Supreme Sword Exalt

The closest examples for guardians would be Elder Li to Zhao Mengyou, or Luan Ping to Chu Kuang. They only ensured their safety and did not involve themselves in other matters, making them no different from high-level servants.

Even the small Myriad Transformations Holy Land, as well as the scions of large and distinguished families with illustrious backgrounds, could arrange multiple guardians for their own Heavenly Prides.

However, dao guardians were different. In addition to protecting the heavenly prodigies’ safety, they also bore the heavy responsibility of guiding their cultivation. This would involve imparting divine powers and dao techniques, resolving their doubts, and tempering their dao hearts.

Once chosen, they had to protect the dao for life. It was a master-disciple relationship without the formal title. Moreover, to impart the dao and resolve the doubts of a heavenly prodigy, one had to be the best in every aspect.

They were rare, and not all were willing to become Dao guardians. One could seek a dao guardian out, but not summon them. Thus, except for a very few individuals, most Heavenly Prides could only settle for the next best thing: selecting a batch of guardians to follow behind them.

Neither Gu Han nor Fatty understood any of this, unlike Chongming, who hailed from the Profound Heaven Great Domain.

Chongming glanced sideways at Fatty. “Fatty, stop causing trouble! This has nothing to do with you!”

Fatty appeared unconvinced. “Master Rooster, didn’t you say I’m a born sword seed?! How come it’s not okay?! The old man hasn’t even spoken yet!”

Chongming gave a cold laugh. “You’re a lowly seed. He’s a sword seed. Are they the same?”[1]

Fatty was baffled. What the hell’s the difference?!

Gu Han was also baffled. Master Rooster, why are you cursing at people?!

Chongming ignored him and gazed seriously at the old blind man. “Little Yun, think it over. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. This is your last chance!”

Instead of answering, the old blind man asked Gu Han, “What do you think, kid? Do I have the qualifications to be your dao guardian?”

Fatty’s eyes lit up. “Wait, didn’t you have the surname Yun? Old sir, what is your relationship with the Great Flame Empire? Is the Flame Emperor your descendant? Speaking of which, we’re really family! I am the Great Flame Empire’s Heaven-Conquering Prince—”

The old blind man shook his head. “I am not related to any of them. Although the Yun surname isn’t very common, it’s not rare either. It’s just a coincidence.”

Fatty appeared disappointed. What a mess. I couldn’t take advantage of that connection!

Gu Han knew that, besides the master of the Great Evolution Sword Scripture, the old blind man was the strongest sword dao cultivator he had ever seen. The real question was whether Gu Han himself was qualified to have him as a dao guardian!

He thought for a moment. “Senior, I’m very good at causing trouble.”

“Mhm.”

“Those people will definitely come looking for me again.”

“Mhm.”

Gu Han was a bit worried. “Your health...”

Although the old blind man was strong, he couldn’t even control his own sword intent earlier. If he overexerted himself and something went wrong, Gu Han would feel bad about it.

The old blind man smiled. “Don’t worry. I don’t need to draw my sword to deal with them.”

“Then...”

“One look at them, and they’d die.”

Gu Han was speechless, while Fatty looked skeptical. I believe you can kill someone with a look. But Old Master, c-can you actually see?

Gu Han’s expression turned serious, and he performed a grand salute to the old blind man. “Thank you, Senior, for being my dao guardian!”

The old blind man seemed quite pleased and beckoned to Fatty. “Good, good, good. You, come here.”

Fatty was overjoyed. “Here I am!”

Before he could take a step, Chongming spread a single wing to block him, his tone unprecedentedly solemn. “Don’t cause trouble.”

Gu Han felt a little awkward as he walked slowly to the old blind man. “Senior, you...”

The old blind man’s tone was a bit serious. ”As a sword cultivator, the sword may break, but the sword bone must never break. Remember that?”

Gu Han was taken aback but nodded. “Yes!”

The old blind man tremblingly raised his hand, pressed two fingers together, and gently touched them to Gu Han’s brow. “Go!”

A crack split open once more on that wooden stick. An unparalleled, heaven-splitting sword intent bloomed for a single instant, then converged into Gu Han’s brow. Within the consciousness space, the sword intent condensed again, transforming into a three-cun-long small white sword. It was miraculously extraordinary, spiritually lively, and inexplicable.

After doing this, the old blind man had aged several more years. He staggered, and nearly fell.

Gu Han quickly supported him. “Senior!”

The old blind man waved his hand. “It’s okay. I have difficulty moving. If anyone else comes looking for trouble, take this sword and strike them down!”

Fatty was dying of envy, but with Chongming staring him down, he ultimately didn’t dare speak again. Gu Han suddenly regretted asking the old blind man to be his dao guardian.

The old blind man sighed. “No matter how talented a person is, there is a time when they are vulnerable. The same goes for you and me.”

Gu Han’s heart stirred. “Senior, did you also have a dao guardian?”

“I once did.”

“Once?”

Chongming said irritably, “He went mad! He disappeared long ago. Who knows if he’s dead or not!”

The old blind man sighed.

Gu Han seemed to think of something. “Senior, the Life-Extension Fruit at the Central Dao Palace is almost ripe. I will definitely bring one back for you.”

He had made up his mind. If the old blind man’s problem really was his lifespan, he would do whatever it took to trick Mo Li into getting a few more Life-Extension Fruits. At worst, like Fatty said, he’d even steal them.

The old blind man appeared somewhat surprised. “Life-Extension Fruit? I didn’t expect such a heaven-defying thing to exist here. But my problem isn’t with my lifespan. That thing is useless to me. Don’t waste your effort on it.”

Fatty quietly crept over. “Where have you been for the past ten years? Does crossing the human tribulation take ten years? What kind of tribulation did you cross? Do you know that Master Rooster waited for you—”

Chongming interrupted him and glanced guiltily at the old blind man.

Gu Han shook his head. “Fatty, don’t ask.”

Fatty was stunned. Gu Han had the same exact look the day Yang Ying died. In the end, he simply patted Gu Han’s shoulder.

Gu Han put away his sorrow and asked curiously, “Fatty, the Life-Extension Fruit is almost ripe. Why aren’t you at the Dao Palace? What are you doing here?”

Fatty seemed speechless. If this rooster hadn’t said that I was a born sword seed, why the hell would I come all the way here on a full stomach?!

Then, Gu Han told him about the ancient path opening, the arrival of the outer-domain heavenly prodigies, and the news that the Great Dao Gold List was about to appear.

“Be careful.”

Chongming tilted his head and thought for a long time. “The Gold List? Is the Great Dao baiting people again?”

Fatty was stunned. His first reaction wasn’t joy, but to look at Gu Han. Gold List? Could it be related to this bastard?

As for the matter of the outer domain, he didn’t pay it any mind at all. Even with different fathers and different mothers, I am a true brother to Gu Han. Isn’t his sword basically mine? Outer domain Heavenly Prides? Dao guardian? Offend me, and I’ll show them who’s boss!

As he thought about it, he started laughing until the corner of his mouth nearly split to his ears.

Gu Han’s face darkened because he knew exactly what Fatty was scheming.

Just then, the old blind man turned his head and stared at Gu Han. ”Little Fatty, if I’m not mistaken, you should have awakened the Indestructible Golden Body, right?”

Gu Han was speechless.

Fatty gave a thumbs up and shamelessly praised him, “Old Master, you have keen eyesight!”

1. They both sound the same in chinese. ☜