novelraw Chapter 168 : Eastern Continent Champion vs
Chapter 168 : Eastern Continent Champion vs
Chapter 168: Eastern Continent Champion vs. Western Continent Champion
Inside the bedroom, Niu Yuanshan’s face immediately showed a look of extreme excitement upon hearing His Highness the Heir’s question.
This made the Heir of Prince Rui feel somewhat strange just watching his expression.
“Could this Huo Dingyi really surprise me?”
Old Niu’s weathered face flushed red, his tone involuntarily rising a few notches, even carrying a hint of tremor in his voice.
“Reporting to His Highness, Huo Dingyi is Chu Huaixu!”
Even someone as composed as the Heir of Prince Rui couldn’t sit still upon hearing this.
“What!?”
Chu Huaixu, Champion of the Eastern Continent, is actually one of our Moon Country’s spies?
In that instant, the young man’s first reaction was a tingling scalp!
His right hand, which had been resting flat on the table, clenched into a fist.
This could no longer be described as merely astonishing.
He swallowed hard, trying to maintain his imperial demeanor.
The Heir of Prince Rui spoke in a lowered tone, feigning calmness, with a faintly forced smile on his lips:
“So, in a few days, I’ll be facing off against Huo Dingyi?”
“This so-called Eastern and Western Continents’ Grand Competition—was it just an internal struggle within our Moon Country all along?”
The so-called 【Organization】 members were nothing more than dogs of the royal family, hounds of the court.
Brainwashed this thoroughly, they were raised to be sacrificed.
They would offer everything, including their lives.
His father had always taught him—to view the world as a chessboard, and all beings as chess pieces.
To have a top-down perspective, overseeing the grand picture.
People like those from the 【Organization】, from a royal viewpoint, were the best chess pieces—ones that could be abandoned at any time.
The more loyal they were, the easier it was to discard them without fear of backlash.
How could the Heir of Prince Rui not realize that his future opponent, once merely a chess piece on the board, was now challenging him?
Niu Yuanshan, of course, had no idea what he was thinking. He only spoke with enthusiasm:
“Your Highness, you’re absolutely right. The upcoming Champion’s Duel between the Eastern and Western Continents, regardless of who wins, will be a victory for our Moon Country!”
But as soon as he said that, he realized his wording was off. He quickly corrected himself and added:
“Though Chu Huaixu appears flamboyant in his actions, he’s actually someone who knows how to handle matters with propriety.”
Old Niu’s implication was already quite clear.
How could someone trained by the 【Organization】 possibly tarnish the royal family’s image in a match being watched by the entire Xuanhuang Realm?
We were raised by the court as its hounds.
If anyone truly acted out in such a situation, it would be a capital offense!
Those deeply brainwashed had long since had their thoughts solidified.
The Heir of Prince Rui also knew well the behavioral tendencies of those from the 【Organization】.
He had witnessed firsthand someone obeying a single command from his father and slitting their own throat on the spot—no different from a deathsworn.
So how could he not understand what Niu Yuanshan was implying?
But as a prince of noble blood and the Champion of the Western Continent, he had to maintain his poise.
“No need for such words.”
“If he truly defeats this prince, I will be glad. After all, are we not all citizens of the Moon Country?” he said with a faint smile.
However, there was one thing he couldn’t comprehend.
Why would such a Heaven’s Mandated One not be nurtured in the Moon Country, but instead sent to the Dao Gate?
Wasn’t that equivalent to placing the top-tier genius of the Xuanhuang Realm into the most dangerous position? It was far too easy to die.
No matter how he thought about it, it seemed unnecessary.
But the matter was already settled. The Heir of Prince Rui had no intention of revealing Chu Huaixu’s identity.
Not even to Eunuch Li, who came from the palace.
“It’s about time I start building a reliable faction of my own,” he thought to himself.
……
……
Time passed, and soon it was the night before the Champion’s Duel between the Eastern and Western Continents.
Chu Huaixu received the jade pendant, personally delivered by Elder Nangong.
This artifact-refining grandmaster even gave him a thorough introduction.
“Its greatest function is that it nourishes the body day and night. As long as you wear it, it's equivalent to constantly tempering your body.”
“In the short term, the effects won’t be too noticeable, but the value lies in gradual accumulation.”
“In addition, it was originally a defense-type magical treasure, though its effect wasn’t particularly outstanding.”
“After I reforged it, and the Enforcement Elder added seven more formations to it, its defensive ability nearly doubled.”
“Also, I noticed earlier that the defensive technique you’re currently learning is 【Ink Splash】, correct?”
Chu Huaixu nodded at once.
“So you’re probably planning to learn the advanced technique 【Stained by Ink】 next?” Nangong Yue asked.
“Yes, that’s indeed the plan,” Chu Huaixu replied.
“Good. So when the First Senior Brother inscribed the formations, I specifically asked him to follow that style, allowing the aura to manifest as air currents. This way, it can integrate with your protective technique for a seamless effect,” Nangong Yue said with a smile.
He more or less understood now.
As a female artifact-refining grandmaster, she even took aesthetics into account!
Simply put, the jade pendant’s special effect could integrate with his technique without looking messy, thus preserving visual elegance.
——Nangong Elder, love it, love it.
She truly considered everything; it was tailored just for him!
“Disciple thanks Elder Nangong and the Enforcement Elder,” Chu Huaixu said at once.
“As long as you like it.” She gave a gentle smile, her voice soft and melodious with a Jiangnan accent.
Since the duel was tomorrow, Nangong Yue didn’t linger, not wanting to take up more of Chu Huaixu’s time.
