Chapter 84: A Gentleman Uses Objects, Not Is Used by Them

Inside the Dao Gate Grand Hall, silence reigned.

Official source is novel_fіre.net

The scene before their eyes had exceeded everyone’s expectations.

This… this could still be called a Sword Attendant?

After quite a while, the half-squinting Fifth Elder, Zhao Shuqin, could no longer hold back and repeated:

“A gentleman uses objects, not is used by them?”

Clearly, though the words were the same, his tone when he spoke them differed from Chu Huaixu’s hysterical roar.

These high-level Major Cultivators all felt ripples rising in their hearts.

On the Gentleman Stele atop Hidden Spirit Mountain, beside that peerless sword, such a phrase had appeared!

Even though the inscription was scrawled in ugly strokes, they had used divine sense to “look” at it again and again, yet the waves in their hearts would not subside.

“Could it be that Little Martial Uncle really found the wrong person? Could this truly be the Sword Attendant spoken of in the Dao Ancestor’s Maxim?” Enforcement Elder Lu Pan could not help but voice his doubts.

“Yes, this is completely going against the path!” Nangong Yue replied.

She had just been so shocked that even her own chest trembled like Hidden Spirit Mountain.

Chu Yinyin was the boldest and dared to speak out: “Right now, we can’t tell either way. Anyway, at present, it’s either the Dao Ancestor was wrong, or Little Martial Uncle was wrong!”

Her words were something no one dared to follow up on.

Thus, what greeted her was the Enforcement Elder’s rebuke: “Little Junior Sister, mind your words!”

The slightly older maiden pouted, gave a soft hum, and muttered, Not talking, then I won’t talk!

“A gentleman uses objects, not is used by them.” Sect Master Xiang Yan had been softly repeating the phrase all along.

After a long moment, Xiang Yan could not help but quietly voice his heart’s doubt:

“Perhaps… we truly should not place all hope of salvation upon a single sword?”

All the more so when it was an Evil Sword.

At those words, the Dao Gate Grand Hall once again fell into long silence.

At the foot of Hidden Spirit Mountain, Li Chunsong’s eyes narrowed, and he could not speak for a long time.

Chu Huaixu was transmitted down by the teleportation array.

The instant he landed, he felt the sky and earth spin, his vision going black.

Though he had just leveled up again, after staying too long under the shroud of Spiritual Pressure—while still forcing himself to inscribe words under its weight—at the moment he relaxed, his body nearly collapsed.

The Sixth Elder flicked his sleeve and said: “Rest for a while.”

A refreshing mystical current swept over him, and Chu Huaixu fell unconscious.

“With his condition this poor, yet still forcing himself to endure—this lad’s Dao Heart is truly as solid as a rock, obstinate indeed!” he exclaimed with admiration.

Under the wrap of spiritual energy, Chu Huaixu slowly lay down.

Han Shuangjiang immediately went over to check his condition, squatting at his side.

She looked up and asked: “Sixth Elder, he’s not in any grave danger, right?”

“Mm. His self-healing ability is peculiar. After a short rest, he’ll be fine.” he replied.

This man, who earlier had kept calling it a demonic technique, now switched faces at once and praised highly: “Worthy indeed of the Dao Ancestor’s transmitted Dao Canon!”

This left the Big Ice Block somewhat stunned, thinking inwardly: “Dao Canon has such an effect? Why have I never heard of it?”

Though everyone described Dao Canon with the words “upright and balanced,” in truth, all knew the technique was rather plain and unremarkable.

Li Chunsong lowered his head, looking at Chu Huaixu, and could not help but sigh: “Frost Descent, do you know what words this boy carved on the Gentleman Stele after reaching the peak?”

“Disciple does not know, may Elder enlighten me.” She at once grew curious.

The Sixth Elder’s tone sank as he said: “A gentleman uses objects, not is used by them!”

Han Shuangjiang seemed to understand something, yet remained partly confused.

Li Chunsong smiled at her and said: “The sword left by the Dao Ancestor atop the mountain had wanted to subdue him. He only needed to pull it free to obtain part of its power, yet he refused.”

Now the Big Ice Block understood completely, and she could not help but lower her lashes, gazing deeply at the unconscious Chu Huaixu.

For some reason, she thought: “So he truly is the kind of person to do such a thing.”

If she asked her own heart, she knew she could not do it.

If given the chance to be chosen by the sword, she too would not wish to become its slave.

For Han Shuangjiang’s cultivation’s original intent was to grasp her own fate!

Yet to act as Chu Huaixu had, so youthful and defiant—she feared she could not.

At this thought, the cold-tempered maiden suddenly felt the urge to smile.

“So this was why you dashed up the mountain in such a frenzy?”

“You truly are ‘vengeful over the smallest slight,’ aren’t you.” she mused.

Li Chunsong glanced at the two young ones and said: “I’ll send you both back first. You watch over him for now.”

“Yes, Sixth Elder.” Han Shuangjiang accepted.

She was already getting used to taking care of this Dead Fox.

As for that Gambling Addict, he knew he ought to return to the Grand Hall to discuss major matters.

Of course, before that, he first had to collect all the winnings from his bets!

