Firmament Sword

Everyone knew who Ming Youyue was referring to.

Yu Tianying said, ”I’ve never liked him. I’ve never had any dirt on him, but I just can’t stand the sight of him. How could anyone in this world be so perfect?”

”That’s right, I can’t stand him either,” Tang Xiao added. ”Actually, I know a bit more than the rest of you. On two separate occasions, while out on missions, two of my junior brothers died under mysterious circumstances. They were both promising talents, nearly as gifted as I am. But many people witnessed their deaths and claimed they were just accidents caused by their own carelessness.”

”Even my master, though deeply dissatisfied, had nothing to say.”

”A junior sister of mine went on a mission with him and didn’t make it back alive. When she left, she was a stunning, vibrant beauty. What came back... was a corpse.”

Wang Tong added in a low voice, ”Later... one of the female elders from my lineage examined her. My junior sister, who had been so pure and innocent... had been violated before her death.”

Everyone sucked in a cold breath, staring at Wang Tong in utter disbelief.

Wang Tong smiled bitterly. ”Don’t look at me like that. The matter... was classified as top secret. We didn’t want to tarnish our junior sister’s name after her death, especially since... we had no proof.”

As he spoke, Wang Tong lowered his head and clenched his fists tightly.

Everyone present could feel the dejection radiating from this peerless prodigy of Celestial Brilliance.

Lv Di patted Wang Tong’s shoulder without a word. Everyone understood. Wang Tong must have been very fond of that junior sister.

”Alright, enough of this heavy talk. Let’s change the subject,” Xu Luo said, quickly steering the conversation away as he saw it turning into a denunciation of Jin Ming.

After all, talking was useless. Jin Ming was still out there, alive and well. In fact, he’d set a trap for them just today that had nearly gotten them all killed.

If they wanted payback, if they wanted revenge, there would be plenty of chances later.

’But there’s no need to say it out loud. It’s better to just keep it in mind.’

”I still want to know how you managed to trick that old man into leaving, Senior Brother!” Shao Zheng said with a wide grin.

After Shao Zheng spoke, he looked at Xu Luo expectantly. At that moment, everyone else turned their gaze to Xu Luo as well.

’Xu Luo hadn’t planned on talking about the Jade Balance Demon Sound. After all, no one wants to reveal their trump cards.’

’While the Jade Balance Demon Sound wasn’t his true ace in the hole, it was still a unique and powerful art. He wouldn’t normally use it unless it was a critical moment.’

’Especially since, to influence that elder who had surpassed the Initial Tier Ultimate Venerable, he had not only used the Jade Balance Demon Sound but had also incorporated the principles of the Soul Scripture, achieving a miraculous result!’

’A mental attack from the Great Saint Realm could ensnare an expert beyond the Initial Tier Ultimate Venerable. And the most incredible part was that the target wouldn’t even notice they’d been affected. They’d just assume the thoughts were their own!’

’In the eyes of an outsider, such a technique would absolutely be considered a Divine Skill!’

’That was why Xu Luo didn’t want to reveal it. If outsiders knew, they would be on guard, and the technique would lose its value.’

’But the people in front of him were his comrades—his junior brothers and sisters from the same sect. While they might have had their conflicts and disputes back in the sect, out here, they had to stick together.’

’They had to be united.’

’Otherwise, they’d be picked off one by one.’

’The ancient ruins they were about to enter were fraught with endless peril. At a time like this, if the team became divided... then even as Heavenly Brilliance Disciples, from the Supreme Great Sect of Xi Hezhou, they would be... utterly vulnerable!’

These thoughts flashed through Xu Luo’s mind. Finally, he made his decision and smiled at the expectant faces before him.

”It’s actually a type of mental attack. I already knew a mental attack art, but after comprehending the Soul Scripture, its power reached a whole new level. Today was my first time actually using it, and I didn’t expect it to be so effective.”

”I’d already decided back then that if it didn’t work, I’d have you all retreat while I covered the rear.”

Xu Luo said with a sincere smile.

Everyone had more or less guessed as much, but hearing Xu Luo state it so candidly now, it would be a lie to say they weren’t moved.

After all... not everyone would reveal their secrets like Xu Luo just did.

Even the most open person wouldn’t publicize their private affairs.

So, after Xu Luo finished, they fell silent. Their eyes shone with emotion, and then, one by one, expressions of admiration bloomed on their faces.

Yu Tianying set his teacup down, looked deeply at Xu Luo, and cupped his hands in respect. ”I am deeply impressed by your candor, Senior Brother!”

”Indeed. Senior Brother’s open-heartedness puts me to shame,” said Yu Tianjie. ”If it were me, I’m not sure I would have been willing to say anything!”

”Please rest assured, Senior Brother Luo,” Tang Xiao said with a solemn expression. ”We will be tight-lipped about this... I swear on my future cultivation: if I ever speak of this, may I never achieve another breakthrough!”

