Borrowed Sword

Chapter 82: Ascending Hidden Spirit Mountain Again

Chu Huaixu listened to Li Chunsong’s words, and only felt his head buzzing.

Ordinary blackwood, without any artifact-refining methods used, just because Dao Ancestor had carried it around since he was a young Daoist priest, it ended up becoming a supreme-grade spiritual artifact?

Li Chunsong saw the look of shock on his face and felt greatly satisfied—this was exactly the effect he wanted.

“The world often says, rotten wood cannot be carved.”

“But Dao Ancestor, after all, was extraordinary.”

“The blackwood used for this sword scabbard was only ten years old, not even a century old.”

“Such a common item, vastly different from the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures used to forge spiritual artifacts.”

“Yet it still became a supreme-grade spiritual artifact.”

At this point, the Dao Gate higher-ups once again began their ‘daily sword-insulting.’

With a tone full of disdain, Li Chunsong said: “The Sword Sect people are shameless, daring to compare the First Sword Sovereign with Dao Ancestor. Could the First Sword Sovereign achieve such a heaven-defying feat?”

“That would be absolutely impossible!” Li Chunsong raised his head proudly, looking as though he shared in the glory.

Chu Huaixu stood at the side, nodding repeatedly in agreement.

The Dao Gate and Sword Sect had always been at odds in many aspects, and ‘daily sword-insulting’ was a traditional pastime of the Dao Gate. He was not surprised in the least.

In fact, within 《Borrowed Sword》, Dao Gate players and Sword Sect players also disliked one another due to their sect cultures.

Fighting was commonplace, and on the forums, flame wars broke out constantly.

As for whether Li Chunsong was telling the truth, or whether after a thousand years things had been exaggerated, that no longer mattered.

“Whether the sword scabbard was refined or not, that is secondary. Just the fact that such ordinary material reached the grade of a supreme-grade spiritual artifact is already enough to be terrifying,” Chu Huaixu thought.

There must be some hidden mystery within.

But at this moment, he actually felt a sense of yearning.

“Since I am also cultivating the Dao Canon, could I perhaps reach such a level in the future?”

Just this daydream alone was enough to make his heart soar with longing!

Seeing his expression, Li Chunsong knew he had achieved his entire purpose.

He lowered his head to glance at the sword scabbard and asked: “Do you wish to recognize it with a drop of blood now, making it your Life-bound Spirit Sword? I can guard you while you do so.”

How could Chu Huaixu possibly agree?

He hadn’t even carefully studied that Black Bead yet.

Naturally, he would not so rashly bind his Life-bound item with blood.

“Thank you for your kindness, Elder, but this disciple still has one matter he wishes to attend to. I do not know if it would be against the rules.” Chu Huaixu’s tone was exceedingly polite.

“Oh? Speak, let me hear it.” Li Chunsong smiled.

This was my treasure that guarantees winning every gamble! If I were a sword cultivator and also possessed Sword Heart Clarity, I would fight Seventh Junior Sister for this disciple!

That I did not, was only because I feared misleading him.

In his mind, as long as Chu Huaixu’s request was not too excessive, he would grant it.

Unexpectedly, this boy patted his Storage Token and took out another charred-black Pass Token.

Li Chunsong froze on the spot: “How do you have another one?”

Chu Huaixu replied with an honest face: “Elder, have you forgotten?”

“The wooden pass token I used before was personally bestowed by the Sect Master, and it was you who handed it to me.”

Li Chunsong was speechless: “I know. I mean this one of yours—ah!”

He could tell this boy was a little greedy.

He could easily guess where the second token came from.

Surely, it was obtained by breaking through a Heaven-rank Cultivation Method within three days and exchanging for it.

Most Pass Tokens were kept at the Disciples’ Courtyard of the Outer Sect.

But since Hidden Spirit Mountain was such an important place of the Dao Gate, merely holding the token wasn’t enough; one still had to register at the Hidden Spirit Courtyard at the mountain’s base, undergoing layers of approval.

