Chapter 150: The Lucky A-Niu

Blood covered the ground, staining everything red.

The sharp claws of Vicious Beasts and broken weapons were scattered in disarray throughout the mountains.

The sun rose once more.

The sunlight was as bright as ever.

It shone upon the soil that had turned a dark crimson from the soaking blood. The people of the Qiuhuo Army tread upon the bloody mud, taking another step toward the world outside the mountains.

That was no journey of grand ambitions, nor was it a glorious path of heroes.

It was merely a tiny, laughable path of seeking survival, a struggle to stay alive, and nothing more.

"Time to keep moving."

Xu Xi walked to the very front of the group.

The Qi and blood within his body roared. His organs were like precision-meshed gears, further squeezing the power of heaven and earth on top of what he had already exerted.

Xu Xi did not know how much further the road ahead stretched.

He only knew one thing—

Throw a punch, swing a blade, slay all evil, and carve out the path ahead.

"Father! Mother! You damned monsters, I'll fight you to the death!!"

"Big brother, big brother!"

"Goudan, don't scare me! Quick, wake up!"

The long and dark path of seeking survival was filled with all kinds of tragedies and partings.

Paved with a mixture of blood and flesh, and scattered with shattered meat and bones, the people walking this path were all enduring pain that transcended human reason.

What they experienced was no easier than what Xu Xi went through.

Xu Xi had once asked them if they resented him for leading everyone into the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

But the people's answer remained the same as always.

There were no lies, no deception.

"Xi-geer wouldn't lie to us. Xi-geer is such a good person, how could he possibly harm us?"

The people said this, even though the pain they experienced was like a dull knife, carving away at their hearts that were on the brink of collapse time and time again.

But they still believed.

They believed that under Xu Xi's leadership, everyone could truly survive.

Listening to the voices of trust and meeting those pairs of clouded yet sincere eyes, Xu Xi's lips parted slightly. He said nothing, but his hand gripped his blade even tighter.

Kill.

Kill again.

Killing intent surged within Xu Xi's heart.

Inside his chest, it wasn't just a heart beating, but also a chest full of erupting fury.

…

Amidst the flashes of blades and shadows of swords, life was more fleeting than a candle flame in the wind. Often, in a single instant, several lives would meet their final farewell.

Half a month later.

Xu Xi's killing became even more ferocious.

He overextended everything, even circulating the Fools Art, burning his Qi and spirit as the price to stimulate his internal Qi and blood to the maximum extent.

This was not only because the breakout had reached its most critical point, with Great Demons comparable to the Xiantian Third Realm appearing, but also because of the crisis closing in from behind.

The hidden measures Xu Xi had left behind…

…were being triggered one by one at an extremely rapid pace.

This meant that the Great Gan pursuers, those so-called Great Gan "Human Immortals," were already infinitely close to the Qiuhuo Army.

"Still not enough."

"Still far from enough!"

The prolonged slaughter had made Xu Xi's voice hoarse.

His eyes were bloodshot and hideous as he slew demons amidst a spray of foul blood, wanting to carve out a safer path for everyone before the Human Immortal arrived.

Xu Xi knew well that if they encountered the pursuing Great Gan Human Immortal in their current location…

…the Human Immortal and the demons would form a pincer attack.

At that time…

…the people of the Qiuhuo Army would truly have no way to survive.

To Xu Xi, death was just the end of a simulation, but to the people of the Qiuhuo Army, death was true eternal silence.

Xu Xi could leave.

But they could not.

Therefore, Xu Xi risked his life, constantly pushing his body to its limits, wanting to lead everyone out of the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

"KILL!!!!!"

Xu Xi was killing, Wu Yingxue was killing, and the soldiers and commoners of the Qiuhuo Army were also killing.

It seemed like a stroke of fate.

The pursuit speed of the Great Gan Human Immortal had somehow slowed down significantly.

Xu Xi did it. Before the other party caught up with the Qiuhuo Army, he led the people of the Qiuhuo Army to break through the most dangerous area first.

The strength of the demons was no longer as formidable.

Their numbers had also decreased.

"There's no mistake, these are the signs that we're about to leave the Hundred Thousand Mountains."

Xu Xi stood in mid-air, gazing into the distance. Although there were still endless mountains within his sight, he knew that the true dawn was not far off.

After landing.

Xu Xi saw the panting Wu Yingxue and the exhausted commoners sitting on the ground to rest.

The only one he didn't see was that young man who was always scratching his head sheepishly.

Only then…

…did Xu Xi, who had been carving the path day and night and was so tired he'd forgotten everything, suddenly realize that A-Niu had long since been missing from the Qiuhuo Army's ranks.

"Where did A-Niu go?"

…

A-Niu, full name Zhang Tieniu.

He was a person born foolish.

His mother said so, everyone in town said so, and A-Niu himself felt the same way.

He couldn't do anything well; he only knew how to eat and farm.

In Qingniu Town, where food was precious, being able to eat was actually a sin. It tormented himself and his family.

In his heart, A-Niu had always felt guilty and inferior about this.

But!

A-Niu was very lucky!

Really, really lucky—a stroke of luck that made him a hundred times happier than using a golden hoe!

Big Brother Xu had come. He always brought some demon meat; although it didn't taste very good, everyone in Qingniu Town finally didn't have to go hungry.

During the Demon Tide in winter, there would be an especially large amount of demon meat.

Those were the rare days when A-Niu could fill his stomach.

Thinking of this…

…the man walking on the muddy, bloody road subconsciously licked his dry lips, reminiscing about the happiness of a full stomach.

I really want to keep eating, another full meal of demon meat.

Mmm—

If it were sweet white rice, that would be even better. A-Niu would be very happy.

But, A-Niu probably won't have the chance anymore, right?

"…"

A-Niu stopped in his tracks. He was going in the opposite direction of the Qiuhuo Army, walking on the path back. Finally, he saw that most terrifying demon.

It wore a dragon-patterned robe and looked incredibly majestic.

It was the kind of appearance that would make commoners tremble just by looking at it.

A-Niu was no exception.

His body shook, and he felt afraid every single moment. But even though he was this scared, he still boldly raised his fist under the demon's astonished gaze.

"You are not afraid of Us?"

That demon asked.

"I am."

A-Niu answered honestly.

He didn't know how strong the demon before him was, but as someone only in the Innate First Realm, just standing there was a struggle. His fists felt weak and limp, and his legs wouldn't stop shaking.

He really wanted to run away.

In the most pathetic manner, with both hands on the ground, rolling through the mud to escape quickly.

But he couldn't.

A-Niu bit his lip hard, forcing himself to stay where he was and continue facing that demon.

"You want to stall for time?"

The curiosity on the demon's face grew even stronger. He brushed his palm, his expression full of emotion: "You are very interesting."

He didn't care about time being delayed.

At most, it would just mean the game would end a bit later.

In comparison, the overly bold "ant" before him was more capable of piquing the demon's interest.

"What did he give you?"

A-Niu knew who the demon was referring to.

He still answered honestly: "Food."

"Just that? We can give you a hundred times, a thousand times more, as long as you are willing to submit to Us."

"I don't want it. Your food is stinky and sour."

"Is that so… then there is no other way."

The demon lamented and reached out toward A-Niu, who was persistently standing his ground.

Midway, the palm expanded and changed, gradually turning into a sky-covering claw covered in thick dragon scales.