Chapter 169 : A Century-old Remnant Soul, I Shall Cut It Myself!

Chapter 169: A Century-old Remnant Soul, I Shall Cut It Myself!

On the high platform, the artifact-refining grandmaster Nangong Yue looked somewhat embarrassed.

Because Chu Huaixu’s Black-Gold Robe had been crafted by her own hands.

Another artifact-refining grandmaster, Mei Chuxue, immediately let out a light chuckle.

『Elder Nangong, that robe he’s wearing—eight out of ten it's your work, isn’t it?』

『Who would’ve thought you’d actually copy the Moon Country’s style?』

The gentle and refined Nangong Yue’s cheeks flushed slightly as she replied,『Fellow Daoist Mei, you jest. The attire from the Moon Country has always been trendier than ours in the Mirror Country. I merely caught a glimpse of it by chance and subconsciously made it this way.』

Although Mei Chuxue usually couldn’t see eye to eye with her, this was after all the Dao Gate’s domain. She didn’t dare say too much—just taking a slight dig was enough.

She knew Nangong Yue was a grandmaster of artifact refinement with a distinct aesthetic, who always held extremely high standards for the appearance of her creations.

Yet her own everyday attire was unusually plain.

To the point that Mei often suspected she was the complete opposite inwardly—an outright closet perv–ert.

Though Chu Yinyin usually got dizzy from too much bust, she stood firmly on Nangong Yue’s side this time.

『Why are you saying all this, Mei Chuxue? Even if the styles are similar, so what? I still think this so-called famously handsome Heir of Prince Rui is no match for our Chu Huaixu!』

Hearing this, Mei Chuxue glanced at the two black-robed men standing on the platform and smiled faintly.

『You can’t really say that. They’re not the same type, after all. Each has his own strengths.』

『Why are you speaking for a Moon Country man?』Chu Yinyin snapped with displeasure, completely ignoring the fact that Eunuch Li and other Moon Country delegates were also seated on the platform.

This cultivator in a blazing red dress and at the Eighth Realm heard her tactless words and looked a bit helpless. She had no choice but to say:

『Hey! Don’t jump straight to ideology. Speaking from a personal stance, I too find Huaixu more handsome.』

She sounded rather affectionate—didn’t even use his surname.

Chu Yinyin, hearing this, should’ve been happy that she supported Chu Huaixu, but strangely, it only made her more upset.

——『Even I don’t call him Huaixu!』

On the platform, the two black-robed young men who happened to be wearing similar outfits were sizing each other up.

Chu Huaixu’s manner made the Heir of Prince Rui a bit uncomfortable.

People from the 【Organization】 had long been trained into submissiveness.

Even someone like Old Niu hadn’t dared lift his eyes to look at him!

But Qin Xuanxiao quickly let it go.

『After all, this is a Dao Gate competition. He has to act the part of the Eastern Continent’s Champion.』

He was determined to seize the title of Champion of the Xuanhuang Realm.

He was a textbook upper-class elite, fully aware of the existence of the 【Origin Spirit Realm】.

『Origin of Heaven and Earth, Dao of the Nine Realms—if not me, then who?』he thought to himself.

Upon learning that his opponent came from the 【Organization】, Qin Xuanxiao was completely at ease.

A royal deathsworn, a court hound—how could he possibly act brazenly in front of him?

『Even if, taking the worst-case scenario, he is as powerful as the Storyteller claims—he still wouldn’t dare beat me!』Qin Xuanxiao was sure of this.

Unless he wasn’t Fire Dingyi at all—not even a member of the 【Organization】.

Otherwise, no matter how talented he was, or how favored he might be in the Dao Gate—it wouldn’t matter.

Because those in the 【Organization】 lived by only six words—Loyalty! Loyalty! Loyalty!

Chu Huaixu looked at him and felt that his posture was excessively lofty.

Moreover, the way he looked at him made him rather uncomfortable.

Having worked as a professional play companion, Chu was incredibly sensitive to such things.

After all, this was a service industry.

Sometimes, even when the boss was highly educated and spoke politely, you could still sense the contempt and inequality hidden in their eyes.

He had strong professional ethics, so he didn’t take offense. They were, after all, his bread and butter.

Making money wasn’t shameful.

However, what Chu Huaixu saw in Qin Xuanxiao’s eyes now was something else entirely.

