Borrowed Sword

Chapter 90: Xu Ziqing’s Repayment

It had to be said, that after Little Xu obtained the Bronze Sword from the mountain, he truly became ridiculously powerful.

He not only won the Eastern Continent Grand Competition, but even pressed the first place of the Western Continent to the ground and rubbed him there.

Although that sword carried the Dao Ancestor’s seal, and Xu Ziqing could only unseal a portion with every breakthrough of a realm—meaning he could only wield a fraction of the Evil Sword’s power—it was still more than enough for him to sweep across his peers in the same realm.

Many players believed that the one invincible among peers was not Xu Ziqing, but the sword itself!

There had been players who spectated, and when he used the Bronze Sword compared to when he did not, the difference was like the gap between clouds and mud.

Without the sword, he was still very strong, but most likely not on par with the other three World Protagonists.

Aside from that, as mentioned before, Xu Ziqing’s cultivation speed had always been slower than the other three World Protagonists.

He was at least one great realm behind.

Against heaven-defying existences like Han Shuangjiang, whose progress advanced a thousand miles in a single day, he had once even lagged two great realms behind.

It seemed as if he was born just for the first two rounds of the Eastern and Western Continent Grand Competitions.

Because in Xuanli 1991, when the Third Realm Grand Competition between East and West began, Han Shuangjiang, who had obtained two Dao Ancestor Inheritances, had already leapt to the Fourth Realm, rushing toward the level of a Major Cultivator, and was ineligible to participate.

At that time, Xu Ziqing was barely at the Third Realm, and only at its mid-stage—not even at Great Perfection!

Yet, relying on that sword alone, he fought his way through every obstacle and won the position of top peerless talent in the Xuanhuang Realm.

Chu Huaixu had not expected that now, after taking Xu Ziqing’s script, he too would be burdened with great expectations?

How had it turned into me going to fight?

“But the problem is, I’m not certain that the current Little Xu, if he were to step onto Hidden Spirit Mountain, would still have the chance to take that sword,” he thought.

“If he was destined to take it, then among my opponents in the Eastern Continent Grand Competition, there would also be Xu Ziqing wielding the number one sword under heaven!” His gaze hardened slightly.

The development of the story had suddenly turned inexplicably strange!

What was even more absurd was that the Mission System itself seemed to have detected something.

Standing within the Purple Bamboo Forest, Chu Huaixu suddenly heard the familiar sound of system notifications in his ears.

“【Ding! After detection, you have triggered the Main Storyline Mission: Eastern and Western Continent Grand Competition!】”

His heartbeat quickened slightly, and he secretly checked the mission rewards.

It was clearly a phased mission, with rewards given in stages, requiring players to unlock them step by step.

The first stage required breaking into the top five hundred of the Eastern Continent, which would grant a generous reward of Experience Points.

After that, the next stage would unlock.

Chu Huaixu personally guessed that the next stage should be breaking into the top one hundred.

“In other words, as long as I keep climbing up in rank, I can keep unlocking.”

He knew very well that the rewards of Main Storyline Missions were always extremely generous. 

Aside from Experience Points, there would usually be some special items, as well as special Attribute Points.

As for the final reward—he could only imagine how terrifying it would be.

In that instant, Chu Huaixu became filled with motivation.

At this moment, the other Elders also gave him words of encouragement, full of earnest expectations.

Chu Huaixu cupped his hands gracefully, without saying a single word of humility. Though he was only at the early stage of the First Realm, he once again carried the same imposing manner he had when he climbed Hidden Spirit Mountain earlier!

“Disciple shall do his utmost, and will not disgrace the mission!”

With this matter settled, it was still Chu Yinyin who volunteered to personally escort Chu Huaixu back to the Outer Sect.

On the flight back, this little rich woman of the Dao Gate said, “If you can take first place in the Eastern Continent, or even the joint first place of East and West, the sect will certainly reward you.”

“As your future Second Master, I will also give you a private reward.”

Just the thought that her future disciple might become the peerless champion of the Xuanhuang Realm filled her with joy.

This old maiden began to feel proud in advance, just from her own imagination.

Hearing this, Chu Huaixu immediately responded appropriately: “Then this disciple thanks Second Master in advance.”

“Aiya, I already said I’m not yet your Second Master. You’ll only count once you make it into the Inner Sect.” The aging maiden waved her hands repeatedly, though her face could not hide a beaming smile—she was practically coaxed into being reborn as an embryo.

The two soon returned to the bamboo house in the Outer Sect. At parting, Chu Huaixu bid her farewell with a face full of respect.

Chu Yinyin, secretly delighted, clasped her hands behind her back, leaving him only her back view, then stuck out her flat chest and floated away into the sky.

Today was an overcast day, the sky gray and heavy, as if rain could fall at any moment.

Living next door, Han Shuangjiang heard the noise. She opened her bamboo door, saw that Chu Huaixu had returned, and could not help but remind him: “Don’t forget, today you still need to fetch Junior Brother Xu.”

“I remember, I remember!” he answered. “I don’t even have a clean outer robe left. How could I forget?”

The Big Ice Block rolled her eyes inwardly at him.

But then she thought, “If Junior Brother Xu comes home, I probably won’t need to buy vegetables or wash dishes anymore.”

Thinking of this, her mood lightened a bit.

Chu Huaixu waved at her and said: “I’ll go right now.”

The Little Housekeeper glanced up at the gloomy sky, feeling it would soon pour heavily, and asked: “Do you have an umbrella in your Storage Token?”

“No need, no need, it’s just a short trip. I’ll be quick.” He ran outside as he spoke, still muttering, “Besides, we’re cultivators. Getting wet won’t hurt.”

