novelraw Chapter 242 : Life and Death at My Whim
Chapter 242 : Life and Death at My Whim
Chapter 242: Life and Death at My Whim
The token of the Xuanhuang Champion swayed lightly in midair.
All in the world knew the name of the one who bore this token.
——Dao Gate, Chu Huaixu!
Logically speaking, his arrival should not have brought such a sense of relief.
After all, this token represented one thing: Unrivaled in the First Realm of the Xuanhuang Realm!
Chu Huaixu had not shown himself publicly for a very long time.
Shortly after the Eastern and Western Continents’ Grand Competition, he had all but vanished, unseen for several months.
As a result, no one really knew how far his cultivation had progressed.
Even an invincible First Realm couldn’t possibly rival a perfected Third Realm cultivator.
In most people’s minds, even ascending to the Second Realm likely wouldn’t be enough.
However, that Evil Cultivator Envoy had already revealed: the one who had come was only a newcomer to the Third Realm.
But for those familiar with Chu Huaixu from the Dao Gate, if he had truly stepped into the Third Realm—
——That was enough!
Even if, according to regulations, there were supposed to be three rescuers, and he came alone!
At this moment, the man in the black-gold robe stood sideways.
His robe fluttered atop the cliff, rustling in the wind.
“Chu Junior Brother!”
“Chu Junior Brother!”
“The Champion has arrived!”
The outer sect disciples all cried out in unison.
Even the severely injured among them had a spark of light in their eyes.
Chu Huaixu swept a glance over them and immediately grasped the situation.
Among the ten, only one was in the Third Realm.
To have held out this long was no small feat.
Looking at Jiang Chang, whose abdomen bore a bloody hole, he said, “You’ve done well.”
Then, Chu Huaixu raised his voice, “Senior brothers and sisters, rest and recover. Leave the rest to me.”
On the other side, the trio of Evil Cultivators—aside from the envoy in the center—had already begun to feel fear.
Just the token at the man’s waist had thrown them into panic!
Since the Eastern and Western Continents’ Grand Competition, the name Chu Huaixu had echoed throughout the Xuanhuang Realm!
——“Who in the world does not know him?”
He was too powerful. In this millennium, there had never been a First Realm cultivator this strong.
So powerful, in fact, that many doubted the stories—believing them to be exaggerated legends.
These two Evil Cultivators were merely at the early Third Realm and certainly didn’t consider themselves a match for the Xuanhuang Champion.
Only the envoy, backed by his perfected Third Realm cultivation, scrutinized the man before him with furrowed brows.
And yet, even he dared not act rashly.
A perfected Third Realm master, nine minor realms higher, and still—he hesitated.
“I didn’t expect the famous Xuanhuang Champion to be the one coming to our rescue,” the envoy finally spoke.
Chu Huaixu glanced at him sideways and replied calmly:
“If you know it’s me, why haven’t you fled?”
A mere eight words, yet the pressure they carried made it clear—he didn’t see the three of them as threats at all.
The other two Evil Cultivators couldn’t help but cry out, “Envoy, sir!”
The envoy shot them a cold glare and cursed, “Idiots.”
He then transmitted his voice to them: “You saw how fast he arrived—do you really think you can outrun him?”
The two Evil Cultivators shivered.
Yes, it was too fast.
This man had come at a speed beyond comprehension!
One of them transmitted back anxiously, “But even if he caught up, he’s alone, and there are still ten Dao Gate disciples here…”
He had his own petty schemes, thinking if the three of them fled in different directions, fate would decide who Chu Huaixu chased.
But the envoy thought differently—for he knew:
He’d chase me for sure!
He didn’t know why, but despite his own perfected Third Realm cultivation, the look in Chu Huaixu’s eyes seemed to regard him as a dog by the roadside.
Instinct told him the other wasn’t bluffing, nor was he overconfident.
And Chu Huaixu had too many terrifying titles:
——Dual Cultivator of Body and Sword, Successor of the Dao Ancestor, Life-bound Artifact is the Dao Ancestor’s Sword Scabbard, has comprehended Sword Intent, and even birthed Sword Heart.
How could such a man waste time chasing two nobodies?
Thus, he quickly gave the order: “You two hold him off—just for a moment!”
“I’ll seize one of the Dao disciples as a hostage.”
“Righteous Path cultivators care deeply about their comrades. With a hostage, we can escape.”
Just then, Jiang Chang suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
He had reached his limit—completely exhausted.
Seeing he was in mortal danger, Chu Huaixu immediately raised his left hand.
“Dao Seal—Southward Sunlight.”
Three golden characters appeared in his palm. Radiant light burst forth, enveloping Jiang Chang and those behind him.
A warm, healing power began mending their wounds.
The severely weakened Jiang Chang lifted his gaze in disbelief.
He couldn’t understand how someone who had just entered the Third Realm could possess such miraculous power—pulling him back from death’s door.
