Chapter 159 : Chu Huaixu Battles Xu Ziqing

Chapter 159: Chu Huaixu Battles Xu Ziqing

The night curtain fell, and the stars dotted the sky.

Now that it was late autumn, there was a slight chill in the night.

After finishing his meal, Chu Huaixu rose and returned to his room.

Han Shuangjiang looked at his back. She initially wanted to offer a few words of encouragement, but the thought that he would be facing Junior Brother Xu tomorrow made her hold her tongue—otherwise, it might seem like she wasn't hoping for Junior Brother Xu to win.

But if she had to be asked, she definitely hoped Chu Huaixu would win.

Big Ice Block also had a match tomorrow, yet she felt no pressure at all.

To her, the third place on the Eastern Continent Grand Competition was already waving at her.

That cultivator named Chen Haoran—his strength was quite far from hers.

Back in his room, Chu Huaixu immediately sat down on the meditation cushion.

The reason was simple—after defeating Big Ice Block today, he could claim another mission reward.

And the generosity of this reward had undoubtedly risen another level!

“ㄴA full 100,000 Experience Points, plus 1 point of Spirit Embryo Attribute!”

The former was nice, but it was the latter that Chu Huaixu urgently needed at this stage.

The enhancement brought by Spirit Embryo Attributes was practically all-encompassing.

Especially since he had already unlocked the 【Spirit Embryo Divine Ability】 ahead of time, the benefits would be enormous!

“–Besides that, defeating Han Shuangjiang also gave over 36,000 Experience Points.”

Not bad at all—one person worth nearly thirty-six Langs of power.

This pushed Chu Huaixu’s available Experience Points on his Character Panel past the 400,000 mark—totalling 410,000!

Without a second thought, he immediately spent 160,000 Experience Points to upgrade both 【Flying Profound】 and 【Thunder at Fingertips】 to Level 3, Great Accomplishment Stage.

一Just thinking about fighting Little Xu tomorrow, he hardened his heart and used the two Mystic-rank Technique Upgrade Vouchers as well.

As a result, the two techniques were instantly raised to the Grand Completion Stage.

Chu Huaixu let out a long breath, then looked toward his skill panel.

“▶The remaining Experience Points… are kind of awkward.”

“▶They’re enough for me to unlock 【Six Formations of the Broken Array】, but completely insufficient to raise it to the Minor Accomplishment Stage.”

“▶Just the introductory level of 【Six Formations of the Broken Array】 isn’t even as strong as the Grand Completion stage of 【Thunder at Fingertips】.”

“▶More importantly, it’s a fragmented technique with certain side effects—one of those ‘injure the enemy a thousand, harm yourself eight hundred’ types.”

“▶But its destructive power really is terrifying. Even at the introductory level, its damage output is only slightly below that of Grand Completion 【Thunder at Fingertips】!”

“▶If it’s raised to Level 2, wouldn’t it become much stronger?”

This made Chu Huaixu’s situation a bit awkward—he had 250,000 Experience Points left but didn’t know where to spend them.

He could find ways to use them, but the cost-effectiveness wasn’t great and it would feel wasteful.

Even so, his combat power had already received a massive boost.

The difference between a Minor Accomplishment technique and a Grand Completion one was immense.

“▶In fact, going from Great Accomplishment to Grand Completion costs a huge amount of Experience Points—more than the combined total of the first three levels.”

“▶These two Mystic-rank Technique Upgrade Vouchers really came in handy.”

“▶They saved me tens of thousands of Experience Points all at once!”

Chu Huaixu recalled that when he played 《Borrowed Sword》, it was around Level 30 when he first upgraded a Mystic-rank technique to Grand Completion.

Even among players, that was considered top-tier!

“▶But now I’m only Level 19, and I’ve already achieved that—with two techniques, no less!”

He was quite satisfied with this.

Next, it was time to assign points to his Spirit Embryo.

Before that, he glanced at the sickly black small sword in his Sea of Consciousness.

Undoubtedly, after upgrading the Spirit Embryo, its condition should improve a little.

“『System, add the point.』” Chu Huaixu gave the command.

The next moment, he felt a warm current surge into his limbs and bones, flowing through his body before gathering toward the direction of the Spirit Embryo Secret Store.

This pleasant sensation was strikingly similar to when he consumed the Xuantian Embryo Breathing Pill.

