On the way to the Disciples’ Courtyard, Xu Ziqing felt unusually excited.
He had finally entered the First Realm, officially stepping onto the path of cultivation.
And now, he could even obtain the qualification to ascend Hidden Spirit Mountain, soon to possess a life-bound magical treasure of his own.
After all, young Xu was still a mere youth.
Naturally, his heart longed for spiritual artifacts.
As swordsmen born of a martial family, how could they not envy the sword cultivators who could soar while wielding swords?
Xu Ziqing had already made up his mind—if conditions allowed, then on the mountain he would choose a sword!
After arriving at the Disciples’ Courtyard, it was once again Mo Qingmei, the Outer Sect Steward, who personally handled the matter.
Each time she saw Chu Huaixu, a gentle, elder-like smile would always appear on her face.
Today, Steward Mo was truly surprised.She had never expected that this youth, whom she regarded as a virtuous nephew, would bring yet another boy to receive a charred-black wooden token!
Though she had overseen the Disciples’ Courtyard for years, this was her first time encountering such a thing—in such a short span, three charred-black tokens had been issued, all to people from the same small circle!
Yet during registration, she was met with another shock.
“《Ice-muscle Jade-bone Method》?”
“This boy looks so delicate and youthful, and yet he’s a Body Trainer?” Mo Qingmei was inwardly startled.
Such a contrast…
More importantly, in all her years overseeing the Disciples’ Courtyard, this was the first time she had ever seen a Body Training disciple receive a charred-black token!
Those with good talent—who would ever choose Body Training?
It was torturous, grueling, and crude!
For what?
“Truly, strange things happen every year, and this year there seem to be especially many.” She felt something about the Outer Sect had been off lately.
But Mo Qingmei did not dwell on it further and handled matters as usual.
Strictly speaking, the Disciples’ Courtyard was only in charge of preliminary approval, while the Hidden Spirit Courtyard held the final say.
After all, Hidden Spirit Mountain was a crucial stronghold of the Dao Gate, and naturally the requirements were stricter.
Once everything was settled, Chu Huaixu exchanged a few pleasantries with Mo Qingmei before taking Xu Ziqing to leave.
For young Xu, this was once again a chance to witness his senior brother’s wide connections in the Outer Sect.
He could clearly feel that Steward Mo’s attitude toward Senior Brother was vastly different from her attitude toward other Outer Sect disciples in the courtyard.
On the way to the Hidden Spirit Courtyard, the youth gradually grew nervous.
He had already learned the rules of ascending the mountain, and it felt like a grand gamble!
As for whether he would gain anything, Xu Ziqing truly had no certainty in his heart.
“Senior Brother, what do you think of me ascending the mountain this time?” he asked, seeking Chu Huaixu’s opinion.
“I’d say, don’t even bother considering the spiritual artifacts at the mountain’s foot or mid-slope,” Chu Huaixu replied directly.
This made Xu Ziqing realize that Senior Brother was telling him to aim only for top-grade, or even supreme-grade spiritual artifacts!
“Keep your mindset steady. Hidden Spirit Mountain is a matter of mutual choice. Which spiritual artifacts you are fated with—before climbing, no one can say. Just take it slowly.
“And besides, don’t you want a spiritual sword?” Chu Huaixu smiled.
“Though, strictly speaking, you are now a Body Cultivator.
“But there’s no rule that a Body Cultivator cannot use a sword, is there?
“It’s just that, generally speaking, sword cultivators can bring out a sword’s full potential.” He explained patiently.
Chu Huaixu did not interfere further, nor did he hint at urging Xu to look at the summit.
That sword was far too sinister!
Whether it was fortune or disaster—who could say?
He respected young Xu’s personal choice.
If that sword was destined to belong to Xu Ziqing, then eventually, it would fall into his hands.
The youth nodded, his determination strengthening—he must obtain a sword on that mountain!
He even sighed with feeling: “The rules of Hidden Spirit Mountain are truly peculiar, emphasizing fate, and each person only gets one chance.”
Upon hearing this, Chu Huaixu immediately acted arrogant, beginning to boast:
“Who said each person can only ascend once? As for me, I climbed twice. At the summit, inspiration surged and I inscribed words upon the Gentleman Monument. Doesn’t that sound dashing and refined?”
Xu Ziqing was instantly shocked. The look on his face made Chu Huaixu immensely pleased—he felt utterly satisfied.
“Senior Brother, you climbed twice, and even reached the summit?”
“What’s so strange about that.” He waved it off with calm indifference.
“Senior Brother, then didn’t you see that legendary sword!” The youth’s eyes lit up, his voice rising with excitement.
He had studied swordsmanship since childhood—how could he not have heard the legends about that sword?
Many versions of its story circulated within Mirror Country, and storytellers always embellished it further.
But no matter the version, Xu Ziqing loved to hear them.
That sword was acclaimed as the Number One Sword under Heaven.
What sword learner had not dreamed such a dream?
Now, upon hearing that Senior Brother had personally gazed upon that sword, his curiosity surged.
“Senior Brother, what was that sword like?” the youth asked.
“That sword?” Chu Huaixu chuckled, giving him an answer he could never have imagined.
“Ugly as hell.”
A breeze blew past, and the delicate youth stood frozen in place.
Between Chu Huaixu and the Bronze Sword, it was mutual disgust.
Hearing the words “ugly as hell,” Xu Ziqing’s scalp went numb with shock!
He could hardly believe that Senior Brother would utter such words.
