Chapter Summaries

Xu Ziqing absorbed the Body Tempering Potion, endured the pain of cultivation, and broke through his first acupoint. After reading Chu Huai Xu’s third note, he realized his Senior Brother was offering encouragement rather than mockery.

• Chu Huai Xu watched as Xu Ziqing absorbed the Body Tempering Potion and told him to cultivate as soon as he left the pool.
• Xu Ziqing endured the crushing pressure of circulating energy and broke through his first acupoint, then screamed and passed out from the pain.
• Xu Ziqing woke and sensed that Chu Huai Xu seemed like a sword, while Chu Huai Xu studied him before giving him instructions about adapting to his breakthrough and taking another medicinal bath.
• Xu Ziqing tested his stronger physique with the Family Sword Art, then struggled with the gap between his progress and Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang’s.
• Xu Ziqing opened the third Brocade Pouch and read Chu Huai Xu’s message: “Running water does not vie to be first. What matters is that it keeps flowing endlessly.”

Chu Huai Xu left Xu Ziqing training in the Secret Realm and focused on gaining Experience Points, while Han Shuangjiang continued opening her apertures. When Liu Chenggong visited, Chu Huai Xu persuaded him to spar, and the chapter ended with Chu Huai Xu knocking Liu Chenggong’s sword out of his hand.

• Chu Huai Xu returned to the Bamboo House and discussed opening all Nine Apertures and buying spells with Han Shuangjiang.
• Chu Huai Xu brought Xu Ziqing food and water in the Secret Realm, then went home and leveled up twice, passing out from the pain.
• Liu Chenggong visited Chu Huai Xu to build a connection, and Chu Huai Xu asked him to spar so he could earn Experience Points.
• Han Shuangjiang watched as Liu Chenggong drew his Azure Pine Sword and began the spar without using Spiritual Power.
• Chu Huai Xu dodged Liu Chenggong’s thrust and flicked the Azure Pine Sword, sending it flying.

Chu Huai Xu discovered that his Heart Sword suppressed Liu Chenggong’s Spirit Sword, then sparred with him to earn Experience Points. Meanwhile, Xu Ziqing woke after opening his second aperture and wondered whether to give Chu Huai Xu a treasured item.

• Liu Chenggong’s Azure Pine Sword flew from his hand twice when Chu Huai Xu flicked it, and Chu Huai Xu realized his Heart Sword was suppressing the Spirit Sword.
• Liu Chenggong sensed the strange force, promised to keep the sparring secret from everyone except Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang, and tested the swords again with Spiritual Power.
• Chu Huai Xu and Liu Chenggong sparred barehanded throughout the morning, earning Chu Huai Xu 420 Experience Points before Liu Chenggong agreed to return the next day.
• Chu Huai Xu hung his dirty clothes outside Xu Ziqing’s room for him to wash after cultivation.
• Xu Ziqing woke in the Cold Pool Secret Realm after opening his second aperture and wondered whether he should give Chu Huai Xu a certain item.

The author announced that Borrowed Sword would go premium on August 1 and urged readers to support its launch with first-day premium orders and monthly votes. The author described the launch events and prizes and ended by asking readers to help the book reach the top of the rankings.

• The author said Borrowed Sword had achieved strong follow counts and pre-premium performance despite falling traffic for new books.
• The author announced a midnight premium launch on August 1, with four chapters posted at once and another after waking up.
• The author explained that readers who placed first-day premium orders could enter Qidian’s S+-level launch event and claim an exclusive avatar frame.
• The author said the event would offer 20,000 Internal Tester titles and announced a separate beauty-themed prize draw for monthly voters.
• The author thanked the editors, Qidian staff, and operations team, then urged readers to vote and place first-day premium orders.

Xu Ziqing decided to give Chu Huai Xu the item despite his family’s apparent disapproval, then continued training in the Secret Realm. Chu Huai Xu opened his Ninth Aperture, triggering a mysterious sword atop Hidden Spirit Mountain to tremble and shake the Dao Sect’s mountains.

