novelraw Chapter 165 : Chu Huaixu: Who If Not Me!
Chapter 165 : Chu Huaixu: Who If Not Me!
Chapter 165: Chu Huaixu: Who If Not Me!
Inside the grand hall, Chu Huaixu listened to the system notification with a flicker of joy in his heart.
"Origin Spirit Realm?"
"Is that the name of the secret realm Li Chunsong mentioned?" he thought.
At that moment, Li Chunsong continued speaking:
"Of course, if you're willing to sell the 【Fragment of Xuanhuang Origin】 to the sect, the sect will absolutely grant you incredibly generous rewards."
"Right? Sect Master and First Senior Brother?" He smiled as he looked at the two Eighth Realm cultivators.
To them, this item was practically a future necessity!
Li Chunsong turned to Chu Huaixu and said gravely, "So, you now understand the importance of the Eastern and Western Continents’ Grand Competition, don’t you?"
Chu Huaixu nodded solemnly. "Disciple understands."
He had previously wondered why the champion’s rewards for the Eastern Continent competition were so lavish, with top-grade spiritual artifacts and seventh-grade spiritual pills.
But just now, after the conversation about the jade pendant, the Sect Master hadn’t naturally mentioned the rewards for becoming the champion of the Eastern and Western Continents, as if to stir up motivation.
"So the reward for becoming the Eastern Continent champion is to arm you with gear and resources—so you can go fight the Western Continent champion!"
"And the true grand prize is the qualification to enter the 【Origin Spirit Realm】!"
Actually, if it was merely about reducing the experience points needed to level up, Chu Huaixu could achieve that through acquiring the 【Spirit Embryo Attribute】.
But judging from Li Chunsong’s words, it seemed anyone who refined it could receive this benefit. In that case, even a monster like Han Shuangjiang with 【Spirit Embryo 10】 might not be an exception?
"If so, the so-called Origin Power might very well exist independently of the 【Spirit Embryo】!"
That changed everything!
Chu Huaixu’s desire surged in an instant.
Even more so, it was the key to unlocking the Ninth Realm!
Chu Huaixu immediately declared, "Disciple shall give it my all in the Eastern and Western Continents’ Grand Competition—I shall not fail in this mission!"
Who cares about some Heir of Prince Rui.
Who cares about some world protagonist of the Western Continent.
I, Chu Huaixu, will beat you!
His eagerness to crush his opponent surged to a climax.
This hidden truth also cleared up a puzzle for Chu Huaixu.
Because in 《Borrowed Sword》, both the First Realm and Third Realm Eastern and Western Continent competitions were won by Xu Ziqing.
He had been wondering—wasn’t the Third Realm competition supposed to begin next year?
In 《Borrowed Sword》, Little Xu somehow always had a False Spirit Embryo. Even if he had an innate Drug-taking Holy Body, in such a short time, it should have been hard to reach the Third Realm without severe side effects.
The False Spirit Embryo was just too trash—it was worlds apart from even the weakest low-grade Spirit Embryo!
The difference was as great as between a lower-grade and a top-grade Spirit Embryo.
The cultivation speed of a False Spirit Embryo could only be described as turtle-like.
Even if you fed him a mountain of heavenly materials and earthly treasures, the effect would be minimal—unless you first raised the embryo’s grade.
"That being the case, he must have cleared the 【Origin Spirit Realm】 back in the First Realm, refined the Origin Fragment, and significantly boosted his cultivation speed."
At that moment, as Sect Master Xiang Yan and the others heard Chu Huaixu’s bold declaration, satisfaction bloomed on their faces.
They had revealed all this in advance precisely to inspire an unyielding resolve.
However, Jiang Zhi disrupted the mood with a cold snort.
"Don’t get ahead of yourself, kid!" he said icily.
The white-robed Little Martial Uncle Ancestor gave Chu Huaixu a frosty glance and continued:
"Let me be clear—that secret realm is perilous beyond measure, a journey of nine deaths and one life."
"It might be your opportunity, your fortune, but it might also be where you die without even a grave!"
Xiang Yan frowned and interrupted, "Little Martial Uncle!"
He thought Jiang Zhi’s timing was terribly off.
The Eastern and Western competition hadn’t even started yet, and nothing had been decided.
Saying something like that now just felt… off.
It was like winning a competition, bringing glory to your sect, your nation, even the entire Eastern Continent—only to be sent to your death.
In Xiang Yan and the others’ eyes: "If things go as usual, Chu Huaixu should definitely return safely."
