Chapter 209 : Not Worthy of Drawing My Sword

Chapter 209: Not Worthy of Drawing My Sword

Chu Huaixu looked at the three people and asked aloud, “That... Seniors, what exactly is the Eastern Continent Token?”

He had some understanding, but not a complete picture.

Just then, Chu Yinyin jumped out, raising her voice, “Let me answer, let me answer!”

Qin Xuanxiao watched from the side, with a touch of envy in his gaze.

This was the highest honor awarded in the Eastern Continent!

Chu Yinyin explained to Chu Huaixu, “The Eastern Continent is overseen by our Four Great Sects. If someone performs an unprecedented service for the Eastern Continent, they will be awarded the 【Eastern Continent Token】.”

“You can think of it this way—anyone holding this token is a great hero of our Eastern Continent!”

“Anyone who sees it will show respect and awe!”

“Of course, it's not just a symbol of honor.”

“A person holding the 【Eastern Continent Token】 can request one favor from the Four Great Sects and the Mirror Court, so long as it doesn’t violate moral principles.”

“Any favor!” Chu Yinyin emphasized once again.

“In essence, it means the entire Eastern Continent owes you a tremendous favor!” she declared.

Upon hearing this, Chu Huaixu instantly understood the value of this item!

In the Eastern Continent, the Four Great Sects stood above the royal family—what so-called Mirror Court? That was just incidental.

It was essentially the Four Great Sects making a joint promise!

He looked down at his belt, feeling like it was getting a bit crowded.

One Body Training Jade Pendant, one Storage Token, one Xuanhuang Champion Token.

In a few days, there would even be one more—the Eastern Continent Token!

Jiang Zhi looked at them and nodded in satisfaction.

Then he said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take Chu Huaixu back to the sect first.”

Mei Chuxue glanced at the young man in black robes, then turned to the white-robed Jiang Zhi and asked, “Senior Jiang, how about we escort Chu Huaixu together?”

As soon as she finished speaking, everyone’s eyes gathered on the 【Fragment of Xuanhuang Origin】 in Chu Huaixu’s palm.

But Jiang Zhi calmly replied, “No need.”

“Since I’ve come personally, and by the rules, Cheng Yuyan cannot take action—then even if the others join in, the result would be the same.”

Everyone nodded, finding this reasonable.

If Cheng Yuyan didn’t come, then Jiang Zhi alone was enough.

And if Cheng Yuyan did break the rules and show up, then even with these three joining, it wouldn’t change anything.

While listening on the side, Chu Huaixu took note of that name—Cheng Yuyan.

He had heard of this name while playing 《Borrowed Sword》. This person was known as the “Number One Rogue Cultivator in the World”!

He didn’t belong to any faction, was born in the Western Continent, but active in the Eastern Continent.

His specific strength was unclear, but presumably at least at the Eighth Realm—otherwise, he wouldn’t deserve that title!

“Something’s going on here?” Chu Huaixu thought to himself.

At that moment, Jiang Zhi waved his hand, lifting Chu Huaixu into the air with him.

Chu Yinyin immediately took to the skies, quickly following.

This Little Martial Uncle Ancestor looked at the confused young man before him and, in a rare show of patience, explained:

“You may not know, but matters of the Origin Spirit Realm are only known to those who reach the Seventh Realm—after swearing a Heavenly Dao oath of secrecy.”

After speaking, he glanced at Chu Yinyin, who was only at the peak of the Sixth Realm, and added, “She’s an exception.”

The Old Girl flared up in anger, “Little Martial Uncle, what do you mean! How am I an exception! Elder-level figures of the Four Great Sects are authorized to know this!”

Jiang Zhi replied coldly, “In the past, with your cultivation, would you even qualify as an elder of the Dao Gate?”

“Well, that’s... that’s...” Chu Yinyin trailed off.

The current situation in the Dao Gate was that the previous generation of Gentleman Temple had died prematurely—almost all of them perished.

They passed too early, not even finishing their duties of taking disciples, leaving Chu Yinyin’s generation with very few members.

Until Xiang Yan and the others matured, the Dao Gate had long been in decline among the Four Great Sects.

If not for that Little Martial Uncle who, back then, was already at the Ninth Realm, they might have lost their place entirely.

Listening to Chu Yinyin’s words, Jiang Zhi’s eyes dimmed slightly—clearly, he didn’t wish to dwell on this topic either.

He continued explaining to Chu Huaixu, “This Cheng Yuyan is known as the Number One Rogue Cultivator in the World.”

“His cultivation has already reached the early Ninth Realm.” His words were shocking.

Chu Huaixu’s face showed immediate astonishment: “Ninth Realm? Then doesn’t that mean—”

He lowered his gaze to the Origin Fragment in his hand.

For reasons unknown, Jiang Zhi had told him not to store it in the Storage Token.

“Yes, he refined an Origin Fragment.” Jiang Zhi picked up the thread and revealed the truth.

