Firmament Sword

On the Ninth Mountain, a sea of people knelt!

A Supreme Great Sect, looking down upon the world, peerless throughout all of history, second to none!

Celestial Brilliance, like a blazing sun, illuminating all of Xi Hezhou!

Xu Luo looked up at the figure high in the sky, and a strange feeling swelled in his heart.

In the Lower Realm, he had seen countless Sect Leaders and Patriarchs from ancient lineages, but none had ever possessed such a commanding presence.

And this person before him was just an Elder of Celestial Brilliance!

The Chief Grand Elder of the Medicine Garden.

If he alone possessed such might, then what kind of magnificent figure must the Sect Leader of Celestial Brilliance be?

Xu Luo's heart... was pounding.

This was not fear, nor was it envy. It was a resonance that came from the depths of his soul.

It was like a sea, parched for countless millennia, suddenly flooded with water and brought back to life. A joyous resonance echoed forth: 'I too was once vast and boundless, majestic and magnificent! I too once welcomed a hundred rivers and held the world in my embrace!'

Xu Luo could clearly feel the tremor emanating from his soul. It was like a seal, buried for countless ages, had suddenly... been activated!

'The former Beidou's Eighth Star... possessed an even greater power than this!'

'That was what it meant to truly... reign supreme over the world!'

Xu Luo took a deep breath, suppressed the resonance and tremor from the depths of his soul, and stood there quietly. He did not kneel, but watched the figure descend from the sky and arrive before him.

With a full head of white hair and robes fluttering, Yuwen Ji arrived in front of Xu Luo. He gazed at the young man, his eyes flashing with a peculiar light.

Xu Luo gave Yuwen Ji a deep bow. "This junior, Luo Tian, greets Grand Elder Yuwen!"

Yuwen Ji nodded, then said, "Come with me."

Xu Luo was slightly taken aback. The young woman Sun Xiaohong and the others kneeling beside him, however, wore expressions of joyous surprise. They didn't dare to speak, but they were all screaming in their hearts: 'Agree! Hurry up and agree!'

"What, you are unwilling?" Yuwen Ji glanced at Xu Luo and said, "This old man won't mince words with you. If you want to accomplish that thing in your heart, you must become my disciple!"

Xu Luo's expression remained impassive, but his heart grew cold. 'What did this unfathomable old man see?' he thought. 'Could it be that he's like the Huo Family's ancestor from the Ancient Race, skilled in the Inference Skill? Did he see through my origins and my purpose?'

'But if that's the case, why didn't he just capture me directly? Instead, he wants me to go with him and even take me as a disciple... isn't this a bit strange?'

While thinking this, Xu Luo's face showed little hesitation. 'Since I'm here, I might as well see it through.' He nodded and said, "Of course I'm willing!"

"Then let's go." Yuwen Ji gave Xu Luo a faint glance.

"These few... I've taken a liking to them. I wonder if they could be transferred to my side to work for me?" Xu Luo glanced at Sun Xiaohong and the others, who were kneeling and afraid to make a sound, and spoke directly.

"Trifles like this, you don't need to report them to me in the future." As Yuwen Ji spoke, he began to walk on air as if climbing stairs, heading toward the warship.

Xu Luo glanced at Sun Xiaohong and the others, gave them a nod, then unleashed his Body Technique and followed closely behind Yuwen Ji.

Sun Xiaohong and the others who remained kneeling watched until Xu Luo's figure disappeared into the warship. Only after the ship transformed into a streak of light and flew away did they finally collapse to the ground as if all their strength had left them.

They looked at each other, and one word was written across every one of their faces—excitement!

They didn't dare to cheer or shout. They could only clench their fists tightly and exchange encouraging looks.

Although they were still Servants, they would soon be by the Young Master's side, becoming attendants to the First Senior Brother of the Medicine Garden!

What an immense honor this was!

Never mind that so many people looked down on the Young Master now. As long as he became the First Senior Brother of the Medicine Garden, it wouldn't be long before people started flocking to his side!

