Supreme Sword Exalt

At the periphery of the forbidden zone, in the small courtyard before the thatched cottage, Chongming’s eyes bulged wide. He craned his neck and stared non-stop into the gray mist.

The old blind man chuckled beside him, rubbing his wooden stick. “Stop looking. He’s gone far.”

Whether by coincidence or intention, Luo Wushuang just happened to pass right by here, and they discovered him.

Chongming withdrew his gaze. “This kid’s a bit extraordinary. With cultivation this low, he dares to charge inside? Isn’t he afraid those things will eat him?”

The old blind man shook his head. “They wouldn’t dare. His power resembles that of the legendary immortal spirit power. If they ate him, they’d form a tremendous karmic connection, so it wouldn’t be worth it.”

Chongming thought for a moment. “That’s strange. It’s clearly just a tiny place, not even as good as a small domain. How could so many monstrous geniuses appear here?

“Leaving him aside, take that kid who’s rotten to the core. Even in our Profound Heaven Great Domain, he'd be considered a first-rate genius, only slightly inferior to you. And that silly little girl you mentioned is even more extraordinary...”

The old blind man smiled. “Master Rooster, you underestimate him. His sword is the supreme sword dao. Not even my former self could contend with him.”

A trace of confusion flashed through Chongming’s eyes, and he shook his head. “No, no... Although I don’t understand the sword as well as you, I still feel that your sword dao is also the supreme sword dao. It’s just a different path.”

The old blind man sighed. “Supreme sword dao or not, it doesn’t matter anymore.”

Sensing the deeper meaning in his words, Chongming fell silent. After a long while, he said, “He’s not bad. Although he’s a bit black-hearted, a bit thick-skinned, a bit vengeful, a bit insidious—”

The old blind man laughed despite himself. “Master Rooster, are you complimenting him or not?”

Chongming ignored his teasing and just stared at him. “No one is more suitable than him! Even in the Profound Heaven Great Domain, you couldn’t find anyone like that! That kid could still tell gratitude from resentment. You’ve been like a half-teacher to him. If you just ask, he definitely won’t refuse. Even if you die, you have to complete at least one of your two wishes, right?!”

The old blind man raised an eyebrow, revealing a hint of arrogant disdain. “Coercion through kindness? Master Rooster, don’t underestimate me!”

Chongming glared at him fiercely and stormed off. “You’re so noble! You’re so amazing! Fine, I won’t meddle anymore!”

“Where are you going?”

Chongming replied irritably and plunged headfirst into the strange mist, “To clear my head!”

The old blind man remained silent for a long time. After some time, a soft crack sound rang out. His wooden stick split open, revealing a section of a white sword.

A trace of domineering sword intent leaked out. Vast and unmatched, it had unparalleled sharpness, as if it could cut through everything.

He sighed softly as he gently brushed over it, slowly smoothing out the crack. “There’s not much time left.”

He turned his head and looked upward. Not only were both of his eyes clouded, but layers of strange mist and the endless sky veil also obstructed his vision. Yet he still seemed to perceive a woman of peerless beauty standing alone on a mountaintop, gazing into the distance, as if waiting for her beloved to return.

He sighed softly. “Fei Yu, it is I who failed you.”

***

Inside the strange mist, Chongming cursed and swore, “Pft! Blockhead!”

Five-colored divine light surged around him as he quickly flew forward. “I’ve never seen anyone so stupid! Just wait!”

Then, he grew smug again. “With my brains, I’ll win him over in just a few words! When he kneels in front of you and begs to take your position as Sword Chief, let’s see if you can still refuse!”

Bursting forth at full power, he was extremely fast. Soon, he had already left the forbidden zone. His direction was unmistakably the Northern Domain!

***

Inside the Qixia Court, the crowd lavished praise on Li Xun, practically kissing the ground he walked on.

“Dean Li, how gratifying! Congratulations are in order!”

“Dean Li, having achieved the Transcendent realm, you will be the leading figure in our Northern Domain from now on!”

“We shall all follow Dean Li’s lead from now on!”

Li Xun was brimming with smug satisfaction, his face ruddy with joy. Amid his happiness, he also felt like crying because he finally heard someone say, “Follow your lead” to him. Having achieved the Transcendent realm, he rushed back to the Northern Domain and immediately hosted a grand banquet to show off. He had invited every force in the Northern Domain, big or small. What he wanted was reputation and grandeur!

Among them, Murong Yuan, Wu De, Duan Ren, Elder Mu, and Wei Fang were the key targets of his boasting.

Setting aside the other four, Murong Yuan was extremely displeased. What’s there to show off? I’ll break through soon too!

Another burst of loud laughter sounded. Li Xun had heard enough flattery and returned to the main seat. He put his hands behind his back and released a faint trace of Transcendent realm pressure. “Fellow Daoists, I have achieved—”

Before he finished speaking, a five-colored divine light appeared on the distant horizon.

Li Xun froze. This color... Why does it look familiar?

The next moment, the five-colored divine light landed in front of everyone, smashing a deep pit into the ground.

Li Xun tilted sideways. “M-Master Rooster!”

He was so frightened he nearly burrowed into the ground himself. The shadow Chongming cast over him was even greater than that of the barbarian tribes.

Chongming pulled his head out of the ground and fixed his gaze on him. “Oh, it’s you? I was wondering why I couldn’t find anyone anywhere. So you’re all here!”

After seeing him appear, those with lower cultivation froze on the spot, while Murong Yuan and the others quickly bowed.

Chongming was a bit displeased when he could not find Gu Han. “Where’s that kid? Where did he go?”

Murong Yuan vaguely guessed that Chongming wanted to find Gu Han. “He—”

Li Xun beat him to it. “Master Rooster, I know where he went!”

He thought that this was a great opportunity to mend his relationship with Chongming. If everything went well, he could even be able to cling to his thigh and gain a massive backing.

Li Xun put on a fawning expression. “Master Rooster, ever since we parted last time and you taught me a lesson, I have turned over a new leaf—”

“Get to the point!”

“He’s at the Fu estate in the Central Continent!”

Without another word, Chongming’s five-colored divine light flared, sweeping him up and shooting into the sky. “Lead the way. We must find him!”

Li Xun was dumbfounded. I can’t leave! There are still so many people in the Northern Domain waiting to follow my lead!

“Master Rooster, I don’t know the way!”

“What do you have a mouth for if not to ask?”

Li Xun regretted it bitterly. He wished he could slap himself twice, hating that he had opened his big mouth.

Below, Elder Mu asked, “He’s gone. Is the banquet still on?”

Murong Yuan turned and left. “On my ass! Who knows if he’ll even come back!”

Everyone was speechless.

***

In the Western Desert, Gu Han flew swiftly without looking back, arriving above a large mountain range. Without hesitation, he plunged straight in. The faint sensation in his heart grew stronger. He slowed down considerably and even kept himself extremely low.

He flew and observed. “The spirit qi here is weak, and the location is remote—”

The sensation in his heart surged to its peak.

The human tribulation has arrived!

His sword qi trembled for a moment, then disappeared completely, and he plummeted downward.

His heart turned cold. I’m done for! I’m not going to die from the fall, am I?