But the matter of the Sect Master’s personal gift—let alone the Outer Sect’s Disciples’ Courtyard, even the staff at the Hidden Spirit Courtyard on duty did not know, nor did they have authority to know!

This boy had found a loophole!

In truth, if people were unfamiliar with each other and you played such tricks, the impression would be terrible.

But if there was already familiarity, and the other party admired and valued you, then it was somewhat different.

Some might even find it amusing.

Of course, that varied from person to person.

Because the man before him was a hopeless gambling addict, Chu Huaixu felt this was the best person to ask.

If it had been that renowned Enforcement Elder, he might not have dared.

Li Chunsong looked at him, thought for a moment, then said: “The token I gave you before was indeed specially approved under unique circumstances, so it doesn’t break the rules.”

“Your second token was also gained within the rules.”

“It can only be used by you, and not using it would indeed be a waste.”

“However, disciples of the sect may only obtain one spiritual artifact from Hidden Spirit Mountain. This is a rule no one can break.”

“Opportunity comes only once.”

“Once you take a spiritual artifact down the mountain, there is no turning back.”

“You already obtained Dao Ancestor’s sword scabbard. What benefit is there in climbing again?”

Hearing this, Chu Huaixu raised his eyes to the peak of Hidden Spirit Mountain.

“This disciple wishes to go to the summit again!” His gaze was resolute.

Li Chunsong was about to speak when a voice transmission came from the Sect Master.

“Let him go,” Xiang Yan instructed.

Upon hearing this, the Sixth Elder could only say: “Very well, then go.”

But before Chu Huaixu climbed again, he did not forget to remind him: “Remember, do not act recklessly. Be cautious in all things.”

“Thank you, Elder.” Chu Huaixu turned back and sincerely expressed his gratitude.

Then, he stepped onto the stone stairs.

On this second ascent, his gaze was completely different from the first time.

Hidden Spirit Mountain, summit region.

Han Shuangjiang looked at the 【Zhegutian】 before her, feeling the pull between it and herself.

“This is a supreme-grade spiritual artifact.” She reached out her hand, wanting to touch it.

Along the way, she had also stirred quite a few spirit swords.

But as the girl who held the script of the main female protagonist in 《Borrowed Sword》, she naturally harbored her own ambition.

Yet the grade of 【Zhegutian】 was already the highest on the mountain. Beyond it, there was only Dao Ancestor’s sword.

Judging from the strange phenomena earlier, she actually suspected: “Could that Dead Fox be aiming for that sword?”

To tell the truth, she was deeply fond of the 【Zhegutian】 before her.

Not only was it precious, its appearance was beautiful, and it emitted waves of cold air, perfectly matching her Body of Profound Yin.

Although there were surely many other spiritual artifacts further up the stone steps, Han Shuangjiang felt that this sword was likely her best choice.

This perfect sense of resonance made it feel as though it had been forged just for her!

When her fingertip lightly touched it, the supreme-grade spiritual sword trembled gently twice.

Though the tremors were exceedingly slight, Han Shuangjiang still felt joy blossom in her heart.

“Is it showing me affection?”

After all, the Big Ice Block was still a young girl.

She suddenly thought the sword seemed rather cute, which made her like it even more.

“This is it!” Han Shuangjiang was the type who, once she set her mind, would never waver again.

Her jade-like hand with long slender fingers seized the longsword!

Her left hand pressed against the wooden pass token, ready to crush it.

At the instant Han Shuangjiang applied force, a great commotion suddenly arose from behind her.

The charred-black token cracked in her hand. She turned her head in surprise and saw Chu Huaixu, clad in black robes, charging up from below.

With his astonishing physique, the surrounding Spiritual Pressure had no effect on him at all. His speed was simply too fast, incomparably shocking.

His black robe snapped in the wind, and in his pitch-black eyes, it was as though flames of anger were burning.

He fixed his gaze firmly on the mountain peak, his eyes filled with determination.

