Chapter 61: Broken Sword Brother, I Want Its First Time

Zhou Qing didn’t understand, but the system had clearly stated that an unimaginable broken sword was embedded inside.

The system used the word “unimaginable”—this broken sword was certainly no ordinary thing.

Moreover, the term “Ultimate Weapon” sounded overwhelmingly powerful; even if it was just a scrap, the fact that it had been embedded and preserved this long meant the broken sword was definitely a treasure-grade artifact.

“Pure spirit stone?”

Zhou Qing immediately pulled two spirit eggs from his storage pouch and carefully placed them on the grinding stone.

Only moments passed before the grinding stone suddenly trembled, and the energy within the spirit eggs began to deplete at a visible rate.

At the same time, the outline of a sword hilt began to slowly emerge.

“It’s really here!” Zhou Qing was overjoyed.

But soon, as the hilt extended only half a finger’s length, it stopped—because the spirit eggs’ energy was completely exhausted.

Zhou Qing’s expression instantly changed.

“No way!” These were the last two spirit eggs produced by the old hen—he never dared use them normally—how many more would it take to get through this?

Zhou Qing was heartbroken; he wanted to give up, but he’d already spent both spirit eggs without even hearing a sound, and he couldn’t bear the waste.

Besides, it was already this far—when the Grand Elders came in, anyone with eyes could see it—would there be any share left for him?

“Looks like I have to go all in!”

With great reluctance, Zhou Qing took out the top-grade spirit stone bestowed by his Sect Master’s senior uncle, prayed it would be enough, then carefully placed it on the stone.

Before the broken sword could even absorb it, Zhou Qing snatched it back with lightning speed.

“Broken Sword Brother, wait a moment—this top-grade spirit stone cost me my life to obtain, and I’ve never dared use it. Can I have its first taste? Fine, since you won’t speak, I’ll take that as consent!”

Zhou Qing stared at the top-grade spirit stone in his hand, sat cross-legged immediately, and began cultivating the Taiqing Xuan Qi Jue.

After a long while, he opened his eyes reluctantly, still savoring the sensation.

Undeniably, this top-grade spirit stone was different—it wasn’t as comfortable as a supreme-grade one, but it was very close, infinitely better than low-grade spirit stones or spirit eggs.

“Alright, I’ve tasted it—no regrets now. Your turn, Broken Sword Brother—go easy, I only have this one!”

After saying this, Zhou Qing placed it back on the grinding stone.

Watching it slowly turn gray and dull, he clenched his clothes between his teeth, fighting back tears—until he couldn’t bear it anymore and turned away, refusing to see.

Crack—

Hearing the sound, Zhou Qing instantly spun around, thrilled.

But when he saw the broken sword still hadn’t fully emerged—only the top-grade spirit stone shattered into two halves—he froze in stunned disbelief.

A top-grade spirit stone—equivalent to ten thousand low-grade ones—gone like that?

At that moment, Zhou Qing’s heart ached as if bleeding, and he was filled with regret.

But he was already past the point of no return.

Suddenly, the ground began to tremble slightly; Zhou Qing’s face changed—he seemed to realize something, and quickly hid to the side.

Soon, a large swarm of wandering souls surged out from deeper passages; the four leading ones radiated Jin Dan-level cultivation.

“Looks like, just like last time, when others left and noticed I didn’t come out, the Grand Elders had no choice but to send Jin Dan-level senior brothers in to check on me.”

Zhou Qing muttered to himself until he watched them roar into the gravity zone, then crept out cautiously.

“Honghe, Dead Crow, Giant Tree, Heart, Coffin, Wandering Souls...”

Zhou Qing stared into the dark passage, utterly unsure what secrets it concealed.

Then, he hurried back to the grinding stone, gritted his teeth, and pulled out the supreme-grade spirit stone.

So far, he’d only absorbed a tiny fraction of its pure energy—it was equivalent to a hundred top-grade spirit stones.

“Absorb it—I refuse to believe that greater investment means greater return!”

Zhou Qing could only comfort himself with that thought.

When the supreme water-type spirit stone was placed on the stone, the grinding stone shook violently; as energy drained away, the broken sword clattered out bit by bit.

At that moment, Zhou Qing was only grateful it was broken—if it had been whole, it would’ve ended up half-revealed, only to become someone else’s prize.

“No way!”

As time passed, the supreme-grade spirit stone rapidly turned gray-white, then—just like the top-grade one—shattered into two hollow shells.

Zhou Qing burst into tears, feeling as if the sky had collapsed.

He’d only just become a rich man—and now he was back to square one.

Fortunately, at that very moment, the broken sword was finally spat out by the grinding stone, clattering onto the ground.

Zhou Qing didn’t even glance at it—he sniffled, carefully collected the two hollow shells.

He’d crush them when he returned and feed them to the old hen—maybe it could help make up for the loss.

After finishing this, he finally turned to the broken sword, knelt down, and picked it up.

The sword looked rusted through and through, its blade covered in reddish-brown rust.

The hilt was made of an unknown black material—once smooth and refined, now rough and worn, its patterns blurred and faint, leaving only ghostly traces.

The junction between hilt and blade was caked with thick rust; the blade had long been broken, its jagged edge pitted with rust and tiny chips, dull and lifeless.

It looked like ordinary scrap iron—thrown on the ground, ignored by everyone, utterly unremarkable.

“Is this really the sword I paid such a heavy price for?” Zhou Qing still couldn’t believe it.

Could the system have made a mistake?

Just as Zhou Qing prepared to examine it more closely, a wave of roaring yin energy surged toward him from ahead.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing immediately tucked away the broken sword and vanished to the side, hiding again.

Soon, the wandering souls returned—fewer in number, but the Jin Dan-level ones still radiated fierce battle intent.

Only after watching them enter the passage did Zhou Qing dare not delay—he quickly turned the grinding stone.

As the gravity vanished, he sprinted outward.

Meanwhile, outside, Lu Yaoyao was frantic and filled with regret.

Why had they left Zhou Senior Brother behind again? Such a large, living person—and not a single person noticed.

Last time it happened, and now again.

Anyone else would think this group was deliberately targeting and excluding him.

He never said anything aloud, but he must be suffering inside.

Then she turned to the two Jin Dan-level senior brothers who had just endured a fierce battle—they were battered, bruised, and seriously wounded.

“We’ve pushed as far as we possibly could—we never saw Senior Brother Zhou’s figure. He may already be...”

One of the core senior brothers at early Jin Dan level hesitated, then spoke.

Everyone else sighed in unison.

Indeed, aside from our own group, just the Jin Dan-level wandering souls drawn out by these two senior brothers—going in and out—would’ve found even the most hidden Zhou Senior Brother and torn him to shreds. How could he possibly have survived?

Of course, it’s not absolute—last time, he barely survived and even unlocked the key.

No, we're confused—this is your own territory, so why set up such a bizarre gravity zone?

Fine, to keep outsiders out—but why restrict your own people so severely?

What’s so wrong with carrying a key on your person?

You’re Grand Elders—who could possibly steal the key from you?

What secret is hidden here?

Everyone’s hearts were filled with confusion.

(End of Chapter)