Chapter 148: As Expected of the Woman I Admire

ㄴOn the platform, the golden airflow surrounding Kui Muquan was shaken back slightly.

His dark-red eyes began to gradually regain clarity.

Chu Huaixu had indeed mastered the 【Fearless Sword Intent】, completely eradicating fear.

But obviously, fear did not vanish—it only shifted.

Others had started to feel somewhat afraid of him.

Yet the essence of youth was to never concede in spirit, let alone someone like Kui Muquan, who entered the Dao through madness.

Therefore, after freezing for a few seconds, he immediately said, “Heh—! Chu Huaixu, I’m looking forward to facing you in the finals!”

With that said, he sheathed his blade and flipped off the platform.

“Finals?”

“The finals have nothing to do with your ass.” Chu Huaixu said indifferently in his heart.

Back when he played 《Borrowed Sword》, he had already found this guy—who acted like he was worth two-point-eight-five million—annoying. If given the chance, he certainly wouldn’t mind dealing with him.

But it definitely wouldn’t be in the final battle!

At that moment, the surrounding Dao Gate disciples, upon seeing Chu Huaixu shield Han Shuangjiang behind him, all cast strange glances.

These gazes—Chu Huaixu could instantly tell what they meant——they were shipping it.

Han Shuangjiang glanced at him with a hint of grievance.

You took all the spotlight in front of others, but the rumors within the Dao Gate—I’ll have to bear them too.

Seeing the way she looked at him, Chu Huaixu instantly understood the meaning behind her gaze.

He immediately cupped his hands toward the surrounding senior brothers and sisters and said, “This junior disciple will not weaken the presence of our Dao Gate! If given the chance, I will surely crush his arrogance!”

Everyone, seeing his clumsy attempt to cover up, along with Han Shuangjiang’s resentful and reproachful gaze, suddenly found them even more shippable.

“This pair truly looks like a perfect match!”

On the high platform, Chu Yinyin sat atop a tall wooden chair, her small feet dangling in the air as she swayed them a few times, thinking to herself: “Ah, this feels so good, so satisfying.”

She indeed wasn’t suited to bullying the young with seniority—but her future disciple was just right for the job!

“Spring and Autumn Mountain is indeed a righteous sect. They wouldn’t commit foul acts, but their cultivation methods are really annoying and offensive.” she thought to herself.

At that thought, she suddenly remembered—didn’t her own cultivation method also have a glaring flaw!

Chu Yinyin instantly slumped, glanced irritably at the voluptuous figures of Nangong Yue and Mei Chuxue, and felt a wave of dizziness from their “milk power.”

——which only made her more annoyed.

......

......

As time passed, this round of the Eastern Continent Grand Competition had come to a close.

The remaining sixteen were all elite talents of the Eastern Continent.

However, to the members of Luo Heaven Valley, this competition no longer held much meaning.

Their top-seeded contestant had already been eliminated early by Chu Huaixu, and the rest would be lucky to make it into the top eight.

Looking at the format, it did seem somewhat dependent on luck.

But from the final goal, the Eastern Continent Grand Competition existed for only one purpose—to select the strongest to enter the Origin Spirit Realm.

The focus was solely on that champion spot!

After two days of rest, Xu Ziqing’s left arm had fully healed.

Jiang Zhi looked at him, nodded slightly, and said, “For someone who trains the body, recovery is indeed quicker.”

He glanced the youth up and down and said, “But I still must tell you—if you wield your sword with your left hand, you won’t be a match for Chu Huaixu.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Ziqing immediately replied earnestly, “Little Martial Uncle Ancestor, I understand. Naturally, I am far beneath Senior Brother in comparison.”

Jiang Zhi looked at him and felt the surge of frustration again!

With each win in the Eastern Continent Grand Competition, that youthful spirit Xu Ziqing once lost was gradually returning.

He seemed to be transforming back into that high-spirited young swordsman from a sword-cultivating family.

But whenever it involved Chu Huaixu, he became a different person.

“Not a single shred of competitiveness in him!” Jiang Zhi cursed inwardly.

These days, every time Xu Ziqing mentioned Chu Huaixu, Jiang Zhi felt a headache coming on.

At this moment, he looked at the youth and asked, “Have you never thought of beating him? Never thought of becoming the Eastern Continent champion?”

“But Little Martial Uncle Ancestor, how could I possibly defeat Senior Brother?” he replied, as if it were the most obvious thing, with those crystal-clear eyes full of honest confusion.

The boy’s pure heart made him that sincere.

Jiang Zhi already disliked Chu Huaixu, and having personally trained this boy for so long, he became even more furious.

“You hold the Dao Ancestor’s Sword, and yet you still think you are not as skilled!” he scolded loudly.

Seeing his senior angry, Xu Ziqing immediately apologized: “Please calm your anger, Little Martial Uncle Ancestor. I was wrong.”

But he added one more line: “However, if I wield the sword with my right hand, then it would not be I who defeated Senior Brother—it would be the sword that defeated him.”

In his heart, he once again recited the words on the Gentleman’s Monument: “The gentleman commands the tool; he is not commanded by it.”

The youth believed his words to be completely logical and well-founded.

Jiang Zhi, lying on the rattan chair, glanced at him and waved impatiently. “Go and cultivate. Draw lots at the Martial Arena later.”

“Yes.” Xu Ziqing responded respectfully.

This young Little Martial Uncle of the Dao Gate watched the boy’s departing figure, still mulling over the words he said.

——It was the Dao Ancestor’s Sword that won, not me.

He lifted his plain, ordinary face and gazed at the sky with its drifting clouds, lost in thought.

.......

.......

The new round of drawing lots soon began.

During the draw, however, Geng Tianhe did not appear—instead, he sent a fellow Sword Sect disciple to draw on his behalf.

