Chapter 117: Chapter 112: Xu Ziqing Ascends Hidden Spirit Mountain

On the way to the Disciple Courtyard, Xu Ziqing was particularly excited.

Finally stepping into the First Realm, officially embarking on the path of cultivation.

And now he’s about to qualify to ascend Hidden Spirit Mountain, soon to possess his own Lifebound Magical Treasure.

After all, Xiaoxu is still but a young man.

He must have a longing for Spiritual Artifacts in his heart.

As swordsmen born into a Martial Arts Family, how could they not envy the Sword Cultivators who can wield swords?

Xu Ziqing had already decided that if conditions allowed, he would choose a sword on the mountain!

Upon arriving at the Disciple Courtyard, it was once again supervised personally by Steward Mo Qingmei from the Outer Sect.

Every time she saw Chu Huaixu, a gentle smile like that of a family elder would appear on her face.

Today, Steward Mo was very surprised.

She hadn’t expected that the young man she treated like a favored nephew would bring another youth to receive a charred Wooden Token!

She had managed the Disciple Courtyard for many years and had never encountered such a thing, where in such a short time, three charred Wooden Tokens were handed out, all to people within the same small circle!

But during the registration, she encountered another layer of surprise.

“’Ice Skin Jade Bone Heart Method’?”

“This young one looks so delicate and tender, yet he’s Body Refining?” Mo Qingmei was shocked.

Such a contrast…

More importantly, in her memory, since she took charge of the Disciple Courtyard, it was the first time encountering a Body Refining disciple being given a charred Wooden Token!

Who with good talent would go into Body Refining?

It’s torturous, exhausting, and vulgar!

What’s the point?

“Truly, strange things happen every year, but this year seems particularly strange.” She felt that something seemed off within the Outer Sect recently.

Nonetheless, Mo Qingmei didn’t say much and handled everything in a businesslike manner.

Strictly speaking, the Disciple Courtyard only conducts the preliminary review, while the final review is handled by the Hidden Spirit Hall.

After all, Hidden Spirit Mountain is a sacred place of the Daoist Sect, and certainly requires strictness.

Once everything was settled, Chu Huaixu exchanged a few pleasantries with Mo Qingmei and then took Xu Ziqing to leave.

For Xiaoxu, this was yet another opportunity to witness his senior brother’s connections in the Outer Sect.

He could discern that Steward Mo Qingmei’s attitude towards his senior brother was vastly different from her attitude towards other Outer Sect disciples in the Disciple Courtyard.

As they proceeded towards Hidden Spirit Hall, the young man started to feel nervous.

He had learned the rules for climbing the mountain and felt it was like a gamble!

Whether he would gain something, Xu Ziqing was uncertain deep in his heart.

“Senior brother, what do you think about my climb this time?” he began to seek Chu Huaixu’s opinion.

“I think you shouldn’t consider the Spiritual Artifacts at the foot and the mid-mountain area,” Chu Huaixu said straightforwardly.

This made Xu Ziqing realize that his senior brother was indicating that he should only consider Upper Grade Spiritual Artifacts or even Super Grade Spiritual Artifacts!

“Maintain a good mindset; Hidden Spirit Mountain is about mutual selection. Which Spiritual Artifacts you are fated with is uncertain before you climb, take it slowly.”

“Moreover, don’t you want a Spirit Sword?” Chu Huaixu smiled.

“Strictly speaking now, you are a Body Cultivator.”

“But there’s no rule that says a Body Cultivator can’t use a sword, is there?”

“It’s just that, overall, Sword Cultivators can exert more power from a Spirit Sword.” He informed Xu Ziqing.

Chu Huaixu didn’t interfere further or hint at checking out the mountain’s peak.

That sword is too sinister!

Whether it’s a blessing or a curse, who can say for sure?

He respects Xiaoxu’s personal choice.

If that sword is destined for Xu Ziqing, it will eventually be in his hands.

