Firmament Sword

Xu Luo froze, looking at Su Qianqian with delighted surprise. "Qianqian, you... you're okay?"

"Qianqian is fine! But... Fei'Er... is a good person. Don't scare her. She's... timid, just like Qianqian," Su Qianqian said, looking at Xu Luo with her big, bright eyes.

Xu Luo sighed to himself, a little disappointed, and then said, "Don't worry. I won't bully her. I'm just messing with her!"

Sophie rolled her eyes. 'If this doesn't count as bullying,' she thought, 'then I don't know what does!'

But after the past few days with him, she had come to understand his personality a little better. She knew that even though his words could be harsh, he wasn't actually a bad person.

This was why Sophie was often so confused. She didn't think the people of her family were particularly evil, and Xu Luo wasn't a bad person either. As for Sister Celestial Lady, her Divine Soul was damaged now, but even before, when she was aloof and proud, she was merely cold on the outside. She wasn't a bad person deep down.

'If none of them are bad people, then why have things gotten so out of hand?'

Xu Luo hadn't harmed her, but her kinsmen who were with her that day hadn't been so lucky. He had slaughtered them all with ease, as if cutting down vegetables. At that moment, Xu Luo had seemed as terrifying as a demon in her eyes.

"The human heart is the most complicated thing in this world. You just can't understand it." This was what Sophie told herself when she could no longer make sense of it all.

Perhaps, after an experience like this, the pretty young girl would mature a great deal.

The outside world was in an uproar, but Xu Luo and his group were still searching for all kinds of Spirit Medicine in the Vast Mountains of the Ancient Race, completely unaware that the world outside was practically turning upside down because of them.

It had even alarmed many seniors who had been in seclusion for years. They emerged one after another to condemn Beidou's Eighth Star, proclaiming his actions were evil and that he would face heavenly retribution.

Xu Luo knew none of this. Of course, even if he heard, he wouldn't have cared.

On this particular day, Huangfu Chongzhi was refining medicine. Xu Jie had discovered a piece of rare metal and was overjoyed. Little Fatty had sniffed out the scent of Spirit Medicine from a cave more than a dozen li away and, sure enough, found a ten-thousand-year-old medicinal plant, leaving him ecstatic.

Meanwhile, Xu Luo had brought Su Qianqian fishing in a deep stream, with Sophie trailing behind as their little attendant.

Xu Luo's fishing skills were truly remarkable, and Sophie couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.

The stream was quite deep, at least ten to twenty feet, but it was so clear that you could easily see the stones and fish at the bottom.

The water was frigid; dipping your hand in for even a moment sent a bone-chilling cold through you.

Chopstick-long Silverfish thrived in this environment. Their bodies shimmered with a silver light, making them nearly transparent, and their meat was tender and exquisitely delicious.

These fish were extremely fast and sensitive, making them nearly impossible to catch by hand.

Sophie had heard about the delicious taste of Silverfish since she was a child and had eaten them on a few rare occasions, but never enough to have her fill.

It was only now, after being "kidnapped" and resentfully forced into the role of a little maid, that she could finally eat her fill of the Silverfish she had always craved!

Dozens of Silverfish were already swimming in the creel, their bodies looking translucent and quite adorable.

Xu Luo's gaze pierced straight to the bottom of the stream, his body perfectly still. The moment a Silverfish bit the hook, escape was nearly impossible.

It wasn't until one Silverfish got stuck to the hook... that Sophie realized something was off. Her bright eyes widened as she stared at Xu Luo. "Ah... You—you're actually catching them like this? That's incredible!"

Xu Luo flashed Sophie a grin. "So you noticed?"

Sophie sighed. "You're truly amazing!"

This was the first time the young woman had praised Xu Luo with such heartfelt admiration. To her, this handsome villain had kidnapped her and forced her to be a maid; even if she was impressed, she would never tell him!

But this time, she was truly in awe.

Because that Silverfish hadn't bitten the hook at all!

It had merely passed by the hook and been forcibly pulled onto it by a powerful suction, rendered completely immobile!

And then Xu Luo had reeled it in.

'What incredible control over True Essence does that require? Even the Half-Saints in my family can destroy this mountain, obliterate this stream, or even immobilize a section of the water to grab the Silverfish inside... But for them to do this—to infuse True Essence into a fishing rod, channel it through that thin line, and latch onto a fish at the bottom of the stream... That's absolutely impossible!'

'Only someone who has achieved the absolute pinnacle of power control could do something like that!'

This was real skill!

She had to admit she was impressed.

And so, the young Sophie was won over. For the first time, deep in her heart, she felt a strange stirring of emotion for this handsome, dashing villain.

But she instantly suppressed this feeling, because even she found it unbelievable. 'This guy killed so many members of your family. He's the greatest enemy of the Su Family! How could you possibly be moved by him? You can't!'

It was a mere ripple, but as soon as it appeared, the young woman forcibly crushed it with a torrent of reasons.