Dusk deepened, and night descended.

Chu Huaixu slowly awoke in his own chamber.

Seated at the wooden desk, toying with 【Zhegutian】, the Big Ice Block looked like a girl fiddling with a new toy—touching it here, drawing the blade out there.

When she saw him awake, she immediately set down the spirit sword, as if nothing had happened.

After bringing them back, Li Chunsong had even shielded Han Shuangjiang with protective spells, and watched her perform the blood-recognition to bind 【Zhegutian】, channeling her life-bound art to make it her Life-bound Magical Treasure.

Once recognized, the spirit sword was no longer such a Simp as it had been atop the mountain.

“You’re awake. Hungry? Shall I cook now?” the cold maiden asked, rising to her feet.

“Mm, I am indeed tired and hungry.” Chu Huaixu answered.

“All right, I’ll go at once.” Han Shuangjiang hurried out of the chamber.

Chu Huaixu watched her graceful back, never expecting that the strong female lead of 《Borrowed Sword》 who held the script of the Main Female Protagonist, would also have the air of a virtuous wife and caring mother.

He sat cross-legged, first turning to glance outside.

“That brat is still in the Cold Pool? Another day has passed, and he still hasn’t come out?”

“I’ll need to find a time to check. Could he really have died in the secret realm?”

“What kind of bullshit physique is this? Soaking in Body Tempering Medicine Liquid for so many days, with no limit?”

After a bout of fierce envy, Chu Huaixu opened his Character Panel to tally up his gains from this trip.

“Two missions, a total of 60,000 Experience Points. The second wasn’t docked—same as the first.”

“Though leveling twice cost nearly 18,000, still over 42,000 left.”

“Tonight I won’t continue. Too exhausting.” Chu Huaixu decided to take a breather instead of pushing himself too hard.

If, even in such a state, he still fought desperately to level up, he would start to wonder if his quirks had changed—being broken in by the Sword Refining Art and Dao Canon.

He then turned to the 【Random Attribute Points】.

“Luckily, luckily, the second mission also rewarded attribute points!”

Chu Huaixu even felt regretful—he had no chance to climb the mountain again.

——He still wanted to farm more!

“If there’s ever another chance, I’ll go a few more times.” he thought.

But with his understanding of the Mission System, it surely couldn’t be farmed infinitely—there had to be a cap.

At that moment, Chu Huaixu imitated the Gambling Addict Li Chunsong, rubbing his hands like mad.

“Lottery time, lottery time~~~” His spirits were high, sweeping away the gloom of the mountain.

The familiar Freight Truck appeared before him, and Chu Huaixu felt relaxed.

At First Realm, with low stats across the board, he needed everything—so any boost was welcome.

The wheel spun, the pointer landing on 【Comprehension】.

“Oho, Comprehension?”

“Nice, nice—time to get smarter!” he joked to himself.

【Comprehension】 was equally vital. Without raising it, he couldn’t learn many higher-tier Skills, nor upgrade them.

“In that light, Myriad Swords Converge is the weirdest.”

“It’s the only Heaven-rank Technique with no Comprehension requirement—just demands a fucking million Experience Points.”

“Tch, the more I look, the more it feels like the system’s a scam.”

“But then, it fits. After all, even after a thousand years, no one has figured out how to actually learn it.”

As things stood, Comprehension was indeed his greatest need.

“The higher the Comprehension, the fewer Experience Points spent on learning and upgrading skills.”

“I haven’t learned any yet, so this will save me a fortune.”

“Good thing I wasn’t hasty before!” He silently gave himself a thumbs-up.

Then Chu Huaixu rubbed his hands again.

“【Comprehension 2】 is enough for now. Physique, come to me!”

Clearly, he was already embracing the gamble.

Since he had already embarked on both inner and outer cultivation, the path of Body Training was set. What else could he do but stack 【Physique】?

Yet soon, Chu Huaixu froze, even his breath caught.

“No way, did I hit the jackpot today?”

The pointer had landed on the smallest section of the wheel.

【Spirit Embryo Attribute】!

A wondrous power began to sprout within him.

Chu Huaixu quickly calmed his heart, entered meditation, and observed his 【Spirit Embryo Secret Store】 and the Black Small Sword in his Sea of Consciousness.

A warm current arose in his body, somewhat like when he had swallowed the Xuantian Embryo Breathing Pill.

It first surged through his limbs and bones, then all flooded into the Spirit Embryo Secret Store.

After it was absorbed completely, he suddenly felt a tremor of spirit!

The Black Small Sword in his Sea of Consciousness was still a sickly blade, but its state seemed somewhat improved!

This left Chu Huaixu regretful.

“If only I could climb the mountain again now—I could carve those eight words far more beautifully!”

“Besides, the Spiritual Pressure from the Bronze Sword would surely weigh less on me. I could definitely endure more!”

Exhaling deeply, he rose from the bed, feeling delighted.

Chu Huaixu grew ever more aware of the Heart Sword’s terrifying power—it was to be one of his greatest reliances.

That night, he finally shed the label of “Low-grade Spirit Embryo.”

Heart Sword Spirit Embryo—had reached Middle-grade!