Borrowed Sword

Chapter 108: Dominating an Era, the Person of Counter-Prosperity

【Ding! Congratulations, you have cleared the dungeon Growth Rings.】

Beside Chu Huaixu’s ear, the system notification sounded.

Beneath the ice lake, the mirrored world carried a sense of contradiction.

Withered trees and new sprouts, youth and gray hair.

Death and rebirth seemed to intertwine, presented together.

Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang, at this very moment, began to face “death.”

Their consciousness sank into brief chaos, as if bereft of vitality, truly like losing life itself.

The entire world began to reverse!

The mirrored world beneath the ice lake started flipping upward.

The world above the ice lake, in the process of flipping downward, gradually shattered.

As everything beneath the ice lake returned to its proper track, those withered trees sprouting buds quickly flourished with dense branches and leaves.

The two youths with gray hair swiftly returned to having black hair.

"Plop—plop—！"

Their halted hearts began beating once more, faster and stronger with each pulse!

After a few breaths, Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang suddenly opened their eyes at the same time!

The first thing they did was gasp for air, as if severely oxygen-deprived.

They exchanged a glance, each feeling the strange sensation of surviving a calamity.

As if they had just walked through the gates of hell.

At this moment, Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang’s appearances had already returned to their original forms.

Yet, for some reason, even while looking at each other’s youthful faces, in their minds lingered all the images of one another aging bit by bit, as if they had truly walked through a “brief lifetime” within the secret realm.

Within Chu Huaixu’s Character Panel, an additional 1 point of Comprehension appeared as the reward for clearing the dungeon.

In front of 1 point of Comprehension, the Experience Points for clearing the dungeon were like an extra gift—just over 20,000 points.

Still, given how costly learning techniques had been before, having gained over 20,000 more meant he now had a reserve of 40,000 Experience Points.

Of course, within this secret realm, the greatest beneficiary was undoubtedly Han Shuangjiang.

With only Fourth Heaven cultivation of the First Realm, she had nevertheless, by relying on the Master of the Gentleman Temple’s inheritance and her own exceptional talent, comprehended Sword Intent!

If the sword maniacs of the Sword Sect learned of this, their jaws would surely drop.

"Congratulations," Chu Huaixu said to Han Shuangjiang.

At this moment, the two were still sitting cross-legged on the ice lake.

"You noticed that I comprehended Sword Intent？" Han Shuangjiang was a little surprised.

For she had only fully grasped it at the very last moment.

At that time, when she opened her eyes, she saw the aged Chu Huaixu smiling at her, but already too weak to open his eyes again.

"Mm, when you generated Sword Intent, I naturally could sense it," Chu Huaixu replied.

The Big Ice Block couldn’t help wanting to ask further, to know what harvest he had gained. In her eyes, his talent far surpassed her own.

But his next words indirectly gave her the answer.

"Because I have already entered the realm of Sword Heart Clarity," Chu Huaixu said calmly.

Only then did Han Shuangjiang realize she had forgotten this fact.

This made her understand that she still had a long road ahead.

With her already somewhat competitive disposition, she began reminding herself not to grow arrogant or impatient—comprehending Sword Intent was nothing much, since she had not even touched the threshold of Sword Heart.

Yet Chu Huaixu was always skilled at offering emotional value, and he added: "But this Sword Intent of yours, I can tell, ranks very high, far from ordinary."

Sword Intent surely had ranks of superiority.

He had only known through the system that this was the inheritance of the Master of the Gentleman Temple, and naturally could not say so outright.

Hearing this, Han Shuangjiang felt a few more traces of joy in her heart.

But the cold-faced girl still did not show it, merely asking: "Then how do we leave now？"

Chu Huaixu shrugged: "I don’t know, isn’t that your problem to figure out？"

"Hm？"

"You were the one who pulled me in, so naturally you must be responsible for taking me out," Chu Huaixu said righteously.

The Big Ice Block:

"f

？

The moment the two stood up, intending to see where the exit was, formation lines began appearing on the ice surface.

A teleportation array emerged, sending them out of the secret realm, back into that maple forest.

Once they steadied their figures and focused their eyes—

Standing opposite them was a row of Dao Gate high-levels!

All of them were scrutinizing the pair from head to toe.

Within the maple forest, Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang began offering salutes one by one.

"Disciple pays respects to Sect Master, and to all the Elders."

Indeed, everyone had gathered.

These giants, whose single step could trigger a tremor in the cultivation world, first used divine sense to probe Chu Huaixu.

Then, with astonished expressions, they examined Han Shuangjiang.

"? So it was Frost Descent who comprehended Reincarnation Sword Intent！" Everyone exclaimed in surprise.

This was completely opposite their initial expectations. The crowd exchanged glances, each seeing shock in the others’ eyes.

But given that Han Shuangjiang possessed the once-in-a-century Body of Profound Yin, her obtaining the inheritance and comprehending Sword Intent was, in fact, reasonable.

It was only that Chu Huaixu’s recent performance had been far too dazzling, leading everyone to instinctively assume his harvest would be greater!

Sect Master Xiang Yan immediately spoke in praise: "Good, good, to think you have already comprehended Reincarnation Sword Intent."

Unfortunately, his features were fierce and sinister, and his voice unbearably harsh, making it sound more like a villainous overlord discovering a righteous prodigy, ready to kill in the next instant.

"Perhaps you do not know, but this secret realm was left behind by the second Master of the Gentleman Temple, Yan Shen, as inheritance."

Upon hearing this, Han Shuangjiang and Chu Huaixu immediately exchanged looks of astonishment.

