Firmament Sword

At the exit below, people were already leaving one after another. This terrifying Small World held endless opportunities and countless Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, but it was also… a place of true, great terror!

For many of the young powerhouses who had entered, just making it out alive was a remarkable achievement.

Those who managed to obtain some opportunities felt incredibly fortunate.

As these young people emerged, they brought with them a great deal of news from within the Ancient Ruins World, causing a massive uproar outside!

“What? Inside those ruins that forcibly suppress one’s strength to the Venerable Realm, there are creatures that can easily devour Venerables?”

“Luo Tian of Celestial Brilliance is unstoppable! He overpowered all his peers with unrivaled combat prowess!”

“The members the Jin Family sent into the ruins this time were completely wiped out!”

“The young powerhouses from Blazing Flame Province suffered disastrous losses! Even a few of the older generation figures perished inside!”

“Luo Tian is just too terrifying. I saw him once from a distance not long ago. He was slaughtering the young powerhouses of Blazing Flame Province… At the time, they had nearly surrounded and killed all the young prodigies from Celestial Brilliance! But then Luo Tian appeared… and went on a rampage!”

“I saw that scene too. I’ll never forget it. Only one thought remained in my mind: ‘Thank God… I’m not Luo Tian’s enemy!’”

As all sorts of news spread, the faces of the several Blazing Flame Province ancestors waiting outside turned grim. As for the members of the Jin Family… they were scared out of their wits.

Some Jin Family members pulled aside disciples who had come out to ask for details. The answers they received made them feel like it wasn’t real, that it was all a dream.

“The young master is dead!”

“Young Master Jin Ming really died in there?”

“Blown to bits by Luo Tian?”

A series of questions weighed on the minds of the Jin Family members, leaving them unable to rest or eat.

But for now, they could only wait patiently for everyone to emerge before they could learn the truth.

However, as more and more people came out of the Ancient Ruins World, even more news began to circulate.

The group from Blazing Flame Province were already ashen-faced and cracking their knuckles. Their eyes shot out a bone-chilling killing intent as they stared at the group from Celestial Brilliance in another direction, ready to strike at any moment.

This was because, up to this point, not a single disciple from Blazing Flame Province had been seen walking out of the Ancient Ruins World!

This all but confirmed that the rumors were true. All of the young powerhouses from Blazing Flame Province… had perished in the Ancient Ruins World this time!

In truth, when the spiritual bodies of their last two Celestial Venerable Ancestors fell, they had already had a bad feeling, but they still held onto a final shred of hope.

Now, it seemed their worst fears had come to pass.

“Celestial Brilliance… Celestial Brilliance!” A Celestial Venerable Ancestor from Blazing Flame Province snapped his eyes open, shooting two sharp, divine beams of light that pierced the void and shot directly toward the Celestial Brilliance camp.

On the Celestial Brilliance side, Ancestor Shen Ru also opened his eyes, his gaze calm and indifferent as he looked back at the Celestial Venerable Ancestor from Blazing Flame Province.

“Hmph!” the Blazing Flame Province Celestial Venerable Ancestor snorted. The light in his eyes suddenly erupted as he said coldly, “Do you dare to fight?”

Shen Ru replied faintly, “Why wouldn’t I dare?”

As they spoke, the two ancestors of the Celestial Venerable Realm vanished from where they stood, having entered Outer Space directly.

A battle of this level would not be so easily displayed before outsiders.

The remaining few Celestial Venerable Ancestors from Blazing Flame Province also issued challenges to the Celestial Brilliance side.

The three remaining ancestors from Celestial Brilliance, naturally unwilling to show weakness, all accepted the challenges and departed.

But now, two Celestial Venerable Ancestors remained on the Blazing Flame Province’s side, while on Celestial Brilliance’s side… only the Celestial Venerable Xie Wanrou was left!

“This is bad… They’re luring the tiger from the mountain!” Jiang Botao’s brows furrowed. He looked at the two remaining Celestial Venerable Ancestors on the other side, who sat with their eyes closed, and said grimly, “They might be planning to attack the juniors!”

How could Xie Wanrou not know? These old monsters from Blazing Flame Province had never had much integrity to begin with. They had attacked her and the other younger-generation members back then, so it would be no surprise if they now targeted Luo Tian and the others.

But if they didn’t accept the challenges, the sect’s reputation would surely suffer. Even minor sects cherished their prestige, let alone a Supreme Great Sect like Celestial Brilliance.

Moreover, daring not to accept a challenge would leave a heavy shadow on one’s Dao Heart, which was unacceptable for any Celestial Venerable Ancestor.

Jiang Botao said in a low voice, “Our miscalculation this time was not expecting Blazing Flame Province to have two more Celestial Venerable Ancestors. They’re truly shameless!”

“In matters like this, face is irrelevant. Whoever is stronger seizes the initiative and controls the narrative.” Xie Wanrou was quite pragmatic. She said softly, “Blazing Flame Province is unlike any other province. Of all of Jiuzhou, only Blazing Flame Province is the most united!”

Jiang Botao nodded in agreement with Xie Wanrou and sighed softly, “Yes, the alliance in Blazing Flame Province is the most disciplined I’ve ever seen. They have truly achieved a state of being branches of the same tree. It puts us to shame.”

