Supreme Sword Exalt

Slap!

The slap was crisp and loud. Although Gu Han hadn’t gone for a lethal blow, he certainly hadn’t held back much either.

Meng Qian’s fair, flawless cheek instantly turned black and purple. She immediately let out a shrill, hysterical scream.

Everyone was dumbstruck as it wasn’t quite what they had imagined. Although it seemed equally stimulating, they felt a little disappointed inside.

Meng Qian could barely stand, trembling as she pointed at Gu Han. “I... will... kill—”

Slap!

Gu Han backhanded her with another slap. This time, he had used a third of his cultivation. Meng Qian spun through the air for several dozen zhang. Gravely injured and unconscious, she landed right near where Meng You lay.

Silence reigned, and the atmosphere was a bit strange. Everyone stared at each other, their eyelids twitching nonstop. Had they somehow misunderstood the meaning of respecting women?

Of course, Gu Han didn’t care what they thought. After venting this pent-up anger, he felt his mood improve considerably.

Yang Lan’s eyes were wide. “S-so, Brother Gu, you just wanted to teach her a lesson?”

Gu Han’s face darkened. “What else? What did you think I wanted to do?”

Yang Lan became somewhat awkward. “N-nothing! Brother Gu, you’re really something else! You’ll definitely aced the qualification battle for the secret realm!”

Gu Han was stunned. “Secret realm qualification battle? What’s that?”

Yang Lan was also taken aback. “Huh? Aren’t you the chief disciple of Fengwu Court? How can you not know?”

Gu Han was speechless. I knew it! Senior Brother is completely unreliable!

Secret realms were semi-independent spaces attached to the main world. Small ones were only a few dozen zhang in size, while large ones could rival a small world. Even the most ordinary one’s spirit qi concentration was several times that of the outside world. As a result, countless spirit materials and precious herbs thrived. Some half-saint herbs, or even saint herbs, could grow in some super secret realms.

Cultivators were dying to enter the secret realms. In fact, apart from Fengwu Court, the other five major powers each controlled a small secret realm. And precisely because of this, they laid the foundation for their prosperity.

After listening to Yang Lan’s explanation, Gu Han felt a wave of helplessness. The decline of Fengwu Court wasn’t solely due to Zuo Yang being too lazy, after all. Their foundation was already a huge step behind others!

Yang Lan explained, “Moreover, there exists a large secret realm in the Northern Domain, jointly controlled by the five major powers. When it opens once every five years, the most outstanding disciples from each family and sect are chosen to enter and seek opportunities. According to my brother, entering once is equivalent to several years of heavy cultivation outside!”

Gu Han’s eyes lit up. “Several years? That’s a good place!”

Yang Lan’s face was full of envy. “Yes! Every few years, a few prodigies like you appear in each family and sect. The secret realm qualification battle is prepared for them! So long as they can demonstrate sufficient potential, they will be allowed entry even if their strength is not yet up to standard.”

Gu Han pondered. “Is that so? When does this qualification battle start?”

Yang Lan thought for a moment. “In one month, at the Yuqing Sect. People from all families and sects will definitely attend. After the competition ends, the secret realm will open. The winners will enter the secret realm together with those senior brothers and sisters.”

I must go!

That was the easiest decision Gu Han had ever made in his life. Although cultivating two Supreme Stages allowed him to far surpass cultivators of the same realm, the difficulty of breaking through was likewise many times greater than for others.

Cultivating from the first stage of Essence Gathering to the ninth stage would definitely require a terrifying amount of resources. At a conventional pace of cultivation, the Spirit Profound realm would remain far out of reach. Of course, the main reason was that he was too poor.

Thinking of this, his determination to go to the secret realm grew even stronger.

Gu Han declared, “Tell Brother Jiang that in one month, I’ll go to Yuqing Sect to see him. And you, don’t run around outside for no reason from now on. The Yang family has no humanity!”

Yang Lan understood her own situation. She hurriedly bought some spirit herbs to recuperate, then bid farewell to Gu Han.

Seeing there was no more excitement to watch, the onlookers gradually dispersed. Meng You and the others had also been carried away by the Qixia Court disciples at some point.

Of course, having learned from the previous incident, they wouldn’t dare to make threatening remarks even if beaten to death. Upon seeing the matter was settled, Gu Han entered Ruyi Tower again.

The steward came forward with a smile again. “Guest, what do you require? Pills, magic items, techniques, divine powers... Whatever you desire, Ruyi Tower has everything!”

Gu Han got straight to the point. “Is your tower master here?”

“The tower master?”

“Yes, I wish to see him.”

The steward hesitated for a moment. “Please wait a moment. Allow me to go and report.”

With that, he turned and went upstairs.

Gu Han sighed profoundly. He finally didn’t encounter those annoying incidents of being looked down upon again.

