Firmament Sword

In the Jade Balance Sect, Xu Qing sat quietly by the window, her hand cupping her cheek as she gazed at the breathtaking spectacle in the sky. She murmured to herself, "Xu Luo, is this your ascension? Uncle said that in this entire world, only your ascension could create a sight like this."

'Hee hee. To be honest, I'm not entirely convinced you're some Star Reincarnator. I'd rather believe you're a regular person of flesh and blood... hmm, an unparalleled genius among regular people!'

'That's because only then would I feel a little closer to you, not so impossibly distant.'

'I'm so envious of Phoenix and the others. If only I had been the one to meet you first... wouldn't that have been wonderful?'

'But... I'm only a tiny bit away from that final step now! Uncle is so mean, though. He shot me down, saying that for that last half-step, some people break through in no time at all, while others can never cross it in their entire lifetime...'

'I am the best! I can definitely take that step! Hmph... you mean old Uncle! I'm not nasty like you. I hope *you* can take that step soon and hurry on up to the Divine Domain!'

The beautiful woman made a childish gesture, sticking her tongue out playfully in a moment of boundless charm. Then, she whispered softly, 'I worked up the courage to visit you a few times. Phoenix and the others were considerate enough to pretend they didn't see, they played along so well! But you... you just played dumb! Xu Luo, don't you know... I like you!'

A soft sigh echoed from her secluded chambers, and then all fell into a lonely silence.

...

...

In the Dubhe Sect, Lin Luoxue stood outside the Dubhe Palace, her head tilted back to gaze at the kaleidoscopic heavens above.

'Xu Luo, I am your woman. In this life and every life to come, for all of eternity, I am yours and yours alone!'

'The Dubhe Sect has developed very well these past few years, and I'm sure it will do even better in the future. Therefore, I will also have time to focus on the path of cultivation.'

'Those others won't necessarily advance faster than me! When the time comes, we'll see just who... is the first to appear by your side!'

Nangong Yu Yan approached from a short distance away. She looked at Lin Luoxue, a hint of melancholy in her expression, and sighed softly. "He's gone, isn't he?"

Lin Luoxue nodded gently, then looked at Nangong Yu Yan with a faint smile. "Sister Nangong, how would you like to be the Sect Leader?"

Nangong Yu Yan was taken aback for a moment, her delicate face showing a hint of confusion. After a moment's thought, she smiled. "Very well."

...

...

Xu Luo felt his body overflowing with power. The vital energy of his qi and blood surged to an unimaginable level.

The energy in his Dantian had turned a brilliant gold, and it flowed slowly within him. It felt as if a single thought could cause this golden power to erupt, transforming into a torrential, boundless assault!

It could overwhelm everything in the mortal realm!

It could engulf any enemy in an instant!

'So... this is the Saint Realm!'

Xu Luo closed his eyes. In that instant, he felt as if he had become one with the world itself.

In the sky, there were only auspicious signs, no Celestial Tribulation.

Xu Luo didn't feel rejected by this realm; in fact, it even felt welcoming, like a close kin.

But he knew in his heart that he couldn't remain in this world for long, either.

It was like a sealed container filled with too much water; any more... and it would simply burst.

Xu Luo extended his Divine Sense.

His vast Divine Thought instantly spread in all directions. If it were visible, one would see his Divine Sense rushing outward like a flash flood of quicksilver, unstoppably swift as it spread to cover all creation.

Just how powerful was the Divine Sense of a Saint Realm cultivator?

Xu Luo was finally experiencing it for himself...

He, who had experienced an epiphany that took him from the Eleventh Layer of the Divine Power Realm straight to the Saint Realm, could now directly perceive several streams of thought that felt incredibly dear to him!

These thoughts... were adrift in the air, and he had caught them!

The sensation was so profound and mysterious that it left even Xu Luo astonished.

A person's thoughts were formless and shapeless, wild and untraceable, leaving no tracks to follow.