“That also has to do with the environment in Blazing Flame Province. If they couldn’t unite as one, they would face the threat of extinction within years.” As Xie Wanrou spoke, she glanced at the two Blazing Flame Province Celestial Venerable Ancestors over there and then said softly, “When Luo Tian and the others come out, if the enemy makes a move, we must stop them even if it costs us our lives! Luo Tian and the others… they are the true future and hope of Celestial Brilliance!”

Jiang Botao’s expression was solemn, but he gave a faint smile. “At this point, I’ve long since put thoughts of life and death aside. It is my honor to be able to protect these young seeds!”

The Old Golden Monkey, who had been sitting to the side quietly recuperating, opened his eyes. A flash of golden light crossed his pupils as he said, “Things might not be as bad as you think. Those two old fossils from Blazing Flame Province who stayed behind are the ones whose spiritual bodies were devoured. They’re both injured!”

Xie Wanrou nodded, her gaze toward the Old Golden Monkey filled with tenderness. She said softly, “That’s right. We might just have a chance!”

At this very moment, everyone else who had come out was also waiting for the appearance of the nine disciples from Celestial Brilliance!

These nine individuals had everyone on edge. The name Luo Tian, in particular, had left too many people astonished and shaken.

Because before this, almost no one had ever heard of such a figure in Celestial Brilliance!

Previously, almost everyone believed that among Celestial Brilliance’s younger generation, only Jin Ming was the most outstanding!

This was inextricably linked to the Jin Family fanning the flames from behind the scenes.

It wasn’t until recently that Jin Ming, hailed as the most outstanding of Celestial Brilliance’s younger generation, was suddenly expelled from the sect. When this news broke, it shook all of Xi Hezhou.

People speculated wildly about what could have happened to enrage a Supreme Great Sect like Celestial Brilliance so much that they would actually expel the most outstanding disciple of their younger generation.

Then, not long after, the Bounty Guild’s reward for Luo Tian appeared.

It was only then that the name Luo Tian truly became known outside of Celestial Brilliance. Many people realized that Celestial Brilliance had quietly produced another peerless genius!

At that point, many people began to suspect… could there be some unknown grudge between Luo Tian, who had a high price on his head from the Bounty Guild, and Jin Ming, who had been expelled from Celestial Brilliance?

The timing was simply too much of a coincidence!

Jin Ming was expelled, and not long after, a high-priced bounty was placed on a Celestial Brilliance disciple.

No one would believe there was no connection between the two events.

Gradually, as more and more information was revealed, the people of Xi Hezhou finally learned just how many things had been happening within the Supreme Great Sect of Celestial Brilliance.

That young man named Luo Tian had actually managed to become the number one figure of Celestial Brilliance’s younger generation in just over a year!

Most importantly, Luo Tian had practically no background!

That was terrifying!

This was also the real reason why the Jin Family was so determined to eliminate Xu Luo!

For a great clan, feuds between youngsters weren’t something to be truly concerned about.

Jade cannot be polished without friction. From a higher perspective, the grudges and conflicts between young people were actually a good thing.

There is no growth without hardship.

But Xu Luo was different in the eyes of the Jin Family. He was too frightening!

His very existence made a massive clan like the Jin Family feel an immense threat!

If they could not eliminate him, then in just a few years, Xu Luo would truly be able to shake the very foundations of the great Jin Family clan!

This… was something an ancient and powerful clan like the Jin Family could not tolerate.

Therefore, among those waiting for the Heavenly Brilliance Disciples to appear, there was also a group of powerhouses from the Jin Family. Their eyes were icy, their hearts filled with hatred, and they secretly swore an oath: ‘We will kill Luo Tian at any cost!’

Even if it meant gravely offending Celestial Brilliance… they would not hesitate!

Above the entire Grand Canyon, it was surprisingly quiet. Almost everyone was waiting for the nine disciples of Celestial Brilliance to appear.

Below, at the exit of the ruins, another group of people was also waiting!

They were another group of disciples from Blazing Flame Province!

The world inside the ruins was vast. Blazing Flame Province had sent many young disciples this time, and not all of them were together.

Among them was a peerless prodigy from Blazing Flame Province who had taken a group of his junior brothers and sisters in a different direction.

This peerless prodigy from Blazing Flame Province was named Zhao Min. He had an illustrious background and extraordinary talent, and he was famous throughout all of Blazing Flame Province.

He was known as one of the strongest of Blazing Flame Province’s younger generation!

This time, upon entering the Ancient Ruins World, he led his group to a great fortuitous encounter, obtaining an Unparalleled Divine Soldier and an ancient scripture.

Already a peerless prodigy, obtaining such a great opportunity was like giving wings to a tiger for Zhao Min. His overall strength rose to a new level.

He led his group out in high spirits, only to hear the various rumors about Luo Tian and the news of the other group of young Blazing Flame Province powerhouses perishing.

Zhao Min was furious.

The moment he received the news, he came to wait here directly, intending to kill Luo Tian at the first possible opportunity!

He wanted to avenge his fallen companions.

A blood debt… must be paid in blood!