novelraw Chapter 160 : The Dao Ancestor Reappears!
Chapter 160 : The Dao Ancestor Reappears!
Chapter 160: The Dao Ancestor Reappears!
On the platform, the battle for Champion was on the verge of erupting.
Under the protection of two inner sect disciples, the platform's grand formation activated first.
For the Champion's Duel, not only had the size of the platform increased severalfold to allow both participants to fully display their abilities, but even the strength of the formation had been enhanced to prevent any unnecessary accidents.
Chu Huaixu could tell that Xu Ziqing was brimming with fighting spirit.
Though he couldn’t understand how that damn kid even dared!
According to his original script, he had worried that Little Xu would cower when facing him.
At that time, he had planned to scold him a few times with an overly pretentious tone: “"Do not lose your will to challenge!"”
Then he’d follow up with the old advice: “"Straighten your back. Step forward."”
Yet today, Little Xu was full of high spirits, which somewhat irritated him.
—So your wings have hardened, huh!
The little chick’s feathers barely hardened, and now he was playing eagle with me!
"Then let your Senior Brother properly evaluate your recent progress!"
The two rough and crude body cultivators exchanged a glance and reached a tacit understanding.
They simultaneously cast the exact same technique, 【Flying Profound】, and charged forward at high speed, clashing head-on with their refined physiques.
"Bang—!"
"Bang—!"
Fists and feet collided, delivering a brutally straightforward body-cultivation showdown.
Fortunately, the formation had reinforced the stone tiles on the platform. Otherwise, the very ground would have cracked beneath their forceful strikes.
Their fists collided head-on. Chu Huaixu was inwardly amazed by the strength of the 《Ice-Muscle Jade-Bone Method》.
After all, the 《Dao Canon》 was a dual-cultivation method, and its body-training effects were only comparable to an earth-rank technique.
Despite suppressing his cultivation to the Third Heaven and having just gained 1 point in 【Physique】, he only held a slight upper hand.
Pure body-cultivation types were clearly more ferocious than half-baked ones like him!
Soon, both his and Xu Ziqing’s fists began to show signs of torn and bloody skin.
However, Chu Huaixu's recovery speed was clearly faster—his advantage.
After forcing Xu Ziqing back with another punch, Chu Huaixu grinned and shouted, “"Very good! I didn’t expect your body cultivation to have improved this much!"”
Sitting on the high platform, Jiang Zhi couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of his eye.
"This brat is even commenting now!"
As Little Martial Uncle Ancestor, he had personally guided Xu Ziqing all this time with great care—even more attentively than he had with Shen Man back then.
But now, all of that had become stage fodder for Chu Huaixu to show off on the platform!
If anyone should be assessing Xu Ziqing’s progress, it should be him!
Jiang Zhi frowned immediately.
What made it worse was that Xu Ziqing, being on the receiving end of such "commentary," actually looked pleased.
"Senior Brother praised me!" the youth was gleeful inside.
He felt that all the "torment" he had suffered recently in the Gentleman Temple had become worthwhile at this moment!
Not gaining the upper hand in body cultivation, Xu Ziqing knew he had to draw his sword.
Otherwise, it would just be wasting his Senior Brother’s time.
Dressed in white robes, Xu Ziqing took a few steps back and spoke: “"Senior Brother, be careful. I’m about to draw my sword."”
Chu Huaixu smiled. “"Alright."”
Facing Little Xu, who held the sword in his left hand, he dared not be careless.
Ink-colored energy began swirling around him as he waved his hand, causing distant autumn leaves to attach to the currents.
After a moment’s thought, he chose to carry the sword scabbard on his back, freeing both hands.
Behind Xu Ziqing, the sword case opened.
Yet the youth did not immediately draw his sword.
He raised his head, intending to first inform his Senior Brother of his recent progress, and also give him a bit of warning.
“"Senior Brother, I have mastered the 【Six Formations of the Broken Array】. I shall demonstrate it to you today!"”
After leaving the bamboo hut, Xu Ziqing had continued studying this technique.
Even without Chu Huaixu at his side to confirm whether his revisions and completions were correct, he still had Little Martial Uncle Ancestor!
With Jiang Zhi’s insight, of course he could tell.
In fact, even Jiang Zhi, a sword cultivator who once stood at the Ninth Realm, couldn’t help but marvel at Xu Ziqing’s sword talent.
"To supplement and perfect an incomplete earth-rank technique at merely the First Realm?"
"Such heaven-defying comprehension... I wonder if even the current Sword Sovereign can match it?"
At least in this regard, Jiang Zhi admitted inferiority.
