Supreme Sword Exalt

Inside the sword cage.

“Brat, you’re back?” The shadow had grown accustomed to Gu Han’s frequent visits. “How’s my Soul-Snatching Technique treating you... Hm? Why is the hostility around you gone? Tsk, what a waste. With that hostility aiding you, demonic path techniques would’ve been twice as easy to train in. So, have you thought it over? Are you interested in becoming my disciple or not?”

“No!” Gu Han refused without hesitation.

“Not as a nominal disciple, but as my true inheritor!”

“Still no.”

The shadow figure choked on his words. “Then why are you here? Just to mock me for fun?”

“I came to thank you.” Gu Han’s expression turned serious.

Without the Soul-Snatching Technique the shadow had taught him, clearing his name and avenging his father’s death would’ve never gone so smoothly.

The shadow perked up. “Thank me? Are you going to release me?”

“No.”

“Then how do you plan to thank me?”

“I haven’t figured that out yet.”

The shadow trembled with rage. The nerve of this little bastard! No, this isn’t just nerve. This is plain shamelessness!

Gu Han suddenly looked a bit embarrassed. “By the way, I have a question for you.”

“Speak.”

“I have a friend...”

Hearing that familiar phrase, the shadow’s heart dropped. Sure enough, Gu Han proceeded to ask him about the prince, but before he could finish, the shadow exploded.

“Haven’t I told you already? I’m a Demon Monarch! A Demon Monarch! I know how to kill, not save! Whatever damn Extreme Cold Disease your friend has, I can’t cure it! Tell them to wait for death!”

Gu Han was skeptical at the shadow’s instant refusal. “Really? There’s no way? Think again.”

The shadow raged. “There’s no way! None! How many times do I have to say it? You—” Mid-sentence, he paused, as if remembering something. His tone shifted, suddenly turning milder. “Well... actually, there might be a way.”

“What is it?

“On one condition!”

“If it’s about releasing you, forget it!” Gu Han shook his head.

That was where he drew the line. Without enough strength to protect himself, he would never let the shadow out.

“Of course not.”

The shadow understood that getting Gu Han to release him was impossible, so he didn’t even bother pushing it.

“Then what’s the condition?” Gu Han asked curiously.

“I haven’t thought of it yet! I’ll tell you when I figure it out!”

Gu Han hesitated briefly before nodding. “Fine. Whatever it is, I promise you.”

“Huh?” The shadow was surprised.

If Gu Han had agreed straight away, the shadow would’ve doubted his sincerity. However, Gu Han’s brief pause earlier meant that he had actually thought about it before replying. And once he agreed, he wouldn’t go back on his word.

“Is this friend important to you?”

“It’s my first time meeting him.”

“Then why help him?”

Gu Han’s expression turned serious again. “Because he helped me, and I don’t like owing favors. He looked out for me, so I’ll do the same.”

“I helped you too, though.”

“That’s different. If you didn’t help me, I would’ve killed you.”

The shadow choked, nearly exploding again. After a long silence, he finally calmed down.

“The bad news is that the cold qi in his body has already seeped into his marrow. I’m no healer. I can’t think of a way to remove it. The good news is, there might not be any need to remove it in this case.”

“What do you mean?”

“Strictly speaking, by this point, he has developed an Extreme Cold Physique. It’s quite mediocre, but it still counts as a special physique. With the right cultivation technique, he can not only avoid death, but he can even turn the cold qi into an advantage. Of course, with that kind of physique, his future achievements will be mediocre at best.”

“Do you have such a technique?”

“Of course!”

“Aren’t you a demonic cultivator? Why would you have this kind of technique?”

The shadow’s enthusiasm flared. “I stole it! Back when I conquered the cosmos, towering above all! When I had no resources, I took them from others! When I had no techniques, I stole them! No women... ahem. Brat, the demonic path has many benefits. Are you sure you don’t want to—”

“Give me the technique!”

The shadow’s excitement was cut short. Glaring at Gu Han, the shadow casually sketched out a framework for the technique.

“This technique is mediocre, but the concept is interesting. It follows an extreme path, almost tailor-made for the Extreme Cold Physique. I kept it because I found it amusing.”

The more Gu Han read, the more profound it seemed.

“What tier is this technique?”

“By your standards? Heaven-tier,” the shadow said indifferently.

Heaven-tier?! Gu Han’s heart skipped a beat.

There was probably no cultivation technique above the Black tier in the entire Great Qi, yet the shadow had casually tossed him a Heaven-tier one!

This is mediocre?!

He took a deep breath. “Then, how does it compare to the Great Freedom Heavenly Demon Scripture?”

“Compare? The Great Freedom Heavenly Demon Scripture leads straight to the pinnacle of the demonic path. Even I haven’t fully grasped it yet, so don’t you dare compare it to that trash! What an insult!”

“What about this?” Gu Han pointed at the sword cage.

