The Birth of Sword God-Chapter 118 - 113: Xiaoxu Ascends the Mountain, Stirring Unrest
Nangong Yue heard this and a smile appeared on her face.
Her smile was light, yet it had a scene of flowers shaking with laughter.
"You’re quite greedy," she looked at Chu Huaixu and said.
This Ninth Elder of the Daoist Sect quickly provided an answer.
"Daoist disciples who wish to ascend Hidden Spirit Mountain have only two paths."
"The first is to obtain the mountain-climbing Wooden Token through the Disciple Courtyard and Hidden Spirit Hall."
"The second is a special approval from the Sect Leader."
"However, the charred black Wooden Token, even the Sect Leader can issue only one every three years."
"And wasn’t this privilege used by you?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Huaixu quickly understood: "I see, it seems indeed the disciple was too greedy."
His attitude appeared quite sincere.
In fact, he did not know that the special approval Wooden Token, at the charred black level, had such a rare quota of only one every three years.
Upon this thought, he suddenly realized: "Could it be that Xiaoxu in ’Borrowed Sword’ relied on this privilege to reach the mountain top?"
Chu Huaixu thought there was such a possibility.
Because this young man, without relying on chance and taking pills, absolutely could not get the qualification with his own ability.
Nangong Yue looked at him, thinking he wanted to get another magical treasure, so she said:
"With your current cultivation level, the Daoist Ancestor Sword Scabbard and Black Gold Robe are already sufficient."
"In actual combat, being distracted by too many magical treasures is not something you can currently handle, and it may even cause additional flaws."
Chu Huaixu naturally could not explain his true intentions, so he simply replied, "Yes, disciple has learned."
The Ninth Elder turned around, nodded slightly, then asked, "Would you like to see his performance in climbing the mountain?"
"Can I?" Chu Huaixu looked surprised and delighted.
He was eager to watch it live.
"Just close your eyes," Nangong Yue said.
Seeing him close his eyes, she extended a finger, gently pointed at his forehead, and performed a secret technique.
Chu Huaixu vaguely smelled a scent, a woody fragrance, likely from Nangong Yue’s hand.
This Artifact Refining Grandmaster was probably refining artifacts just now.
The next moment, the scenes of Xu Ziqing on the mountain appeared in his mind.
He saw Xiaoxu had reached the area where Lower Grade Spiritual Artifacts were placed.
This young man who hadn’t seen much of the world slightly opened his mouth, full of curiosity about every magical treasure.
It’s just a pity they seemed... not very interested in him?
Including those Lower Grade Spirit Swords!
...
...
On Hidden Spirit Mountain, there was a hint of disappointment on Xu Ziqing’s face.
"It seems they didn’t choose me?" he thought.
Before climbing the mountain, he must have had many beautiful fantasies.
But the current scene undoubtedly shattered them all.
"If I want revenge, I must improve my strength!"
"I must strive to obtain a high-quality Spiritual Artifact!"
"Moreover, my senior brother has high hopes for me, wanting me to retrieve an Upper Grade Spiritual Artifact or even a Super Grade one."
"He put in so much effort to get me this Passage Wooden Token, I hope I don’t disappoint him," he prayed in his heart.
Since the selection on Hidden Spirit Mountain is mutual, if these Artifact Spirits look down on him, no matter how hard he tries, it’s useless.
Therefore, Xu Ziqing could only pin his hopes on other Spiritual Artifacts on the mountain.
With this thought, he gritted his teeth and quickened his pace.
His target wasn’t the foothill area.
The youth’s eyes were determined, and it wasn’t long before he reached the mountainside.
The spiritual pressure around him suddenly increased significantly.
He frowned slightly, feeling the change, but it wasn’t too burdensome.
The artifacts here were at least of Middle Grade.
As Xu Ziqing advanced, finally, a magical treasure extended an olive branch to him.
It was a set of armor.
"Melt Body Armor?" he stepped closer to check the inscription.
This armor was rather peculiar; once worn, half of it would integrate directly into one’s body.
With this, it was more like having an additional layer similar to animal scales than wearing armor.
The delicate youth imagined this scene and found it not very appealing.
But no matter how, finally, a magical treasure acknowledged him!
The worried expression on the youth’s face slightly eased.
"Thankfully, thankfully, at least I can still be chosen," he murmured.
Xiaoxu was thus encouraged and even cast a grateful glance at this Melt Body Armor, as if... politely declining it.
He continued climbing upward, and before long, he was about to finish passing through the mountainside area.
During this journey, three Middle Grade Spiritual Artifacts chose him.
However, even though they were unique, let’s say, they all had some peculiar attributes.
What troubled him the most was that none of the swords chose him!
This scene was in stark contrast to when Chu Huaixu ascended the mountain, where a thousand swords resonated.
He was born into a Martial World Swordsmanship Family and had an extraordinary Sword Dao talent from a young age.
"Even my senior brother said my comprehension in Sword Dao Techniques is extremely high."
"But why hasn’t any spirit sword chosen me?"
"Is it because I’m currently a body refining cultivator?" Xu Ziqing was puzzled, harboring a sense of defeat.
