Chapter 813: Transcendence

Xu Luo left. His departure was direct and decisive.

However, the words he had left behind still echoed in Gu Zongren’s mind.

“You can try your best!”

The young man had spoken these words calmly, yet they exuded boundless confidence.

This made Gu Zongren take the young man seriously for the first time. Yes, he had never paid him any mind before, even though Xu Luo now controlled his life and death!

In Gu Zongren’s eyes, all of this was thanks to the Blue-skirted Maiden. Without that unfathomably powerful girl, he could crush ten thousand young talents like Luo Tian with a single finger!

He wasn’t exaggerating. With his cultivation realm, he was entirely qualified to look down on Xu Luo.

As for being deceived, although he had been filled with regret at the time, Gu Zongren quickly came to terms with it. After all, the other party’s cultivation realm was far, far above his own!

Though she currently appeared weak for some unknown reason, once she recovered, not just him, but even if all the experts of the Ancient Celestial Valley came out in full force, they likely wouldn’t be able to do a thing to her. The only exception would be if the true secluded patriarch of the Ancient Celestial Valley emerged to intervene. Otherwise, he could never be a match for the Blue-skirted Maiden!

Therefore, the only person Gu Zongren feared was the breathtakingly beautiful maiden named Lan.

But just moments ago, when the young man had calmly said those words to him, this mighty expert at the Celestial Venerable Ninth Step felt his incredibly powerful Dao heart tremble slightly.

“This young man… is destined for greatness!”

Gu Zongren couldn’t help but mutter to himself. Then, he sighed softly and turned back. He still had to try what needed to be tried! No one was willing to be controlled by others for the rest of their life.

Xu Luo had left. Piloting the warship with pointed ends, he tore through the void, heading toward Celestial Brilliance.

This time, he encountered no obstructions and returned to Celestial Brilliance smoothly.

Having received the news early on, the people of Celestial Brilliance didn’t even have time to ask about the reason for his sudden disappearance over the past few days. They immediately sent Yu Tianying, Zhong Jiuyan, Wang Tong, and Lv Di to be treated.

Various reports from the frontlines had long since been relayed back. The entirety of Celestial Brilliance now had a completely new understanding of Luo Tian.

This time, Celestial Brilliance’s preparations had clearly not been as thorough as those of Blazing Flame Province. Many issues had arisen completely unexpectedly. If not for Xu Luo, Celestial Brilliance’s young elites would have likely been completely wiped out.

Xie Yurou and Su Qianqian also came to visit Xu Luo at the very first opportunity.

The two women were highly curious about what had transpired at the ruins, but they were even more curious about something else entirely.

“I heard a certain someone met a stunningly beautiful woman in Qingchuan Ancient City?” Xie Yurou circled Xu Luo, her face full of curiosity.

Su Qianqian chuckled softly beside them without speaking, though her bright and lively eyes were also darting all over Xu Luo.

Xu Luo smiled, unwilling to say much about Xue Chuqing.

It wasn’t that he was being secretive, but the Divine Maiden Tower in Xue Chuqing’s hands was a rather terrifying force.

If such power fell into anyone’s hands, it would inevitably attract the covetous eyes of far too many people. Compared to the titans and overlords of the world, his current strength was still too weak. Only when he became truly strong enough would it no longer matter if the whole world knew that Xue Chuqing was his woman. By then, he would possess enough power to protect her from any harm.

Seeing his reluctance to speak, Xie Yurou didn’t press the matter. On one hand, she didn’t want to annoy him. On the other hand, she didn’t really believe that anything significant could happen between Xu Luo and a brothel girl in such a short period.

Afterward, Xie Yurou left to attend to some matters, leaving Su Qianqian behind.

She knew better than anyone what Xu Luo had risked his life for on this journey.

“You can finally be free!”

In the secret chamber, Xu Luo pulled Su Qianqian into his arms, lifted her high into the air, and spun her around a few times.

Su Qianqian smiled tenderly at first. Soon after, her tears cascaded down like a broken string of pearls, falling with a soft PITTER-PATTER.

“Why are you crying?” Xu Luo asked, putting her down in confusion.

In response, Su Qianqian threw herself directly into his embrace and burst into loud sobs, her hands hugging him tightly.

Xu Luo sighed softly, understanding her emotions.

Anyone who had a soul inside them that could take over their body at any moment would likely act just like her—or perhaps, they wouldn’t even be able to remain as calm as she had been. After all, this was more terrifying than death! For the people of this world, death didn’t mean the end; it was merely another beginning. But if one’s soul ceased to exist, it meant vanishing from the world for all eternity. Just the thought of it was incredibly tragic.

Ever since she learned about the soul, Su Qianqian had always acted exceptionally calm. No one could tell that she worried about the matter at all.

