Supreme Sword Sovereign

Time flew by in a blink.

The day had arrived for the Martial Academy to begin its new term.

"Young Master."

Inside the Heavenly Grade Room, Ah-Sha looked at Gu Han as he slowly rose to his feet, her little face full of concern.

"Your injuries…"

"Don't worry."

Gu Han sighed.

He was beginning to regret telling her about the incident from the other day.

"It's nothing serious."

Although his injuries were not life-threatening, they were far from light. Even the miraculous healing properties of the Heavenly Grade Room couldn't completely heal him in a single day.

"Young Master…"

Ah-Sha mustered her courage.

"Can't you… just not go to the Martial Academy?"

"Ah-Sha."

Gu Han smiled.

"In the path of cultivation, one must never harbor a timid heart. We must always face difficulties head-on; how can we retreat when we know the challenges?"

"But…"

"Rest assured, with the Seventh Prince and Manager Li around, no one will dare to do anything to me. You just focus on your cultivation here…"

Seeing her look a bit downcast.

Gu Han gently patted her head, soothing her with a soft voice: "When I return in a few days, I'll take you out for some chicken legs!"

"I don't want that."

Ah-Sha, for the first time, showed no interest in chicken legs.

"I just want the Young Master to be safe and sound."

"Alright."

Gu Han nodded.

"I promise you."

"You better not lie!"

"Mhm, no lies."

As Gu Han left once again, Ah-Sha stared blankly, as if her soul had left her.

"Young Master…"

After a long while.

She suddenly clenched her fists.

"I must help you!"

As she spoke, a barely visible glimmer of light flashed again in her eyes…

…

The Martial Academy of the Great Qi Dynasty.

It opened once every five years, enrolling the elite of the younger generation.

Aside from the few lucky ones picked by the upper sects, the rest were absorbed within the internal structures of the Great Qi Dynasty.

Some joined the court.

Others went to the military.

At the very least, they could become like Liu Yuan, the lord of a small border city, living a life of glory and freedom from then on.

For this reason, for those young people who wished to join the upper sects, or wanted to temper themselves, or sought a chance for rapid advancement, the Martial Academy was an unavoidable stepping stone.

However.

The rules of the Martial Academy were strict.

Aside from those with special backgrounds, anyone else who wanted to enter had to rely on their true abilities.

At this moment.

The normally quiet Martial Academy became incredibly lively.

A couple of hundred young people from various cities gathered together, some in groups, some alone, making this century-old institution brim with vitality.

"Excellent!"

"Very good…"

Not far away.

An old servant with a hunched back and an appearance of extreme age leaned on a broom, watching the young talents with a smile that couldn't be concealed, his wrinkled face squeezing together like a blooming chrysanthemum.

"These are the future of our Great Qi!"

Of course.

Like this old servant.

There were many in the Martial Academy, and not a single person cared about the mutterings of this old man on the brink of death.

…

Outside the Martial Academy.

The onlookers had packed the wide bluestone avenue so tightly that not a drop of water could pass through.

Their eyes were filled with envy, jealousy, and longing…

A mix of emotions.

However, no one dared to actually go in and take a look.

The Martial Academy had its own rules.

Non-students who entered without permission would be severely punished!

When Gu Han arrived at the scene.

What he saw was such a sea of people.

"…"

He was speechless and braced himself to squeeze through the crowd.

"Excuse me…"

"Let Fatty through!"

Almost at the same time.

A familiar voice reached his ears.

It was Fatty!

Unlike Gu Han, Fatty didn't care about the consequences and used his formidable physique to barge through, sending people tumbling to the sides.

"Damn Fatty, what are you doing!"

"Squeeze, squeeze, squeeze, what are you squeezing for, in a hurry to be reincarnated?"

"Damn Fatty, I'm warning you, don't make me lose my temper!"

"…"

His actions.

Naturally led to a barrage of curses from the crowd.

"Heh!"

