Supreme Sword Exalt

Within the Northern Domain of the Eastern Wasteland.

Convinced that Zuo Yang was Fu Fatty, the originally grand and sweeping search operations of the two families came to an abrupt halt. The personnel dispatched were also recalled.

Continuing down that path had already lost its meaning. Perhaps out of spite or revenge, Gu Han’s bounty suddenly jumped to twenty million. Ten million from each family!

***

In the main hall of the Yang estate.

A dark cloud loomed over Yang Xiong, killing intent blazing in his eyes. The group of elders watched him, not daring to breathe too loud.

Two days ago, Yang Xiong had been severely reprimanded by Yang Tong and almost lost his position as family head.

After a long while, one elder carefully said, “Family Head, how about we put it behind us? Why don’t we wait until the young master exits seclusion before making further plans?”

Yang Xiong smiled ferociously. “Forget it? My son is severely injured, my brother was assassinated, and then there’s that bitch Yu Miao! If I don’t take revenge, I won’t be at peace. Increase the bounty again! I don’t believe we can’t end the life of a mere Essence Gathering cultivator with this amount!”

Unable to do anything about Zuo Yang and Yu Miao, he could only take his anger out on Gu Han.

Everyone exchanged glances. Twenty million essence crystals?!

Posting a bounty for an Essence Gathering realm cultivator was already a hundred times the premium, but increasing it again?

Another elder tried to persuade him again, “Family Head, this matter—”

Before he could finish, a commotion suddenly came from outside.

At that moment, a Yang family steward ran in hurriedly, the excitement in his eyes difficult to suppress. “Family Head, good news! Great news!”

Yang Xiong, already irritated, became even more furious at his interruption. “Good news? Tell me, what good news? If I’m not satisfied, hmph!”

The steward shrank back down. “A Heaven-tier technique has appeared!”

Yang Xiong instantly stood up. “What?!”

***

At the Meng estate, Meng Chuan was reeling from shock after hearing the clan member’s report.

“Art of Returning to Origin and Heart? ’Using the body as a furnace, the soul as the foundation, the qi as nourishment, condensing an indestructible dharma physique, dominating the six directions, reigning supreme over the eight wastelands, invincible and peerless?’” he recited the opening lines of the technique, his shock growing with every word. “There’s no doubt about it! This is absolutely a Heaven-tier technique! I must go see Old Ancestor. The Meng family must obtain this technique!”

***

In the Yuqing Sect.

Suppressing his awkwardness, Murong Yuan deliberately put on a serious expression. “I have ascertained the origin of this technique. A rogue cultivator stumbled upon it on an ancient relic site. However, since the site was blocked by multiple barriers, he could only obtain this opening section. The true technique is still deep within the relic site. Presumably, this person returned to find helpers, but the news leaked out. The cultivator himself has mysteriously disappeared. I’m afraid he met a gruesome end.”

Beside him were Yuqing Sect’s other two supreme elders, Wu De and Duan Ren. Aged beyond recognition, their faces were full of wrinkles, clearly having very little lifespan left.

Duan Ren frowned deeply. “Disappeared? Then the location of the relic site is lost?”

“According to rumors, the relic site lies about ten thousand li to the west, though its exact location remains unknown.” Murong Yuan thought for a moment, before sighing with emotions. “The profoundness of this technique is truly something! I’ve never seen anything like it in my life! Forget the Northern Domain, it would absolutely be a rare treasure anywhere! If one could truly cultivate it to the extreme and condense the dharma physique, our cultivation level would definitely advance another step!”

Murong Yuan was telling the truth. After all, from the moment he got the technique, he had studied it day and night, going over it twenty times already.

Wu De and Duan Ren’s breathing quickened. Advancing another step meant the true Transcendent realm. Though separated by only one word, the Half-Step Transcendent and Transcendent realms were divided by a vast chasm. As for lifespan, it was nearly twice as long.

Murong Yuan’s words struck directly at their vital point.