The envoy transmitted urgently, “Now!”
The two Evil Cultivators, who had hesitated, saw Chu Huaixu busy healing and knew—this was their only chance. Gritting their teeth, they charged forward.
A perfect opportunity!
Such wide-range healing must come with a price—he would be restricted!
The two decided to go all in.
“This Chu Huaixu is just a newcomer to the Third Realm. We’re both early Third Realm experts—we can hold off one of his attacks, even if we’re gravely injured!”
They exchanged glances and saw mutual resolve.
If they could survive just one move, the envoy could take a hostage—and they’d all escape.
With that thought, their morale surged.
“Chu Huaixu, fight us!”
From now on, they could boast of withstanding a strike from the Xuanhuang Champion, and make a name for themselves in the Evil Cultivators’ world!
At that moment, Chu Huaixu was still standing sideways, showing the three only his profile.
His left hand remained extended, still channeling the Dao Seal toward Jiang Chang and the others.
“Chu Junior Brother, watch out!” someone cried.
But before those five words had fully left their mouth, Chu Huaixu raised his right hand. In it were two tiny pebbles—no one knew when he had taken them out.
Then, with a flick of his fingers—he launched them toward the two Third Realm Evil Cultivators.
——Thunder at Fingertips!
The pebbles, wrapped in violent True Gang, shot forward.
Not only did they carry the speed of the technique itself, but also the physical acceleration of a Body Cultivator’s flick.
With their strength, evasion was impossible.
They could not dodge!
Two explosive booms erupted—like thunder from the ground.
Unable to dodge, they couldn’t block either.
Each was struck in the chest, gaping holes torn clean through—dead beyond doubt!
Meanwhile, the envoy had just extended his demonic hand toward a female Dao Gate cultivator in the Second Realm.
In his eyes, taking a female hostage would better restrain Chu Huaixu.
Yet, in that same instant, a pitch-black Sword Scabbard appeared in Chu Huaixu’s right hand, right after he had launched the True Gang.
The sword qi within the scabbard burst forth.
It carried Fearless Sword Intent, moving at unimaginable speed.
More importantly, this time, it wasn’t just seven streaks of sword qi.
The reason was simple: Chu Huaixu was no longer who he was in the First Realm.
Now that he had stepped into the Third Realm, the number of sword qi stored within the scabbard had surged to twenty-one!
Twenty-one streaks of sword qi shot forth from all directions—striking faster than any of them could react!
The envoy was no exception. He had no way to dodge.
He unleashed every defensive technique he knew, but against these sword strikes—it was all meaningless.
The man was blasted backward, blood gushing wildly through the air.
Like a severed kite, the envoy flew toward the edge of the cliff.
Yet, in his eyes, there was no fear of falling.
On the contrary, he looked… relieved.
He had mastered a rock-based technique—if he timed it right during the fall, he could latch onto the cliff and survive.
The Second Realm Dao Gate girl, however, was filled with terror.
She was far too close—the sword qi’s aftermath alone could severely wound her!
But just then, a white light flashed from the jade pendant on Chu Huaixu’s waist.
A defensive barrier formed before the girl, blocking the entire aftermath.
She stared at the translucent barrier, her eyes trembling. She turned swiftly to look for her thoughtful Junior Brother Chu—
But his figure was no longer there.
Everyone turned in shock—not to the front—but to the cliff behind them.
There stood Chu Huaixu, his left palm still glowing with golden light, still healing them.
He now stood at the cliff’s edge.
His right hand clutched the Evil Cultivator Envoy’s throat, suspending him over the abyss.
The Dao Gate disciples knew—this image would remain with them forever.
The Xuanhuang Champion still stood sideways.
His left hand radiated warm golden light, healing everyone.
His right hand seized a man by the throat, holding him over a bottomless chasm.
One side was life. The other, death.
One hand saved. The other, killed.
In the Dao Ancestor Inheritance Secret Realm, he had once killed decisively and radiated killing intent. The Dao Ancestor had gifted him the Southward Sunlight Seal.
That was what had led to this very scene.
But what shook Jiang Chang and the others even more—
Was that this perfected Third Realm Evil Cultivator, caught in Chu Huaixu’s grip, couldn’t even struggle!
This was the Qi-Locking Seal, learned from Jiang Zhi!
An Earth-grade Technique—Chu Huaixu had only just begun to master it.
The others gasped, hearts roaring with shock.
Just one exchange—and two early Third Realm Evil Cultivators were slain. The perfected one captured alive!
How could such a powerful person still be “new” to the Third Realm?
Just then, the sound of hooves echoed from behind.
Han Shuangjiang and Xu Ziqing rode up on their Swift Movement Steeds.
They arrived to see Chu Huaixu still standing sideways—one hand glowing with golden light, the other gripping a throat—as he turned his head slightly and said calmly:
“You’ve come.”