Chapter 126: Chu Huaixu’s Certain Defeat

On that rainy night, Xu Ziqing, whose mentality had collapsed, hated that storyteller to the extreme.

“Damn old thing!” The usually well-mannered youth cursed furiously in his heart.

That man had given him hope, only to plunge him into despair. At the foot of the Wumeng Mountains, burdened with a blood-deep enmity, he had gone nearly mad with grief.

Hope was a kind of slow-acting poison. The moment it was completely shattered, it became deadly.

Fortunately, his senior brother appeared like a savior and pulled him back from the abyss.

Little Xu had never expected that the Little Martial Uncle Ancestor he was going to meet today would actually be him!

Before this, he had hated this man bitterly.

So much so that when their eyes met just now, a trace of anger had flickered in his gaze.

But Xu Ziqing was no fool.

He quickly suppressed the emotions in his heart.

Moreover, since the other party truly turned out to be a man of the Dao Gate and of extremely high seniority, the matter only seemed stranger.

Zhao Shuqin, seeing him in a daze, hurriedly said: “Xu Ziqing, why are you not paying respects to the Little Martial Uncle Ancestor?”

The youth saluted: “Disciple pays respects to Little Martial Uncle Ancestor.”

Jiang Zhi cast him a glance.

Though Little Xu tried his best to conceal his emotions, nothing could escape his eyes.

“Perhaps you think I have abandoned you?” he asked bluntly.

“Disciple does not dare,” Xu Ziqing replied.

The man who appeared like a storyteller felt somewhat speechless.

He had wandered the world after descending the mountain and had painstakingly found this Sword Attendant, even giving him guidance, yet the boy still bore resentment toward him.

After some thought, Jiang Zhi said: “I did indeed send someone to Wumeng Mountain to receive you, but during the process, certain mistakes occurred.”

After deliberating, he chose not to tell Xu Ziqing the full truth, nor did he mention that the Dao Gate’s Sixth Elder had taken the wrong person.

Jiang Zhi had been the youngest disciple of that generation in the Gentleman Temple. He had always been unruly, reckless, and defiant of rules.

Yet since most of his senior brothers and sisters had already passed away, he had suddenly become one of the highest-ranked in seniority.

He was powerful, and no one could restrain him.

But there was one person whose words he always heeded.

That was Chu Yinyin’s master, his Ninth Senior Sister.

Since this little ancestor had repeated his Ninth Senior Sister’s exact words, Jiang Zhi simply accepted them.

If Li Chunsong bore fault, then surely he too bore some responsibility.

To speak of such a matter before Xu Ziqing, this junior, would only bring him shame.

Forget it, forget it!

At that moment, the delicate youth listened to the words of his Little Martial Uncle Ancestor, feeling dazed.

“So, this Little Martial Uncle Ancestor, who looked as if he were idly indulging in pleasures at the foot of the mountain, was not toying with me?” he thought.

He felt that such a lofty figure had no need to deceive him again.

Xu Ziqing was a sincere youth, with the heart of a child.

Thus, his inner knot was easily untied.

From this, it could be seen that simple Little Xu was the kind who could easily fall victim to a fraudster’s repeated schemes.

Jiang Zhi watched him and, wasting no time, said directly: “Zhao Shuqin told me you have already learned the 《Sword Nurturing Art》. Perform it once for me.”

“Yes, Little Martial Uncle Ancestor.”

Xu Ziqing sat beneath the Bronze Sword and began to calmly circulate the 《Sword Nurturing Art》.

Jiang Zhi observed carefully from the side and nodded repeatedly.

“This child’s comprehension is indeed remarkable.”

As spiritual energy poured into his palm, the dormant sword awakened.

The restriction on his palm and the restriction on the sword seemed to form a channel.

The Bronze Sword began to ravenously devour the spiritual energy Xu Ziqing conveyed.

It showed no restraint, as if it would suck the youth dry, with no intention of stopping.

Fortunately, once the 《Sword Nurturing Art》 was circulated, the restriction would re-activate.

But at this moment, Jiang Zhi suddenly said: “Use your right hand to touch it. Let me see.”

Xu Ziqing instantly recalled the torment and agony of that day.

But since his Little Martial Uncle Ancestor had spoken, and with the Fifth Elder silently watching by the side, he naturally had to obey.

