Firmament Sword

”What a huge city! It’s even bigger than the great cities of Celestial Brilliance!” Shao Zheng exclaimed in awe. He then took the lead, running toward the massive city.

The others’ faces also lit up with excitement. Even if this city wasn’t as massive as the ones within Celestial Brilliance, it was still a novel sight.

Just then, a rumbling sound echoed from the distance. A convoy on horseback came speeding along the main road from behind.

Shouts echoed from afar: ”Get out of the way! Make way!”

”Are you blind or deaf? Scram and get to the side!”

”Hey, you little bastard! I’m talking to you! You hear me?!”

Xu Luo’s party was composed of top-tier young experts. They had heard the commotion from behind long ago and had already moved to the side. Only Shao Zheng, who had run ahead in his excitement, was a bit farther out, though he wasn’t blocking the center of the road.

Yet the other party was so aggressive and arrogant. The expressions on the faces of Xu Luo’s group shifted slightly.

But they immediately recalled Elder Jiang Botao’s instructions, so no one said a word.

Shao Zheng sheepishly ducked to the side of the road. No matter how powerful or advanced these genius Heavenly Brilliance Disciples were, they were ultimately just a group of young people who hadn’t seen much of the wider world.

Faced with such provocation, they were angry, but more than that, they were determined to stick to their mission and avoid trouble.

Xu Luo raised an eyebrow, glanced at the rapidly approaching convoy, and narrowed his eyes slightly.

The carriages in this convoy were all being pulled by Quasi-Saint Beast Level Dragon Horses. Dragon Horses were proud by nature and notoriously difficult for humans to tame. This was especially true for those at the Quasi-Saint Beast level, which possessed independent thought. Many were even as intelligent as humans!

To be able to use a large group of Dragon Horses to pull carriages was clearly something no ordinary family could accomplish.

Then, on one of the carriages, Xu Luo saw a simple, archaic character: ”Jin.”

The others also saw the character, and their faces all stiffened slightly.

The Jin Family!

Throughout all of Xi Hezhou, only the Jin Family could display such might.

And the Jin Family... was an extremely sensitive subject for the Heavenly Brilliance Disciples.

Because a scion of the Jin Family, Jin Ming, had once been the Senior Brother of Celestial Brilliance’s younger generation!

Although he had been expelled from Celestial Brilliance a while ago, the prestige Jin Ming had built over many years as the Senior Brother had long been etched into the hearts of the other Heavenly Brilliance Disciples. It was not something that could be erased overnight.

Their feelings grew complicated at the sudden sight of the Jin Family’s convoy.

Likewise, those in the convoy had also noticed the group on the roadside.

The arrogant retainers driving the carriages were haughty and condescending, paying no mind to the group of youths on the roadside.

Shouting and cursing, they sped past as swiftly as the wind.

However, someone in a carriage in the middle of the procession seemed to sense something. They pulled back the curtain and glanced at the group on the roadside.

A moment later, both sides froze.

Jin Ming!

The person inside the carriage was none other than Jin Ming, the outcast of Celestial Brilliance!

Inside the carriage, Jin Ming’s face was somewhat pale. His eyes were deep and profound, and he seemed to have become much more stoic.

The instant he saw Xu Luo and the others, a light filled with hatred flashed in Jin Ming’s eyes as he stared coldly at them.

Then... the Dragon Horses sped past.

Neither side reacted further.

It wasn’t until the convoy of Dragon Horses entered Qingchuan Ancient City that the group of Heavenly Brilliance Disciples came back to their senses.

Ming Youyue whispered, ”His gaze... It was so cold, so terrifying!”

”’He’s unrepentant. Sooner or later, his own jealousy will be his undoing!” Yu Tianying commented coldly.

As a young master from one of Celestial Brilliance’s Heritage Clans, he had a natural animosity toward anyone who stood against them.

Zhong Jiuyan commented apathetically, ”That man is consumed by his inner demons. Now that he’s left Celestial Brilliance, he is no longer our Senior Brother.”

Tang Xiao said, ”Did anyone else feel like he was about to attack us just now?”

”’Yeah, yeah! I felt that too! I was already getting my Elixirs ready to greet him with!” Shao Zheng said. He was still fuming from being yelled at earlier. Only now did he come to his senses. ’Why was I afraid of them? What reason did I have to be?’”

Lv Di added coolly, ”If he really wants to fight, then there’s nothing more to be said. He’s an enemy.”

As he spoke, everyone turned to look at Xu Luo. After all, Jin Ming’s expulsion from Celestial Brilliance was because of Xu Luo, and the animosity between them ran exceptionally deep.

Xu Luo just smiled. ”So we ran into him. We were bound to cross paths... sooner or later. It’s no big deal. Come on, let’s go get a drink in the city. It’s on me!”

”Woohoo!” Shao Zheng cheered. ”Our Captain is the best!”

He was still a boy, after all; his moods came and went quickly. At the mention of someone treating them to drinks, he instantly forgot all about the earlier unpleasantness.

But Ming Youyue and the others felt a faint shadow fall over their hearts.

In that fleeting moment, though Jin Ming had done nothing, the bone-deep hatred in his eyes had left a lasting impression on all of them.