• Xu Ziqing tossed Chu Huai Xu’s pouch to seek his deceased family’s approval, then accepted two face-up results as permission to repay his Senior Brother.
• Xu Ziqing returned to the pool and endured the Water Blade with less pain as his physique and Pain Threshold improved.
• Han Shuangjiang watched Chu Huai Xu spar with Liu Chenggong and realized he had been holding back his breakthrough until she could catch up.
• Chu Huai Xu ended the spar after reaching 1,200 Experience Points and told Liu Chenggong he planned to break through to the Nine Orifices.
• Chu Huai Xu opened his Ninth Aperture that night, enduring overwhelming pain as the sickly black sword in his Sea of Consciousness stirred.
• The sword above Hidden Spirit Mountain began to cry out and shake the mountain, alarming the Dao Sect’s disciples and elders.

After Chu Huai Xu opened his Ninth Aperture, he woke from a painful childhood dream and prepared to enter the First Realm with Han Shuangjiang. At the Scripture Pavilion, the pair drew a crowd when Chen Jiye recognized their names.

• The Dao Sect’s leaders climbed Hidden Spirit Mountain after the World-Saving Sword stirred, but found it calm again when they reached the summit.
• Chu Huai Xu woke from a dream about his abusive father and discovered that opening his Ninth Aperture had greatly strengthened his body and senses.
• Han Shuangjiang confirmed that a small earthquake had occurred at Medicine Mountain, and she and Chu Huai Xu decided to visit the Scripture Pavilion.
• Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang reached Book Mountain and watched a Registered Disciple try to break through a Formation to obtain a Yellow Grade Cultivation Technique.
• Chen Jiye introduced himself to the pair, then loudly recognized Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang, drawing everyone’s attention.

Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang registered to test their cultivation at the Scripture Pavilion while Outer Sect disciples watched them. Han Shuangjiang broke through every Formation barrier up to Heaven Grade, then searched the crowd for Chu Huai Xu as he prepared to take his own trial.

• Chu Huai Xu stepped in front of Han Shuangjiang and registered them both for the Scripture Pavilion trial.
• A Nine-Orifice Registered Disciple broke through the Second Barrier and earned the right to choose a Profound Grade Cultivation Technique.
• Han Shuangjiang shattered the Yellow, Profound, and Earth Grade barriers with effortless strikes.
• Han Shuangjiang broke the Heaven Grade barrier and stepped into its area, reflecting on her determination to control her own life.
• Han Shuangjiang found Chu Huai Xu waiting at the Yellow Grade barrier, and he smiled as if telling her to wait for him.

Chu Huai Xu effortlessly broke through all Four Barriers in the Scripture Pavilion, then searched its Heaven Grade Cultivation Methods with Han Shuangjiang. He narrowed his choices to the Six Imperial True Canon, the Pagoda True Solution, and the Dao Canon, whose booklet said it had been created by the Dao Ancestor.

• Chu Huai Xu broke through all Four Barriers in one rush, startling the disciples and the White-Robed Steward.
• Chu Huai Xu clarified that he practiced Internal and External Cultivation, and the disciples applauded him.
• Chu Huai Xu recommended the Six Imperial True Canon to Han Shuangjiang, who chose it after reading its booklet.
• Chu Huai Xu found the Ice Muscle Jade Bone Heart Method had a 96% Match Rate but rejected it because it was a Body Refining Method.
• Chu Huai Xu considered the Six Imperial True Canon, the Pagoda True Solution, and the Dao Canon, then read that the Dao Ancestor had created the Dao Canon.

The author announced an August giveaway funded with 10,000 yuan, split into two rounds, and encouraged readers to vote for monthly tickets and enter Qidian’s launch event. He also promised another giveaway for at least 200 Internal Tester titles after Qidian’s event ended.