Thinking of this, Wu De could no longer suppress the urgency in his heart. “Let’s go! We’ll go search now! We must find that relic site before anyone else!”

A cold glint flashed in Duan Ren’s eyes. “You’re right! If anyone dares to compete with us, don’t blame us for being heartless!”

Murong Yuan deliberately frowned. “Would it be appropriate?”

“What’s inappropriate?”

Murong Yuan analyzed, full of worry. “The exact location of the relic site is unclear. Even if we arrive first, if our luck is bad and someone else finds it first, then...”

Wu De instantly realized. “Right! You make a good point. Then...”

Duan Ren’s face twisted. “Gather manpower! The Murong family, the Yuqing Sect, all cultivators at Divine Connection realm and above—all should go! Let me see, in terms of manpower, who can match our two families?!”

Cultivators at that realm and above had long since cultivated divine sense, which would be a great help to find that relic site.

Murong Yuan nodded with a straight face. “Good idea. I shall return to prepare. Let’s set off immediately!”

The two solemnly cupped their hands. “Thank you!”

Although they usually didn’t get along well with Murong Yuan, they sincerely cooperated this time. After all, with their numbers, they had a high chance of finding this technique first.

***

The Qixia Court’s court master, Li Xun, was a middle-aged man, also at the Half-Step Transcendent realm.

In contrast to the impatience of the two from Yuqing Sect, Li Xun appeared completely composed. “Everyone, the exact location of the relic site is unclear. We still need to discuss carefully how to search for it.”

“Yes, we must discuss this thoroughly!”

“The court master’s thoughts align with mine.”

Everyone also appeared calm, flattering each other profusely. There was no rush as there was still time.

Suddenly, someone ran in from outside in a panic. “Court Master, n-not good!”

Li Xun waved his hand, not blaming him, and smiled. “Elder Wang, what matter causes such alarm? We are just discussing how to explore that relic site. Since you’re here, why don’t you offer an idea?”

Elder Wang instantly widened his eyes. Offer an idea? Court Master, your heart is truly big!

He was full of anxiety. “Court Master, I just discovered that all experts at Divine Connection realm and above from Yuqing Sect and the Murong family have mobilized. They’re all heading to the relic site! A total of fifty or sixty people!”

“What?! Those old farts are shameless! Too shameless! Pass on my order!” Li Xun’s expression changed dramatically, and he could no longer remain composed. He waved his hand grandly. “All cultivators at Divine Connection realm and above from the Qixia Court, follow me! We must get ahead of them and find that relic site!”

He immediately soared into the air.

A rather dull-witted elder was puzzled. “Court Master, is the discussion over?”

Li Xun almost tumbled back down. Discuss? Discuss what?! By the time we finish discussing, others would have long obtained the technique!

***

Outside the secret realm of the Yang family, Yang Tong’s gaze swept over the ten elite clan members guarding the secret realm. “After I leave, you must stay guard. Remember, kill anyone who dares to approach within half a step of the secret realm without exception! You must also not let anyone know about the things inside, understood?!”

“Yes! Old Ancestor!”

Yang Tong waved his hand. “Good! Then—”

At that moment, Yang Xiong flew over. “Old Ancestor, not good! Yuqing Sect, the Murong family, and Qixia Court have already mobilized ahead of time!”

Yang Tong’s heart dropped. “What?! How many?!”

”A total of hundred or more people! They are all cultivators at Divine Connection realm and above!”

Yang Tong fell silent for a moment. “Forget it! Two of you, stay behind. The other eight, come with me! This technique is destined to belong to the Yang family. No one can take it away!”

***

At the Meng estate, Old Ancestor Meng Qing, was giving final instructions with a serious face. “Remember, whoever discovers the relic site first, I will reward them!”

“Understood!”

***

On the desolate plains, a man clad in white, with somewhat strange features, flew with the wind. He was Ruyi Tower’s tower master, Wei Fang.

His golden pupils suddenly brightened. “Heaven-tier technique? It doesn’t matter who gets it, they’ll have to give me a share!”