For someone with Jin Ming’s temperament, being expelled from Celestial Brilliance was the greatest setback of his life—an utter and absolute humiliation.

How could he possibly let such a grudge go?

However, as the strongest of Celestial Brilliance’s younger generation, they weren’t truly afraid. It was just... their past connection made things feel awkward.

But if Jin Ming truly disregarded their past fellowship and decided to act against them, they would naturally not show any mercy.

The group made their way directly to the busiest street in the city.

The street was teeming with people, and the shouts of various merchants filled the air. Men and women, young and old, crowded the thoroughfare.

Some people walked hurriedly, some ambled carelessly; some wore worried frowns, while others had beaming smiles.

This was the mortal world. All the different facets of life could be seen right here in this city.

Walking among the crowd, Xu Luo felt a surge of emotion. ’How many years has it been since I’ve seen a scene like this?’

’Back then, when my four brothers and I were in the Imperial Capital, a scene like this was a daily occurrence.’

’Back then, I was still called a good-for-nothing who couldn’t cultivate. The shame of it... tormented me constantly. But looking back on it today, all that unhappiness... has vanished like smoke.’

’All that’s left... are the fond memories.’

The group found a large, lavishly decorated restaurant. As soon as they stepped inside, an enthusiastic waiter greeted them.

”Young masters and ladies, right this way!”

”’Do you have any private rooms? We’d like one,” Tang Xiao said nonchalantly.

”’We do! Our very best private room is available. I’ll take you there right away!” the waiter said with enthusiasm.

Just then, a cold voice came from behind: ”Waiter, I’ll be taking that best private room you have.”

The voice was unfamiliar. Everyone paused, and the waiter froze for a second before putting on an apologetic smile. ”Oh, my apologies, sir, but these esteemed young masters and ladies arrived first!”

The man strode forward. He was tall and burly, with a thick, bristling beard and eyes like brass bells. He ignored Xu Luo’s group entirely, glaring at the waiter. ”Didn’t you hear what I said? To hell with first come, first served! In Qingchuan, my word is the law! Open your dog eyes and take a good look at who you’re talking to!”

The waiter blinked his small eyes, studying the man for a long moment, but he couldn’t recognize him. With a pained expression, he could only say, ”Good sir, we’re just trying to run a business here. We have to be fair. It’s always first come, first served...”

Before he could finish, the burly, bearded man strode up to the waiter, raised his hand, and swung a slap at his face.

SMACK!

But the slap never landed. Tang Xiao’s hand shot out and caught the man’s wrist.

The bearded man’s face flushed red. He yanked his arm several times but couldn’t wrench it free.

Tang Xiao sneered. ”What kind of local riffraff is this? Trying to act tough in front of me? Scram!”

With that, he flicked his wrist. A loud CRACK echoed as he dislocated the bearded man’s wrist.

The bearded man’s face went pale, but he was tough. He didn’t cry out, just shot Tang Xiao a venomous glare and snarled through gritted teeth, ”Fine. I’ll remember you. If you’ve got any guts, you won’t run.”

Tang Xiao laughed. ”Don’t worry. I’m starving. Why would I run before I’ve had my fill?”

The bearded man let out a few cold chuckles, then turned and left without another word.

The waiter said worriedly, ”Young masters... perhaps you should find another place? I don’t know who that man is, but he doesn’t look like someone to trifle with. A lot of new faces have been showing up in Qingchuan City recently. If a fight breaks out...”

Tang Xiao just gave a faint smile. ”Just do your job. No one will give you any trouble. Don’t worry. Even if this whole place gets torn down, I’ll cover the damages.”

The waiter swallowed whatever else he was going to say. He realized this group of young masters wasn’t to be trifled with either, so he could only lead them to the restaurant’s largest private room.

”Bring us your best food and wine,” Tang Xiao said, tossing out an Upper-grade Immortal Spirit Stone.

The waiter was clearly a man of some experience. The sight of an Upper-grade Immortal Spirit Stone confirmed his suspicion that this group was extraordinary. He quickly assented and hurried downstairs.

Ming Youyue stared at Tang Xiao, looking him up and down until his skin crawled. He couldn’t help but ask, ”I say, Eldest Miss Ming, did I suddenly get more handsome or something? Why are you staring at me like that?”

”’Pfft! You, handsome? You’re just a little brat!” Ming Youyue scoffed. Then she said, ”I never realized before, but you seem... very familiar with the ways of the secular world.”

Tang Xiao chuckled. ”I’ve traveled with my master many times...”

Ming Youyue rolled her eyes. ”Someone as old-fashioned as Elder Jiang would let you act like that?”

Tang Xiao just kept chuckling without answering her. ’If only you knew,’ he thought, ’that my master is a hundred times more hot-headed than I am in situations like this. You’d probably be terrified.’

Xu Luo had his own suspicions. He’d interacted with Elder Jiang Botao a few times and sensed that, deep down, Elder Jiang was the type of person who didn’t care for formalities and had a very freewheeling personality.

It was just that as a high-ranking and powerful Elder of Celestial Brilliance, he had to maintain a certain decorum in front of his juniors.

A short while later, waiters began bringing up an array of dishes and wine. The fragrant aroma filled the room, making the mouths of these young Heavenly Brilliance geniuses water.

Just then, a commotion was heard from downstairs.