Borrowed Sword

Chapter 92: This Place Is the Mortal World

Inside the Cold Pool Secret Realm, Xu Ziqing hurriedly caught the item his senior brother tossed to him.

He lowered his head for a look and saw that it was a wooden box.

The wooden box appeared incomparably exquisite, its material unknown, with mystical patterns etched upon it.

“Hey, you’ll have to return this box to me later,” said Chu Huaixu.

“This is a Spiritual Pill Treasure Box. It’s used to store spiritual pills, ensuring that their medicinal efficacy won’t fade too much with time. It’s quite valuable—ordinary spiritual pills aren’t even worthy of being kept inside this kind of box.” He explained in detail.

To him, he had already obtained the 【Medicinal Cauldron · Dao Birth One】.

As for the profession of alchemist, he definitely had to cultivate it.

Thus, the Spiritual Pill Treasure Box had naturally become a necessity—something he would surely need in the future.

Besides that, although Chu Huaixu spoke in such a manner, part of it was simply to satisfy his own desire to show off, to broaden the horizons of this inexperienced youth!

As for the pill within the box, it was naturally the Xuantian Embryo Breathing Pill gifted to him by Elder Chu Yinyin, the loli elder!

His heart ached faintly at the thought.

“Although it can no longer raise the grade of my Spirit Embryo, this thing is still outrageously, outrageously expensive! In the future, if my Spirit Embryo is damaged, I can still use it to heal!”

Chu Huaixu’s heart was bleeding.

But no matter what, for Xu Ziqing, who possessed a False Spirit Embryo, the Xuantian Embryo Breathing Pill was without doubt the most suitable medicine.

“No! I have to show off hard!” Chu Huaixu thought.

Xu Ziqing slowly opened the pill box, and instantly, a wave of medicinal fragrance rushed to his nose. Inside, he saw a spiritual pill the size of a longan.

He quickly shut the box, his heart already guessing that this item was extremely precious.

“Senior Brother, this is?” the youth asked.

“Xuantian Embryo Breathing Pill,” Chu Huaixu replied, deliberately acting calm, waiting for his astonished reaction.

But instead, the ignorant Xu Ziqing merely looked puzzled.

He only felt that the name sounded rather formidable.

This greatly displeased Chu Huaixu.

Already heartbroken over his loss, he immediately pointed toward the stone door behind the water pool.

“I told you earlier—this place was a secret realm set up by a senior named Lei Wenyan.”

“Yes, Ziqing remembers.”

“This Senior Lei, with only the talent of a mere Third-level Low-grade Spirit Embryo, still managed to attain the realm of a Major Cultivator!”

Xu Ziqing, who had terrible talent, immediately brightened at these words.

Seeing that he had taken the bait, Chu Huaixu continued solemnly:

“The effect of the Xuantian Embryo Breathing Pill is to heal damaged Spirit Embryos. If consumed by one with a Low-grade Spirit Embryo, there’s an extremely high chance of raising its grade.”

“When Senior Lei obtained this pill, his lifespan was already at its end. Even if he consumed it, he had no hope of breaking through.”

“Therefore, like many other Dao Gate seniors, he chose to set up a secret realm within the sect, leaving behind this opportunity, waiting for one destined to come.”

“In his final words, Senior Lei wrote: Future juniors, the Great Dao lies beneath your feet. May you not lose the courage to advance simply because your Spirit Embryo is lacking.”

“Old me, grant you a chance of fortune!” Chu Huaixu’s eyes sharpened, his voice sinking.

Xu Ziqing’s heart pounded faster, his blood surging, admiration brimming within him.

He gazed at the stone door behind, feeling as though he had been taught a great lesson, even harboring the impulse to bow in respect.

But soon, little Xu snapped out of it, lifting his head toward the much taller Chu Huaixu.

“Senior Brother giving this to me—isn’t that also bestowing me with a chance of fortune!”

The youth’s hands trembled faintly as he held the treasure box, his face filled with shock.

Seeing his expression, Chu Huaixu finally felt satisfied, the pain in his heart easing somewhat.

Xu Ziqing quickly said: “Senior Brother, this is far too valuable. I cannot accept it.”

He lifted the pill box high with both hands, indicating for the other to take it back.

“Why?” Chu Huaixu asked.

“From what Senior Brother said, such a Spirit Pill capable of defying the heavens must surely be priceless.”