The young man nodded, his resolve to find a sword on the mountain only growing stronger — “I want to choose a sword on this mountain!”

He couldn’t help but marvel, “The rules of Hidden Spirit Mountain are indeed unique, focusing on fate, and each person only gets one chance.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Huaixu, feeling a surge of pretentiousness, began to boast:

“Who says everyone only gets to climb once? I, your senior brother, ascended twice. At the peak, I was inspired and inscribed upon the Gentleman Stele. Doesn’t that sound dashing and elegant?”

Hearing this, Xu Ziqing was immediately stunned. His expression brought Chu Huaixu immense satisfaction and amusement.

“Senior brother, you climbed twice and reached the peak?”

“What’s so special about that?” he said with a lighthearted wave.

“Senior brother, then you must have seen that legendary sword!” The young one’s eyes lit up, and his tone rose a few notches.

He had learned swordsmanship since childhood, how could he not have heard of the sword’s legend?

In Mirror Country, various versions of this sword’s story circulated, often embellished by storytellers.

But no matter which version, Xu Ziqing loved hearing them.

That sword was hailed as the world’s foremost sword.

Which swordsman hasn’t dreamt such a dream?

Upon hearing that his senior brother had seen the sword, he was filled with curiosity.

“Senior brother, what does that sword look like?” the young man asked.

“That sword?” Chu Huaixu sneered and gave him an answer he never expected even in his dreams.

“Ugly as death.”

…

…

The wind blew, leaving the delicate young man standing in shock.

Chu Huaixu and the Bronze Sword were like enemies at first sight.

Xu Ziqing was startled to the core hearing the words “ugly as death”!

He could not believe his senior brother could say such a thing.

Then he began to look around, checking if there were any other people nearby, afraid that someone might overhear.

That was the sword left by the Dao Ancestor!

The young boy started to feel a little scared.

However, Chu Huaixu didn’t think much of it.

After all, that sword wasn’t the Dao Ancestor’s Lifebound Sword; on the contrary, the Dao Ancestor had always been suppressing it! It’s a peerless Evil Sword!

It clearly added to the workload of the Dao Ancestor.

What’s there not to talk about?

Moreover, it was indeed ugly! It was only slightly longer than the most common Bronze Sword.

Chu Huaixu knew that Xiaoxu had a tight mouth and naturally wouldn’t go and babble outside.

The two of them walked and chatted like this, and soon they reached their destination.

Inside the Hidden Spirit Hall, the Inner Sect Disciples employed there didn’t expect Chu Huaixu to come again.

He and Han Shuangjiang had left a deep impression on them the last time they visited.

Unexpectedly, today he brought along a fair-skinned young man, who also held a charred Wooden Token!

According to the rules, after going through the process, this matter must be reported to Elder Nangong Yue.

Facing the senior brothers and sisters from the Inner Sect, Xu Ziqing appeared somewhat reserved.

He just stood at the side without saying a word, listening to Chu Huaixu talking and laughing with them, without any stage fright.

A number of Inner Sect Disciples were curious: “Junior Brother Chu, you’re holding a charred Wooden Token, what kind of Spiritual Artifact did you get last time on the mountain?”

Chu Huaixu became a riddle person at once: “I can’t say much, I can’t say much. In short, it was found in the mountain peak area.”

All the Inner Sect Disciples were very envious: “Ah, then it’s at least an Upper Grade Spiritual Artifact, congratulations to Junior Brother Chu!”

During their casual chat, Elder Nangong Yue quickly arrived after being informed.

Everyone immediately saluted: “Disciple pays respects to the Ninth Elder.”

The woman with a gentle demeanor nodded slightly and then smiled at Chu Huaixu and Xu Ziqing.

“Oh? A Body Refiner?” She saw through the young man at a glance, feeling quite surprised.

“You two, follow me.” Elder Nangong Yue said.

