Supreme Sword Exalt

The first to emerge from the portal were two young men, with their cultivation at the third stage of the Transcendent realm. The endless eerie mist surged as if sensing their appearance. Before they could even make out the scene before them, they found themselves surrounded by layers of mist.

“Oh no, what is this?!”

“Brother Liu, be careful. This thing can devour flesh and blood!”

Sure enough, a cold and mysterious devouring force followed, threatening to consume all their vital qi. Greatly alarmed, they hurriedly erected protective spirit lights, barely blocking the mist’s invasion.

However, the mist was several times denser in the depths of the forbidden zone. They struggled tremendously to withstand it.

“We have to leave this place immediately!”

Not daring to linger, the two quickly fled in the direction where the mist grew thinner.

“Brother Liu, this place is no ordinary one!”

“Indeed. On any ordinary continent, where would such bizarre things exist?!”

“Then the rumor is most likely true!”

“We made the right choice. If we’re fortunate enough to obtain this opportunity, we can completely turn our fortunes around!”

The two grew excited and sped up. Soundlessly, two demonic shadows appeared behind the two men. They spread their maws, revealing rows of gleaming and sharp teeth, then bit down at the two.

Two shrill miserable screams rang out. Powerless to resist, they transformed into two dried corpses, falling to the ground and breaking into several pieces. The demonic shadows dispersed and vanished into the eerie mist.

Less than half an hour later, the portal vibrated and two more people emerged. This time, it was a young man and an elder. The young man’s cultivation was at the peak of the Transcendent realm, while the elder was unexpectedly a powerhouse of the Feather Transformation realm.

Seeing the eerie mist, the young man’s pupils contracted. “Elder Qian, something’s not right here!”

Elder Qian’s expression grew somewhat grave. “You’re absolutely right. This place is merely a continent, not even worthy of being called a realm, yet it is exceedingly well-hidden. If that ancient path hadn’t appeared, I doubt anyone would even sense its existence. To be honest, even the direlands of our own Ancient Cang Realm are nowhere near as bizarre as this!”

The young man said excitedly, “The Great Dao Gold List very likely exists, it seems!”

Not long ago, news of the Gold List’s appearance had spread to the Ancient Cang Realm. Those whose names appeared on the list would receive the favor of the Great Dao, obtaining heaven-defying opportunities and fortunes.

Many people dismissed it with a sneer. Large factions had produced plenty of lists and rankings themselves. But a list established by the Great Dao itself? That was the first they’d heard of it. How preposterous!

The Great Dao was merciless. Even if a Gold List really existed, why would it appear here, out of all places? If that were really the case, then the Great Dao would have its preferences, and the myriad heavens and countless realms would have long fallen into chaos.

Nevertheless, whether they believed it or not, many people still came here to try their luck. Even if nothing came of it, they could regard it as a training trip at no loss to themselves.

As the two conversed, several demonic shadows coalesced once more. Radiating towering malevolent aura, they lunged at the young man.

Elder Qian’s expression turned cold. With a sharp flick of his wide sleeve, he directly swatted the demonic shadows apart. “Be careful! We need to leave quickly!”

From the deepest parts of the forbidden zone, several resentful gazes fell upon him as well. Elder Qian’s scalp went numb with terror, and he couldn’t muster the slightest will to resist. It was too strong and bizarre. He immediately took the young man away, without daring to look back.

An unknown amount of time passed. Only when he sensed the gazes disappear did he secretly breathe a sigh of relief. By this time, the two had already reached the outskirts.

The young man was unaware of what had just happened. “Elder Qian, what just—huh? Who is that?”

He suddenly noticed an old man standing not far ahead. With a stooped waist, he stood motionless like a sculpture, holding an extremely smooth wooden staff.

As if sensing his gaze, the old man shook slightly. A powerful, domineering, and incomparably sharp sword intent spread outward.

Elder Qian’s pupils contracted sharply. “Go!”

