Supreme Sword Exalt

Two to three hundred people stood cautiously in an open space at the central camp. They felt that the solemn killing intent within was completely different from the outside world. These people were all alchemists, the result of Yun Fan’s relentless efforts over the past few days.

All around, a group of soldiers pointed and whispered incessantly. After all, aside from the few dozen at the front who came from the Yuqing Sect, the rest were all rogue alchemists Yun Fan had scoured from the Great Flame Empire and the Northern Domain.

At this moment, the two leaders were conversing with Divine Physician Xue and Murong Yan. One was Dean Liu from the Yuqing Sect’s Alchemy Institute. The moment Murong Yuan learned of Gu Han’s deeds, he relocated his sect’s alchemy institute here with a single wave of his hand. The other person was somewhat unexpected. It was actually Li Xun!

Amid the discussions, two figures descended from the distance and appeared before Gu Han. Upon seeing Gu Han, the group of cultivators quickly bowed with respect. Their respectful attitude was not much less than when they had faced Feng Xi that day.

Yun Fan, the loyal lackey, was bursting with energy. “Brother Gu, you’re amazing! Your prestige is almost catching up to my sister’s!”

He was pent-up from not having a chance to flatter Gu Han for over ten days. Although he had just returned, he didn’t know nor care about what had happened. Satisfying his urge to flatter came first.

Gu Han ignored him as he scanned the crowd in surprise. “Dean Li, why are you here too?”

Yun Fan whispered, “Brother Gu, I didn’t force him, you know. He heard about your situation and came begging and crying to join!”

Li Xun’s expression remained unchanged as he cupped his hands. “Young Brother, in my early years, I dabbled in the alchemy dao. Though I cannot compare to Fellow Daoist Xue, I can still offer a small contribution. I hope you won’t find me unworthy! From this day forward, I will follow Fellow Daoist Xue’s lead! Whatever you command, I will obey without a second word.”

The onlookers wore strange expressions. Li Xun was as calm as ever. Staying in the Northern Domain meant not only suffering constant oppression from Murong Yuan, but also struggling to even break through to the Transcendent realm. In short, he had no future.

That was why he decided to pledge allegiance to Gu Han. He had decided that no matter what, he was not leaving. Gu Han was also quite speechless. This was indeed consistent with Dean Li’s style.

As they were speaking, a few more figures descended. It was the few marquises who had received the news and rushed over. Upon learning that these people were all alchemists Yun Fan had found, their hearts instantly sank.

Aside from the alchemists from the Yuqing Sect’s Alchemy Institute, who were somewhat decent, the rest were rogue cultivators without any formal background. Even if all these people joined hands, their alchemy efficiency probably wouldn’t even reach one-fifth of the Yudan Sect’s. How could they possibly meet such a massive demand for pills?

The old man sighed. “Old Liao, it seems I was overthinking things earlier. You win this bet.”

Liao Zheng sighed helplessly. “What a pity. It seems our expectations of him were too high. To be honest, I didn’t want to win!”

Beside him, Fatty wore a sympathetic expression. Old Liao, you’re overthinking it!

Mindful of the title of Grand Vanguard, he decided to give Liao Zheng a heads-up. “Old Liao, let me give you some advice.”

Liao Zheng was confused. “What is it, Brother Yulin?”

Swayed by Fatty’s smooth talk, he had opened his heart to Fatty. Not only had he promised him the title of Grand Vanguard, but they also addressed each other as brothers. They felt a sense of regret for not having met sooner, almost to the point of swearing an oath of brotherhood on the spot.

Fatty thought for a moment. “When you kneel, find a place with fewer people.”

Liao Zheng was speechless.

Suddenly, Yun Lie exclaimed gloomily, “Hmph! What a group of trash!”

Everyone frowned deeply and swept their gaze over to see Yun Lie and his two companions standing not far away.

Gu Han’s eyes narrowed instantly. Liao Zheng and the others also felt quite displeased. Yun Lie was notoriously narrow-minded. Even though he was the son of the Flame Emperor, they still didn’t think highly of him.

Yun Fan was extremely dissatisfied. “Ninth Brother, watch your words. I carefully selected these people and went through great trouble to find them. If you think they’re no good, why don’t you go find some?”

Yun Lie sneered repeatedly. “You carefully selected them and still got trash?”

His words made the rogue alchemists hang their heads in shame, feeling both inferior and anxious. Refining pills for the Great Flame Border Army meant not only safety but also excellent treatment. They had dreamed of coming here, but the Yudan Sect had a firm hold over it, leaving them no opportunity. Now that Yun Fan had finally recruited them, none of them wanted to leave. Without background, strength, not any backing, the life of a rogue cultivator was too hard.

Yun Lie’s gaze swept over the crowd. “Why should I go find them? Who’s to blame for the situation you’re in now, without pills to use? Are you blaming me? If Gu Han hadn’t destroyed the Yudan Sect, none of this would’ve happened!”

Song He and Ji Cheng frowned secretly. They felt that Yun Lie was creating unnecessary complications.

Suddenly, Zhang Shan’s voice rang out from the crowd. “I believe in Vanguard Gu!”

Yun Lie was stunned. “What?”

Zhang Shan mustered his courage. “I believe in him! Vanguard Gu said he could solve it, so he can solve it! He’s similar to the princess. The princess never disappointed us, and Vanguard Gu won’t either!”

