Borrowed Sword

Chapter 45: Treasures Within the Secret Realm

The stone door in front of the Spirit Disc was completely motionless.

"Why didn’t the door open?" Chu Huaixu frowned.

Han Shuangjiang stared at the stone door, then turned to look at Chu Huaixu who was still soaking in the water pool. The two exchanged glances.

"That doesn’t make sense." He looked up at the tall stone door.

"This person clearly harbors Spirit Embryo Discrimination. Otherwise, why place a Spirit Disc here?"

"You possess the Body of Profound Yin, a super-grade Spirit Embryo that’s a rare find even in a hundred years, on par with the Dao Ancestor’s Pure Yang Body!" Chu Huaixu frowned even deeper.

Could it be that the Spirit Disc was broken?

"Wait for me a moment," he said to Han Shuangjiang. "I’m almost done absorbing it."

Only a little Body Tempering Medicine Liquid remained in the water pool, and the Water Blade that refined the body had already disappeared. The growth rate of the 【Experience Points】 from the Cultivation Method had significantly slowed down.

About five minutes later, the Experience Points completely stopped increasing.

Chu Huaixu checked his Character Panel. The Experience Points for the Sword Refining Art had already risen to 2131 points!

Just 200 more, and he could level up twice.

He regretfully climbed out of the water pool, but before that, he cast a thoughtful glance at the four holes at the bottom.

Chu Huaixu was certain that there were still Body Tempering Spiritual Herbs inside.

"After all, this dungeon was designed for ten people, and so far, only the two of us have entered," he thought to himself.

But there was something more important now—it wasn’t the time to study that thing.

"Splaaash—!" Chu Huaixu staged a handsome man’s bath exit scene.

After glancing at him once, Han Shuangjiang immediately averted her gaze.

His robes were simply too tattered.

Fortunately, the cuts left by the Water Blade weren’t very long, so the robes barely held together.

But judging from the state of things, if Han Shuangjiang were to walk over and tug hard, they would definitely tear apart completely, and all the delicate connection points would snap.

Even so, many parts that should and shouldn’t be exposed were fully revealed.

When Chu Huaixu noticed Han Shuangjiang quickly glance at him and then turn her head away, he grumbled inwardly, "Aiyo, she saw my great physique completely."

"Alright, we’re even now."

"Nothing was seen for nothing."

With that thought, Chu Huaixu pulled out a spare set of robes from his Storage Token and draped it over himself.

He walked up to the Spirit Disc and looked down at it.

"I was planning to trade this thing for some Contribution Points. It better not be broken," he muttered.

In the Dao Gate, disciples could obtain Cultivation Methods for the Qi‑Opening Stage and the First Realm for free.

However, that didn’t apply to 【Techniques】.

Moreover, Cultivation Methods for higher realms required Contribution Points for exchange.

Upon hearing this, Han Shuangjiang immediately leaned in and said, "It shouldn’t be broken, right?"

"The pointer landed on mark ten, which proves you're a super-grade Spirit Embryo. That’s correct," Chu Huaixu said, looking at the stone door. "Could it be that the opening of the stone door has nothing to do with the Spirit Disc?"

At this moment, the blush on the cold-faced girl’s cheeks had completely faded, and she had returned to her usual icy demeanor.

She turned to Chu Huaixu and suggested, "Why don’t you try?"

Chu Huaixu: "?"

You want me to pull out my embarrassing low-grade Spirit Embryo and let you have a taste?

Well, he had thick skin and didn’t care at all.

This bro walked the trash path with pride!

"Slap—!" Chu Huaixu smacked his large hand onto the Spirit Disc.

A mysterious aura spread out. The pointer on the Spirit Disc returned to its starting point, then with great difficulty, it moved forward by one notch.

However, in the next moment...

—The door opened!

......

......

"Rumble——!"

Amid a loud rumble, the stone door slowly opened.

Chu Huaixu looked at the Spirit Disc again, realizing he might have misunderstood.

He had entered too many dungeons and sometimes fell into habitual thinking.

Many inheritance-type dungeons assessed one's aptitude.

That was one of the reasons why players were eager to enhance their Spirit Embryo Attribute.

But unexpectedly, this somewhat twisted old predecessor didn’t possess Spirit Embryo Discrimination?

"Something’s not right. A super-grade Spirit Embryo couldn’t open the stone door, but a low-grade one could?"

With that thought, Chu Huaixu’s gaze sharpened, and a guess began to form in his heart.

He felt a flicker of excitement, harboring expectations for the treasure that might lie within.

Chu Huaixu turned to glance at Han Shuangjiang, only to see her still staring at the Spirit Disc—specifically at the first notch.

