Supreme Sword Exalt

The Tian Yun Arena was exclusive to the Tian Yun Merchant Association. Forged from exotic metal, it was incredibly durable, to the point that even Saint Realm cultivators would find it difficult to destroy. Moreover, a grand formation covered the arena, preventing even peak Saint realm cultivators from interfering with the duels.

Originally, the arena was built to showcase the merchant association’s wealth and power, as its practicality was not great. Several hundred years ago, two Saints once fought to the death in this arena. Its reputation had only grown ever since. Once it activated, countless people would inevitably gather to watch.

Since the arena was only a few thousand li away from Tianji Valley, it took only moments for Fu Dahai to reach it with his Feather Transformation realm cultivation. However, due to Fang Xing’s deliberate delay, the area around the arena was now packed with people.

Be it ordinary rogue cultivators or genius disciple clan members from the various major and minor powers, all stared at Gu Han, their eyes full of contempt and hostility.

On the arena, Sword Prince calmly half-closed his eyes. It was a grand spectacle, and all eyes were on him. Everything he wanted was now assembled. Now, all he had to do to elevate his reputation to its peak was slay Gu Han

Finally, he opened his eyes. “About time.”

The blue sword on his back gave a soft tremble and fell into his hand, pointing at Gu Han.

He announced, “Everyone, I will fight for the reputation of the Central Continent!”

The crowd gazed at him fervently, which was the complete opposite of the looks they gave Gu Han.

“Mighty Sword Prince!”

“As expected of a heavenly pride who rang the Dao Bell nine times!”

“One sword, cut down this ignorant Eastern Wastelander!”

“What number one heavenly pride?! Bullshit!”

Gu Han remained impassive. He gently took a step forward, and countless strands of sword qi began to flow again.

Just then, a young man landed across from him. “Dealing with you, why would I need—ah!”

A sword light flashed and sent him flying off. He landed among the crowd, his fate unknown.

Another person with stronger cultivation than the young man blocked Gu Han. “Arrogant! Where did this dog come from, daring to act up in the Central Continent—”

The sword light flashed again, decapitating his head.

Gu Han’s actions enraged the group of Central Continent geniuses.

Immediately, another person stood in front of him. “My turn! The Central Continent is not a place for you to run wild—”

Another slash, and blood sprayed down. Each swing of his sword brought Gu Han one step closer to the Sword Prince, his aura growing ever stronger. He wasn’t in a hurry either as he wanted a swordfight. Besides, he would inevitably face this kind of pressure. It was just a matter of swinging his sword a few more times.

***

Not far from the arena, on the top floor of a private room, was the branch president of the Tian Yun Merchant Association.

He turned to the plain-looking youth beside him. “Dao Child, what do you think?”

The youth withdrew his gaze from Sword Prince. “He’s flashy and impractical. His sword heart is impure, focusing only on appearances. He’s far inferior to Fu Yulin.”

The branch president pointed at Gu Han. “What about him? What do you think?”

That young man pondered for a moment. “This person... I can’t quite see through him. But you seem to think highly of him?”

The branch president smiled. “Not long ago, this young man had been trapped deep in the Northern Domain. He slaughtered his way out from the encirclement of countless barbarians all by himself. None of the Transcendent realm cultivators surrounding him survived! What do you think of this level of strength?"

“That’s impressive! As expected of the number one heavenly pride of the Eastern Wasteland!” The young man’s eyes lit up. He paused, then added, “your intelligence network is even more impressive!”

***

Gu Han swung his sword again. The sword light had condensed to its max, and the fourth-stage Transcendent genius couldn’t block it at all. The blow landed squarely on him, leaving him gravely injured.

No one dared to taunt Gu Han anymore, let alone stand in front of him. None of his opponents had been able to force him to use his full strength.

In the air above, Wu Sheng’s face turned pale. “Impossible... When he fought me before, he was clearly weaker than this. Why?”