And yet, the moment he stepped into the Saint Realm, he could perceive these very thoughts with perfect clarity.

"I love you all very much, too!"

A smile touched the corners of Xu Luo's lips as he murmured the words.

Then, he stood up and "walked" out.

From the deepest secret chamber beneath the Xu Family estate, he took a single step and emerged, coming to a halt in mid-air.

He then looked down at the ancient city beneath his feet.

This was his homeland, the place where he had grown up.

Here were his family, his friends, his roots.

"I have to go now," Xu Luo murmured.

Luo Xinlan and her husband, Xu Ji, flew up into the air. Luo Xinlan was already unable to speak, tears streaming down her face like rain.

Xu Ji's eyes were filled with reluctance, his gaze on Xu Luo full of paternal love.

A mother's love is like the ocean, vast and boundless; a father's love is like a mountain, heavy and profound.

Xu Su, with Guo Ying and Xia Muyao, also flew up into the sky. He looked at his younger brother, his eyes rimmed with red, yet he managed a smile. "Xiaoluo, take care! I'll come looking for you soon. When I do, don't you dare be in such a sorry state that you embarrass your big brother!"

Xu Su's words managed to lighten the heavy atmosphere a little.

Luo Xinlan shot Xu Su a look, her voice choked with emotion. "You, child! Don't put so much pressure on your brother!"

Xu Su scratched his head. "I have faith in him!"

"Of course my Third Brother can do it!" Little Fatty arrived in the nick of time with Lan Xin. He rushed over, gave Xu Luo a fierce hug, and then snickered. "Master Fatty can now say he's been up close and personal with a Saint!"

Lan Xin rolled her eyes and chided him from the side. "So pathetic! Why don't you become a Saint yourself someday?"

Little Fatty looked helpless. "My dear lady, becoming a Saint isn't that easy! Besides, if I become a Saint, what would you do?"

"I'll become a Saint too, of course!" Lan Xin declared, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Looking at the crowd of family and friends before him, ripples disturbed the calm surface of Xu Luo's heart. He didn't suppress the surging emotions. Instead, he cupped his fist to them all. "All of you, please take care!"

Master Mao peeked his head out of Xu Luo's pocket, his eyes teary.

"The road ahead will be difficult, Third Brother. You take care, too!" Little Fatty pressed his lips together, struggling to hold back his tears.

"Brother," Xu Su said in a deep voice, his own eyes beginning to redden, "the Divine Domain will be anything but peaceful. No matter what happens, remember to protect yourself first!"

"My child," said Luo Xinlan, "no matter what, remember that your own well-being is the most important thing!"

"Son," Xu Ji said heartily, "go to the Divine Domain and make a name for yourself! By the time your old man sets foot there, I want the entire Divine Domain to be echoing with your legend!"

Xu Luo nodded firmly. "Don't worry. I'll remember everything you've told me!"

Just then, a streak of light shot up from the Cangqiong Imperial Capital. A woman with a valiant and heroic air flew swiftly to stand before Xu Luo.

It was none other than Mo Yun, Xu Jie's wife.

"Xu Luo, take good care of yourself. If you see your Second Brother in the Divine Domain, give him a message from his wife!" Mo Yun said, looking at Xu Luo with reddened eyes.

"Please, tell me, Second Sister-in-law," Xu Luo said, cupping his fist toward Mo Yun.

"Just tell him this: 'You heartless bastard, you just abandoned your poor wife and child to fend for ourselves! You'd better behave yourself for me in the Divine Domain. If you dare to go fooling around with other women, I swear, the day I finally see you, I will never let you hear the end of it!'"

The corners of Xu Luo's mouth twitched violently. He nodded earnestly. "Second Sister-in-law, I will be sure to deliver your exact words!"

"Alright, that's it!" Mo Yun was nothing if not direct. Having said her piece, she fell silent.

