"What did you say！"Situ Cheng slammed the wine gourd in his hand heavily onto the stone table.
"Chu Huaixu is a Body Cultivator？"His eyes were filled with confusion.
Geng Tianhe immediately said: "Elder, it’s absolutely true! Today Kui Muquan and Zhao Xinghan also came to watch the match, they can testify as well！"
"This person is indeed a Body Cultivator, and his physical strength is abnormally strong. Clearly he was only at the Fourth Heaven of the First Realm, yet the level he displayed today was not inferior to a Body Cultivator of the Ninth Heaven."
"Moreover, he has also mastered a Profound-rank movement technique, likely already at minor completion."
The more Situ Cheng listened, the stranger he felt it became.
He was knowledgeable and well-traveled, and he knew that some eccentric sword cultivators would put in a bit of effort on their bodies in the early stages. Some special cultivation methods also required a certain degree of physique strength.
If Chu Huaixu was merely a little stronger in body, then indeed it could not be directly concluded that he was a Body Cultivator.
But if, as Geng Tianhe said, he was only at the Fourth Heaven yet could rival a Ninth Heaven Body Cultivator—then how the hell could he not be a Body Cultivator?
It couldn’t possibly be just a side cultivation in body training that reached this level, could it?This was beyond anyone’s realm of thought.
Normally, a side cultivation in body training meant that when one had already reached the Ninth Heaven in cultivation, their physique strength would only be comparable to the Third or Fourth Heaven. That was how it should be.
"So, Chu Yinyin was playing me？"Situ Cheng’s eyes widened.
He truly could not rule out this possibility.
No helping it—that was just the reputation of Dao Gate Elder Chu Yinyin!
"But the problem is, that day Sect Master Xiang and the others were also there, Uncle Jiang was there as well. She openly made a fool out of me like that, and they all just allowed it?
"Situ Cheng felt something was wrong.
But then he thought again—was the Dao Gate’s Little Martial Uncle really any more reliable?
That, was the reputation of Jiang Zhi.
Situ Cheng looked at Geng Tianhe and said: "Tell me in detail everything you saw today."
Upon hearing this, Geng Tianhe began to recount all the details, including how Chu Huaixu ultimately won using Mortal Martial Arts.
"If he was born in a martial family of the Jianghu, some of those practitioners take the path of external techniques. If he had been cultivating the body since childhood, then after entering Dao Gate he still chose to continue down this foundational path, it would make sense."
"But if you say a Body Cultivator comprehended Sword Intent.：：：：
"That would simply be the biggest joke under Heaven！"
All the more so since, according to Geng Tianhe, Chu Huaixu had no sword!
Without a sword, what kind of sword cultivator was he supposed to be!
That was the most fundamental problem!
"Just what exactly is Dao Gate trying to do with this？"Situ Cheng felt an ominous premonition in his heart.
He could find some reasoning, but still thought it was bizarre.
"Keep watching this person closely."He finally said.
Observe again! Report again!
"Yes！"Geng Tianhe replied.
"Did you watch Han Shuangjiang’s match？"Situ Cheng asked.
"Elder, not yet, her match is in the afternoon."
"Good, keep an eye on this girl as well.
""Yes！"
In the afternoon, Geng Tianhe arrived at the martial arena to watch Han Shuangjiang’s match.
Interestingly, he once again saw Spring and Autumn Mountain’s Kui Muquan and Luo Heaven Valley’s Zhao Xinghan.
When the three met, they were all momentarily stunned.
Then, from each other’s eyes, they saw a thread of mutual understanding.
"You were also sent by your sect elders？"
Though normally rivals, at this moment all three felt the same sense of shared fate.
For no reason, they were prevented from focusing on cultivation, and had to spend the whole morning watching a Body Cultivator’s match.
Although it had broadened their horizons and shocked them, they still did not think Chu Huaixu at this stage could be their opponent.
However, when Han Shuangjiang gracefully ascended the stage, long sword in hand, their gazes were instantly and deeply captivated.
