novelraw Chapter 157 : Contest for the Champion’s Seat
Chapter 157 : Contest for the Champion’s Seat
Chapter 157: Contest for the Champion’s Seat
Before the duel on the platform officially began, the two of them clasped their hands politely and said to each other, “Please give me your guidance.”
Then, since he said he would give guidance, he truly would.
After Chu Huaixu withdrew his right hand, he clasped it behind his back.
He cared about appearances, so Han Shuangjiang couldn’t see the hand that trembled uncontrollably after he forcibly pulled back his Sword Qi.
But the spectators behind him could.
This man in a black robe, who had cut his way through one opponent after another, had encountered quite a few female cultivators—none of whom he had ever gone easy on.
A label of “ruthless flower destroyer” had long been branded upon him.
Yet this same man had just done what he did a moment ago.
Such a selective act of double standards, varying by person, was akin to an open display of partiality before everyone’s eyes.
He didn’t seem like a man who didn’t understand what gentleness or grace meant.
It was just that this side of him would never be shown before those female cultivators.
——《Chu Huaixu Seems a Little Misogynistic》
Perhaps a parenthetical note should be added at the end: (with one exception).
And truth be told, the way he touched between his brows lightly, followed by that line “I’ll stop here,” carried no small degree of cool confidence.
Most of the spectators were young, and many of them thought inwardly: “I’ve learned something.”
If they had the chance in the future, they might even try it out themselves.
Especially those sword cultivators who fancied themselves suave—they were already jotting it down in their little notebooks.
On the platform, the girl still seemed slightly dazed.
That finger’s surge of Sword Qi had truly made her heart tremble, and even her pupils quivered in response.
But in the end, it had turned into nothing more than a light touch.
She felt something she couldn’t quite describe.
That gentle tap of Chu Huaixu’s fingertip—it was hard to say what exactly he had knocked open.
……
……
Up on the viewing platform, those great cultivators hadn’t expected to witness such a scene.
Earlier, some of them had been ready to intervene personally to maintain order, lest Chu Huaixu really injure Han Shuangjiang.
But who would’ve thought that this youngster would forcefully withdraw his Sword Qi—at the risk of having his Spiritual Energy reverse and injure his meridians.
The truth was, Chu Huaixu wasn’t afraid of pain, and the self-healing ability of the 《Dao Canon》 was heaven-defying. He recovered in no time.
On Li Chunsong and the others’ faces appeared smiles reminiscent of doting aunts.
“I told you there’s something going on between those two!” Dead Gambler turned his head and said to Zhao Shuqin beside him.
The Fifth and Sixth Elders of the Dao Gate were both “proper gentlemen” in title, but hardly so in private.
The Benevolent Gambling King sighed sentimentally, feeling a pang of regret—it would’ve made a fine wager on their “relationship.”
If it had, he’d have won again!
Meanwhile, Situ Cheng and others were focused on something quite different from the rest.
Although Chu Huaixu bore Lu Pan’s restrictive formation on him and had Jiang Zhi helping conceal his aura, he was still one of the Four Great Divine Swords—ranked second among all sword cultivators of the age.
If Chu Huaixu didn’t activate his 【Sword Heart】, even he couldn’t sense it.
But once he did, there would inevitably be something strange to notice.
“Why do I sense a trace of 【Sword Heart】?”
“But how could someone in the First Realm possibly have one!”
“Could it be he’s already touched the threshold of the Sword Heart?”
“But his Sword Intent hasn’t even reached Great Completion!”
Though one didn’t need perfect Sword Intent to condense a Sword Heart, at the very least, one had to reach the realm of mastery—and Chu Huaixu was clearly only a beginner.
“Suppresses sword cultivators, yet carries Sword Heart aura.”
“This kid really reeks of oddities inside and out!”
Situ Cheng almost wanted to speak up, but considering Chu Huaixu’s formations and concealment techniques, that already reflected the Dao Gate’s stance.
