Firmament Sword

The two chimes of the bell were the last straw that broke the camel's back...

He Yun's legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground. His eyes were vacant as he muttered, "How is this possible? All the great powers in the world... were hunting him. How could he possibly have escaped with his life?"

Everyone followed Lin Luoxue, flowing out of the grand plaza like a river.

Young ceremonial attendants cleared a path at the front. The large, magnificent procession headed toward the sect's main gate to offer a welcome.

No one spared another glance for the desolate figure in the plaza.

The winner is crowned king, the loser cast aside.

He Yun was still muttering to himself, "He holds a great grudge against my Dubhe Sect... He should have stormed our gates, slaughtering everyone in his path... Why make a formal visit?"

"I can't accept this!"

He Yun's voice was hoarse. He let out a ragged roar, and a mouthful of fresh blood sprayed from his lips, hanging in the air with a grim, cold beauty.

At the very back of the procession, the group of Dubhe Sect grandees—who had prepared a bellyful of arguments to challenge Lin Luoxue—all wore looks of relief.

If they had sided with He Yun today, the consequences... The mere thought sent a chill down their spines.

Thus, these grandees trailing at the rear of the welcoming party all restrained their auras and followed cautiously. Their expressions... it was as if they hoped everyone would simply forget they were even there.

Beidou's Eighth Star!

He could stir the heavens and earth, reigning supreme over the world. Who would dare provoke him?

Beside Lin Luoxue, Nangong Yu Yan finally let out a long breath. From the corner of her eye, she glanced at Lin Luoxue's stunning profile and sighed inwardly. 'She's finally grown up! But... is there still a chance for her and him?'

...

「At the Dubhe Sect's main gate.」

"I hear it!" A young gate-keeping disciple's face lit up with excitement.

Another disciple reminded him, "Watch yourself! All the important figures will be coming out soon!"

"Right, right! Senior Brother, quick, check for me. Is my hair a mess? My... my robes... are they a little dirty?" The young disciple was flustered, having never experienced such a grand occasion.

It was as if the procession coming from Dubhe Palace was there to welcome *them*. His heart was pounding violently.

"Alright, alright, stay calm!" The older disciple was just as nervous, but he did his best to comfort his junior.

At the same time, both disciples looked at Xu Luo with gazes already full of awe, as if they were facing a deity.

Xu Luo smiled but said nothing. Though these two young disciples were flustered in his presence, he knew that in the past, even a low-ranking disciple from a super-sect like Dubhe would have been insufferably arrogant upon entering the secular world.

They would maintain that same haughty reserve even when facing the Secular Royal Family.

'The human heart... it truly is the most complex thing in this world.'

In the distance, the ceremonial procession came into Xu Luo's view. It was a vast and extravagant affair. Everyone wore solemn expressions, with reverence hidden in the depths of their eyes.

Xu Luo sighed softly to himself. 'She's really grown up. We can never go back to how things were—neither she nor I.'

Lin Luoxue needed to borrow his power. She needed to use his reputation to intimidate the restless old guard of the Dubhe Sect.

As a dear friend from the past, a companion who had shared life and death with her, Xu Luo felt it was his duty. But he couldn't help feeling emotional. They had both changed so much, and it was impossible to return to those simpler times.

The procession finally reached the main gate. The crowd parted to form a path, and Lin Luoxue, dressed in magnificent robes, her face stunningly beautiful, slowly walked out.

Their eyes met.

Xu Luo smiled faintly. "Sect Leader Lin, congratulations."

The words "Sect Leader Lin" nearly brought tears to Lin Luoxue's eyes. The rims of her eyes instantly reddened, but she fought it back, nodding with a smile. "Young Master Xu, it's been a long time."

Nangong Yu Yan clearly heard the faint tremor in her voice. She could even feel the wave of sorrow that Lin Luoxue was desperately suppressing.

'If this goes on, she's going to lose her composure.'

Nangong Yu Yan thought to herself. Immediately, she gave a light cough and revealed a charming smile. "Young Master Xu, long time no see!"

"Sister Nangong is as beautiful as ever!" Xu Luo grinned. He actually felt much more relaxed facing Nangong Yu Yan. The deep, mournful sorrow in Lin Luoxue's eyes had left him at a bit of a loss.

"I've heard that Young Master Xu's reputation now shakes the world. I'm truly happy for you!" Nangong Yu Yan said with a smile.

At this, the expression on Lin Luoxue's face finally became much more natural. She smiled and made an inviting gesture to Xu Luo.

For some reason, however, Xu Luo glanced at the two young gate-keeping disciples cowering to the side. He smiled and said, "These two young men are quite promising."

Instantly, countless gazes focused on the two young men. Everyone's eyes held complex emotions.

Envy, jealousy... a myriad of emotions burned like a fierce fire, leaving the two young, green disciples so terrified they didn't know what to do with their hands and feet.

At the same time, the two young men were ecstatic, their hearts filled with a gratitude for Xu Luo that was beyond words.

If, just a moment ago, this young man who could make the ancient bell chime eleven times was like a deity in their eyes, then now, this handsome and elegant youth was a True God in their hearts.

Lin Luoxue gave Xu Luo a surprised look, a mix of flirtatious anger and resentment. She thought, 'You bad man. What are your intentions, helping me like this?'

