Chapter 111:

Growth sometimes happens in the blink of an eye. The once-childish temperament of the girl seemed to have diminished, leaving behind a subtle but undeniable heaviness.

She no longer carried the same innocence; instead, loneliness clung to her like a shadow.

She was leaving.

Carrying only her spear and baggage, Wu Yingxue set off alone, heading back home.

…

The moonlight was especially bright tonight.

Stars twinkled in the clear sky, forming a magnificent pattern with the moon—a breathtaking spectacle that seemed to mirror the girl’s transformation.

Wu Yingxue looked up at the night sky, her eyes sparkling as she asked Xu Xi one last question.

“Sir, how many stars are there in the Milky Way?”

“Probably tens of thousands, maybe even more,” he replied calmly.

“So many?” The girl was clearly astonished by the sheer number.

“If I ever get the time, I’d like to count them one by one,” she said, her tone slightly whimsical. She smacked her lips thoughtfully, adjusted her grip on the spear and baggage, and tightened them to ensure nothing would fall.

With a graceful leap, her figure soared onto the roof of the house. The tiles clanged softly under her cloth shoes as she landed.

Under Xu Xi’s watchful gaze, the girl suddenly turned around. She flashed him a bright smile—a radiant, breathtaking expression that seemed to dispel all the heaviness lingering in the air.

Her eyes were as clear as crescent moons, and her voice flowed like pure running water as she stood on tiptoes, hands clasped behind her back.

“Mr. Xu, please live well in this world, where there’s no clear distinction between good and bad.”

Her farewell was peculiar, delivered with a tone both lively and strange. Before Xu Xi could respond, she used Blue Arc Technique to vanish swiftly into the dark night.

Her departure carried a brightness Xu Xi hadn’t expected. It felt as though, in that moment, the 16-year-old girl had shed all her pretenses, revealing her true self.

“When someone leaves, life always returns to its original script—a relentless struggle against the world,” Xu Xi murmured to himself, gazing at the night sky.

After standing in silence for a while, he chuckled softly and returned indoors.

Wu Yingxue’s visit had been an accident, and Xu Xi believed it would be unlikely for their paths to cross again.

His plan was to return to his old routine: delving deeper into the dangerous terrain of Shiwanda Mountain, engaging in life-and-death battles to sharpen his martial arts skills.

…

[Time passed, and after recovering from her injuries, Wu Yingxue—who had been staying at your house temporarily—left.]

[The young princess, burdened with an unjust crime, was determined to uncover the truth.]

[You watched her disappear into the night, offering her a silent blessing.]

[Life returned to its quiet rhythm, much like before she arrived: practicing martial arts, honing combat skills, and repeating the cycle.]

[Though the process was arduous and exhausting, your persistence yielded results. Each day, your strength grew, boosting your confidence and forming a positive cycle.]

Charge, advance, punch, and kill!

Near the outskirts of Shiwanda Mountain, Xu Xi moved with blinding speed. His feet slammed into the ground as he dashed toward a tiger demon.

With one powerful motion, he spread his fingers wide and slammed his palm down.

Bang!

The tiger demon’s head was forced into the ground, creating a deep crater. Dust and sand flew in all directions, and the leaves of nearby trees fluttered to the ground.

“Roar!!!”

The wounded tiger demon let out an enraged roar, struggling to rise, but Xu Xi’s energy and blood surged even stronger.

With a swift motion, he drew his sword, the blade humming with thunderous energy, and severed the tiger demon’s head.

The battle ended swiftly. Xu Xi emerged victorious.

Standing amidst the chaos, he closed his eyes briefly to reflect on the fight.

“Both my boxing techniques and swordsmanship have undergone transformations,” he mused. “Through persistence and the performance of martial arts, they’ve evolved beyond their original forms.”

“‘Qi-Blood Chang Fist’ has become ‘Qi-Blood Fist.’”

“The ‘Five Thunder Swords’ have become the ‘Nine Thunder Swords.’ But…”

Xu Xi shook his head. “The foundation of these skills is still too basic. The real world lacks powerful martial arts masters, and advanced techniques are even rarer.”

“Even with martial arts performance aiding their evolution, the cost-effectiveness of these skills remains low.”

He warned himself to remain cautious.

A great storm was likely brewing on the horizon.

As Xu Xi ventured deeper into Shiwanda Mountain, he aimed to refine his skills further. Each battle provided not only martial improvement but also a supply of demon flesh and blood.

After slaying the tiger demon, he handed its body to Aniu for processing.

Xu Xi wiped the blood from his hands, stepping back thoughtfully.

“This kid is so kind,” he muttered, referring to Aniu.

“Why don’t you go help Brother Xu?”

The situation in Qingniu Town had worsened over the years. The demon waves in spring and winter grew more severe each time, creating unimaginable challenges.

Even as Xu Xi distributed some of the demon meat to the townspeople, he couldn’t help but note the strange evolution of the demons. They seemed larger and more powerful, some as big as houses.

“Where can I find advanced martial arts skills?” he wondered aloud. “Perhaps one day, as my realm improves, I’ll create my own techniques.”

Most demon flesh was inedible, but this tiger demon happened to be an exception.

“If I can find higher-level skills and combine them with the evolutionary effects of martial arts, I might truly become invincible,” he thought.

Dragging the heavy tiger demon corpse back to Qingniu Town, Xu Xi left a long, dark trail behind him.

As autumn transitioned into winter, the days grew colder, and food supplies became scarce. With one hand gripping the thick tail of the colorful tiger demon, Xu Xi reflected.

“Martial arts are merely external techniques. Blood and body—they are the true core of the Dao.”

This understanding was a key part of Daqian’s strategy to prevent the leakage of advanced techniques.

He glanced toward the ominous Hundred Thousand Mountains. Even in the bleakness of autumn and winter, their deep black expanse remained oppressive, a constant reminder of the challenges ahead.