Even Xu Luo, the person closest to her, had been completely fooled, believing she was strong enough to withstand the pressure. It wasn’t until this very moment that he truly understood the immense burden she had been bearing.

He couldn’t help but sigh in his heart, “Everyone’s pain and pressure are truly only understood by themselves. No matter how much others try to empathize… it is never complete.”

“I’ve been so scared all this time… I’m not afraid of dying, but I’m terrified of never seeing you again.

“I’ve been filled with dread. Every day, I have nightmares about becoming someone else, and then…

“Watching that person get close to you, being with you, while I… could only stand in a dark corner, unable to speak, unable to make a sound.

“That feeling… it’s so terrifying!”

Su Qianqian leaned against Xu Luo’s chest. Listening to his strong heartbeat, she choked on her sobs and continued, “So many times, I didn’t even dare to sleep. I was afraid of the nightmares, afraid I would never wake up again, and afraid I would never get to see you again.”

“It’s alright, it’s all in the past now,” Xu Luo said softly, his own eyes turning slightly red.

With that, he took out the complete Soul Scripture Stele and suspended it in mid-air before he began reciting the Transcendence Chapter inscribed upon it.

A compassionate aura soon permeated the secret chamber, completely enveloping Su Qianqian’s body.

Xu Luo fell into an ethereal state. Reciting the verses of the Soul Scripture Stele was a baptism for his own mind and soul as well.

As he continuously chanted the scripture, the light radiating from the Soul Scripture Stele grew increasingly intense.

At that moment, a dragon-shaped phantom suddenly shot out of Su Qianqian’s body! Raging flames burned across its form. Even though it was merely a phantom, it emanated an astonishingly scorching heat.

The dragon-shaped phantom wasn’t large—only a little over two feet long—but it exuded an incredibly powerful aura. The presence felt as though it originated from antiquity, carrying a desolate and primordial flavor.

It coiled in the air above Su Qianqian’s head, continuously releasing its potent aura and pouring it into her body.

Since he didn’t sense any threat, Xu Luo didn’t try to stop it.

A long time passed. Only when the dragon phantom had grown much dimmer and its flames had faded so much that they were on the verge of vanishing into the void did it stop infusing its aura into her.

“Thank you!” The dragon phantom spoke. Its voice sounded as though it echoed from eternity, exceedingly desolate.

Xu Luo thought to himself, “This… is the true Ancient Fire Dragon!”

“Thank you for helping me find my release. I can finally… return to my kind and search for my kin!

“It has been too many years! I have waited for this day for far, far too long!

“But… it is finally here… the day of my liberation!

“I must also thank this little girl for the pressure she has endured all these years. Please tell her I am sorry. Trapped without release or transcendence, I was a demon. But now… I have regained my true consciousness. Apologize to her on my behalf.

“This dragon aura is a small token of my gratitude!

“Xu Luo… once again… thank you!”

The Divine Soul of the Fire Dragon clearly understood Xu Luo far better than ordinary people did.

“That we were able to achieve this mutually beneficial result is all thanks to you!

“You are a great man with a great soul. I believe that one day, we will meet again!

“Farewell!”

The Fire Dragon’s phantom gradually vanished into the secret chamber.

Xu Luo waved his hand. “Farewell!”

At this moment, nothing more needed to be said. The Fire Dragon’s Divine Soul had achieved its liberation and transcendence, departing for the place it truly belonged. It wouldn’t hold any lingering attachment to this realm!

This was a magnificent creature from the Ancient Era. Although it had done things to harm Su Qianqian when its mind was clouded, the moment it regained its lucidity, it stopped immediately. Otherwise, even if Xu Luo had found the first half of the Soul Scripture, it likely would have been in vain. Thus, deep down, Xu Luo greatly admired this majestic ancient being.

Su Qianqian sat there cross-legged, completely motionless.

Xu Luo knew she wasn’t in any danger; she was simply absorbing the dragon aura! Though the Fire Dragon’s Divine Soul hadn’t explicitly stated what benefits the aura would bring her, Xu Luo knew without a doubt that Su Qianqian would profit immensely!

“I guess you could say… all the suffering has finally paid off,” Xu Luo murmured. He then stood up and left the secret chamber. He knew it would take Su Qianqian a long time to fully digest these gains.

Upon stepping outside, Xu Luo found that it was exactly noon. Blazing sunlight filled the heavens and earth, and the sky was a brilliant azure blue. He exhaled a long breath, feeling a sense of immense relief and broad-mindedness.

His continuous, arduous efforts had finally borne fruit. The person he protected had finally attained her freedom. In this very moment, all the sacrifices proved to be completely worth it.

In the distance, a warship flew toward him. A gleam flashed through Xu Luo’s eyes as he recognized it—it was the Sect Leader’s warship!

“The grand competition of Xi Hezhou… is finally approaching, isn’t it?” Xu Luo whispered softly.