Firmament Sword

Many young people who had come out of the Ancient Ruins World were gathered below the Grand Canyon. They hadn’t left right away, instead choosing to watch Zhao Min and his group from a distance.

They wanted to see just how spectacular and intense a battle between the top young masters of Blazing Flame Province and the top young experts of Xi Hezhou would be.

“Senior Brother, I heard that guy killed a spiritual body of our ancestor in the Ancient Ruins World. His strength can’t be underestimated. Maybe we should…” A disciple from Blazing Flame Province whispered a warning to Zhao Min. Not all disciples from Blazing Flame Province wanted to face the young God of Slaughter.

“What are you talking about? Him, kill our ancestor’s spiritual body? Don’t believe such hearsay!” another disciple from Blazing Flame Province said coldly. “Besides, everyone’s strength is suppressed inside the Ancient Ruins World. The only way the ancestor’s spiritual body could have been destroyed is if he was shamelessly ganged up on by those damn dogs from Celestial Brilliance!”

“Exactly! If he wasn’t ganged up on, how could a little whelp like that Luo Tian possibly kill the ancestor’s spiritual body? You’re just being too cautious!” another young master from Blazing Flame Province added.

“I… sigh. Fine, just say I’m a coward then.” The young disciple who had tried to persuade Zhao Min sighed, shook his head, and stepped aside. Inwardly, however, he had already made up his mind. ‘If a fight breaks out later, unless victory is absolutely certain, I’m not getting involved.’

Although Blazing Flame Province was known for its unity, fighting to the death with someone he had no grudge against—someone he didn’t even know—seemed irrational to him.

The other young disciples of Blazing Flame Province following Zhao Min were all proud and arrogant types. They usually only had eyes for Zhao Min and wouldn’t deign to give a nobody like Luo Tian a second thought.

In their eyes, rumors were always exaggerated. No matter how powerful that young man named Luo Tian was, he couldn’t possibly be a match for their Senior Brother Zhao Min, who had already reached the Mid-stage Ultimate Venerable realm.

If he were really that ridiculously powerful, why had there never been any legends about him in the past?

Therefore, these Blazing Flame Province disciples, who had never met Xu Luo, felt no sense of awe for the name “Luo Tian” in their hearts.

They were all peerless prodigies. Why would they submit to someone so easily?

At that moment, the entrance to the Ancient Ruins flashed with light as more people emerged.

Zhao Min stood calmly at the back, his group of followers having sealed off every exit without leaving any blind spots.

Therefore, he wasn’t worried at all that this Luo Tian would be able to escape after coming out.

Xu Luo and his party arrived at the exit. Xu Luo took one last look back at the vast world behind him. This place, where he had gained so many unimaginable rewards, had been a land of great fortune for him.

Although he had also made powerful enemies, Xu Luo didn’t care. Even if he hadn’t entered this world, those enmities would have formed sooner or later.

Du Qingteng and Gao Ping glanced at Xu Luo. Du Qingteng said, “Brother Luo, Gao Ping and I will go out first to clear the way. You guys follow behind us.”

Xu Luo nodded without refusing. Right now, his only thought was to hurry back to Celestial Brilliance. He didn’t want his injured comrades to be delayed any further.

Thus, Xu Luo didn’t want any more unnecessary complications.

Du Qingteng and Gao Ping then disappeared into the light. Tang Xiao remarked with some emotion, “The inheritors of two great Holy Lands are willingly running point for the boss. If word of this got out, it would probably make everyone’s jaws drop!”

“Come on, no one would believe it,” Yu Tianjie said, his mouth twitching.

Tang Xiao didn’t argue. Instead, he nodded and said, “True. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it myself—that the inheritors of two great Holy Lands would willingly do this for someone else.”

Ming Youyue and the others all fixed their gazes on Xu Luo.

After this trip to the Ancient Ruins World, this group of proud Heavenly Brilliance Disciples had been completely won over by their captain.

Especially when he had arrived in the nick of time during their moment of crisis, like a Celestial God descending. Slaying ten people with a single step, he was unstoppable, the very picture of magnificent dominance!

Even though they were all chosen of heaven with their own pride, faced with a monster like Xu Luo, they could only admit their own inferiority.

Xu Luo glanced at everyone and said with a smile, “You’re exaggerating. Even a Saint Heir of a Holy Land needs a few friends, right?”

“But the number of people who can become their friends… is really small!” Tang Xiao immediately shot back.

Ming Youyue nodded vigorously beside him. Even prodigies needed idols. In the past, the idols of these peerless prodigies were the disciples of the Holy Lands. Now, it was Xu Luo.

Even a noble and aloof chosen of heaven like Ming Youyue now looked at Xu Luo with a completely different gaze.

Anyone who didn’t know better would think she was just a lovestruck fan.

Xu Luo shook his head and said, “Friendship doesn’t depend on status. It’s wrong for you to think that way.”

“Friendship itself might not depend on status, but social circles have their thresholds!” Yu Tianjie said from the side. “To be honest, since I was young, I’ve always hoped to have many close friends, regardless of their background or status.”

“But in reality, many people with good character, people who could have become friends, backed away the moment they heard I came from a Heritage Clan.”

