Firmament Sword

Of course, this was just a hypothetical. Something like that could never happen. Li Kai'an would never hand over Beidou's Eighth Star.

It just went to show the value of Beidou's Eighth Star in the eyes of the world.

So, the only thing that needed to be done now was to completely cover this up... and not let anyone know!

His so-called promise not to kill Pang Xiaogou was merely a way to placate him, to prevent him from fighting to the death like a cornered beast.

'Once I successfully break through to the Seventh Layer, none of you will live!' Li Kai'an roared inwardly.

Vast amounts of essence qi surged from all over his body, converging in his Dantian. Over the years, he had accumulated an unimaginable amount of essence qi. Breaking through to the Seventh Layer was a natural, inevitable next step.

The process of Solidifying a Pill had already begun anew within his Dantian!

A powerful aura continuously radiated from his body in surging waves, bathing him in light as if he were a deity.

'Just a little longer... I'll step into the Seventh Layer. And then... after I refine Beidou's Eighth Star, who in this world... who will be my, Li Kai'an's, opponent?'

The joy on Li Kai'an's face grew more intense, his eyes flashing with extreme excitement. He had waited too long for this day; happiness had come so suddenly.

Just then, Xu Luo's voice sounded faintly, "Are you two done talking? If you are... I believe it's my turn to say a few words, isn't it?"

"HAHAHAHA!" Li Kai'an roared with laughter, a flicker of disdain in his eyes as he looked at Xu Luo. "What do you want to say? Your last words? Don't worry. After I refine you and become the strongest expert in this world, I'll pay a visit to the Central Plains Star Continent. If your family is still around then, I'll grant them wealth and prosperity. So you can rest in peace!"

Pang Xiaogou now understood that Li Kai'an had already decided to kill him. No matter what, he wouldn't be spared today.

With this in mind, he looked at Xu Luo and said with a sincere expression, "Your name is Xu Luo, right? How about we make a deal? Let's team up and kill this old bastard. What do you say we become friends?"

Xu Luo chuckled. "Get lost!"

"You..." Pang Xiaogou had never been so insulted in his life. His face turned livid with rage, and his gaze toward Xu Luo was chilling and filled with killing intent.

Xu Luo didn't even glance at Pang Xiaogou. He continued to struggle against Li Kai'an's domain, slowly but surely drawing closer. He said flatly, "You failed to refine me, so now you want to be my friend? Are you hopelessly stupid... or do you just think everyone else is an idiot?"

Pang Xiaogou's expression was ugly, but he still tried to argue, "I did have that idea before, but I've changed my mind. I want to be your friend, Xu Luo... In this world, there are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies, only permanent interests! I, Pang Xiaogou, as the future Sect Leader of the Honglou Sect, can guarantee you right here that if you agree to cooperate with me, I will not treat you unfairly! If you don't trust me, then let's kill this old bastard together, and we can go our separate ways after we get out of here. How about it?"

"Pang Xiaogou, oh, Pang Xiaogou... you really are shameless." Li Ye sneered from the side. "The future Sect Leader of the Honglou Sect... is that a self-proclaimed title? The situation is obvious. As soon as that old bastard Li Kai'an breaks through to the Seventh Layer of the Divine Power Realm, none of us will meet a good end. You keep talking about cooperation, but you haven't shown a shred of sincerity. Do I really need to spell out what you're plotting?"

A cold light flashed in Pang Xiaogou's eyes as he thought to himself, 'Dammit... this bastard knows me too well. He knows I must have a way to save my own skin. He's not leaving because he doesn't want to give up the prize that's practically in his grasp. It seems... if I want to get Beidou's Eighth Star, I have to kill Li Kai'an first!'

"Fine! You say I'm not sincere? Then I'll show you sincerity!" As Pang Xiaogou spoke, a powerful aura erupted from him. He took out a palm-sized, compass-like object from his robes and activated it, sending it straight toward Li Kai'an. He roared, "Li Kai'an! If I could outwit you when I was just a seven-year-old child, I can kill you today!"

BZZZZM!

The Compass let out a hum in the cave, then erupted with an incredibly dazzling light, like a great sun, illuminating the entire cavern. Every single strand of hair was visible in perfect clarity!

It shot toward Li Kai'an like a falling star!

"Get lost!" Li Kai'an bellowed. A turbulent aura exploded from his body and swept toward the flying Compass, stopping it in its tracks. A series of explosions echoed in the air, and the ground beneath their feet began to tremble slightly.

If not for the countless Arrays reinforcing the area, the cave would have collapsed long ago.

"You little brat, I've been around you for so many years. You think I wouldn't know about your treasures?" Li Kai'an sneered, giving Pang Xiaogou a disdainful look. He said grimly, "Since you actually dared to strike at me, then... don't blame me when I kill you later!"

Pang Xiaogou's face was pale. He murmured, "Impossible! Your power... you're only one layer higher than me. The gap can't be this huge!"

"Who the hell do you think you are? Don't you know perfectly well how you reached the Fifth Layer of the Divine Power Realm?" Li Kai'an looked at Pang Xiaogou with a mocking expression and sneered, "You're nothing but a delicate little flower, coddled in a greenhouse. Have you ever seen a real storm? Someone like you? I could have killed you back when I was only at the Third Layer of the Divine Power Realm!"