That Sword Sect disciple said to Niu Yuanshan, “Steward, Senior Brother Geng has recently sensed something during his cultivation and remains in seclusion today. May I draw for him?”

“Go ahead.” Old Niu smiled.

Those nearby listened to the exchange, digesting the hidden message within.

Chapter 149: “Geng Tianhe Is About to Break Through?”

“『Geng Tianhe is about to break through?』” everyone thought in unison.

All of them knew he had already reached the half-step Sword Intent Realm.

“『If he too comprehends Sword Intent, wouldn’t that mean this Eastern Continent Grand Competition has three heaven-defying Sword Cultivators in the First Realm!』” Many people grew increasingly despairing in their hearts.

No need to compete anymore! Let the sword cultivators take all the top spots!

Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang exchanged a glance, neither thinking much of it.

Xu Ziqing followed behind the two, even less concerned.

He only sighed inwardly, “『Senior Brother said he’s already broken through to the Seventh Heaven—how fast!』”

Everyone lined up to draw their lots from the box.

The Sword Sect disciple drawing on behalf of Geng Tianhe stood closer to the end of the line.

After drawing, he held up his lot that read Number 6 and asked cautiously, “『Um… may I ask which Senior Brother or Senior Sister holds Number Six?』”

After speaking, he silently recited two names in his heart and began praying to the Dao of the Xuanhuang Sword: “『Please, don’t let Senior Brother Geng draw either of them. Please, anyone but them!』”

His prayer was soon answered.

A voice came from the left.

Chu Huaixu slightly raised the lot in his hand and said, “『Oh, I’m Number Six.』”

In an instant, the Sword Sect disciple was struck as if by lightning.

Ah! These filthy hands of mine!

When I return, my fellow disciples will curse me to death!

Meanwhile, the other contestants collectively sighed in relief.

Some even gloated.

“『Good! Let those who possess Sword Intent fight each other! At least one of them will be eliminated!』”

The rest also began searching for their drawn opponents.

The female cultivator from Luo Heaven Valley, second only to Zhao Xinghan in strength, had drawn Xu Ziqing.

The young woman—whose looks were quite pleasant—instantly turned pale, realizing her lot was truly miserable!

It meant Luo Heaven Valley’s journey in this Eastern Continent Grand Competition might end here.

Aside from her, Luo Heaven Valley had one other participant left.

But that junior brother’s advancement so far had been pure luck; in the previous round, he had barely scraped by thanks to his technique’s attribute restraining his opponent.

This female disciple, named Feng Qiushui, sighed deeply in her heart.

“『We might end up creating Luo Heaven Valley’s worst record in years—none of us even making it into the top eight...』”

“『How could we ever show our faces back at the sect.』” The pressure she felt was immense.

Among the Four Great Sects, naturally, there were both rejoicing and lamenting parties.

Kui Muquan of Spring and Autumn Mountain was secretly laughing to himself.

“『Haha, Geng Tianhe has to face Chu Huaixu! Even if he comprehends Sword Intent, he might still lose!』”

“『Luo Heaven Valley’s even funnier—this round, they’re likely to be wiped out entirely!』”

He felt that as long as his next lot wasn’t too unlucky, his spot in the top four was practically secured.

Holding his own lot, Kui Muquan asked aloud:

“『I’m Number Two. Who’s Number Two?』”

A pleasant yet slightly cold voice came from the left.

“『That would be me.』”

Kui Muquan turned sharply toward the sound and was greeted by a breathtakingly beautiful face.

Upon realizing his opponent was Han Shuangjiang, he froze for a moment.

The atmosphere in the arena instantly grew more heated.

Everyone remembered clearly—Kui Muquan had once provoked this Dao Gate prodigy girl on stage with his blade!

“『Wonderful! Tomorrow’s match will be truly wonderful!』”

Even the usually aloof Big Ice Block spoke more today than usual.

Chu Huaixu, watching her, wasn’t surprised in the slightest.

After all, she was someone who walked the Main Female Protagonist route in 《Borrowed Sword》.

Besides, her personality was strong and stubborn.

The family in the bamboo house—all three were hard-headed.

Han Shuangjiang looked at Kui Muquan and said, “『What’s wrong? Surprised to have drawn me? Weren’t you eager to fight me?』”

Gunpowder filled the air instantly.

Clearly, Kui Muquan’s provocation back then had displeased this Dao Gate genius girl.

And rightly so—who wouldn’t be annoyed if someone pointed a blade at them and mocked them in public?

What’s more, at that time, his entire body had been enveloped in the aura of Geng Metal; when he pointed his blade, the gust it carried blew the girl’s long black hair backward.

Now, Kui Muquan’s infuriating personality continued to shine through.

Cultivators of Spring and Autumn Mountain entered the Dao in such a peculiar way; it brought them many advantages in cultivation—

—but the drawbacks were just as obvious.

He said, “『Since Chu Huaixu has already protected you once, if you’re smart, you’ll let that matter rest. If you bring it up again and lose on the platform, that’ll be quite embarrassing.』”

Still as arrogant as ever.

Judging from Han Shuangjiang’s current display, he believed that with some effort, he could still win.

And truthfully, the battle had already begun—it was a clash of minds now.

Kui Muquan was arrogant, yes—but not stupid.

Chu Huaixu quietly watched from the side, smiling gently at the Big Ice Block, saying nothing, making no effort to stand out.

He thought to himself, “『This is Sister Han’s turn to shine!』”

He genuinely enjoyed watching this scene—watching her radiate the light of a World Protagonist!

Han Shuangjiang faced Kui Muquan, her aura still cold and distant as ever.

She said indifferently:

“『I’ll show you that even without him stepping forward for me, I can still defeat you.』”

......

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