Supreme Sword Exalt

Inside the palace of Great Qi, beneath a peculiar greenstone, a narrow, cramped passage twisted and snaked downward. The atmosphere was sinister and eerie.

At the end of the passage, Jiang Xuan’s slightly plump figure sat cross-legged. Across from him, a hundred-zhang barrier composed of many mysterious runes slowly rotated. As it flickered, a hint of dao charm seemed to flow from it, giving off a sense of primordial antiquity. Beyond the barrier, wisps of red mist coiled and twisted almost as if alive, striving to break through the barrier’s blockade.

At that moment, the perennially unchanging barrier shuddered violently, and the red mist’s struggles intensified in response. Yet it calmed down in a split second, firmly sealing the red mist inside.

Jiang Xuan’s eyes darted open. He glanced from the corner of his eyes as if sensing something, before breaking into a smile.

“The time has come! A thousand years ago, a world-shattering battle happened beyond the heavens, terrifying many powerhouses across the continent! Afterward, several corpses fell, and one happened to land in the Northern Domain. Even though it was just a corpse, its power far exceeded everyone’s imagination.

“In fact, even the Yuqing Sect’s founder, who was at the Transcendent realm, was powerless against it. He was severely injured and passed away not long after. Just as everyone was in despair, a forbidden technique suddenly spread from the forbidden zone, sealing the corpse. That is the God-Slaying Formation.

“Thanks to this, countless living beings in the Northern Domain were spared a great calamity. The formation is shrouded in endless mysteries and no one can see through it. Moreover, it can refine a wisp of the purest spirit nature from that corpse, becoming an immense opportunity for countless young juniors! Marvelous, truly marvelous!”

At this point, he suddenly turned around. “Brother Wei, hear me out. Since it’s called ‘God-Slaying,’ does that mean the corpse belonged to a god?”

Wei Fang’s voice, full of chill, came from not far away. “Jiang Xuan, if you don’t break this bad habit, I’ll leave!”

Jiang Xuan broke into a smile. “No!! Okay, I won’t mention it again, ever! Heh, Brother Wei, I knew I wasn’t wrong about you. You are a man of your word!”

Wei Fang came to Jiang Xuan’s side. “Hmph!”

However, Jiang Xuan noticed that his expression was off. “Hmm? Brother Wei, you don’t seem to be in a good mood...”

Wei Fang shot him a glance without elaborating further. Who could be in a good mood after being led by the nose for no reason!

Jiang Xuan didn’t press further, still fawning. “Brother Wei, why don’t we get going?”

Wei Fang exhaled deeply. “Jiang Xuan, promise me that you won’t reveal any information about me. You know my origins. If they find out about what I did, my death will be most unpleasant.”

Jiang Xuan rubbed his hands together. “Rest assured. I’ve been planning this for years, I guarantee it’s foolproof! After this, I will never appear before you again. You’ll still be that carefree, unfettered manager of the Ruyi Tower.”

Wei Fang shot him a look of disdain. “For a prodigy like me to have fallen to such shameless depths!”

Jiang Xuan turned solemn. “Brother Wei, I just want to live, okay! Be it by unscrupulous means or cold-blooded ruthlessness, I’m willing to pay any price!”

Wei Fang fell silent for a long while. “Fine! After this, we owe each other nothing.”

Jiang Xuan was overjoyed. “Good! Brother Wei, let’s go!”

Having made his decision, Wei Fang didn’t hesitate further. With a flip of his hand, a three-cun-long finger bone—lustrous and white like jade—appeared in his palm.

The excitement in Jiang Xuan’s eyes grew even stronger. “The Demon Saint Relic Bone! Brother Wei, you certainly have many good things.”

Wei Fang ignored him. A flicker of heartache crossed his gaze as he threw the bone at the barrier.

The barrier shuddered violently at once, while the finger bone was rapidly consumed. After an unknown time had passed, the fluctuations seemed to reach an extreme, and a two-chi-wide gap suddenly split open.

Wei Fang shouted, “Quick! It won’t be open for long!”

His reminder proved unnecessary. Jiang Xuan had transformed into a streak of light and shot straight through the gap.

Now that his goal had been achieved, Wei Fang retrieved the jade bone. Almost at the same time, the barrier closed once more, sealing shut and forcing back the wisps of red mist that almost broke free.

Looking at the relic bone, now only the size of a fingernail, Wei Fang’s heart ached again. “Damn it!”

A Demon Saint Relic Bone was super rare in the world. He feared he wouldn’t get another piece in this lifetime.

***

Inside the secret realm, Shen Xuan also felt moved after seeing the look on Gu Han’s face. “Brother Gu, you’ll get used to it. Back when Junior Sister and I first came here, we were just like you, completely amazed—”

Murong Yan sneered. “Senior Brother, you’re one to talk. If I hadn’t slapped you, you’d have been struck dumb on the spot!”

Having his shortcomings exposed, Shen Xuan couldn’t help but flush red.

Gu Han had no mind to tease him either. His gaze swept around and spotted a spirit herb with a red stem not far away. “Huh? The Seven Star Grass?”

He happened to recognize the fairly common spirit herb, whose value was neither high nor low. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Immediately after, he discovered more. “There’s more! The Sky Azure Flower, Dragon Vein Fruit, First Grade Black Ganoderma... There’s so many spirit herbs!”

Every few zhang, he came across a familiar spirit herb. Although most were of ordinary grade, some were high-grade. However, unlike those in the outside world, they all exhibited an eerie blood-red hue. Instead of the usual medicinal properties of spirit herbs, they carried an additional sense of domineering force and aura.