At that time, even if they were still just Servants, who... who would dare to look down on them?

Even Inner Sect Disciples would probably have to treat them with a measure of respect!

This was truly a case of one person's success elevating all their connections!

This thought rose in the minds of these few Servants almost simultaneously. Although it seemed a bit disrespectful to themselves, it was the truth!

Just then, a cautious voice came from outside. "Excuse me... has the First Senior Brother left?"

"Who is it?" The young woman, Sun Xiaohong, who was clearly the leader of this group of Servants, stood up. She tried to calm her expression and asked coolly.

"It's me... I'm Li Yin from the Medicine Garden... just Li!" A voice full of humility came from outside.

"Li Yin? 'Just Li'?"

Sun Xiaohong and the others were so frightened they nearly fell back to the ground. To the Servants, the name Li Yin was like a great mountain, easily crushing them until they couldn't breathe.

But 'just Li'? What was going on?

"Who? Li Yin? The First Senior Brother of the Outer Sect?" Sun Xiaohong asked three questions in a row, her face filled with disbelief.

"Er... yes, it's me. You must be Miss Sun Xiaohong? This humble Li has long heard of you. You should have become an Outer Sect Disciple ages ago. It's all the fault of some troublemakers who blocked your path. I only just found out about this myself and have already dealt with them harshly. I've come now to deliver your identity token for the Outer Sect..."

Sun Xiaohong's eyes widened in disbelief, a layer of mist forming within them.

When she first joined Celestial Brilliance and became a Servant in the Medicine Garden, she had been full of confidence, determined to become an Outer Sect Disciple within three years. But two three-year periods had passed, and she was still a Servant.

In her heart, she knew it wasn't because she lacked the strength. Someone was obstructing her, preventing her from advancing to the Outer Sect. But she was just a lowly Servant. Before a powerful figure, she couldn't even make her own voice heard... what could she possibly do?

If she hadn't met Xu Luo this time, she would have likely continued just like this, forever bearing the status of a Servant, with no telling when she would ever be free.

Sun Xiaohong also knew the person who had been obstructing her, and knew them all too well.

It was another woman who had joined the sect at the same time as her. This woman had another identity—she was Sun Xiaohong's Maid!

Although she was a Maid, the two had grown up together like sisters. Sun Xiaohong had never imagined that one day, after climbing above her, this person would then viciously stomp on her!

Sun Xiaohong would never forget the day her Maid was promoted to an Outer Sect Disciple. Though she was a little disappointed, it was only because she herself had not been chosen. So she forced a smile, congratulated her sister, and said with relief that she now had a sister who was an Outer Sect Disciple...

Who would have thought that not long after, the Maid she had regarded as a sister would publicly draw a line between them.

Later, that woman who was promoted to a Celestial Brilliance Outer Sect Disciple would, on many occasions, tell others of her tale of suffering. In this tale, a spoiled and detestable young miss would invariably appear...

After that, no matter how hard Sun Xiaohong tried, she could never become an Outer Sect Disciple.

And then, Sun Xiaohong finally learned that not long after her Maid entered the Medicine Garden, she had become Li Yin's woman.

And then there was nothing more.

So, when Li Yin came running over, bowing and scraping, to deliver her Outer Sect Disciple identity token, Sun Xiaohong had a strong urge to cry. But she suppressed this display that would make her seem weak.

Taking a deep breath, she mimicked the Young Master's recent demeanor, her voice cool and distant. "So it's Senior Brother Li. It's just that this little girl is untalented and not capable enough. Besides, becoming an Outer Sect Disciple like this... I'm afraid many people will gossip, won't they? This little girl wouldn't dare cause trouble for Senior Brother Li."

"No trouble, no trouble at all! How could this possibly be any trouble?" Outside the courtyard, Li Yin's face was ashen. His expression was as if he'd swallowed a hundred flies.

He said it was no trouble, but in his heart, he was cursing Sun Xiaohong viciously: 'You little bitch! You've only just found a powerful backer and you're already acting so arrogant before you've even secured your position. If I'd known it would be like this, I should have listened to your Maid and made you disappear into some abyss!'

