Xu Ziqing’s heart-rending scream echoed above the bamboo hut.
To Chu Huaixu’s ears, it sounded incomparably pleasant.
But since young, he had always been empathetic, so very quickly it turned into sympathy.
The “striking fortune” level of pain when breaking through the Nine Apertures was something he still refused to recall to this day.
At this moment, as Chu Huaixu sat cross-legged on his meditation cushion, he only felt that little Xu was still not mature enough.
“He actually clenched his teeth and endured for a while, struggling to stay conscious, intending to pull through?”
“Unlike me, who fainted as soon as I could.”
Not long after, Xu Ziqing also succumbed to the pain and completely lost consciousness.
He collapsed onto the meditation cushion, his body curling up, twitching involuntarily from time to time.
The youth’s complexion was drained of blood, yet a faint flowing brilliance circled around his body.It was as if within the furnace of heaven and earth, a sword embryo had already been forged, revealing its first traces of profound radiance!
“Was it also like this, with special effects, when I broke through the Nine Apertures?” Chu Huaixu wondered with some curiosity as he carefully observed.
Then, he glanced out the window.
The entire 【Mountains Beyond Mountains】 area showed no signs of trembling.
It was obvious that the bronze sword atop Hidden Spirit Mountain had shown little reaction.
“Both of us cultivated the 《Sword Refining Art》. Xu Ziqing even followed the proper story path and should have been able to obtain that sword.”
“But why was it only during my breakthrough that the reaction was so great?” Chu Huaixu thought to himself.
There had only been two differences between him and Xu Ziqing during the Qi-Opening Stage.
First, his own progress was actually more solid, for little Xu relied on pills while he relied on cheats.
Second, his Spirit Embryo was unusual, for within his Sea of Consciousness resided a Heart Sword.
Based on the attitude shown between the bronze sword and the Heart Sword during his last climb, Chu Huaixu suspected the latter was the true reason.
“Seems you’re even more remarkable than I imagined.” Chu Huaixu muttered softly.
Inside his Sea of Consciousness, the black small sword resonated with his intent, trembling lightly in response.
At times, Chu Huaixu even felt that it was his true life-bound sword spirit.
Because compared to it, the artifact spirit of the Dao Birth One medicinal cauldron appeared far more dull.
To put it nicely, it seemed to lack much spirituality.
To put it harshly, it was like an idiot who only knew how to eat.
Though they were indeed connected in spirit, all it ever did was cry out in hunger, forever… hungry?
Chu Huaixu could only periodically pour spiritual energy into it, like an incompetent father who could never feed his starving child.
In the bamboo hut next door, upon hearing that soul-tearing cry, Han Shuangjiang merely smiled, closed her eyes, began cultivating, and inwardly congratulated Junior Brother Xu for finally opening all Nine Apertures.
When dawn broke, Xu Ziqing slowly regained consciousness.
“You’re awake.” Chu Huaixu said.
Seeing his senior brother had actually watched over him the entire night, the youth felt deeply moved.
In truth, to Chu Huaixu, meditating on a cushion or lying in bed to sleep made no difference.
For as soon as the time came, he would be pulled into that space to be fiercely hacked apart by his future First Master.
By now, he went through the process mechanically.
But he was certain it was definitely not the 《Dao Canon》, for no one had ever succeeded in cultivating it.
Nor had he ever heard of Xu Ziqing being renowned for his surging spiritual energy.
After breakfast, little Xu set off alone on his journey.
Watching the youth’s departing figure, Han Shuangjiang asked Chu Huaixu, “You’re not going with him?”
“I’m not his father, how could I accompany him in everything?” Chu Huaixu replied immediately.
All he needed was to form deep bonds with each World Protagonist.
But he did not want every World Protagonist to rely on him too much.
Xu Ziqing walked quickly, and before long he arrived at the Scripture Pavilion on Book Mountain.
In recent days, the Scripture Pavilion was far more bustling than usual, filled with people inside.
Because of the Eastern and Western Continents’ Grand Competition, many First Realm disciples had come here, emptying their resources to exchange for techniques.
On his way up the mountain, little Xu already overheard many senior brothers and sisters discussing the competition.
These people’s discussions were all about those First Realm disciples who had begun to shine within the outer sect.
Because of the Cold Pool Secret Realm, Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang had also become half-celebrities.
Thus, in the words of others, Xu Ziqing too heard those two familiar names.
When the youth arrived at the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion, it was packed with people.
