Supreme Sword Exalt

Upon hearing Murong Yuan’s explanation, Gu Han fell into contemplation. “Ruyi Tower?”

Several thousand li northeast of Great Qi lay an extremely bustling city called Yue Mountain City. It was almost as vast as a small nation, and was extremely famous within the northern region of the Eastern Wasteland. Dragons and snakes were intermingled inside, with many large and small factions. Whether they were rogue cultivators or disciples from various backgrounds, they all visited from time to time to acquire items needed for cultivation. Ruyi Tower, where the pill Murong Yuan spoke of was located, was one of its larger factions.

Even though people from various families took turns guarding it, chaos and disorder still prevailed since Yue Mountain City had no specific affiliation. Hence, cultivators with insufficient strength or weak backgrounds were highly likely to suffer unwarranted disasters if they rashly went there.

Murong Yuan said somewhat helplessly, “The master of Ruyi Tower treasures that pill a lot. He wouldn’t even let me have a look back in the day. To retrieve the pill from his hands is as difficult as ascending to heaven.”

Murong Yan started shouting again, “Old Ancestor, you just said a whole bunch of nothing! You can’t even get it, let alone Brother Gu!”

Gu Han furrowed his brow slightly, remaining silent. Even if Murong Yuan couldn’t, it didn’t mean he couldn’t. At worst, he could just take a gamble and exchange a cultivation technique for it. Surely not even the master of Ruyi Tower would remain unmoved at the sight of a Heaven-tier technique?

Murong Yuan thought Gu Han was troubled. “How inconsiderate of me. If you wish, I can order my people to search for spirit herbs or pills that can replenish soul power upon my return. Although the effect might be somewhat inferior, I believe they could still serve some purpose.”

Gu Han’s eyes flickered. “Senior...”

Murong Yuan waved his hand. “It’s fine. It’s a trivial matter, no need to thank me.”

Gu Han fell silent for a moment. “No, I wasn’t thanking you. I wanted to ask whether it’s half-price?”

Murong Yuan was dumbfounded, whereas Murong Chuan’s mouth twitched.

Murong Yan raised her large hand, about to slap Gu Han’s shoulder. “What half-price?!”

Gu Han hurriedly dodged. Having just narrowly escaped death, if he got slapped by Sister Murong now, he’d have nowhere to cry.

Unable to slap Gu Han, Murong large hand swept through the air. “Brother Gu, didn’t we hit it off immediately? We’re kindred spirits! What do you mean ‘half-price’? I like you, so it’s all free! If anyone dares charge you a single essence crystal, I will pummel them to death!”

Gu Han was overjoyed, thanking her with utmost sincerity. “Sister Murong, thank you so much!”

Murong Yan pretended to be displeased. “There you go again, being formal and all!”

“Enough!” Murong Yuan really couldn’t bear to watch anymore. With a wave of his hand, he retrieved Zheng Ning’s corpse. “At the end of the day, Zheng Ning was still a seat elder. His death would likely bring quite a bit of trouble. I will take my leave now.”

Having said that, he took a step and vanished in an instant. If he stayed any longer, he was afraid Murong Yan would give the entire Murong family to Gu Han for free.

Shen Xuan sighed. “Junior Sister, why are you doing this?”

He could see that Murong Yan’s actions were motivated by defiance towards Murong Yuan.

Murong Yan glared at him fiercely, making him shrink back and not dare to speak further. “I’m just happy to! Also, Brother Gu, is Fatty alright?”

Fatty was still lying stiffly, but he was covered with a faint, almost imperceptible golden light. Although it was somewhat dim, it held a sense of mystery and profoundness that it didn’t have before.

Gu Han glanced at him. “He’s fine. He’s a tough one, he won’t die!”

“Is that so...” Murong Yan stared at her Purple Golden Hammer, then at Fatty’s golden light, lost in thought. “Just wondering, between that and my hammer, which is tougher?”

Gu Han thought hard about it as it really was hard to say.

