Supreme Sword Exalt

“Right! I almost forgot!” After taking just a couple of steps, Murong Yan slapped her forehead. She then handed over a slightly worn-out pill bottle to Zhang Shan. “Heal your injuries first!”

Zhang Shan’s heart leaped with joy as he bowed sincerely and accepted the pill. “Green Wood Profound Spirit Pill? Thank you, Sister Murong!”

His injuries were quite severe. If not treated promptly, it would likely leave behind major hidden problems. Ever since Murong Yan arrived, the Green Wood Profound Spirit Pill’s reputation had soared. After all, normal injury-healing pills repaired injuries ten times slower, with far inferior effects. Taking them during battle was essentially useless.

Compared to that, the Green Wood Profound Spirit Pill was simply heaven-defying. As long as the injury wasn’t fatal, it could fully heal within a few minutes. There were also the Clear Spirit Pill and the Yi Wood Pill, which had equally miraculous effects.

Over these past days, everyone had witnessed the miracles of the Green Wood Profound Spirit Pill multiple times. At first, this pill caused a huge sensation, and even the War Prince personally came to inquire. Upon learning that the pills came from the Profound Pill Camp and were finite in number, he left disappointed. Compared to the quantity this vast army required, the pills in Murong Yan’s possession didn’t even make a ripple.

Shen Xuan sighed inwardly. At the end of the day, they couldn’t bear to see so many fellow cultivators dying. They had distributed so many pills, and now there weren’t many left, probably only enough for another fierce battle. He couldn’t help but wish these pills could be mass-produced...

Zhang Shan also knew how precious this pill was. “Sister Murong, don’t worry, I’m not taking your things for nothing. I’ll transfer some of my military merits to you later!”

Military merit was very important at the border. It had even replaced the function of essence crystals. Dao artifacts, materials, spirit herbs, and even Transcendent Substances—anything a cultivator could use could be exchanged with them.

However, healing pills were special. Despite their high demand, these items were handed out freely after each battle. Otherwise, most of the military merits would have to be spent on them.

Murong Yan swung her wolf-toothed club fiercely. “To hell with that! Keep your military merits to improve your cultivation. Come on, follow me and go smash them!”

Shen Xuan hesitated slightly. “Junior Sister, isn’t this—”

Murong Yan let out a cold laugh. “What are you afraid of? If Brother Gu were here, he’d have cut them all down already!”

Shen Xuan stopped trying to dissuade her as he believed it. Along the way, many cultivators joined in upon learning her goal. The Yudan Sect’s actions had truly repulsed them.

In no time, they surged forward with fierce killing intent, sweeping toward the white military camp in a grand procession.

***

A hundred li away, inside a black military camp.

“Your Highness, we can’t let this slide!”

“Exactly, those bastards from the Yudan Sect are going too far!”

“Because of those dogs, the casualties among my cultivators have increased by a full twenty percent!”

“Your Highness, just give the word, and I’ll take my men and wipe them out!”

Five or six people were shouting angrily, creating a ruckus. They reeked of blood and killing intent. The lowest among them was at the seventh stage of the Transcendent realm. Two of them even emitted auras that could faintly compare to Zhou Ye and Wang Yong. These individuals were all among the nine marquises.

An elder with graying hair shook his head. “It won’t do. Killing them would be easy, but with the battle situation so tense, where would we find the time and energy to find replacements? What about the subsequent battles? They will surely behave if we step in and pressure them.”

A big man was filled with rage. “So what?! I can’t stand this humiliation!”

“We must destroy them!”

“Exactly! Haven’t we endured times without pills before? We still made it through!”

The few of them started shouting again. At the head, Feng Xi appeared calm, quietly gazing outside. She even occasionally sipped her strong liquor, as if oblivious to their argument.

The elder was anxious. “Your Highness, you need to make a decision!”

Feng Xi seemed to come back to her senses and remained as cold as ever. “Ignore them. When Junior Brother arrives, I’ll let him handle it.”

Junior Brother? Everyone was stunned. They had vaguely heard about Gu Han’s matters, but didn’t understand why Feng Xi suddenly brought him up.

The elder grew even more anxious. “Your Highness, let’s set aside the matter of your junior brother for now. The pills—”

Feng Xi said, “Leave them to Junior Brother. He will find a way.”