Fatty didn't care, strutting with his bulky body, boldly and confidently pushing his way to the very front of the crowd.

Then…

He spotted Gu Han not far away.

"Fatty."

Gu Han greeted him.

"We meet again."

"It's you!"

Fatty's expression stiffened.

"You… didn't die?"

"Nonsense!"

Gu Han's face darkened.

"Can't you speak properly?"

"You…"

Fatty cautiously said: "You're also coming to the Martial Academy?"

"Of course!"

Gu Han flashed the jade token in his hand.

"Speaking of which, Fatty, you ran pretty fast that day! You almost got me killed!"

"You still have the nerve to mention that!"

As they got onto the topic.

Fatty was suddenly furious, exploding with anger.

"You bastard… cough cough! Forget it, I won't bother with you!"

Mid-sentence.

He seemed to remember something and swallowed the rest of his words.

Then.

As if deliberately avoiding Gu Han, he quickly showed his jade token to the guards and hurried into the Martial Academy.

"Huh?"

Gu Han frowned slightly.

"This Fatty, has he changed his ways?"

Based on his understanding of Fatty, he was someone who never took a loss. Normally, he would have argued for a long time, so why did he just back down today?

"Never mind."

He didn't dwell on it.

After showing his jade token to the guards and receiving envious looks from the crowd behind him, he entered the Martial Academy.

"Brother Gu!"

Just as he walked in.

He heard a warm greeting.

"Brother Jiang."

Gu Han smiled and approached.

Jiang Feng could be considered his only friend in the Capital, and even in the entire Great Qi.

"Where's Manager Li?"

"He…"

Jiang Feng's expression suddenly became weird.

"Cough cough… I didn't ask him to come."

Thinking of Manager Li's incessant instructions to stay away from Gu Han before leaving, he secretly shook his head.

Manager Li…

Was overthinking it!

What harm could Brother Gu possibly do?

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing, Brother Gu."

Jiang Feng quickly changed the subject.

"Later, when we choose our Instructors, who do you plan to pick?"@@novelbin@@

"Choose an Instructor?"

Gu Han was surprised.

His understanding of the Martial Academy was limited, and since arriving in the Capital, he had been preoccupied with Liu Tong and then Yu Hua, leaving no time to inquire about the rules of the Martial Academy.

"Indeed."

Jiang Feng patiently explained.

"It's a rule set by the founding emperor of Great Qi. The students of the Martial Academy are the future of Great Qi, so naturally, they should have some choice. Of course, each Instructor also has the right to refuse. Students choose their Instructors, and Instructors naturally pick their students."

"I see."

Gu Han suddenly understood.

"What if…"

He suddenly laughed.

"What if I choose Instructor Yu? What would happen?"

"Brother Gu!"

Jiang Feng's heart skipped a beat.

"You… you're not serious, are you?"

"Don't worry."

Gu Han patted his shoulder.

"I was just joking. It doesn't matter to me which Instructor I choose."

In fact.

He had no interest in the secret techniques and martial skills of the Martial Academy. The only things that could pique his interest were the generous benefits for the students and the opportunity to spar with the geniuses from the martial academies of the ten nations.

In the distance.

In a secluded corner.

To read the uncut version, go to ].

Watching Gu Han and Jiang Feng chatting and laughing, Fatty's expression was uncertain.

He was now fifty percent sure.

Gu Han was his personal tribulation!

Personal tribulation.

Arising from human interactions.

Mysterious and unpredictable.

This person could be an enemy, a friend, or someone completely unrelated.

What to do!

His mind raced.

Stay away from him and never meet again?

No, no!

In doing so, the purpose of his personal tribulation would be lost, and if he failed to overcome it, his cultivation would never return.

Become his adversary?

This… there was a very good chance he would die at his hands!

Become his friend?

But… even with his thick skin, he couldn't withstand this bastard constantly pushing him towards death!

For a moment.

He sighed and was extremely conflicted.

"Little Fatty."

At that moment.

An old voice came from beside him.

It was the old servant.

He held his broom and looked at Fatty with a kind and smiling face, his words profound and thought-provoking.

"Don't feel inferior."

"Nor should you mind the gaze of others."

"Remember, the mockery of others will only become the fuel for your growth!"

"…"

Fatty's mouth twitched uncontrollably.

"Old man, what do you mean by that!"

"Back in the day…"

The old man looked at Fatty, filled with nostalgia.

"I was also a fatty, so…"

"Shut up!"

Fatty finally realized what was happening, his face twitching with anger.

"Which eye of yours sees Fatty feeling inferior! Does Fatty need your advice on how to act? Go sweep your floor! Also, I'm well-rounded, not fat! What do you know, you old fool!"

With that.

He glared fiercely at the old servant and stormed off, fuming.

"Alas!"

The old man shook his head.

"The world is degenerating, and the hearts of people are not what they used to be! The youth of today really have no manners…"

…

"Silence!"

As everyone was engaged in heated discussions, a commanding voice suddenly rang out.

It started off very soft.

But by the time it reached everyone's ears, it was like thunder, causing their eardrums to ache.

Everyone felt a chill in their hearts and immediately quieted down.

After a moment.

A dozen figures appeared before the crowd, approaching from afar.

Although they did not deliberately display their cultivation levels, the invisible authority they exuded was enough to pressure everyone present!

Among them.

The three at the forefront were the most formidable!

"These three."

Jiang Feng whispered to Gu Han.

"Are the vice deans of the Martial Academy. The one in armor in the middle is Commander Zhou of the City Guard, a strict man who has the emperor's trust. The one on the left is Elder Wu, whose strength is unfathomable, and the one on the right is Senior Feng, with a somewhat mysterious background. These two also hold positions as royal attendants."

Gu Han, of course, did not know.

These three.

Were the same three who had appeared outside the city when the Demonic Beasts went berserk.

"Vice deans?"

He was puzzled.

"Then… where is the dean?"

"The dean of the Martial Academy is the founding emperor of Great Qi, and also my great-grandfather."

Jiang Feng said with reverence.

"However, he became invincible among the ten nations decades ago and left to seek a breakthrough, traveling the world and has not returned since. To be honest, I grew up listening to his legends and have never seen him in person."

Saying this.

A look of regret crossed his face.

Gu Han, however, felt little.

Invincible?

Unbeatable?

Blowing smoke!

He had a Demon Lord living in his mind, who, although not a particularly good character, didn't go around claiming to be invincible all the time!

Hmm…

Speaking of which.

It had been a long time since he checked on him.

"Huh?"

Just as he was thinking.

Gu Han suddenly felt a sharp gaze on him!

Looking up.

He saw Yu Hua staring at him, not hiding the murderous intent in his eyes at all!

"Those…"

Gu Han's expression also turned cold.

"Must be the Instructors of the Martial Academy."

"Indeed."

Jiang Feng, without Gu Han's Spiritual Sense, did not notice these abnormalities and enthusiastically continued his introduction.

"There are ten Instructors in the Martial Academy."

"Yu Hua, at the seventh level of the Spirit Profound Realm."

"Jiang Yi, at the fifth level of the Spirit Profound Realm."

"Chen Fang, at the seventh level of the Spirit Profound Realm."

"…"

"Han Fu."

When he mentioned one of them, Jiang Feng's eyes lit up with fervor.

"At the ninth level of the Spirit Profound Realm, he is the highest-cultivated among the Instructors. Over the years, the most students have chosen him! However, his requirements are very high, he only selects based on talent, and very few can stay by his side. Of course, with Brother Gu's talent and strength, he would likely be happy to accept you."

"As for this one…"

When he got to the last person, his face suddenly became strange.

Unlike Yu Hua and the others.

This one had a face full of sorrow, standing far behind, out of place compared to the other Instructors.

"Brother Gu."

He suddenly swallowed hard and solemnly advised: "Later, you can choose anyone, just… don't choose him!"