But everyone knew in their hearts that she had a thousand more things to say, words she wanted to speak only to Xu Jie.

In the sky, the vibrant, multicolored clouds began to converge, gathering layer upon layer, piece by piece. Gradually, they formed a colossal gate!

Everyone stared at this scene in utter shock, their very souls shaken to the core.

"So this is the spectacle of a Star Reincarnator's ascension?" Little Fatty murmured to himself.

Throughout the entire world, billions of living beings knelt down. They worshipped the heavens, and they worshipped this unprecedented, soul-shaking spectacle!

Without any pressure or compulsion, nearly every living being who witnessed this scene prostrated themselves on the ground in absolute reverence.

In that moment, Xu Luo suddenly felt a vast, boundless power of faith washing over him, bestowing its full might upon his body.

This... was a fortune of heaven-defying proportions!

The devout faith of nearly every living being in the entire world was gathering and empowering him!

Light began to radiate from Xu Luo's body. Like a star, he slowly flew toward the gate.

The light grew ever more brilliant until, in the end, his figure could no longer be seen, completely enveloped in the radiance.

The people in mid-air were weeping, waving, and shouting, "Goodbye, Xu Luo! Goodbye, Master Mao!"

At that moment, a single tear slowly fell from the corner of Xu Luo's eye. It passed through the brilliant light, through the surging power of faith, and streaked across the void, transforming into a gentle rain that fell upon the people in mid-air.

In that instant, the spirits of these people all underwent a profound cleansing!

The tear-rain then fell to the earth, forming a lake outside the Cangqiong Imperial Capital City.

This lake was made of a Saint's Tears!

The lake was highly spiritual. Many who were gravely ill found their symptoms eased just by drinking its water. Those who drank from it regularly were said to become immune to all disease.

This lake was later known as Star Lake, though some also called it Saint's Tears Lake.

Xu Luo's figure passed through the gate formed from clouds and vanished from sight.

From that day forward, the realms of immortal and mortal were forever parted.

"You've finally... arrived!"

An icy voice suddenly resounded in Xu Luo's mind. It was cold and merciless, as if it had traversed endless eons, weathered by the passage of ages.

An indescribable feeling spread through Xu Luo's heart.

'Who are you?' Xu Luo sent out a mental probe.

But his thought vanished without a trace, receiving no reply.

Xu Luo walked along a path made of light. The path stretched across the cosmos, its end nowhere in sight.

Xu Luo didn't know how long he had been walking. It could have been an instant, or it could have been many years. When he finally reached the end of the path, he discovered a gate.

This gate was formed entirely of condensed light, yet it exuded a desolate, ancient aura. It was covered in dense runes, and the Power of various Laws manifested upon its surface.

As Xu Luo approached the gate, it opened automatically, revealing a brand-new world before him.

Vast Mountains stretched endlessly, one after another. A single peak could be tens of thousands of feet high. A majestic aura filled the air, and all sorts of ancient creatures roamed the mountain ranges.

Soul-shaking roars echoed one after another.

In the distance, a gigantic bird exuding a powerful aura was chasing a dragon-like creature.

The dragon-like creature was thousands of feet long and had a pair of wings on its back. It let out an enraged screech but was clearly no match for the giant bird. It was quickly overtaken, and the two began a fierce battle.

Master Mao poked his head out of Xu Luo's pocket just in time to see the spectacle. He immediately cried out, "AHHHH! That's terrifying! Xu Luo, is this hellscape the Divine Domain?"

The two battling creatures actually turned their heads in unison. Xu Luo clearly saw a look of profound disdain appear in the eyes of the dragon-like creature, the one that was about to be torn to shreds by the giant bird.

It was as if to mock them: 'A pair of country bumpkins!'

Master Mao saw that look clearly as well. He was instantly incensed and roared, "You little worm! You're about to be killed, and you still dare to look down on your Master Mao?"

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