Supreme Sword Exalt

Where there was life, there was death; where there was glory, there was an end. Such was the supreme principle of the Great Dao, from which no one could escape. Whether an insignificant ant or an almighty being capable of plucking stars and seizing the moon, every living being would eventually run out of time.

Fu Dahai wasn’t injured, nor did he have any other problems. He simply had very little lifespan left.

Fatty sighed. “Given his aptitude, the old ancestor would struggle to reach the Saint realm. If he hadn’t found that broken stone, how could the Fu family of today even exist? Though reaching the Feather Transformation realm extends one’s lifespan to about nine thousand years, that's also the old ancestor’s limit.

“Even if your father hadn’t taken the stone, the old ancestor would still have a hard time breaking through. He isn’t afraid of dying; he just can’t afford to. Just look at the Wu family. If their old ancestor wasn’t about to perish, would they need to grovel so much to the Fang family?”

Gu Han nodded. The Fu family’s wealth and influence was immense. Without a Feather Transformation realm cultivator guarding it, someone would surely set their sights on them immediately, and their fate would be even worse than the Wu family’s.

“So, he needs that Life-Extending Fruit?”

Fatty nodded. “Yes. Even though it only grants a hundred years, with those two saint herbs, my grand-uncle still has a chance to break through to the Feather Transformation realm. Then, the Fu family’s crisis will be resolved.”

Fu Changhe was Fatty’s grand-uncle, a seventh-stage Saint realm cultivator. Last time they met, Gu Han recalled that he was a thin man.

Fatty went on to explain, “The Central Continent is simply too vast, and is thus divided into inner and outer regions, separated by a boundary mountain range. The inner layer is the Central Continent, the very heart of the five domains. It’s big enough to rival half the Eastern Wasteland. Besides the Central Dao Palace, the Demon Clan Ancestral Court and the headquarters of the Tian Yun Merchant Association are also located there.”

“Demon clan? Tian Yun Merchant Association?”

“Well, the demon clan declined long ago, and only the ancestral court and some scattered forces remain. But the Tian Yun Merchant Association is very powerful. Why do you think President Yan has the balls to dismiss a Feather Transformation realm expert? They have the backing, money, and strength. Why would they fear the Fang family?”

Gu Han frowned slightly. According to Elder Mu, the black market was just the outermost layer of their power. The Tian Yun Merchant Association was likely the same. If even their peripheral power was this strong, then how powerful would their real background and strength be? The waters ran deep!

Gu Han hesitated for a moment before asking, “Fatty, have you ever heard of the Ferryman of the Yellow Springs?”

“What the hell is that?”

“Nothing. Continue.”

Fatty didn’t mind. “The Central Dao Palace itself is ancient and mysterious. No one really knows their specific origins. It’s probably the strongest force in the five domains. According to the old ancestor, they have at least two Ascension realm cultivators. Such ancient forces usually have many treasures. The Life-Extending Fruit is just one of them.

“Have you heard? Every so often, the Great Dao bestows a divine object. In fact, when the divine root that bears the Life-Extending Fruit descended ten thousand years ago, the Dao Palace seized it. They probably thought eating alone wasn’t proper, so every time it bears fruit, they take out a few for people to fight over.”

Divine root? Gu Han grew secretly wary. Ever since the Dao Bell incident, he had always felt that the descent of these divine objects was strange in every way.

Is the Great Dao really that great? Then why did it try to kill me instead of rewarding me for ten rings?

Gu Han thought for a moment. “Are there any special rules for fighting over the fruit?”

Fatty shook his head. “None. Anyone below the Saint realm can go. Saint realm cultivators are far too destructive, especially people like the old ancestor, so it’s unrealistic for them to participate. Hence, it’s up to us younger generations to handle it.

“It’s also the old ancestor’s luck that this coincides. It’ll probably be about another ten years or so before the fruit ripens. When the time comes, I have to get one back for the old ancestor no matter what.”

Gu Han patted his shoulder. “If you need my help, just say so.”

Fatty was taken aback. “I do! That Mo Dao Child is a bit of a fool—ahem, I mean, he’s a good guy. Build a rapport with him and see if there’s a chance to steal—ahem, borrow that divine root...”

Gu Han’s face darkened, and he drew his sword.

“You bastard, you dare draw your sword on me?!”

“Fuck yeah, I will fight you to the death! I’ll cut you down!”

One chased, one fled, drawing countless onlookers along the way.

The spectators sneered inwardly. Heh, they probably couldn’t split the loot evenly! See! In the face of enormous profit, all talk of friendship and loyalty is bullshit!

***

Wu Sheng stood there dumbfounded, his expression bewildered, his eyes hollow. And Luo Wushuang had long since vanished.

No one knew how long passed when a cultivator passed by and happened to find him. “Young Master Wu? Why are you...”

He trailed off mid-sentence when he realized something was wrong. Wu Sheng stood motionless, without a trace of life force. He had been dead for quite some time!

***

Outside Tianji Valley, Luo Wushuang looked at the Tian Ji Great Formation, his eyes gleaming slightly. “Interesting. The Heavenly Secret lineage does have some skill. Unfortunately, the power of mortals is ultimately too insignificant. How can they contend with him?”

Thus, he stepped into the great formation. Amid the churning clouds and mist, strands of killing intent materialized from nothingness, transforming into sharp and aggressive strikes that rained down upon him. Each strike could be compared to a full-powered blow from a Saint realm expert.

Unfazed, Luo Wushuang became ethereal. A faint, otherworldly light shimmered in his eyes, reminiscent of an immortal. One by one, the attacks fell, passing straight through him. Soon after, he had arrived inside the small courtyard.

Upon seeing Luo Wushuang shift from ethereal to solid again, Mei Yun was on high alert. “Who are you?”

The immortal light in Luo Wushuang’s eyes intensified after seeing Mei Yun. It made him appear ethereally transcendent, like a banished immortal descending to the mortal world.

Just then, Tian Ji appeared in the courtyard. He had specifically come out to check after sensing the change in the great formation.

“It seems quite a few people have made their moves,” said Luo Wushuang.

“Mei Yun, who let him in?!” Tian Ji’s expression darkened. Having been disturbed repeatedly, his anger flared up, and he became extremely harsh. “Get out! If you want a fortuitous opportunity, then—hmm?”

When he caught sight of the two strands of immortal light, his expression changed drastically. Subconsciously, he began to deduce Luo Wushuang’s origin. “You... you are...”

Luo Wushuang smiled softly. “Don’t. In your current state, rashly trying to deduce my origin will get you killed.”

He seemed to see through Tian Ji’s problem at a single glance. “To sever your own soul and memories... You indeed have courage. I assume you’ve also discovered his existence?”

Tian Ji was stunned, immediately understanding what he meant. Discover? Sever?

He then sighed. “I guess I really did discover an earth-shattering secret.”

Of course, he was familiar with this secret art. It was one of the most powerful and mysterious secret arts of the Heavenly Secret lineage. Then, he stopped thinking about it. A secret so significant that it made him sever his own memories had to be of immense importance, so he wouldn’t pursue it further.

Nevertheless, the immortal light in Luo Wushuang’s eyes filled Tian Ji’s expression with a mixture of horror and hatred. “You are an immor—”

“I am not.”

Tian Ji’s tone was cold, sneering. “You’re not? If you aren’t, then how could you wield their power—hmm?”

As if something had occurred to him, his tone became uncertain. “Could you be... the Chosen One?”