“Of course. This is a Seventh-grade Top-grade Spiritual Pill. Even Major Cultivators would covet it,” Chu Huaixu continued his boasting.

“Then I cannot possibly accept it. Moreover, it was Senior Brother who passed through this secret realm. This pill left behind by Senior Lei should rightfully belong to you.” Xu Ziqing spoke reasonably.

To say he was not tempted—how could that be possible?

He was nothing more than the lowest-grade False Spirit Embryo. To avenge his blood feud, and someday repay Senior Brother’s kindness, how could that be easy?

But unearned reward was not his principle. Senior Brother had already granted him boundless grace—how could he accept even more?

All greed in his heart was cleanly erased by the youth’s uprightness. Even entertaining such thoughts felt sinful!

Chu Huaixu waved his hand, too deep into his act now: “How do you know this Seventh-grade pill is my only one?”

He spoke casually: “Rest assured, this Xuantian Embryo Breathing Pill is not the one Senior Lei left behind. I acquired it through other means.”

This wasn’t like when he used to play games. He could no longer act as he did then, brimming with juvenile theatrics. If he were still gaming, he would definitely have said:

“So, this is the fortune I grant you!”

Upon hearing this, Xu Ziqing was shaken even further.

“A pill of this level—Senior Brother actually has two!”

Yet he was still only an outer disciple of the Dao Gate, having entered just days earlier than me.

This was terrifying!

Watching the stunned Xu with his mouth agape, Chu Huaixu’s lips curved into a satisfied smile. “Just take it. Think of it as me repaying you with a pill for the sword art you gave me.”

“But Senior Brother, that was not my intention. It was you who gave me the chance to enter the Dao Gate, I—”

Xu Ziqing’s words were cut short as Chu Huaixu raised his hand.

He immediately returned to his usual demeanor, saying irritably: “Didn’t you say earlier you’d listen to everything I say? So now you’re just spouting nonsense, huh? Want me to smack you right now? Believe it or not, I’ll do it!”

“No!” the delicate youth quickly answered. “But, this—”

“What ‘this this that that’? Keep babbling and I’ll pry your mouth open and stuff it down your throat. Believe it or not?” Chu Huaixu looked eager to try.

He had already fought Han Shuangjiang, the World Protagonist of this realm. Why not try fighting Xu Ziqing today?

Seeing this, Xu Ziqing was at a loss for words.

In the end, the youth clenched his teeth, convincing himself to treat it as Senior Brother placing heavy investment in him.

I must train diligently. At the very least, I must become a Major Cultivator like Senior Lei!

With Senior Brother treating me so, once I avenge my great feud, even if he asks me to be his death warrior, I will gladly accept!

At this thought, little Xu finally felt his mind clear, and asked: “Senior Brother, shall I take it here?”

Chu Huaixu nodded. “This place is, after all, a secret realm. It is an excellent place for seclusion, far safer than the outside world.”

“Alright.” The youth nodded, then sat cross-legged on the ground.

He opened the pill box and, with a solemn expression, swallowed the spiritual pill, then slowly closed his eyes.

The Xuantian Embryo Breathing Pill melted the moment it entered his mouth, immediately turning into a warm current.

Chu Huaixu guarded him at the side, inwardly curious.

“With his innate Drug-taking Holy Body, just how many levels can a single Xuantian Embryo Breathing Pill raise him by?” He was somewhat expectant.

From the pill’s quality alone, even as an amateur he could see that the one Chu Yinyin had given him was inferior to the one he himself had taken.

Even in appearance, there was a subtle difference.

“After all, mine was personally refined by the Pill King—naturally, the best of the best.”

Before long, Chu Huaixu faintly sensed that little Xu’s aura had begun to change.

His entire body turned crimson, unbearably hot, even faintly steaming.

This scene was very similar to Chu Huaixu’s own experience.

As time passed, Xu Ziqing continuously absorbed the medicinal power.

After quite a while, he suddenly opened his eyes and exhaled a long, turbid breath.

Chu Huaixu immediately threw over an 【Information Probe】, and began cursing inwardly.

“A Third-level Low-grade Spirit Embryo?”

“He actually jumped three whole levels from a False Spirit Embryo in one go?”

Little Xu, little Xu… forget cultivation, from now on you should just soak in a medicine vat.

At this moment, Xu Ziqing looked somewhat dazed.

He could clearly feel that something within him had changed, yet he couldn’t quite put it into words.