Before Gu Han arrived, he had already sent Yun Fan ahead to deliver a message.

The others were confused again. Find a way? Could your junior brother also be an alchemist? Well, even if he is, we’re on a battlefield! No matter how skilled he is, he simply can’t refine such a massive quantity of pills?!

“Your Highness, can he do it?”

“I trust him.”

“But—”

Feng Xi started dismissing them. “Go back.”

Despite being full of doubts, they were too intimidated by her presence to ask a single question. In the end, they could only retreat helplessly.

After they left, Feng Xi put away her wine gourd as a thoughtful glint flashed in her eyes.

Suddenly, she turned to one of the three female cultivators standing behind her. “You seem very happy that Junior Brother is coming?”

The female cultivator was taken aback. “Ah? Your Highness, I-I...”

Feng Xi remained silent. Suddenly, a scorching intent flowed around her, and an illusory heavenly phoenix shadow appeared in her eyes. Its wings flapped as if breaking through something.

She stared calmly at the female cultivator. “Who are you? I’ve never seen you before, so why have I never doubted your identity?”

When she mentioned Gu Han’s name, Feng Xi had keenly sensed a change in the female cultivator behind her, raising her vigilance.

The female cultivator looked down in panic. “I am—”

Suddenly, a panicked voice came from outside. “Your Highness, something terrible happened! Sister Murong is leading people to smash the Yudan Sect. The ninth prince and Marquis Song want to punish her. Please come quickly!”

Feng Xi frowned slightly. “I know. Stay here. Don’t move.”

She raised a finger and sealed the female cultivator with a crimson restriction.

After Feng Xi left, the female cultivator lightly patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief.

“That was close. I’ve been discovered.” She chuckled softly, as if relieved. “Dear Junior Brother, I knew you wouldn’t die...”

A glint of darkness flashed in her eyes. Breaking free of the restriction as if it was nothing, she slowly dissipated. From beginning to end, the other two female cultivators beside her remained as still as puppets.

***

A wolf-toothed club slammed down fiercely, its tremendous force spreading out, demolishing most of a camp building.

“Sister Murong, well done!”

“They should have been taught a lesson long ago!”

“With that kind of strength, no wonder you can make the barbarians cry for their parents!”

“Haha, Sister Murong is divinely strong. Those little barbarians are nothing before her!”

The surrounding cultivators cheered non-stop as their eyes were filled with admiration.

Murong Yan brandished her wolf-toothed club. “Hmph! That’s nothing! If Brother Gu were here, he wouldn’t have just smashed their camp building!”

Everyone showed sincere respect upon hearing Gu Han. Murong Yan had boasted about him so often that they felt as if he were a longtime friend. He had avenged a friend, slaughtered all Holy Sons, and even eradicated three Holy Lands. Even the sensational Green Wood Profound Spirit Pill was something he had brought out.

In the army, they revered the strong even more than in the capital. Even though they had never met him, everyone felt immense curiosity and respect for the rather legendary figure. Deep down, they all thought, A man born between heaven and earth should live with such passion and vengeance!

Even more remarkable, he was also Feng Xi’s junior brother. The tenth princess’ prestige in the army was third only to the Flame Emperor and the War Prince. Thus, although Gu Han hadn’t appeared, they already considered him one of their own.

That middle-aged alchemist emerged from the ruins. He was covered in dust, his face pale with rage. “How dare you?! Y-you really are lawless!”

Of course, Zhang Shan wouldn’t show him any respect. “You have the nerve to embezzle our pills, but we can’t vent our anger?”

Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out. “Embezzle? That’s quite the accusation!”

The young sect master and the elder came out after hearing the commotion.

He looked at the crowd with a gloomy expression. “Who did this? Step forward!”

Murong Yan laughed coldly and slammed her club into the ground, making it tremble. “I did!”

Zhang Shan stepped forward loyally. “So did I! I’ve wanted to smash your camp for a long time!”

“Count me in!”

“I’ve been disgusted with them for a long time too!”

“A brother of mine ended up with permanent damage because his injuries weren’t treated in time, all because these bastards embezzled the pills!”

“My friend too!”