He vaguely felt that Gu Han with a sword and Gu Han without a sword were two completely different people. Fang Xing narrowed his eyes slightly as he had also misjudged Gu Han’s strength. He glanced at Sword Prince, and a sense of foreboding arose in his heart.

At that moment, Gu Han stepped onto the arena in one move, unleashing a tremendously powerful spirit pressure. The layer of invisible sword qi also compressed to a chi around him. At the same time, the restrictions on the Tian Yun Arena descended, enveloping the two of them.

Under the exchange of their auras, the swords trembled incessantly. The black sword was joyful and excited, whereas the blue one was shrinking back in fear.

Naturally, the outsiders didn’t understand this. Thinking the Sword Prince had gotten serious, everyone grew excited. They wondered how many strikes the Sword Prince would require to defeat his opponent.

Feeling the crowd’s gaze, Sword Prince forcibly suppressed his unease. “The sword has a spirit. My sword, named Zhan Qing, you—”

Gu Han had been disgusted by him for so long, he couldn’t wait anymore. “Enough with the nonsense!”

The shape of his sword qi faintly changed into a sword. His form flickered, leaving an afterimage at his original spot. He had already arrived before Sword Prince, and a powerful, unmatched sword aura descended.

Fatty watched with excitement. “Good! Kill him!”

Sword Prince exclaimed in surprise, “Sword aura! He can condense qi into aura!”

Only now did he realize how wrong he had been about Gu Han, but it was already too late.

Gu Han went all out. He was so fast, Sword Prince could barely track him. All the Sword Prince could do in response was instinctively raise his sword to defend himself.

A metallic sound rang out as their swords collided. The sword aura exploded. Sword Prince flew far away and slammed into the restriction, coughing up blood profusely.

His sword, Zhan Qing, cried mournfully as its light dimmed considerably.

Sword Prince was full of disbelief. “That’s impossible...”

He was even more lost and dazed. He couldn’t even form sword aura or subtly manipulate sword qi like Gu Han. Even the broken black sword he looked down upon had completely outshone Zhan Qing.

At that moment, Gu Han’s second sword aura strike arrived, as far as ever. Sensing the gazes of the people around him, Sword Prince’s heart surged with shame, and his eyes immediately turned red. Today’s my battle of honor! If I lose, the reputation I’ve painstakingly built will be gone!

Fatty shook his head. “In a life-or-death fight, he’s still distracted? Just how afraid of death is this guy?”

Fu Dahai shook his head. “His intentions are impure, mostly just to keep up appearances. Yulin, you must never learn from him. Learn more from Gu Han.”

Fatty silently cursed.

Gu Han’s voice came again. “Cut!”

Immediately after came Sword Prince’s frantic screaming. From between his eyebrows, a vast and profoundly mysterious sword qi leaped, carrying a solemn and sharp intent. It was his innate sword qi, far stronger and sharper than the one formed by his cultivation. Suffice to say, it was Sword Prince’s greatest killing move.

The innate sword qi clung on Zhan Qing, allowing it to trade blows back and forth with Gu Han’s sword aura.

Countless strands of sword qi spilled out, and Gu Han’s face was covered in bloody cuts. As for Sword Prince, his face was already a mess of blood and flesh, appearing terrifyingly gruesome. One by one, soft sounds came. Since Zhan Qing’s hardness couldn’t compare to the black sword’s at all, cracks kept spreading on the blade.

Sword Prince gnashed his teeth. “Zhan Qing, why are you so useless?!”

Gu Han stared at Zhan Qing, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes. “What the hell do you know?! That sword is actually decent. You’re just no good!”

“W-what?!”

“All show and no substance!”

Sword Prince was stunned for a moment. He was all too familiar with these words. Back then, he was full of youthful spirit. He went to see the old blind man and received two comments from him, thereafter regarding him as an idol.

At that time, apart from him and Fang Xing, no one knew that Chongming also said, “The sword is passable, the person is no good. All show and no substance!”