novelraw Chapter 293 : You Are Merely a Vessel
Chapter 293 : You Are Merely a Vessel
Chapter 293: You Are Merely a Vessel
In Chu Huaixu’s view, ever since his transmigration, the original storyline of 《Borrowed Sword》 had already deviated.
And if nothing unexpected happened, it would only be led further and further off course by him, this variable.
Yet, just like the principle of the butterfly effect—even if he did nothing at all, the mere presence of an additional transmigrator would already bring changes and push everything toward the unknown.
Since Ming Xuanji was so fond of setting chaos back into order, Chu Huaixu did not believe that he would only be displeased over the matter of saving Zhong Ming.
“Things like this will probably happen a lot more in the future.”
“You damn old man, just deal with it!”
But in reality, as a 【Variable】, ever since he entered the Dao Ancestor Inheritance Secret Realm, he had begun to feel that he now had the Dao Ancestor backing him.
Judging from the Dao Ancestor’s various actions, Chu Huaixu even began to wonder…
Am I really a variable?
But since the Dao Ancestor was covering for him, he at least had gained some confidence.
“Ever since Li Chunsong brought me up the mountain, I’ve already been entangled in all kinds of karma. There’s no avoiding it.”
“I can only take things one step at a time.”
As for what Cheng Yuyan’s true intentions were, Chu Huaixu did not yet know.
He felt that he should remain wary of him.
This person gave him the impression that he only had a stance toward certain matters—but as a person, he himself had no stance at all.
However, after this whole commotion, Chu Huaixu seemed to have already figured out how to deal with someone with this kind of fun-seeker personality.
The Giant Hawk quickly flew past the national border, arriving within the territory of Moon Country.
Niu Yuanshan looked down below, feeling that the mountain ranges here were both familiar and unfamiliar.
Back then, when he left the Imperial Capital of Moon Country, he had traveled alone to the Dao Gate.
Parts of that journey overlapped with their current flight path.
“This region… once bore my footsteps,” he thought.
Only at that time, he had not yet named himself Niu Yuanshan. He had no name—only a code name: Mu Bingjiu.
Unlike Old Niu’s deep emotions, Chu Huaixu looked down and only found everything fresh and new.
A system notification sounded in his ear.
“【Ding! You have entered—Western Continent, Moon Country.】”
However, they were currently still within the buffer zone along the border between the two nations.
After flying a bit further ahead, they would have to undergo inspection.
Only after verifying their identities would they be allowed to pass.
Even powerful Major Cultivators could not freely travel through the skies at will.
If that were the case, this world would undoubtedly become far more chaotic.
Moon Country, Imperial Capital.
The Heir of Prince Rui was striding quickly through the imperial palace.
Because the Emperor of Moon Country was currently waiting for him by the Moon Pool in the imperial garden.
The current Moon Emperor was already very old.
So much so that the current Crown Prince had already passed his sixtieth birthday this year.
Prince Rui was the youngest son of His Majesty and also the most favored, which was why he had never been sent to a fief and had instead remained in the Imperial Capital.
After Qin Xuanxiao was born, the Moon Emperor’s favor toward Prince Rui’s family reached its peak.
It was unclear whether someone had been stirring things behind the scenes.
Although Qin Xuanxiao did not belong to the Crown Prince’s lineage, many people had given him the title “Good Holy Grandson.”
Strictly speaking, he was indeed the Emperor’s grandson.
But to some ears, this title sounded like overstepping.
Qin Xuanxiao was extremely familiar with the imperial garden.
He quickly followed the graceful palace maid ahead and arrived outside the pavilion by the Moon Pool.
“Your Majesty,” he saluted outside the pavilion.
The Moon Emperor doted endlessly on Qin Xuanxiao, so outside of formal occasions, he allowed this grandson to behave more freely.
“Come in,” an aged voice came from within the pavilion.
Qin Xuanxiao stepped forward, lifted the curtain, and entered.
A stick of incense burned inside, emitting a calming fragrance that cleared the mind upon inhalation.
It was well known that—whether due to old age or other reasons—the Moon Emperor often suddenly lost focus.
Sometimes, even while discussing important matters, he would abruptly freeze and drift off for over ten seconds.
Thus, such high-quality Calming Incense was lit at least once every day.
“The Eastern and Western Continents’ Grand Competition is approaching. Xuanxiao, how is your preparation?” the Moon Emperor asked.
His figure was slightly hunched, not particularly upright.
Though his eyes were somewhat cloudy, his overall spirit still seemed vigorous.
Looking closely at his facial features, one could easily see that Qin Xuanxiao’s nose and mouth closely resembled his.
Hearing his grandfather’s question, the Heir of Prince Rui immediately replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, my cultivation has been steadily improving.”
“Good.”
The Moon Emperor glanced at the pool outside and said, “This Eastern and Western Continents’ Grand Competition will be held in the Imperial Capital of Moon Country. If you can claim the championship, it will also proclaim the prestige of our imperial house.”
Qin Xuanxiao immediately responded, “Xuanxiao understands!”
In truth, he felt immense pressure.
Fighting on home ground, as a member of the royal family, he was born with the Fate of the Nation, granting him a great advantage.
Once he wielded that power, his strength could increase by several folds.
But under such conditions, if he still failed to claim victory, would he not become a laughingstock for those of the Eastern Continent?
Logically, greater advantage should bring greater confidence.
