Borrowed Sword

Chapter 144 The Bronze Sword Appears in the World

On the arena, Xu Ziqing performed a secret technique, undoing a restriction on the sword casket. This sword casket, made of coiled dragon wood, appeared to be only a Mid-grade spiritual artifact, but in reality, it contained a large number of restrictions and formations. These were the crucial part!

It was jointly refined by Formation Grandmaster Lu Pan, Artifact Refining Grandmaster Nangong Yue, and Dao Sect's Little Martial Uncle Jiang Zhi.

It was custom-made for the Sword Attendant.

The entire sword casket separated from the middle, forming an inverted triangle.

Inside, there were streaks of light patterns, like electric currents, as if forming an electric net, enveloping the bronze sword within the casket.

Before it officially opened, the audience surrounding the arena was extremely curious. Although Xu Ziqing didn't have as much hype as Chu Huaixu, it was still surprising that this Body Refinement cultivator could last until this round.

In every match, he would carry this large wooden casket.

If it were placed upright on the ground, it would definitely be a head taller than this delicate-looking youth!

The wooden casket was too eye-catching, so from the very first round, people speculated whether there was anything inside.

If there was, what was it holding?

Guo Zhennan swung his giant sword, forcing Xu Ziqing to open it.

Deep down, the youth actually hoped to rely on his own strength to last a few more rounds.

He wanted to fight on his own, not entirely relying on this sword.

Because he knew in his heart that at that point, it wouldn't be him competing; it would be this sword fighting for him!

"A Noble One commands things, and is not commanded by things." Xu Ziqing remembered this sentence carved by his senior martial brother.

However, his senior martial brother had also told him that he hoped their family of three could monopolize the top three places in the Eastern Continent Grand Competition.

"Little Martial Grand-Uncle even gave me a death order to win the Eastern Continent Champion."

"No, to be precise, to win the Eastern and Western Continent Grand Competition Champion."

In Xu Ziqing's view, if he were currently at First Realm Great Perfection like his opponent, then even if he were unarmed, he would definitely have the power to fight and be confident of victory!

Unfortunately, he was only at First Realm Sixth Heaven, and even with continuous consumption of pills, he couldn't catch up in a short time.

The youth was not a completely inflexible person.

To be precise, when he chatted with his senior martial brother last time, he was already probing his senior martial brother's intentions.

"If Senior Martial Brother tells me to rely entirely on my own strength, then I will fight on my own."

Clearly, compared to Jiang Zhi, he listened more to Chu Huaixu.

But that day, Chu Huaixu said nothing, only taking a deep look at the sword casket.

Xu Ziqing felt that he had already gotten his answer.

Moreover, if his opponent was just Guo Zhennan, he could still barely be considered to be fighting on his own!

As the sword casket opened, everyone's eyes were fixed on it.

Everyone was genuinely too curious; even Han Shuangjiang eagerly looked on.

Because she had never witnessed the true appearance of this sword herself!

But there's a saying: the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.

Everyone was wondering what kind of treasure it was that even its casket was a Mid-grade spiritual artifact?

Just now, when Xu Ziqing used a single-hand incantation to open the sword casket, the momentum was immense, and the scene was spectacular!

But...

This sword was so ugly!

Han Shuangjiang had heard Chu Huaixu mention that the sword on Spirit Hoard Mountain's peak was incredibly ugly.

But she only thought that this sword might not be as beautiful as the 【Heavenly Frostfowl)].

After all, it was too powerful, too legendary; if it were merely unremarkable, it would make people find it ugly.

Therefore, the ice block only assumed, based on what the cunning fox said: this sword probably wasn't pretty. Now, having seen its true form, she was greatly disappointed.

"It really is ugly."

Below the arena, the crowd discussed animatedly.

"I didn't expect Xu Ziqing's wooden casket to contain a sword?"

Many people's eyes involuntarily turned towards Chu Huaixu, who was watching from the audience.

Everyone now knew that he seemed quite familiar with this delicate-looking youth.

Because after each match, the three of them would find a secluded spot to chat, and Xu Ziqing seemed to treat Chu Huaixu with utmost respect, even with awe and admiration in his eyes...

"Damn it, could he also be a dual sword and body cultivator like Chu Huaixu?!" Many people had such a thought.

So similar! Too similar!

Both Dao Sect disciples and outsiders, after the previous round of matches, were eagerly anticipating Chu Huaixu drawing his sword.

After all, even the Eighth Realm Great Cultivator Mei Chuxue had indirectly created momentum for him, even stating she was looking forward to it!

For a time, Chu Huaixu was unmatched in popularity!

Who would have thought that while they weren't getting what they expected from him, they would get a... substitute version here first?

The legendary Dao Ancestor's sword had, unexpectedly, become Chu Huaixu's substitute one day.

"How can there be such an ugly bronze sword?"

"It's truly strange, like something refined by a novice artifact refiner."

"And it has no spiritual fluctuation at all, like a dead object."

Yet, on the high platform where Great Cultivators gathered, many people's reactions were completely different from below!

Situ Cheng and others were so shocked they almost stood up from their chairs!

Cultivators like Mo Tenglong, who were at the Fifth Realm, had never personally witnessed this legendary sword, so they couldn't recognize it at all.

But as one of the 【Four Divine Swords】, Situ Cheng had gone up the mountain to seek the sword, and was disastrously defeated.

Mei Chuxue and Teng Lingyi had not gone to Spirit Hoard Mountain to seek the sword, but as high-ranking officials within the Four Great Sects, they had some understanding of this sword.

