Supreme Sword Exalt

Chapter 178 - Daddy Gu, You Mustn’t! Let’s Talk This Out

Jiang Xuan waved his hand. “The past is in the past! If you had revealed your identity earlier, I would never have dreamed of laying a hand on you!”

Chu Kuang glanced at him. “Oh? It seems you really are afraid of this trump card of mine!”

“How could I not be afraid! Actually, there’s no need for a fight to the death between us. Although you are a saint’s reincarnation, such trump cards can’t be infinite, right? Why waste one on me? Exchanging a Half-Step Transcendent realm cultivator for a single Saint realm strike, no matter how you think about it, you’re at a huge loss!” Jiang Xuan admitted openly, and even turned to Gu Han. “What do you think? Does what I say make sense?”

Gu Han gasped for breath, “Both are fatties, but you are a hundred times more shameless than him!”

Jiang Xuan raised an eyebrow. “Shamelessness? What is that? If I cared about that, I’d have died decades ago! You are too young!”

Chu Kuang frowned silently. What Jiang Xuan said was true. The means he had sealed within the weapon before reincarnating were only enough to protect him three times. After three uses, his greatest reliance would vanish with it. None understood better than he did that Saint realm’s means held far greater value as a deterrent than when used directly.

Upon seeing Chu Kuang somewhat tempted, Jiang Xuan hurriedly said, “Young Brother, you must think this over carefully. There really is no enmity between us. Everything I did was for...”

He repeated his earlier words once more.

After finishing, Jiang Xuan sighed. “I had no choice! If those people found out I caused such a commotion and even killed their most valued descendants, they would hunt me to the death. This is the only way to guard against any mishap! There’s still some of the divine essence left. I can fetch it for you if you want!”

Chu Kuang shook his head. “There’s no need to rush. It’ll be mine sooner or later anyway.”

“Then you—”

Chu Kuang stared at him. “I have a proposal. How about you submit to me, or we cooperate?”

Jiang Xuan was stunned. “Submit? Cooperate?”

Chu Kuang nodded. “Exactly. In the end, whether it’s becoming a Holy Son or devouring divine power, you just want to seize the chance to reach the Transcendent realm. I can help you with that too. In fact, that’s just the beginning. If you can help me achieve great things, the Saint realm isn’t out of the question! You also don’t have to worry about what happened here. I won’t breathe a word of it to anyone!”

Jiang Xuan’s eyes burned with fervor. “Really?”

Chu Kuang nodded. “Of course! I have never lied. Besides, do you think you have any other choice?”

His reasoning was clear. Killing Jiang Xuan, aside from wasting a trump card, brought no benefit whatsoever. Subduing him meant having a Half-Step Transcendent expert by his side. It would be a tremendous asset, especially while his strength was still growing. Combined with his trump cards, many of his plans could be implemented ahead of schedule.

Jiang Xuan agreed without hesitation. “Good! I agree!”

If he refused, Chu Kuang would definitely not let him go. If he agreed, not only could he keep the secret, he would also gain an unimaginable opportunity once Chu Kuang grew stronger. Even a fool would know which choice to make. The outcome was a win-win, except for Gu Han. With the two cooperating, his chances of survival were practically gone.

Sure enough, Jiang Xuan’s gaze veered to Gu Han. “Will you subdue this kid too?”

Chu Kuang shook his head. “Forget it. I’ve given him many chances, but he simply won’t appreciate it. Even if I kept him by my side by force, he would remain a hidden danger. It’s better to eliminate him early.”

“Good call! His temperament is indeed unruly. In the future, he’s bound to bring about a catastrophic disaster!” Jiang Xuan nodded in agreement, then shook his head. “Fine. In that case, he has one more reason to die. Since I’ve submitted to you, I’ll kill him for you today. Consider it compensation for my earlier rash actions!”

True to his words, he slowly advanced toward Gu Han. “Kid, you are most unwise. The reincarnation of a Saint realm mighty figure, I’m afraid you have no idea what that means, do you?”

Gu Han struggled to his feet. “Heh, I think it’s bullshit!”

Although he didn’t know the specific realm of the black shadow, he reckoned it was definitely far higher than the Saint realm. As if he’d be scared of Chu Kuang!

Chu Kuang’s expression darkened. “Make your move! A mere Spirit Profound realm cultivator dares to speak down to the dignity of the Saint realm?! You will pay the price for your arrogance.”

Jiang Xuan frowned slightly. “See? Heaven’s calamities can be forgiven, but self-made calamities cannot be spared. Clearly, you were given so many chances. Why couldn’t you grasp them? Choosing death instead of survival... How foolish!”

Gu Han shook his head. “So you want me to be as shameless as you? I can’t do it.”

Jiang Xuan was unfazed.

“What do you know? This is called recognizing the times and becoming a hero. If you care so much about face—” His words cut off as his figure flickered. In the next instant, he was standing before Gu Han. “Then throw your life away!”

Wordlessly, Gu Han swung his sword down as if by reflex. In an instant, twenty-one strands of Great Evolution Sword Qi shot toward Jiang Xuan’s vital points.

Jiang Xuan raised an eyebrow. “Hmm? Interesting!”

