Supreme Sword Exalt

No one dared to speak. After all, not only did Feng Xi hold an extremely strong authority in the military, she was also furious. Even Elder Cen gently sighed and stopped talking.

On the other hand, as if being stripped of the commander position wasn’t enough, Yun Lie also suffered such a treatment from Feng Xi.

He nearly lost all reason, his eyes turning bloodshot. “Why?! I am your brother! He’s just an outsider who has only been here for a few days! Why do all of you side with him?! I refuse to accept this!”

Liao Zheng interjected, “‘Why?’ Because he nearly slaughtered all those war gods, letting the border army hold its head high for once! Only the princess could have done it back in the day! Anyway, I’m convinced!”

Yun Fan’s eyes widened. Wow! Brother Gu is so fierce!

Just as Yun Lie was about to speak again, a deadly terrifying aura erupted from Feng Xi. The phantom image in her eyes instantly transformed into a three-cun-long, breathtakingly beautiful heavenly phoenix. With a clear cry, it fluttered its wings gently, appearing before Yun Lie in an instant.

Elder Cen hesitated for a moment. but ultimately did not stop it. Yun Lie’s eyes split with rage. His cultivation circulated without end, and a dragon-shaped qi covered him. Yet in the face of the heavenly phoenix, Yun Lie’s qi crumbled like paper, broken through in an instant.

Yun Lie’s face turned white. He staggered back several steps and spat out a mouthful of blood.

He stared fixedly at Feng Xi, full of hatred. “Feng Xi, how dare you hurt me...”

Elder Cen shook his head. “Your Highness, return and reflect on your actions first.”

He spread his large hand wide. Without any visible power, a mysterious, ethereal aura gently descended. It instantly sealed Yun Lie, rendering him speechless. When the elder raised his hand again, Yun Lie transformed into a streak of light, sent back to his own military camp.

Upon seeing this, Ji Cheng and Song He hurriedly performed a salute and quickly followed. The old man looked at Feng Xi, gently shook his head, and left without another word.

Gu Han was moved. “Senior Sister...”

The slight displeasure from before vanished without a trace.

Feng Xi thought for a moment. “You don’t need to hold back in the future.”

Having said that, she instantly transformed into a red shadow and left this place.

Gu Han was somewhat curious. “Who is Elder Cen?”

Yun Fan informed him that Elder Cen was also one of the nine marquises, with extremely senior standing. The elder had followed the Flame Emperor even before the founding of the Great Flame Empire. Elder Cen had once been in the Saint realm, with terrifying strength, but had fallen from that realm in a great war and had yet to recover.

Gu Han nodded thoughtfully. “I see.”

After the matter was settled, he no longer delayed. He gave a few instructions to Divine Physician Xue and arranged for the alchemists to begin their work, preparing to start refining pills.

It was not easy for rogue cultivators to survive. After learning they could stay, they expressed their deep gratitude to Gu Han. Each of them rubbed their hands together eagerly, wishing they could use all their skills to demonstrate their value.

Among them, Dean Liu and Li Xun were appointed as Divine Physician Xue’s deputies. Dean Liu maintained his reserve. As for Li Xun, after learning that military merit could be exchanged for Transcendent Substance, he swore an oath of loyalty on the spot.

Upon seeing his eagerness, Gu Han had no doubt that if there were fewer people present, Li Xun would kowtow and take Divine Physician Xue as his master under the guise of learning alchemy.

***

After seeing Elder Cen return, Yun Zhan appeared helpless. “That girl won’t even listen to me anymore.”

Elder Cen shook his head. “It’s not her fault. That matter back then... Haa... Today, she still showed mercy. That kid Yun Lie isn’t badly injured.”

Yun Zhan was silent for a moment. “What do you think?”

Elder Cen praised greatly, “Great! Xue Mao is a rare man of benevolence and righteousness. As for those rogue alchemists, since this opportunity came with difficulty, they will cherish it more than anyone. That young man’s real intention is actually to train a group of alchemists loyal to our army. Yun Lie is too narrow-minded. He’s just trying to cause trouble. No wonder Feng Kid is so angry.”

Yun Zhan was somewhat puzzled. “What I find strange is, where does he find the confidence? With just these few hundred rogue alchemists, they can supply our army’s pill needs, unless—hmm?”

The two looked at each other.

They already knew that Gu Han brought the Emerald Condensation Pill.

“Could it be...?”

Yun Zhan’s eyes gleamed with brilliance. “If that’s really the case, we don’t have to be so passive against the barbarians anymore!”

***

In the central military camp, Fatty’s heart stirred after seeing Feng Xi so protective. “Does the Fengwu Court still accept people? I have at least nine rings from the Dao bell. Consider it, let me join?”

Gu Han glanced at him. “Alright. First, call me senior brother. If I like how it sounds, I’ll allow you to join.”

Fatty froze. “Watch it! I’m the grand vanguard, while you’re just a vanguard. My status is higher than yours, my authority greater!”

Gu Han’s expression was strange. “Fatty, you don’t really think Old Liao is a fool, do you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Once you become his grand vanguard, don’t you have to follow him onto the battlefield to fight and risk your life?”

Fatty was dumbfounded. No wonder Old Liao agreed so fast! He was baiting me all along! Old Liao, you’re too wicked!

Nearby, Yun Fan listened with envy. He had just learned about their situation from others. Vanguard, Grand Vanguard, these titles were too impressive. Maybe, I should get myself a Little Vanguard position?