He felt warm and fuzzy, then gradually heated up, followed by a faint floating sensation.

Only after quite a while did he exhale a mouthful of warm air.

When he opened his eyes, a sharp glint still lingered in them. Chu Huaixu’s aura changed abruptly—the sharpness, like an unsheathed longsword, intensified in an instant!

After a few breaths, it slowly receded—like a spirit sword returning to its scabbard.

He glanced at the 【Heart Sword】 in his Sea of Consciousness. As expected, its condition had improved significantly.

Though still sickly, it now gave off a distinctly different feeling.

More importantly, all attributes had definitely improved.

“▶If that Sword Sect’s Mo Lingfeng were to fight me now…”

“▶He probably wouldn’t even be able to draw his sword.” Chu Huaixu’s gaze sharpened.

At present, if his opponent were a First Realm sword cultivator wielding a low-grade spirit sword, he could even directly destroy their Sword Spirit!

“▶Physique, Comprehension, Spirit Embryo—these three are quite balanced, each at 5 points.”

It looked like a standard dual-cultivation of sword and body, maintaining a delicate balance.

Since he just improved his Spirit Embryo Attribute, the 【Heart Sword】 was in excellent condition, and its emotions were full.

To Chu Huaixu, it felt more like his Life-bound Spirit than the spirit inside the Medicinal Cauldron 【Dao Birth One】.

The sense of shared consciousness was even stronger.

So he began to ponder.

“『Regarding the final Champion’s Duel, let me discuss something with you.』” Chu Huaixu said.

And thus, one man and one sword began conspiring in the night.

......

......

During the one-day rest period, Chu Huaixu didn’t do much.

His overall strength had already been significantly elevated.

If it were only the left-handed-sword‑wielding Xu Ziqing, he was confident he could press Little Xu to the ground and rub him until the latter cried out, “Senior Brother, I was wrong!”

But in his heart, he thought, “Little Xu has probably already entered the introductory stage of 【Six Formations of the Broken Array】, hasn’t he?”

That fellow’s comprehension was heaven‑defying; he could even complete a fragmented earth‑rank cultivation method on his own.

Needless to say, even if he had already practiced it to the Minor Accomplishment Stage, Chu Huaixu wouldn’t be surprised.

Meanwhile, within the Gentleman Temple, after a whole night of contemplation, Xu Ziqing had fully figured things out.

“Such a perilous place—how could it not be me who goes?” he thought.

The reason the youth had hesitated for so long was because, at that moment, he was somewhat afraid of dying.

Not that he was truly cowardly…

Well, all right—he was a little afraid.

The thought that he might never see his Senior Brother again, or taste Senior Sister Han’s braised pork again, made him unwilling to die.

Of course, the main thing was: “I still have a great vengeance unavenged!”

But he believed that if he truly went and never returned, when Senior Brother found that man in the future, he would surely avenge him.

Moreover, the youth knew full well how powerful the Bronze Sword was.

Xu Ziqing believed that taking it into such a deadly place shouldn’t be a big problem.

Clad in white robes, Jiang Zhi had appeared under the tree at some point, watching the youth practicing swordsmanship.

“Disciple greets Little Martial Uncle Ancestor,” Xu Ziqing immediately saluted.

“I gave you a night to think it over. Have you made up your mind?” he asked.

“Disciple has understood,” the delicate‑featured youth replied.

“Very good,” Jiang Zhi said with great satisfaction.

Xu Ziqing looked at him and said, “But disciple has one more request.”

“Speak.”

“Disciple wishes to first use the left‑hand sword to see the gap between myself and Senior Brother,” he said earnestly.

After all, Chu Huaixu had always been the one he wanted to catch up to.

He had been chasing his Senior Brother’s back all this time, not wanting to be left too far behind—

—because that would make him feel that, in his Senior Brother’s eyes, he had even less value.

Jiang Zhi gazed at him. After a moment of silence, he said, “You may.”

He lifted his head toward the white clouds in the sky, appearing utterly composed, as though all was within his grasp.

The white‑robed Little Martial Uncle Ancestor looked up at the heavens and, without glancing at anyone, said,

“▶ In truth, judging from Chu Huaixu’s current displayed strength, though he can defeat your left‑hand sword, he will have to pay a price—perhaps even suffer some light injuries.”