His aura gradually surged. With a sweep of his sleeve, he deflected all the sword qi to the side, leaving dozens of bottomless pits in the incredibly solid ground.

“Back when you sparred with Jiang Hong, there weren’t this many strands of sword qi.” He looked at Gu Han with interest. “A divine art that can grow? Rare indeed! Since you’re about to die anyway, why not pass this divine art to me? I’ll carry on your legacy...”

All he got as a reply was a voice laden with killing intent. “Kill!”

Jiang Xuan’s expression grew even more solemn. “Oh? Such heavy killing intent! This seems even more interesting!”

Instead of dodging or evading, he met the sword with a bare palm. A metallic ring echoed. Spirit light flared around Jiang Xuan’s hand as he knocked the blade aside and drove a palm strike into Gu Han’s chest.

Coughing a mouthful of blood, Gu Han was hurled off dozens of zhang, crashing heavily to the ground.

Jiang Xuan stared at his hand, full of praise. “Truly impressive!”

The sword briefly broke through his protective spirit light, leaving a three-cun-long wound on his hand, from which blood continuously dripped.

He licked his lips. “I thought that sword was extraordinary back then. Now, seeing it again, it truly is. And that sword technique of yours, is it driven by killing intent? Marvelous! Simply marvelous! I can’t believe such an exquisite sword technique exists in the world. Teach me, won’t you?”

In the distance, Gu Han gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand up. His spirit light flickered rapidly, as if it would shatter at any moment.

Jiang Xuan was stunned. “Oh? You can still stand? No wonder! Your robe is also quite something!”

Remembering the inconspicuous dark glow on Gu Han, he suddenly understood.

Chu Kuang slowly walked to his side. “He’s quite lucky. Looking at his cultivation progress, he must have encountered continuous opportunities and strokes of luck. Without that, he wouldn’t have become who he is today.”

Jiang Xuan deeply agreed. “Exactly. What a waste! Kid, how about we discuss something? Since you’re going to die anyway, letting these opportunities and fortunes be buried with you would be such a pity!”

Gu Han spat out another mouthful of blood. “Are you out of your mind? You’re about to kill me—cough, cough—and you still want my fortunes?!”

Jiang Xuan waved his hand. “Don’t put it that way. It is only fate that you die by my hand. It doesn’t mean there’s deep-seated hatred between us. In fact, our bond is quite deep! The word ’fate’ is wonderfully mysterious. Who knows? Perhaps, in the grand scheme of things, the opportunities you obtained were all prepared for me?”

Gu Han’s tone was mocking. “You really want them?”

“Of course!”

Gu Han stared at him. “Fine. Call me Daddy Gu, and I’ll give you my fortunes!”

Jiang Xuan didn’t hesitate at all. “Daddy Gu, as long as you willingly hand over the fortunes, I’ll call you daddy, even ancestor!”

Gu Han fell silent, realizing Jiang Xuan had absolutely no bottom line. His type was the hardest to deal with and also the most terrifying.

Jiang Xuan sighed with disappointment. “I knew it would be like this. Wouldn’t it be nice to hand over the fortunes willingly and then die a quick death? Must you remain stubborn to the end? Fine. Since you are so obstinate, I’ll have to let you experience my ways!”

In an instant, he appeared before Gu Han. With a sweep of his sleeve, he shattered Gu Han’s protective spirit light. Threads of red mist immediately and relentlessly drilled into Gu Han.

Gu Han’s face turned deathly pale. The will inside the mist intensified severalfold, incessantly urging him to completely fuse with this power and transform into a monster.

***

In the consciousness space, the black shadow also vaguely sensed the presence of that consciousness.

“Hmm? What is this thing?” He seemed to suddenly think of something. “No way! Kid, you have to hold on! You’ll screw me over badly!”

***

Outside, Gu Han went pale as a ghost. He clenched his teeth, desperately resisting the invasion. The red mist was refined by his meridians and became part of his cultivation. Even his injuries were healing at an extremely rapid pace.

Jiang Xuan was somewhat astonished. “Oh? Your will is not weak. You’re able to resist for so long—wait! Your cultivation, how is it rising so fast?! This is impossible!”

Gu Han raised his head, glaring at him fiercely. “Didn’t you want my fortunes? I’ll give them to you!”

He flipped his trembling palm, revealing two red beads. This was the only thing he could think of to make Jiang Xuan wary, or perhaps even kill him.

Jiang Xuan’s pupils contracted sharply as he had no time to consider anything else. No one knew the contents of the blood beads better than he did. It was divine power—more domineering, purer, and deadlier than the one he had stolen back in the day.

Not far away, Chu Kuang’s expression changed slightly. “How is this possible?! How did this end up in his hands?”

A hint of madness flashed in Gu Han’s eyes. “Fortunes. Catch!”

He exerted force with his hand, and several cracks appeared on the beads.

Jiang Xuan was scared out of his wits. “Don’t, Daddy Gu! You mustn’t! Whatever you have to say, let’s talk it out—aaah!!”

Before he could finish, a scream suddenly erupted. Two strands of red mist, each as thick as a thumb, coiled together. They broke through his protective spirit light and drilled into him.