Firmament Sword

He stayed at the Jade Balance Sect for a few days, discussing the Dao with Xushan daily. Xu Qing would listen quietly by their side. When she occasionally voiced her confusion, either Xu Luo or Xushan would casually provide an answer, though it was usually Xu Luo who did the explaining.

Afterward, Xu Luo took his leave.

As they parted, Xu Qing asked, "When will we meet again?"

Xu Luo thought for a moment, then said, "You can come visit the Cangqiong Imperial Capital."

Hearing this, Xu Qing finally smiled, a bright and captivating expression. Her eyes sparkled with joy.

Then, Xu Luo clasped his fist to Xushan in a salute, turned, and left.

As the figure vanished from sight, Xushan turned to look at his niece's somewhat downcast expression and couldn't help but say, "If you like him, then go after him!"

"I have my own Dao," Xu Qing said suddenly before turning and walking away.

Xushan was left standing there, stunned for a long moment. Finally, a crack of a smile spread across his lips, and he laughed silently.

'This is the niece Xushan has doted on since she was a child!'

'He may be the reincarnation of a Star Monarch, blessed with great fortune and peerless talent, but my niece... is no less outstanding! No matter where she goes, she is a daughter of heaven!'

...

When Xu Luo appeared before the gates of the Shaking Light Sect, one of the five great sects of the Central Plains Star Continent, the powerful figures of the sect were on edge for a long while.

The Shaking Light Sect's Sect Leader, Gu Jianfeng, personally came out to greet him, adopting a very humble posture while observing him cautiously.

These days, in the eyes of those close to Xu Luo, he was a reincarnated star, the best person in the world. But to those who loathed and feared him, this handsome young man was nothing short of a Great Demon King!

However, Xu Luo made no hostile moves against the Shaking Light Sect. As far as he was concerned, their involvement in the matters against his family had not been deep, nor had they committed the kinds of atrocities that angered both heaven and man, as the Kaiyang Sect had.

As for the minor conflict with Ancient Star back in the Small World, Xu Luo had long since put it out of his mind. Seeing Ancient Star hiding in the crowd, not daring to meet his gaze, the last trace of resentment in Xu Luo's heart vanished into thin air.

So, Xu Luo simply exchanged some pleasantries with Gu Jianfeng, chatted casually for a bit, and then took his leave.

"Father... was he here to make a show of force?"

After Xu Luo left, Ancient Star came to his father's side and asked quietly.

"A show of force?" Gu Jianfeng chuckled softly, then shook his head. "No, he's long past needing to do that."

"Then he..." Ancient Star was confused and curious, looking at his father.

"His realm has long since surpassed ours by far! So, this trip wasn't a show of force. He was simply revisiting old haunts," Gu Jianfeng said, patting his son's shoulder before turning to go back inside.

"Revisiting old haunts?" Ancient Star mumbled to himself. He seemed to figure something out, and a smile appeared on his face—one that held a hint of pride.

"Beidou's Eighth Star, the world-renowned expert Xu Luo... I've fought him before, haha!"

...

In the following days, Xu Luo visited several other sects in the Central Plains Star Continent, such as the Black Water Sect and the Willow Leaf Sect.

For some, he didn't even show his face, merely glancing at them from a distance before quietly departing.

Gu Jianfeng was right. For Xu Luo, this was a journey of revisiting old haunts. And the places he'd never been before, he treated as a new tour.

Gu Jianfeng could see that Xu Luo was clearing his mind, but he didn't know that Xu Luo was also refining his heart!

Heart as Proof of Dao... refining the heart in the mortal world.

Finally, Xu Luo arrived at the Merak Sect.

The familiar mountain gate, the familiar flowers and plants. He passed through the familiar Array and entered the Merak Sect's grounds.

"Halt! Who goes there? How dare you trespass into the Merak Sect's gate?"

"Huh? How did you get through our Mountain Defense Array?"

"That's not right. The Sect Leader said the Mountain Defense Array was improved by Senior Brother Sui Yan. There's no way you could have passed through it..."

A young girl who looked to be only fourteen or fifteen, with a charmingly naive face, didn't even wait for Xu Luo to speak before she spilled everything in a torrent of words, practically giving away all their secrets.

Xu Luo smiled and pointed to his own face. "Do I look like a bad guy to you?"

The little girl first shook her head and mumbled, "Someone as good-looking as you, how could you be a bad guy?"

Xu Luo grinned smugly, but the little girl's next words immediately made his smile freeze on his face.

"But my master and the Sect Leader both said that the more handsome a man is, the more likely he is to be a liar!"

Xu Luo's mouth twitched. He looked at the little girl. "Isn't that saying about women?"

"It applies just as well to men!" the little girl argued forcefully.

Just then, a voice full of surprise and delight called out from the distance, "Big Brother!"

Following the voice, a red shadow, like a streak of red light, threw itself directly into Xu Luo's arms, nearly stunning the charmingly naive little girl standing to the side.

Only after she got a clear look at who had thrown themselves into the handsome man's arms did she exclaim in surprise, "Wow, Big Sis Yaya, you... how could you, how could you jump into a strange man's arms? Aaaah, I can't look, I'll get a stye!"

As she spoke, she covered her eyes with her two small, fair hands, but the gaps between her fingers were so wide that her large, bright eyes were completely visible.

