Chapter 96:

The first simulation lasted 19 years, during which Xu Xi and Xu Moli spent 18 years together. The second simulation lasted 79 years, and Xu Xi shared 73 of those years with Krisha. From a purely time-based perspective, the life experiences Xu Xi shared with the witch in the second simulation far outweighed those he shared with his younger sister.

If one were to exclude the time when Mo Li was struck by a heavenly disaster and lay in a coma, the time spent between the siblings became even less. So, could one conclude that the bond between Xu Xi and his sister wasn’t as strong as the one he shared with the witch?

Xu Xi didn’t think so.

Emotions weren’t all the same. Some grow and shine through years of companionship, while others become eternal in fleeting moments.

In Xu Xi’s heart, Mo Li, the sister he had cared for since childhood, held an irreplaceable place.

She was a foolish child—waiting shivering in the cold for his return, struggling to hold an oil umbrella to shield him from the rain despite her small frame, and even in her dying moments, worrying that her illness might burden his future.

Foolish?

Incredibly so.

Silly?

Certainly.

But how many such people exist in the world?

To Xu Xi, there might be others, but no one like Xu Moli—his one true companion in the immortal world, someone who had shared warmth with him through life’s bitter trials.

Krisha had her own unique memories, just as Mo Li had hers. Those memories and experiences together shaped irreplaceable emotions—precious and beautiful.

The sound of birds chirping drifted in through the window. They flitted among the dead autumn leaves, searching for warmth where new life would sprout. Sunlight filtered through the wooden windows at an angle, casting a glow on Xu Xi’s face as he closed his eyes, the blood-red crystal of the Eternal Teardrop reflecting its light onto him.

“Mo Li, are you upset with me for what happened back then? Is that why you refuse to see me?” Xu Xi sighed, the sound reverberating in the quiet study.

He had long suspected that his sister might be nearby.

Despite his attempts to reach out, there had been no response. Now, he was certain—his clumsy, tear-prone sister was indeed close, yet unwilling to appear before him. Was she angry? Disappointed? Xu Xi didn’t understand her thoughts, but he knew he needed to act.

The misunderstandings during the simulation, the harsh words spoken in anger—those wounds needed closure. As her elder brother, he owed her that much. But what could he do to see her familiar figure once again?

Xu Xi gazed out the window, his thoughts carried by the wind along with the fluttering dead leaves.

After some time, the door to the study creaked open.

“Master, I’ve brought tea,” Krisha announced, stepping in with a porcelain cup of steaming liquid. Its light green hue was familiar.

“Thank you, Krisha.” Xu Xi accepted the cup and took a sip. The sharp bitterness of the Qingshen Grass Magic Drink instantly attacked his taste buds.

“…So bitter,” Xu Xi muttered, feeling his tongue go numb. The drink’s refreshing effect enhanced his mental clarity and quickened his thoughts. Yet as a sanctuary mage, did Xu Xi truly need such improvements?

“Krisha.”

“Yes, Master?” she replied, her posture respectful.

“Please don’t use Qingshen grass for afternoon tea anymore.”

“Understood. I’ll remember that,” Krisha responded softly, her black-and-white fluffy skirt swaying slightly as she held the cup and plate. Her lifeless yet beautiful eyes reflected only Xu Xi’s figure.

Silent. Pure. Unchanging, even as years passed.

Yanshan City was cold and quiet in autumn, but the presence of the witch seemed to fill the courtyard with vitality. Under the sunlight, the dragon blood grass glowed faintly, thriving unreasonably despite the season.

Dragon Blood Grass and Red Dragon Blood Grass—two entirely different plants—flourished under Krisha’s care, each displaying its unique beauty. The former carried a faint oceanic scent and could grant dragon blood, enabling snakes and fish to transform into the lowest tier of demon cultivators. The latter, fiery and crimson, could imbue animals with sub-dragon traits and grant humans fire-element perception, making them ideal fire magician candidates.

The grass grew so abundantly that Xu Xi sold several batches.

However, cultivating new dragon blood grass required fresh dragon blood. When the red dragon arrived in Yanshan City and saw the witch, it immediately knelt, trembling. Offering its blood willingly, it claimed that as long as it wasn’t killed, it would endure any amount of bloodletting.

The witch calmly accepted the red dragon’s plea, finding Xu Xi’s teachings about the docility of dragons to be surprisingly accurate.

The red dragon dared not protest.

In the courtyard, Krisha continued managing housework and the dragon blood grass. Yet Xu Xi’s life remained far from relaxed. After obtaining the necklace formed from the Supreme Crown, he threw himself into training, delving into the complexities of space magic and time magic.

Through relentless effort, Xu Xi mastered several space magic techniques. Short-distance teleportation for combat, long-distance teleportation, space slashes for offense, and space barriers for defense were all within his grasp.

“The offensive and defensive techniques are helpful but not crucial. I already have plenty of methods in those areas. The true value lies in teleportation,” Xu Xi mused. “With space magic, I’ll no longer need to travel slowly over long distances. As for time magic, it’s far more challenging. I probably won’t fully control it until I become a god.”

Nearly two months later, Xu Xi concluded his training. Not only had he mastered space magic, but he also advanced to the Spirit Transformation Stage—an unexpected gain.

The sky darkened, thunderclouds threatening rain. Yet a glance from the witch shattered the clouds, restoring the day to a bright, sunny calm.

Xu Xi left the training room, returning to his quarters. Staring at the collection cabinet and the sugar jar returned to their original places, he sighed softly.

“Mo Li… that stubborn girl still refuses to show herself…”