Watching her full, curvy figure gradually fly off and disappear into the night, Chu Huaixu held the jade pendant, gently rubbing it with his fingers to feel its texture.
Oddly enough, it didn’t have the usual coolness of jade but carried a trace of warmth.
It truly fit the phrase “warm and soft like jade” used to describe a woman’s body.
Chu Huaixu attached it to his waist. Dressed in black robes, the white jade pendant served as a striking contrast.
“Senior Sister Han, come out quick! I want to show you my treasure!”
Dead Fox shouted, immediately seeking out his Little Housekeeper to show off.
Two days ago, Han Shuangjiang had gone to the Scripture Pavilion and exchanged for a suitable Second Realm Heaven-rank Cultivation Method.
Today, she directly broke through to the Second Realm—her efficiency was absurd, breaking through as easily as breathing.
She was obedient enough and came out right away, knowing full well he was about to flaunt something again.
“Now that Junior Brother Xu still hasn’t returned, I’m the only one left to humor him with these antics. He probably finds it not thrilling enough,” Big Ice Block thought with mixed feelings.
Chu Huaixu took a few steps toward her, skipped all pretense and foreplay, and got straight to the show-off act:
“Watch closely!”
He began to channel his divine sense into the jade pendant at his waist, then cast 【Ink Splash】.
Just like Nangong Yue had said, the pendant’s defensive effect instantly merged with the technique’s air currents.
The ink-colored air currents didn’t become thicker or more viscous—on the contrary, they even grew lighter, more elegant in form!
Han Shuangjiang, being a young girl, found herself a bit envious.
“It does look rather pretty.”
Then she heard Dead Fox again:
“So? Doesn’t it make me look even better?”
“It’s alright,” Big Ice Block replied.
Chu Huaixu immediately felt bored, missing the days when Little Xu was around.
“Tch! It’s still better when Little Xu’s here. He’d rack his brains to come up with all sorts of four-character idioms.” He sighed in front of the girl, discontent with her lack of cooperation.
Big Ice Block didn’t mind, instead saying:
“Right. I still wonder what’s up with Junior Brother Xu—why hasn’t he come back?”
“Maybe someone just couldn’t handle losing and is already preparing for next year’s Third Realm Grand Competition, getting a head start on special training,” Chu Huaixu muttered softly.
That damned old man—how dare he steal away my laundry assistant!
……
……
Back in his bedroom, Chu Huaixu sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion.
Tomorrow, he would face off against the Heir of Prince Rui.
With his many years of playing 《Borrowed Sword》, he had some understanding of this Western Continent’s World Protagonist.
The Heir of Prince Rui was named Qin Xuanxiao.
Players described him as having the bearing of a hawk-hearted overlord.
Many people, upon seeing those words, might immediately think of Boss Cao.
But in truth, whether in Records of the Three Kingdoms or Romance of the Three Kingdoms, this term was more often used to describe Liu Bei.
——“Liu Bei has the bearing of a hawk-hearted overlord, and men like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, tiger-like generals, will not be content to serve another for long.”
As previously mentioned, the four World Protagonists in 《Borrowed Sword》 had distinct roles.
Qin Xuanxiao could be understood as the domineering CEO type—wealthy, powerful, and handsome, passionately in love with his consort behind the scenes.
However, this man was resolute, decisive, far-sighted, and capable of ruthless action.
After all, he was born of royal blood.
Overall, in the protagonist team, if everyone had too kind a nature, it would be hard to accomplish great things.
There had to be someone ruthless!
Qin Xuanxiao filled that role.
He was actually the one who oversaw the grand scheme within the team.
What he was willing to sacrifice far exceeded what Han Shuangjiang or Xu Ziqing could give up!
“With money, power, and resources, plus an innate aura of royal dominance—he truly was the pillar of the team in the early and middle stages.”
In that four-man team, both Little Xu and Big Ice Block revolved around him.
Chu Huaixu, who considered himself the head of the household, although different in personality from Qin Xuanxiao, suddenly felt they were somewhat alike.
“Then, as a royal from the Moon Country, does he know my hidden identity?” Chu Huaixu thought, eyes narrowing.
……
……
The next day, the highly anticipated Champion’s Duel between the Eastern and Western Continents commenced in the Martial Arena.
Xiang Yan, Jiang Zhi, and others were all seated on the elevated platform, and even Situ Cheng and his group hadn’t left—they remained at the Dao Gate, waiting for this day.
Today, the final candidate to enter the first layer of the 【Origin Spirit Realm】 would be decided.
This year’s circumstances were unusual—the interior was especially dangerous.
But in previous years, this match was effectively the declaration of who would claim the 【Fragment of Xuanhuang Origin】!
Even Jiang Zhi, who normally couldn’t stand Chu Huaixu, must have been rooting for him deep down today.
He had come today just to see how this kid would handle the Champion of the Western Continent.
Chu Huaixu, as the Eastern Continent Champion, made his appearance on home turf, welcomed by a sea of admirers—utterly grand.
Across from him, the Heir of Prince Rui was facing such a scene for the first time.
As a prince of royal blood, there were hardly any followers by his side, while the other was surrounded by a crowd.
He felt slightly out of place—as if the roles from his usual stage had suddenly reversed.
What made it even more interesting was that the one opposite him was a royal deathsworn, a hound of the court—while he was the true imperial scion!
Moreover, these two young men, meeting for the first time, both showed a trace of surprise in their eyes.
Because the Heir of Prince Rui, Qin Xuanxiao, was also wearing black robes—robes embroidered with golden thread.
They were, surprisingly, dressed nearly the same.
……