The cold-faced girl watched his retreating back and could not help but mutter under her breath:

“You won’t be hurt, but when you come back dripping wet, won’t Junior Brother Xu still be the one who has to clean your robes? And most likely he’ll have to boil water for your bath too.”

At that thought, Han Shuangjiang began to feel envious of those with higher cultivation.

Back when Li Chunsong had gone to fetch the two of them at the foot of the Wumeng Mountains, he had deliberately shown off a trick.

Not only did the rain fail to touch them, but even the raindrops in the air briefly froze in place!

When Chu Huaixu arrived at the Cold Pool, the sky had grown even darker.

Standing at the pool’s edge, he felt the cold aura rushing at his face, muttering: “Luckily I came today. If I had waited a few more days, with the cold aura at the bottom increasing further, Little Xu might not have been able to come out, and even I might not have been able to endure entering!”

“At that point, I’d have to ask someone with higher cultivation to fetch him.”

With that, Chu Huaixu took out the Water-Repelling Pearl and Jade Token Fragment, and leapt into the pool.

Entering the Cold Pool, he chuckled: “That Big Ice Block really is forgetful. I have the Water-Repelling Pearl—it can even be used to block rain.”

Inside the secret realm, Chu Huaixu smoothly entered the seventh cave, then used the little sword within his Sea of Consciousness to cut through the illusion of the second trial.

Opening the Stone Door, he saw Xu Ziqing sitting cross-legged beside the Water Pool, eyes closed in cultivation.

Beside him lay several sheets of paper, weighed down by a brush and the Silk Pouch Chu Huaixu had given him.

Chu Huaixu did not disturb him, nor did he peek at the papers, respecting the youth’s privacy. Instead, he simply cast an 【Information Probe】 over.

“Six apertures opened?” He gritted his teeth in envy.

He had also gained abundant Experience Points from this trial, but it definitely was not enough to raise him from level 0 to level 6.

“Even though so many days have passed, normally a False Spirit Embryo body training to open six apertures should take a very long time.”

“And it seems he’s even trying to break through the seventh.”

“As expected of a World Protagonist.”

Having already obtained the 【Medicinal Cauldron · Dao Birth One】, Chu Huaixu suddenly thought: “If I refine more pills for him to consume, with his natural body like a Saint of Medicinal Absorption, wouldn’t his cultivation advance ridiculously fast?”

Damn it, what kind of perfect nurturing boy for an alchemist was this!

Chu Huaixu could not help but suspect that when he played 《Borrowed Sword》 in-game, Xu Ziqing’s entire cultivation was probably built up by chugging pills.

If he had relied only on his own slow cultivation, he might not succeed even by the Year of the Monkey.

After about the time of one incense stick, the delicate youth slowly opened his eyes.

Seeing Chu Huaixu before him, a trace of excitement instantly appeared on his face.

He quickly stood up, respectfully saying: “Senior Brother.”

Chu Huaixu looked at him calmly and said in a faint tone: “Not bad, sixth aperture.”

Though Xu Ziqing could tell it was not really praise, his heart was still filled with joy.

“At least it means that even if I didn’t surprise Senior Brother, I didn’t let him down either?”

He knew himself to be dull in cultivation talent, far inferior to Senior Brother and Senior Sister Han.

To have achieved this much already satisfied him greatly.

“Little Xu.”

“Eh! Senior Brother!”

“Does the Body Tempering Medicine Liquid still have effect on you?” Chu Huaixu asked.

“Since yesterday, it’s almost lost all effect.” Xu Ziqing answered honestly.

“Then I came at just the right time.” Chu Huaixu said indifferently.

My pile of dirty robes had aligned with heaven’s will after all.

He grew curious and asked: “These past few days, aside from cultivating, what else have you been doing?”

Xu Ziqing answered honestly: “Occasionally practicing my family’s sword technique.”

He added, “Senior Brother might not know, but I was born into a sword dao family in the Martial World, and learned the sword from my parents since young.”

Hearing this, Chu Huaixu thought to himself: “I know.”

But he only nodded slightly and said nothing more.

After a while, he looked at the delicate youth and said: “Let’s go. This secret realm is already of no use to you. The Cold Pool outside is accumulating more cold aura—if you wait a few more days, you might not be able to leave.”

“Yes, Senior Brother.” Xu Ziqing immediately replied respectfully and began packing his things.

In truth, even if Chu Huaixu had not come today, he had planned to leave tomorrow.

The rations his senior had sent were about to run out by tonight, even when eaten sparingly.

“Could it be Senior Brother calculated the days, knowing I’d have nothing left to eat, so he came today to fetch me?” the youth guessed inwardly, feeling touched.

While packing, Xu Ziqing soon picked up the few sheets of paper weighed down by the brush and Silk Pouch.

Within the Storage Token of an Enrolled Disciple, the Dao Gate had provided basic living supplies, including brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

The delicate youth squatted down and solemnly stored the Silk Pouch, embroidered with “Flowing water does not compete to be first, it strives to be endless,” into his Storage Token.

Then, he took the papers in hand, drew a deep breath, and walked toward Chu Huaixu.

“Senior Brother, this is for you.” He held the papers in both hands and offered them.

“What is this?” Chu Huaixu asked curiously as he accepted them.

Since the papers were faced down, he could only faintly see traces of writing.

He quickly turned them over and read the words.

“Sixfold Snow and Lightning?” He looked at the four characters at the top, finding them a bit awkward.

But he roughly understood the meaning.

“‘Sixfold’ is an elegant name for snow.”

“‘Lightning’ is another name for thunderbolts.”

At once, the system’s notification rang by his ear.

“【Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained the Technique—Sixfold Snow and Lightning.】”

“【Type: Sword Technique.】”

“【Grade: Earth-rank.】”

“【Status: Incomplete, can be advanced.】”