Chapter 83: Insulting That Sword
After hearing the system notification, Chu Huaixu felt satisfied.
This time when he ascended Hidden Spirit Mountain again, one reason was to see whether this passive mission could be triggered repeatedly.
There was no helping it—who asked this Bronze Sword’s status to be so high?
The higher its status, according to his understanding of 《Borrowed Sword》, the greater the chance of triggering the mission again!
“But I don’t know if the mission reward will be reduced?” he thought.
For Chu Huaixu, his greed was not mainly focused on Experience Points, but rather on that 1 point of【Random Special Attribute Point】.
Thirty thousand Experience Points, for someone in the First Realm like him, was indeed a huge fortune.
But compared to the Random Attribute Point, it was nothing at all.
That was why he rushed up the mountain in such a hurry, not sparing even a glance at the spiritual artifacts along the roadside.
According to sect rules, one could only obtain one spiritual artifact in a lifetime, not one for every ascent.
With the help of that Black Bead, he had already received a “buy one, get one free.” In this regard, he was already content.
Now that the mission was in hand, Chu Huaixu’s drive became even greater.
As he climbed step by step, the entire Hidden Spirit Mountain shook more violently.
Such heaven-shaking might left Han Shuangjiang, at the foot of the mountain, utterly dumbfounded.
She could never have imagined that a single sword could cause such a phenomenon.
And yet the one truly oppressed by its Spiritual Pressure—Chu Huaixu—had eyes filled with unwavering determination.
“If it could break through the Dao Ancestor’s seal, it would’ve done so long ago in this thousand years!”
“Here, ramming against the seal is nothing but a bluff—just for show!”
A hint of mockery appeared on his face: “Or should I say, right now you’re simply raging in helpless fury?”
On both sides of the stone steps, more and more heavy objects began rolling downhill due to the tremors.
In some places, even the earth cracked apart!
The spiritual artifacts on the mountain were all protected by formations, so they would not fall off. Even if displaced, the formations restored them to place.
Only, at this moment, it was not just the Sword Spirit feeling fear.
The vast majority of Artifact Spirits began to tremble as well.
For faintly, they too could sense the terrifying Spiritual Pressure from the mountain’s peak!
All the spiritual artifacts began quivering.
Even 【Zhegutian】 at the mountain’s base trembled.
Yet when Han Shuangjiang lowered her head to look at it, she felt it looked somewhat conflicted.
“It seems both afraid of the sword atop the mountain, yet also somewhat wanting to… help that Dead Fox?”
The Big Ice Block was completely convinced this time.
She was now certain: if 【Zhegutian】 itself were forced to choose between the two, it would, without hesitation, throw itself into that Dead Fox’s embrace!
Even so, the cold-faced girl still turned toward Li Chunsong, worry surfacing on her face as she asked:
“Sixth Elder, are you sure nothing will happen like this?”
Li Chunsong shook his head, signaling her not to worry.
Yet the words he spoke next offered little comfort.
“If the Dao Ancestor’s seal can still hold this sword, then Chu Huaixu’s life should not be in danger.”
“If the seal can no longer restrain that sword, then no matter who intervenes, it will be meaningless.”
Up until now, no one knew what Chu Huaixu’s purpose was in climbing the mountain.
No one could fathom his intent.
Only Han Shuangjiang faintly guessed something.
For when Chu Huaixu brushed past her, she had seen the blazing fury burning in his eyes!
“He actually feels anger toward that sword?”
“He actually dares to be angry at that sword?”
The Big Ice Block realized she had underestimated his courage and resolve.
“Ah——!”
With a roar, Chu Huaixu stepped onto the final stone stair, reaching the summit of Hidden Spirit Mountain.
The winds at the peak still howled as fiercely as ever.
Here, there were only four stone pillars and a massive stone stele inscribed with the two characters “Gentleman,” so nothing blocked the surrounding gales.
Chu Huaixu looked utterly battered, his seven apertures bleeding once more.
“Even after leveling up, it’s still not enough,” he thought.
At this moment, even raising his sleeve to wipe the blood from his face required every ounce of strength he had.
In the end, the wiping only smeared his face into a filthy mess, forcing him to wipe again.
That Bronze Sword still hovered above, overlooking him from high above.
Now Chu Huaixu understood why, generation after generation, the Sword Sovereigns of Sword Sect all came to the mountain to ask the sword.
And why, even after losing, they still returned once they had grown stronger.
“Because it’s really damnable!”
That undisguised arrogance and disdain were about to overflow.
It still wanted Chu Huaixu to submit to it.
Though constrained by countless Restrictions, it could only exert this degree of Spiritual Pressure—it could not directly force him to kneel or crawl.
But watching his bleeding seven apertures, his battered body caked in dust, his frail frame collapsing under the weight—this made the sword feel delighted!
On him existed a power just like that man’s.
The Bronze Sword relished a sense of vengeance.
Shrouded under the oppressive Spiritual Pressure, Chu Huaixu drew a deep breath.
He stared fixedly at the sword, his eyes bloodshot, whispering to himself.
“Should I still go forward?” he asked his Heart Sword.
Within his Sea of Consciousness, the Black Small Sword conveyed its will.
A Sick Sword—yet still, always forging ahead!
Chu Huaixu struggled onward, stretching his fingertip to touch the hovering Bronze Sword.
The next instant, he was blasted away once more.
This time, thrown even further and higher, his fall all the harder.
“Boom——!” His back struck the ground.
Yet despite this, a faint smile hung on Chu Huaixu’s lips—though twisted by pain into something hideous.
