian... *he’s* the natural-born leader! Compared to him, Jin Ming is just... too weak!’

Standing in the center of the ring, Xu Luo couldn’t help but feel his own heart surge. He took a deep breath, then extended his index finger, his arm moving forward, slowly... pointing to the sky!

BOOM!

That single gesture instantly set the surrounding stands ablaze!

In that instant, the cheers that erupted from the millions in the stands drowned out all other sounds, reaching the point of deafening silence.

Across the entire world... there was only the frenzied roar of the crowd and... the stirring of hot blood!

Even many of the older generation from Celestial Brilliance couldn’t contain their surging emotions. They recalled their own youthful days, and their eyes couldn’t help but grow moist.

To be young... it’s a wonderful thing!

Throughout Celestial Brilliance, the cheers merged into one, all of them for the figure at the center of the ring.

At this moment, he was a god!

These weren’t ordinary people cheering. They were all top geniuses from all over Xi Hezhou, each possessing a level of strength unimaginable to the common person.

The spiritual resonance they produced converged into a great torrent, flowing into and empowering Xu Luo.

This was a miraculous power!

This power was called faith!

At this moment, even Xiahou Kaiyuan was visibly moved, murmuring, ”This... is truly what everyone hoped for!”

In his younger years, he too had once ignited the crowd’s emotions like this, and he too had received that same indescribable, miraculous power.

Now, watching that slender figure standing in the center of the ring and accepting this power, Xiahou Kaiyuan was filled with a flood of emotions.

Jiang Botao, standing beside him, said softly, ”Another cycle begins!”

”Yes, another cycle. Let’s hope this one will be even better!” Xiahou Kaiyuan said.

The cheers continued for a long time before gradually subsiding.

Xiahou Kaiyuan and a group of Celestial Brilliance Elders emerged from a passageway. Several exceptionally beautiful female disciples of Celestial Brilliance stood to the side, holding the champion’s rewards.

At this moment, even Tang Xiao couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy. He whispered to Xu Luo, ”Senior Brother Luo, did you know? Your reward this time... is very likely an ancient scripture!”

”Oh?” Xu Luo glanced at Tang Xiao in surprise.

Tang Xiao said, ”To be honest with you, my Great Wilderness Scripture was the reward my master received when he became the Annual Competition champion back in his day!”

Xu Luo couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath, looking at Tang Xiao in disbelief.

Xu Luo had the most direct experience of just how powerful this ancient scripture was.

If not for the Soul Scripture Stele and an unparalleled treasure like the Bronze Divine Hall to suppress it, he might have been truly helpless against the Great Wilderness Scripture.

This tattered ancient scripture was simply too powerful!

’If I could also obtain an ancient scripture like that, my arsenal of attacks would surely become much more varied, and my combat power would increase dramatically.’

Xu Luo hadn’t thought about the champion’s prize at all before, but now that Tang Xiao mentioned it, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of anticipation.

Still, he found it hard to believe. He looked at Tang Xiao and asked softly, ”The Celestial Brilliance Annual Competition happens every year. If the champion’s prize is of this caliber every time, even Celestial Brilliance wouldn’t have enough treasures to give away!”

”What are you thinking? How could the prize be at this level every year? Celestial Brilliance has the Artifact Refining Pavilion and the Medicine Garden. The top-tier magical artifacts and Elixirs they produce are all priceless!”

”To someone who can comprehend it, an ancient scripture like this is a priceless treasure of inestimable value. But to someone who can’t, it’s just a worthless, tattered book!”

Tang Xiao watched the group of people approaching and said in a low voice, ”Since you can even comprehend the Soul Scripture, is there any scripture in this world... that you *can’t* comprehend? That’s why... I’m guessing your prize is definitely an ancient scripture!”

Just then, Xiahou Kaiyuan and the others walked over. The group of powerful figures exuded an intense aura.

As they drew near, Xu Luo and Tang Xiao both bowed in salute.

The group of dignitaries looked the two young men up and down, their gazes growing more and more pleased.

Yuwen ji was also by Xiahou Kaiyuan’s side, grinning from ear to ear.

”Luo Tian, Tang Xiao, you are both geniuses of Celestial Brilliance’s younger generation. It is because of people like you that Celestial Brilliance has a future!”

Xiahou Kaiyuan did not hold back his praise for the two young men.

Xu Luo and Tang Xiao smiled. Xu Luo replied humbly, ”All of Celestial Brilliance’s young disciples are geniuses!”

”There’s no need to be modest. You’ve earned this praise!” Jiang Botao added from the side.

”Alright, now it is time to present the awards... to the champion and runner-up of our Annual Competition!”

Lv Di’s master, Celestial Brilliance Elder Feng Venerable, said with a smile as he looked at Xu Luo and Tang Xiao.

Tang Xiao’s prize was awarded first. It was a bottle of superior-grade Elixirs. Although not as miraculous as the Heaven-Defying Life-Seizing Creation Pill, it was still a top-tier Spirit Pill capable of bringing the dead back to life. In addition to the Elixirs, there was also a Long Sword.

The sword was three feet long with a simple, ancient design. The moment it was slightly unsheathed, a chilling aura washed over them.

”A fine sword!” Tang Xiao exclaimed in delight.

It was indeed a fine sword, and it looked quite ancient.

Jiang Botao laughed at his side. ”You’re a lucky kid. This sword was once the weapon of the second-generation ancestor. Though it’s not famous, this sword... bore witness to the entirety of the second-generation ancestor’s legendary life! The Sword Spirit has already gained Spiritual Wisdom. We consulted it beforehand, and since it was not averse to you, it has become your prize!”

Tang Xiao’s face lit up with surprise, and he bowed repeatedly. ”Thank you, Sect Leader! Thank you, Master! Thank you, Seniors, for this honor!”

Then, Xiahou Kaiyuan turned to Xu Luo and said gently, ”Luo Tian, congratulations on becoming this year’s Annual Competition champion!”

Xu Luo clasped his hands and gave a slight bow.

”Alright, enough with the pleasantries. Let’s see if you like the prize we’ve prepared for you.” As Xiahou Kaiyuan spoke, he lifted the red cloth from the tray held by a ceremonial disciple and picked up an extremely ancient book.

Xu Luo saw clearly that when the high-ranking, powerful figures beside the Sect Leader saw this ancient book, they all... swallowed hard in unison!

These powerful figures, who normally wouldn’t bat an eye if a mountain collapsed before them, were now like a group of children, staring unblinkingly at the ancient book in the Sect Leader’s hands, their eyes filled with yearning!

”This... is an ancient scripture,” Xiahou Kaiyuan said, looking at Xu Luo. ”It was discovered and brought back along with the one Tang Xiao now holds. Over the many years, this ancient scripture has changed hands several times, but regrettably, no one has ever been able to comprehend it.”

”Since you were able to comprehend the Soul Scripture and even subdue the Soul Scripture Stele, we estimate you might be able to comprehend this ancient scripture as well.”

Xu Luo was overjoyed. After witnessing the power of Tang Xiao’s ancient scripture, he was filled with anticipation for this one, which came from the same source.

”Don’t get too happy just yet. Whether this ancient scripture will truly belong to you depends on your own fortune,” Xiahou Kaiyuan said, looking at Xu Luo seriously. ”You have a hundred-year limit. If you can comprehend this ancient scripture within one hundred years, then... it is yours! If you cannot comprehend it within that time, then... after a hundred years, you must return it to the Scripture Pavilion!”

Xu Luo naturally had no objection to this condition and immediately nodded in agreement.

Xiahou Kaiyuan placed the ancient scripture in Xu Luo’s hands. As Xu Luo took it, he found it was incredibly heavy. If he hadn’t braced himself, he might have embarrassed himself!

Looking at the smiling Xiahou Kaiyuan, Xu Luo couldn’t help but curse inwardly: ’So devious!’

He then looked down at the ancient scripture in his hands. Judging by its weight, it didn’t feel like a book at all.

It was more like a small mountain!