Chapter 148: Farewell, My Prison

Xu Xi no longer hid anything.

He revealed the truth of Da Qian to everyone.

The simple commoners felt shocked by such a terrifying reality, but more than that, they felt a sense of numbness.

The "sinners" who had been driven to the border…

Had long since grown accustomed to the cruelty of demons.

They had witnessed with their own eyes their friends, or even their families, dying tragically under the sharp teeth of demons.

The impoverished people knew full well the dangers of the Hundred Thousand Mountains; it was a Hell existing in reality, a sea of blood and slaughter created by heaven and earth.

However—

Xi-geer said he would lead everyone out of the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

It was Xi-geer who said it.

Therefore, everyone picked up their hoes and dung forks once more, forming a vast, endless tide of people that followed Xu Xi out of the province and through the pass.

Only a few who had recently joined the Qiuhuo Army…

Remained where they were in hesitation.

They hadn't known Xu Xi for long and didn't dare follow him into the Hundred Thousand Mountains; after all, the mountains' fearsome reputation was far too great.

"Teacher, those people actually don't believe you. How detestable."

"This is normal, Yingxue."

The crowd advanced like a tide, dense and never-stopping. From afar, they looked like a continuous, pitch-black long dragon.

At the head of the dragon were Xu Xi and Wu Yingxue.

The young girl grumbled indignantly, clenching her small fists as she complained to Xu Xi about those who stayed behind.

Xu Xi only smiled faintly.

"I am not an omnipotent god; I cannot be liked by everyone. It is only natural that they don't trust me."

"Besides, this breakout is indeed dangerous."

"It is only right that they are afraid."

Xu Xi looked behind him at the countless pairs of feet following him. The yellow earth beneath them was flattened over and over, forming a solid path.

Among them were patched cloth shoes and hand-woven straw sandals.

To be more precise.

These commoners who followed behind Xu Xi with Persistence, showing no fear of death…

Were the ones who were truly unusual.

Just because of one word or one decision from Xu Xi, they chose to believe and act without considering anything else.

Why was that?

Xu Xi knew the reason, Wu Yingxue knew it, and everyone else knew it too.

It was because everyone had become fools.

Big fools who had been infected by Xu Xi.

…

Boom!

Boom!

Bang! Bang!

The soldiers of the Qiuhuo Army held their blades and wore their armor, scattering to guard the perimeter, protecting the elderly, women, and children within.

As the strongest combatant, Xu Xi led the group forward continuously.

At the same time, he served as the one clearing the path.

The long procession moved slowly, crossing provinces and passing through gates.

The Sin-slaves who had once fled from the border to Da Qian had returned to the cold, bitter border once more. Without stopping, they continued forward, following that thin yet warm figure.

They kept walking.

They walked for a very, very long time.

The existence of the Fools Art meant that almost everyone possessed Qi and blood cultivation.

This greatly accelerated the procession's speed.

After many years, Xu Xi once again saw those mountain ranges that stood like a thousand blades upon the earth, their undulations stretching to the infinitely distant horizon.

Pitch-black and mysterious, they towered into the clouds.

The peaks met the sea of clouds, linking heaven and earth to form a prison that human strength could hardly escape.

"The Hundred Thousand Mountains…"

"Leaving this time, there probably won't be a chance to return."

"If we succeed, there will be a wider world; if we fail, we will die halfway."

Xu Xi looked up slightly.

He saw only layers upon layers of mountain bodies, like protruding, sinister scales wildly embedded in the earth, each one so rugged it was difficult to walk upon.

Then.

Xu Xi looked back at the border region, recalling the first year of the simulation when he had stumbled into Qingniu Town.

He still clearly remembered those familiar faces that had perished in the Demon Tide.

"This world really is a piece of work…"

Farewell, my prison!

In the current Da Qian, rebel armies had appeared everywhere, constantly drawing the attention of the Emperor of Da Qian.

In the summer, there were no truly supreme demons within the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

Now…

Was the time to escape!

"Next, I will be responsible for clearing the path and dealing with the demons we encounter first."

"Yingxue, you are responsible for the flanks to prevent demons from rushing in to slaughter the elderly and the young."

"I understand, Teacher!"

"A-Niu, you are responsible for the rear, helping with scouting and bringing up the tail."

"I got it, Big Brother Xu."

The passage of time…

Had made A-Niu look even more simple and honest.

His rough fingers scratched his hair as he grinned, showing his teeth. "My ma said before she left that I should just listen to Big Brother Xu. I'll definitely be obedient."

Aunt Zhang had passed away last year.

It wasn't because she didn't have enough to eat.

Nor was she killed by some external force.

Instead, she had passed away peacefully in her sleep, never to wake again.

The physician's diagnosis was that the old lady had suffered too much since she was young; a life of hardship had destroyed her roots, and the demon meat she ate to stave off hunger had corroded her life force.

Even though later, as Xu Xi led everyone into Da Qian…

Life had gradually become better.

But everything from the past…

Still caused that old mother, who often made Vegetable buns, to leave A-Niu forever.

…

[You lead the Qiuhuo Army into the Hundred Thousand Mountains]

[The massive commotion and the rising Qi and blood draw the excited roars of countless demons]

[They come in swarms, occupying the vast sky; their sheer numbers even blot out the sun, casting demonic shadows upon the ground]

[They emerge from the mountain forests, eyes gleaming with ferocity and devoid of reason, possessing only a bloodthirsty desire]

[You gather your strength and strike with your fists, the power of heaven and earth augmenting your body. While blowing apart a large number of demons, you carve out a wide path, and the crowd follows your lead]

[The number of demons is vast, but the people following you are equally numerous]

[Soldiers brandish spears and greatswords]

[Farmers wave hoes and iron forks]

[Years of fighting together, combined with your deliberate training, have allowed the people to form an impenetrable iron wall, tenaciously resisting wave after wave of demonic assaults]

[You have made a good start, successfully slaying the invading demons and crossing the first major mountain]

…

[You know this journey is difficult. To that end, you have made many preparations; besides high-powered machinery for killing demons, you have also left behind hidden measures along the way]

[Guarding against pursuit from the rear—that is, from Da Qian]

[The eeriness and uniqueness of the Emperor of Da Qian make you feel that he will not sit idly by and watch you escape]

[Several days pass]

[The Qiuhuo Army you lead encounters even more powerful demons. Gradually, demons comparable to Xiantian Martial Artists begin to increase in number]

[The number of casualties inevitably skyrockets]

[You give your all, clearing the path day and night]

[Your fists roar like mountain abysses, your blade light can shear mountains and sever seas, and your Qi and blood encompass all things under heaven]

[But even so, amidst the overwhelming onslaught of demons, you cannot protect everyone]

[Your preparations were very thorough]

[Without you, the number of dead and wounded in the Qiuhuo Army would have been several times higher]

[But looking at those who have fallen, your heart cannot find peace for a long time. Your Qi and blood condense into blade light, once again slashing toward the towering mountains]

[You long to break out of the Hundred Thousand Mountains as soon as possible so that more people can survive]