novelraw Chapter 172 : Heart Sword Advances, Heaven and Earth Anomaly
Chapter 172 : Heart Sword Advances, Heaven and Earth Anomaly
Chapter 172: Heart Sword Advances, Heaven and Earth Anomaly
The anomaly before their eyes was one many found familiar.
That day, Chu Huaixu had triggered a similar phenomenon in the secret realm beneath the Cold Pool.
Back then, for most Dao Gate disciples, their interpretation had been:
“Someone has obtained a great opportunity and caused a phenomenon!”
But this time?
Once again, a semi-transparent ripple spread outward in all directions, once again triggering the resonance of myriad swords!
For a moment, Dao Gate disciples began to murmur among themselves.
“I remember it was Junior Brother Chu and Senior Sister Han who were both in the Cold Pool, right?”
“Yeah, so everyone just assumed the two of them gained some immense fortune in the secret realm! That’s why the anomaly occurred!”
“But today, Junior Brother Chu just finished the Champion’s Duel, and his Dao companion, Senior Sister Han, had been watching the entire time from below the platform! It’s not like he went into a secret realm again in just this short while.”
“So, this isn’t an anomaly born of some great fortune—it’s very likely a man-made phenomenon!” an outer sect disciple immediately speculated.
As for who could achieve such a feat, naturally, everyone leaned toward the Xuanhuang Champion—Chu Huaixu!
“So, after that battle, has Junior Brother Chu gained new insight into the sword path?”
“Very likely!”
At that moment, a certain senior sister muttered in confusion, “But when he faced the Heir of Prince Rui, wasn’t the situation completely one-sided? That heir didn’t even have a chance to retaliate!”
It was maddening—how could bullying a weakling lead to breakthroughs? How could bullying a weakling grant insight?
“Eh! Junior Sister, that’s where you’re mistaken! Don’t you know the saying—‘The stone from another mountain may carve the jade’?”
“Our Junior Brother Chu is certainly jade, but this Western Continent Champion... at the very least, he’s still a stone, right? Hahaha! Hahahaha!”
Chu Huaixu had seized the Xuanhuang Champion title, and all Dao Gate disciples felt honored—naturally, they were brimming with pride.
In truth, these ordinary disciples didn’t realize that the range of this semi-transparent ripple far exceeded the one from before.
Last time, the Inner Gate’s Purple Bamboo Forest had nearly marked the edge of it.
Moreover, the wooden hairpin of that Gaunt Daoist Nun hadn’t been affected by the ripple at all—it hadn’t even quivered.
But today was different.
This wooden sword named 【Slow, Slow Tune】 had been nourished day and night by the spiritual energy of a cultivator at the Seventh Realm.
It was certainly far stronger than 【Zhegutian】.
And now, even it could not help but tremble lightly.
This caused a hint of surprise to flicker in the eyes of the Gaunt Daoist Nun who sat high upon a boulder.
Fortunately, the overall atmosphere within the Dao Gate was still harmonious.
At that moment, everyone had been heading toward the night banquet held for the Xuanhuang Champion.
Now, with the sudden manifestation of a heaven-and-earth anomaly, swords within their scabbards trembled, sword spirits surged with excitement, and had not even been drawn before letting out cries...
Then why not offer congratulations to Junior Brother Chu?
It was unclear which sword cultivator, with a “white phosphorus constitution,” had been ignited first.
Anyone who practiced the sword usually fancied themselves as free-spirited and romantic.
In that moment, he simply drew his sword from its sheath and let it ring freely in the air!
“For the Xuanhuang Champion—Chu Huaixu!”
More and more sword cultivators followed, drawing their swords.
Voices of congratulations surged in waves!
This scene stirred the hearts of those Sword Sect disciples who had yet to return to their sect.
In fact, if not for the presence of these outsiders, the Dao Gate sword cultivators might not have been so stirred...
Besides, sword cultivators were naturally attuned to their life-bound sword hearts—their emotions influenced by their swords.
In the blink of an eye, these voices gathered and soared to the heavens.
Not just the outer sect—soon, the inner sect joined as well.
Outer Sect—draw swords!
Inner Sect—draw swords!
Before the celebratory night banquet, countless spirit swords let out resonant cries, and their masters declared aloud:
“For the Xuanhuang Champion—Chu Huaixu!”
“For the Xuanhuang Champion—Chu Huaixu!!”
……
……
The sudden anomaly of heaven and earth, along with the spontaneous reaction of the disciples, startled even Xiang Yan and the others on Ask-Dao Peak.
They immediately sent their divine sense toward the bamboo hut where Chu Huaixu resided to check the situation.
They saw a mysterious aura radiating outward.
The power of Sword Heart Clarity was present within it.
Moreover, even from such a distance, their divine sense was being obstructed!
“Is that sword-spirit-like existence within him breaking through again?” everyone speculated.
As one of the Four Great Divine Swords, Situ Cheng couldn't help but exchange glances with Jiang Zhi.
“This is only the First Realm, yet he can already trigger such a phenomenon!” Situ Cheng exclaimed in shock.
What unsettled him even more was the aura and demeanor exhibited by the Dao Gate sword disciples at this moment.
As a high-ranking member of the Sword Sect, he knew very well what was needed for a major sect to flourish and thrive.
Cohesion was a mysterious thing, and its formation required multiple factors.
