Supreme Sword Exalt

Inside the black military camp, Feng Xi was frowning, pondering the matter of that female cultivator. Suddenly, she heard an excited voice from outside.

“Your Highness, good news! That junior brother of yours, Young Master Gu, he’s really formidable...”

After listening to the account, Feng Xi somewhat relaxed. This was already a sign of her good mood.

She thought for a moment. “Understood. Send word, from this day forward, Gu Han is the vanguard of the Fengyi Army.”

The person was taken aback. “Huh?”

Vanguard?

Among the various armies, aside from a handful of marquises, there were also commanders and deputy commanders. Beneath them were commandants of various ranks. They had never established the position of vanguard before. Clearly, this was something Feng Xi had especially prepared for Gu Han.

Feng Xi’s voice came through again. “From this day forward, Gu Han shall be the sharpest sword of the Great Flame Border Army!”

“Understood!”

***

Not far from the two armies, Old Liao, who had been quietly watching, praised loudly, “Excellent! What a decisive victory! A beautifully executed victory! As crafty as this kid is, his attacks are extremely clean and efficient, and his killing power is top-notch. Quite similar to how our highness was back in the day!”

Someone beside him laughed. “Old Liao, you think that highly of him? Don’t forget, you still have a bet with him!”

Old Liao didn’t mind. “Hah! I’m a crude man. Bet or no bet, just based on his strength and performance, he’s earned my admiration!”

The elder sighed with regret. “What a pity. If only we had a few more such talents in the army, our morale wouldn’t be so low.”

Though the border army had a huge number of cultivators and prodigies, most only achieved three or four rings from the Dao Bell. Five rings were rare, and those with six or more rings could be counted on one’s fingers. Nine rings belonged only to Feng Xi.

Old Liao laughed heartily. “I will stake my head on it. This kid definitely had nine rings, no doubt!”

***

Of course, Yun Lie and his companions had also witnessed Gu Han’s performance.

Unlike the others’ joy, their faces were grim, murderous intent flickering in their eyes—especially in Yun Lie’s. He wasn’t blind. Given Gu Han’s displayed cultivation and killing power, he definitely had nine rings from the Dao Bell.

Yun Lie was filled with dissatisfaction. Why were you all able to achieve nine rings, while I only got eight?!

Envy burned within him, solidifying his earlier resolve. I will defect to him and draw upon a trace of the Ancestral Dragon bloodline! Then, I will surely also elicit nine rings from the Dao Bell!

Ji Cheng’s tone was grave. “If this boy gets the chance to grow, he might become another Feng Xi.”

“Then he’d better hope he gets that chance! Let him live a few more days. Once the great battle begins, I will surely take his life. Nine rings? A dead nine rings isn’t even worth one ring—hmm?” Song He sneered coldly. Suddenly, he seemed to notice something wrong. “What does he think he’s doing?!”

***

Upon seeing Gu Han sever the young war god’s head, the crowd was stunned for a moment, then erupted in cheers. Even the oppressive weight and despondency weighing on their hearts were somewhat dispersed.

Murong Yan waved her wolf-toothed club incessantly. “Brother Gu, well done!”

Except for Fatty, who remained indifferent, everyone else changed expressions and hurriedly ducked aside. Gu Han smiled as this had been his intention. He had long heard from Yun Fan that the barbarians were not only powerful, but also far outnumbered the Great Flame Border Army. For some unknown reason, the barbarians never deployed their full forces. Even so, the border army struggled immensely in defense, suffering more defeats than victories. Any victory also came at a heavy cost.

Thanks to the Flame Emperor, the War Prince, and Feng Xi, their morale hadn’t plummeted to rock bottom. Still, the gloom and dejection accumulated year after year were easy to imagine.

Gu Han understood clearly that in a battle between two armies, morale was especially important, even more so than elixirs in some respects. Obviously, killing a young war god so cleanly and efficiently had an even greater uplifting effect than Murong Yan’s earlier feat.

Just then, a cultivator hurried over urgently, conveying Feng Xi’s command.

Vanguard? The sharpest sword?

Instantly, the crowd’s blood boiled with fervor, their gloom and despondency disappearing once more. With Feng Xi’s keen grasp of military morale, she knew exactly what the border army cultivators lacked most: a sword. One that, wherever its blade pointed, would sweep away all opposition. Gu Han was the perfect choice for that!

Fatty muttered quietly with a hint of sourness, “Isn’t it just some measly vanguard title? Who’s he trying to impress! Just wait, I’m going to get myself a grand vanguard title, one that’ll outrank this bastard!”

Zhao Mengyou side-eyed him. “Oh? If he’s the sharpest sword, what are you going to be?”

Fatty fell into contemplation. The... sturdiest shield?

Gu Han looked toward the group of barbarians, their expressions grim.

“This trash dares to call himself a war god? Who bestowed that title? Is your War God Hall filled with such weaklings?” he asked in genuine confusion.

One of the barbarians erupted in fury. “Insolent! You bastard, how dare you insult our War God Hall—”

Suddenly, a gust of fierce wind rushed toward him. Scattered, formless sword qi left trails of blood across him. Gu Han was already before him.

“You—”

Before he could speak, a flash of light appeared before his eyes. He felt a chill at his neck as his consciousness rapidly faded.

The barbarians roared furiously.

“Arrogant!”

“Kill him!”

“Hang his corpse outside the War God Hall!”

They always held a condescending, arrogant attitude toward the border army. Gu Han’s words had undoubtedly shattered their pride.

Upon seeing Gu Han surrounded, some cultivators moved to help. “Vanguard Gu!”

Fatty lazily folded his arms, settling in to watch the show. “Hell with that! If he can’t handle something this trivial, then he’d better hand that vanguard seat over to me!”

Among these barbarians, even the strongest was far inferior to the fifth war god. How could they possibly be a match for Gu Han? Instantly, sword light blazed, and strands of sword qi scattered in all directions. Heads flew one after another and blood splattered endlessly. Gu Han himself was nowhere to be seen because he moved too fast. Aside from Fatty and a few others, almost no one could track his movements.

The spectators watched with fascination. Indeed! Vanguard Gu really is the sharpest sword!

Moments later, the barbarians could no longer hold out. Yes, they were savage and ferocious, but facing this one-sided massacre left them feeling crushed. They couldn’t even touch the enemy’s robe, let alone harm him! Their remaining courage was thoroughly eroded.

Finally, after nearly half of them had been killed or wounded, the remaining barbarians fled in panic. Only then did Gu Han reappear.

He made no move to pursue, simply flicking his sword to rest it against a barbarian’s neck. “I forgot to ask, which war god was that just now?”

“T-the fifth.”

“And the others?”

“D-didn’t come.”

Gu Han smiled amiably. “Would you mind showing me the way?”