In reality, Lin Zixuan had also grown much stronger recently. She could now do far more than just cast 【Spiritual Power Loan】—the power she could share had increased, and the enhancements she could provide had become significantly greater.
Simply put, this god-tier support could now apply all kinds of buffs to the Heir of Prince Rui.
However, the crushing defeat he suffered at the Dao Gate against Chu Huaixu had become a nightmare looming over his mind.
“How strong has he become now?” Qin Xuanxiao wondered.
Of course, pressure was one thing—he still believed he had a high chance of victory in this competition.
The newly obtained strands of Emperor-level Divine Sense gave him tremendous confidence!
“Others only know that these four strands of Emperor-level Divine Sense can allow my Spear Intent to reach perfection, even stepping into the realm of 【Half-step Spear Heart】.”
“But in truth, how could the divine sense left behind by the ancestor be so simple!”
Recently, every night after falling asleep, he would enter extremely vivid dreams.
Within them, it was as if he experienced fragments of the ancestor’s past!
Although these dreams were fragmented—some about cultivation, others about battles—they greatly benefited both his cultivation and temperament.
His spear techniques had already reached perfection because of this.
Moreover, during one unexpected incident, Qin Xuanxiao discovered in shock—
The Emperor-level Divine Sense was alive!
More precisely, it retained a fragment of consciousness.
It could communicate!
Though for now, it seemed to be one-sided.
Only when the ancestor initiated contact could communication occur.
No matter how he called out, it was futile.
At this moment, the Moon Emperor leaned against the railing and glanced sideways at Qin Xuanxiao.
“Counting the days, the people from the Four Great Sects of the Eastern Continent should already be on their way.”
“I heard from the State Preceptor that among the geniuses of the other three sects, none are worth concern. The only real threats to you are the three from the Dao Gate?”
Qin Xuanxiao immediately knew who those three were.
Chu Huaixu, Xu Ziqing, and Han Shuangjiang.
He had never fought the latter two, only heard of their exceptional abilities.
He replied, “Your Majesty, in Xuanxiao’s eyes, there is only one opponent—Chu Huaixu. The others are not worth concern.”
“Good.” The Moon Emperor seemed very satisfied with this attitude.
Soon, his gaze turned toward the pool in the night, and he said in a low voice, “It’s truly a pity that Huo Dingyi chose to submit to the Dao Gate.”
Qin Xuanxiao remained silent, unsure how to respond.
After a while, he finally voiced his concern.
“Your Majesty, Chu Huaixu is ultimately still a person of Moon Country.”
“If he enters the Imperial Pool, will he…” He did not finish his sentence.
The Moon Emperor turned his head and said calmly, “You’re worried that the ancestor’s divine sense might be obtained by him?”
“Yes. Xuanxiao is indeed worried about that. How could the ancestor’s divine sense fall into the hands of the Dao Gate!”
In the night, the Moon Emperor looked at him, a faint smile gradually appearing on his face.
“Don’t worry. If he cannot obtain it, then so be it. But if he does… it won’t count as falling into the hands of the Dao Gate.”
Qin Xuanxiao was puzzled, unable to grasp the meaning behind these words.
Yet he felt that something about the way his grandfather had looked at him earlier was… off.
But he couldn’t quite put it into words.
Still, he immediately said, “Yes, Your Majesty! Xuanxiao understands.”
“For this Eastern and Western Continents’ Grand Competition, you must win. Only then can you obtain the Origin Fragment and refine the Origin Power. At that time, the ancestor’s divine sense within you will merge into that Origin Power, helping you step onto the path that ascends to the heavens!” the Moon Emperor said solemnly.
“Xuanxiao understands!” Qin Xuanxiao felt even greater pressure.
This matter had been emphasized countless times by his grandfather.
In fact, it had already been stressed once during the First Realm competition.
This made him realize that the Emperor-level Divine Sense must hold deeper secrets—or functions—that could only be unlocked after merging with Origin Power!
At this thought, his heart burned with anticipation.
He knew clearly that what would unfold before him might truly be a path to the heavens.
He might very well become, like his ancestor, the strongest in an era!
“Perhaps once I refine the Origin Power, I will obtain the ancestor’s complete inheritance?” Qin Xuanxiao had always speculated this.
Unfortunately, despite asking his grandfather many times, he never received a clear answer.
After chatting a bit more, the Moon Emperor began speaking casually with his most beloved grandson.
But midway through, he suddenly lost focus again.
After drifting for a few moments, when he raised his head again, his gaze had subtly changed.
“Enough, let’s end here for today. I am somewhat tired,” the Moon Emperor said.
“Your Majesty should rest early. Xuanxiao takes his leave.”
After Qin Xuanxiao left, the Moon Emperor drifted off again for a few seconds.
Then, he suddenly began murmuring softly to himself.
But he no longer referred to himself as “We.”
“I still think Xuanxiao is more suitable. Of the ten strands of divine sense, he has already fused four.”
“After all, Chu Huaixu is not of my Qin family bloodline.”
“And Xuanxiao resembles you so much in appearance from back then.”
“Why not wait until Chu Huaixu enters the Imperial Pool before deciding everything?”
These words sounded as though they were being spoken to someone!
Yet near the pavilion, there was only the Moon Emperor.
After speaking, the Moon Emperor looked toward the figure of his grandson, now fading into the night.
His gaze changed once more.
It was as if he was not looking at a person—
But at his most beloved and most satisfactory possession.