Chapter 152

Learning to accept parting is a goal that people struggle to achieve throughout their entire lives.

In this simulation.

Xu Xi experienced too many partings.

The commoners of Qingniu Town who died in the Demon Tide.

The starving people of the Qiuhuo Army who died at the hands of the Great Qian soldiers.

A-Niu, who died at the hands of a "Human Immortal."

Time after time, these partings caused the burning bitterness in his throat to gradually intensify, slowly making him hoarse, slowly making him unable to speak, until finally, it all transformed into attacks against the demons.

In this world, there are many famous sayings and proverbs that advise people to let go.

But in the end.

The pain caused by parting does not disappear because of a few words of comfort.

The pain still exists, the sadness still exists; the smiles on people's faces are merely numbness caused by the wear and tear of time.

Xu Xi kept throwing punches and swinging his blade.

The only way he could repay A-Niu was to use an even more frenzied stance to slaughter the endless demons and carve out a path that was as safe as possible.

To let the remaining commoners walk out of the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

"Crack—"

A slight cracking sound rang out; it was both the sound of demons being torn apart and the mournful cry emanating from Xu Xi's body.

Xu Xi was very strong.

Strong enough that through battle after battle, he gradually felt his way to the threshold of a Martial Dao Human Immortal.

Blood Qi and the inner world sublimated, nourishing the spirit and birthing the soul, seeing the gods and seeing oneself.

Xu Xi became a Quasi-Human Immortal.

He was only one final step away from a true Breakthrough. This was also why Xu Xi could lead the people of the Qiuhuo Army to tear through layer upon layer of demonic encirclement.

Even so, Xu Xi encountered multiple life-and-death crises.

More than once, he exhausted his strength and fell into a perilous situation, and it was the commoners who, as if driven mad, brandished all sorts of notched weapons to rescue him at the cost of their lives.

After seeing him on the verge of death, the young girl felt a long-absent sense of panic and fear.

Finally.

The bloody path reached its end.

Bone fragments, blood stains, a body covered in bruises and wounds, and tattered armor and weapons.

All of this, an experience like a nightmare, had reached the moment it was to end.

When Xu Xi gazed at the horizon again, he saw things beyond the great mountains; that was the end of the road to survival, the real world.

As long as they crossed this last mountain.

All suffering would end.

Yes.

As long as they crossed it, everyone else could live on.

After ending another battle, sunset arrived, painting the sky like a golden scroll. The setting sun slowly sank, gently cradling the rising night.

The commoners of the Qiuhuo Army, who had become sparse in number.

Were busy preparing dinner.

Xu Xi, meanwhile, leaned against a large tree, sitting slumped on the ground without strength, watching the sunset's afterglow with a weak gaze.

"This is the last, and also the hardest battle."

Xu Xi murmured to himself.

His eyes were reflected with golden light by the setting sun.

The remaining stretch of the path was not difficult to walk.

The demons' strength was no longer dominant; even without Xu Xi, he believed that under Wu Yingxue's leadership, the people could successfully make it out.

The true crisis came from behind.

That "Human Immortal" who had been leisurely following behind them all along, like a cat playing with a mouse.

Xu Xi sensed it—that terrifying pressure coming from the distance, like a deep abyss, like the mountains and seas, which would soon reach the Qiuhuo Army's position.

The timing of its arrival was ironic.

It happened to be right when the people of the Qiuhuo Army had fallen into a state of excitement because they had discovered the finish line.

"Treating human lives like a game."

"Again and again, time after time, mocking human joys and sorrows."

"This breath, I cannot swallow it…"

Xu Xi's eyes closed slightly. Only he could block a Human Immortal, and it could only be him. As long as he successfully blocked the Human Immortal's pursuit, the people would have no more obstacles.

Xu Xi's body was already riddled with holes.

Covered in scars left by demons.

The inner world of Blood Qi within his body, though infinitely close to Perfection, also appeared fragile.

If he truly ascended to become a Human Immortal, what would happen to him?

Xu Xi thought that he would probably be like New Year's fireworks; after a brief moment of brilliance, he would welcome eternal extinction.

"This is enough…"

"This is, enough."

In the Hundred Thousand Mountains, peak after peak pierced through the clouds, their steep and majestic forms splitting the golden afterglow of the setting sun into countless portions, forming a wondrous sight of interlaced light and shadow.

Demons roared, and human voices were joyful.

When his footsteps fell on the ground.

The golden afterglow would be stepped out, forming rippling circles that slowly and softly caressed Xu Xi's palm.

Xu Xi stood up and walked into the Qiuhuo Army, looking lingeringly at the commoners' activities. He tried his best to remember everyone's face, because this was likely the last time they would meet.

"Oh, it's Xi-geer!"

"Er-wazi, why are you standing in the back? Hurry up and greet Grand Master Xu."

"Xi-geer, do you want something to eat? Look at how thin you've become."

Young able-bodied men, small children, enthusiastic women, and the few remaining elderly.

The people protected by Xu Xi.

The people who survived because of Xu Xi.

They sincerely asked Xu Xi if he needed anything, handing over all sorts of items as they spoke.

Xu Xi smiled and refused: "No need, thank you everyone. Let me rest alone for a while."

Hearing Xu Xi's refusal, the people felt it was a pity.

But they listened to Xu Xi's words very well.

Before long, the gathered people dispersed again to go about their respective tasks.

Xu Xi found a remote corner and sat alone, watching the people in the tranquility. Looking at those simple and joyful faces, his mood also improved.

It's so quiet.

Xu Xi thought so.

The clouds under the setting sun seemed to be ignited by the sun's afterglow, turning into a sheet of reddish-yellow that surged and drifted in the air.

Like flowing lava, like magnificent candy.

"Master, I've boiled a bowl of soup for you!"

A familiar voice came from behind.

Xu Xi didn't need to turn around to know who it was. He took the soup bowl with practiced ease and expressed his thanks.

"Thanks, Yingxue."

"Master, drink it quickly. You've been busy all day; you need to rest and eat properly."

Red and white robes full of patches, and inner light armor that had been damaged and repaired.

Wu Yingxue's appearance was not much better than Xu Xi's.

The foul demon blood she should have.

The physical scars she should have.

She had them all.

Under the girl's watchful gaze, Xu Xi took a light sip from the soup bowl. The surface of the soup had oil spots floating on it, along with some leaf fragments.

Compared to the meat soup from before, there wasn't actually much change.

It was still as bland as ever, and the ingredients used were also dry and tough demon meat—a forced choice purely for sating hunger.

Actually, tender demon meat did exist.

But such meat was very rare.

Xu Xi had only tasted it once. From then on, it was all given to the elderly and young in the Qiuhuo Army, so they wouldn't have to struggle with their teeth, chewing on hard meat they couldn't bite through at all.

"It's very good."

After finishing, Xu Xi gave the girl some encouragement.

In such a difficult environment, having someone willing to cook for you was inherently extremely rare.

If he were to be picky and complain about the girl's cooking skills.

Xu Xi would feel bad about it.

"Master still knows what's good," Wu Yingxue grinned, taking the empty bowl from Xu Xi's hand.