• The author said his wife had been delighted by readers’ comments during the previous monthly-ticket giveaway and had given him 5,000 yuan for it.
• He said he had secured another 5,000 yuan from his wife, bringing the August giveaway total to 10,000 yuan.
• The author announced two giveaway rounds, each drawing 100 winners who would receive 5,000 Qidian Coins.
• He urged readers to subscribe, vote for a monthly ticket, and enter the event in Qidian’s Event Center before it ended on August 7.
• The author promised to use at least 200 remaining Internal Tester titles in another giveaway.

Chu Huai Xu chose to cultivate the Dao Canon despite its infamous barrier at the Fourth Realm, believing his player system might let him surpass it. He reminded Han Shuangjiang that the fourth floor held the Dao Ancestor’s Heaven Grade technique, Myriad Swords Returning to the Origin, and her interest visibly stirred.

• Chu Huai Xu considered the Dao Canon’s history and its reputation for preventing cultivators from advancing beyond the Fourth Realm.
• He decided to take the first volume of the Dao Canon, and Han Shuangjiang tried to stop him before accepting his choice.
• Han Shuangjiang explained that she had chosen the Six Imperial True Canon and suggested they leave the cultivation-method library.
• Chu Huai Xu pointed out that they could visit the upper floors and reminded Han Shuangjiang of the Dao Ancestor’s renowned Heaven Grade technique.
• Chu Huai Xu revealed that the fourth floor contained Myriad Swords Returning to the Origin, and Han Shuangjiang’s eyes lit up.

Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang studied cultivation methods and memorized Myriad Swords Returning to the Origin before returning to cultivate. When Chu Huai Xu used the system to upgrade the Dao Canon, his spiritual energy split between his Spiritual Embryo Treasury and his body, causing him pain.

• Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang registered for cultivation methods, then went to the fourth floor to memorize Myriad Swords Returning to the Origin; the system recorded it as a Heaven Grade Technique for Chu Huai Xu.
• They sold the Spirit Disk, split 2,000 Sect Contribution Points, and Chu Huai Xu bought Spirit Pills to speed up his cultivation.
• Back at the Bamboo House, Han Shuangjiang left to cultivate while Chu Huai Xu took pills and prepared to upgrade the Dao Canon with the system.
• As Chu Huai Xu advanced, spiritual energy entered his Nine Orifices and split before reaching the Spiritual Embryo Treasury, with one portion surging into his limbs and bones and causing pain.

Chu Huai Xu endured a violent, bloody reaction while cultivating the Dao Canon, then discovered that his Spiritual Power was divided evenly between his Spiritual Embryo Treasury and his flesh. He suspected the Dao Ancestor had practiced true Internal and External Cultivation, and the chapter ended with both stores holding a value of 86.

• Chu Huai Xu suffered severe pain and injuries as he advanced while practicing the Dao Canon.
• Han Shuangjiang found him bleeding and swollen, stayed by his side, and watched his injuries heal.
• Chu Huai Xu told Han Shuangjiang he suspected the Dao Ancestor practiced Internal and External Cultivation.
• Chu Huai Xu realized his Spiritual Power had split evenly between his Spiritual Embryo Treasury and his flesh, unlike the results reported by other cultivators and players.
• Chu Huai Xu checked his Character Panel and found that both his Spiritual Embryo Treasury and his flesh contained 86 Spiritual Power.

Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang advanced their cultivation and learned that quick progress could earn them access to Hidden Spirit Mountain. They returned to train, hoping to qualify for the mountain’s summit within three days.