In the morning, Han Shuangjiang had stood towards the back of the crowd, watching Dead Fox’s match, so the three had not noticed her.
The reason she had stood far away was simply because of the recent Dao Gate rumors, saying she and Dead Fox were Dao Companions.
"We don’t even live together."She muttered in her heart.
At this moment, the young woman wore light blue robes, holding a spirit sword of a similar hue—【Zhegutian】—making her appear even colder and more aloof.
She already had a mature, domineering air; now, with her face frozen in calm before the battle, she exuded an immense sense of distance.
"Seems like... coming wasn’t in vain after all？"In the hearts of the three young prodigies, such a thought emerged.
Geng Tianhe’s gaze was even more thoroughly drawn in, unable to move away.
–A woman of such peerless grace actually existed in this world!
She completely matched the image of a Sword Immortal maiden in his heart.
Cold, beautiful, proud!
He felt this girl was like a plum blossom standing proudly amidst snow and frost!
"Han Shuangjiang, Han Shuangjiang, truly a name matching her person."Geng Tianhe thought to himself.
And this match did not disappoint anyone.
Big Ice Block’s luck of the draw was still bad; she faced a senior sister of the same sect.
This woman was also listed on the first version of Chu Huaixu’s 《Kill List》.
Moreover, her strength far surpassed Ding Bolin’s, clearly having lain dormant in daily practice!
Chu Huaixu suspected that perhaps this was the road of the World Protagonist—that in these matches, these people were all whetstones!
The deciding strike of Big Ice Block concealed a trace of Sword Intent.
This left Geng Tianhe and the others utterly stunned!
"Just now, was that... hidden Sword Intent？"
For the time being, they could not discern what kind of Sword Intent it was.
But with their eyesight, they absolutely could not have been mistaken!
Half a foot into the realm of Sword Intent could also produce a similar effect.
Yet she appeared so calm, with a look of still having reserves of strength. It seemed unlikely that it was just half a step into Sword Intent.
Geng Tianhe’s mind was shaken. In the Sword Sect, he had always been so proud, even somewhat arrogant. At this moment, his very heart was struck!
"Dao Gate actually still had such a Heavenly Prodigy girl！"
"Her talent in the Way of the Sword is truly terrifying！"
He began to understand why the struggle between Dao Gate and Sword Sect could continue for so long.
Geng Tianhe had always thought that as long as he far surpassed his peers within the Sword Sect, then he was the strongest young sword cultivator in the Eastern Continent!
Now it seemed, how laughable he had been!
Han Shuangjiang stepped down from the stage, and all gazes followed her movements.
Too strong—this junior sister was truly too strong!
Chu Huaixu walked forward a few steps openly, greeting her with a smile to show congratulations.
But out of the corner of his eye, he also noticed Geng Tianhe and the others.
Recalling the memories in 《Borrowed Sword》, he could not help but mutter inwardly: "Yo! Isn’t this Big Ice Block’s simping Dead Fox Geng Tianhe?
For a Heavenly Prodigy girl like Han Shuangjiang, naturally she would not lack admirers.
It was just a pity that she held the script of the Main Female Protagonist, single-mindedly devoted to her career, with a touch of misandry. To these people, she found them nothing but troublesome.
At this moment, looking at Geng Tianhe’s infatuated gaze, Chu Huaixu felt inexplicably a trace of small irritation in his heart.
"This isn’t a good sign."He shook his head with a wry smile.
This represented that he was beginning to feel possessive of Big Ice Block.
Chu Huaixu naturally knew what that signified.
But he still chose to walk straight to her side, then turned his head and gave a subtle glance in Geng Tianhe’s direction, briefly crossing gazes.
Chu Huaixu was not so immature as to develop excessive hostility because of this.
He only wished to look through him, to see himself more clearly.
After the match, the two returned home side by side.
Ever since Chu Huaixu had defeated Ding Bolin, he had finally made it onto the gambling house’s list and ruthlessly bet 200 contribution points on himself.
