Bonus chapter.
Guys help this novel reach 20 power stones so we can have a better chance getting a contract, i will also realise 4 bonus chapter when we reach 20 power stones.
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The next day.
Chu Xun put down the Human Emperor Sutra in his hands.
He closed his eyes.
And listened quietly.
"Ding!"
"Congratulations to the host for reading one thousand volumes!"
[Reward: Ivy Sword, one Talisman, and one Investment Opportunity!]
"It's here!"
Joy surged in Chu Xun's eyes.
Yesterday, he had already sensed it—reaching a thousand volumes would bring an extraordinary reward. Now, as the final scripture was completed, the reward arrived right on time.
"Ivy Sword!"
"A sacred-weapon tier!"
"Buzz—!"
A flash of light bloomed before him. A three-foot-long green sword, bathed in emerald radiance, hovered in midair. It brimmed with spirituality, buzzing softly as it circled around Chu Xun without any control.
With a single thought, the Ivy Sword stilled.
Wisps of green light transformed into vine-like strands that wrapped around the blade. Its aura was clearly two tiers above the Taixuan Sword.
If the Taixuan Sword floated quietly like a wooden sword—
Plain.
Restrained.
Its power hidden.
Then the Ivy Sword was impossible to ignore at a glance.
Ivy entwined its body.
Lush green vitality overflowed.
It brought not only sharpness, but life itself.
It made people feel refreshed just by looking at it.
It even carried a sense of joy.
"What a fine sword," Chu Xun praised softly.
Though the Ivy Sword was restrained, that restraint itself proved its extraordinariness. It was low-key—but never something that could be underestimated.
[Talisman]
When his gaze fell on the second reward, Chu Xun was surprised again.
A talisman.
Talismans were extremely rare in this world—precious to the extreme. Not only were they difficult to refine, but only a handful of cultivators even possessed the ability to create them.
As the yellow talisman landed in his palm, its effects instantly surfaced in his mind.
Bearer Talisman.
It could withstand a full-force strike from the host.
Chu Xun's eyes lit up.
If he infused it with River Sword Intent, it could unleash an unexpected effect at a critical moment. Even passing it down to future disciples would be an excellent choice.
He nodded in satisfaction.
Then he turned to the third reward.
[Investment Opportunity ×1]
This one was already familiar—no explanation needed.
With a thought, he stored all three items away.
A faint smile curled at the corner of his lips.
These rewards came at exactly the right time—especially the Ivy Sword. A true sacred weapon that could multiply his combat strength and stabilize his footing in the Human Emperor Realm.
Deep in his heart, he began to quietly look forward to the Immortal Dao Sect's retaliation.
…
A storm was gathering.
The wind rose before the rain.
While the Immortal Dao Sect continued its preparations, the Zhenwu Sect could no longer sit still.
The grudges between the two sides stretched back thousands of years. Both were among the oldest holy land forces in the Eastern Region. They had stolen disciples from each other, fought over secret-realm treasures, and accumulated deep hatred over generations.
This balance lasted until the rise of the Great Sage Zhenwu.
From then on, everything changed.
Donglin Sect declined and withered.
Zhenwu Sect flourished and dominated.
Almost unrivaled.
There were two reasons the Great Sage Zhenwu never wiped out Donglin Sect completely.
First—when the Great Sage Zhenwu first rose, he forcefully defeated Elder Chu, shattering his Dao Heart. The saint of Donglin Sect was furious and intended to kill Zhenwu before he fully rose. But upon seeing his terrifying talent, the saint hesitated, unable to bring himself to do it. He spared him—and Zhenwu remembered that mercy, never settling accounts with Donglin Sect afterward.
Second—after breaking through to Half-Saint, the Great Sage Zhenwu left the Eastern Region to roam the world and never returned. With his absence, both sides maintained a fragile peace.
Since then, Zhenwu Sect had continuously suppressed Donglin Sect, repeatedly stealing its talented disciples.
Donglin Sect endured it.
Accepted it.
But now—
The moment Elder Chu recovered his cultivation, someone in Zhenwu Sect could no longer remain calm.
A sword light tore across thousands of miles.
It arrived before Donglin Sect in an instant, piercing through the void itself.
"Buzz—!"
Sword energy surged toward the main hall.
Sect Master Xiao Rongyu was instantly alarmed.
Her closed eyes snapped open.
The sword energy shattered mid-hall, transforming into a rain of sword light that formed a line of words.
A challenge.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Elder Jiang.
Elder Wang He.
And several core powerhouses of the sect rushed into the main hall one after another.
Looking at the lingering sword rain, they muttered in disbelief, "A letter of challenge… from the Zhenwu Sect?"
Elder Jiang's face darkened.
They had been guarding against the Immortal Dao Sect these past days—yet before the Immortal Dao Sect made a move, the Zhenwu Sect had struck first.
Seven days.
They were challenging Chu Xun.
"Heh."
"Good timing, I suppose," Elder Wang He snorted coldly.
Elder Chu had stagnated for sixty years, only recently breaking through his heart knot and advancing again—and now Zhao Yong shamelessly came knocking, without even considering the consequences?
"Zhao Yong…"
Xiao Rongyu frowned slightly as she spoke the name.
Among the few people she truly feared, Zhao Yong was one of them.
Sixty years ago, he had been the leader of Zhenwu Sect, capable of battling Chu Xun evenly. After so much time had passed, his cultivation had to be terrifying.
At the very least—
Human Emperor Seventh Realm.
Possibly even the Eighth Realm.
"Zhao Yong wants revenge," Elder Jiang sneered, "and he wants to cut off Donglin Sect's future."
If Chu Xun were given time, his accumulated foundation would inevitably allow him to rise again—perhaps even stepping into sainthood.
Killing Chu Xun now would be killing Donglin Sect's hope.
"What a beautiful plan."
"Ignore him," Xiao Rongyu said coldly.
"If he dares to break into the sect's formation, let him try."
The elders nodded.
With the protective formation, they feared nothing.
Elder Wang He suddenly remembered something. "I'll go inform Elder Chu. The news will reach him sooner or later—better remind him first, so he won't be provoked."
Elder Jiang waved it off.
He knew Chu Xun's temperament.
The man could sit in the Sutra Pavilion for ten years without caring about worldly affairs. A mere challenge would never affect him.
Xiao Rongyu and the others thought the same.
Still, a reminder wouldn't hurt.
"Donglin Sect closes the mountain," Xiao Rongyu ordered coldly. "If Zhao Yong wants to come—let him come. See if he dares."
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
The elders responded.
Only a trace of bitterness lingered.
One of the six great holy lands of the Eastern Region—forced to close its gates by a single man who hadn't even arrived yet.
It was humiliating.
But they had no choice.
They couldn't force a saint of uncertain life and death to emerge from seclusion just for pride.
…
Sutra Pavilion.
Even after receiving the thousand-volume reward, Chu Xun still hadn't put down the scriptures in his hands.
Listening to Elder Wang He's reminder, strange light flickered in his eyes.
"Zhenwu Sect."
"Zhao Yong."
He searched his memories but found no impression of the man.
He didn't care.
Instead—
He felt excited.
Whoever dared to come to Donglin Sect would be perfect as a sacrifice to establish his authority.
Earlier, he had worried that the opponent might be too weak to make an impact.
Now?
Perfect.
A smile appeared on his face.
He nodded gently.
Elder Wang He took his leave, but as he left, his expression grew increasingly strange.
Why did it feel like Elder Chu… was excited after hearing about a powerful enemy?
An illusion.
It had to be an illusion.