Shen Xuan already felt a headache coming. “Brother Gu, what are your plans going forward? You can’t enter Yuqing Sect anymore, and as for Qingyun Pavilion—”

Murong Yan was furious. “Don’t even mention about Qingyun Pavilion! I get angry just seeing Yuan Gang! Sooner or later, I’ll hammer him!”

Gu Han slightly furrowed his brow. “What exactly is the Qingyun Pavilion? And who is Yuan Gang? He should just be a disciple too, right? Why is he so arrogant? Even Zheng Ning seemed somewhat afraid of him?”

Murong Yan snorted disdainfully. “Hmph. He’s afraid of the Luo Madman. Yuan Gang is just a fox borrowing the tiger’s might.”

Recalling Murong Chuan’s earlier words, Gu Han’s heart stirred. “Luo Madman? Who is he?”

A rare trace of wariness flickered in Murong Yan’s eyes. “He is a true madman!”

“Madman?”

Shen Xuan also wore a grave expression. “His name is Luo Wushuang. Counting the years, he entered the sect a bit earlier than I did. Actually, back then, Senior Brother Luo was ordinary, without any outstanding qualities. His temperament was also far from being as inscrutable as it is now. Then, he went missing during a sect training mission.”

“Missing?”

Shen Xuan sighed. “That’s right. He went missing for a full three years. Just when everyone thought he was dead, he returned. The first thing he did after that was kill his master, the sect elder at the time.”

Gu Han’s frown deepened. “What...? Did Yuqing Sect let him off?”

Regardless of where and who it was, killing one’s master was a grave crime, an unforgivable offense.

Murong Yan said, “Of course they didn’t let him off. The sect immediately dispatched law enforcement elders and disciples to apprehend him, but they never returned. He slaughtered them all. He then swiftly proposed to the sect that elite disciples be chosen to form Qingyun Pavilion.”

Gu Han was stunned. “And then? No one opposed?”

Lingering fear flashed across Shen Xuan’s eyes. “Of course, but those who opposed were nearly wiped out by him. Two out of five seat elders died in that battle, and three supreme elders were injured. Even the sect master was gravely injured and hasn’t fully recovered until now.”

Gu Han raised an eyebrow. “Exactly how formidable is this person?”

Shen Xuan stole a glance at Murong Yan. “He sparred with Junior Sister once. Despite taking eighteen consecutive hammer blows, he was completely unscathed.”

Looking at that Purple Golden Hammer several times larger than his own head, Gu Han drew a sharp breath. Eighteen hammer blows? Impressive! Truly impressive!

Murong Yan was full of indignation. “Hmph! Next time I see him, I will give him one hundred and eight hammer blows!”

Gu Han was somewhat puzzled. “Since he’s this strong, why didn’t he just take over Yuqing Sect? Why go through the trouble of establishing Qingyun Pavilion?”

Shen Xuan sighed. “Initially, we also thought he was obsessed with power. Facts have proven we were all wrong. After Qingyun Pavilion was established, he did a complete turnaround, taking no further action. He even handed Qingyun Pavilion over to Yuan Gang, seldom interfering himself. Moreover, he often goes out, for as short as a year or as long as several years. He spent very little time in the sect. It’s as if...”

Gu Han’s heart stirred. “It was just for fun?”

Shen Xuan smiled bitterly. “Exactly. Furthermore, despite rarely making a move, he developed a new rule. He likes making people guess the number of essence crystals. Guess right, and he’ll let you go, even if you’re his archenemy. Guess wrong, and not even being a saint will save you. Who could possibly guess what’s in the mind of such a person?”

Gu Han fell silent. He truly deserves the title of madman...ℯℯ𝘭.

Murong Yan looked impatient. “Who cares about him! Brother Gu, what about you? What are your plans?”

Gu Han shook his head. “I-I don’t know.”

Actually, he did want to go to Fengwu Court to take a look, but was somewhat hesitant.

Murong Yan thought for a moment before saying, “How about this! You just stay in Great Qi and replace Murong Chuan as the manager of this inn. It’s chill and carefree. I can make the decision that all the inn’s profits go to you.”

Murong Chuan looked awkward. “Uh, Miss? What about me?”

Murong Yan waved her hand. “You? Assistant manager!”

Murong Chuan was speechless.

Shen Xuan became serious. “Junior Sister, we both saw Brother Gu’s abilities just now. Given time, he will surely become renowned throughout the Eastern Wasteland. Asking him to be a mere inn manager isn’t helping him, it’s insulting him!”

Murong Chuan fell silent as he felt deeply offended.

Murong Yan grabbed Shen Xuan’s shoulder. “Senior Brother, are you lecturing me?”

Shen Xuan’s face turned pale. “Junior Sister... L-let go...”

Crack.

There was a faint sound that made Gu Han and Murong Chuan exchange glances, their eyelids twitching.

Gu Han hurriedly tried to rescue Shen Xuan. “Sister Murong, there’s no need for that. Actually, if you want to help me, I do have a request.”

Murong Yan immediately released Shen Xuan, thumping her chest with a booming sound. “Don’t be shy, just ask!”

Under Shen Xuan’s grateful gaze, Gu Han looked at Jiang Feng and sighed. “Brother Jiang possesses the Extreme Cold Physique, and the cultivation technique he practices is also extremely rare. If possible, I’d like him to enter the Yuqing Sect.”

He always remembered that Chief Steward Li’s heartfelt wish was for Jiang Feng to enter the Yuqing Sect.

Shen Xuan’s eyes lit up. “Extreme Cold Physique? That really is rare! For such talent, Yuqing Sect has no reason to refuse! What a coincidence, my master recently developed an interest in taking a disciple. How about having him become my master’s disciple?”

He then explained a bit more.

Gu Han learned that Shen Xuan’s master was actually one of the five seat elders of Yuqing Sect. “Thank you, Brother Shen.”

He understood that Shen Xuan did this out of concern and specifically found Jiang Feng a proper place. Shen Xuan waved his hand, taking the opportunity to block Murong Yan’s line of sight to sneak a wink at Gu Han.

“There’s no need for that. Between you and me, there’s no need for formality. Ahem... Junior Brother seems quite injured.” As Shen Xuan spoke, he picked up Jiang Feng. “I need to hurry back and let Master take a look, lest any hidden dangers remain.”

“Brother Shen, I see your cultivation method seems to emphasize speed. Then...” Gu Han feigned curiosity, glancing subtly at Murong Yan. “Why didn’t you dodge just now?”

“Brother Gu, you don’t understand. If I dodged, wouldn’t she be sad?” Shen Xuan smiled bitterly, gazing at Murong Yuan with eyes full of tenderness. “Since she has a bit of a fiery temper, I have to let her vent. As for my little injury, as long as her mood improves, it’s nothing!”

Having said that, he carried Jiang Feng on his back and strode away.

Murong Yan’s eyes reddened as she took large strides and chased after him. “Senior Brother!”

Amid the ground-shaking steps, their conversation faintly drifted over.

“Senior Brother, I’m sorry.”

“Haa... It’s nothing.”

“I won’t hit you anymore in the future.”

“You said that last time as well.”

“This time I promise, I definitely won’t hit you!”

“Really?”

“Mhm!”

After seeing them leave, Gu Han fell silent again.

Murong Chuan walked over. “Was doing this... worth it?”

It was a question no one could ever answer.

Gu Han countered. “Senior, tell me, if Chief Steward Li knew his final wish was fulfilled, would he be happy?”

Murong Chuan said nothing.

Gu Han suddenly smiled. “So, I would say it’s very worth it!”

After a moment of silence, Murong Chuan also smiled. “I guess it makes sense. Actually, if you stayed—”

Boom!

Before he could finish, golden light erupted behind them. A terrifying aura burst, sending both of them flying.

Following it was an exceedingly loud shout. “Motherfucker! Where’s that damn seat elder?! Come out here! If I don’t crush you, I’d drop my Fu surname!”