Firmament Sword

A group of experts from the Bai Family stared at each other, completely baffled. They hadn't even understood the conversation between Xu Luo and their young master. Yes, they had heard every single word clearly, but when put together, the meaning was completely lost on them.

But seeing their young master had actually let go of his hatred, they couldn't say anything else. They could only accept their misfortune, take their fallen companion, and depart in silence.

It started with a roar but ended with a whimper…

They arrived like descending gods, only to leave like beaten dogs.

To top it all off, they had to say "thank you" before they left…

Was there anything in this world more frustrating than this?

Xu Luo turned back, looked at Sophie's complicated expression, and sighed softly. "You can go."

"Go? Where could I possibly go?" Sophie gave a sad smile and said, "Ever since I was a child, I was told that one day… I would marry a great hero. That he would be the most outstanding disciple of the Bai Family! A dragon among men, a peerless prodigy! A mighty expert who would one day stand proudly in the Divine Domain!"

"So, I had to think of him when I ate, think of him when I slept, and think of him when I walked in the garden. When I gathered with my sisters, they would all talk about him… Everyone envied me, and for a time, I even believed I would be the happiest woman in the world."

"But it wasn't until today that I saw him for the second time. The first was when I was very little, only a few years old. It was you who personally shattered all my beautiful fantasies. You who completely destroyed this beautiful, fragile illusion…"

"When I go back, how am I supposed to face my family? Am I supposed to tell them that Bai Zhixiang made a vow as a child to never marry in his life?"

"Will they believe me?"

"If I can't marry into the Bai Family, if I can't form this marriage alliance, what is the point of my existence?"

Tears streamed down Sophie's face, yet a bleak smile appeared. "Are you trying to drive me away now because you're afraid of damaging your own reputation? Fine. I'll just die!"

"You… don't die." Su Qianqian grabbed Sophie's arm and said softly, "Xu Luo chased the bad guys away, so why are you crying?"

"Waaah…" Sophie threw herself into Su Qianqian's arms and began to sob.

Su Qianqian gently comforted Sophie, just as Xu Luo would comfort her. All the while, her pure, flawless eyes looked at Xu Luo in confusion, as if she couldn't understand why her little sister Fei'Er was crying.

The corner of Xu Luo's mouth twitched.

Little Fatty gloated from the side, "Hahaha, look! You shattered the girl's dream. Now you have to take responsibility, don't you?"

Xu Jie and Huangfu Chongzhi, however, both stood quietly with thoughtful expressions, not making a sound.

Seeing their expressions, Xu Luo felt both gratified and reluctant.

His earlier words had been partially intended to enlighten Bai Zhixiang, but they were mostly meant to bring enlightenment to his First Brother and Second Brother!

Both Huangfu Chongzhi and Xu Jie were already infinitely close to the Dao. They were just one step away. A step that could take a day or two, or perhaps several hundred years. As long as they achieved enlightenment, they would immediately and truly enter the Dao!

In Xu Luo's eyes, this day was bound to come sooner or later. So, if he had the opportunity to help them take that step into the next realm sooner, he would.

Even though, once they took that step, they would have to leave not long after.

Xu Luo even thought about how his young nephew, the Emperor Huangfu Hongzhi, would complain about this. His sister-in-law Mo Yun and her children, as well as Xu Jie's mother, would complain too.

But he had to do it!

Because once one set foot on the path of cultivation, they were destined to reach this day sooner or later.

Little Fatty also noticed that something was off with his First and Second Brothers. He looked at Xu Luo nervously. "Third Brother… they're not… going to be like Fifth Brother, are they?"

"Perhaps…" Xu Luo nodded.

"Heavens…" Little Fatty gave Xu Luo a reproachful look. "You brought them out with you, but you can't bring them back. When the time comes… how are you going to face their families?"

"First Brother probably wanted to ascend long ago!" Xu Luo said faintly. "As for Second Brother, even if he forcibly suppressed his enlightenment, would he be happy?"

Little Fatty was at a loss for words and fell silent.

Xu Luo patted Little Fatty's shoulder. "Everyone's Dao is different. I think… their wives will understand."

"Maybe… but if you all leave one by one, I'll be the only one left in the end. How lonely will that be?" Little Fatty said, sounding dejected.

"Your Dao is actually here in the mortal world. Your worldly ties are far from over," Xu Luo said, teasing him with a smile.

"That's true… If you asked me to give up all this wealth and glory, I really couldn't bear to do it!" Little Fatty suddenly seemed to come back to life, grinning at Xu Luo. "If you all leave, then in the entire Cangqiong Empire, Master Fatty will be the most powerful man alive! When that time comes, I'll lead the army on campaigns to the north and south, haha, and bring Great Yan… and Da Han into the Cangqiong fold! Even though they've been behaving themselves lately… Master Fatty believes a leopard can't change its spots. Once you're all gone, they'll start getting restless again!"

"And even if they don't get restless, Master Fatty will create countless opportunities for them! Then, Master Fatty will lead the army of justice and annihilate them in one fell swoop! Mwahahahaha!"

Overhearing this, Sophie, who was still crying, couldn't help but roll her eyes, thinking this fatty had gone mad.