"I'll fight you to the death!" Pang Xiaogou, flushed red with shame and anger, completely lost his composure. With a furious roar, he unleashed all the treasures on his person. At the same time, he yelled at Xu Luo and Li Ye, "If you two don't make a move... you're dead for sure!"

Li Ye also understood the gravity of the situation. Although Pang Xiaogou was no saint, Li Kai'an was clearly the more dangerous threat.

Therefore, Li Ye also let out a furious shout and charged at Li Kai'an.

Xu Luo, however, continued to advance slowly and unhurriedly against Li Kai'an's domain.

The aura from Li Kai'an's domain grew stronger and stronger. Li Ye and Pang Xiaogou were completely unable to advance; their bodies felt as if they were trapped in a terrifying quagmire, making even the slightest movement extremely difficult.

The treasures Pang Xiaogou had unleashed all exploded in mid-air like brilliant fireworks—beautiful, but fragile.

PUFF!

Over on the side, Li Hua, the weakest of them all, couldn't withstand the terrifying domain and spat out a mouthful of blood on the spot.

"Hua!" Li Ye cried out, his eyes turning red. A vast aura suddenly erupted from his entire body. BOOM! At this very moment, he broke through from the Peak of the Second Layer of the Divine Power Realm!

He had reached the Third Layer of the Divine Power Realm!

Even Li Kai'an was somewhat moved. He couldn't help but say, "Of everyone in the Honglou Sect, you're the one I'm most optimistic about! Li Ye, I'm almost reluctant to kill you! If you are willing to take me as your master, I will grant you a heavenly opportunity! Not only will I give you a share of the Peerless Treasure Medicine refined from Beidou's Eighth Star to take your strength to the next level... I will also support you in becoming the Sect Leader of the Honglou Sect! From now on, you and your brother can dominate the Sect Continent!"

Beside them, Pang Xiaogou's eyes shot daggers of jealousy. He stared intently at Li Ye, wishing he could take his place.

"You! Shut your mouth!" Li Ye roared. "Old bastard, I don't believe a word you say, but even if it were true, I would never agree! Even in death... I, Li Ye, have my principles! With an old animal like you... I have nothing more to say!"

"Good, good, good! Haha, hahaha!" Li Kai'an said "good" three times in a row, then burst into laughter. "For the first time in my life, I, Li Kai'an, was moved to take on a disciple I was satisfied with, only to be ruthlessly rejected. How wonderful! Well then... from now on, I, Li Kai'an, will walk this path alone, with no more attachments!"

"Don't worry. You won't be lonely on the road to the Yellow Springs," Xu Luo said flatly as he continued to struggle through Li Kai'an's domain.

"You think you're enough?" Li Kai'an's gaze fell on Xu Luo, who was still several meters away. He gave a cold smile. "Not bad. Of all of you... you're the one who surprises me the most. Your strength... is only at the Third Layer of the Divine Power Realm, yet you can continuously break through my domain and get this close to me... Heh, truly worthy of being Beidou's Eighth Star! This just proves your excellence! But... you have no chance! In another hundred breaths, I will successfully break through to the Seventh Layer of the Divine Power Realm! And you... even if I gave you three hundred breaths, you'd never get close to me!"

Pang Xiaogou's eyes flickered. He knew Li Kai'an was telling the truth, because the domain within the cave was already growing stronger.

He couldn't help but curse himself for building the cave on Old Baldy Ridge so sturdily, reinforcing it with countless Arrays. As a result, it was nearly impossible for the outside world to know what was happening inside.

'Do I really have to leave like this?' Pang Xiaogou was having a fierce internal struggle.

Finally, he glanced at Li Kai'an, who seemed to be on the verge of breaking through. Gritting his teeth, he bit the tip of his tongue and forced out three drops of essence blood, spitting them onto the Compass. The Compass immediately erupted in a brilliant light that enveloped his body.

Pang Xiaogou's figure gradually faded. His hate-filled voice echoed from within the light, "Li Kai'an, you remember this! From this day forward, there will be no place for you in heaven or on earth! The news that you've obtained Beidou's Eighth Star will soon spread throughout the entire world!"

As he spoke, the light in the cave flashed, and Pang Xiaogou's figure vanished!

But Li Kai'an remained silent, for he had reached the most critical moment of his breakthrough!

In just ten more breaths, he would successfully step into the Seventh Layer of the Divine Power Realm!

His eyes shone with excitement. He turned a deaf ear to Pang Xiaogou's threat, his gaze falling on Xu Luo with a smug expression.

"Ten! Nine!..."

Li Kai'an even spared a sliver of his focus to count down in his mind!

But then, his excited eyes suddenly filled with shock, which quickly turned to horror. The smug smile on his face froze completely, making him look like a comical statue.

His expression was like that of a man dying of thirst in a desert who suddenly spots an oasis. Filled with hope, he desperately rushes toward it. But just as he is one step away from entering it, the oasis abruptly vanishes. He realizes the oasis...

Was a mirage all along!

In an instant, all hope... turned to infinite despair!

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