If he said anything, it would only make him seem nosy—curious about a Dao Gate sword disciple, at that.
“No, no, better not. Otherwise, they’ll only get smug again.”
He immediately dismissed the thought, deciding instead to keep observing through the finals.
On the platform, Chu Huaixu looked at Han Shuangjiang. Seeing her still a bit dazed, he spoke in a soft tone of surprise: “What’s wrong, Senior Sister Han, still not conceding?”
The Dead Fox was acting shameless again.
The Big Ice Block’s 【Heaven-Man State】 had been completely shattered; her once silver-white hair had reverted to inky black.
She stared at him, steady and silent, for a long time.
So long that even Chu Huaixu started to feel uneasy under her gaze.
Just as his confusion deepened, Han Shuangjiang finally clasped her hands and said, “I’ve lost.”
As soon as the words left her lips, that cold, aloof face of hers softened; the chill melted away, replaced by rare liveliness—and a touch of girlish mischief.
Smiling, she added a title at the end of her sentence:
“Junior Brother Chu.”
…….
…….
Thus ended the first match of the Eastern Continent Grand Competition’s top-four.
The process had been breathtaking; the conclusion, deeply thought-provoking.
Chu Huaixu, who had fought his way to this point, had already become famous across the Eastern Continent.
If today’s duel spread, it would surely become a tale of romance and swordsmanship—perhaps even embellished by a few storytellers.
Of course, that didn’t include the one on the viewing platform.
Having consumed large quantities of Youth-retaining Pills, Skin-nourishing Pills, and White-complexion Pills—yet still looking utterly ordinary—Jiang Zhi found the final moments of the match unbearably dazzling.
He had always been jealous by nature; add unrequited love to that, and his heart only burned with greater envy.
He remembered Chu Yinyin’s master saying more than once, “Junior Brother is not only dark and ugly, but also terribly dull. He’s just not the romantic sort.”
Yet as one ranked second on the 【Must-Eat List of Play Companions】, certain of his attributes were—let’s say—maxed out.
For Jiang Zhi, Chu Huaixu was someone he truly couldn’t bring himself to like in any regard.
Fortunately, the second match began at that moment.
Xu Ziqing, carrying the massive Sword Case on his back, strode up to the platform.
His senior brother’s earlier “guidance” toward Senior Sister Han—he had seen every bit of it.
Little Xu even felt a faint trace of envy in his heart.
Compared to the gentleness Chu Huaixu showed Han Shuangjiang, he was far sterner toward him, rarely offering any praise.
Just as Xu Ziqing was momentarily distracted, his opponent, Chen Haoran, also stepped onto the platform.
With two Inner Sect disciples presiding, both clasped their hands and saluted.
Chen Haoran’s progress up to this point wasn’t due to luck alone—his own strength was considerable.
After giving it his all, he finally forced Xu Ziqing—who was currently only at the Sixth Heaven of the First Realm—to open his Sword Case.
Once his left hand gripped the sword, there was no suspense left in the outcome.
Xu Ziqing’s left hand was instantly crippled by his own power—but if not for Zhao Shuqin, the squint-eyed one, personally stepping in to save the situation, Chen Haoran would’ve died on the spot.
In terms of spectacle, this match was certainly less dazzling than the previous one.
Even so, the crowd remained awed by Xu Ziqing’s left-hand sword technique.
They had already seen it once before, yet the shock was no less than the first time.
“Such a terrifying strike—who could possibly block it?”
“This isn’t power that should exist in the First Realm at all!”
“I wonder if Chu Huaixu could handle that.”
On the platform, the tiles before Xu Ziqing had been completely shattered.
Each of his sword strikes destroyed half the stage.
Sect Master Xiang Yan sat on the high platform, deep in thought.
“For the champion’s duel the day after tomorrow, we’ll need a larger stage—and reinforce it with several more layers of formations.”