But she didn't understand: if the heart does not stir, it cannot hurt. But once it has stirred, how can it be so easily suppressed?

After they had another delicious meal of Silverfish stew, a profound glint appeared in Xu Luo's calm eyes as he gazed toward the distant horizon.

"What is it? Someone's coming?" Little Fatty asked.

For the past several days, they had been waiting, waiting for their enemies to come to them.

In Xu Luo's words, it was best to settle any grudges that could be settled here in the lands of the Ancient Race.

Because he might enter the Divine Domain someday, and he didn't want to leave a mountain of trouble for his family and friends. If his enemies couldn't find him, they would go after them instead.

In truth, the one Xu Luo was really waiting for was that old ancestor of the Su Family! Or rather... the person pulling the strings behind the Su Family Master!

From the very beginning, Xu Luo had refused to believe that the Su Family Master could have done all those things on his own, let alone suppress all the public outcry.

But for whatever reason, that person had yet to appear.

This time, from deep within the glowing clouds, waves of icy Divine Thought swept across the Vast Mountains.

Xu Luo sensed them instantly.

"Ha! Someone must be here to rescue me!" Sophie exclaimed, spitting out a fish bone with an excited look on her face.

She knew better than to shout or release any aura fluctuations to draw their attention.

Xu Luo shot Sophie a grin but said nothing. He simply stood up, and a powerful aura erupted from his body, surging out in all directions.

They were situated with their backs to a cliff, facing a moderately sized grassland that stretched for dozens of li.

As Xu Luo's aura burst forth, a great wind seemed to sweep across the grassland, and all the blades of grass instantly flattened, pointing away from them.

With Xu Luo and his group at the center, the surrounding grass flattened in every direction, instantly revealing their position.

At the same time, the aura rising from Xu Luo's body transformed into an incomparably sharp Sword Intent that shot straight into the sky!

High above, from deep within the glowing clouds, an equally fierce Sword Intent erupted to meet Xu Luo's, the two forces clashing in the air.

High in the sky, a vast swathe of clouds instantly exploded!

The explosion was silent, but it created an immensely powerful shockwave!

An unknowing observer would only see the clouds burst apart, with no idea what had just transpired.

Only those who truly understood would know what that silent contest signified!

The expressions on the faces of Xu Jie and Huangfu Chongzhi turned grim. They realized the newcomer was by no means weak!

Someone who could use a single Divine Thought, transform it into Sword Intent, and clash with Xu Luo's own without falling into a disadvantage... there weren't many people like that left in the Ancient Race today!

"I, Bai Zhixiang of the Bai Family, have come to take your head!"

The voice was gentle and unhurried, devoid of any pride or impatience. It held no trace of arrogance, as if merely stating the most commonplace of facts.

A figure in white robes, shimmering with a golden light, descended from the glowing clouds high above.

Each step covered an immense distance. In a near instant, he descended from the sky and landed before Xu Luo, watching him in silence.

Sophie, who had been about to greet him, realized he hadn't even glanced in her direction!

'Maybe... he sees Xu Luo as a great enemy and can't afford to be distracted...' Sophie reasoned to herself, trying to make an excuse for the newcomer.

Sophie had thought she would be ecstatic; after all, her fiancé had actually come to rescue her. And yet, for some reason, she couldn't feel a single trace of warmth from him.

Instead, it was this detestable villain who had kidnapped her and forced her to be his maid who had somehow left such a vivid, lively impression on her.

Glancing at the Silverfish bone she had spat onto the ground, young Sophie's heart ached, and her eyes grew unfocused.

Then, dozens more figures emerged from the glowing clouds, descending to land behind the white-robed young man.

Xu Luo's expression remained calm. He glanced at Bai Zhixiang and suddenly cracked a small smile. "Are you here to rescue her?"

As he spoke, he glanced at the young Sophie, who stood with her head bowed, lost in thought.

"I am here to kill you," Bai Zhixiang said, raising his head. A piercing golden light shone from his eyes as he stared at Xu Luo. "To take your head."

"So you don't care whether she lives or dies, then?" Xu Luo grinned and said to Sophie, "See? I told you he doesn't care about you!"

Even though she knew perfectly well that Xu Luo was just trying to stir up trouble, a flame of anger still flared up inside Sophie. She raised her head to look at the young man almost completely shrouded in golden light. "I know this might sound unreasonable, but Bai Zhixiang, I just want to ask you one thing! Are you here to kill him because you feel you've been humiliated, or are you here to save me?"

Bai Zhixiang's gaze finally shifted to Sophie. He watched her quietly before speaking. "Is there a difference?"

"Of course there is! I just want to know if you care about me!" Sophie shouted at Bai Zhixiang, her voice laced with a sense of grievance.

"Heh." Bai Zhixiang suddenly smiled, revealing a surprisingly handsome face. His gaze softened considerably as he said gently, "Silly girl, how could I not care about you?"

"But what if... I've served as his maid?" For some reason, as if by some strange impulse, the words tumbled from Sophie's lips.

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