When the two met on the mountainside, both young man and young woman revealed astonishment in their eyes.

“You haven’t left?”

“How can you still climb up?”

Both spoke out at the same time.

Immediately after, anomalies began to occur.

The 【Zhegutian】 in Han Shuangjiang’s hand, as Chu Huaixu drew closer, once again entered its earlier state, trembling violently!

The blade within the scabbard slid out by about the width of a finger, just like last time.

Han Shuangjiang even felt it was slightly slipping from her control!

She instantly sensed it—that sword she had believed perfectly matched her, as if it had been made for her… actually wanted to go to him!

Her lips pressed together as a strange emotion sprouted in her heart.

The cracked token in her left hand completely shattered at that moment.

When she saw Chu Huaixu, she had actually stopped applying force.

But the cracks she had already caused did not cease spreading.

The teleportation array thus activated.

Chu Huaixu, sprinting toward the summit, brushed past Han Shuangjiang.

As they passed, the Dead Fox frowned at the excited spirit sword in the Big Ice Block’s hand and even rebuked it.

To her ears, those words sounded especially harsh!

As if the sword in her hands—so pristine, so pure and flawless—had somehow become sullied.

What he said to the 【Zhegutian】 was:

“Be good! Don’t make trouble!”

At the foot of Hidden Spirit Mountain, Han Shuangjiang was safely transported down.

She stood dazed, looking around.

Li Chunsong was still waiting there. When he saw her, he nodded repeatedly.

“Excellent, excellent. The 【Zhegutian】, forged from Nine Heavens Profound Ice Crystal, indeed suits you best. You chose the most fitting sword.” He praised her.

Yet as Han Shuangjiang looked at the now-calm sword, the joy in her heart had already diminished by half.

“Clearly… clearly I obtained the sword most suited to me.”

“Then why, why…”

The Big Ice Block looked up toward the peak, her eyes ever more dazed, her heart filled with strangeness.

Meanwhile, Chu Huaixu had already charged up to the final ten steps.

He first lowered his head to glance at his robes.

He looked at the dust covering him, and the bloodstains on his sleeves.

His gaze grew increasingly cold, while a nameless flame burned within him.

In his Sea of Consciousness, the Black Small Sword, which had recovered, rose proudly once more.

“You’re angry too, aren’t you?” he muttered.

The Black Small Sword conveyed its will to him.

“Good then.” Chu Huaixu grinned.

He suddenly stepped onto the tenth step from the top.

Once again, terrifying Spiritual Pressure descended, identical to before.

The only difference was that the arrogant Evil Sword had not expected him to dare return!

—“Insolent brat! You dare!”

Was this not a provocation?

The Bronze Sword raged once more.

Its fury at this moment was no less than that sudden fury from that night.

In an instant, the entire mountain trembled, as though an earthquake had struck again.

Seeing this, Chu Huaixu felt a faint guess arise in his heart.

“So, that earthquake that night may also have been because of you?”

This sword, chained to the mountain, colliding with the Restriction using its own power, could actually shake the entire mountain, triggering such a terrifying scene!

Such might was awe-inspiring.

Yet Chu Huaixu narrowed his eyes. Stones tumbled down all around, but he felt no fear, and continued to ascend.

“As long as it cannot fully break through the Restriction, then it is nothing more than noise!” He remained unafraid.

Boundless Spiritual Pressure crashed down from above, pressing upon him, demanding his submission, demanding he kneel.

Even though he had already broken through to First Heaven, Second Level, this terrifying Spiritual Pressure still bore down with immense weight.

This was not something a mere small realm advancement could offset.

His body began to tremble uncontrollably, twitching now and then.

He clenched his fists tightly, his nails once more digging into his flesh.

Even so, Chu Huaixu, just like before, kept his eyes bloodshot and locked on the summit, his spine still straight!

With a roar, he stepped up once more.

As he wished, the same system prompt rang in his ears again.

“【Ding! After detection, you have triggered the passive mission—Sword Spirit Oppressive Might.】”