Supreme Sword Exalt

Over ten li from the valley, a green-robed middle-aged man stood on top of a mountain. With his hands behind his back, he radiated a heroic air. He was the Flame Emperor’s younger brother, Yun Zhan, also known as the War Prince.

He slowly withdrew his gaze. “Good! Feng Xi’s judgment is very good. This young man is very impressive!”

Behind him, a black-robed elder stroked his beard. “Aren’t you going to step in? According to Miss Feng, this kid tends to kill. Be careful he doesn’t cause a huge mess!”

Yun Zhan said flatly, “It doesn’t matter. Feng Xi can keep the situation under control. Let him run amok. There are many deep-seated problems within the army anyway. My brother and I just haven’t had the time to deal with it. This is a good opportunity to clean them up. Yun Lie ultimately isn’t fit for important tasks!”

The elder sighed. “I wonder when this war will ever end...”

Yun Zhan stared into the distance. “Hmph.”

Through layers of mist, he could vaguely see two bare-chested, tall, and sturdy old men glaring fiercely in their direction.

“If he wants to fight, my brother and I will see it through to the end.”

***

Within the military camp, Zhou Ye and Wang Yong landed, exchanging a cold glance. They didn’t even bother hiding their hostility toward each other. Divine Physician Xue and Zhao Mengyou followed behind them. Yun Fan was not among them for some reason.

Upon seeing Gu Han, Murong Yan’s eyes reddened as her concern for him overflowed.

She lunged forward for a bear hug. “Brother Gu, I knew you were alright!”

Gu Han paused for a moment before instantly hiding behind Shen Xuan. He was a sword cultivator, not a body cultivator. Even with a treasure robe protecting him, being hugged by Murong Yan would probably break a few ribs.

Shen Xuan was flabbergasted.

Zhang Shan carefully approached. “Sister Murong, could this be—”

Murong Yan excitedly swung her wolf-toothed club, making Zhang Shan break out in a cold sweat. “Yes! This is Gu Han, Brother Gu!”

Her words instantly sent the crowd into an uproar.

“He truly is dignified and impressive!”

“Sister Murong really wasn’t lying to us!”

“I heard Brother Gu is a sword cultivator. Just judging by that aura from earlier, he’s truly extraordinary!”

For a time, everyone grew fervent as they buzzed with discussion, forgetting about the Yudan Sect and Yun Lie.

Gu Han was a bit surprised. Since when did I become so popular?

Whether it was due to their fondness for Murong Yan, or the things she usually said about Gu Han, they had all formed a positive first impression of Gu Han.

Fatty was slightly sour. “Isn’t my cultivation level higher than his? Wasn’t my landing more awesome? Why’s no one praising me?”

Suddenly, Divine Physician Xue stared intently at the elder beside the young man. “I-it’s you!”

That elder had long sensed Divine Physician Xue’s arrival.

Upon seeing that he had been recognized, he sneered as his tone carried immense hatred. “Xue Mao? You really are hard to kill!”

Divine Physician Xue’s eyes turned red. “You deserve to die!”

Gu Han narrowed his eyes slightly. “Senior, is it him?”

Xue Yu’s eyes also reddened as she glared hatefully at the elder. “I recognize him too! My father died at his hands!”

Gu Han nodded. “Understood. Then we’ll start with him.”

“This is absurd! Watch yourself! This is the Great Flame Empire’s military camp, not the Border Wasteland! You can’t settle your personal grudges here!” Yun Lie’s expression darkened. Already in a foul mood after hearing of Gu Han’s recovery, he grew even more displeased seeing him so highly praised. “Everyone who comes here must abide by the rules of the Great Flame Imperial Dynasty!”

Gu Han glanced at him. “We’ll settle our matter later.”

With that, he shifted his gaze back to the elder.

Sensing the killing intent in Gu Han’s eyes, that elder quickly pleaded for help, “Young Sect Master...”

The young man was naturally unaware of what had happened in the capital, much less Gu Han’s background.

Anger began to rise within him. “Like he said, the military camp isn’t a place to settle private—”

In the next moment, light flashed before his eyes. When he came to his senses, the elder had already fallen to the ground, a faint trace of blood between his brows. Dead silence fell as everyone was rendered speechless. They had thought that Gu Han would argue with the other party, then wait for Feng Xi to arrive and let her make the decision.

Murong Yan wasn’t surprised at all. “I told you. If my Brother Gu came, he would have chopped them down long ago. None of you believed me!”

Zhang Shan nodded repeatedly, filled with admiration. “But I did! I believed you!”

Yun Lie finally reacted. “How dare you commit murder within the military camp? Someone... Someone seize him!”

Before anyone could act, two figures appeared before him.

Wang Yong sneered coldly. “Hmph! If Young Master Gu wants someone dead, then that person must die!”

Zhou Ye’s eyes flashed with a fierce glint. “Heh! The rules of the Great Flame Empire are useless against the Western Extreme Holy Demon Sect!”

The auras of two Half-Step Transcendent realm experts radiated outward, causing Yun Lie and Marquis Song to turn pale as they staggered backward. The two exchanged a glance as shock filled their faces. There were only two or three such experts in the Great Flame Empire’s army. Where did these two come from?!

The young man’s face alternated between pale and flushed as he turned to Yun Lie. “Your Highness, you must give me an explanation for this! Hundreds of our alchemists have diligently crafted pills for your empire, and yet we have to stand by and watch our member be murdered by him! Where is justice? If this continues, who would dare work for the empire?”

The crowd cursed inwardly, Hypocritical bastard. How dare you say such things!

After being pressed like this, Yun Lie felt intense hatred for Gu Han and the Yudan Sect. “Fine! Later, I will—”

Seeing his reluctance, the young man gritted his teeth. “Your Highness, I want an explanation now!”