Dao Gate disciples still upheld that habit of loving to watch commotions. Whenever an enrolled disciple attempted the barriers, passersby would stop to spectate.
Little Xu squeezed into the crowd, listening to their discussions.
“This junior brother is pretty good, I reckon he can make it to the earth-rank.”
“Yes, he smashed the yellow-rank barrier with just one punch, truly impressive.” Someone chimed in.
“Impressive? Then you don’t know—just recently, there was an enrolled disciple who, with only one move, used just two fingers to break through four barriers in one go, without even stopping his steps, and it was clear he still had energy to spare!” A senior brother began sharing the gossip he had picked up.
“Really? Who was it?”
Standing to the side with his ears pricked, Xu Ziqing indeed heard the very name he wanted to hear.
“Chu Huaixu! That Chu Huaixu from the Cold Pool Secret Realm! He claimed himself to be adept in both internal and external cultivation.” The senior brother did not keep them guessing.
“Oh! It’s him! That Junior Brother Chu’s strength is actually this terrifying, and he even obtained a heaven-rank cultivation method. Wouldn’t that make him a strong contender in the Eastern and Western Continents’ Grand Competition?” a senior sister said.
But a slightly plump senior brother shook his head, disagreeing: “Unfortunately, this competition came too early. In such a short time, who knows how many Heavens of the First Realm Junior Brother Chu has cultivated to, but it’s certainly too late to reach perfection.”
“True, if the gap in realm is too wide, it’s indeed hard to make up for.”
“Exactly, he’ll probably only last a few rounds.”
These people were merely chatting idly, without any trace of mockery, simply stating facts.
Yet as Xu Ziqing listened, he still felt somewhat uncomfortable.
“Senior Brother is far stronger than you imagine!” The youth felt they knew nothing of his senior brother’s strength.
Little Xu’s line of reasoning went something like this:
“Senior Brother said he hoped we could sweep the top three places of the Eastern and Western Continents’ Grand Competition.”
Although he had little confidence in himself due to his poor talent, from those words he could deduce—Senior Brother himself was aiming for first place!
After all, if he said they would take the top three, he surely didn’t mean to let Senior Sister Han or even him go and vie for first place, right?
Xu Ziqing had never once doubted a single word spoken by Chu Huaixu.
Nor had he ever thought his senior brother was the type to boast.
“Even though I don’t know exactly how strong Senior Brother is, since he said so, he must have the confidence.”
—The youth believed Chu Huaixu was being underestimated!
He very much wanted to argue a few words in his defense, but felt it wouldn’t be right.
As just an enrolled disciple, whatever he said at a time like this would only invite ridicule.
His words carried no persuasive power, and would only stir up more criticism.
Just then, the enrolled disciple attempting the trial finished and ultimately entered the earth-rank section.
The surrounding outer sect disciples watching all offered their congratulations.
Amid the praise, that enrolled disciple’s face turned red, practically being coaxed back into the womb.
Meanwhile, Xu Ziqing went to find the white-robed manager, respectfully handing over his disciple token for registration.
The spectators immediately focused their attention on him.
Xu Ziqing quickly noticed that uncomfortable feeling returning again—someone staring at his Adam’s apple, then glancing at his chest, suspecting he was a girl disguised as a boy.
“That’s enough, you may begin.” The white-robed manager said listlessly.
“Yes.” The youth answered in a deep voice, doing his best to make his tone sound more masculine.
Standing before the first barrier, his heart was unbearably tense.
So many people watching made him feel ill at ease.
Xu Ziqing even felt someone sizing up his buttocks.
Because of the difference between male and female physiques, a woman’s hips tended to be wider.
He knew many people bore no malice, only curiosity.
But he still felt ashamed and angry.
Under so many gazes, his body instinctively shrank slightly.
Once, that spirited youth of the sword clan could no longer stand proud and confident as before.
At last, Xu Ziqing began silently repeating to himself the words his senior brother had said:
“Straighten your back, and stand a little forward!”
After muttering them in his heart for some time, he finally exhaled deeply, no longer shrinking timidly.
“Senior Brother said these four barriers are like paper to us.”
The Dao Gate disciples watching from behind found it odd—why was this junior brother, who looked so much like a girl, dawdling so much?
Then they saw Xu Ziqing finally raise his hand, extending two fingers, joining his index and middle fingers together.
Even the previously listless white-robed manager could not help but exclaim at this moment: “—?”