***

Not far from the black market, inside a rather hidden, simply furnished cave abode, Elder Mu slowly stood up. “Ah! Having lived so many years, in the end, I cannot escape the word ’greed.’ Forget it, it’s good to go take a look. What if this opportunity also has a share for me?”

He took a step forward, instantly disappearing without a trace.

***

At this moment, the entire Northern Domain was boiling.

“Look, people from the Yuqing Sect!”

“And the Qixia Court, the Yang family, the Meng family!”

“Damn! They’ve mobilized en masse!”

“Nonsense, it’s the temptation of a Heaven-tier technique, who can resist? If my cultivation level wasn’t low, I’d go join the excitement too!”

Amid the discussions, a figure quietly left the crowd, instantly heading far away. Judging by the figure, it was Yang Ying. After about a quarter of an hour, he arrived at a small valley. There, Gu Han and the other two were quietly waiting for him.

Murong Yan was extremely dissatisfied. “You’re so slow! You might as well have let me go!”

The three ignored her. You go? We’d be exposed right away!

Gu Han licked his lips. “Brother Yang, how is it?”

Yang Ying took a deep breath. “I saw clearly that the Yang family’s Divine Connection realm cultivators have almost all mobilized. The ones left are no more than two.”

Gu Han narrowed his eyes. “Two? It seems Yang Tong is indeed a curious person.”

Murong Yan exclaimed, “Of course! To cooperate with you and not arouse suspicion, Old Ancestor mobilized all the clan’s Divine Connection realm experts. He didn’t even leave the hidden guards inside the secret realm.”

Gu Han’s eyes lit up. “Is that so?! There’s really none left?”

Murong Yan was stunned. “Brother Gu, what are you thinking! Don’t you go killing familiar faces!”

What Gu Han was thinking was actually another matter. “I won’t! But you all arranged that relic site properly, right?”

Shen Xuan’s mouth twitched. “It’s ready. If they see it, they should be pleasantly surprised.”

Yang Ying agreed. “Yes! Extremely surprised!”

Thinking of what Gu Han had instructed them to place inside the relic site, a single word flashed through their minds. Ruthless!

They had never seen someone so ruthless!

Gu Han’s spirits lifted. “Good then! Let’s go, we are going to make a huge fortune!”

Shen Xuan and Yang Ying instantly grew fervent. This time, they were really going to make a huge fortune!

Murong Yan was even more excited than them. She didn’t care about making a fortune at all. All she wanted was to join the excitement, the more the merrier!

***

The Yang family’s secret realm was located not far behind the Yang estate, in a quiet small valley.

Four figures quietly approached the outside of the valley. With Yang Ying’s help, they easily avoided all eyes and ears. Of course, to guard against any mishaps, all four wore black clothes and masks.

Yang Ying didn’t forget to instruct, “Remember that after it’s done, return the clothes to me. They’re very expensive.”

The three looked at him with disdain. We’re about to make a huge fortune, yet you’re still so stingy!

“In a moment—”

Just as Gu Han was about to speak, a faint, almost imperceptible, delicate fragrance suddenly wafted over. His hairs instantly stood on end. Why did this smell feel so familiar?!

Murong Yan sniffed. “Huh? A woman’s scent?”

Immediately after, Liu Ying’s extremely charming, endlessly seductive voice reached their ears. “Little Brother Gu Han, I’ve finally found you!”

Shit! Not good! Gu Han turned his head sharply, just in time to see Liu Ying’s alluring figure swaying as she gracefully walked over.

Gu Han instantly drew his sword. “You were following me?”

Liu Ying laughed, shuddering like a flower branch. “From the moment you came out, I have been following you. So you actually had your eye on someone’s secret realm. What a cunning little guy!”

Murong Yan also stood up, her tone unfriendly. “Little guy? You’re close to him?”

Upon seeing Murong Yan’s figure, Liu Ying was visibly taken aback. “Huh? Why is this barbarian so tall and mighty?”

After a moment of silence, Murong Yan erupted in fury. Barbarian?!

“I will hammer you to death!”