The Birth of Sword God-Chapter 115 - 110: Xu Ziqing Opens All Nine Orifices
The heart-wrenching screams of Xu Ziqing echoed above the bamboo house.
Chu Huaixu found the sound incredibly pleasant.
But he, being empathetic since childhood, quickly turned his feelings into sympathy.
The "lucky strike" level of pain during the breakthrough to the Nine Acupoints was something he still didn’t want to recall.
At this moment, Chu Huaixu sat on the meditation cushion, feeling that Xiaoxu was still a bit immature.
"He actually bit his teeth and held on for a while, trying hard to stay awake and planning to endure through it?"
"Unlike me, who would just faint if I could."
Soon after that, Xu Ziqing too lost consciousness due to the pain.
He collapsed on the meditation cushion, his body curled up, occasionally twitching unconsciously.
The boy’s face was devoid of color, but there was a faint aura flowing around him.
It was as if in the Heaven and Earth Furnace, the sword embryo had been forged, and the mysterious light only just began to appear!
"When I broke through to the Nine Acupoints, did I also come with special effects like this?" Chu Huaixu was somewhat curious, carefully observing.
Then, he looked out the window.
The entire [Beyond the Mountain] region did not experience any tremors.
Clearly, the Bronze Sword on Hidden Spirit Mountain didn’t have much reaction.
"Both of us are cultivating ’Refining Sword Formulas’, and Xu Ziqing, according to the normal plot line, can even obtain that sword."
"So why was there such a big reaction when I broke through?" Chu Huaixu wondered.
During the Acupoint Opening Stage, there were only two differences between him and Xu Ziqing.
First, his progress was actually more solid because Xiaoxu relied on pills, while he relied on hacks.
Second, his spiritual embryo was very special; there was a Heart Sword within his Sea of Consciousness.
Based on the last time climbing the mountain, the attitude between the Bronze Sword and the Heart Sword, Chu Huaixu actually suspected the latter more.
"It seems you’re more amazing than I thought." Chu Huaixu muttered to himself.
The small black sword within his Sea of Consciousness, which was in sync with his mind, trembled slightly at this moment, as if to respond.
Sometimes, Chu Huaixu actually felt that it was his true Lifebound Sword Spirit.
Compared to it, the Artifact Spirit of the Medicine Cauldron Dao Generating One seemed much more dull.
To put it nicely, it didn’t seem to have much spirituality.
To put it bluntly, it was like an idiot that only knew how to eat, eat, and eat.
Indeed, they were in sync, but it would only shout that it was hungry, always... always hungry?
Chu Huaixu could only regularly infuse it with spiritual power, like an incompetent father feeding his ever-hungry child.
In the bamboo house next door, Han Shuangjiang smiled and closed her eyes after hearing the earth-shattering scream, starting her cultivation while congratulating Junior Brother Xu in her heart for finally opening all nine acupoints.
At the break of dawn, Xu Ziqing slowly woke up.
"Awake?" Chu Huaixu said.
The young man was deeply moved to see his Senior Brother had stayed by his side all night.
In fact, for Chu Huaixu, entering meditation on the cushion was no different from lying down to sleep in bed.
Because once the time came, he would be pulled into that space, to be thoroughly tormented by his future master.
He was almost following a routine now.
Enter, bow, call the master to get on good terms, then stand there and get hacked by her.
After dying a few times, his consciousness would quickly fall into a daze, and time would unknowingly pass.
Then, he would open his eyes again, exhausted for yet another day.
Such days had gone by for half a month.
Chu Huaixu found that facing death crises directly, his fear had gradually faded.
No matter how real each death was!
At this moment, he looked at Xu Ziqing with a weary face and said, "Do you feel like your physique has improved significantly?"
Xu Ziqing stood up and sensed it, then nodded joyfully.
He could clearly feel that the power of his physical body had qualitatively changed!
He was now quite powerful!
"Want to give me a punch and see your current physical limits?" Chu Huaixu invited.
In response, Xu Ziqing immediately replied, "I wouldn’t dare, Senior Brother."
The senior brother, who wanted to test if he was tough, was quite disappointed.
He could only say plainly, "After eating, you should hurry to the Library Pavilion and choose a Celestial Level Technique that you fancy."
"The four array barriers on the first floor of the Library Pavilion are like paper to us, so there’s no need to worry about them," Chu Huaixu gently patted his shoulder.
The young man had been in the Daoist Sect for some time and knew that many outer sect senior brothers and sisters struggled with the difficulty of the Library Pavilion’s barriers.
"Are they like paper to Senior Brother?" Xu Ziqing thought.
Chu Huaixu, looking at him, didn’t give any advice on choosing a cultivation technique, not wanting to assume this cause and responsibility.
He himself had succeeded with "Dao Scripture," partly because of system upgrades.
He couldn’t be completely sure that Xiaoxu, who was also laying the foundation with "Refining Sword Formulas," could also cultivate "Dao Scripture."
"If it doesn’t work, to put it bluntly, an incomplete version of ’Dao Scripture’ is just rubbish Earth Level," Chu Huaixu thought.
He truly didn’t know what cultivation technique Xu Ziqing practiced in "Borrowed Sword."
But he was sure it wasn’t "Dao Scripture," as no one had ever cultivated it successfully.
He had also never heard of Xu Ziqing as being known for having abundant spiritual power within.