"Even if the Dao Ancestor’s Maxim mentioned it, didn’t he already defeat the Bronze Sword?"
"This kid is practically the reincarnation of the Dao Ancestor—he shouldn’t face any major problems."
Of course, no one could guarantee such things.
But cultivation had always been defying the heavens. External secret realms weren’t like those inside the sect—they didn’t spare lives.
Sects’ internal trials were more like games between the deceased seniors and younger disciples.
Fortunes outside required risk to grasp!
Every person present had experienced life-or-death scenarios.
That was simply part of cultivation.
"Little Martial Uncle saying such things now is a real buzzkill. Chu Huaixu is still so young—don’t let this affect his mindset in the upcoming champion’s duel," Xiang Yan and the others thought inwardly.
Still, they could understand why he reacted this way.
After all, his experience was different. He was originally supposed to enter the fifth level of the Origin Spirit Realm.
But by twist of fate, he was gravely injured during a demon-slaying expedition, and thus missed his chance.
"That must’ve become Little Martial Uncle’s heart demon."
"No one expected the fifth level to be so deadly."
"And he attained the Dao through killing. By the Eighth Realm, his strength was already approaching the early Ninth Realm."
"He must often wonder—if he had gone in too, would the ending have been different?"
"He was meant to enter the spirit realm, so his nightmares differ from ours."
"But in the end, the one who ‘barely survived’ ended up with the Origin Fragment brought back by the maddened Fifth Martial Uncle, and broke through to the Ninth Realm," Xiang Yan thought.
Oftentimes, it was unclear—was it the dead who suffered more, or the lone survivor?
"Thus, Little Martial Uncle now lives in contradiction," the Sect Master sighed inwardly.
"He was always headstrong, stubborn, playful, and even a bit rebellious."
"Demon-slaying expeditions suited him best."
"But now, he often tries to imitate the maddened Fifth Martial Uncle—yet always ends up a poor imitation."
"Anything related to the Origin Spirit Realm, he can’t help but butt in. Always the first to act, impossible to hold back."
"Yet his decisions are never as well thought-out as Fifth Martial Uncle’s. He only mimicked the surface."
"After extreme grief, people may mature."
"But abilities you don’t possess won’t magically appear just because you suffered hardship."
In truth, Xiang Yan and the others understood very well. The current Little Martial Uncle, who always acted cryptic and all-knowing, was likely mocked behind his back by many in the outer sect. Some even found him irritating.
But to them, who were essentially family, they had witnessed his turbulent life firsthand.
Oftentimes, seeing this version of Little Martial Uncle evoked sympathy—even pity.
To Xiang Yan and the others, this latest expedition was merely about finding someone—and Dao Gate’s second-in-command accompanied him.
If not for the sudden emergence of Chu Huaixu, none of the ensuing chaos would have happened.
Even if Li Chunsong had arrived early at the foot of Wumeng Mountains, upon seeing only Han Shuangjiang, he would’ve waited. Nothing major would’ve gone wrong—they still could have smoothly escorted the Sword Attendant up the mountain.
And what’s even more bewildering—this unforeseen variable before them had now become the Eastern Continent’s champion!
He had even inherited the Dao Ancestor’s legacy!
Everyone turned their gaze to Chu Huaixu, observing his reaction.
To their surprise, this brat showed no change in expression after hearing Jiang Zhi’s words.
Not the slightest hint of fear or confusion.
Just like that peculiar Sword Intent he’d comprehended!
What’s more, Chu Huaixu’s thinking was ridiculously simple: "If Little Xu could do it in 《Borrowed Sword》, why can’t I?"
I’m not as good as Little Xu?
Are you kidding me?
That, as the head of his household, was something he absolutely could not accept.
But after some thought, he still spoke up to gather useful information. "Little Martial Uncle Ancestor, do you think that, given my current level, entering that secret realm still carries great risk?"
Jiang Zhi looked at him and answered directly, "I can tell you very clearly—that secret realm is of utmost importance. It concerns the Great Calamity of Heaven and Earth, and is closely tied to the lives of all living beings."
"Originally, Xu Ziqing was supposed to become the Sword Attendant for that sword and be the one to enter."
"Don’t think that just because you defeated him in the Eastern Continent competition, you're now invincible."
"If you hadn’t given him the Xuantian Embryo Breathing Pill and led him onto the path of Body Training, he would have become a perfect Sword Attendant and brought out the Dao Ancestor’s sword’s full power!"