『Like a master looking at a servant!』

That look reminded him of how Outer Steward Liu Tianfeng had looked at Little Xu when delivering him over as a mere menial.

It sparked a vague suspicion in Chu Huaixu’s mind.

He might know I was sent by the 【Organization】.

『That’ll make things tricky.』he thought.

⋯⋯

⋯⋯

Before the match officially began, Qin Xuanxiao glanced at the sword scabbard in Chu Huaixu’s hand with curiosity.

『I heard quite a few rumors about you on the way here.』

『Didn’t expect you’d really be holding a scabbard with no sword.』

『Are you deliberately imitating the Dao Ancestor?』he asked.

『Not at all.』Chu Huaixu shook his head.

He had become a 【Swordless One】 purely by chance.

I never wanted to be a Sword Guy anyway.

『Oh? Then as someone who cultivates both body and sword, why is your life-bound artifact a sword scabbard? What’s the meaning behind that?』Qin Xuanxiao remained curious.

Those used to being in power often behaved this way—if they had questions, they asked directly.

Because others usually didn’t dare not answer.

Also, such people liked using interrogative sentences when talking.

While those who lacked confidence would instead shy away and secretly observe, trying to guess the answer.

Just as Chu Huaixu was about to reply, a voice rang out from below the platform.

『Don’t you get it?』

『To Brother Chu, anything can be a sword!』

『Even people can be swords!』

It was Geng Tianhe—who also hadn’t returned to the Sword Sect—calling out loudly from below.

Chu Huaixu:「......」

Why the f** are you answering for me?*

That’s my own badass line to deliver!

He had the nagging feeling that this guy—who should’ve been Senior Sister Han’s simp—was slowly becoming one of his fans instead.

『Why are your character arcs all so messed up......』he thought helplessly.

The Heir of Prince Rui’s eyes lit up upon hearing that.

『Everything can be a sword?』

『Even people can be swords.』

『Interesting, very interesting. Reminds me of something a certain Eighth Realm sword cultivator once told me.』He nodded slightly, even offering commentary.

Chu Huaixu looked at him, and upon seeing that expression, suddenly broke into a grin.

Standing below the platform, Ding Bolin found that grin extremely familiar.

Because during their duel on the platform, that was exactly how Chu had smiled at him!

To this day, he still didn’t know it was simply because he’d made it onto the Gambling House Betting List, and thus also ended up on Chu Huaixu’s 《Kill List》.

Just before the competition formally began, Chu Huaixu and Qin Xuanxiao cupped their hands at each other.

『Brother Chu, please give me your guidance.』

『Your Highness, likewise.』

The next moment, a long spear appeared in Qin Xuanxiao’s hand.

On the high platform, a major cultivator instantly recognized it.

『【Emperor Moon】?』

『The life-bound spiritual artifact of the Moon Country’s founding Emperor!』

『So the rumors were true!』

Naturally, Chu Huaixu also knew what that supreme-grade spiritual artifact was.

『I recall that within that spear lies a trace of the Emperor’s divine consciousness.』he thought.

『It can forcibly elevate his 【Artistic Conception】.』

“Even without comprehending Spear Intent, one can still achieve its effects.”

“If already comprehended, then it can be elevated to Minor Achievement in Spear Intent.”

“Basically adds a whole level—kinda broken.”

Of course, that was just his golden finger.

Chu Huaixu knew very well that the reason Qin Xuanxiao seemed to have a cheat code in the arena battle wasn’t just because of himself—it was mainly due to that petite, veiled girl sitting atop the high platform!

That girl was none other than the second World Protagonist of the Western Continent—Lin Zixuan.

If Han Shuangjiang held the script of a Main Female Protagonist, then Lin Zixuan was essentially the Little Wife of an Overbearing CEO.

“This girl could truly be called a god-tier support.”

“Though she hasn't taken the field herself, she can use her secret technique to share vision with Qin Xuanxiao.”

“In other words, there’s an extra pair of eyes watching me.”

“Not only that, she can even share her spiritual energy with him!”

“That’s some real bullshit-level cheating,” Chu Huaixu thought.

Though not all of her spiritual energy could be shared, even just half of it was terrifying enough.

As World Protagonists, the two of them were undoubtedly cultivating Heaven-rank Cultivation Methods.