Instantly, the crowd pressed forward together. Murong Yan’s actions undoubtedly ignited a fire in their hearts, bringing out all the resentment and anger that had accumulated over time. In the distance, more cultivators kept arriving upon hearing the commotion. The situation was spiraling out of control.

The young man’s expression changed drastically as he kept retreating. “A-are you trying to rebel?!”

Zhang Shan’s eyes were red. “Pft! We just want justice for ourselves! We gave you so many spirit herbs, where did you hide them?!”

The young man was the kind who was all bluster. “I-I’ve sent a message. Once the ninth prince arrives, he will give you an explanation!”

The crowd, brimming with killing intent, advanced slowly. With so many people, even a casual strike would not only kill him but also level the camp.

At this moment, he deeply regretted it. He shouldn’t have been so greedy, reducing two bottles of pills to one. How was he supposed to withstand the fury of so many people?

Suddenly, a roar of anger sounded, and two figures appeared before the crowd. “Scoundrels!”

Yun Lie was at the front, with a gloomy-looking middle-aged man behind him, Marquis Song.

Upon seeing Yun Lie arrive, the young man breathed a long sigh of relief. “Your Highness, you’re here—”

Yun Lie swept him with a cold glare. “Hmph! Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve done. I’ll settle with you later!”

The young man gritted his teeth. “Your Highness, we can discuss the pills however you want! But these people have no regard for military discipline, causing a public disturbance. Your Highness, I beg you, please punish them severely!”

Yun Lie ignored him and looked at Murong Yan. “You led this?”

He knew who Murong Yan and Shen Xuan were.

Zhang Shan quickly stepped forward. “Your Highness, Sister Murong was just standing up for us.”

“Yes, Your Highness, those bastards went too far!”

“Our brothers are fighting desperately at the front, and they’re sabotaging us from behind!”

Instantly, many stepped forward to plead for Murong Yan.

Murong Yan showed no fear. “There’s no need to plead! I just can’t stand those bastards! You’re risking your lives, and they’re playing dirty behind your backs! If Brother Gu were here—”

Upon hearing Gu Han’s name, Yun Lie’s face darkened instantly. “Silence!”

He hated Gu Han and by extension, found Murong Yan and Shen Xuan hard to stomach.

Marquis Song remained impassive. “What kind of behavior is this? If this sets a precedent, the consequences will be disastrous. They must be severely punished to uphold military discipline!”

The day before, he had already received the news that Song Jian had died in the death duel against Gu Han. Despite knowing it was a fair fight, he was determined to avenge his son’s death. Murong Yan’s close relationship with Gu Han made her his primary target.

Yun Lie nodded. “Indeed! Marquis Song, what punishment do you suggest?”

Marquis Song narrowed his eyes. “Out of consideration for Her Highness Feng Xi, spare her life, but cripple her cultivation to serve as a warning!”

Shen Xuan’s expression changed drastically. “What?! This is—”

Marquis Song didn’t even give him a chance to speak. His aura surged as he moved to subdue Murong Yan.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, he gazed sharply into the distance. A speck of golden light streaked forward, slamming down before the crowd in the blink of an eye. The earth shook as a massive crater tore into the solid ground.

Murong Yan was startled, then delighted. “Huh? Fatty, is that you?!”

Shining golden, Fatty slowly walked out of the crater, shaking off the dust.

“Who else if not me! You—” Fatty suddenly noticed the wolf-toothed club in Murong Yan’s hand, and shot a sympathetic look at Shen Xuan. “You must’ve suffered.”

Shen Xuan was taken aback.

Murong Yan asked urgently. “Where’s Brother Gu? Didn’t you say he was with you?”

Fatty glanced upward. “Isn’t he here?”

As his words fell, Gu Han appeared silently on the scene. A faint radiance flickered around him, giving an impression of unparalleled sharpness. Within a chi of him, the ground was cut as smooth as a mirror, as if by a sharp blade.

“Haha, Young Master Gu’s sword evasion technique is unparalleled!”

“Tsk tsk tsk, I cannot possibly match Young Master Gu’s extreme speed!”

Before the crowd could react, two voices rang out, as if afraid to fall behind. Who else other than Zhou Ye and Wang Yong?