Out loud, however, she said gently, "Is that so? Anyone who can catch your eye must naturally be outstanding." With that, she glanced at the two young disciples. "From this day forward, you are now Inner Sect Disciples of Dubhe!"

The two disciples were so stunned by the sudden good fortune that they nearly fainted. They quickly fell to their knees and kowtowed. "Thank you for your favor, Sect Leader! We disciples pledge our undying loyalty and will serve you to the death!"

Lin Luoxue said softly, "The one who truly sees your potential is this Young Master Xu. You may not know his identity yet. He... is Beidou's Eighth Star!"

BOOM!

It was as if a bolt of Celestial Thunder had exploded in the two young disciples' minds. They watched the procession of grandees, figures they would rarely see on a normal day, stand in waiting on either side. They escorted Xu Luo into the sect as if they were mortals welcoming an Emperor. Long after the procession had disappeared into the distance, the turmoil in their hearts still had not ceased.

Inside Dubhe Palace, the deeply uncomfortable grandees of the Dubhe Sect were quickly dismissed by Nangong Yu Yan. On any other day, these important figures would have been glaring and shouting, clamoring that the Sect Leader didn't know how to respect her elders.

But today, each and every one of them felt as if they'd been granted amnesty, wishing their parents had given them two extra legs. They scurried away faster than slippery loaches.

The young man didn't seem to exude any powerful aura, and yet, he felt like an abyss.

A bottomless abyss!

Just staring at him for a few moments would induce a dizzying sensation, as if one were falling into that abyss.

And though he was clearly a handsome and elegant young man, a closer look revealed a layer of brilliance that seemed to shroud his body.

A face you could remember with a single glance, yet forget the moment you turned away, never to be recalled again.

So many strange and unsettling qualities were truly terrifying.

It made this group of usually high and mighty, insufferably arrogant Dubhe Sect grandees finally understand what "there is always someone stronger" meant. They finally understood why the former Sect Leader, Xiang Wentian, had departed so decisively... and they finally understood completely why Xiang Wentian had left word for them not to provoke Lin Luoxue.

With a True God like that standing behind Lin Luoxue, forget Xiang Wentian... even if the founding ancestor himself were resurrected, he wouldn't dare to provoke her!

Upon this realization, nearly all the Dubhe Sect grandees who had ever considered opposing Lin Luoxue broke out in a cold sweat, their souls nearly scared out of their bodies.

As for He Yun, who hadn't even shown up for the welcome... he was long gone.

No one pitied him. In fact, many even hoped He Yun would jump out and cause another scene, just to minimize the danger to themselves.

...

"There won't be any more problems, will there?" Xu Luo asked, smiling at Lin Luoxue.

In the fragrant reception hall, only the two of them remained. Even Nangong Yu Yan had quietly taken her leave, using the excuse that she still had matters to attend to.

Lin Luoxue gave Xu Luo a plaintive look and said softly, "Now that you're here, of course there won't be any problems."

"Don't let this affect your Dao Heart. This is the path you chose for yourself." Xu Luo's smile suddenly vanished, his tone becoming serious.

Lin Luoxue let out a long, low sigh and looked at Xu Luo. "Of course. This is the path I have chosen."

"The Divine Power Realm has eleven levels," Xu Luo said abruptly, changing the subject with a seemingly random statement.

"So it's true. I thought the ancient texts were just spouting nonsense." Lin Luoxue smiled, a captivating sight. "The ancient records say that eleven was once the limit in this world, but then the laws of heaven and earth changed, and nine became the pinnacle..."

Xu Luo nodded. "So, the road ahead is still very long."

Lin Luoxue's gaze shifted to Xu Luo. She said softly, "I would rather it only lasted a single night..."

The corner of Xu Luo's mouth twitched. A scene from years ago suddenly surfaced in his mind.

He murmured, "What... what are you doing?"

"Shhh, right now you're my sick wife. Mess up your hair!" Xu Luo whispered, then chuckled. "You know, you really do look like a woman!"

As he spoke, he looked up and smiled at Lin Luoxue.

"You still remember?" A brilliant light flashed in Lin Luoxue's eyes. Then, her face flushed red, and she said softly, "Only a blockhead like you wouldn't have been able to tell I was a girl!"

Xu Luo grinned. He really wanted to say, 'I knew you were a girl from the start. My eyes... they can see through things...'

But he was afraid that if he said it, the small woman across from him—so graceful, noble, and elegant, like a queen—would instantly transform into a little demon and pounce on him to fight to the death.

After that, a long silence fell between them.

Over the years, they had both experienced too much. Many things weren't as simple as who was right and who was wrong.

The past leaders of Dubhe had treated Xu Luo, the Xu Family, and even the entire Cangqiong Empire with chilling disdain. It wasn't Lin Luoxue's fault, but she... she was the Saintess of Dubhe.

"Tonight... stay, okay?"

After a long while, Lin Luoxue suddenly looked up. Her eyes, as brilliant as stars, gazed at Xu Luo. Her face was flushed like a cherry blossom, her voice barely a whisper. "I just want... to leave myself... one perfect memory."

Two streams of clear tears slowly traced a path down the jade-like girl's cheeks.

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