This showed that even if Xu Ziqing never became a Sword Attendant, so long as heavenly materials and treasures kept raining upon him, forcibly raising his Spirit Embryo’s quality—he would definitely become a powerful sword cultivator!
Chu Huaixu, hearing this, felt his head ache.
"Already perfected it this fast?" he was shocked.
But he quickly let out a sigh of relief.
"Why am I worried? I’m no longer that 'feigning-dullness' low-comprehension self!"
"I now have a proud 【Comprehension 5】!"
"A mere earth-rank sword technique—I already meet the entry conditions."
"Even if it’s perfected, there’s nothing to fear!"
Besides, for the Eastern Continent Champion's Duel, the system had offered more generous rewards.
The experience was still 100,000 points, plus three whole random special attribute points!
They might even land on Comprehension, making him even smarter.
The current problem was: Xu Ziqing had never used the 【Six Formations of the Broken Array】.
Just now, he had swung his left-hand sword in what amounted to a basic attack.
And just that basic attack—apart from Chu Huaixu, probably only Han Shuangjiang among First Realm cultivators could block it with any confidence.
But what if that basic strike was replaced with the 【Six Formations of the Broken Array】?
What kind of terrifying sword would that be!
......
......
Outside the platform, many had already held their breath.
Though few fully understood the duo’s exchange, it wasn’t hard to guess that Xu Ziqing’s sword today would be different from before.
"Already this strong, and still holding back?"
"Let’s wait and see!"
"With things like this, can Chu Huaixu really block it?"
In the crowd, only Han Shuangjiang looked visibly worried.
And she was concerned on both fronts.
She knew about the 【Six Formations of the Broken Array】, though not in detail. It seemed like something Chu Huaixu had assigned to Little Xu as a task?
She knew that whenever Junior Brother Xu had spare time, he would try to perfect this incomplete sword technique.
Every time he practiced, he would refrain from using spiritual energy, relying solely on his physical body to forcibly perform it.
In such cases, his arms would be heavily strained. After one session, they would tremble uncontrollably and take a long time to recover.
"If he uses the left-hand sword for it, wouldn’t that be adding injury to injury?" How could Han Shuangjiang not worry about his body?
Every time Xu Ziqing used the Bronze Sword, his left arm would practically be rendered useless on the spot.
Now, adding this seemingly self-harming sword technique on top—wasn’t he just abusing his own body?
She feared the boy wouldn’t be able to endure.
As for Chu Huaixu—she worried he couldn’t block it.
Clearly, her understanding of the man who lived next door was still quite limited.
Han Shuangjiang had no idea just how much stronger Chu Huaixu had become in a single night.
And on the high platform, Xiang Yan couldn’t help his curiosity and asked aloud: “"Little Martial Uncle, what is this 【Six Formations of the Broken Array】?"”
As the Sect Master, he was supposed to be fully informed about everything concerning the Sword Attendants.
Look at the name—‘Six’ refers to snow, and ‘Broken Array’ to lightning, but when put together, it still feels a bit strange.
"It is a remnant earth-rank sword technique that Xu Ziqing happened upon by chance," Jiang Zhi replied in a calm tone, clearly speaking loud enough for Situ Cheng and the others to hear.
"Earth-rank sword technique!" Situ Cheng and the others were visibly stunned.
First Realm cultivation, yet he had learned an earth-rank sword technique?
And wasn’t that brat a body cultivator!
But in truth—
The two body cultivators on the platform both walked the path of Human and Sword as One.
Only, Chu Huaixu naturally carried a Heart Sword.
While Xu Ziqing had been invaded by the Sword Spirit of an Evil Sword!
Rather than body cultivation, it was more accurate to say they were refining their swords!
From a certain perspective, this was not only a battle between two people—but also between two swords.
The Bronze Sword flew out from the sword case, hovering in front of Xu Ziqing.
Disciples of the Dao Gate, unaware of the truth, once again had the same thought: "What an ugly sword!"
Looking at it, Chu Huaixu couldn’t help a rather disrespectful thought.
"Such an ugly sword, with that kind of personality."
"It really is quite similar to that plain-looking and overly vain Little Martial Uncle Ancestor."
He even thought the person and sword were quite a good match.
But then again, if they were too similar, they might grow to detest each other.
The moment the Bronze Sword appeared, the small black sword in Chu Huaixu’s Sea of Consciousness stirred.
The previously feeble Heart Sword was now surging with battle intent.
It was transmitting its will, urging Chu Huaixu to use its power!
Unfortunately, the Heart Sword and Bronze Sword had Sword Spirits of similar standing and could not overpower each other.
Therefore, Chu Huaixu knew—it wanted him to use its Spirit Embryo Divine Ability and draw upon the strength of the Sword Heart.
