Supreme Sword Exalt

The moment Gu Han’s voice fell, everyone was greatly alarmed. Gu Han chooses to confront the first war god?

Tuo Jun narrowed his eyes. “You want my head?”

Gu Han asked, “What, I can’t? Although sometimes imperfection is also a form of beauty, I happen to be someone who pursues perfection.”

Tuo Jun sneered. “Good! I underestimated you. You’re not a coward, just arrogant. That’s fine. Consider dying by my hand your honor!”

Gu Han glanced at the mountain. “It’s not a bad spot. The view is just right. Hanging there, you can see all the beautiful scenery around. Consider that my courtesy to you.”

The two stood toe to toe, neither budging.

Tuo Jun fell silent for a moment. “You have considerable prestige within the Great Flame Border Army, don’t you?”

Gu Han glanced at Fatty. “I guess, but not more than our Heaven-Conquering Prince.”

Fatty was speechless. Is this really the time for that? At the brink of death, and he still uses me as a joke!

Tuo Jun didn’t hesitate. “The Heaven Burial is two thousand miles away from here. The scenery’s excellent. You’re a man with backbone, it’ll serve as your burial ground!”

In an instant, the faces of all the border soldiers darkened. Even the War Prince’s eyes erupted with killing intent, locking firmly onto Tuo Jun.

The three barbarian elders immediately descended, positioning themselves in front of Tuo Jun. They watched the War Prince warily, worried he would recklessly launch a frenzied attack.

Without them noticing, Feng Xi had also come to the scene. Although she appeared calm, a heavenly phoenix projection flickered incessantly in her eyes, ready to devour everything.

Tuo Jun frowned slightly at her appearance. He had assumed his tribulation was Feng Xi, but her appearance didn’t trigger anything. Clearly, he had guessed wrong.

Gu Han found everyone’s reactions somewhat strange. “Senior, what kind of place is the Heaven Burial Valley?”

Across from him, a barbarian sneered. “That place? It’s where our former first war god killed your seventh prince—”

A wisp of saint aura descended instantly, crushing him into a cloud of blood mist.

One man’s eyes turned icy. “Yun Zhan! Aren’t you afraid this will lead to an all-out war?!”

Yun Zhan ignored him completely. “Border Army, hear my command! Assemble, face the enemy!”

The eyes of all the border soldiers burned with hatred. “Understood!”

Clearly, the Heaven Burial Valley left a huge scar in all their hearts.

Tuo Jun turned to Gu Han. “So? Do you dare go?”

His plan was simple. Since Gu Han had slain eight war gods, Tuo Jun would kill him at the Heaven Burial Valley, ripping open the border army’s bloody scar. Their morale would be utterly crushed, leaving them unable to muster any will to resist.

Gu Han suddenly called out, “Court Master Li!”

Li Xun, who had been cowering, scurried over from the crowd. “I’m here! Vanguard Gu, what are your orders?”

Gu Han pointed at the wall. “Make room. There’ll be one more head in a bit.”

Li Xun immediately relaxed. So that’s all. Thought you were going to hand me over...

He promised confidently, “Rest assured, Vanguard Gu! Back before I embarked on the path of cultivation, I was somewhat known in the mortal world—”

Gu Han stopped paying him attention and turned to Tuo Jun. “You go on ahead. I’ll be there shortly.”

Tuo Jun gave him a deep look. “History will repeat itself!”

With that, he shot into the air, his barbarian followers right behind him. The three barbarian elders cast a smug glance at the War Prince, then vanished from sight.

After the barbarians left, everyone crowded around. Except for those familiar with Gu Han’s character, the rest pleaded with him ceaselessly.

The War Prince frowned. “Kid, you don’t have to go. As long as my brother and I are here, no one can claim those heads unless he comes himself!”

Gu Han grinned. “Senior, I’ve already agreed. Wouldn’t it be embarrassing not to go?”

Feng Xi said, “Junior Brother, you’ve already done more than enough for our empire. This matter has nothing to do with you to begin with. You... You don’t even know why we’re at war.”

