Chapter 140: Where Is Your Sword?

On the arena, Chu Huaixu answered without blushing, his heart steady.

In truth, this fellow who claimed to cultivate both Sword and Body did not even have a single Life-bound Spirit Sword. But so what?

Laozi had Sword Intent, Laozi had Sword Heart!

“You say I am not a sword cultivator?”

“Then go ask that Dao Ancestor, who had always claimed to be a sword cultivator, whether Laozi counts as a sword cultivator!”

Chu Huaixu replied righteously, with the attitude of “a great Confucian arguing scriptures on my behalf.”

“As for me, a sword cultivator, what I practiced was 《Dao Canon》, something endorsed by the Dao Ancestor himself!”

“How could that not count as cultivating both Sword and Body?”

And his direct response stirred an uproar throughout the crowd.

Everyone began whispering, exchanging glances.

If not for the powerful barrier erected by an Eighth Realm cultivator, the place would have exploded already!

“Chu Huaixu is actually a sword cultivator?”

“Cultivating both Sword and Body—is there such a thing?”

“So then, which one is he truly focusing on?”

“Strange… I’ve never heard of our Dao Gate’s Scripture Pavilion having such an unorthodox method of dual cultivation.”

Though the Dao Gate had deep foundations, Heaven-rank and Earth-rank cultivation methods were few in number.

After all, in the entire Xuanhuang Realm, there were not many methods of such level.

With so many people in the outer sect, everyone was familiar with the high-level cultivation methods, almost reciting them as if they were family heirlooms.

“But what is this cultivation of both Sword and Body supposed to be?”

Even the disciples of the Sword Sect like Geng Tianhe had never seen such a method in the Sword Sect’s Scripture Pavilion.

Sword cultivators were proud, devoted wholly to the sword.

Body Training?

Would we need Body Training?

We practiced only the Sword!

If it had been in the past, the moment they heard the four words “cultivating both Sword and Body,” their faces would have twisted in disgust.

“What a crooked and evil path!”

“An insult to our Sword Dao!”

But today, Chu Huaixu was simply too strong, so strong that he shattered many people’s understanding—even Geng Tianhe felt wary of him!

High above, three Eighth Realm grand cultivators exchanged glances.

“So it really is cultivating both Sword and Body.” Teng Lingyi spoke softly.

This “grandmaster of cultivation methods” immediately grew deeply interested in Chu Huaixu’s cultivation method.

Such methods were already rare, and none had ever been heard of possessing such absurd strength.

He felt an itch in his heart, wanting to ask.

But after all, he was not Mei Chuxue; he still held himself with restraint.

“After all, he’s just a junior. It’s not enough for me to lose composure and ask in public.” Teng Lingyi suppressed his curiosity.

At this moment, the three of them were nearly certain—Chu Yinyin probably had not lied.

If it was cultivating both Sword and Body, then he might truly possess Sword Intent!

“No wonder that day, her expression was so smug and ostentatious.” Situ Cheng had already come to an understanding.

It was just like how middle-aged people loved to compare their children’s grades with others.

Sect leaders like them also loved to compare their disciples.

Now recalling Chu Yinyin’s prideful, conceited look, he felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Situ Cheng glanced at Geng Tianhe among the crowd, suddenly thinking: “Why are you so useless?”

“You’re always so arrogant on normal days. When we return, I must knock some sense into you!”

Similar thoughts also arose in Mei Chuxue and Teng Lingyi’s hearts.

The three juniors below had no idea what awaited them.

Mei Chuxue gazed at the handsome man below, the more she looked, the more satisfied she felt. She thought: “If only he were a disciple of my Spring and Autumn Mountain, how wonderful that would be.”

In truth, in 《Borrowed Sword》, Chu Huaixu’s main account had indeed apprenticed at Spring and Autumn Mountain, and he knew all too well how abnormal that sect was.

But Mei Chuxue had, for some reason, been absent from the sect for years, so he had only seen her twice, and both meetings had been brief encounters.

This alluring Eighth Realm grand cultivator shifted her gaze to his slender, jointed hands.

Soon, she asked a very crucial question.

“Since you cultivate both Sword and Body, then, Chu Huaixu, where is your sword?”

The moment those words left her lips, the scene erupted into commotion again.

“Yes, where is his sword?”

“How could a sword cultivator not have a sword!”

At this moment, no fool would naïvely believe that the black robe on his body was his Life-bound Spirit Object.

With this Chu junior brother’s level, he was surely qualified to ascend Hidden Spirit Mountain.

Would such a Heaven’s Chosen only take a Mid-grade Spiritual Robe?

“His Dao Companion, Junior Sister Han, is holding a Supreme-grade Spiritual Sword.”

“At the very least, Chu junior brother should also have a Top-grade Spiritual Sword.” everyone thought.

At this time, everyone marveled at Chu Huaixu’s strength, for he had fought barehanded from beginning to end.

Chu Huaixu stood at the center of the arena, looking at the voluptuous woman in the sky, deliberately showing a troubled expression.

Mei Chuxue smiled faintly, realizing she might have been too forward.

Toward handsome men, she naturally had more tolerance.

“Forget it. After all, you are still in the Grand Competition. I won’t press further, lest I break the rules.”

“But I shall watch closely.”

“As for your sword, I am most curious.”

Beneath the stage, Han Shuangjiang’s small face grew cold as she looked at Mei Chuxue, who floated in the air, her brows furrowed even tighter.