The three continued flying toward the Dao Gate, and Little Martial Uncle Ancestor went on:

“The Eastern and Western Continents Grand Competition has been held many times. Do you think the champion is always someone from the Four Great Sects, or from the Moon Court or the Academy?”

“Not necessarily.”

“Though it’s common, occasionally there are surprises.”

“For example, some top-class sects have also produced unparalleled prodigies.”

“But Cheng Yuyan was special. He was an unaffiliated rogue cultivator.”

“Perhaps due to innate talent, or perhaps he obtained great fortune or a tremendous opportunity—whatever the case, in a Third Realm competition decades ago, he became that year’s Xuanhuang Champion!”

“Rogue cultivator seizing the championship—unseen in a thousand years.”

“Upon entering the second layer of the Origin Spirit Realm, Cheng Yuyan successfully slew a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Kunlun Grotto-Heaven.”

“By the rules, that 【Fragment of Xuanhuang Origin】 belonged to him.”

“The Four Great Sects and the Moon Court all offered outrageous prices, but he refused to sell.”

“In the end, it was our Dao Gate that protected him during the refining process, allowing him to absorb the Origin Power.”

“Unfortunately, he still declined to join our Dao Gate, or any other power.”

“It’s been many years since then. Last I saw him, he had already entered the Ninth Realm.”

Chu Huaixu hadn’t expected that the Number One Rogue Cultivator was this powerful.

But thinking about it, it made sense. If someone with both great talent and great fortune refined Origin Power—it would be like wings on a tiger, a clear path ahead.

Such achievements were well within reason.

“Still, rogue cultivators are different from us sect-backed disciples. Their path to growth must be harder,” Chu Huaixu thought.

But precisely because of that, a tradition had spread across the Xuanhuang Realm: lower-realm rogue cultivators were often weaker than sect disciples of the same level—but high-realm rogue cultivators were likely stronger!

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have survived to this point!

Jiang Zhi looked at Chu Huaixu and continued, “Cheng Yuyan was already called the Number One Rogue Cultivator when he was at the peak of the Eighth Realm.”

“At that time, all high-realm rogue cultivators in the Xuanhuang Realm rallied around him.”

“They formed a loose organization—not like a sect—but united by shared principles and interests.”

“They too sought a path forward for the Xuanhuang Realm, to resist the Heaven-and-Earth Calamity.”

“But when it came to the Origin Fragments, these Seventh and Eighth Realm cultivators all wanted a piece.”

“In fact, the later layers of the Origin Spirit Realm have always been managed by the Four Great Sects, the Moon Court, and the Academy.”

“Have you noticed there are only First and Third Realm Eastern-Western Competitions?”

“No Fifth or Seventh Realm competitions.”

“That’s because candidates come from within these six powers.”

“Many believe that, after countless sacrifices over time—especially from the core elites—these powers deserve corresponding benefits.”

Chu Huaixu understood now. The higher-level 【Fragments of Xuanhuang Origin】 were monopolized by these six major powers.

Jiang Zhi explained, “It started because only these six knew about the Heaven-and-Earth Calamity.”

“But over time, after much bloodshed and sacrifice, it became a tradition—an unspoken rule.”

Chu Huaixu wasn’t surprised; this was simply human nature.

In his eyes, the current Dao Gate leadership was broad-minded.

But could every leader in every generation of the Dao Gate really have such selfless dedication?

What about the rebellious Sword Sect?

The eccentric Spring and Autumn Mountain?

The research-obsessed Luo Heaven Valley?

Through so many generations, if everyone only sacrificed and never pursued personal gain—that would be absurdly idealistic!

It was only natural for such an unwritten rule to form.

Chu Huaixu had always believed that, in the face of apocalyptic threats, humanity could unite in the big picture—but in many details, self-interest and scheming were inevitable.

Besides, this rule existed long before Jiang Zhi and the others had any say.

Little Martial Uncle Ancestor continued, “But now, all the high-level rogue cultivators, led by Cheng Yuyan, have essentially banded together. They want to become the seventh great power in this unspoken system.”

“They call their loose organization—【Divergent Path】!”

“A life gone astray—【Divergent Path】!”

“Everyone inside is at least Seventh Realm—each one stronger than Chu Yinyin.”

“Of course, their proposal naturally met resistance.”

“The current situation is that the Four Great Sects and the Moon Court still hold their pride.”

“‘You think you're capable? You think you're worthy of a share? Then after each Origin Spirit Realm expedition, come and snatch it!’”

“‘If you can take it, it’s yours. If not—then retreat obediently.’”

As Jiang Zhi’s words ended, six figures appeared in the sea of clouds.

Someone shouted, “Senior Jiang speaks true!”

“Thus, the six of us have come to try.”

“Today, we’ll face this former member of the 【Four Divine Swords】!”

A sneer spread across Jiang Zhi’s face.

“Only six of you from 【Divergent Path】 this time?”

“Yes,” the leading man replied.

The white-robed Little Martial Uncle of the Dao Gate sneered even more, and said:

“In that case, I’ll humor you all—”

“I won’t even use my sword.”