Subconsciously, he reached out and grabbed the Seven Star Grass.

Shen Xuan was startled. “Brother Gu, what do you think you’re doing?”

Gu Han licked his lips. “Brother Shen, between my Poison Immunity Physique and this thing, which do you think is more powerful?”

Shen Xuan inwardly lamented. It’s over! I just knew you would be like this!

“You absolutely must not act recklessly! Didn’t I tell you earlier? The things here are very strange. Don’t even think of touching them!”

Murong Yan also turned serious. “He’s right! Brother Gu, eating them will really kill you!”

Gu Han hesitated for a long time, making the two terribly anxious. In the end, he triumphed over his impulses. “Is that so... What a pity.”

The two looked at him speechless. Could poverty truly have pushed Brother Gu to such extremes?!

Shen Xuan quickly tried to divert his attention. “Let’s go. We still need to go compete for that liquid treasure!”

Gu Han was taken aback. “How do we exactly compete for it?”

Murong Yan said excitedly, “By fighting, of course! It’s the old rule. Every time we enter, we fight first! Once casualties occur, we stop to discuss the distribution shares. If disagreements arise, we fight again until we reach an agreement!”

Gu Han nodded. “Such a crude but practical method!”

Murong Yan swung her great hammer. “Exactly! With the two of us joining forces, we’re sure to get the largest share!”

Shen Xuan felt a bit awkward. “Junior Sister, I’m still here!”

Murong Yan thought about it. “Senior Brother, just don’t hold us back later!”

Shen Xuan was speechless.

As they talked and walked, Gu Han suddenly frowned deeply and stopped.

Shen Xuan was taken aback. “Hmm? What’s wrong?”

Gu Han’s eyes instantly narrowed. “Someone is waiting for us ahead!”

“Who?”

“People who want to kill me! They are coming!”

As soon as the words fell, they saw Yang Lin and Meng Xing walking side by side, followed by disciples from the three families. A total of twenty to thirty people rapidly approached the trio.

Murong Yan brandished her great hammer. “Just as I thought! The typical style of those two families!”

Shen Xuan felt an impending sense of crisis. “There are also people from the Qixia Court!”

Gu Han’s eyes narrowed. “Quality over quantity. Numbers alone don’t make them efficient.”

From start to finish, his gaze remained fixed on those who possessed the greatest threat: Yang Lin and Meng Xing. They even felt more dangerous than Chu Kuang.

In just a few breaths, Yang Lin and Meng Xing arrived before the trio.

Meng Xing stared fixedly at Gu Han, silver light blazing in his eyes. “I never expected that you actually dared to enter!”

Gu Han suddenly smiled. “Why not? This isn’t the Meng family’s secret realm.”

These words instantly triggered some unpleasant memories for Meng Xing, the silver light in his eyes intensifying. His tone was brimming with killing intent. “Remember, I said I would kill you.”

Gu Han’s smile gradually faded. “Many have said the same thing to me. They all died.”

Murong Yan was enraged. “Meng Xing, don’t you dare touch a single hair on Brother Gu! I’ll squash you with my hammer!”

Yang Lin’s face betrayed no emotions. “Don’t be in a hurry, Murong Yan. None of you will escape today.”

Shen Xuan sensed the deeper meaning in his words. “What do you mean?!”

A cold light suddenly flashed in Yang Lin’s eyes, and green qi swirled around him. “It’s really that simple. All of you must die.”

The people from the three families quickly dispersed, surrounding the trio.

Amid the crowd, a female cultivator glanced at Zhi Xuan. “Remember, when we start fighting later, don’t be afraid at all. Just charge forward. As long as you kill one of the three, Senior Brother will definitely reward you well!”

After hearing this, the others couldn’t help but look at her. They had witnessed the strength of Gu Han’s trio firsthand. Sending a mere Essence Gathering was no different from sending her to death. Anyone with eyes could see the malicious intent.

However, Zhi Xuan seemed oblivious, hesitating, “But... I like him so much. I-I don’t want to attack him...”

The female cultivator turned cold. “Idiot! That person is ruthless and vicious. He’s not a good person at all. You—”

Before she could finish, Gu Han suddenly appeared in front of her.

He frowned slightly. “Who did you just say is not a good person?”

The female cultivator was full of terror. “I—”

She understood Gu Han’s strength all too well. Someone who could clash head-on with Chu Kuang was absolutely not someone a mere Spirit Profound cultivator like her could handle.

The female cultivator gazed at Yang Lin pleadingly. “Senior Brother, s-save me...”

Yang Lin and Meng Xing sank into gloom. How shameless could Gu Han be, to make the first move?!

“Impudence!”

“How outrageous!”

This brat truly deserves death!

However, before the two could take further action, a flash of sword light streaked past. The female cultivator’s eyes still held a trace of terror as her head soared high into the air.

Splattered with blood, Zhi Xuan went deathly pale from fright. “I—! H-how could you...?”

Gu Han frowned slightly. “With such little courage, you shouldn’t come to places like this in the future.”

Seemingly frightened out of her wits, Zhi Xuan nodded blankly. “Oh... I-I won’t!”

Upon witnessing Gu Han’s ferocity, everyone retreated in unison. The encirclement collapsed without a fight.

Gu Han pointed his sword straight at Yang Lin and Meng Xing. “Shen Xuan, you see? Quality over quantity means no unnecessary deadweight.”