After the meal, Xiaoxu embarked on his journey alone.
Han Shuangjiang, watching the boy’s back, asked Chu Huaixu, "Aren’t you going with him?"
"I’m not his father; can I accompany him everywhere?" Chu Huaixu immediately replied.
He just wants to form deep bonds with every protagonist of the world.
But he doesn’t want every world protagonist to be overly reliant on him.
...
...
Xu Ziqing walked quickly along the path, and soon arrived at the Library Pavilion on Book Mountain.
These days, the Library Pavilion was much more lively than usual, filled with people.
Due to the East Continent competition, many disciples of the First Realm came to exchange techniques, emptying their resources.
Along the way up the mountain, Xiaoxu heard many senior brothers and sisters discussing the East Continent competition.
The subjects of their discussions were all those First Realm disciples who had made a name for themselves in the Outer Sect.
Because of the Cold Pool Secret Realm incident, Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang had also become somewhat of a sensation.
Therefore, Xu Ziqing also heard those familiar names in people’s conversations.
When the young man arrived on the first floor of the Library Pavilion, it was crowded with people.
The Daoist Sect disciples still had the habit of enjoying a spectacle, stopping to watch whenever a registered disciple attempted to break through the barrier.
Xiaoxu squeezed into the crowd, listening to everyone’s discussions.
"This Junior Brother isn’t bad, I estimate he can break into the Earth Level."
"Yes, he casually shattered the Yellow Level Barrier with one punch, it’s indeed impressive," someone replied.
"Impressive? You don’t know then, a while ago a registered disciple broke through four barriers in one go with just two fingers, without even pausing, clearly having more strength to spare!" a senior brother shared a piece of gossip.
"Really? Who was it?"
Xu Ziqing stood nearby, listening intently, and indeed heard the name he was hoping for.
"Chu Huaixu! The one from the Cold Pool Secret Realm! He claimed to be adept at both inner and outer cultivation." The senior brother didn’t hold back.
"Oh! It’s him! Junior Brother Chu is indeed terrifyingly powerful, and now with the Celestial Level Technique, isn’t he a strong contender in the East Continent competition?" a senior sister said.
The slightly chubby senior brother shook his head, disagreeing: "Unfortunately, the competition is starting too early, in such a short period, Junior Brother Chu might not even reach Great Perfection of the First Realm."
"True, if the realm disparity is too large, it really is hard to make up for it."
"Right, he’ll likely only make it through a few rounds."
These people chatted idly, without any tone of mockery, just stating facts.
But Xu Ziqing felt a bit uncomfortable listening to it.
"Senior Brother is far stronger than you think!" The young man thought the crowd had no idea about Senior Brother’s true strength.
Xiaoxu’s thought process went something like this:
"Senior Brother said he hopes we can secure the top three spots in the East Continent competition."
Though he didn’t have much confidence in his own poor talent, he concluded from the statement that Senior Brother himself must be aiming for the top!
After all, when he said everyone should secure the top three, he couldn’t have meant to leave it to Senior Sister Han or even him to fight for the first spot, could he?
Xu Ziqing had never doubted anything Chu Huaixu said.
He also never thought Senior Brother was one to boast without reason.
"I may not know how strong Senior Brother truly is, but if he said it, he surely has the confidence."
——The young man thought Chu Huaixu was underestimated by everyone!
He really wanted to argue a bit, but felt it inappropriate.
As a registered disciple, no matter what he said at this time, it would only add to the laughter.
His words lacked persuasion and would only lead to more gossip.
Just then, the registered disciple attempting the trial finished, ultimately reaching the Earth Level area.
The Outer Sect disciples watching all congratulated him enthusiastically.
Amidst the praises, that registered disciple’s face turned red, nearly becoming an embryo from the flattery.
Xu Ziqing, meanwhile, went to the white-robed Steward, respectfully handed over his disciple token for registration.
The onlookers immediately focused their sights on him.
Xu Ziqing soon noticed that uncomfortable feeling again, as people stared at his Adam’s apple and then looked at his chest, suspecting he was a woman disguised as a man.
"That’s all, you can proceed with the trial now," the white-robed Steward said dully.
"Yes," the young man replied solemnly, trying to make his voice sound more robust.
He stood before the first barrier, incredibly tense.
So many people watching made him uneasy.
Xu Ziqing even felt someone was scrutinizing his hip and waist.
Because of the different physiques, females tend to have wider hips.
He knew many people were probably not malicious, just curious.
But it still made him feel embarrassed and angry.
Under so many stares, he instinctively shrank a bit.
Once, in the swordsmanship family, he was a confident and proud young man, but he couldn’t muster the same confidence and pride he once had.
In the end, Xu Ziqing began to repeatedly recite the words Senior Brother had told him:
"Stand up straight, move forward a bit!"
After silently reciting this for a while, he exhaled deeply, appearing less timid and shy.
"Senior Brother said, these four barriers are like paper for us."
The Daoist Sect disciples watching found it a bit puzzling, why this Junior Brother, who looked so much like a girl, was dawdling.
Xu Ziqing finally raised his hand, extending two fingers, closing his index and middle fingers together.
The previously indifferent white-robed Steward couldn’t help but let out a "Hmm?" at this moment.
...
(ps: Book recommendation, offering a sacrifice to a book, "I Have Unlimited Death Warriors, Sweeping Through Myriad Heavens".)