Their spiritual energy was already more abundant than that of cultivators at the same realm.

And on top of that, Qin Xuanxiao had his own “Spiritual Energy Loan.”

When he ran low, he just borrowed from her...

What looked like a one-on-one duel was anything but.

Of course, Lin Zixuan being called a god-tier support couldn’t be for that alone.

However, since she couldn’t fight in person right now, there were still limits.

To be precise, none of this required her active involvement—as long as Qin Xuanxiao performed the secret technique, it activated.

Since he was the one casting it, it was technically a loophole within the rules.

Chu Huaixu made sure to keep a mental note of all this.

Aside from that, he was also thinking to himself: “What lingers inside 【Emperor Moon】 is a wisp of divine consciousness from the Moon Country’s founding Emperor.”

“If it’s divine consciousness...” He suddenly smiled, deciding to give it a try.

Qin Xuanxiao charged forward, wielding the spear single-handedly.

That long spear, black with a hint of violet, began to shimmer with flowing light.

As spear force surged toward him, Chu Huaixu dodged using 【Flying Profound】.

A sinister violet flame began to ignite at the tip of 【Emperor Moon】, spreading backward until the entire spearhead blazed.

“Hoh, opening with his signature technique 【Undying Flame】?” Chu Huaixu thought.

As the name implied, this violet fire was nearly impossible to extinguish once it latched on!

He hadn’t made any offensive moves yet—just kept dodging, wanting to see what results Qin Xuanxiao could achieve while sharing vision with Lin Zixuan.

This wasn’t just a test of his power!

He was testing both World Protagonists of the Western Continent in one go!

And to be fair, god-tier support really had something to her.

Even though Chu Huaixu had cultivated 【Flying Profound】 to Perfection, and theoretically his afterimages should’ve been impossible to track—

Qin Xuanxiao still managed to catch him!

The long spear struck, and the body cultivator actually lifted his right hand to block it barehanded.

【Undying Flame】 immediately began to burn in his palm.

“Not bad—the burning sensation is about the same as regular fire,” Chu Huaixu evaluated mentally.

Then, a shocking scene unfolded.

Many in the audience felt their scalps tingle.

At the very moment the violet fire touched his palm, Chu Huaixu used fingertip sword qi to slice off a layer of skin and flesh.

He hadn’t yet found a way to extinguish the flame—this violet fire had a sinister quality.

But it didn’t matter. Just cut off the burning part, problem solved.

The fire wouldn’t spread anymore.

He tackled the issue right at its root.

Crude methods of a body cultivator—always so simple and direct.

What was more outrageous was that he didn’t seem to feel any pain. His expression didn’t change at all.

Just as Qin Xuanxiao stood stunned for a moment, Chu Huaixu was already channeling spiritual energy to wrap the piece of flesh tainted by the undying flame.

True Gang formed, and through it, he seized a wisp of that enemy flame and then...

——Flicked it with a finger!

Lightning danced from his fingertip—returning one’s own method back at them!

“What a tyrannical True Gang!” Qin Xuanxiao was shocked, hurriedly raising his spear to block.

What startled him more was that, although it was True Gang—it carried Sword Intent!

Now he understood the phrase: “Anything can be a sword!”

And also that: “Man himself is the sword!”

If he himself was a sword, then every move he made was a sword technique.

Qin Xuanxiao had actually already comprehended Spear Intent during his enlightenment within the Emperor’s Mausoleum.

But at this moment, he still chose to invoke the wisp of divine consciousness within his spear.

By doing so, he would surpass mere entry-level Spear Intent, reaching the realm of Minor Achievement, a full level above Chu Huaixu.

He intended to overwhelm him like a thunderstorm—cutting through the mess with a swift blade!

Chu Huaixu had sensed this too.

The black small sword within his Sea of Consciousness began to unleash its might.

——【Sword Cuts the Flesh, Heart Cuts the Soul】!

What could a few-century-old remnant soul do—why should it not be slashed!?

Let me test the rank of your Moon Country founding Emperor!

“Heart Sword!” Chu Huaixu synchronized his mind with it, activating it with a single thought.

Just as Qin Xuanxiao was fusing with that divine wisp—

He suddenly gasped in astonishment.

Because that divine consciousness from the spear was abruptly repelled—

By a force that came from who-k