Yet it always influenced the development of a sect!
“At this moment, Chu Huaixu already has the bearing of a leading figure among the younger generation of Dao Gate.” Situ Cheng murmured inwardly.
There was a trace of envy in his heart.
Because he knew well—a large sect should ideally produce one such figure in every generation!
In recent years, the Sword Sect had grown increasingly powerful, largely due to that Sword Sovereign senior brother of his—who had reigned supreme over an entire generation.
He didn’t need to deal with sect affairs like the Sect Master.
He only needed to pursue the path of the sword, walking ever forward—always ahead of all others!
Similarly, the Master of the Gentleman Temple in Dao Gate served much the same role.
“But the position of Temple Master has been vacant in Dao Gate for quite some time now,” Situ Cheng and the others thought.
All they could do now was offer congratulations to the Dao Gate upper echelons.
“Master Xiang, and everyone present, this is truly a joyous occasion.”
A faint smile appeared on Xiang Yan’s barren face.
He didn’t boast, merely said, “With this, once we enter the 【Origin Spirit Realm】, we’ll have a few more chances at victory.”
This involved a heaven-and-earth Great Calamity, one that even disregarded the boundary between the Eastern and Western Continents. Everyone nodded in agreement and echoed:
“Indeed, this is a blessing for Xuanhuang.”
Jiang Zhi stood silently by the side, but gradually felt more at ease.
Though he had his reasons for disliking Chu Huaixu, when it came to the 【Origin Spirit Realm】, of course he hoped Chu Huaixu could resolve all problems perfectly and return safely.
“Before that, perhaps it’s time he fully understands what he’ll be facing inside the Spirit Realm,” Jiang Zhi thought.
“There’s a need to make some arrangements.”
.......
.......
Medicine Mountain, bamboo hut.
Chu Huaixu, for the time being, remained unaware of the commotion outside.
He was currently fully focused on absorbing the remaining energy from the Spirit Embryo Attribute Points.
That scorching sensation had already vanished without a trace.
He now suspected that each time power surged, it was split in two.
Half went into his body, and the other half went to the small sword inside his Sea of Consciousness.
It was strange. Though it was clearly a sword, Chu Huaixu felt its “complexion” was growing better by the day.
That sickly aura gradually faded, and a black glow circulated around its body.
Now, everything was reaching its conclusion.
Chu Huaixu gazed at the restrained black light emanating from the sword’s body and found it somewhat sacred.
Unlike the dark bluish-black baleful aura from the Bronze Sword, although the Heart Sword emitted black light, it carried no sense of evil.
He could feel that his entire Sea of Consciousness had become more stable thanks to its presence.
It was like a stabilizing anchor within his spiritual sea.
“My divine sense isn’t particularly stronger than that of other cultivators at the same stage.”
“The real strength lies in the Heart Sword.”
“But because of its existence, my divine sense defenses are incredibly strong. Most spiritual-type attacks have little effect on me.”
After about one incense stick’s time, the entire process of the Spirit Embryo’s advancement finally concluded.
The semi-transparent ripple emanating from his body also faded and vanished.
That previously slightly chaotic “sword aura” also began to stabilize and internalize at this moment.
All of this was most clearly felt by Han Shuangjiang, who lived in the room next door.
She was simply too close—【Zhegutian】 was too close as well.
This caused the reaction of 【Zhegutian】 to be the most intense the moment Chu Huaixu’s Heart Sword broke through!
How intense was the trembling?
It had been resting on the table, but due to its rapid vibrations, it slid along the surface and almost fell off.
This reminded Han Shuangjiang of the finals, when Chu Huaixu had said just one line—‘Lend me your sword’—and the supreme-grade spiritual sword had flown over to him of its own accord.
What startled her even more today was that even her own body seemed to be affected.
Perhaps due to the close proximity, she felt as though the power of the sword path within her body was being faintly suppressed.
That sensation was somewhat similar to the spiritual pressure atop Hidden Spirit Mountain, but not quite the same.
“This damn fox is ridiculously oppressive toward sword cultivators,” Han Shuangjiang thought.
Now that this suppressive force had suddenly lifted, she exhaled a breath of relief. Her whole body felt more at ease, no longer burdened by that discomfort.
Instead, 【Zhegutian】 seemed to feel... a bit lost?
“Why don’t you go live with him instead.” Her beautiful eyes glared at it coldly, voice icy and full of displeasure.
The sword spirit within the spiritual sword immediately tried to please her, conveying emotions as if saying: We’re the best duo under the heavens.
“I wonder what he broke through this time?” Han Shuangjiang pondered.
Inside the bedroom, Chu Huaixu opened his eyes.
Within those deep-black pupils, a brilliant light flickered.
At this moment, he truly resembled an unsheathed sword.
But that sharp aura quickly retracted.
Chu Huaixu let out a long breath, feeling clear-headed and refreshed.
The advancement brought by the Spirit Embryo was comprehensive—every attribute increased slightly, and that was the best part of it.
Calming himself again, he turned his attention once more to the Heart Sword in his Sea of Consciousness.
That sickly feeling was finally and completely gone.
Now, it resembled a patient who had just recovered from a serious illness—still looking slightly weak, but clearly on the mend.
Thanks to the mutual understanding between man and sword, coupled with the system’s prompt, Chu Huaixu quickly discovered—it had gained a new ability!
......