Being flung further did not mean the Bronze Sword had grown stronger.
It was because he and the Heart Sword had grown stronger, so the rebound force was greater.
And once again, a system prompt echoed in Chu Huaixu’s ears.
“【Ding! Congratulations, you have completed the mission—Sword Spirit Oppressive Might.】”
The Dao Gate’s upper echelons were utterly baffled.
This so-called Sword Attendant of the Dao Ancestor’s Maxim—he didn’t seem inclined to serve the sword at all.
On the contrary, his personal will seemed utterly opposed to it!
Sect Master Xiang Yan had even prepared himself—if Chu Huaixu could, on this second ascent, truly take down that sword and fulfill the Dao Ancestor’s prophecy, then even if it defied Hidden Spirit Mountain’s rules, he would break precedent to allow it.
But now, it looked like fire and water were utterly incompatible.
Sure enough, atop the mountain, Chu Huaixu staggered back to his feet.
Since crossing into this world, he had never been so wretched as today.
As for his nature—perhaps the corpse of Xue Hu, fallen on that rain-drenched night outside the Patrol Bureau, understood it best.
Chu Huaixu glared deathly at the sword, and said:
“Well, thank you, because just now, I broke through another Heaven.”
His voice was hoarse, nearly slurred.
But to the Bronze Sword that sought to kill him, these words brought no joy.
Hidden Spirit Mountain continued to tremble.
“I wonder—sealed here by the Dao Ancestor for a thousand years, have you made any progress at all?”
At these words, the mountain quaked even harder!
This ant dared to speak insolently—dared to provoke it so!
Standing upon the trembling peak, Chu Huaixu suddenly stepped forward.
At once, his skin split open across his body, swelling lumps rising everywhere. Yet the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth surged into him like mad!
His aura rose continuously!
Though the pain in his body under the oppressive might grew ever more intense, his entire black robe was soaked with sweat and blood.
Ascending once more, he broke through another realm!
With a single step, he entered the First Realm, Third Heaven!
Chu Huaixu knew well—though this sword had made no progress in a thousand years, it still remained the strongest since the Dao Ancestor’s passing.
Seeing him break through on the spot, it would only take it as further provocation—but to the sword, an ant remained an ant.
Whether First Realm Second Heaven or First Realm Third Heaven, it was still unbearably weak.
Yet he still chose to do it.
For Chu Huaixu understood deeply—this sword’s hatred for the Dao Ancestor ran deep!
Then let it witness, how the same origin power as the Dao Ancestor grew and flourished within him!
The Bronze Sword floated, watching Chu Huaixu’s body crack apart then rapidly knit itself together with astonishing regeneration.
Just like that Daoist… exactly the same!
In an instant, the mountain’s quaking grew even more violent, as though the heavens themselves might collapse!
Man and sword confronted one another for a long time.
Chu Huaixu quietly savored his body’s recovery, his realm gradually stabilizing.
This time, he endured atop the peak even longer than before.
His gaze shifted toward the massive stone stele beside the Bronze Sword.
At the very top of the stele, two great characters were carved—“Gentleman.”
At the base of the stele, within a groove, lay a Carving Knife.
The small characters etched densely upon the stele’s base were clearly left by later generations, likely carved using that very knife.
Some were inscriptions by Dao Gate disciples who had entered【Gentleman Temple】.
Others were left by Sword Sovereigns who had come to ask the sword.
The writings bore no pattern—some wrote words of their choosing, some simply played with the “Gentleman” characters above.
Like the previous Sword Sovereign, who upon asking the sword here, carved four characters—“Gentleman Never Defeated!”
Later, the Dao Gate’s Little Martial Uncle also came to ask the sword. After his defeat, he added behind those words: “Defeated is still defeated.”
Quite the farce!
Even the current Sword Sovereign of Sword Sect had come three years prior.
After losing, he stood before the stele, knife in hand—but ultimately left no words.
Now, under the oppressive might, Chu Huaixu staggered to the stele and took up the Carving Knife from the groove.
This act left the Dao Gate elders momentarily stunned.
But it was no violation of rules.
Anyone who reached the summit had the right to inscribe here.
“What does he want to carve?” Chu Yinyin could not help but speak.
“Looks like he wants to add to the Gentleman Stele?” Nangong Yue also said.
Looking at Chu Huaixu’s black robe drenched in blood, even she could hardly bear to watch.
Everyone present, like them, felt some measure of curiosity.
Yet under the oppressive might, Chu Huaixu’s hand gripping the knife twitched uncontrollably.
He could not hold it steady, nor carve steadily.
Thus every character he carved looked hideously crooked—like chicken scratches, laughable in appearance.
Chu Huaixu carved slowly, painfully. Just standing straight here consumed all his strength, let alone carving words.
In the end, he gripped the Carving Knife with both hands, barely managing to make the characters legible.
At long last, after much effort, Chu Huaixu left behind eight characters on the stele.
It was a phrase unknown in the Xuanhuang Realm—taken from the 《Guanzi》.
For everything he suffered today, he had this sword to thank!
The Dao Gate’s high elders could only watch, wide-eyed, as this man they deemed the Sword Attendant carved such words into the Gentleman Stele.
At that moment, the young man seemed to have found an outlet. With his hoarse voice, he roared the words at the top of his lungs, like a madman.
His cry echoed about the mountain’s peak, refusing to disperse, as though reaching heaven itself.
——“Gentlemen use things, but are not used by things!!”
With the last of his strength, Chu Huaixu slammed the Carving Knife to the ground and crushed the Pass Token at his waist.