Supreme Sword Exalt

When the human tribulation arrived, so would the killing tribulation. Facing one’s destined tribulation, life and death have never been within one’s own control. It was like that for Fatty, Tuo Jun, and of course, Gu Han was no exception. Whether he could survive his killing tribulation depended entirely on the demoness’ single thought.

At the summit of Cold Mountain, Ling Ya immediately understood what had happened after seeing the demoness’ change. His usual composure and poise vanished, his expression turning cold, and even a trace of anger appeared in his eyes.

Since achieving success in his cultivation, he had rarely made a move. With his talent for scheming and reading people, he had remained undefeated, never failing in any of his plans.

Of all the schemes he had laid over the past thousand years, the profound yin qi was the greatest and the one he was proudest of. Yet not only did the demoness give up on revenge, she also escaped his control, making him feel a sense of defeat for the first time.

Zhong Yu’s heart trembled. “Master, let me—”

Without turning around, the demoness said softly, “Don’t move, or I will destroy the profound yin qi!”

Zhong Yu dared not move. If she were an ordinary cultivator, he wouldn’t take such words to heart. But against a Heavenly Demon like her, unless Ling Ya came in person, he could not be certain of victory.

Ling Ya narrowed his eyes. “Fine, Chenyin. You really are my disciple, worth all the effort and the scheming I did for so long! But the profound yin qi belongs to me. If you think you can give it to him, then feel free to try!”

Beside him, Zhong Yu focused completely. He would seize the profound yin qi the moment it appeared!

In the distance, the demoness stared at Gu Han. “Did you hear that? Absorb the Profound Yin Qi as soon as it appears. After that, you will have nothing to fear from them. You’ve accompanied me for ten years. This is the only thing I can do for you, and your only chance to survive your human tribulation...”

As he watched her increasingly hazy form, Gu Han felt as if something was gradually slipping away from him. His eyes turned bloodshot as he struggled desperately. “No! I don’t want it!!”

However, he was firmly controlled by the demoness and couldn’t move at all.

The demoness sighed softly. “Don’t be silly. If you hesitate, I will fall into his hands. You wouldn’t want that, would you?”

Gu Han’s breath caught, his heart aching as if wrung.

The demoness gazed at the wound on Gu Han’s chest, her voice somewhat ethereal. “This single tear contains all that I am. I want to leave it in your heart. Then, no matter what happens, I will live there forever. Aren't I clever?”

As the tear in her eye rapidly solidified, she became increasingly transparent. At that moment, Liu Ying’s hazy, indistinct figure appeared behind her.

That day, for her own ambition, Liu Ying willingly gave her body to the demoness. From then on, two souls resided within one body, sharing honor and disgrace. If the demoness dissipated, she couldn’t survive either.

The demoness sighed softly. “You’re going to die with me.”

Liu Ying laughed bitterly in self-deprecation. “It’s nothing. This was my own choice. I have no one to blame.”

She then stared at Gu Han with a hint of regret and complexity. “Actually, since we were young, I’ve always liked you. Yet you acted so arrogantly to me, making you both lovable and hateful. And I... I simply couldn't do what she did—give up everything for you. Perhaps we were never meant to be on the same path.”

As Liu Ying rapidly dissipated, she said one last time, “Gu Han, if you survive, go back to Tianwu City and see my father. I beg—”

Before she finished speaking, she had dissipated between heaven and earth.

The demoness then gently placed the bodhi seed into Gu Han’s hand. “Take good care of the betrothal gift.”

Following that, she looked up at the sky above, somewhat regretful. “What a pity. Why does it have to be daytime...?”

Then she vanished as well.

Gu Han immediately regained the ability to move. The redness in his eyes seemed about to spill out as he lunged forward like a madman, grasping nothing but air.

Sadness flickered within his gaze. “Gone? She’s... gone...”

The light in his eyes rapidly faded. His complexion turned ashen as he despaired. The seedling in his heart, which had sprouted and grown because of her, also withered. Without her, this mortal world was no longer complete.

Just then, a Buddhist chant faintly echoed from the sky. The clouds rapidly condensed overhead, faintly taking the shape of a Buddha’s projection.

Zhong Yu’s expression changed slightly. “Master, someone’s here to interfere, and they’re at the Ascension realm! It seems related to those bald donkeys!”

Ling Ya said calmly, “Stop him. Before I obtain the profound yin qi, I cannot be disturbed!”

He didn’t care who had come nor did he care about their purpose. No matter what, they couldn't be allowed to approach Cold Mountain!

Zhong Yu bowed respectfully. “Understood!”

After giving Gu Han a deep look, he flickered and vanished into the void. At the same time, a crystalline tear full of mystery and creation hovered in front of Gu Han.

Threads of mysterious energy scattered down, transforming the barren Cold Mountain. Plants grew wildly, and spirit qi surged dramatically. The profound yin qi within this tear affected even the beasts. They showed signs of breaking through their shackles and evolving into demonic beasts.

Within the tear, a faint and extremely ethereal figure appeared, surrounded by wisps of profound yin qi. Her eyes were tightly shut, but her appearance was unmistakably Mo Chenyin.

The moment Gu Han saw her, a glimmer of light returned to his previously dead and dull eyes. “You’re still here?”

There’s a chance! She’s still here! She hasn’t completely disappeared yet!

Ling Ya sounded somewhat disappointed. “Enough.”

There were far fewer wisps of Profound Yin Qi than he had anticipated. Nevertheless, even if only a tenth or a hundredth remained, he still regarded it as his own. He absolutely would not let Gu Han have it!

With a sway, he reached to take the tear into his hand. “At least I didn’t come away with nothing.”

Yet in the next moment, the tear trembled briefly before rapidly dissipating. The profound yin qi in the area became ten times denser, with over ninety percent of it falling onto Gu Han.

Ling Ya’s expression darkened. “Disgraceful disciple!”

He then realized that the demoness’ earlier words were half true and half false. Saving Gu Han was true, fearing they would snatch it was false.

She had anticipated they would try to seize it and had long prepared a contingency. From the moment she transformed into profound yin qi, she had already chosen Gu Han. Even if someone intervened, they would gain nothing and only hasten her dissipation. She simply left those final words to unburden Gu Han and ensure that he would accept the profound yin qi.

A thousand years of scheming, lost in a single moment. Under Ling Ya’s possession, Hong Luan's charming face was shrouded in gloom and coldness.

At that moment, the Great Dao shackles that had covered Gu Han for ten years lifted, restoring his cultivation.

Under the mystical effect of the profound yin qi, the first drop of Transcendent Substance condensed within him, pushing him into the Half-Step Transcendent realm. He continued to climb, reaching the third stage of the Transcendent realm in no time.

Within his consciousness space, the scriptures trembled for a moment, sending out a spark of spirit light that exploded with a loud bang. It was another sword technique!