Supreme Sword Exalt

In the sky, seven more lightning bolts struck Gu Han. He had reached the seventh stage! The pain was excruciating, but having endured the torment of a thousand cuts, this was nothing to him.

As Gu Han activated the Indestructible Sword Physique, he greedily absorbed the rich vitality and mysterious essence contained within the lightning tribulation. His scars began to heal rapidly.

At this moment, his sharp aura had nearly vanished, replaced by a calm restraint. It was difficult to gauge his depth from his appearance alone.

Without hesitation, he immediately drew in another tribulation cloud and began to undergo the eight stage. “More!”

Lightning danced and electric serpents coiled. Eight stronger tribulations struck him all at once, shattering his bones and tearing his flesh. Without mercy, seventy-two lightning bolts struck, indifferent to whether he could endure them.

He coughed up blood, his insides badly injured. Earlier, he had changed out of his treasure robe, hiding the storage ring inside it. Now, not only were his clothes shredded, but he was also a bloody mess.

At a glance, he appeared utterly miserable. However, it actually didn’t compare to the injuries he had inflicted on himself before. He swallowed a few pills and activated his physique again. His gruesome, terrifying wounds healed in no time.

Moments later, he stared at the dissipating clouds, gritting his teeth. “Ninth stage! If I’m going to do it, I’ll do the ninth stage!”

Another tribulation cloud drifted in from somewhere. In an instant, all the tribulation clouds merged into a single, massive cloud a hundred zhang wide. Continuous rumbling sounds came from within, and wave after wave of heavy pressure pressed down.

Nine was the ultimate number. The difficulty of the stage was far greater. As a result, even after practicing the Great Freedom Heavenly Demon Scripture, Gu Han still ended up grievously wounded.

Gu Han turned serious. Without allowing him to think, nine thick bolts of lightning struck down, carrying a trace of heavenly might.

He lost all his sensation, even losing his consciousness briefly. Still, driven by instinct, he continued absorbing the remaining traces of vitality and mysterious essence. Just as he began to recover, the tribulation lightning struck again.

In the blink of an eye, eighty-one bolts of lightning struck at once, turning the place where Gu Han stood into a sea of lightning. Gu Han flickered in and out, constantly disintegrating and being ceaselessly repaired. Hovering between life and death, he rapidly advanced toward the first stage of the Indestructible Sword Physique.

***

On both sides of the Heaven Burial Valley, the two factions stood on opposite sides, led by the War Prince and the three barbarian elders.

Naturally, Tuo Jun’s claim that the scenery was wonderful proved untrue. Not only was the spirit qi thin, but everything in sight was foul as well. Waves of stench constantly assaulted the nose. It was an extremely rare land of malevolence.

Nevertheless, Tuo Jun was satisfied with this place. He had slain Yun Huan here ten years ago. Ironically, the seventh prince had been the empire’s greatest talent, and now he would once again cut down their genius here to crush their will.

He glanced at Feng Xi, who was expressionless. A trace of doubt flickered in his mind again. Why?! Even though she’s right in front of me, why can’t I enter the human tribulation? Could my human tribulation really not be Feng Xi? Then who is it? Besides Feng Xi, who else is qualified to be compared to me in the Eastern Wasteland?

Just as he was thinking, the barbarians beside him couldn’t hold back any longer. They all jeered.

“Two hours, and he’s still not here?”

“Could he be too scared to come?”

“He must have tricked us into coming here and run away himself!”

Tuo Jun didn’t care because he had never taken Gu Han seriously. If the other dared to flee without a fight, the effect would be even better than killing him.

Fatty extended his hand. “Come on, come on! All of you scum come at once. I will defeat you all with one hand!”

Arriving again at this place of sorrow, Yun Fan’s anger surged. “Just wait! Once Brother Gu finishes his tribulation, he’ll come right over and kill him!”

Tuo Jun frowned. “He’s undergoing tribulation? Outrageous! How many tribulations is he planning to undergo? One or two? Do I have to wait for him to finish? If his tribulation takes half a year, am I supposed to wait here that long? Only the Great Flame Empire would use such cheap, opportunistic tricks!”

The War Prince suddenly looked up at the sky. “What’s the rush? He’s here.”

Since his cultivation was the highest among them, he was the first to detect the movement in the sky. After him were the three elders of the War God Hall.

Moments later, a small black dot appeared in the sky.

Yun Fan shouted joyfully, “Brother Gu!”

Gu Han landed in the valley. Although he was very fast, he landed almost silently. His sharp, overwhelming aura had completely vanished, and even the piercing sharpness in his eyes was gone. He seemed like an ordinary Soaring realm cultivator.

The barbarians looked at each other in bewilderment. The man who had once pressured them so greatly now seemed weak enough to be crushed with a casual blow.

Underwent tribulation? He probably underwent nothing! In just two hours, what kind of tribulation could he possibly have undergone anyway?!

Even the border army soldiers secretly felt uneasy. Did Vanguard Gu really undergo tribulation in such a short time?

Gu Han ignored the crowd’s stares and looked at Tuo Jun. “My apologies for letting you live two hours longer. Time to send you on your way.”

Tuo Jun’s expression drastically changed. “You—”

His cultivation was sealed, which meant he had entered his human tribulation. It was Gu Han all along!

He stared fixedly at Gu Han, his eyes filled with unwillingness. “H-how many tribulations did you survive?”

He was a ninth-stage Earthly Tribulation cultivator, whereas Gu Han was merely a Heavenly Tribulation realm one. And yet, the vast will of the Great Dao judged that Gu Han was stronger and had a great chance of killing him.

Gu Han didn’t answer. “Hehe! Take a guess.”

With a roar, an immensely powerful surge of qi erupted from Tuo Jun. Always arrogant and proud, he couldn’t believe that Gu Han was his human tribulation. I refuse to accept this! Why?!

Reddish-gold qi flared around his fists as he lunged at Gu Han. “Die!”

Silently and without warning, Gu Han appeared before him, as if he had just teleported. He swung his sword down. Like a volcano dormant for years, his entire being erupted with a powerful force.

In that instant, a shockwave spread outward from him. Within the shockwave were countless fine, invisible strands of sword qi. As they scattered, the barbarians standing closer all cried out in pain. They had been punctured with countless tiny, needle-like bloody holes!

A metallic ringing sound rang out. Tuo Jun used his golden bangles to firmly block the sword.

Gu Han softly said, “Die.”

In the next moment, a dazzling light exploded from the sword. A zhang-long, brilliant sword light struck Tuo Jun.

With a loud crash, the barbarian was forced back over ten zhang.