As before, because Little Xu was too short, he had to stand on tiptoe and stretch his hand toward the floating sword.

The moment his palm touched the sword’s body, the sword spirit stirred violently, attempting to seize control of his body.

“Do not activate the restriction!” Jiang Zhi ordered sternly.

“Open your mind. Do not resist,” he added.

Hearing this, Xu Ziqing’s eyes widened with fear.

He had never fully trusted this storyteller-like figure.

And now, the man wanted him to willingly become the sword’s puppet?

In an instant, just like during the Mountain-climbing trial, Little Xu’s body twisted into strange poses beyond his control.

Yet the sword could not fully control him either.

Watching this, Jiang Zhi’s brows furrowed deeper and deeper. Finally, he gave a cold snort and said: “Activate the restriction. Stop.”

The sword spirit grew increasingly furious, but it was still firmly suppressed by the seal left behind by the Dao Ancestor.

The Dao Gate’s Little Martial Uncle exchanged a glance with Zhao Shuqin. Zhao Shuqin could only give a dry laugh and say:

“Little Martial Uncle, this is the current situation.”

In real combat, how much power of the Bronze Sword could actually be unleashed—they could not be sure.

“Perhaps some auxiliary methods could be used,” Jiang Zhi thought.

“But the problem now is that when that half of the sword spirit entered Xu Ziqing’s Spirit Embryo, the degree of modification to the Spirit Embryo did not reach perfection.

It could not achieve a flawless fit.”

“Because his Spirit Embryo had already been altered beforehand by the Xuantian Embryo Breathing Pill,” he reflected with a frown.

“Even if, by relying on some secret techniques, the sword could completely control him, making him a true Sword Attendant in the strictest sense, it would probably only be able to unleash seventy to eighty percent of its power?” The Little Martial Uncle pondered for a moment.

Whether a sword at seventy to eighty percent of its power could resolve the problem of the First Layer of the Origin Spirit Realm, none of them could say for certain.

But since things had already reached this point, all they could do was exhaust human effort and leave the rest to fate.

“On the contrary, his path of Body Training might be something we can try to develop further,” Jiang Zhi opened a new line of thought.

After all, once Xu Ziqing’s body was entrusted to the sword, the stronger his physique became, the more ferocious his combat strength would surely be.

Thus, he said: “From today until the end of the Eastern and Western Continents’ Grand Competition, you will stay by my side to cultivate.”

Fifth Elder Zhao Shuqin, listening by the side, understood that the Little Martial Uncle was going to give this boy special treatment.

In his heart, he could not help thinking: “Then Chu Huaixu’s chances of victory will be even lower?”

He had never been a match for the sword in the first place, and now with the Little Martial Uncle meddling, Chu Huaixu was destined for certain defeat.

Xu Ziqing, his body drained of spiritual energy, looked utterly exhausted at this moment.

Upon hearing the storyteller’s words, his expression showed surprise.

In truth, he had felt somewhat homesick.

Little Xu missed his senior brother, and he also missed Senior Sister Han.

Living these past days in the Fifth Elder’s courtyard, he constantly felt uneasy, unable to sleep soundly.

But Xu Ziqing also knew this was an opportunity countless people dreamed of.

He bore a blood-deep enmity—he needed to grow stronger.

Moreover, how could a mere Outer Sect disciple defy the high-ranking elders of the Dao Gate?

Jiang Zhi looked at him, slightly dissatisfied, and said: “You have taken too many pills recently, and too varied. You are being too rash.”

“In the coming days, I will help you solidify your foundation.”

“As for breaking through realms, you must not be impatient. Otherwise, in the long run, it will do you no good.”

“Taking the first step does not mean every step thereafter will be ahead. Do you understand?” he asked.

Xu Ziqing immediately replied: “Disciple understands. Senior Brother once told me—‘Running water does not contend for being first, its strength lies in flowing on endlessly.’”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhi found it somewhat interesting.

Yet he naturally knew which Senior Brother the youth was referring to.

As the image of that irksome face surfaced in his mind, his mood soured.

Zhao Shuqin, watching from the side, secretly chuckled.

After spending a few days with Xu Ziqing, he knew just how much this boy admired Chu Huaixu. He treated his senior brother’s words as sacred law, quoting them constantly.