But for now, that was just a thought. That damned guy who got in through the back door had deliberately not concealed his words to Yuwen Ji before leaving, and many people had heard him.

Li Yin had been terrified at the time. This was no small matter!

That guy who came in through the back door with a token wasn't weak at all; he was a mighty dragon crossing the river!

His combat power was terrifyingly strong. Third Senior Brother Chu Lin couldn't even survive a single move against him. And now, Elder Qi had kicked him into the Black Wind Cave, which was practically a death sentence!

Perhaps in the future, some Inner Sect Disciples might still dare to provoke that back-door guy, but he was definitely not someone Li Yin could afford to offend!

If he didn't take this opportunity to curry favor with the people around him, then in the future, if Sun Xiaohong were to casually mention a few things about the past to him, Li Yin would surely be in for a world of hurt!

Therefore, Li Yin, the great First Senior Brother of the Medicine Garden's Outer Sect, had hastily grabbed the Outer Sect Disciple token that rightfully belonged to Sun Xiaohong in the first place and came scurrying over to apologize!

Before he came, Sun Xiaohong's former Maid, not understanding the situation, had tried to stop him. She threw a tantrum and tried to get her way, attempting to use her most practiced methods to prevent this. Li Yin had slapped her aside and chewed her out.

If it weren't for their past relationship, Li Yin would have had the heart to kill her.

Hearing Sun Xiaohong's words now, although Li Yin was furious, he was also covered in a cold sweat. This First Senior Brother, whose word was law throughout the entire Celestial Brilliance Outer Sect, now had to bow his head before a mere Servant girl.

"Um... Junior Sister Xiaohong, look, the token... I've brought it for you. Also, to congratulate Junior Sister Xiaohong, your Senior Brother has also specially prepared one hundred Top-level Immortal Spirit Stones..." Li Yin forced a smile, enduring the sharp pain in his heart as he spoke from outside.

"Oh," Sun Xiaohong replied faintly. In her heart, there was no pleasant surprise, only a growing sense of grievance and anger.

One hundred Top-level Immortal Spirit Stones... that was a lot!

It was already a staggering fortune, equivalent to five hundred Upper-grade Immortal Spirit Stones. Even if she had been able to enter the Outer Sect three years ago, she might not have been able to earn five hundred Upper-grade Immortal Spirit Stones in three years.

But the problem was, Outer Sect Disciples were qualified to undertake various missions. In three years, if she worked hard, forget five hundred Upper-grade Immortal Spirit Stones—even a thousand... wouldn't have been impossible to earn!

Li Yin gritted his teeth, his heart aching, and said, "I forgot, there's also a Yuan Condensing Pill..."

HISS!

In the courtyard, the few Servants, including Sun Xiaohong, couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath of cold air.

A Yuan Condensing Pill!

It was an Elixir specifically for those in the Saint Realm, allowing the yuan energy in one's Dantian to condense better. It could remove various impurities from the yuan energy, making one's power more refined!

This kind of Elixir was considered a top-tier Spirit Pill even in the eyes of Inner Sect Disciples!

Outer Sect Disciples would normally never even get to see one!

Only those who performed great deeds could receive such a reward. The only reason Li Yin had a Yuan Condensing Pill was because an Inner Sect Disciple backing him had gifted it to him to win him over.

He usually hid it away like a precious treasure; others never even had a chance to look at it.

Now, in order to please Sun Xiaohong and resolve their past grievances, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and take it out.

After a moment of stunned silence, Sun Xiaohong said, "Well then... thank you very much, Senior Brother Li!"

But in her heart, she was thinking: 'A congratulatory gift for the Young Master... I finally have one!'

Over on the other side, Li Yin, who had been standing outside the courtyard, not daring to enter, finally let out a long sigh of relief. He felt aggrieved and furious. 'Arrogant before, groveling now. Why did I have to bring this upon myself?'

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