His heartbeat, which had just settled, rose once more. He grabbed the young man and fled as if his life depended on it. Too strong and terrifying!

After yet another unknown amount of time, the two had fled far beyond the forbidden zone’s boundaries, arriving at the foot of a rather desolate mountain.

The young man’s heart was still pounding from the ordeal. “Elder Qian, that person just now...”

Elder Qian smiled wryly. “I cannot see through him. That person’s strength far exceeds my imagination.”

The young man was still shaken. “How strange, why does this place—huh?”

Just then, he noticed a stone tablet not far before him. “Fengwu Court?”

From halfway up the mountain, a beautiful woman in a red dress slowly emerged from a thatched hut. She took the wine gourd from her waist and drank a mouthful of strong liquor.

The young man immediately thought, Not only can her beauty topple cities, but her bearing is also unparalleled and extraordinary!

He ecstatically cupped his hands. “Miss, I am Xiao Yang of the Ancient Cang Realm. Might I ask where this is?”

The woman gave him an indifferent glance. A flicker of fiery intent passed through her phoenix eyes. The interplay of frost on her face and the fiery intensity in her bearing sent the young man’s heart into complete disarray. She then withdrew her gaze.

As her red dress fluttered in the wind, a heavenly phoenix projection flashed briefly in her eyes. Before they knew it, she had already vanished into the distance.

Even long after the woman had disappeared, Xiao Yang remained frozen, staring blankly in the direction she had gone, reluctant to shift his gaze. Too beautiful! Too aloof!

Elder Qian’s expression was somewhat complicated. “Second Young Master, she is a Saint realm cultivator.”

“Yeah, so beautiful...”

Elder Qian was speechless, feeling somewhat embarrassed. “Young Master, in my opinion, she appears to be around your age—”

The young man seemed to catch onto something, his eyes lighting up. “Is that so?! Perfect then!”

Elder Qian’s mouth twitched. “What I meant was her strength! She is a Saint realm cultivator. Even when the first young master was at this realm, he never gave me this feeling!”

The young man was in shock. “What?! Do you mean she’s even stronger than my elder brother when he was at the same realm?”

No one knew better than him just how astonishingly talented his elder brother was in the Ancient Cang Realm.

The elder hesitated for a moment before saying, “Second Young Master, we should probably keep a low profile from now.”

Originally, he had seen continents like this before. For several thousand years, not a single Ascension realm cultivator would emerge, and the Feather Transformation realm represented the absolute peak. Coming to such a place, his mindset had been quite transcendent.

After witnessing the forbidden zone, meeting the blind old man, and seeing Feng Xi's astonishing talent, all his sense of superiority disappeared.

Summoning wind and rain had become cautious timidity[1], and he even vaguely felt like a country bumpkin on a pilgrimage.

The young man grew serious. “You’re right! We absolutely must keep a low profile. I must not be rude to that fair lady!”

Elder Qian was rendered speechless again.

Suddenly, the young man turned somewhat awkward. “Ahem... Elder Qian, do you think I will see her again?”

Elder Qian was utterly speechless. He thought to himself that whether they met again or not, given the lady’s demonstrated temperament, it was just impossible for her to take a liking to the young man.

***

Of course, they were not the only ones who had come from outside. After Elder Qian and Xiao Yang left, from time to time, groups of people would enter from the outside. Some were powerful and formidable, unafraid of the demonic shadows’ harassment. Others also left safely thanks to their guardians taking action.

More and more arrived with a grand entourage, accompanied by multiple guardians. The demonic shadows were so intimidated that they didn’t dare show themselves. Everyone traveled in different directions, so their experiences varied.

Cases like Elder Qian and Xiao Yang, who got scared three times in a row, were unique. Whether that counted as fortunate or unfortunate was hard to say.

1. the saying means remaining completely quiet due to fear, usually after being intimidated or suddenly realizing you are powerless. ☜