Yaya finally pulled away from Xu Luo's embrace. She jumped on the spot a few times in excitement before turning back and pouting at the naive little girl. "What does a silly girl like you know? Brother Xu Luo and I are good friends! We're confidants, you get it?"

The naive little girl didn't hear anything else, only catching the two words "Xu Luo." She immediately let out a shriek, turned, and ran.

"What's wrong with her? Was she scared off?" Xu Luo watched this scene, dumbfounded, his mouth twitching uncontrollably.

Yaya pouted and sneered. "That little brat's gone to spread the news. Hmph, Brother Xu Luo, you don't even know, do you? You've already become the Merak Sect's greatest pride!"

"Haha..." Xu Luo chuckled and patted Yaya's head.

Yaya dodged by tilting her head, protesting, "Hey, I'm a grown-up young lady now! You can't pat me like I'm a kitten or a puppy anymore."

"A grown-up young lady, are you?" Xu Luo asked with a chuckle. Then he saw a large crowd of people rapidly approaching in the distance.

Li Wenxi, Qiushuiduan... a group of the Merak Sect's upper echelons filed out one after another. Li Wenxi's eyes were slightly red-rimmed, and she appeared quite emotional.

As they drew near, Yaya grinned and slipped to the side, showing she was a girl who knew when to step back.

Upon seeing Xu Luo, Qiushuiduan first clasped his fist in a salute, then gave a deep bow. He said in a heavy voice, "Young Master Xu, for your great kindness, I, Qiushuiduan, will be eternally grateful!"

Qiushuiduan had received a share of the heaven-sent opportunity!

Looking at the handsome, middle-aged man before him—who still had a full head of white hair but whose essence, energy, and spirit were at their peak—Xu Luo smiled faintly. "Mr. Qiu, there's no need for such formalities. I am confident that you will be able to create even greater surprises!"

"Hahaha, then I shall hope your kind words come true, Young Master Xu!" Qiushuiduan laughed heartily.

The other Merak upper echelons standing by all looked at Qiushuiduan with envy, thinking to themselves, 'If only we had also formed a connection with Xu Luo back then. That heaven-sent opportunity... might we have received a share as well?'

Xu Luo then looked toward Li Wenxi. The god of time seemed to have shown this woman special favor; though so many years had passed, the Merak Sect Master's appearance seemed to have never changed.

"Sect Leader Li, it's been a while!" Xu Luo said with a smile, clasping his fist.

Li Wenxi returned the salute and said softly, "You seem more mature now."

Then, the group of people escorted Xu Luo inside, treating him like the moon surrounded by stars.

The Xu Luo of today was worthy of such ceremony. His identity as a reincarnated star alone was enough to command respect. However, what truly established his status was the battle he fought on the Endless Ocean of the Sect Continent!

Although from Xu Luo's own perspective, he hadn't done anything in that battle, in the eyes of others, he had trapped and killed thousands upon thousands of Divine Powers!

With such power, he was virtually unrivaled in the current age!

After catching up, Xu Luo began to publicly lecture on the scriptures here. He had never done such a thing, not even at the Dubhe or Jade Balance Sects.

But Merak was different. Because no matter what, he bore the mark of Merak.

Back when he was still weak, Merak had given him selfless help!

A person must know to repay kindness. Now was the time for Xu Luo to repay Merak.

He ended up staying here for half a month!

Every day, Xu Luo would publicly lecture for four hours. Sometimes he would use the Jade Balance Demon Sound, baptizing the young disciples of Merak with the voice of the Great Dao. Other times, he would cite classics and scriptures to resolve their confusion.

Many things that seemed incredibly difficult to the average person were unraveled by Xu Luo in just a few words.

Even the group of Merak's upper echelons benefited immensely, because many of the difficult problems Xu Luo unraveled had also been troubling them for a long time!

In the end, even some old-generation figures who had been in seclusion for many years were startled into coming out. They all emerged from their seclusion and sat quietly to the side, listening intently like earnest students.

Li Wenxi was deeply moved. She knew all too well how precious this great gift from Xu Luo to Merak was.

This was, quite clearly, Xu Luo passing on the Dao!

Moreover, it was something no one in history had ever done... teaching the Great Dao!

Such magnanimity was something that perhaps not even a Saint would possess!

Li Wenxi could even imagine that, many years from now, Merak... would surely grow to become the most powerful sect in this world!

And Xu Luo... would be the progenitor who had personally forged it all!

But she had no way to repay him. It was even hard to say whether Merak had helped Xu Luo when he first joined, or if Xu Luo had been the one to complete Merak.

In the evenings, Xu Luo would drink with Qiushuiduan and the others. The things he spoke of at these times were far too profound and not suitable for the younger generation.

But for these powerful individuals, it was knowledge so precious they would have been willing to take him as their master to learn it!

Half a month later, Xu Luo took his leave of Li Wenxi and Qiushuiduan. He didn't alert the group of young Merak disciples; otherwise, the tearful farewells would have made him a little uncomfortable.

"I will live in seclusion in the Cangqiong Imperial Capital for ten years. After that, there is a thread of karma that I must resolve."

Xu Luo said with a smile, "After all my karma is settled, I should be entering the Divine Domain. I hope you all will work hard as well, and step into the Divine Domain one day soon!"

With that, Xu Luo waved, turned, and departed with a flourish.

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