She was more talkative than usual.

Gu Han’s expression turned serious. “Senior Sister, that day at the Border Wasteland, you didn’t ask anything either. You just wanted to destroy the three Holy Lands for me. Why?”

Feng Xi paused for a moment. “You’re my junior brother. No one can bully you.”

He felt a bit happy. “So, you’re my senior sister. I want to share your burdens too.”

Fatty grew impatient. “Enough, enough! What’s there to persuade? This bastard wouldn’t ever listen to anyone. I’ll just ask you one thing. Do you have what it takes?”

“No.”

“Then why the hell—”

Gu Han glanced up at the sky. “Don’t rush. Let me undergo my tribulation first, then my chances will be about right.”

Everyone froze. What? You want to undergo a tribulation right before a life-and-death battle?

After confirming the direction of the Heaven Burial Valley, a trace of sword qi swirled around Gu Han, leaving an afterimage as he soared into the sky. “Everyone, wait for me there!”

At the back of the crowd, Zhao Mengyou silently lowered her head. As expected, you chose the most dangerous path.

***

Gu Han moved fast. Within just a few breaths, he could no longer see anyone else. Lightning tribulation existed within some very special thunderclouds.

At the ninth stage of the Soaring realm, one’s divine sense and spirit qi fused with space to a certain degree, enabling preliminary communion between heaven and earth. They could then enter the vast firmament, using that thread of communion to attract heavenly lightning and temper their physique. The sword evasion technique was way faster than ordinary cultivators.

In just a moment, Gu Han pierced through layers of clouds and mist, the ethereal vapor swirling around him. Clouds rolled and unfurled, parting and merging, revealing the boundless land below.

Without hesitation, he unleashed all his cultivation. Using that faint, elusive connection with space, he summoned the tribulation clouds. A vast and ancient faintly fell within his perception. The aura vaguely resembled that giant eye, but it held no emotion and showed him no special attention.

The sky darkened the next moment. A continuous rumble of thunder filled the air. Out of nowhere, a patch of tribulation cloud about ten zhang in diameter drifted over. It was gray-black, with electric light weaving around it.

Gu Han stared at the cloud. “Come and strike me—”

A lightning bolt about a zhang long suddenly fell, striking him on the head. He instantly went numb. Yet there was no pain, and it even felt strangely comfortable. Without wasting time, he activated the Indestructible Sword Physique technique, refining the subtle mysteries and life force contained within the lightning. Then, another lightning bolt struck down, and he refined it again.

The tribulation cloud unleashed nine lightning bolts in succession, all of which he refined in an instant. Aside from some numbness and itching, he felt nothing else.

By this point, he had reached the first stage of the Heavenly Tribulation realm. He had lost some of his edge, but gained introspection and resilience in return.

Cultivators had different foundations, and so did the power of their tribulations. Gu Han’s first stage was comparable to an ordinary cultivator’s third-stage tribulation. Still, after half a month of tempering, he had forged an extremely tough physique. He was not afraid to face the first stage of tribulation. If anything, it was more like an itch.

He continued summoning tribulation clouds. “More!”

Instantly, a second patch of tribulation cloud appeared. The clouds unleashed their lightning simultaneously, with much greater force than before. It still fell short for him.

“More! Keep going! Don’t stop!”

With each roar, more patches of tribulation cloud appeared. He endured five stages of lightning tribulation in one breath. Most of his sharp, aggressive aura faded under the baptism of lightning.

***

Within the void, the Flame Emperor’s gaze remained fixed in the distance, as if sensing Gu Han undergoing tribulation. Even though he didn’t speak, the admiration in his eyes grew ever stronger.

***

Elsewhere in the void, the clouds below swiftly condensed, transforming into a man’s form. He too stared at where Gu Han was undergoing tribulation, sensing carefully.

After a moment, he said slowly, “Not bad. What a shame, a talent like this, yet I cannot use him. If you really kill Tuo Jun today, then I cannot let you live.”