Chapter 138: Failure Is the Mother of Success

Unlike the previous two simulations.

As soon as Xu Xi made a Breakthrough and came out of seclusion, his younger sister and the witch came to greet him.

In this martial arts simulation, everyone had their own tasks to perform. While Xu Xi was in seclusion, Wu Yingxue held down the fort for the army on his behalf, and A-Niu and the other Little Masters were also fulfilling their respective duties.

It was quiet when he entered seclusion.

It was just as quiet when he came out.

Greeting Xu Xi were only the gentle, warm sunlight and the rustling of leaves stirred by a light breeze.

That was enough.

"I really hope this peace can last forever," Xu Xi said as he stepped out of the official residence. The sunlight was sliced and slanted by the eaves, leaving only a tiny bit of golden brilliance to fall on Xu Xi's shoulder.

The sunlight was so warm.

It felt as if even the cold stone bricks and the silent roof tiles had been illuminated with life.

Shining brilliantly in the dusty light.

The next day.

Xu Xi remained in Pingshui County, preparing to wait for the autumn harvest to end. The young girl, having received news of his emergence from seclusion, hurried over from another county.

"Sir, have you become stronger again?!"

Contrary to the witch's indifferent tone.

Wu Yingxue's tone was very excited, full of blessings and joy, making it easy for anyone to hear the happiness contained in her voice.

"Mm, a small Breakthrough."

Pingshui County, the fields on the outskirts.

Xu Xi met up with the young girl.

The two stood side by side, gazing out at the boundless golden rice fields, watching the rice ears sway in the breeze, like undulating waves, rising and falling, concave and convex.

In that expanse of pure gold, the red and white robes on the young girl were particularly conspicuous.

The pale green dress from New Year's Eve.

Was, after all, not the young princess's favorite.

After her martial attire was mended, she returned to her usual image, becoming the "Little Master Wu" who slew demons and eliminated evil in everyone's eyes.

"Sir, are you very strong now?"

"A bit stronger, but when facing the Xiantian Third Realm and the subsequent Human Immortal Martial Artists, it is still difficult to have a chance of winning."

"Mm, anyway, you are much stronger than me."

"Yingxue, while I was away, did the other counties have any problems?"

"Hehe, Sir, don't worry. With me here, everything is in good order!"

"That's good."

On the winding field ridge.

Xu Xi stood there, listening to Wu Yingxue's smug report. When she finished, Xu Xi handed her a blade of grass.

"Do you want to try it, Yingxue?"

"This is…"

"The [candy] that the children of Qingniu Town specially gave to me."

Xu Xi handed one to the young girl.

He picked up the remaining ones, selected a new one, put it into his mouth, and chewed it gently.

"This…"

The girl was stunned for a moment.

Then, imitating Xu Xi's posture, she also put the grass blade into her mouth.

A breeze blew, making the root of the grass blade sway, but the part in her mouth burst with a faint sweetness after she chewed it.

How magical.

Wu Yingxue's eyes slowly widened.

Sweetness can bring joy; even a chivalrous woman with a bold personality would be deeply captivated by this fleeting sweetness.

"Sir, this is so delicious!"

The girl finally understood why they called the grass blade candy.

She was tireless, constantly chewing new grass blades.

Until the grass blades in Xu Xi's hand were chewed clean by the girl.

"Although it's delicious, you shouldn't have too much," Xu Xi patiently admonished, and the girl obediently agreed.

For the next while, the two watched the undulating rice fields while talking about the development of the Qiuhuo Army and the more distant future.

There were prayers for a beautiful future. And nightmares about failure.

People struggling hard, bloodthirsty and cruel demons, mindless and witless monsters, and martial arts that break everything.

Amidst the hissing sound of rubbing flowers and grass, the two talked a lot.

Gradually, Wu Yingxue's mood became a bit low.

"Sir, can we, everyone in the Qiuhuo Army… really make it to the end?"

Her voice was confused, her emotions lost.

The young princess was once a member of the Daqian nobility.

She knew better than anyone. The seemingly crumbling Daqian had a terrifying true foundation, far beyond what the current Qiuhuo Army could compare to.

It wouldn't even need a Human Immortal expert to step in to destroy all the foundations of the Qiuhuo Army.

The young girl hoped to receive encouragement from Xu Xi.

But what Xu Xi said was not that.

"Yingxue, do you think there is such a thing as complete failure or complete success in this world?" Xu Xi looked into Wu Yingxue's eyes and asked in return.

"I suppose… no."

The girl shook her head hesitantly.

"Yes, there has never been anything that can remain completely unchanged."

Xu Xi confirmed the girl's answer. He paused for a moment.

He continued: "Daqian is not necessarily the winner, and we are not necessarily the losers."

"The current situation is indeed very unfavorable for us; even a single prefecture among the thirteen provinces could cause us to fall short at the last moment."

"But—"

"Yingxue, there are many things in this world that have nothing to do with winning or losing."

"Some things, even if you know you will fail, must be tried as you move forward."

"Only in this way can you see the dawn of light."

Xu Xi's voice was as gentle as ever.

He did not promise the beauty of victory. Nor did he promise a bright prospect.

But in those plain words, Wu Yingxue heard a certain power. She suddenly smiled, recalling a sentence Xu Xi had taught her.

"Sir is right."

"After all, failure is the mother of success!"

"Even if we fail in the end, it's nothing to regret; at worst, we'll just start over!"

The young girl raised her fist high, full of fighting spirit.

Only Xu Xi fell into silence.

Is this phrase impossible to correct?

"Sir, I am not afraid of anything now! Even if I die tomorrow, I won't even frown!"

"Yingxue, turn your head over here."

"Ah, oh."

Xu Xi bent his middle finger and flicked the girl's smooth forehead lightly.

"Ouch!" Wu Yingxue covered her forehead in pain, rubbing it continuously with her palm.

"In the future, say less of these ominous things, understand?" Xu Xi said.

"I understand…"

The girl dared not refute.

But based on his knowledge of the girl, Xu Xi felt that she would likely commit the same mistake again nine times out of ten.

That fiery personality was both a flame of hatred for evil and a reckless, thoughtless impulse, rarely considering anything.

"Yingxue, I remember your Cultivation Technique is incomplete, right?"

"Mm, what is it, Sir?"

"You came at the right time; I want to help you evolve a new Cultivation Technique to replace the original incomplete imperial Cultivation Technique."

"Can, can you really do that, Sir!"

"It's just an attempt. Besides, I also have some questions about the royal family that I would like to confirm with you."

…

[Wu Yingxue's Cultivation Technique is incomplete. Limited by the loss of her status as a princess, she can no longer obtain the subsequent imperial Cultivation Techniques.]

[This incompleteness deeply affects her strength advancement.]

[You decide to use the characteristics of your own Qi and blood heaven and earth to evolve a new Cultivation Technique for the young girl.]

[This is a bold undertaking.]

[Relying on your Martial Arts Evolution trait, you feel it might be worth a try.]

[You decide to start with the girl's original Azure Dragon Astral Qi to improve or derive a new Cultivation Technique. The girl follows your instructions and releases her Azure Dragon Astral Qi at close range.]

[Looking at the lifelike Azure Dragon Astral Qi, you fall into deep thought.]