Supreme Sword Exalt

Gu Han was a bit confused because he had clearly seen the old blind man’s sword.

Chongming sighed with emotion. “That sword was made by that girl, Feiyu. She took a piece of exotic metal from the Xuanji Ancient Saint Dao and searched far and wide for skilled artisans and formation masters, spending a hundred years to forge it.”

A peerlessly beautiful Xuanji Holy Maiden and a handsome, extraordinary Sword Chief. They were a match made in heaven, perfectly suited for each other. Although the Xuanji Ancient Path was an extraordinarily ancient power, it was still much weaker compared to the Profound Heaven Sword Sect, which was at its peak of prosperity.

When the two fell in love, both sides were overjoyed. Though an ancient rule forbade Xuanji Holy Maidens from falling in love, her people ignored it. Even the Xuanji Ancient Holy Master said, “Rules are dead. People are alive.”

Gu Han found this somewhat unexpected. “That Holy Master is quite open-minded.”

Chongming curled his beak. “Of course he is. Faced with the swords of several former Profound Heaven Sword Chiefs, who wouldn't?”

Gu Han grew a bit curious. “Master Rooster, what is the old man’s sword called?”

Chongming fell silent for a moment before saying, “The Red Dust.”

Red Dust Feiyu, Yun Jiansheng. Roaming the mortal world with the clear wind and bright moon as companions—such was their promise back then.

The atmosphere grew somewhat heavy, and even Fatty put away his jokes. Chongming didn’t say it, but they understood very well. What started as a perfect love story was doomed to end in desolation.

Chongming said again, his tone somewhat low, “Having accompanied each other for so long, they could no longer let go of each other, so they simply set a wedding date. But just before the grand wedding, those damned divine clan bastards came! No one knew where they came from or why, but their sole purpose seemed to be the annihilation of the Profound Heaven Sword Sect!”

Gu Han vaguely felt that the conduct of these divine clans seemed somewhat different from what he had seen in the Profound Pavilion Camp.

Fatty seemed to think of something. “Master Rooster, is that one in the God-Slaying Formation the one from back then...”

“It’s not just him.”

“Not just?”

Chongming glanced at Gu Han. “Kid, that sword intent Little Yun gave you, is it strong?”

“Very strong!”

“Then do you know how strong he was at his peak? At his peak, he stood far above the other eight Sword Chiefs, unrivaled in the Profound Heaven Great Domain! If given a bit more time, maybe he could have successfully taken that step. Unfortunately, it wasn't just one divine clan that descended back then, but six. That one in the God-Slaying Formation was the weakest.”

Gu Han’s heart shook violently. Six?!

The higher his cultivation, the deeper his understanding. Even if he reached the Transcendent realm, he would still be powerless against the arm in the God-Slaying Formation. Yet it was the weakest among them? Then just how powerful were the other five?

“Are they—”

Chongming was sorrowful. “They’re all dead. Besides Little Yun, the previous Sword Chiefs, the sect master, and those ordinary disciples—a total of one hundred and thirty-seven people, all died in battle. No one feared battle, no one retreated, and no one feared death. At the cost of everyone’s lives, they succeeded in cutting down one divine clan!”

“Then the remaining...”

Chongming sighed. “Little Yun killed them. If Little Yun had fled when those divine clans first descended, no one could have stopped him...”

In a daze, he seemed to see that scene from back again...

***

Within the void of silence, a majestic swordsman stood. Though his sword was riddled with cracks and his white robes were long stained with blood, he still stood firm, shielding the mere dozen or so remaining sect members behind him.

Not far away, a large rooster’s eyes were filled with sorrow. “Are you stupid or what?! Why didn’t you leave?!”

At the same time, the dozen or so figures behind him all knelt on one knee, their tones filled with grief.

“Sword Chief, please leave immediately!”

Gazing at his sword, Yun Jiansheng asked softly, “What does it mean to be a sword cultivator?”

The crowd suppressed their grief and answered in unison.

“Charging forward without hesitation!”

”Living toward death!”