• Chu Huai Xu gained a Physique point from the system, became ravenously hungry, and discovered that learning Myriad Swords Returning to the Origin might require a costly gamble with Experience Points, so he set it aside.
• Han Shuangjiang mastered the basics of the Six Imperial True Canon, entered the First Realm, and failed to learn Myriad Swords Returning to the Origin.
• Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang collected their Outer Sect Disciple identity Tokens from Mo Qingmei, who explained that reaching the First Heaven quickly would earn them access to Hidden Spirit Mountain.
• Mo Qingmei told them that reaching the First Heaven within three days while cultivating a Heaven Grade technique would grant them permission to visit the mountain summit, where the Dao Ancestor’s sword stood.
• Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang hurried back to cultivate; Chu Huai Xu hoped to earn a summit pass despite already possessing one from the Sect Leader.

Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang reached the First Heaven within three days and received Charred Black Wood Tokens qualifying them to climb Hidden Spirit Mountain. At Hidden Spirit Courtyard, Elder Nangong arrived to meet them as Li Chunsong prepared to organize a wager on their climb.

• Chu Huai Xu took Qi Gathering Pills and sparred with Liu Chenggong to gain Experience Points while enduring the Dao Canon’s painful cultivation.
• Han Shuangjiang broke through to the First Heaven an hour before Chu Huai Xu, who then leveled up and screamed through the night.
• Mo Qingmei gave Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang Charred Black Wood Tokens after confirming their breakthroughs and warned them that Hidden Spirit Mountain’s stone steps were difficult to climb.
• Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang went to Hidden Spirit Courtyard, where staff summoned Elder Nangong after seeing their rare tokens.
• Chu Huai Xu chatted with the gathered disciples to learn the mountain’s rules while Han Shuangjiang listened, and Li Chunsong arrived with Nangong Yue to arrange a wager on their climb.

Nangong Yue and Li Chunsong explained Hidden Spirit Mountain’s climbing rules and the choices involved in claiming one of its Spiritual Artifacts. Chu Huai Xu started climbing, but felt no Spiritual Pressure at all.

• Nangong Yue explained that climbers had to endure increasing Spiritual Pressure across the mountain’s three regions and could only climb upward.
• Li Chunsong described the mountain as a gamble because climbers had to choose one Spiritual Artifact without knowing what they might pass up.
• Nangong Yue explained how newly forged artifacts and the Relics of past cultivators differed in their Artifact Spirits and how each artifact had to accept its new master.
• Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang put on their Charcoal Black Tokens, and Chu Huai Xu insisted on climbing first.
• Chu Huai Xu stepped onto the first Stone Step and continued upward without feeling any Spiritual Pressure.

Li Chunsong recalled how Eleventh Junior Sister had deliberately lost a dice bet to him twenty years earlier, while Chu Huai Xu discovered that the Spiritual Pressure on Hidden Spirit Mountain invigorated him instead of weakening him. At the 1,111th step, his Little black sword trembled, and every Spirit Sword nearby began shaking as if acknowledging its king.

• Li Chunsong told Nangong Yue that Chu Huai Xu had earned his affection by helping him win a Bet, prompting him to remember Eleventh Junior Sister's deliberate loss twenty years earlier.
• Han Shuangjiang began climbing Hidden Spirit Mountain after Nangong Yue gave her permission, while Li Chunsong teased her about Chu Huai Xu waiting for her.
• Chu Huai Xu realized that the mountain's Spiritual Pressure did not trouble him and suspected the Little black sword in his Sea of Consciousness protected him from its mental effects.
• Chu Huai Xu stopped at the 1,111th step and noticed the nearby Spirit Swords trembling in response to a slight tremor from the Little black sword.

Chu Huai Xu climbed Hidden Spirit Mountain, sensing that its Artifact Spirits resonated with the Sword Spirit inside him, while refusing to claim the swords along the path. At Inquiry Peak, the Dao Sect’s leaders discussed the dangerous World-Saving Sword and wagered over whether he would choose it, leaving Li Chunsong to bet against everyone else.

