The Birth of Sword God-Chapter 180 - 159: Chu Huaixu Battles Xu Ziqing

The night closed in, and the stars were scattered across the sky.

It was now late autumn, and the night carried a slight chill.

Chu Huaixu stood up and returned to his room after dinner.

Han Shuangjiang watched his back, initially wanting to encourage him with a few words, but knowing that he would face Junior Brother Xu tomorrow, she refrained, lest she seem to not wish Junior Brother Xu well.

But if she had to answer, she would definitely hope for Chu Huaixu to win.

The Big Ice Cube also had a match tomorrow, but she felt no pressure.

To her, the third-place throne in the East Continent competition was already waving at her.

That cultivator named Chen Haoran had quite the gap in strength compared to her.

Back in his room, Chu Huaixu immediately sat down on the meditation mat.

The reason was simple: after defeating the Big Ice Cube today, he could claim his quest reward once more.

And this time, the richness of the reward undoubtedly climbed another notch!

"A full one hundred thousand Experience Points, plus 1 point in Spiritual Embryo Attribute!"

The former was fine, but the latter was something Chu Huaixu urgently needed at this stage.

The improvements brought by the Spiritual Embryo Attribute were virtually omnidirectional.

Especially after he previously unlocked [Spiritual Embryo Divine Techniques], its benefits would be incredibly significant!

"Besides, defeating Han Shuangjiang also gave more than thirty-six thousand Experience Points."

Not bad, earning the power equivalent to nearly thirty-six officials from one person.

This also allowed the available Experience Points on Chu Huaixu’s Character Panel to surpass the four hundred thousand mark, reaching a total of 410,000 points!

Without a second thought, he spent 160,000 Experience Points, upgrading both [Feixuan] and [Fingertip Thunder] to Level 3 Great Success Realm.

The thought of battling Xiaoxu tomorrow made him resolve immediately to use those two Profound Level Technique Upgrade Coupons.

Thus, both techniques were effectively elevated to Great Perfection.

Chu Huaixu exhaled a long breath of impure air, then looked at his Skill Bar.

"Now the remaining Experience Points pose a bit of an awkward situation."

"They’re enough for me to enter [Six Out of Seven], but nowhere near enough to elevate it to Minor Success."

"Just an entry-level [Six Out of Seven] has less power than the Great Perfection of [Fingertip Thunder]."

"More importantly, this is a flawed technique with certain side effects, akin to harming the enemy by a thousand while injuring oneself by eight hundred."

"But its destructive power is indeed terrifying. Just at entry level, its damage value is only slightly lower than the Great Perfection of [Fingertip Thunder]!"

"If it were raised to Level 2, wouldn’t it be much stronger?"

This made Chu Huaixu’s situation a bit awkward. With 250,000 Experience Points remaining, he didn’t know where to use them.

He could find a way to spend them, but the cost-effectiveness would be low, seeming a bit wasteful.

Despite this, his overall combat power saw a huge increase.

The gap between techniques at Minor Success Level and Great Perfection is enormous.

"In fact, elevating from Great Success to Great Perfection requires a tremendous amount of Experience Points, more than the total for the first three levels combined."

"These two Profound Level Technique Upgrade Coupons were well-utilized."

"I saved tens of thousands of Experience Points at once!"

Chu Huaixu recalled that when he played "Borrowed Sword", it was only in his thirties that he ascended a Profound Level Technique to Great Perfection.

That was already considered an absolute standout among players!

"Yet now I’m only at Level 19 and have accomplished this for two techniques!"

He was quite satisfied with this.

Next was adding points to his Spiritual Embryo.

Before doing so, he glanced at the sickly black Little Sword within his Sea of Consciousness.

Undoubtedly, after upgrading the Spiritual Embryo, its condition should improve somewhat.

"System, add points!" Chu Huaixu commanded.

The next moment, he felt a warm current rush to his limbs and bones, circulating throughout his body, then converging in the direction of the Spiritual Embryo Secret Collection.

This comfortable sensation was strikingly similar to when he consumed the Profound Celestial Fetal Breath Pill.