When all matches concluded for the day, the Martial Arena gradually dispersed.
Dragging his heavily injured body, Xu Ziqing had intended to go speak a few words with his senior brother and Senior Sister Han.
Instead, Jiang Zhi, before everyone’s eyes, openly called him away.
This stunned the ordinary Dao Gate disciples and even the outer sect members.
“Little Martial Uncle Ancestor just summoned Xu Ziqing?”
He was actually following at Little Martial Uncle Ancestor’s side!?
Among Outer Sect disciples, no such precedent existed!
Many instantly found Xu Ziqing’s strength far more understandable.
“Of course—he must’ve been personally trained by Little Martial Uncle Ancestor.”
“No wonder. He’s clearly received his special favor.”
Countless people felt a wave of envy.
Watching the scene, Xiang Yan felt utterly helpless—Little Martial Uncle was as willful as ever.
Since the Dao Gate was structured with the Gentleman Temple, Inner Sect, and Outer Sect, distinctions had to be maintained.
Jiang Zhi’s behavior was out of order.
Even if Xu Ziqing was a Sword Attendant, no matter how exceptional, such things shouldn’t be made public.
As everyone watched Little Martial Uncle openly fly off from the Martial Arena with Xu Ziqing, they exchanged looks of resignation.
And then—their youngest junior sister of this generation decided to start acting up as well!
When Little Martial Uncle had still been around, Chu Yinyin wouldn’t have dared to be so bold.
Now that he was gone, she figured it was time to bring some honor to her future disciple!
“Isn’t it just about publicly standing up for someone?”
“I can do that too!”
She rose abruptly on the high platform and shouted loudly, “Chu Huaixu, come with me!”
Xiang Yan and the others: “……”
The youngest of the previous generation, and the youngest of this one—neither were easy to manage!
Inwardly, they grumbled, “You’re only at the Sixth Realm. What good does it do you to stand up for Chu Huaixu?”
“Little Junior Sister, do you even know your own limits?”
Chu Huaixu, however, didn’t mind. On the contrary, he was more than willing to play along.
In his eyes: “This kind of easily provoked, loud little Loli—what difference is there between her and a toy that squeaks when pinched?”
“Quite cute, actually. All chirpy and noisy.”
……
……
Elsewhere, Jiang Zhi flew swiftly, soon bringing the severely injured Xu Ziqing back to the Gentleman Temple.
He tossed him a Spiritual Pill, telling him to take it and heal his wounds.
Jiang Zhi looked at the delicate young man and said, “The day after tomorrow is the champion’s duel. What are your plans?”
“Uh… plans?” The boy was taken aback.
He had no plans. He simply followed whatever arrangements his senior brother and Little Martial Uncle Ancestor made.
If Chu Huaixu told him to admit defeat, he would readily concede—handing the unmatched glory of the Eastern Continent’s Champion title to him without hesitation.
After all, he truly believed his actual strength was far beneath his senior brother’s.
What’s more, the rewards between first and second place were vastly different.
He thought those treasures rightfully belonged to his senior brother.
Even if he somehow won them, he would secretly ask if his senior brother wanted them.
As long as Chu Huaixu said yes, Little Xu would hand them over without the slightest hesitation.
However, Jiang Zhi gave him a cold, piercing look.
“I know exactly what foolish thoughts you’re having,” Little Martial Uncle Ancestor said irritably, his expression turning darker by the moment.
“But let me tell you—you're utterly ignorant of what lies beneath the surface.”
“The Eastern and Western Continents Grand Competition isn’t as simple as you think.”
“So, for the duel the day after tomorrow—”
“I want you to win!”
When he finished, Jiang Zhi raised a finger and gently tapped Xu Ziqing’s right arm.
Staring at him with absolute seriousness, he issued the command in a tone that allowed no refusal:
“For the Champion’s Duel—I want you to wield your sword with your right hand!”
……