“You—”

The young man’s eyes reddened slightly. “I promise you that from today onward, even if we have to work ourselves to death, we will restore the supply of pills to three bottles!”

Yun Lie’s spirits lifted. “Really?”

He felt a surge of excitement. If he could restore the previous pill supply through his own efforts, his prestige within the army would increase greatly!

“Of course, it’s true! However, I have conditions! These people killed an elder of the Yudan Sect. They must pay with their lives!” The young man stared intently at Gu Han. Then, with a flash of greed, he turned to Murong Yan. “Also, give me twenty bottles each of the Emerald Condensation Pill, Wondrous Clarity Pill, and Yi Wood Pill!”

The Yudan Sect had had their eyes on these incredible pills for a long time. However, every time they had asked Murong Yan for them under the pretext of studying the pill formulas, they had come back empty-handed. Due to Feng Xi’s influence, no one dared to pressure her excessively. How could he miss this opportunity?

The young man’s words immediately reignited the anger in everyone.

“Pft! You bastard!”

“In your dreams! Pay with their lives? Dream on!”

“If anyone should pay with their lives, it’s you for the brothers who died because of the insufficient pill supply!”

Wang Yong and Zhou Ye remained expressionless. The way they looked at him was as if he were already dead.

Fatty sighed. “I understand now. None of those bastards from the Yudan Sect are any good!”

Yun Lie hesitated. The second condition was easy to handle, but the first... With Feng Xi around, no one would even dare to kill Gu Han!

Completely oblivious, the young man quickly took out a jade talisman. “Your Highness, if you don’t agree, I—”

Just then, Feng Xi appeared in the field. Her red skirt fluttered in the wind. She was so beautiful, she didn’t seem like she belonged to the mortal world.

Everyone hurriedly saluted. “Your Highness!”

Their eyes were filled with endless fervor and adoration. The praise Gu Han had received before was nothing compared to this.

Gu Han sighed inwardly. It was only at this moment that he truly understood just how high Feng Xi’s prestige within the army was. Yun Fan wasn’t lying.

After seeing her arrive, Zhao Mengyou shrank back.

Fatty approached with a mischievous grin. “Divine Maiden Zhao, are you still looking for a crack in the ground?”

Zhao Mengyou’s eyes reddened, nearly crying from anger. She had never seen such a shameless, detestable fatty. Why did he have to be outrageously strong?!

Feng Xi seemed completely oblivious to what was happening as she only focused on Gu Han. “Are your injuries healed yet? No lingering problems?”

“No.”

“That’s good. Where’s Yun Fan?”

“I sent him to do something. He’ll be back in a few days. He’ll give you a pleasant surprise then, and also...” Gu Han smiled sincerely, sweeping his gaze over the assembled cultivators. “Give them a surprise too!”

Perhaps because of Feng Xi, or perhaps because he was born for the battlefield, he really liked the atmosphere here. He had become fond of these cultivators as well.

A surprise? Everyone looked at each other, but didn’t dare to ask. Their curiosity was gnawing at them like a cat’s scratch.

Given Feng Xi’s personality, she wouldn’t ask further. “Mm. Do you need any help?”

Gu Han glanced at Wang Yong and Zhou Ye, these two fighters waiting at his beck and call. “No. I can handle it.”

Feng Xi didn’t linger. “Alright.”

Upon seeing those few marquises approaching rapidly from a distance, she reached for her gourd.

After seeing her action, those few people twitched their eyes and sheepishly retreated. Forget it, forget it! We can’t afford to provoke a highness who’s drinking! Let her do what she wants!

Knowing full well what her intention was, Yun Lie’s anger flared up. “Little Sister, y-you’re just going to let him act so recklessly?”

Feng Xi ignored him as she turned and left.

Meanwhile, the young man was consumed by jealousy. Feng Xi’s attention had been on Gu Han the entire time, without even glancing his way!

He activated his jade talisman. “Very well then, Your Highness the Ninth Prince! Don’t blame the Yudan Sect for being dishonorable!”

In an instant, hundreds of alchemists emerged from the military stockade.

His tone was filled with intense hatred. “Let’s go! The empire bullies too much. We won’t refine pills anymore! We’re all returning to the sect. If you want to kill or punish us, do as you please!”

A crowd of alchemists gathered around, clamoring incessantly as they felt very confident.

“Young Sect Master is right. We’re not refining anymore!”

“Working hard to refine pills for them, only to suffer this kind of humiliation!”

“Let’s see where they’ll get so many pills without us!”

With the war situation tense, the empire really couldn’t find so many skilled alchemists to replace them in a short time. Are they going to rely on rogue alchemists? Can their alchemy skills compare to ours?

Hearing this, Feng Xi paused.

A flash of delight appeared in the young man’s eyes. I-is she finally compromising?

Feng Xi’s next words hit him like a sledgehammer. “If you don’t want to refine, then don’t.”

She left immediately afterward.

He nearly laughed in anger. “Fine! In that case, let’s see how you’ll manage without—”

Gu Han shook his head. “No. You won’t even get to see it.”

The young man was stunned. “What?”

The next moment, a faint trace of blood appeared between his brows. The sword light was so fast he didn’t even have time to understand what Gu Han meant. Even in death, a hint of confusion still lingered in his eyes.

“Young Sect Master!”

The group of alchemists glared hatefully and maliciously at Gu Han.

Gu Han shifted his gaze to the group. “That goes for you guys too.”

Wang Yong and Zhou Ye stepped forward. “How can dead people see?!”

Gu Han thought for a moment before deciding. “Keep one alive, and ask for the way to the Yudan Sect.”