He felt warm and cozy, then began to feel a bit hot, soon followed by a slight floating sensation.

After a while, he exhaled a warm breath.

Opening his eyes, a gleam flashed in them, and the aura around Chu Huaixu abruptly changed, with the sharp intent like an unsheathed long sword intensifying instantly!

After several breaths, it gradually retracted, like a Spirit Sword returning to its scabbard.

He glanced at the [Heart Sword] in his Sea of Consciousness, finding that its condition had indeed improved.

Though still somewhat sickly, it conveyed a different feeling.

More importantly, all attributes undoubtedly received a boost.

"If that Mo Lingfeng from the Sword Sect were to fight me now,"

"he might not even be able to draw his sword," Chu Huaixu’s gaze sharpened.

Now, if his opponent was a First Realm Sword Cultivator wielding a low-grade Spirit Sword, he could even directly annihilate the opponent’s Sword Spirit!

"Physique, comprehension, Spiritual Embryo, these three are quite balanced, all reaching five points."

Appearing like a standard Sword and Body Dual Cultivator, maintaining a delicate balance.

With the recent upgrading of the Spiritual Embryo Attribute, [Heart Sword]’s state was excellent, and its emotions were abundant.

For Chu Huaixu, it seemed more like a Lifebound Artifact Spirit than the Artifact Spirit within the Medicine Cauldron [Dao Generating One].

The sense of unity of mind was stronger.

Thus, he began to ponder.

"About the final struggle for the crown, let’s discuss something," Chu Huaixu said.

And so he and the sword began plotting in the night.

...

...

On a day of rest, Chu Huaixu did nothing much.

His overall strength had already significantly improved.

If it were just defeating the left-handed Xu Ziqing, he was confident he could pummel Xiaoxu into submission, crying, "Senior Brother, I was wrong."

But he thought to himself: "Xiaoxu probably already entered [Six Out of Seven], right?"

This guy’s comprehension is extraordinary, able to complete even a flawed Earth Level Technique on his own.

Not to mention merely entering, even reaching Minor Success wouldn’t surprise Chu Huaixu.

Meanwhile, at Junzi Temple, after a night’s reflection, Xu Ziqing had completely figured it out.

"Such a perilous place is mine to face!" he thought.

The reason for his long inner struggle was that at this moment, he was somewhat hesitant to face death.

It’s not that he’s afraid of death...

Okay, perhaps a little afraid.

Thinking about never seeing his senior brother again or never tasting Senior Sister Han’s braised pork made him reluctant to die.

Of course, the main thing was: "I still have great vengeance to exact!"

But he believed that if he truly went and never returned, his senior brother would surely avenge him if he found that person in the future.

Moreover, the young man was well aware of the power of the Bronze Sword.

Xu Ziqing felt that taking it with him to such a dangerous place shouldn’t be much of a problem.

In his white robe, Jiang Zhi had somehow arrived under the tree, looking at the young man practicing swordsmanship.

"Disciple greets Junior Martial Uncle." Xu Ziqing immediately saluted.

"I gave you a night to think it over, have you made up your mind?" he asked.

"Disciple has made up his mind." The delicate-featured youth answered.

"Very good." Jiang Zhi was extremely satisfied.

Xu Ziqing looked at him and said, "But I have one more request."

"Speak."

"Disciple wishes to first use his left-hand sword to see the gap between myself and Senior Brother." He said sincerely.

Chu Huaixu was, after all, someone he had always wanted to catch up to silently.

He was always chasing his senior brother’s shadow, unwilling to fall too far behind.

Because that would make the young man feel even less valuable to his senior brother.

Jiang Zhi looked at him, pondered for a moment, and said, "You may."

He looked up at the white clouds in the sky, once again showing a look of having wisdom at hand.

Without looking at anyone, the white-robed Junior Martial Uncle looked up to the sky and said:

"In fact, with the strength that Chu Huaixu has shown so far, although he can defeat your left-hand sword, he will also pay a price and may get slightly injured."

"You should not underestimate yourself. After all this time of my guidance, with a sword in hand, your gap with him is already minimal."

...