Han Shuangjiang was preparing for her afternoon match and did not accompany him.
Now, he began to ask:
"Those 200 contribution points—are you planning to bet on me, or save them for betting on Little Xu later？"
Big Ice Block showed slight displeasure: "Why isn’t there an option for me？"
"You’re not my opponent. Don’t you know that yourself？"Chu Huaixu said.
He turned his head to size her up, saying: "You’re not hoping I’ll be eliminated by someone else so that you won’t have to face me, are you？"
"How could that be."Han Shuangjiang again felt he was spouting nonsense.
Her earlier question had only been because she felt slightly embarrassed.
"Then who are you betting on！"Chu Huaixu pressed further.
Big Ice Block stayed silent, her long jade-like legs moving quickly forward, too lazy to pay him attention.
"Who are you betting on！"Chu Huaixu pursued relentlessly.
The cold-faced girl bowed her head and walked even faster.
"Senior Sister Han, can’t you give a clear answer？"He kept pestering.
Han Shuangjiang was helpless, biting her teeth in irritation: "On you! I was already planning to bet on you! I’ll bet on you, isn’t that enough！"
Chu Huaixu was satisfied, merely staring at her with a smile.
As a result, Big Ice Block walked even faster.
"Eh, where are you going? That’s the wrong direction."Chu Huaixu said.
"To the gambling house, I’ll go right now！"The girl rolled her eyes at him in her heart, but also lowered her head slightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
On the other side, Geng Tianhe and the others, acting as intelligence scouts, once more returned to the refined courtyard where their sect elders lived.
On the way back, his mind was filled with the young woman’s figure, impossible to drive away.
"Elder, I’m certain—she has already comprehended Sword Intent."Geng Tianhe said to Situ Cheng.
This time, Situ Cheng could indeed put on a calm expression.
"I already knew this matter long ago."He said.
"The reason I had you go was to grind down your arrogance!"
"As for who is stronger between you and Han Shuangjiang, only a match will reveal it. But no matter what, in comprehension of the Way of the Sword, she has already surpassed you by half a step."
Upon hearing this, Geng Tianhe pursed his lips tightly, then said loudly: "Disciple understands！"
"Go, return to cultivation."Situ Cheng smiled faintly.
"Yes."
Watching Geng Tianhe’s departing back, Situ Cheng’s expression immediately changed.
Though he looked composed, inwardly he was extremely puzzled.
"What is Chu Yinyin playing at？"
"Deceiving halfway！"
He was growing increasingly unable to understand what game Dao Gate was playing.
But that Chu Huaixu—he had indeed succeeded in leaving an impression on him, even arousing his curiosity.
His intuition told him that Chu Huaixu might be even more special than Han Shuangjiang!
"After all, that day Chu Yinyin was rather ostentatious！"He recalled.
Time passed, and the Eastern Continent Grand Competition quickly reached the fifth round.
Chu Huaixu still had no idea what medicine Jiang Zhi had given Xu Ziqing, but somehow his cultivation surpassed his own, reaching the Fifth Heaven.
Angered, that very night he summoned the system and leveled himself up.
After all, winning four consecutive matches had already granted him several thousand experience points.
Moreover, by winning the third round, he had actually broken into the top five hundred. His system mission 【Eastern and Western Continents’ Grand Competition】 had already completed the first stage, rewarding him with twenty thousand experience points.
This gave Chu Huaixu another seventy thousand experience points in total. Spending some to level up did not hurt; he still had more than fifty thousand remaining.
Once he won the fifth round, he would enter the top one hundred and could claim the second stage mission reward—thirty thousand experience points,
along with a 【Yellow-rank Technique Upgrade Voucher】.
After the lottery draw for this round ended, a smile appeared on Chu Huaixu’s face.
Because this 【Swordless One】 had finally, in the Eastern Continent Grand Competition, encountered his first opponent who was a sword cultivator!