“That’s right, I believe in Vanguard Gu too!”

“The war gods from the War God Hall have all been mostly butchered by him. What can’t he accomplish!”

“Exactly! Even if we have fewer pills, things can’t possibly get any worse!”

For a time, the cultivators spoke up one after another, standing by Gu Han’s side.

Yun Lie was both shocked and furious. “What?!”

His original intention had been to incite dissatisfaction among the soldiers toward Gu Han. However, Gu Han’s standing in the army far exceeded his expectations, leaving no room for him to sow discord.

Gu Han said, “First, I did all this for Senior Sister. Whether you believe it or not, I couldn’t care less.”

Fatty nudged Liao Zheng. “Old Liao, see that? My brother here doesn’t even bother to gamble with him. He wants to kowtow, but doesn’t even get the chance.”

Liao Zheng was speechless again. What kind of twisted logic is that? According to you, me losing the bet to him and having to kowtow is actually something to be proud of?

Gu Han stared at Yun Lie. “Second, I let you off too lightly last time.”

Yun Lie’s face turned ashen. “W-who do you think you are? This is the Great Flame—”

Just then, a black-robed elder appeared in mid-air. His aura was faint and elusive, with an inexplicable Dao rhythm flowing around him. Even though his gaze was gentle, it seemed capable of seeing through one’s heart. This elder was the one who had been beside the War Prince that day.

For a moment, whether it was the cultivators, the marquises, or even Yun Lie, all of them bowed respectfully.

“Greetings, Elder Cen!”

Gu Han felt a chill as the elder gave him a very strange feeling. He was much stronger than Zhou Ye and Wang Yong, yet he lacked the sacred majesty that a Saint realm cultivator should possess. Half-Saint realm? That doesn’t seem quite right either!

Fatty said calmly, “Stop guessing. He was originally in the Saint realm. He simply fell from that realm for some reason.”

“How do you know?”

Fatty was speechless. Of course I know. I saw that old charlatan fall from the Saint realm with my own eyes!

The elder’s gaze swept over Gu Han and Fatty with a flicker of admiration. Then, he glanced at Yun Lie and sighed. “Your Highness, why such anger?”

Yun Lie took a deep breath. “Elder Cen, you’ve come at the right time! This guy is outrageously arrogant and disrespectful. His actions are undermining the foundation of the Great Flame Border Army!”

The more he spoke, the angrier he became.

“And my little sister, acting recklessly as well—”

The elder regretfully interrupted him, “Your Highness, why are you so stubborn?”

Yun Lie’s face paled. “W-what?”

Elder Cen sighed again. “The War Prince has decreed from today onward, Ninth Prince Yun Lie is stripped of his command over the army. Furthermore, he is not to leave the camp until the next battle arrives. Violation will result in severe punishment!”

The cultivators erupted as if a bomb had gone off. Being newcomers, Gu Han and the others did not know that in all of history, Yun Lie was the first to have his command stripped.

Yun Lie’s eyes turned bloodshot as he clenched his fists tightly. “I-Is this Second Uncle’s doing?”

Although he had already decided to pledge allegiance to that person in the Northern Domain, he had not yet acted. This punishment was a profound humiliation for him.

Elder Cen shook his head. “Your Highness, you should know that the War Prince’s will has always been the Flame Emperor’s will.”

Yun Lie looked as if struck by lightning, he was stunned on the spot. He understood Elder Cen’s words. In a sense, the Flame Emperor had already abandoned him, his own son.

Fatty was extremely dissatisfied. “That’s it? What command? Who the hell cares about that! This punishment is less satisfying than letting me give him a good beating!”

Gu Han said nothing as he was also a bit dissatisfied.

Silently, Feng Xi appeared in the field too.

Everyone quickly bowed. “Greetings, Princess!”

Feng Xi ignored the crowd, drinking mouthful after mouthful of wine. The phantom of the heavenly phoenix in her eyes grew clearer, and her killing intent intensified.

Fatty saw Feng Xi in this state and froze for a moment. This woman is dangerous!

Upon seeing Feng Xi staring at Yun Lie, Elder Cen smiled wryly. “Feng Kid, let it go for my sake, how about it?”

Within the Great Flame Empire, only three people could call Feng Xi by her childhood name, and this elder was one of them.

Feng Xi said calmly, her cold voice filled with killing intent, “My junior brother earned his life himself. He owes the empire nothing. He has no reason to go this far. Yet he did.”

With each sentence, she took a gulp of strong wine. By the end, her heavenly phoenix phantom nearly manifested into reality, as if about to burst forth.

“That means the Great Flame Imperial Dynasty owes him! None of you have the right to wrong him!”

Everyone’s hearts trembled because they had only seen Feng Xi like this once or twice before.

Oh no! Oh shit! Yun Fan swallowed nervously.Having served as Feng Xi’s lackey for many years, he was well aware of her temperament. She was about to explode!

Elder Cen smiled wryly again. Though he had appeared today to punish Yun Lie, he was also there to protect him. Besides, if the ninth prince had really angered Gu Han, Zhou Ye and Wang Yong alone would ensure he would suffer even if he didn’t die.

Just then, Elder Cen’s helpless voice traveled across the vast distance. “Feng Kid, I promise that this will never happen again.”

Feng Xi remained silent. Clearly, she was determined to make Yun Lie suffer greatly today.