"What are you looking at?" He grew annoyed.

He directly picked up the Spirit Disc and stored it into his Storage Token.

Han Shuangjiang looked a bit surprised. She hadn’t expected that their Spirit Embryos would be at such extremes.

Thinking back, she realized that she never really had a clear understanding of Chu Huaixu’s Spirit Embryo before.

"Then his cultivation speed..." The cold-faced girl was secretly shocked.

She began to reflect on herself—perhaps she hadn’t been diligent enough.

Once they returned, she must cultivate even more rigorously!

"Let’s go, time to check it out." Chu Huaixu pointed forward. "There shouldn’t be any more trials."

"Alright."

The two walked side by side, entering the stone door.

"Rumble." The stone door automatically shut behind them.

It was a secret chamber, containing only a stone table and a stone stool.

On the stone table sat a wooden box, and in front of the wooden box lay a scroll.

Chu Huaixu glanced at the wooden box first.

The wooden box was rectangular, about thirty centimeters long, twenty centimeters wide, and roughly twenty centimeters tall.

Intricate patterns were carved on its surface, and the wood had a dark reddish hue.

"A Spiritual Pill Treasure Box?" He instantly recognized the item.

Typically, Spiritual Pills were stored in porcelain or jade bottles.

Like the Qi-Gathering Pill gifted to him by Liu Tianfeng, for example.

However, top-grade Spiritual Pills were generally stored in Spiritual Pill Treasure Boxes.

These boxes had formations inscribed inside to preserve the medicinal effect, ensuring the pill could be stored for years or even decades without deterioration.

Spiritual Pill Treasure Boxes were expensive. Using them for ordinary pills would be pure waste.

Seeing this item, Chu Huaixu’s heartbeat slightly quickened.

It further confirmed his earlier speculation.

He looked up at Han Shuangjiang and said, "There’s very likely a top-grade Spiritual Pill inside. Are you sure all the items in this secret realm go to me, and we’re not sharing them?"

The Big Ice Block maintained a cold expression, her eyes revealing a serious intent, and she nodded firmly.

"Alright, then I’ll accept it. We’ll split the Contribution Points from the Spirit Disc." He made the decision directly.

Chu Huaixu opened the Spiritual Pill Treasure Box. Despite its large size, there was only a single pill inside, about the size of a longan.

Inside the wooden box was a line of small characters.

—【Xuantian Embryo Breathing Pill】!

Chu Huaixu’s breath hitched. Everything was exactly as he had expected—there was indeed a top-grade Spiritual Pill inside, the 【Xuantian Embryo Breathing Pill】!

A seventh-grade Spiritual Pill that could heal damaged Spirit Embryos, and even had a high chance of raising the grade of a low-grade Spirit Embryo.

Moreover, without surprise, this pill was likely refined personally by the Pill King!

After creating the formula for this pill, the Pill King had refined one for each of his formal disciples.

"This predecessor actually didn’t consume it before his passing?"

"Was it because he didn’t get the chance?" Chu Huaixu wondered.

He immediately closed the Spiritual Pill Treasure Box to preserve its medicinal effect.

"This is the Xuantian Embryo Breathing Pill mentioned by that Steward Niu," he said to Han Shuangjiang.

The cold-faced girl’s beautiful eyes lit up. "Then it’s perfectly suited for you."

"Yes." Chu Huaixu hadn’t expected such a major reward from this dungeon.

He picked up the scroll in front of the box and opened it.

Inside wasn’t an inheritance, only lines of small characters:

"First trial, test of fortune. Those with deep fortune may pass within two hours; those who exceed the time limit will be expelled from the secret realm."

"Second trial, test of intellect. Those with keen minds may see through it within two hours; those who exceed the time limit will be expelled from the secret realm."

"As for the third trial, it tests one’s temperament and Dao Heart."

"Only those whose Dao Heart is as firm as a rock may pass the trial."

"My name is Lei Wenyan. With a mere third-grade low-grade Spirit Embryo, I attained the realm of a Major Cultivator."

"The hardships and tribulations—only I know them."

"Fortunate to meet my master, the Pill King, I helped develop the Xuantian Embryo Breathing Pill formula, capable of enhancing Spirit Embryo grade."

"However, my time is short, and my life is nearing its end."

"Young one, you are blessed with fortune, wisdom, and a firm Dao Heart. Even with a low-grade Spirit Embryo, you too can accomplish great things."

"But the path is long and difficult. I’ve come to many realizations."

"Thus, I placed the Spirit Disc here, and did not consume this pill."

"To the young of later generations—the Great Dao lies before you. Do not lose the courage to move forward due to your Spirit Embryo aptitude."

"I grant you a stroke of fortune!"