At the foot of the mountain, Chu Huaixu could actually see the disappointment on the young man’s face.
He was also somewhat perplexed.
"Even Xiaoxu could wield that Bronze Sword, why aren’t any of these spirit swords choosing him?"
"Truly strange."
However, he also indirectly concluded that the reason he was so welcomed when he climbed the mountain was purely due to the Little Sword in his Sea of Consciousness.
Unfortunately, he was destined to be Swordless, seemingly unable to own a sword of his own.
...
...
Time passed, Xu Ziqing kept moving forward.
He had traversed the entire mid-mountain region and stepped into the mountain top area.
The spiritual pressure intensified, making it a bit hard for him to breathe, his chest felt tight, and his head was slightly dizzy.
"It’s a bit like feeling heatstroke?" he thought.
"I wonder if senior brother was also troubled by this spiritual pressure when he climbed?" Xu Ziqing pondered.
However, remembering how his senior brother ascended twice in one go and visited the peak to see that sword, he thought that mere spiritual pressure wouldn’t bother him much.
The number of spiritual artifacts in the mountain top area was relatively few.
Every time Xu Ziqing passed by a magical treasure, he would pause for a while.
He was well aware that these were rare treasures.
Even if they didn’t choose him, he couldn’t help but take a few more looks, considering it an opportunity to broaden his horizons.
After a while, a light suddenly flickered in the teenager’s eyes, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.
Chu Huaixu, who had been "watching the live broadcast" from below, couldn’t help but say two words in his heart: "As expected!"
Because, at that moment, right in front of Xiaoxu, was a Jade Pendant.
A Jade Pendant that once threw him an olive branch, an extremely suitable magical treasure for body cultivators.
It was a defensive spiritual artifact, which, when worn long-term, continuously nourished the body, similar to the effects of soaking in a medicinal bath.
Its nourishing effects weren’t extremely impressive, but they accumulated over time.
Such upper grade spiritual artifacts, suitable for body cultivators, are exceptionally rare in this world.
The reason is simple; most body refining cultivators have poor talent, and the path of body refining is very difficult, so achievements are often limited.
Coupled with the need for constant medicinal baths and frequent elixir consumption, expenses can add up, resulting in many body cultivators being quite poor.
Most upper-grade spiritual artifacts come from Artifact Refining Grandmasters, who aren’t foolish; why bother crafting high-end spiritual artifacts for body cultivators when the market is so small? They can’t afford them anyway!
With such deep heritage, Hidden Spirit Mountain had only this Jade Pendant that could assist in body refining, a high-quality item specifically crafted for body cultivators, an absolute luxury!
As Xu Ziqing looked at it, he was greatly moved.
The Jade Pendant trembled slightly, clearly favoring the young man cultivating the Ice Skin Jade Bone Heart Method.
Xiaoxu’s face showed deep conflict.
He still longed to possess a spirit sword.
The Six Out of Seven, which led to his family’s destruction, was a sword technique.
Xu Ziqing planned to master it, to use it to sever the heads of his enemies, avenging his family!
Yet, this Jade Pendant was truly too fitting, even Chu Huaixu had hesitated back then.
At this moment, it seemed quite spiritual, sensing the young man’s internal struggle.
Consequently, the Jade Pendant’s trembling frequency increased, as if vying for his favor.
However, a bizarre scene unfolded.
After trembling slightly, the Jade Pendant abruptly stopped!
Without warning, it ceased entirely.
It was as if it had instantly changed its mind, unwilling to accept Xu Ziqing as its owner, not wanting him to take it down the mountain!
The earnest efforts it was just showing seemed like a tease.
"What’s going on?" Chu Huaixu was briefly stunned.
He even felt a bit displeased.
Is our Xiaoxu that undesirable?
"But it makes no sense, I cultivate both inner and outer techniques, while Xiaoxu is purely a body cultivator, practicing a Celestial Level Body Refining Technique, and once built a foundation with the Refining Sword Formulas." He couldn’t understand.
This scene made Nangong Yue at the foot of the mountain utter a sound of surprise.
She oversaw all affairs on Hidden Spirit Mountain and had never encountered such an occurrence.
As an Artifact Refining Grandmaster, she knew well that this didn’t align with the usual behavior of an artifact spirit.
Artifact spirits are generally quite stubborn; when do they ever flip-flop like this?
She expanded her divine sense to thoroughly investigate the situation.
Soon, she couldn’t help but speak: "Something’s wrong!"
Nangong Yue sensed an aura.
To be exact, it was spiritual pressure generated by an artifact spirit.
It descended from above, directed at the Jade Pendant, suppressing it so it dared not further ingratiate itself with Xu Ziqing!
This spiritual pressure came from that sword at the peak!
The matter was significant, so Nangong Yue immediately transmitted a message to the Sect Leader and others:
"Everyone quickly come to Hidden Spirit Mountain."
"Today, Chu Huaixu brought a disciple named Xu Ziqing to climb the mountain, and the sword on the mountain peak has shown anomalies again!"
"It’s actually suppressing other magical treasures, not letting them choose Xu Ziqing!"
...
(P.S.: Seeking monthly votes, maintaining sixth place on the monthly votes total chart!)