“Senior Brother, I—”

“Your Spirit Embryo should have improved greatly. The exact situation, you’ll need to test at the Spirit Plate in the Disciples’ Courtyard.” Chu Huaixu did not tell him about the three-level jump.

After all, with his current First Realm strength, even extracting a drop of Xu Ziqing’s blood, his divine sense was not accurate enough to confirm it. So he disguised the truth.

Xu Ziqing stood and bowed deeply to Chu Huaixu. “Thank you, Senior Brother, for granting me this chance of fortune!”

“Up, up. Time to go back.”

Having said so, he rose and walked out first.

In his view, giving little Xu a pill was simply an exchange for 【Sixfold Snow and Lightning】.

“As for the gratitude he always feels, for me bringing him into the Dao Gate…”

Chu Huaixu strode forward and flicked his sleeve, his robes fluttering in the air, signaling the youth to hurry along.

“That was what I owed you,” he thought silently.

Outside the Cold Pool, torrential rain was falling.

Though the Dao Gate had a Mountain-Protecting Formation, the sect always advocated closeness with heaven and earth. Thus, the weather was no different from outside—no formation was used to block rain or snow.

When Chu Huaixu had gone in, it had still been cloudy.

He had known it would rain, but had not expected it to be this heavy.

As soon as the two surfaced with the help of the Water-Repelling Pearl, they immediately saw Han Shuangjiang standing by the Cold Pool.

She was still wearing her light blue outer garment, holding an oil-paper umbrella—almost exactly the same as when he had first met her at the foot of Wumeng Mountain.

Tucked under her left arm were two more umbrellas, as if she had come especially to deliver them because the rain was too heavy.

“Why did you come? We have Water-Repelling Pearls, they can keep off the rain,” Chu Huaixu said.

“Oh, I forgot.” Upon seeing them, Han Shuangjiang’s slightly furrowed brows instantly relaxed, her tone plain.

In truth, she had not come to deliver umbrellas.

It was simply because Chu Huaixu had said he would return soon, yet delayed, making her increasingly uneasy.

Moreover, little Xu had also been gone for many days, so she truly feared that something might have happened inside the Cold Pool Secret Realm.

The cold-faced girl had already been waiting there for quite some time, even debating whether she should fetch Steward Niu to take a look.

As for the Water-Repelling Pearl, she had truly forgotten about it.

Bringing two umbrellas was merely a cover, to hide her needless worry from seeming foolish.

But Chu Huaixu, with years of play-companion experience, was an expert at reading such things.

He had already noted every change in the Big Ice Block’s expression, and couldn’t help but smile.

However, he said nothing more, nor did he tease her as he usually would.

Chu Huaixu simply held up his own Water-Repelling Pearl. “Here, this rain is too heavy, your umbrella can’t block it. Take this Water-Repelling Pearl and use it instead.”

He knew the Big Ice Block had a slight obsession with cleanliness.

At this moment, her shoes were muddy, her outer garment damp, many parts of her body soaked by rainwater, even strands of her hair speckled with droplets carried by the wind.

The cold-faced girl looked at the Water-Repelling Pearl, then at Chu Huaixu. Following his gaze, she realized he was looking at her shoes and drenched clothing.

Just then, Xu Ziqing quickly interjected: “Senior Sister Han, why not take mine instead? This Water-Repelling Pearl was yours in the first place.”

In a sense, he was considerate. Yet, in another, he lacked true tact.

“No need.” Han Shuangjiang was the same as always, habitually rejecting kindness with her cold face.

“Come, let’s go. Don’t chat here. We’re going home.” Seeing the rain only grow heavier, she spoke thus.

“Yes, home, home!” Chu Huaixu patted Xu Ziqing, signaling him to walk faster.

Hearing the word “home,” the delicate youth couldn’t help but glance up at the sky, warmth rising in his heart.

The three of them, all without families, thus walked together through the pouring rain toward the bamboo house.

Chu Huaixu, glancing sideways, saw Han Shuangjiang, with her slight cleanliness habit, holding the umbrella in one hand, and with the other lifting the hem of her outer garment, carefully avoiding puddles—sometimes leaping right, sometimes striding left.

For some reason, watching the lovely back of the girl, his heart filled with peace and serenity.

Unknowingly, he had already spent quite some time in the Xuanhuang Realm.

From the start, when he still carried a player’s mindset and felt detached from the world, to now—completely accustomed to this place.

“No such thing as gaming anymore,” Chu Huaixu thought to himself.

——This was already the Mortal World.