The former was truly surprised, while the latter displayed the professionalism of an actor.

Li Chunsong, being closer to the two, spoke up at this moment to encourage them:

"Master Yanwu of the Gentleman Temple was the Dao Ancestor’s third disciple, and also our Dao Gate’s very first Female Master."

"After the Dao Ancestor passed away, she became the strongest in the Eastern Continent."

"As her name suggested, Yanwu, Counter-Prosperity."

"Shuangjiang, I hope you will not tarnish the prestige of the Second Master."

Hearing this, both felt deeply moved.

Yanwu, Counter-Prosperity?

Just how high and lonely must one stand to gradually become a person of counter-prosperity!

Only now did Han Shuangjiang truly realize that she must have encountered a heaven-shaking opportunity!

The Reincarnation Sword Intent was far stronger than she had imagined!

Chu Yinyin, standing to the side, looked on with some regret.

"To think my precious disciple actually failed this time？" she thought.

But her lively temperament quickly had her eyes turn, coming up with a new idea.

"Then why not just take Han Shuangjiang as my True Disciple as well！"

At this thought, she immediately glanced covertly around.

She noticed that apart from Xiang Yan and Lu Pan, who no longer had disciple slots, the others all looked at that girl with appreciation.

No doubt they too harbored thoughts of taking her in!

Knowing her own strength was lacking, she reckoned she wouldn’t win the competition!

This old young girl immediately set her sights on Shen Man instead.

"Han Shuangjiang, at only First Realm, has already comprehended the terrifying Reincarnation Sword Intent！"

"Such an excellent seedling must be taught personally by Shen Man of the Four Great Divine Swords and me."

Once again, she wanted to “compete for a disciple.”

Chu Yinyin could be considered a pioneer of the Dao Gate’s development of “shared disciples.”

Within the maple forest, everyone exchanged a few more words.

The elders expressed their earnest expectations, while the two juniors continually showed respect.

Chu Huaixu did not forget to thank Li Chunsong and the others as well.

"This disciple has yet to thank the Elders for bestowing techniques and spiritual artifacts."

He deliberately brought this up at this time.

Sure enough, the unremarkable Li Chunsong laughed and said: "Wearing this Black-Gold Robe refined by Ninth Junior Sister, you truly do look good, with some of the charm I had in my youth."

"As for the techniques given to you by me and Fifth Senior Brother, have you learned them yet？"

Chu Huaixu immediately answered: "This disciple has already mastered them."

Hearing this, everyone grew interested.

"Oh? To have entered so quickly, then display it for us to see, so we may offer a pointer or two," Li Chunsong chimed in at once.

They were hoping Chu Huaixu would enter the Origin Spirit Realm, so this was a chance to give him private guidance.

Han Shuangjiang watched from the side, amused, thinking: "Sure enough, he’s starting again."

After spending so much time together, their relationship had become very close. How could she not understand the Dead Fox’s fondness for showing off?

As expected, though Chu Huaixu spoke humbly, his body instantly turned into an afterimage as he executed 【Flying Profound】, while his hand cast forth a 【Thunder at Fingertips】 into the air!

A powerful True Gang exploded above the maple forest. The Dao Gate high-levels could see with a glance—this wasn’t just entry-level, it was already at Minor Accomplishment!

"In just a few days, he has cultivated two supreme Profound-grade techniques to Minor Accomplishment？"

"This child’s comprehension in techniques is truly terrifying！"

Li Chunsong and Zhao Shuqin feared he might grow too arrogant, so they did not lavish praise, merely saying: "Not bad, not bad."

Then the two offered him a few pointers.

After all, Chu Huaixu had only reached Minor Accomplishment, still far from Great Perfection.

He listened attentively, memorizing every word, as if he had not relied on the system to level up, but only on his own comprehension and effort.

Immediately after, he revealed his true intent.

"Fifth Elder, Sixth Elder, I have already mastered these two techniques thoroughly. Should these two jade slips be returned to the vault？" Chu Huaixu began asking about their ownership.

Don’t be fooled by the Dao Gate high-levels acting shameless most of the time—other than Chu Yinyin, which of them wasn’t a cunning old fox?

Li Chunsong at once laughed and scolded: "So this is what you wanted to ask all along？"

Chu Huaixu didn’t explain, only gave an embarrassed smile.

The Benevolent Gambling King said: "These two techniques were obtained by Fifth Elder and me while wandering outside, never placed in the vault, but rather our private collection.

Now that we’ve given them to you, naturally they are yours to handle as you wish!"

"Whether you wish to exchange them at the Treasure Pavilion for contribution points, or pass them on to others…" At this point, he even paused.

Li Chunsong’s gaze began shifting between Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang.

Soon, he revealed a meaningful smile, already showing signs of matchmaking.

The Dao Gate high-levels also saw the meaning in his smile and began laughing as well.

This made Han Shuangjiang, standing nearby, feel the shyness of a young girl under the gaze of her elders.

"In any case, whether you teach others or not, it’s entirely up to you," Li Chunsong said with a hearty laugh. Yet as he laughed, the image of Eleventh Junior Sister’s graceful figure floated before his eyes.

After chatting a little more, the high-levels all departed together into the air.

Han Shuangjiang and Chu Huaixu remained where they were. In truth, after everything within the secret realm, their relationship seemed to have shifted again.

But the Big Ice Block still felt somewhat awkward, saying to him: "I know the Sect Master and Elders misunderstood."

Yet the young man before her stared straight at her and spoke words that made her heartbeat quicken again, making her wonder if he was speaking with a double meaning:

"They did not misunderstand. I truly want to teach you."