Supreme Sword Exalt

At the same time, above the city walls, three figures stood within the clouds. They paid no attention to the chaos below. Instead, their intent gazes were fixed at the Wild Forest, their expressions grave.

An elderly man with graying hair said, “That’s strange... The Wild Forest, which has been peaceful for decades, has been thrown into chaos because of this person. Just who is he?”

Beside him, a man in a green robe frowned slightly. “Could it be that a demonic beast has taken human form?”

The old man shook his head. “Impossible! A demonic beast’s transformation wouldn’t cause such a commotion. Moreover, judging by the reactions of these beasts, they seem more terrified than submissive. This is absurd!”

Then, a middle-aged man clad in heavy armor said calmly, “We’ll know once we investigate. Protecting the imperial capital is our duty. Since we’ve identified the beast riot’s instigator, all we need to do is capture him and it will end. What do you two think?”

The old man nodded. “Agreed!”

The man in green hesitated briefly. “You’re right, Commander Zhou. We must act without delay. Let’s go take a look! But what about those people below...? If they all die outside the city, it won’t be easy to explain.”

Commander Zhou’s expression remained cold. “Let them die. My duty is to guard the imperial capital from demonic beast invasions. The rest is none of my concern.”

The man in green grew angry. “You—!”

The old man quickly intervened and changed the subject. “Enough, enough! There’s no need to say more. Elder Feng, Commander Zhou is only fulfilling his duties. Still, the rogue cultivators are one thing, but the others have intricate ties to influential figures in the city. If they all perish, it might reflect poorly on you, Commander Zhou.”

Commander Zhou fell silent for a moment.

“Fine. We’ll give them a small opening. Whether they live or not will depend on their own luck.”

***

The ground trembled violently as many demonic beasts closed in from all directions. Judging by their auras, the weakest were at least Tier 4, while the strongest had reached Tier 6.

Amid the crowd, the fatty’s face turned deathly pale. “We’re doomed... Wasn’t my tribulation supposed to be a human one? Dying here to these beasts... What kind of human tribulation is this?”

Ah Sha trembled, holding Gu Han tightly. “Young Master...”

Gu Han gripped his sword firmly. “Don’t be afraid.”

Spirit power surged like a tidal wave in his meridians. The Great Evolution Sword Qi was ready to strike. He couldn’t die here no matter what!

Just as despair had fully taken hold of the crowd, an excited voice rang out. “Look! There’s an opening over there!”

“Thank the heavens! We’re saved!”

“Hurry! If we’re too late, it’ll be over!”

The crowd erupted in joy.

An opening?

Following the sound, Gu Han saw a several-chi-high opening in the transparent barrier, about a thousand zhang away. Hundreds of people had already stampeded toward it like madmen. His heart leaped as he unleashed his spirit power and charged forward.

“Ahhh! No!”

“Save me! Please save me!”

At the same time, the ferocious beasts had reached the base of the city walls. Countless fell, crushed beneath their trampling hooves and relentless charges. The sight left the survivors with abject terror.

The fatty, who was closer to the gap, was the first to dash through. When he saw that Gu Han was still a hundred zhang away, he shuddered in relief.

“My luck hasn’t run out yet!”

***

The demonic beasts relentlessly slammed into the transparent barrier, shaking the city walls violently. As a result, many more perished under their onslaught.

Faster! I have to go faster! Gu Han pushed his senses to the limit, carefully maintaining distance from the beasts as he inched forward. Whether in front or behind, everyone had lost all reason, driven solely by survival instinct.

“Move! Get out of my way! My father is the city lord of Wuding City! My uncle is an instructor at the Martial Academy! My life is worth more than all of yours! Let me through first!”

In front of Gu Han, a young man with bloodshot eyes cut down anyone who stood in his path. He and Gu Han arrived at the gap almost at the same time.

“Fuck off! I’m going first!”

Consumed by bloodlust, he unleashed his third stage of Acupoint Unsealing power in full, swinging his sword at Gu Han. The two were dangerously close. If that strike landed, Ah Sha would certainly die.

“You’re just asking for death.”

Gu Han’s eyes flashed coldly as the spirit power he’d been gathering surged into his sword. He then swung in retaliation.

Crack!

A crisp sound rang out. The young man’s sword shattered instantly, Great Evolution Sword Qi’s blade piercing him. He was dead without so much as a groan.

The brief delay led to another sudden turn of events. A massive, several-zhang-long tail, covered in dark scales swept across the battlefield. It claimed the lives of many cultivators in its path before reaching Gu Han in the blink of an eye.

“Young Master!!!” Ah Sha cried out in alarm.

Instinctively, she prepared to unleash the Eye of Shattered Illusions.

“Go in first!”

In that life-or-death moment, Gu Han reflexively grabbed Ah Sha and hurled her through the opening. Meanwhile, the massive tail was just a few chi away from him.