For a Cultivator, swearing on one’s future cultivation was the most solemn oath one could make.

Breaking such an oath would inevitably create an unbreakable bottleneck when they next tried to advance their cultivation.

Yu Tianying and the others followed suit, each swearing on their cultivation to keep the secret.

”We are from the same sect. We are all Heavenly Brilliance Disciples. Celestial Brilliance is our home, and we... are its family members. We are all brothers and sisters here.”

”Brothers and sisters might argue, have misunderstandings, and even come into conflict!”

”But... the moment we step outside Celestial Brilliance, we are the closest of kin!”

Xu Luo looked at them all, his voice filled with emotion. ”Out here, we are each other’s family, each other’s staunchest support! Can I... can I trust you all... with my back?”

”When brothers are of one heart, they can slice through metal!”

”Can you... do that?”

Xu Luo shouted.

Xu Luo’s words instantly ignited a fire in their hearts. These peerless prodigies, normally so proud, now roared in unison like a band of passionate youths, ”When brothers are of one heart, they can slice through metal!”

Ming Youyue roared along with them, only realizing something was off after she was done. She pouted, ”Why is it only ’brothers’? What about the sisters? You can’t just ignore me!”

”...” Everyone was left speechless.

A smile touched Xu Luo’s lips, a flash of gratification in his eyes. ’A Celestial Brilliance like this... is the most fearsome Celestial Brilliance of all!’ he thought.

”Perhaps... the Sect Leader and his companions were just like us back in their day,” Tang Xiao murmured, just as Xu Luo was lost in his thoughts.

Everyone paused, slightly startled, then exchanged glances. Now that Tang Xiao had said it, they realized they felt something similar.

But... who would be the Sect Leader in their group?

In an instant, all eyes... focused on Xu Luo.

”Why is everyone looking at me?” Xu Luo asked, baffled for a moment. He then caught on and said, ”As for who becomes the next Sect Leader... it’s not our decision to make. And even if it were, I... have no interest in the position...”

”That won’t do! You’re the core of this team, and this team is the strongest among Celestial Brilliance’s younger generation! You expect us to support someone else for Sect Leader? We can’t do that!” Yu Tianjie declared.

Yu Tianying nodded in agreement. ”The Sect Leader is never chosen from a Heritage Clan. The Heritage Clans can only choose who to support. Although you and Huyan Cyan Mountain had a misunderstanding, Senior Brother Luo, the Huyan Family’s ancestor is a sensible man. I believe the vast majority of Heritage Clans will support you!”

”I support you, anyway!” Shao Zheng chimed in. ”The Medicine Garden will support you too!”

”You guys... are thinking too far ahead. That sort of thing is still a long way off,” Xu Luo said with a wry smile. ”Besides, we may be Celestial Brilliance’s younger generation, but we’re not the only one. There are many people above us, and there will be plenty of other geniuses rising up below us.”

”Our generation is the most outstanding,” said the usually quiet Zhong Jiuyan.

”If I had to choose, I would also support Senior Brother Luo Tian. No one is more suitable,” said the equally taciturn Lv Di.

”Alright... let’s not think about such things for now. If the Sect Leader heard us, he might think we’re plotting to usurp him,” Xu Luo said with a laugh, cutting off the young disciples’ fantasies. In his heart, however... a faint ripple stirred.

’With his current influence in Celestial Brilliance, becoming the successor to the Sect Leader... was actually a real possibility!’

’If... I could really take control of a Supreme Great Sect, that feeling... might not be so bad!’

’At the very least, my family and my brothers would be able to find me more easily, and they would receive the best protection!’

This was the first time Xu Luo had begun to seriously consider the possibility.

* * *

Inside another large inn in Qingchuan Ancient City, a group of people sat together, their faces grim as they discussed something. It seemed there was some disagreement.

The inn had been completely booked out and was heavily guarded, both inside and out.

The ones who had booked it were a top-tier powerhouse from Xi Hezhou... the Jin Family!

Jin Ming sat there, his somber eyes glinting with a cold light. He looked extremely displeased.

”Young Master, the people we contacted failed. Their clan’s old ancestor made a move personally, but for some unknown reason, he returned empty-handed...”

”Young Master, while your grudge with Celestial Brilliance runs deep, it seems unwise to provoke them here. Since the others failed, I suggest... we drop the matter for now. It won’t be too late to settle things after we enter the ancient ruins.”

A middle-aged man sat across from Jin Ming, trying to persuade him earnestly. He looked to be in his forties, but his hair was already streaked with gray.

But a handsome man in his thirties countered coldly, ”So what if they’re Heavenly Brilliance Disciples? Celestial Brilliance... owes our Jin Family an explanation! No... two explanations!”

”Jin Xian died a tragic death at Celestial Brilliance, and Eldest Brother was expelled without reason. Celestial Brilliance... isn’t what it used to be!”

”If you ask me, we should stop talking and just hire someone to take care of them. Let Celestial Brilliance learn the meaning of pain!”