The three of them simultaneously looked at the Dao Sect members, and even Situ Cheng, who usually had the worst sense of propriety, dared not speak carelessly now! "The Dao Ancestor's sword has reappeared!"

"Someone can actually make the Dao Ancestor's sword recognize them as its master!?"

This matter was too significant to discuss lightly!

They had originally thought that Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang were the Dao Sect's trump cards in this Grand Competition.

But who would have thought, they had kept such a big surprise hidden!

Moreover, the shock brought by this matter was simply too, too great.

Others might not know what this represented, but the three of them did.

The heavens of the Eastern Continent were about to change!

They couldn't sit still, they simply couldn't sit still!

The Four Great Sects were united in their efforts to combat the great tribulation of heaven and earth.

"Such a major matter, and you didn't tell us immediately?" Teng Lingyi and others thought.

At this moment, Xiang Yan, sitting in the main seat, met their gazes and probably understood what they were thinking.

He immediately transmitted messages to the three of them:

"After today's matches conclude, Little Martial Uncle will invite the three of you to Noble One Temple for tea."

Mei Chuxue couldn't help but want to roll her eyes, her charming peach blossom eyes filled with resentment.

She could already imagine it; this Dao Sect's Little Martial Uncle, who loved to act mysterious, would undoubtedly put on a smug expression, as if he had everything planned and under control.

"It seems that my journey here with Kuimu Quan means we have no chance at the Eastern Continent Champion." She thought.

Originally, she thought the most likely person to win the champion title would be Chu Huaixu, who hadn't even gone all out yet.

Now it seemed, the youth on the arena, with the Dao Ancestor's sword in hand, was truly invincible.

"Chu Huaixu can only be his stepping stone," Mei Chuxue said in her heart.

On the arena, after opening the sword casket, Xu Ziqing did not rush to attack, still using 【Flying Profound】 to dodge as much as possible.

Because he knew very well that he only had one chance to strike.

"Little Martial Grand-Uncle said that I can use the sword this round, but I must hold back."

During this period, Jiang Zhi had been urging Xu Ziqing to cultivate, and at the same time, racking his brains to teach him various secret techniques.

The situation had already taken a detour.

This Sword Attendant was not on the correct path.

Even Jiang Zhi, at this point, was powerless to reverse the situation or set things right.

Everyone could only try various things, to see if there were any other possibilities.

As it turned out, they really did come up with some tricks.

"Body Refinement also has its advantages." The arrogant sword cultivator Jiang Zhi, for the first time, had such a thought in his mind.

He was currently sitting in a wicker chair in Noble One Temple, his Divine Sense enveloping the training grounds, checking on the situation there.

He deliberately didn't go, waiting for all of today's matches to end before letting Situ Cheng and others come to him.

Jiang Zhi observed Xu Ziqing's performance on the arena, finding the child somewhat amusing.

"Only one sword strike."

"And it's not easy to control."

"Ridiculous! Are you perhaps afraid of cutting crooked?"

Clearly, the youth knew this sword was powerful, but still didn't know how powerful it truly was!

Little Xu, with his extremely high combat awareness, finally found a flaw.

"Now is the best moment!"

He raised his hand and beckoned, and the bronze sword within the casket flew out, landing in his hand.

Chu Huaixu watched from below the arena, his brows slightly furrowed, feeling puzzled.

"Why is it his left hand?"

Yes, this sword landed in Xu Ziqing's left hand.

As soon as the sword was in his hand, the youth felt an immense burden.

The sword spirit was still in a deep slumber, its power basically sealed tightly.

Only when the restriction in his right palm connected with the restriction on the sword body would the sword awaken.

It was currently like a dead object, not like a spiritual artifact.

And in fact, a so-called spiritual artifact is: 'The artifact moves with the spirit!'

Although the first of the nine restrictions left by the Dao Ancestor had been undone, the power it could unleash under these circumstances was extremely limited, perhaps not even two or three-tenths.

Moreover, the main point was actually for the sword spirit to control his body, entering a state of 【Sword-Human Fusion).

However, in doing so, the Sword Attendant would become a part of the sword, rather than the sword becoming a part of him, like an extension of his arm.

At this moment, Xu Ziqing was like a weak child forcefully wielding an incredibly heavy giant sword.

Even though he was a Body Refinement cultivator with a strong physique, the burden was immense at this moment.

Therefore, as soon as the sword was in his hand, he instantly swung forward, without any hesitation.

Because he only had this one moment!

This was his current limit.

The youth let out an angry roar, his voice somewhat hoarse.

His left arm's skin immediately cracked open, continuously oozing fresh blood, a bloody mess.

The sound of bones cracking was so jarring, it made one feel pain just by listening.

Xu Ziqing's face instantly turned several shades paler.

All the spiritual power from his Body Concealed Spirit was also instantly drained.

A greenish-black sword light emerged, looking somewhat eerie!

The sword light erupted, surrounded by black-purple currents of air.

Xu Ziqing couldn't control the sword at all, causing it to still be off target.

But in fact, even being off target didn't matter.

Because this horizontal sword light, slicing forward, seemed capable of annihilating everything on the arena! The entire arena's formation was instantly activated; otherwise, it would even injure the closest spectators!

The black-purple air currents swirled around the greenish-black sword light.

It was too fast.

This should not be a speed attainable by a First Realm cultivator.

Guo Zhennan had no time to dodge, and he couldn't possibly block it.

In this limited time, he only managed to form one thought: he realized... He wasn't going to lose; he was going to die!