Behind the barrier, the fatty clicked his tongue as he watched the spectacle unfold. “Tsk tsk. This will be tough.”

The next moment, a metallic ring echoed. Gu Han blocked the tail right before it struck him, taking the full force of the blow. He spat out blood, feeling as if he’d been crushed by a boulder. Countless of his bones were shattered. Like a blessing in disguise, the tremendous force also propelled him past the remaining distance, sending him crashing through the barrier.

Not far away, the fatty, who had been spectating, paled. “What a lucky basta—”

Before he could finish, Gu Han slammed into him. The fatty was sent flying, crashing hard into the city wall behind him.

Outside the barrier, the demonic beasts roared furiously as their attacks grew even more frenzied.

***

Deafening explosions shook the area one after another as the barrier began to destabilize.

The captain on the city walls was in panic. “Quick! Close that opening! Otherwise, the barrier’s defensive power will drop to half!”

As soon as he spoke, the opening instantly sealed shut. The wavering barrier stabilized completely, rendering the beasts’ attacks futile no matter how fiercely they struck.

“No!”

“I haven’t gotten in yet!”

“Please! Just a little longer, just a moment!”

Those who hadn’t made it in time wailed in despair outside.

However, the captain remained unmoved. He waved his hand, and issued another command. “Fire!”

Countless giant crossbow bolts, several chi long and engraved with runes, rained down upon the beasts outside.

ROAR!

Although the bolts didn’t inflict significant damage, they enraged the beasts further. And the people still trapped outside had to bear the brunt of that fury.

“Aaah!”

“You... heartless monsters!”

“Just wait... I won’t let this go...”

Amid curses and screams, the area outside the barrier transformed into a blood-soaked slaughterhouse. Soon, the barrier was no longer transparent, stained with a layer of blood.

***

Inside the barrier, Gu Han and the fatty lay on the ground, motionless.

Ah Sha rushed over frantically. “Young Master!”

Gu Han spat another mouthful of blood and forced himself to sit up. “Cough cough... I’m... I’m fine. I’m not dead yet.”

“Medicine!”

Ah Sha quickly pulled out all the healing pills from Divine Physician Xue and shoved them into Gu Han’s mouth.

Gu Han sighed helplessly. “There’s no need for so many. My injuries aren’t that severe.”

As he spoke, he glanced warily at the greenish-gray city wall. Had he crashed into it directly, things would’ve been so much worse. He stared at the fatty lying weakly on the ground and felt a surge of relief.

Thank goodness for the meat cushion!

Ah Sha, still shaken, threw her arms around him tightly. “Young Master!”

Earlier, if Gu Han had been even a second slower, he wouldn’t have survived. She couldn’t imagine a life without him.

Suddenly, the fatty exclaimed furiously, “Hey, did you do that on purpose?!”

Gu Han gave him a side eye. “Huh? Uh, thanks? I guess...?”

His words were completely lacking in sincerity.

In a flash, the fatty scrambled to his feet, wiping blood from his lips as he glared at Gu Han.

“What’s that supposed to mean?!”

“I said thanks!”

“You bastard. You set me up!”

“Alright, no thanks to you then!”

“You—!” The fatty trembled with rage. He thrusted his chubby hand toward Ah Sha. “Give that to me! I’m injured too!”

Ah Sha glared at him and stashed the pills away. “No!”

The fatty clutched his chest in anguish. “You little bastard... Open your eyes! I got hurt saving him! How can you be so ungrateful, not even sparing a single pill? You’re so stingy! Unbelievably stingy!”

Ah Sha stood her ground. “No! I saw you laughing at him earlier!”

The fatty felt like crying. Is this karma for enjoying the show?

Suddenly, someone pointed outside the barrier, stammering in excitement, “L-look! They’re... retreating! The beasts are retreating!”

The relentless hail of bolts began to take out some of the demonic beasts. Combined with their failure to breach the barrier, they had no choice but to withdraw.

Soon, the area outside was littered with severed limbs and corpses, with not a single beast in sight. The city gates finally opened. The crowd exhaled in collective relief. The grating sound that was usually irritating now sounded like heavenly music to their ears.

Gu Han glanced at the man beside him. “Fatty, till we meet again.”

He ignored the fatty’s response and took Ah Sha’s hand, following the crowd into the city.

The fatty stiffened. “Till... till never! I’ve never suffered such a loss in my life! Just wait! I’ll make you pay for this!”

***

Meanwhile, many people rushed out from the city, surveying the gruesome scene outside. Some were furious, and others grief-stricken.

A middle-aged man stood beside the corpse of the young man Gu Han had killed, holding a broken sword. He stared at the fatal wound piercing the young man’s chest, his eyes blazing with fury.

“Who dares to kill my nephew?!”