She had a feeling she could not describe, only that she strongly disliked Mei Chuxue’s interaction with Chu Huaixu.

She even muttered inwardly: “You’re curious about his sword?”

“Senior Mei, do you even know what it is you are truly curious about?”

“His sword is his very body!”

Her bond with Chu Huaixu was simply too deep.

The two of them could be said to have grown together, understanding each other thoroughly.

She knew very well that this Dead Fox had tempered his body into a sword!

He had even cultivated a “Sword Spirit” within his body.

Han Shuangjiang minded very much the way Mei Chuxue looked at Chu Huaixu, for that gaze was different from the people of Joyous Sect, yet also somewhat similar.

The three Eighth Realm grand cultivators, along with a few other great cultivators, did not stay long.

After Chu Huaixu and Ji Sikong left the stage, since there were no more duels to watch, no one would linger outside in such gloomy, rainy weather.

“Junior Brother Chu, if there’s another chance, I would like to spar with you again.” Ji Sikong said.

“Certainly.” Chu Huaixu agreed.

By defeating this Dao Gate Heaven’s Chosen, Chu Huaixu gained 10,241 Experience Points—nearly ten times that of Lang Yue!

Which meant, one Ji Sikong was worth about ten Langs!

“As expected, fighting the strong is the only way. Weaklings are boring.” He thought to himself, ignoring the reverent gaze from Lang Yue at the side.

The man’s chubby figure coupled with a scraggly beard made Chu Huaixu feel an unshakable prejudice toward him.

After returning to his bamboo hut, he opened his Character Panel.

“Defeating Ji Sikong, plus the phase reward from the Main Mission, altogether earned me over 40,000 Experience Points.”

“My accumulated Experience has now reached 120,000!”

These Experience Points were already enough for him to begin cultivating the Earth-rank Technique 【Sixfold Snow and Lightning】, with some left over.

But after thinking it over, Chu Huaixu still felt the cost-to-benefit ratio was too low.

Given his current situation, spending these 120,000 Experience Points elsewhere would improve his overall strength more effectively.

“Today, my secret of cultivating both inside and out has also been exposed.”

“So it would be better to level up first, to raise my cultivation realm.”

“Besides, Little Xu is leveling too fast with pills. He’s probably about to surpass me again—that I absolutely cannot tolerate.”

Chu Huaixu summoned the system and broke through to the Sixth Heaven.

That pain, spreading from inside to outside, engulfed his entire body, his skin once again splitting apart.

After a long while, he exhaled deeply.

This level of pain no longer had much effect on him.

If he were to scream miserably, it would take at least three levels in one go.

Chu Huaixu sat cross-legged on his Meditation Cushion and opened the Mission System for a glance.

“The next stage is the Thirty-two into Sixteen, and the phase reward has grown even richer.”

“Experience Points have risen from 30,000 to 50,000, and there will also be a Profound-rank Technique Upgrade Voucher.”

He still had not used the upgrade voucher currently in his 【Backpack】.

If conditions allowed, he would first raise 【Flying Profound】 and 【Thunder at Fingertips】 to level 3, then use the voucher.

“Of course, if something unexpected happens, I could use the voucher on the spot.” Chu Huaixu thought.

In the afternoon, he went to the Martial Arena to watch Big Ice Block and Little Xu’s matches.

Han Shuangjiang performed steadily, wielding 【Zhegutian】 like a female Sword Immortal descending upon the world, defeating a disciple of Luo Heaven Valley.

During dinner earlier, she had already told Chu Huaixu that through the recent duels she had gained some insights, and the bottleneck of the Ninth Heaven of the First Realm had begun to loosen.

It likely would not take many days before Big Ice Block became a First Realm cultivator of Great Perfection.

But since she did not take on tasks, and only focused on cultivation as Chu Huaixu instructed, she had not spent time earning Sect Contribution Points.

She was now deep in debt and could not afford to exchange for a Second Realm cultivation method.

So, she could only pin her hopes on achieving a good ranking and obtaining rewards from the Eastern Continent Grand Competition.

As for Little Xu, his luck with the draw was, as always, terrible—he drew an opponent from Spring and Autumn Mountain.

The man was like a mad dog.

Spring and Autumn Mountain generally entered the Dao through the Seven Emotions and Six Desires, or through certain emotions and states. This man had entered the Dao through 【Anger】.

On stage, he appeared fierce and vicious. It was not barking nonsense, but once his secret technique was activated, he maintained a constant state of rage.

This berserk style was indeed somewhat ferocious.

Xu Ziqing narrowly won in the end, sustaining only minor injuries.

After he left the stage, Chu Huaixu called out: “Little Xu.”

“Ah! Senior Brother!”

“How are your injuries?”

“It’s nothing. Such small wounds will heal tomorrow. No need for medicine.” Xu Ziqing answered.

Chu Huaixu glanced at the sword case on his back and said: “With your current situation, the next round may be rather difficult.”

Xu Ziqing, being purely of the Body Training path, was only at the Fifth Heaven of the First Realm. That he could fight his way here was no small feat.

“Mm.” The young man nodded, not feeling at all that his senior brother looked down on him.

He simply spoke honestly: “Little Martial Uncle Ancestor told me to rely on my own ability to win one more round as a form of tempering. After I enter the Top Sixteen, he wants me to use this sword.” Xu Ziqing turned his head to glance at the sword case he carried.

Hearing this, Chu Huaixu nodded slightly and said nothing.

“After a thousand years, is this sword finally about to resurface outside the regions of Hidden Spirit Mountain?”