A trace of fear flashed in the shadow’s eyes. “It still doesn’t compare! This is the strongest sword intent I’ve ever seen. Its master’s cultivation is beyond my understanding. No wonder you’re not interested in being my disciple. With an inheritance like this, every other technique must seem like garbage to you.”

Gu Han was surprised. “I didn’t know you could be so humble...”

“Unlike you, I’ve never been arrogant! The outside world is so vast, yet you never ask about it. Where’s your ambition?”

“If my cultivation is enough, I’ll see all the world has to offer. Otherwise, it’s pointless to know more.”

“Ah, so you’re not as stupid as you look. Enough, now that you know the technique, scram!”

Gu Han didn’t budge. “Wait... Just now, you said you have many Heaven-tier techniques like this?”

“Not all of them are Heaven-tier. I only collect the best. Even if something’s above Heaven-tier, if it’s trash, I wouldn’t spare a glance... Hm? Why do you ask?”

Gu Han smiled. It was the pleased smirk of someone who’d stumbled upon treasure in his own backyard.

***

Chief Steward Li paced anxiously. He was torn between waking Gu Han and clinging to that sliver of hope. Meanwhile, Ah Sha drowsily fought off sleep.

Suddenly, Gu Han opened his eyes.

Ah Sha wiped her drool. “Young Master, you’re awake!”

“Brat, did you... think of a way?” Chief Steward Li’s voice trembled.

It wasn’t just him. Even Divine Physician Xue and the Seventh Prince stared intently at Gu Han. Despite knowing the chance was almost nonexistent, they couldn’t help but cling to the smallest hope.

Gu Han exhaled softly. Naturally, he was not about to tell them everything that the shadow had told him, so he chose his words carefully. “I did. Here’s the thing: The cold qi in the Seventh Prince’s body indeed can’t be suppressed anymore, but it doesn’t need to be suppressed. Well, it shouldn’t be suppressed. With the right technique, it won’t kill him. Instead, it’ll become his greatest asset in cultivation!”

Silence fell upon them. Only Ah Sha blinked, unsure if she understood what he’d just said.

“What’s wrong?” Gu Han was puzzled.

Chief Steward Li stammered, “B-brat, are you saying... he... has a special physique?”

Special physiques were exceedingly rare. In the century since the Great Qi dynasty’s founding, despite its vast population, only three had ever appeared. One was the founding emperor, one had left early for the upper sects, and the last now resided with the imperial family.

“Well, technically... Yes, I think it would be called the Extreme Cold Physique.”

Gu Han had been about to say “technically, it’s a mediocre one,” but he’d changed his tune upon seeing the hope in the Seventh Prince’s eyes.

Chief Steward Li wept openly. “Imperial Consort, are you seeing this? He... has a special physique! If you’re watching this from the afterlife, you can rest in peace!”

Ah Sha whispered. “Young Master, what’s a special physique? Is it amazing?”

Gu Han rubbed his nose. “Well...”

Amazing? Compared to your Eye of Shattered Illusions, it’s trash on the bottom of the trash pit!

Divine Physician Xue exclaimed in admiration, “Brilliant! This is simply brilliant! I was misguided; I thought that since this is poison, then it had to be suppressed. I never even considered this. Ah, young friend, your insight puts me to shame!”

Ah Sha grinned proudly. “Young Master, you’re the best! Even napping gives you ideas about how to save people!”

Gu Han broke out in a cold sweat. To be fair, it wasn’t Divine Physician Xue’s fault. His expertise lay in healing, not cultivation. Meanwhile, the shadow’s knowledge was on another level entirely.

A sigh broke the silence. It came from the Seventh Prince.

His face was sour. “It’s too late... If I had met Brother Gu earlier, there might’ve been hope. But now... Elder Xue, how long do I have? A month? Two? The next cold qi flare-up will surely kill me.”

Chief Steward Li and Divine Physician Xue’s hearts sank, their brief joy vanishing without a trace. A cultivation technique suited for the Extreme Cold Physique was definitely not just rare, but also far more precious than any ordinary techniques.

Forget the Great Qi; it was unlikely to find one even in the entire Eastern Wasteland. And even if they found the technique, no one could say whether the Seventh Prince would live long enough to use it.

“Aren’t you a prince? Your family’s powerful, right? Can’t they help?” Ah Sha tilted her head.

The Seventh Prince smiled bitterly. “No way. They don’t care whether I live or die.”

Chief Steward Li said fiercely, “Your Highness, you mustn’t give up! You’re the Imperial Consort’s only child. I will scour the Eastern Wasteland if I must. I’ll get you a suitable cultivation technique, even if it costs me my life!”

Divine Physician Xue sighed. Clearly, Chief Steward Li’s emotions had overridden his reason.

Ah Sha’s eyes dimmed as she was reminded of her own plight. “Young Master, this is so sad....”

Gu Han was speechless. I wasn’t even done talking, and you’re already acting like it’s the end of the world? Really?

He cleared his throat. “Uhh... I actually happen to have a technique....”