Just as he was daydreaming, Gu Han smacked him on the head. “Come here, I have something to ask you.”

Before Yun Fan could react, Gu Han had already dragged him away from there, leaving behind only the remorseful Fatty.

***

After returning to the camp, Gu Han scratched his head, somewhat curious. “Yun Fan.”

“Yes?”

Gu Han wanted very much to inquire about Yun Tu, but recalling Feng Xi’s instructions, he didn’t know how to broach the subject.

On the other hand, Yun Fan chattered endlessly, “Ninth Brother provoked you repeatedly. Serves him right to be taught a lesson by her! Come to think of it, the last time she was this angry was several years ago.”

“Several years ago?”

Yun Fan sighed. “Yes. It was when my seventh brother died. Actually, Seventh Brother was even more talented than Ninth Brother. He was very gentle too. Whether it was me, my sister, or Ninth Brother, he treated us all well. It’s a pity... Haa!”

Gu Han’s heart stirred. “How did your seventh brother die?”

Yun Fan thought for a moment. “Decisive battle. I was still young then. I only heard that the first war god challenged him. They fought in some secret location, and then, suddenly news of his death came.”

“When was that?”

“About ten years ago?”

Ten years? Gu Han was stunned. Ten years ago was exactly when Feng Xi suddenly left the Northern Domain and returned to the Great Flame Empire. He felt that there had to be a connection between the two.

“What happened then?”

Yun Fan thought again. “Then? Upon returning, my sister learned of his death. She was furious, even more so than today. On the battlefield, she personally slaughtered that first war god. But after killing him, she said something very strange.”

“What was it?”

Yun Fan was also somewhat puzzled. “She said that although the first war god was skilled, he couldn’t have killed Seventh Brother! After that, she stayed with the border army and earned their respect through her strength. Before that, my uncle and Seventh Brother never let her go to the battlefield.”

Gu Han frowned but said nothing. Ten years ago, Feng Xi suddenly left the Northern Domain, presumably to avenge her seventh brother. However, if she had already taken her revenge, why would she still remain here?

After thinking, he asked again, “And after that? If it wasn’t the first war god who killed him, then who?”

Yun Fan shook his head. “I don’t know. She never elaborated.”

Gu Han asked casually, “What about others? I’m quite curious about your brothers.”

Although Yun Fan wasn’t sure why Gu Han suddenly took interest in these matters, he answered truthfully, “Well... Eighth Brother died early. As for the others, I only know their names. They don’t tell me anything. Even Ninth Brother knows more than me, sigh... Sometimes I really feel like I’m living like a fool.”

Gu Han patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry about it so much. Just be happy.”

Yun Fan was taken aback and was somewhat puzzled. “Brother Gu, why are you suddenly asking about all this?”

Gu Han sighed. “Nothing. I just find this war too brutal, that’s all.”

Yun Fan became excited again. “Now that we have the pills you provided, when the barbarians come again, we’ll definitely catch them off guard! We’ll vent our anger properly!”

As he was speaking, Zhao Menyou walked in while holding a cup of spirit tea. Yun Fan’s eyes nearly popped out at this sight. What... Is this still the same Divine Maiden Zhao who was constantly scheming to bite Brother Gu to death? How did she change so much in just a few days? Where’s your rebellious pride, your unyielding integrity? Where did it go?

Upon seeing Yun Fan, Zhao Mengyou felt very awkward, flushing with embarrassment.

“T-the tea! I delivered it!” Forcing herself to resist the urge to flee, she placed that cup of spirit tea on the desk. Seeing Gu Han’s brow furrow again, she bit her lip and reluctantly said, “Like you said, I... I delivered it all!”

Gu Han was surprised. From his understanding, the previous Zhao Mengyou would never have done such a thing. It seemed she had changed quite a bit during this time.

After thinking, he took out over a dozen bottles of pills, all used for strengthening the body and soul. “Take these. You’ll probably need them soon.”

Although she didn’t have the Supreme Stage divine sense, nor the Void Essence Crystal, Zhao Mengyou was originally at the seventh stage of the Soaring realm. She also hadn’t neglected her cultivation during this time. Now, she was just about ready to face the Heavenly Tribulation.

Zhao Mengyou couldn’t quite believe it. “You’re giving it to me?”

“You don’t want it?”

Zhao Mengyou’s face reddened slightly. “Hmph, I do!”

As she proudly stuck out her chest, she snatched the pills, glared fiercely at Yun Fan, and happily left. In truth, with her family background, she wouldn’t lack pills. It was just that these pills were given by Gu Han, so it was different.

It was a long time after she left that Yun Fan finally reacted. He glanced at the spirit tea, then at Gu Han, grinning slyly. Impressive! Truly impressive!

At this moment, Lackey Yun was in awe of Gu Han, convinced down to his bones. Gu Han’s face darkened. As he forced down the urge to chop Yun Fan down with a sword, he drove him out. Immediately after, he began his cultivation once more.

***

In a flash, another seven or eight days passed. Gu Han slowly opened his eyes. The fluctuations of his aura were even more obscure than before. The Void Essence Crystal had been completely consumed.

He was now at the ninth stage of the Soaring realm!

Suddenly, he seemed to smell a faint, somewhat familiar medicinal scent. “Hmm? It’s done!”

The first batch of pills was out of the furnace. At this moment, chaos had already erupted outside.