“▶ You need not belittle yourself. Now, after so long under my tutelage, when holding a sword, the difference between you and him is already quite small.”

......

......

Time passed quickly; the single day of rest was soon over.

Xu Ziqing’s left‑arm injury had already healed.

According to today’s schedule, the match between Han Shuangjiang and Chen Haoran would be held first, to determine the third place in the Eastern Continent Grand Competition.

Then would come Chu Huaixu and Xu Ziqing’s Champion’s Duel!

This year’s competition—anyone with half a brain could see it—the Dao Gate was about to sweep the top three places.

In the hundreds of years since the Eastern Continent Grand Competition began, such a thing had never happened.

In the past, it wasn’t unheard of for a single sect to take two of the top three spots.

But taking all three—that was unprecedented!

For Dao Gate disciples, this was a matter of immense pride.

Even Chu Huaixu, who had only recently developed a faint sense of belonging to the Dao Gate, secretly felt pleased.

“This feeling… it’s like being the host nation of the Olympics, then sweeping the gold, silver, and bronze—three flags rising at once during the ceremony!”

Wouldn’t that make the Dao Gate ecstatic?

Below the platform, today’s two opponents, Chu Huaixu and Xu Ziqing, stood side by side in harmony, watching Han Shuangjiang’s match and cheering her on.

Big Ice Block, with her silver hair flowing, was already pressing Chen Haoran down hard.

The situation looked completely one‑sided.

Xu Ziqing looked toward the platform, not daring to glance at Chu Huaixu, but softly said,

“‘Senior Brother, this Champion’s Seat—I’d like to contend for it today.’”

He wanted to sound resolute, yet it still came off a bit like an employee politely requesting permission from his boss.

“‘Good.’” Chu Huaixu also looked toward the platform, replying casually, his tone neither warm nor cold.

He didn’t know why, but he felt a faint sense of comfort—as though the child had finally grown up.

But he didn’t show it.

Soon, both fell silent.

After a few breaths, Han Shuangjiang’s spirit sword was already resting against Chen Haoran’s neck, declaring her victory.

The Dao Gate disciples around them immediately erupted in cheers. This meant the Dao Gate sweeping the top three was now a foregone conclusion!

Even Xiang Yan and the others seated on the high platform were smiling.

Chu Yinyin, the one who loved to show off the most, swung her legs in mid‑air, her face full of smug pride.

“‘Congratulations, Sect Master Xiang,’” Teng Lingyi and the others said.

This generation of Dao Gate disciples had truly achieved a feat no predecessor ever had!

Soon, the names of these three would echo across the entire Eastern Continent.

Especially among the younger generation, their prestige and fame would reach their peaks!

And everyone knew—the main event was about to begin.

Even the great cultivators seated above were looking forward to this battle,

—especially those who knew the inside story.

Xiang Yan and the others were well aware that today was the day Chu Huaixu would no longer conceal his strength.

He would, for the first time, reveal his full power before everyone.

And his opponent would be that Sword of Heaven and Earth’s Ultimate Might!

The Dao Gate’s high‑ranking members eagerly awaited how Situ Cheng and the others would react next.

“▶ You all know Chu Huaixu is strong, but before you see his true trump cards, you have no idea just how strong he really is!”

This wasn’t merely a duel between two First Realm cultivators.

This match would overturn countless people’s perceptions!

It might even slap the Sword Sect’s face—

—or perhaps even that of the First Sword Sovereign!

Under everyone’s gaze, Chu Huaixu and Xu Ziqing ascended the platform side by side.

And truth be told, the height difference between them was rather striking—one tall, one short—a rather amusing sight.

Xu Ziqing still carried that enormous sword case on his back.

Chu Huaixu still held only his sword scabbard.

Aside from a few who knew the truth, many couldn’t understand—why had they reached the Champion’s Duel of the Eastern Continent Grand Competition, and he still hadn’t drawn his sword?

Could it be that the sword was meant for the Heir of Prince Rui?!

After all, what most people looked forward to most today was finally seeing Chu Huaixu’s Life‑bound Spirit Sword.

But at this moment, the two on the platform had already cupped their hands toward each other.

“‘Senior Brother, please instruct me,’” Xu Ziqing said respectfully.

Chu Huaixu looked at him, smiled faintly, and—this time not calling him Little Xu—said gently,

“‘Junior Brother, please instruct me.’”

......