Immediately, he began glancing around, checking if anyone else had heard, terrified that others might overhear.
That was a sword left behind by the Dao Ancestor!
The boy even began to feel a little afraid.
But Chu Huaixu felt nothing of it.
After all, it wasn’t the Dao Ancestor’s life-bound sword—on the contrary, the Dao Ancestor had suppressed it! It was a peerless Evil Sword!
In truth, it only added to the Dao Ancestor’s burdens.
So what was there that could not be said?
Besides, it truly was ugly—just longer than the common Bronze Sword, that was all.
Chu Huaixu knew young Xu’s lips were tight, so naturally he wouldn’t go around spreading it.
Thus, the two continued chatting as they walked, soon reaching the Hidden Spirit Courtyard. The inner disciples stationed there were surprised to see Chu Huaixu return once again.
The last time he had come with Han Shuangjiang, they had left a deep impression.
And now, he had brought along a rosy-lipped, white-toothed youth, also bearing a charred-black token!
According to the rules, after going through the procedure, this matter had to be reported to Elder Nangong Yue.
In front of the gathered inner sect brothers and sisters, Xu Ziqing appeared somewhat reserved.
He stood silently at the side, listening as Chu Huaixu bantered with them with complete ease.
Some inner disciples asked curiously: “Junior Brother Chu, since you bear a charred-black token, what spiritual artifact did you obtain the last time you climbed?”
Chu Huaixu, however, played the mysterious man: “Can’t say, can’t say. Only that it was acquired in the summit region.”
The group of inner disciples were filled with envy: “Ah, then it must at least be a top-grade spiritual artifact. Congratulations, Junior Brother Chu!”
While they chatted, Nangong Yue, having received the report, soon flew over.
Everyone immediately saluted: “We greet the Ninth Elder.”
The gentle, elegant woman nodded slightly, then smiled at Chu Huaixu and Xu Ziqing.
“Oh? He’s a Body Trainer as well?” With a glance, she saw through the youth, feeling quite surprised.
“You two, come with me,” Nangong Yue said.
With a wave of her sleeve, they rose into the air, following her toward the foot of the mountain.
She cast a sidelong glance at the young man in the Black-Gold Robe she herself had refined, and asked: “Chu Huaixu, what made you decide to come along today?”
“Elder Nangong, Xu Ziqing is my junior who shares a room with me, so I wished to accompany him.” He replied.
Upon meeting such a high-ranking figure, Xu Ziqing grew even more nervous, far less at ease than Chu Huaixu.
Nangong Yue marveled: “It has indeed been many years since I’ve seen a Body Training disciple receive a charred-black token.”
Upon hearing this, young Xu’s heart filled with gratitude.
He knew that this day was entirely thanks to Senior Brother!
“Senior Brother’s kindness to me is truly as heavy as a mountain.” The youth felt at a loss for how he could ever repay it.
Soon, the three descended steadily at the mountain’s foot as the Ninth Elder waved her sleeve.
“Wear the token at your waist. After obtaining a spiritual artifact, just crush it, and you’ll be transported back to the foot. Now, go.”
At her signal, Xu Ziqing stepped before the stone staircase, adjusting his breath and mindset.
He lifted his head to the long flight of steps, clenched his fists slightly—
Then, he stepped upward.
In an instant, he felt the mountain’s spiritual pressure surge against him.
Uncomfortable, yet still within his tolerance.
After all, he trained his body—his physique was strong.
Coupled with the deep sea of blood vengeance he carried, and his daily endurance of torment, his willpower was incomparably firm.
Such minor pressure at the mountain’s foot naturally posed little threat.
At first, Xu Ziqing moved slowly, then gradually quickened his pace.
From a distance, Chu Huaixu watched intently, drawing his conclusion.
“Though young Xu also cultivates the 《Sword Refining Art》 as I do, he is clearly still affected by the spiritual pressure. His steps were slightly awkward at the start.”
“Yet his physical strength is no weaker than mine at that time.”
“So the difference lies mainly in the Heart Sword.”
“Because of the Heart Sword, my Sea of Consciousness was far stronger than others of the same realm.
“And its status seems rather high—not only can it suppress the supreme-grade sword spirits, but even that Bronze Sword at the summit.”
“That must be the reason.”
He felt that the 《Sword Refining Art》 and his Spirit Embryo Heart Sword complemented each other, achieving mutual growth.
Before long, Xu Ziqing ascended higher and higher, his figure vanishing into thick mist, leaving Chu Huaixu unable to see.
With his current cultivation, he also could not probe the mountain with divine sense.
He simply raised his gaze toward the summit, thinking: “How I wish I could climb again.”
No other reason—just to use that Bronze Sword to farm more mission rewards.
“Climbing yields experience points, and even 1 point of random special attributes—how delightful is that!” Chu Huaixu thought.
Currently, he endured nightly training by First Master, and after thirty full days, he only received 1 point of comprehension.
At this thought, he immediately glanced at Nangong Yue beside him.
This Elder had no Dao Companion, yet her aura was richly that of a mature wife—her figure full and voluptuous.
What’s more, her temperament was gentle, her voice soft and lilting, exuding kindness and warmth—she seemed easy to talk to.
And the Hidden Spirit Courtyard was under her jurisdiction; all matters of Hidden Spirit Mountain fell to her!
Thus, Chu Huaixu ventured a probing question:
“Elder Nangong, this disciple has a question.”
“Oh? Speak.”
“I wish to ask—these mountain tokens, is there truly no other way to obtain another?”