Xu Luo, however, understood the bitterness in Little Fatty's heart. But there was nothing to be done. As their brother, this was all he could do for them.

Everyone's talent is different, and they excel at different things. You can show them the direction, but the path… is one they must always walk themselves.

No one else can walk it for them.

After that, Huangfu Chongzhi and Xu Jie began to seek enlightenment right there. Xu Luo and the others ended up waiting for half a month!

Finally, Huangfu Chongzhi was the first to open his eyes. His gaze held a world-weariness that seemed to see through the mortal realm, as if he had lived for hundreds or thousands of years. Yet, his body radiated with endless vitality!

That immense Life Energy even overflowed from him, stimulating all the plants within a radius of thousands of miles to grow wildly!

Even some Spirit Beasts benefited from it and were irresistibly drawn to the area.

"The Life Dao… I understand it now!" Huangfu Chongzhi said with a sigh. Then he looked at Xu Luo, his eyes filled with reluctance to part. "Third Brother, after I'm gone, my son, the emperor… I entrust him to you. When he is older, remember to tell him the truth of everything, and then let him choose his own future path."

"Hmph, that job… will probably fall to me, Hongzhi's Uncle Fatty!" Little Fatty said, his lips pursed. Though he spoke in a strange, resentful tone, the rims of his eyes were red.

"Haha, that's true. It probably won't be long before Third Brother takes this step as well." Huangfu Chongzhi smiled, then glanced at Xu Jie. "Even if we ascend to the Divine Domain from the same place, will we be separated upon entry?"

Xu Luo nodded. "The two are different spaces… different planes. So… even if you ascend together, you will be teleported to different locations upon entry."

"I see… In that case, I'll just have to be like Fifth Brother and make a name for myself first!" Huangfu Chongzhi said. "After all, we know nothing about the Divine Domain."

Xu Luo nodded. "Try to establish a foothold there first. Don't think too far ahead. Once you step into the Saint Realm, your lifespan is infinite… so there's no need to be hasty about most things."

Huangfu Chongzhi nodded. The Life Energy emanating from his body grew thicker and thicker, finally attracting the attention of the laws of heaven and earth…

Even a power as potent and rich as Life Energy was still considered an anomaly in this world!

Anything that broke the balance of this world was not permitted by its rules. And so, in the sky, the tribulation clouds began to gather.

At this moment, Xu Jie… also finally opened his eyes.

He burst out laughing. "So that's how it is! My Dao… so this is what it is!"

With that, he looked at Xu Luo and the others. "Third Brother, Fourth Brother, I'm entrusting my wife and family to you. Tell them that if I can become stronger one day, I will fight my way back to get them! Tell them they must remember to cultivate, so I don't come back only to be greeted by a desolate grave!"

After his enlightenment, Xu Jie's entire demeanor changed completely. He was no longer the homebody he used to be; he had become free and uninhibited.

It wasn't that he had become emotionless, but that he had attained a higher state of being!

Upon reaching such a realm, one was already close to transcendence!

Transcendence from all things in the Mortal World!

Xu Luo nodded and said with a smile, "Actually… you don't need to worry too much. I have an item that contains a world of its own. In the future, on the day I ascend, perhaps… I can bring them all with me into the Divine Domain!"

"Really?" The eyes of both Huangfu Chongzhi and Xu Jie lit up instantly.

Even the heartbroken Sophie, listening from the side, felt her eyes light up. She stared at Xu Luo, her gaze shining. 'Just how many more secrets is this big villain hiding?' she wondered.

"Of course, it's true." Xu Luo smiled, then glanced at the massive tribulation clouds in the sky. At the same time, he swept his gaze across the distant horizon and said, "You two should go quickly. Otherwise, the Celestial Tribulation is really going to strike."

"Alas, this world… ever since that time you stirred the heavens and the earth, its rules have changed. It no longer tolerates the presence of Saints." Having reached enlightenment, Huangfu Chongzhi now understood many things. He sighed softly, waved to the group, and then said to Xu Jie, "First Brother, see you in the Divine Domain!"

"Second Brother, see you in the Divine Domain!" Xu Jie said. He also glanced at the distant horizon. "There's an old fossil over there. Should Second Brother and I help you get rid of him?"

Huangfu Chongzhi also scanned the distant horizon. "Like a swarm of flies. How annoying!"

Xu Luo smiled and shook his head. "This one, I can handle myself. You two can leave without any worries!"

"Haha, we trust in your abilities, Third Brother! Don't mind that we're taking the first step. If you wanted to, Third Brother, you would've been in the Divine Domain long ago!" Xu Jie said with a great laugh, then turned and departed.

But in the instant he turned, a single tear escaped the corner of his eye. It drifted through the air, fell to the ground, and shattered.

From this moment on… the mortal and immortal were separated, all worldly ties severed!

Little Fatty had been fighting back his tears the whole time. At this moment, he finally couldn't hold them in any longer. They dripped down, but he made no sound, crying in silence.

Su Qianqian looked at Xu Luo with an innocent expression. "Wow, Xu Luo, those two… Brother Huangfu… Brother Xu Jie… why did they fly away?"

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