In fact, if it were someone else, the steward would have flatly refused. However, he had seen what happened outside and knew Gu Han’s identity was somewhat unique, so he didn’t dare to make the decision himself.

***

As one of the three great families, the Yang family’s clan grounds were extremely vast, almost comparable to a small country. The direct lineage resided at the center of the clan grounds.

A meeting was held in the family’s main hall. The family head—Yang Xiong—was discussing the matter of the secret realm’s opening with a group of clan elders.

One elder frowned. “In recent years, Yuqing Sect’s power has grown increasingly.”

“Indeed! If this continues, I’m afraid it will be difficult for our families to maintain a foothold in the Northern Domain.”

“I’ve heard Yuqing Sect has taken in another monstrous young talent this time. Isn’t this the will of heaven?”

Everyone discussed, furrowing their brow with worry.

On the other hand, Yang Xiong appeared calm. “It doesn’t matter. We are forming a marriage alliance with the Meng family, plus Qixia Court. With the strength of three families combined, why fear the Yuqing Sect? Even if they recruited a monstrous talent, does the Yang family lack a prodigy?”

“That’s right, the young master is indeed worthy of being called heaven’s favorite!”

“The Qingyun Pavilion claims to be a gathering place for geniuses, but compared to the young master... Hmph!”

Amid the discussion, someone said with relief, “Fortunately, Luo Wushuang is elusive and never intervenes in our conflicts. Otherwise, I’m afraid no one could stop him!”

The entire hall instantly fell silent. That name was a taboo not only within the Yuqing Sect, but across the entire Northern Domain.

Just then, a panicked voice rang outside. “F-Family Head! N-no good!”

Yang Xiong’s face darkened. “Bastard! Why are you making such a fuss?!!”

A servant stumbled in. “Y-Young Master... Young Master, he... is almost gone!”

Yang Xiong instantly stood up. “What?!?!”

***

Outside, Zuo Yang stood there quietly, eyes slightly closed. He was holding Yang Fei, who had almost no breath left.

Nearby, several Yang family members lay in pools of blood, severely injured and near death. All around, a crowd of clansmen and servants stared at Zuo Yang, their eyes filled with shock and terror.

In the next moment, over a dozen figures suddenly descended from the sky. It was Yang Xiong and his group.

Yang Xiong was about to demand an explanation, but suddenly noticed the miserably battered Yang Fei. “Zuo Yang, you—Fei’er!”

His eyes turned bloodshot, a murderous intent surging in his heart. “Was it you?”

Zuo Yang drew the boning knife from his waist. “Today, I’m here to set rules for you. Fengwu Court usually keeps a low profile, but that’s no reason for you to bully us.”

As his words fell, his cultivation of the third stage of the Earthly Tribulation erupted instantly.

What?! Apart from Yang Xiong, everyone else’s pupils were constricted. Like Meng Da, they had never imagined that such an unremarkable chef, known only for his cooking, actually possessed such high cultivation.

Still, Yang Xiong couldn’t care less about that, as he had almost lost his mind. “I ask you a question! Was it you?!”

“You could say so.”

The killing intent in Yang Xiong’s heart completely erupted. “Kill him for me! Kill him!”

Suddenly, someone angrily screamed, “Stop!”

An old man with a head of white hair appeared on the scene. It was the Yang family’s Old Ancestor, Yang Tong.

Everyone hurriedly paid their respects. “Old Ancestor!”

However, Yang Xiong was full of unwillingness. “Why! Old Ancestor, look, he injured Fei’er like this! We absolutely cannot let him go!”

Yang Tong shouted again, then turned his gaze to Zuo Yang, a cold light flickering in his eyes. “Silence! Earthly Tribulation realm?”

“Yes.”

“To think we were deceived by you for so many years.”

Zuo Yang shook his head. “It wasn’t a deception. I just really like cooking.”

Yang Tong switched the topic. “Give me an explanation for this matter. Otherwise, you will die here today.”

A seemingly light wisp of aura locked onto Zuo Yang.

Zuo Yang acted as if he didn’t notice. “My time is precious, so I can’t be bothered to explain. You can investigate yourself. Like I said, I came to set rules for you.”

Yang Tong’s eyes instantly narrowed. “Rules? With just your Earthly Tribulation realm, you’re one to talk!”

Zuo Yang smirked. “Then, does my Senior Sister have that qualification?”

Yang Tong was silent for a moment. “Don’t even mention her! She left ten years ago!”

Zuo Yang said earnestly, “She’s coming back. Could be as soon as a few months, or as long as half a year. You can kill me and even wipe out Fengwu Court. I can’t defeat you anyway, so do as you please. Of course, the price is simple too. The entire Yang family will have to accompany us in death.”