...

Time passed swiftly, and the short day of rest quickly came to an end.

Xu Ziqing’s left arm injury had already healed.

According to today’s schedule, the match between Han Shuangjiang and Chen Haoran to compete for the third place in the East Continent competition would be held first.

Only then would it be the battle for supremacy between Chu Huaixu and Xu Ziqing!

This year’s East Continent competition, anyone with a half-brain could see that the Daoist Sect was going to monopolize the top three places.

The East Continent competition has been ongoing for hundreds of years, and this phenomenon has never occurred before.

In the past, it was not uncommon for a single sect to take two of the top three spots.

But to take all three was unprecedented!

For the disciples of the Daoist Sect, this was undoubtedly a source of pride.

Even Chu Huaixu, who had a slight sense of belonging to the Daoist Sect, felt secretly pleased.

"This feeling is like being the host nation at the Olympics and sweeping the gold, silver, and bronze, raising three national flags at once during the awards ceremony!"

This must have delighted the Daoist Sect to no end!

Beneath the stage, the day’s opponents, Chu Huaixu and Xu Ziqing, stood together in a harmonious atmosphere, watching Han Shuangjiang’s duel and cheering her on.

The Big Ice Cube, with silver hair, had already been pressing Chen Haoran down.

The situation was somewhat one-sided.

Xu Ziqing looked toward the arena, not daring to look at Chu Huaixu, yet suddenly whispered:

"Senior Brother, today I want to compete for the title of champion."

He wanted to sound more determined, but it still came off as though he was making a request to a superior.

"Very well." Chu Huaixu responded casually while watching the arena, his tone neither hot nor cold.

For some reason, he felt a bit gratified inside, experiencing a strange feeling like a child growing up.

But he did not show it.

Soon after, they both fell into silence.

A few moments later, Han Shuangjiang’s Spirit Sword rested on Chen Haoran’s neck, declaring her victory.

The surrounding Daoist disciples immediately erupted in cheers, signifying that the Daoist Sect had secured the top three positions!

Even Xiang Yan and others on the high platform were smiling.

The ever-boastful Chu Yinyin was gleefully swinging her legs in the air with a smug expression.

"Congratulations to Sect Leader Xiang." Teng Lingyi and others said.

This generation of young Daoist disciples had indeed accomplished feats unheard of by their predecessors!

Their names would soon resound throughout the entire East Continent!

Especially among the younger generation, their reputations would reach their peak!

And everyone knew that the main event was still to come.

Even the great cultivators on the high platform were eagerly anticipating this match.

Especially those who knew the real story.

Xiang Yan and the others knew very well that today was the day when Chu Huaixu would no longer hide his abilities.

He would, for the first time, reveal his full strength before everyone.

And his opponent would be that strongest sword between heaven and earth!

The senior figures of the Daoist Sect were eager to see the reactions of Situ Cheng and others afterward.

"You all know Chu Huaixu is strong, but before seeing his true cards, you have no idea how strong he really is!"

This was more than just a competition between the First Realm.

This duel would likely overturn countless perceptions!

It might even embarrass the Sword Sect!

It could even slap the face of the First Sword Venerable!

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Chu Huaixu and Xu Ziqing ascended the stage side by side.

And indeed, standing together, the height difference between them was quite apparent, one tall and one short, creating an interesting picture.

Xu Ziqing still carried the enormous Sword Box on his back.

Chu Huaixu still held onto his Sword Scabbard.

Apart from a few people, many couldn’t understand why, even in the East Continent competition’s championship fight, he still hadn’t drawn his sword?

Was the sword meant for the Heir of Prince Rui?

Originally, many people’s highest anticipation today was to finally see Chu Huaixu’s Lifebound Sword.

But at this moment, the two on stage had already begun to salute each other.

"Senior Brother, please instruct me." Xu Ziqing showed utmost respect.

Chu Huaixu looked at him, smiling slightly. This time, instead of calling him Xiaoxu, he spoke warmly:

"Junior Brother, please instruct me."

...

(ps: Second update, asking for monthly votes!

Tomorrow I will write it all in one go.)