“Sometimes I’d feel it was a pity and try to explain, but they would tell me bluntly: ‘I feel pressured being around young masters from Heritage Clans like you!’”

Yu Tianjie sighed. “So, that’s when I understood. Friendship doesn’t depend on status, but social circles have their thresholds. When people aren’t on the same level, it’s truly difficult for them to genuinely integrate.”

Ming Youyue added softly, “If it weren’t for what happened this time, I believe none of us would ever be here having a heart-to-heart talk. At Celestial Brilliance, the scions of Heritage Clans and the other disciples are like two distinct, parallel lines. They might occasionally intersect, but they will inevitably go their separate ways.”

Xu Luo nodded, acknowledging the truth in their words. That’s just how the world was. Ideals were always beautiful, but reality was often cruel.

Those who try to change reality will only end up beating their heads against a wall, getting battered and bruised, only to find in the end that reality is nearly impossible to change. The only thing you can change… is yourself.

“As long as you act with a clear conscience, that’s all that matters,” Xu Luo said. He mentally calculated the time, guessing that Gao Ping and Du Qingteng should have finished their defensive preparations by now. He nodded to the others and led the way toward the exit.

The instant Xu Luo stepped out, he felt a powerful killing intent permeating the air around him.

Xu Luo’s heart skipped a beat. He opened his eyes and scanned his surroundings.

Just then, Tang Xiao, Ming Youyue, Shao Zheng, and Yu Tianjie emerged one after another.

They all felt the intense killing intent as well and immediately took up defensive stances, surrounding Xu Luo.

Over there, Gao Ping and Du Qingteng were in a cold standoff with a group of people.

“Gao Ping, I respect you as the inheritor of the Eternal River and don’t wish to fight you. But by that same token, I hope you won’t meddle in other people’s business!” Zhao Min, who was surrounded by his followers like the moon by stars, said, his narrow eyes fixed coldly on Gao Ping.

“And you, Du Qingteng. The esteemed worldly inheritor of Weiyu Mountain, mixing with a mere Celestial Brilliance disciple. Don’t you find that disgraceful?” Zhao Min said to Du Qingteng with a hint of sarcasm.

Du Qingteng spat on the ground. “Pah!” He then sneered at Zhao Min. “Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you speak to Master Du like that? Do you really think you’re the number one of Blazing Flame Province’s younger generation? What a joke!”

“If a piece of trash like you is number one, then what does that make Wu Yinglie? What does that make Shangguan Huan? Even those two wouldn’t dare speak to me with that tone. And you… who the hell are you?”

Gao Ping wasn’t one for words with strangers. He just gave the grim-faced Zhao Min a cool glance and said, “I don’t know you, nor do I need your respect. And also, I enjoy meddling in other people’s business.”

“Good, good! To think that the esteemed inheritors of two great Holy Lands would willingly act as someone else’s pawn! This has truly been an eye-opening experience!” Zhao Min laughed coldly, then his gaze fell on the newly emerged Xu Luo. With undisguised ridicule, he said contemptuously, “I was wondering how you were so impressive. Turns out you just latched onto two Holy Land Inheritors.”

“You’re full of shit!” Tang Xiao cursed at Zhao Min. “What the hell are you? Judging by that hide you’re wearing, you must be another little mutt from Blazing Flame Province, right? Heh… I’ve killed so many dogs from Blazing Flame Province, I’ve lost count!”

“Insolence!” one of Zhao Min’s followers snapped. “How dare you speak to our Senior Brother like that! You must be tired of living!”

“So what if you’re a Heavenly Brilliance Disciple? You’re only impressive in a backwater like Xi Hezhou. Outside of Xi Hezhou, who knows who you are? Our Senior Brother is a Jiuzhou Seed!” another disciple from Blazing Flame Province said coldly.

A Jiuzhou Seed…

Tang Xiao and the others narrowed their eyes slightly, a little shocked.

As Core Disciples of Celestial Brilliance, they had naturally heard of “Seed” masters. They knew that anyone who could become a Jiuzhou Seed was exceptionally outstanding in every aspect—a true chosen of heaven in this world!

Even though Jin Ming was famous in Celestial Brilliance and even throughout all of Xi Hezhou, he was not a Jiuzhou Seed.

In Celestial Brilliance’s recent history, only Xie Wanrou had ever been a Jiuzhou Seed!

Seeing that Xie Wanrou had already become a Celestial Venerable at her current age, one could understand just how terrifying a Jiuzhou Seed was.

They never expected to encounter a Jiuzhou Seed here. No wonder he didn’t even seem to respect the two Holy Land Inheritors.

Gao Ping and Du Qingteng glanced at each other, and both saw the surprise in the other’s eyes.

Holy Land Inheritors were, by definition, Jiuzhou Seeds. But they hadn’t expected this person from Blazing Flame Province to be a Seed as well.

At this, Xu Luo started to laugh. He said softly, “There are actually many kinds of seeds. Some seeds, when planted, can grow into towering trees. Others can only become a blade of grass at the foot of that tree. Furthermore, seeds can be plump or shriveled. A plump seed can eventually take root, sprout, and break through the soil. But a shriveled seed… heh. Even if you plant it, nothing will grow!”

Xu Luo looked at Zhao Min. “Take you, for example. You’re a shriveled seed. Plant you, and not even a weed… will grow!”