• Chu Huai Xu realized Hidden Spirit Mountain’s Spiritual Pressure comforted him because he carried a Sword Spirit, then continued climbing without touching the swords.
• At the 3,333rd section of the Stone Steps, Chu Huai Xu counted 549 swords and reflected on the danger of his powerful, difficult-to-control sword.
• Chu Huai Xu passed through the barrier into the Mountain Waist region using his Charred black wooden token.
• At Inquiry Peak, Chu Yinyin urged the elders to settle their fines before Li Chunsong proposed betting on which sections Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang would reach.
• Xiang Yan explained that the Dao Ancestor’s World-Saving Sword was an Evil Sword that had devoured its masters, and that the Dao Sect would not force Chu Huai Xu to take it.
• Chu Yinyin and the other leaders bet that Chu Huai Xu would obtain the sword, while Li Chunsong bet that he would not.

Chu Huai Xu climbed Hidden Spirit Mountain, where the Heart Sword in his Sea of Consciousness suppressed other weapons and rejected a High-Grade Spirit Sword. He passed up a compatible Jade Pendant and continued toward the summit, eventually encountering Partridge Sky, Han Shuangjiang’s Super-grade Spiritual Sword.

• Chu Huai Xu reached the summit region and found that the Spiritual Pressure barely affected him, while the Heart Sword made nearby swords tremble.
• Chu Yinyin teased the Dao Sect elders about Chu Huai Xu’s easy climb, and Li Chunsong reminded her that she had once vomited on the mountain.
• Chu Huai Xu sensed a strong connection with a Jade Pendant that could nourish and defend his body, but he decided to keep climbing and consider it later.
• Chu Huai Xu tried to touch a High-Grade Spirit Sword, but the Heart Sword rejected it and sent it flying; the Dao Sect leaders wondered whether Chu Huai Xu himself was a Destined Sword.
• Chu Huai Xu continued upward and came upon Partridge Sky, the Super-grade Spiritual Sword used by Han Shuangjiang in “Borrowed Sword.”

Chu Huai Xu rejected Partridge Sky and continued toward Hidden Spirit Mountain’s summit, drawn by the sword left behind by the Dao Ancestor. On the final steps, the summit sword’s Spiritual Pressure struck his Sea of Consciousness, but Chu Huai Xu resisted and raised his bloodshot eyes toward it.

• Partridge Sky chose Chu Huai Xu, but the Heart Sword’s suppression prevented him from touching it, so he apologized and continued climbing.
• Chu Huai Xu passed other Spirit Swords and resolved to reach the summit with the Little black sword in his Sea of Consciousness.
• The Dao Sect higher-ups watched Chu Huai Xu approach the summit and worried that he would not become a Sword Attendant if he pursued the legendary sword.
• As Chu Huai Xu neared the final ten Stone Steps, he felt a powerful pull from the summit and sensed the Little black sword growing restless.
• The Dao Ancestor’s sword released Spiritual Pressure that nearly made Chu Huai Xu collapse, and the Dao Sect elders speculated it was trying to tame him.
• Chu Huai Xu roared and forced his head up, staring bloodshot at the summit sword despite its pressure.

Chu Huai Xu endured the sealed sword’s Spiritual Pressure as he climbed Hidden Spirit Mountain, while the Dao Sect’s leaders worried over his safety. He reached the summit and faced the sword, which regarded him with contempt and loathing.

• Xiang Yan reassured the Dao Sect leaders that the summit sword intended to tame Chu Huai Xu rather than kill him, while Shen Man sensed the disturbance through Sheng Sheng Man.
• Chu Huai Xu’s Heart Sword resisted the pressure in his Sea of Consciousness as the mountain’s Spirit Swords trembled, and Han Shuangjiang hurried upward, fearing for him.
• Chu Huai Xu painfully climbed the Stone Steps without bowing, prompting Lu Pan to vow to intervene if his life was in danger.
• Chu Huai Xu triggered the passive mission “Sword Spirit Pressure” and kept climbing despite his injuries, shouting that it did not hurt.
• Chu Huai Xu reached the summit, where the Dao Ancestor’s sword floated above the Stone Platform and looked down at him with contempt and loathing.