“Little Martial Uncle is in for some trouble!” Zhao Shuqin smiled knowingly, his narrow eyes disappearing altogether.

Two days passed in a flash.

Xu Ziqing still had not returned home.

Chu Huaixu began grumbling to himself while doing the laundry.

He suddenly recalled a saying: “Everyone wants to save the world, but no one helps mother wash the dishes.”

The World Protagonist, in the end, still had to tread the path of salvation.

Thus, he made a great vow: “When I succeed in the future, I will wear magical treasures from head to toe!”

That way, just like those in Black-Gold Robes, he would not need to do laundry again, and Little Xu’s role could be completely optimized.

The registration for the Eastern Continent Grand Competition had closed just yesterday.

Over the next few days, an initial screening would be conducted.

The Xuanhuang Realm was vast, and there were far too many First Realm cultivators.

Under the joint initiative of the Four Great Sects, numerous registration sites had been set up across the Eastern Continent.

Without an initial screening, with so many participants competing round after round, the contest would drag on endlessly.

The content of the screening was simple. The Four Great Sects had established a unified standard and introduced a training wooden stake.

Its function resembled the “straw dummies” used to measure damage in games.

These stakes were made of spiritual wood, incomparably sturdy.

Applicants were allowed only one strike.

If they failed to leave a mark on the stake, they would lose eligibility to compete.

As the host, the Dao Gate’s own disciples also had to undergo this preliminary screening.

On the way, Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang encountered many who had already completed their tests.

From their discussions, it seemed that some exceptionally talented Dao Gate disciples had left deep marks on the stakes with a single strike.

Some had even nearly cleaved the stake in two with one sword!

Dead Fox, listening to these accounts, whispered softly to Big Ice Block:

“In this kind of grand competition, one must know how to conceal their edge. Whether it’s this initial screening or facing ordinary opponents later, there’s no need to reveal too much strength.”

“The earlier others understand your full strength, the sooner your trump cards are exposed, and the more troublesome things become.”

Han Shuangjiang nodded slightly and said: “I understand.”

The two, both intent on hiding their true strength, arrived at the testing site and lined up.

When it was their turn, many people craned their necks to watch.

After all, within the Outer Sect, they were not without fame.

Indeed, Dao Gate disciples still upheld their old fondness for lively spectacles. Many Outer Sect disciples of the Second and even Third Realms had gathered just to watch.

Han Shuangjiang stepped forward first, casually slashing at the stake with her sword.

“Crack—!”

The sword energy cleaved into the stake, leaving a deep gash nearly two-thirds of the way through.

The cold-faced girl was instantly shocked, crying out in her heart: “Why is this stake so brittle?!”

Gasps erupted around them, many marveling at her strength.

They could all see that she had not even used her full power.

Chu Huaixu frowned, looking at her with eyes full of reproach.

“You foolish girl! I told you to hide your strength, and you still had to show off!” he muttered inwardly.

The two exchanged a glance. Big Ice Block hesitated, wanting to explain—it truly was the stake that was unexpectedly fragile.

Chu Huaixu stepped forward under everyone’s gaze and circulating his spiritual energy.

In fact, he even cast an 【Information Probe】.

“Is this ‘straw dummy’ really so low in defense value?”

Spiritual energy gathered at his fingertips, and he drew only the faintest of scratches on the stake, just enough to cross the qualifying line—a perfect score control.

Han Shuangjiang was dumbfounded, silently complaining in her heart:

“Hide your strength, hide your strength… but you’ve hidden far too much!”

Yet, after a moment of surprise, the crowd suddenly erupted in cheers.

“Junior Brother Chu! Such precise control of spiritual energy—you must already be at the Micro Realm of mastery!”

“Unbelievable! Junior Brother Chu still had such a skill up his sleeve!”

“Brilliant! Simply brilliant!”

“Junior Brother, aren’t you hiding a bit too much?”

“Junior Brother Chu’s name is already well known, and he’s cultivating a Heaven-rank method. Seems he didn’t want to reveal too much before everyone.”

Chu Huaixu:

Damn it, are there really so few fools in the Dao Gate?!

He twisted his head slightly, glancing at Big Ice Block.

The girl’s icy expression had melted, and she was smiling radiantly, as beautiful as a blooming flower.

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