After a glance exchanged between Xu Ziqing and his Senior Brother, he gripped the sword hilt with his left hand, then let out a strained, guttural roar.
The burden of wielding the Bronze Sword and the backlash of 【Six Formations of the Broken Array】 struck him simultaneously.
Before even unleashing the sword energy, his body began to show signs of collapse.
The flesh on his left arm instantly split open, blood spraying from the torn skin.
Cracks and fractures rang out from his fingers and wrist, traveling all the way to his shoulder.
Though he used the Bronze Sword with his left hand, the damage was localized to his arm.
But the sinister technique, 【Six Formations of the Broken Array】, could even injure internal organs.
So while his external wounds were already terrifying, he had also suffered internal trauma.
Still, having trained in the 《Ice-Muscle Jade-Bone Method》, his internal organs had been significantly strengthened.
From that angle, it was as if this cultivation method was tailor-made for the World Protagonist!
He swung his sword with great effort, unleashing an extraordinarily fearsome black sword energy, laced with dark bluish-black currents.
This slash was on a completely different level than any he had performed with his left hand before!
Chu Huaixu reacted swiftly, flicking out each autumn leaf one by one.
At the Great Perfection level, 【Thunder at Fingertips】 surged forth in a violent True Gang form.
Even Li Chunsong and the others on the high platform could no longer sit still!
He and Zhao Shuqin had gifted Chu Huaixu True Gang and a movement technique, respectively.
Yet it had been such a short time, and he had already mastered them to the level of Great Perfection!
"So his earlier 'Minor Success' was merely feigned incompetence!" All the major cultivators found it unbelievable.
No one thought it possible for Chu Huaixu to comprehend so much in so little time.
It was simply unrealistic.
Seven falling leaves, imbued with violent True Gang, rushed toward the sword energy at great speed.
Each strand of True Gang was also imbued with Fearless Sword Intent!
Situ Cheng narrowed his eyes. "He can infuse Sword Intent into True Gang?"
"That shouldn’t be possible for someone newly awakened to Sword Intent."
Had Geng Tianhe witnessed this scene, he would have only felt more confident in his previous insight.
He had been too fixated on Chu Huaixu’s sword.
For us sword cultivators, anything under the heavens can become a sword!
Thus he had said: "You have already seen my sword."
Though Geng Tianhe hadn’t fully understood Chu Huaixu’s meaning, he wasn’t entirely mistaken either.
Chu Huaixu could do this—because he himself *was* a sword.
Whether True Gang, fist techniques, or anything else—it all stemmed from his sword-body.
Therefore, all could carry Sword Intent!
Facing such a terrifying sword strike, he didn’t hesitate at all and charged straight into it.
"Why should I dodge!"
—Fearless!
The seven streaks of True Gang blazed a trail forward. His fingertip sword energy was unlike before.
If when "guiding" Han Shuangjiang he had merely used a wisp of Sword Heart power—
Now, the seven leaves infused with True Gang and Sword Intent clashed directly with the unstoppable sword energy.
At the same moment, Chu Huaixu unleashed his fingertip sword energy.
The power of the 【Sword Heart】 and the 【Heart Sword】 burst forth together!
With a powerful shout, the seemingly unstoppable sword energy was forcefully shattered!
After being dispersed, the black sword energy left lingering wisps of dark aura on the ground, spreading across the entire platform in an ominously eerie fashion.
A man in black robes stood amidst the black aura, instilling overwhelming pressure in all who watched.
Chu Huaixu was too powerful. His display of strength sent fear and despair into the hearts of all First Realm cultivators.
Xu Ziqing, gravely wounded, let his left arm hang low. His face was deathly pale, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth.
His head hung down, body trembling uncontrollably like an exhausted bow.
But in his right palm, a blinding golden light began to flash!
A golden restriction floated in his hand, with cryptic runes dancing like living things.
"Senior Brother, please be extremely careful. What follows is beyond my control."
His ruined left hand could barely hold the sword, ready to fall at any moment.
Yet somehow, the sword seemed to teleport into his right hand.
Seated above, Xiang Yan exchanged a glance with Lu Pan.
The formation grandmaster immediately understood and waved his hand, casting a barrier that blocked all aura from the Bronze Sword, cutting off its sinister spiritual presence from the surrounding audience!
Looking at Little Xu gripping the sword in his right hand, Chu Huaixu's expression turned grave.
This young man, who cultivated the 《Dao Canon》 and wore the Dao Ancestor’s Sword Scabbard on his back, called out loudly:
"Han Shuangjiang."
The girl looked at him in surprise, then heard a single line:
--
"Lend me your sword!"
......