Supreme Sword Exalt

Gu Han had experienced this feeling for the second time. Although it was far less intense than the first, he couldn’t have blocked it no matter what with his own ability.

Fatty turned pale as he muttered to himself, “It’s over! Why the hell are you even crossing a human tribulation for—”

Then, another change arose. Tian Ji trembled more violently, the struggle in his eyes growing stronger. Anger and determination filled his face. “I am of the Heavenly Secrets lineage! All my life, I contend with heaven! How could I become your puppet!”

As the words fell, the mysterious aura reappeared on him. A profound rune also emerged on his brow, circular in shape, flowing with what seemed like black and white qi.

Tian Ji roared in agony, “Dream on!”

The rune shattered, transforming into two stretches of vast mysterious qi that landed before him. He spat a mouthful of blood, which was absorbed by the mysterious qi. It then transformed into a faint red human figure that bore an uncanny resemblance to Tian Ji himself.

“Sever!” Tian Ji shouted fiercely.

The human figure trembled for a moment then exploded. The moment it exploded, the sea of lightning and blood clouds above also began to dissipate, and the cold heavenly might faded away as well.

A moment later, the sky returned to calm as if nothing had happened at all. Compared to before, Tian Ji looked much older. His aura was rotten and decayed, his cultivation ceaselessly plummeted, barely stopping at the early stage of the Transcendent realm. If he hadn’t had secret techniques to rely on, he would have ended up worse than Gu Han.

Gu Han breathed a long sigh of relief. With the sword scripture, he would likely avert disaster this time, but the feeling of being targeted by the Great Dao was anything but pleasant.

Fatty was also shaken, cautiously asking, “Old Man, are you okay?”

Tian Ji coughed violently for a while. He slowly raised his head as a trace of confusion flashed in his eyes. “What just happened?”

Huh? Gu Han and Fatty were stunned.

Ignoring the two, Tian Ji closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, then shot Mei Yun an understanding look. “Let me think. Right, your origin is very unusual. It should be related to the nether clan!”

Mei Yun was shocked. Didn’t we already talk about this?

Gu Han couldn’t help but ask, “Senior, are you really alright?”

Tian Ji smiled bitterly. “I’m not skilled enough. I overestimated myself and recklessly tried to use a forbidden technique to deduce Mei Yun’s origin, only to suffer backlash. I’ve already lost ninety percent of my cultivation!”

The three of them looked at him with strange expressions. Even Han Fu, standing in the distance, widened his eyes. It seemed that Tian Ji had forgotten everything that just happened, his memory altered.

The humanoid figure! Gu Han and Fatty exchanged a glance.

Recalling the red human figure that had separated from Tian Ji, as well as the word “sever” he had uttered, Gu Han realized Tian Ji had likely done everything deliberately.

Fatty transmitted secretly. “This old man is something else. He not only severed a part of his own soul, but also altered his memory. It looks like he’s hiding something.”

Meanwhile, it was obvious to Gu Han that Tian Ji was hiding Gu Han’s identity and origin!

Fatty stared at him. “I don’t understand the heavenly secret art, but I know that everyone has an origin—a past and future. Traces of existence, basically. But the old man said you don’t belong here, nor should you exist. You really don’t know who your biological parents are? Could you really not be human?”

Gu Han was slightly dazed, and he didn’t mind the teasing. “I don’t know.”

The sword scripture, the golden seal, and even that broken sword... He had always thought these things appeared only by chance. Nevertheless, Tian Ji’s earlier words made him realize that these things had appeared far too coincidentally.

Tian Ji seemed to remember something and turned to Gu Han. “Oh, right. You said you need to cross the human tribulation, right? Only those with great perseverance and courage dare to cross the human tribulation. Although I’m badly injured, I can still barely help you deduce it.”

He half-closed his eyes, about to help Gu Han deduce the human tribulation again.

The two were startled and quickly stopped him.

“Senior!”

“Old man!”

Are you kidding! Deduce it again?

Tian Ji would definitely die at this rate!

Gu Han said seriously, “Senior, besides deduction, is there no other way?”

Tian Ji thought for a moment. “There is. Calm your mind, concentrate your spirit, and perceive that faint connection. I also have a simple technique here. It’s just that doing this takes an uncertain amount of time. Better let me help you—”

Gu Han was resolute. “No! This method is fine. I’ll use this one. It’s more than enough! Senior, you’re badly injured. How could I let you expend more energy? Just focus on resting! I’m not in a hurry about the human tribulation...”

Tian Ji was full of praise. “Good! You are kind-hearted, neither arrogant nor impatient. It’s rare. You’re a hundred times better than Fatty!”

Fatty was speechless. How is this bastard better than me?

Gu Han felt somewhat embarrassed. I’m just afraid you’ll end up killing all of us!

He didn’t dare stay any longer. Though many questions still lingered in his mind, he was afraid that if he kept talking with Tian Ji, the old man would try to deduce his identity again. Then there would be no place to cry.

Tian Ji pointed at Gu Han and instructed Mei Yun, “Don’t stop him when he comes.”

Mei Yun pointed at Fatty. “What about him? Do I let him in too?”

Tian Ji glanced at Fatty with displeasure. “Just beat him on the spot!”

After giving Gu Han the technique to perceive the human tribulation, he returned to his room to heal.

Before leaving, Gu Han earnestly instructed Mei Yun and Han Fu. They absolutely could not tell Tian Ji what had happened before, or it might very well cause another unforeseen change. The two immediately agreed. Even without Gu Han’s reminder, they understood how serious the situation was.

***

Outside Tianji Valley, Fu Dahai and Fang Xing were certainly not the only ones who sensed the chaotic heavenly secrets. As time passed, even though the strange phenomenon had long disappeared, more and more people kept arriving to investigate. These people were all at the Saint realm.

In the Eastern Wasteland, Saint realm cultivators counted as regional overlords. Yet in the Central Continent, especially in front of Fang Xing and Fu Dahai, these Saint realm cultivators were completely inadequate.

“Master of Liu Yun Ancient Sect!”

“Old ancestor of the Li family!”

“Branch president of the Tian Yun Merchant Association!”

They hadn’t deliberately hidden their forms, so the cultivators recognized them.

Within this region, the Fu family and the Fang family counted as two behemoths. Slightly lesser were the Wu family represented by Wu Sheng. The rest were major powers beneath these three families. Even the weakest had a Saint realm cultivator at the early stage sitting in command. Those with mid and low-level powers wanted to come as well, but their Soaring realm speed was just too slow, so they simply couldn’t make it.

Upon spotting Wu Guang, the head of the Wu family, along with a Saint Realm elder by his side, Wu Sheng was. “Father!”

Wu Guang grew murderous the moment he saw Wu Sheng’s condition. With a step, he was already by his son’s side. “Sheng’er, who hurt you?!”

Sword Prince immediately bowed after seeing Wu Guang. “Senior, I was too careless.”

He recounted the events. As someone who considered himself the leading figure of the younger generation, he took all the blame upon himself. Meanwhile, Wu Sheng kept adding details.

Wu Guang growled low and clenched his fists. He looked up toward the sky with caution. “Fu Yulin and that brat of unknown origin!”

He could sense that Fu Dahai and Fang Xing were also there.

Sword Prince said calmly, “Senior, rest assured. I am a sword cultivator, so I uphold justice. I will get justice for Brother Wu myself! Also, the heavenly phenomenon just now was extraordinary.

“Something must have happened. I believe some great fortune has appeared. They are the only ones inside right now. If they want to monopolize it, they’ll have to ask Zhan Qing!”

The sword on his back sang incessantly as strands of sword qi continuously cascaded down.