"Now, even with secret arts enhancing him, its power is likely only seventy to eighty percent."
"And even so, your victory was barely won."
"Therefore, whether you’ll make it out of that secret realm alive—no one can guarantee it. Do you understand?"
Chu Huaixu digested the information.
"Sword Attendant?"
He didn’t like those three words.
His Little Xu, going to serve that sword?
It felt like raising a child only for them to become a dog for someone you hate.
Who could feel okay with that?
"So all of this... it’s because of the Great Calamity? Because of the Origin Spirit Realm?" Chu Huaixu thought.
Everyone looked at him, watching his constantly changing expression, as if he was weighing something.
Xiang Yan and the others inwardly thought, "This isn’t good."
But then Chu Huaixu suddenly raised his head and spoke seriously: "Little Martial Uncle Ancestor, this disciple has one question."
"Speak," Jiang Zhi replied calmly.
"If my Little Xu still had a False Spirit Embryo and hadn’t walked the path of Body Training, if he truly became the Sword Attendant—would using that Evil Sword come at a great price?" Chu Huaixu asked.
He said it directly—bluntly calling the Dao Ancestor’s sword an Evil Sword.
"Yes," Jiang Zhi answered without hiding anything.
The next moment, everyone saw a faint smile appear on the young man’s face.
"Then that’s good," said Chu Huaixu.
His thoughts were simple.
He wanted to enter the Origin Spirit Realm—the temptation was too great. Riches lay within danger.
Even if he currently only matched seventy to eighty percent of Xu Ziqing’s power from 《Borrowed Sword》, he still had ways to improve. It wasn’t game over!
Besides, so long as Little Xu was safe, that was enough.
If the golden finger shrank, so be it—it was better than dying in the future, wasn’t it?
As a seasoned Play Companion, having played so many games, in a world like 《Borrowed Sword》 where a Great Calamity was the setting, wasn’t it completely normal for a protagonist to die in the finale?
He even felt that someone as pure-hearted as Little Xu... his character seemed designed to be sacrificed!
Even before transmigrating, the game plot for 《Borrowed Sword》 hadn’t progressed to the later stages.
But he’d always had this theory.
In fact, there were many similar prediction threads in the game forums.
This was also the biggest reason for Xu Ziqing’s popularity among players.
Because he was short, gentle-looking—and was supposedly headed for such a tragic end?
"But why should my Little Xu have to die?" Chu Huaixu had long since stopped seeing this as just a game.
"In the future, who the hell’s going to wash the dishes in this house? Who the hell’s going to do my laundry? Damn it!"
"We even spent Mid-Autumn Festival together this year!"
For all these reasons, when Chu Huaixu learned that Xu Ziqing’s fate had truly changed, he smiled and said, "Then that’s good."
However, Jiang Zhi immediately frowned and said sternly:
"Chu Huaixu, this matter concerns the Great Calamity, concerns the lives of all beings. Because of your appearance as a variable, events have gone off track. Have you still not understood the gravity of this?"
Xiang Yan opened his mouth. As Sect Master, he intended to cut in—this was placing too much pressure.
After all, this wasn’t something Chu Huaixu could have known in advance.
Saying such things now felt overly harsh.
In fact, not just the Sect Master—Li Chunsong and Chu Yinyin also looked ready to speak up.
Especially the Old Girl—extremely protective—was about to lash out again.
"Do you even know how to talk?!"
But the youth standing at the center of the grand hall was the first to respond.
"Replying to Little Martial Uncle Ancestor—this disciple understands," he said, lifting his head.
Chu Huaixu continued loudly, "The Xuanhuang Realm, Eastern and Western Continents, the living beings of this world... Honestly, I’m not someone with grand ambitions."
"Though I haven’t figured everything out, perhaps—as Little Martial Uncle Ancestor said—it all stems from me being a variable."
"It was I who disrupted the path Little Xu was meant to walk, who changed the course of events."
"But now, this matter is already set in stone."
"I defeated Little Xu and became the Eastern Continent Champion."
"If I somehow manage to defeat the Heir of Prince Rui, then I’ll be the rightful candidate to enter the secret realm."
—Since it’s come to this, who if not me?
"But I’m still glad Little Xu’s unharmed."
"So then..." Chu Huaixu paused.
Then, this black-robed young man, standing in the center of the grand hall, cupped his hands toward the Dao Gate elders and declared loudly:
"His karma—this disciple shall bear it!"
......