Chapter 136: Sir, They’re So Weak

[Simulation Year Nine, Spring]

[You are 24, Wu Yingxue is 18]

[The winter snow melts, spring awakens. The snow layer covering the earth's surface diminishes day by day, gradually revealing the soil beneath.]

[You know well that the Qiuhuo Army is in desperate need of food right now. Only a large amount of food can ensure people's survival.]

[You and the girl split up, taking different paths.]

[One heads to the border, leading the Qiuhuo Army to slay demons and harvest as much flesh and blood as possible.]

[One stays in Pingshui County, responsible for the spring plowing matters.]

[The girl chooses to pick up her spear and head to the border to hunt demons. For her, this is what she excels at most.]

['Grand Master Xu and his demon-slaying general.']

[This is how people describe the relationship between you and the girl.]

[…]

[Over twenty days later, Wu Yingxue returns with the army, having harvested much demon flesh, but many are wounded.]

[Currently, the border remains in the final throes of the Demon Tide's aftermath.]

[It is far more dangerous than usual.]

[Fortunately, relying on the numerical advantage of the army and Wu Yingxue's Innate strength, no major incidents occurred.]

Bright spring sunlight pours from the sky, shining upon the desolate yet lively land.

The soil is turned over.

Blades of grass mingle with dew.

Emanating a subtle, uniquely earthy scent of nature.

The returned girl, in a carefree manner, squats down beside Xu Xi, watching the bustling scene of spring plowing with him.

Pingshui County does not have many plow oxen, but there are many people who have Cultivated the Fools Art.

'The power of an ox!'

In the newly broken ground not long ago.

A-Niu shouts to the sky, transforming into a human-shaped tiller, rumbling past, using pure Qi and blood force to loosen the soil violently.

'Marvelous!'

'Truly marvelous!'

The onlookers exclaim in admiration one after another.

They say A-Niu is even sturdier than a real plow ox, a true master at farm work.

'Sir, why is everyone so happy?'

The girl squatting beside Xu Xi asks curiously. She doesn't understand why something like planting fields can become such a lively event.

Xu Xi chuckles lightly.

Answering the girl's question to clear her confusion.

'Yingxue, many common folk spend their entire lives never leaving their hometown.'

'All they ever come into contact with is the sky above their heads and the yellow earth beneath their feet.'

'But the land at the border…'

'…is unusable, soaked with demon blood, and yields little grain…'

Xu Xi's voice is very soft.

So soft it seems about to dissipate in the wind, yet it reveals a heavy weight of sorrow and joy.

The 'sinful people' living at the borders of the Thirteen Provinces of Daqian not only face demon attacks but also find the very land they rely on for survival eroded and almost unusable.

It is precisely because of this.

That people behave with such excitement.

Grasping the soil with their hands, what sifts through their fingers are normal grains of earth, not the foul-smelling, pitch-black cursed soil tainted with demonic poison blood.

Nor are there lofty 'great ones' whipping and tormenting them.

The 'sinful people' who are not seen as human finally manage to take a difficult breath in this turbid, evil world.

'A-Niu, save some strength. Have you forgotten you still have to practice boxing this afternoon?'

'I know, Brother Xu!'

In the fields.

Hearing Xu Xi's words, the simple, honest man stops plowing, wiping his sweat with a foolish grin.

Yellow-brown grains of soil follow his movements, scattered into the air.

Briefly dyeing the sky overhead a different color.

It is the same color as the earth.

People who could not survive, standing on solid, thick earth, even if covered in hot sweat, even if dusted with sand, will smile a genuine smile under the sun.

[Simulation Year Nine, Summer]

[Spring plowing ends. Pingshui County becomes slightly quieter, but that quiet is short-lived.]

[The flames of war burn wildly.]

[You still have not waited for the Daqian army, but you have waited for the encirclement and suppression from the surrounding counties.]

[You are slightly surprised. You originally thought you would be the one to take the initiative, never expecting the Daqian counties around you to attack first.]

'It seems I underestimated the Daqian officials.'

'Perhaps they are not so incompetent.'

On the battlefield.

Xu Xi gazes at the distant, black mass of troops and comments with a grave expression.

As the distance closes, besides the trampling of horse hooves, Xu Xi also hears the roars of the enemy leaders.

'Kill! Just a bunch of refugees, their deaths are of no consequence!'

'Haha, this year is truly lucky. Military merits falling from the sky, just picked up by us!'

'Such audacity! Instead of staying properly outside the pass, they dare to barge in!'

'Kill! Kill! Kill! Make sure none return!'

A tone of contempt.

An arrogant attitude.

A look of overconfidence.

Xu Xi sighs, deciding to retract his earlier assessment.

These attacking county soldiers, and the county officials behind them, have no clear understanding of the Qiuhuo Army's combat strength. They are simply here to seize 'military merits.'

Before the real fighting even begins.

Among the several counties, there is a kind of heated rivalry, each fearing the other might gain more merit, completely disregarding the Qiuhuo Army.

Thus, the outcome of the war needs no further words.

[You achieve a great victory.]

[Thanks to the foolishness of the surrounding counties, you advance unhindered, breaking through multiple counties in one go, sweeping across several counties like the autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves.]

[The so-called prestigious families, the so-called high officials and powerful nobles, upon hearing of your arrival, all flee in panic.]

['Sir, they're so weak.']

[Wu Yingxue says to you in a tone of complaint.]

[In Wu Yingxue's imagination, this year should have involved bitter battles. She even prepared for sacrifice, but the foolishness of the Daqian officials practically handed victory to you.]

[You are, in the truest sense, finding it difficult to lose even if you tried.]

[You smile and comfort the girl, saying such an easy victory is exactly what you wanted to see.]

[It's just a pity that such fool's victories will only occur in the early stages. As the territory you conquer grows larger, you will soon face real challenges.]

[The Thirteen Provinces of Daqian, each province has elite troops.]

[Before long, perhaps this autumn or winter, or next spring or summer.]

[You will face the provincial capital of your location, that is, Xuanqi Province. That is a powerful enemy force, determining whether the Qiuhuo Army can continue to exist.]

[You feel immense pressure in your heart.]

[The good news is, your Realm is beginning to loosen.]

[Day after day, you Persist in using the martial Dao's Heavenly Eye to observe the world. You gradually comprehend the workings of heaven and earth and imitate them with your Qi and blood.]

[Now, the Qi and blood circulation within your body has completely detached from the original Cultivation Technique, transforming into the mysterious and profound meridians of heaven and earth.]

[You did not rely on any external force.]

[The only thing you possessed was effort and Persistence witnessed by the sun and moon.]

'Observe the principles of heaven and earth to build the Foundation.'

'Contain the martial Dao's spirit to form the branches.'

'See the god of one's true self to bloom flowers and leaves.'

'Now, it is time for me to advance to the next Realm.'

Pingshui County.

After leading the Qiuhuo Army to conquer several counties in succession, Xu Xi returns once more to this original county town.

While waiting for the autumn harvest to arrive, he attempts a Breakthrough to the Soul-Containing Realm.