With a wave of her sleeve, they rose into the air together, flying towards the foot of the mountain.

She glanced sideways at the young man in the Black Gold Robe she had refined, saying: “Chu Huaixu, why did you think of coming together today?”

“Elder Nangong, Xu Ziqing is my junior brother living in the same house, so I thought I’d come along to take a look.” He replied.

Xu Ziqing appeared even more reserved after meeting an Elder of high status, unlike Chu Huaixu who was so at ease.

Elder Nangong clicked her tongue in wonder: “It’s indeed been many years since I saw a Body Refining disciple obtaining a charred Wooden Token.”

Upon hearing this, Xiaoxu felt even more grateful.

He knew that having this day was all thanks to his senior brother!

“Senior Brother is truly a mountain of kindness to me.” The young boy didn’t even know how to repay him.

The three soon flew to the foot of the mountain, and with a wave of the Ninth Elder’s sleeve, they landed steadily.

“Wear the Wooden Token at your waist, and after obtaining the Spiritual Artifact, just crush the Wooden Token to be transported back to the foot of the mountain, off you go.”

With Elder Nangong’s gesture, Xu Ziqing began walking towards the stone steps, adjusting his breath and mindset.

He raised his head to look at the stone steps, clenching his fist slightly.

Then, he took a step up.

In an instant, he felt the Spiritual Pressure from the mountain rushing towards him.

It was a bit uncomfortable, but entirely within the acceptable range.

He was initially a Body Refiner, with a powerful Physique.

In addition, he bore a deep-seated blood feud and endured torment every day, his willpower was extremely strong.

The mere Spiritual Pressure at the foot of the mountain naturally had little effect.

At first, Xu Ziqing walked a bit slowly, but then gradually quickened his pace.

Chu Huaixu observed closely from a distance, arriving at a conclusion in his mind.

“Although Xiaoxu and I both cultivate the ’Refining Sword Formulas’, it’s apparent that he’s still affected by this Spiritual Pressure. When he first stepped up, it seemed a bit unnatural.”

“His physical strength is not weaker than mine was back then.”

“The main difference seems to be in the Heart Sword.”

“Due to the Heart Sword, my Sea of Consciousness is far stronger than that of other cultivators at the same realm.”

“Moreover, it seems its Person is quite high, except for that Bronze Sword at the summit, it can even suppress the Super Grade Sword Spirit.”

“It’s probably because of this reason.”

He felt that the “Refining Sword Formulas” and his Spiritual Embryo Heart Sword complemented each other and achieved each other.

Before long, as Xu Ziqing walked higher and higher, his figure soon disappeared into a thick fog, and Chu Huaixu couldn’t see anything.

With his current Cultivation, he couldn’t use Divine Sense to investigate what’s happening on the mountain.

He just looked up towards the mountain summit, thinking in his heart: “I really want to climb again.”

There was no other reason, just wanting to use that Bronze Sword to rack up some task rewards again.

“Climbing the mountain earns Experience Points, and there’s even 1 point of Random Special Attribute Points, it’s just too good!” Chu Huaixu thought.

He was now undergoing specialized training from his master day and night, getting just 1 point of comprehension after 30 full days.

Upon this thought, he immediately looked at Elder Nangong beside him.

This Elder, though she had no Dao Companion, exuded the vibe of a housewife, with a curvaceous and plump figure.

More importantly, her temperament was gentle, her voice as soft as a Jiangnan dialect, appearing amiable and gentle, seeming very approachable to talk to.

Moreover, the Hidden Spirit Hall was under her jurisdiction, and all matters concerning the Hidden Spirit Mountain were her responsibility!

Thus, Chu Huaixu tentatively asked:

“Elder Nangong, disciple has a question to ask.”

“Oh? Go ahead and ask.”

“The disciple would like to know if there’s any other way to obtain another Passage Wooden Token for Hidden Spirit Mountain?”

…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep