Supreme Sword Exalt

Bullshit! Gu Han cursed inwardly as his cultivation peaked. Compressing his sword qi to within a chi of his body, he shifted and appeared before the young novice monk. A sword aura that had been condensed to its limit slashed down.

As his light shattered layer upon layer, the monk flew out. In midair, the light reformed into a six-armed vajra with a staff. It enveloped the bloodied monk tightly, its eyes bulging open with fury. The bloody light in its gaze intensified with each passing second.

Landing heavily, the vajra forcibly steadied itself, its bloody light flickering. “Benefactor, your demonic roots are deeply rooted. You are beyond salvation. Our Buddha rejects you!”

Gu Han’s tone had a hint of mockery. “What? You’re not going to convert me anymore?”

Boundless killing intent replaced the vajra’s light. With all its six arms, it smashed the staff down toward Gu Han.

Without hesitation, Gu Han activated his divine sense and unleashed a sword technique. “Time to exorcise demons!”

He dared not be the least bit careless. Not only was the monk somehow stronger than Mo Li, but his soul power was also way stronger than Gu Han’s. Coupled with the protection of the vajra and light, the monk’s movements were not greatly affected, and he soon arrived before Gu Han.

The vajra seemed to possess infinite, tremendous strength. Each blow was as heavy as a mountain, relentlessly forcing Gu Han back. Yet the monk fared even worse under the peerlessly sharp sword aura, covered in deep gashes as if he could collapse at any moment. Even the vajra was down three arms, its staff reduced into a short stub.

Just then, Gu Han’s sword qi compressed another two cun. Several wounds split open on him as he slashed down heavily toward the vajra. A sword aura faintly tinged with bloody light entered the creature.

The entity froze and disintegrated. Without the vajra protecting the young novice monk, he crashed heavily to the ground, covered in sword marks and coughing up blood incessantly.

With a grim look, Gu Han stepped closer, pointing his sword at the young novice monk. “Are you out of your goddamn mind?!”

A battle was the last thing he expected from an encounter with a monk. Moreover, he was injured all over. If he hadn’t seen Mei Yun, he would have almost suspected that the curse still lingered.

Yet the young novice monk seemed unaware of his own predicament. He coughed up another mouthful of blood. The madness and bloodthirst in his eyes faded somewhat, gaining a bit of pure black hue. “Benefactor, though you are not destined for my Buddha, you are fated with the demons. How about it? Shall I turn you into one?”

Gu Han cursed inwardly, Turn your ass!

“Sorry, but I don’t have fate with your demon either!”

The pure black hue in the monk’s eyes grew even deeper. An ancient will seemed to gradually awaken within him. Demonic sounds echoed from somewhere unknown, threatening to devour everything.

Gu Han’s heart dropped. This is bad!

He was about to cut the monk down when someone said in an aged voice, “Wu Xin.”

His voice had a faint yet peculiar rhythm that dissolved all the killing intent and ferocious qi in Gu Han’s heart.

The young monk murmured, “Master...”

The pure black hue in his eyes rapidly faded, and he once again reverted to his innocent state.

A sigh followed. Before Gu Han knew it, an old and ragged monk had appeared beside him, a hint of worry in his eyes.

Gu Han’s heart pounded violently. From this old monk, he could sense not the slightest fluctuation of cultivation. In other words, he was either an ordinary mortal or a master far more powerful than Fu Dahai.

This is bad. I beat the young one, but here comes the old one!

The old monk sighed softly once more. “Benefactor, do not panic. I bear no ill intent. This is all my disciple’s fault for causing trouble and disturbing you. I hope you will not take offense.”

Gu Han smiled stiffly. “No worries, Master.”

With your level of cultivation, I’d just be courting death if I said anything else!

The three men had just been released from Wu Xin’s Buddhist chants. Before they could even exhale in relief, the sudden appearance of the old monk scared them senseless again. They trembled uncontrollably.

“Are you that old—ahem, elderly master?”

The old monk was apologetic. “Benefactors, please do not take offense.”

The three repeatedly bowed. “No, of course not. You’re too kind, Master.”

Deep down, they felt the same as Gu Han.

The old monk clasped his hands together. “Benefactors, you carry heavy malevolent qi upon you, with great hidden dangers. Are you willing to practice Buddhist teachings with me to eliminate your karmic obstacles?”

The three seemed troubled. “Well...”

They very much wanted to say no, but they didn't dare to.

The old monk shook his head. “Enough. Fate has not yet come, so one cannot force it.”

As if granted amnesty, the three fled from the place. “Farewell, farewell!”

At some point, Wu Xin had quietly slipped out from under Gu Han’s sword. He stood pitifully beside the old monk. “Master, I’m sorry. I couldn’t watch over it, and I nearly made a grave mistake.”

The worry in the old monk’s eyes deepened.

Gu Han’s heart stirred. It? Could he be referring to that ancient will from just now? He is clearly just a child of ten-plus years. Why would he have something like that inside him? Where did he even come from?

Wu Xin apologized to Gu Han again, “Benefactor, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

Gu Han chuckled. “It’s nothing. Little bald—ahem, Little Master, you’re overreacting. I’m not one to hold grudges. It’s all in the past. I’ve already forgotten it!”

His gaze made Wu Xin involuntarily shrink back for some reason.

Gu Han then said, “Master, I have matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now.”

The old monk was unfathomably profound, while Wu Xin was bizarre and inexplicable. For obvious reasons, Gu Han didn’t want to stay any longer.

Just then, the old monk urged, “Benefactor, please stay.”

Gu Han stiffened and felt a bit panicked. “Master, I really am not destined with your Buddha!”

He could still handle Wu Xin, but he felt that even if Yan Qianjue came, he would not be able to win against the old monk.

The old monk sighed. “You’ve misunderstood. Everything follows fate. If one forces it, one will instead fall into the demonic path. However, I have observed that a deathly intent faintly clings between your eyebrows. This tribulation will be difficult to cross.”

Gu Han’s heart stirred. “Master, do you know what I’m about to do?”

Despite the old monk's vague manner of speaking, Gu Han felt that the old monk already knew what he was planning.

The old monk pondered for a moment, then handed over a brownish-yellow bodhi seed. “Benefactor, this might help you during the killing tribulation.”

Wu Xin exclaimed, “Master, isn’t that—”

“It’s merely external possessions.”

Wu Xin acknowledged, but his eyes remained fixed on the bodhi seed. A hint of greed flickered deep within his gaze. “I understand, Master.”

Gu Han examined it closely. Aside from being slightly darker in color, the seed had no remarkable features whatsoever. However, judging from Wu Xin’s reaction, the item had to be absolutely extraordinary. The human tribulation was perilous. There was no such thing as being overprepared.

He immediately took the bodhi seed from the old monk’s hand, not forgetting to exchange a few polite words. “Master, meeting by chance like this yet still receiving such a valuable gift from you makes me feel rather ashamed...”

The old monk smiled. “It’s nothing. You are destined with my Buddha.”

Gu Han was so startled he shivered, nearly throwing the bodhi seed away. The old monk's reply had given him a psychological shadow.