Yun Jiansheng nodded. “Right. As sword cultivators, what fear do we have of life or death? I am the Profound Heaven Sword Chief, it is my duty to guard the sect and protect my fellow disciples. How could I flee alone and live on in disgrace? The sword may break, but the sword bone cannot!”

Four giants, each ten thousand zhang tall, stood in the void. Wrapped in red light, they had six arms and three eyes. They radiated a chilling indifference, as though all living beings were beneath them.

The central giant said slowly, his voice devoid of any emotion, “This is the end, Profound Heaven!”

Yun Jiansheng seemed not to notice, slowly raising the Red Dust Sword. “Fellow disciples, let’s charge!”

“Understood!”

The dozen or so people had resolute looks in their eyes. Dragging their mangled selves, they set their cultivation ablaze and charged with the resolve of those who saw death as a homecoming.

Sword intent rampaged, and divine power shook. The final outburst of the dozen or so people succeeded in tearing open a gap in the domineering divine power that filled the void.

“Sword Chief, I’ll be taking my leave!”

“To have known the Sword Chief, this life has been worthwhile!”

“Fellow disciples, we shall meet again on the Yellow Springs Road!”

Immediately after, Yun Jiansheng charged in with a sword. Compared to the giant divine clans, he was merely the size of a speck of dust. And yet, it was this speck of dust that radiated an unparalleled, domineering sword intent capable of severing heaven and earth.

With a furious roar, he vanished into a giant’s vertical eye. As the sword intent scattered in all directions, the giant disintegrated bit by bit, transforming into a vast red mist that completely enveloped him.

Even though his companion had fallen, the leading giant was unfazed, remaining cold and indifferent. “Human, you have done your best.”

As it brought its hand down, the endless crimson mist within a three-zhang radius churned and compressed, crashing toward Yun Jiansheng like a mountain.

The Red Dust Sword also fell apart bit by bit. Yun Jiansheng's arm trembled slightly before he raised his sword with unwavering determination. The sword intent around him grew increasingly violent and surging. Not only did the mass of red mist stop its descent, but it also began to collapse.

For the first time, a trace of solemnity appeared in the leading giant’s eyes. “Human, your name.”

“Profound Heaven Sword Chief, Yun Jiansheng!”

As his voice fell, a ten-thousand-zhang sword light rose, illuminating the void and dispelling the halo shrouding the divine clan. A single sword streaked across the sky, shook heaven, and moved earth.

***

On Yan Qi’s back, Chongming sighed softly. “After that outburst, he was spent, drained. He chased the last divine clan here with me... What happened after that, you should all know.”

Yan Qi was a bit puzzled. “Master Rooster, what about those subordinate sects of the Profound Heaven Sword Sect?”

Chongming sneered. “Most of them kicked him when he’s down, taking advantage of the divine clan’s attack to snatch the sword stele. Some remained neutral and watched. Only a very small minority was willing to advance and retreat together with the Profound Heaven Sword Sect, but Little Yun stopped them. With their level of strength, no matter how many came, they would all die facing the divine clan!”

Gu Han felt his chest heavy. Although the Profound Pill Camp and Profound Heaven Sword cultivators were separated by millions of years or even longer, their traits were strikingly similar when facing the divine clans. Resist to the end, never regret even after nine deaths.

Gu Han took a deep breath. “Master Rooster, that sword stele, I—”

Chongming shook his head, interrupting him, “Never mind. I didn’t think this matter through. Don’t mention it again.”

Gu Han secretly decided that after helping Fu Dahai obtain the Life-Extending Fruit, he would make another trip to the forbidden zone.

***

Inside a quiet meditation room in the Central Dao Palace, two black-robed elders sat cross-legged with their eyes closed, facing each other.

Suddenly, someone respectfully asked from outside, “Venerables, there is still half a day until the Life-Extending Fruit matures. May I ask how it should be distributed?”

The two opened their eyes.

“The Gold List ranks the names. Those ranked in the top three can obtain a Life-Extending Fruit.”