Chapter 150: Lucky A Niu:

The ground was soaked in blood, staining everything in sight a deep red. The sharp claws of ferocious beasts and broken weapons were scattered across the mountainous terrain.

The sun rose again, shining brightly on the soil, now darkened by blood. The survivors of the army trudged through the sticky mud, each step bringing them closer to the world beyond the mountains.

This journey was not a heroic one, nor was it a pursuit of grand ambitions. It was merely a desperate attempt to survive—a struggle to stay alive.

“It’s time to move on,” Xu Xi declared as he walked to the front of the group.

The qi and blood within him surged, his body operating like a perfectly tuned machine, pushing the limits of its power to carve a path forward. Xu Xi didn’t know how far they had to go; he only knew that he must keep fighting, slaying every demon in his way to open a new road.

“Dad! Mom! Damn monsters, I’ll fight you to the death!”

“Brother, brother!”

“Goudan, don’t scare me! Wake up!”

The road to survival was paved with tragedies and heartbreak. Blood and flesh mixed with shattered bones formed its foundation. Each person walking this path endured unimaginable pain.

Xu Xi had once asked the people if they blamed him for leading them into the Hundred Thousand Mountains, but their answers were unwavering.

“Brother Xi would never lie to us. He’s a good person. How could he harm us?”

Even as their hearts were torn apart by endless suffering, they chose to believe in him. They believed that, under Xu Xi’s leadership, they could survive.

Hearing their trust and seeing the sincerity in their eyes, Xu Xi said nothing. He only tightened his grip on his blade.

Kill.

Kill again.

Rage churned within him as he fought, his chest burning with the desire to protect.

…

Amid the flash of swords and the shadow of blades, life was more fragile than a candle in the wind. In mere moments, countless lives could be extinguished forever.

Half a month later, Xu Xi fought with even greater ferocity. He pushed himself to the brink, even using the ‘Martial Arts That Even a Fool Can Practice’ to burn his energy and spirit, maximizing the power of his qi and blood.

This wasn’t just because the breakout had reached a critical point, with a great demon equivalent to the 3rd stage innate realm appearing, but also because of the looming danger behind them.

The backup plans Xu Xi had left behind were being triggered one after another at alarming speed. This meant that the Daqian pursuers, including the so-called“human immortal,” were closing in.

“It’s not enough,” Xu Xi muttered hoarsely, his voice raw from days of shouting.

Amid the foul stench of demon blood, his bloodshot eyes burned with determination. He fought tirelessly, trying to create a safe path for the survival army before the human immortals caught up.

He knew that once the pursuers reached this area, they would be caught between demons and Daqian forces. The survival army would be trapped with no escape.

For Xu Xi, death meant restarting a simulation. For the people he led, it was eternal silence.

Xu Xi could leave. They could not.

So, he gave everything he had, leading them through the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

“Kill!!!”

The Xu faction fought fiercely. Wu Yingxue, the soldiers, and the civilians fought with equal desperation.

It seemed as though fate had intervened. Somehow, the Daqian pursuers slowed down, giving the survival army a chance to break free from the most perilous areas.

The demons became less powerful, and their numbers dwindled.

“This is it. We’re nearing the end of the Hundred Thousand Mountains,” Xu Xi said as he hovered in the air, scanning the horizon. Though mountains still stretched endlessly before him, he knew true dawn was close.

When he landed, he saw Wu Yingxue panting and the people resting in exhaustion.

But one person was missing—the honest young man always scratching his head.

“Where’s A Niu?” Xu Xi asked suddenly, realization dawning on him.

…

A Niu, whose full name was Zhang Tieniu, had always been called simple-minded. His mother said so. The people in the town said so. And A Niu himself believed it. He couldn’t do much besides eat and farm.

In Qingniu Town, where food was scarce, eating as much as A Niu did was seen as a burden—a sin that tortured both himself and his family.

But A Niu had one thing others didn’t: luck.

Brother Xu had come, bringing demon meat to the town. It wasn’t delicious, but it meant no one went hungry. During the monster tides in winter, the abundance of demon meat even allowed A Niu to eat his fill—a rare joy.

As he walked the blood-soaked road, A Niu licked his dry lips, recalling the satisfaction of a full stomach.

He really wanted another meal of demon meat. If it could be paired with sweet white rice, he’d be even happier.

But he doubted he’d get the chance.

…

A Niu turned and walked in the opposite direction of the survival army. Soon, he encountered the most terrifying monster he’d ever seen.

The creature wore dragon-patterned robes and exuded an overwhelming aura that made A Niu tremble.

Still, despite his fear, A Niu raised his fist, meeting the monster’s surprised gaze.

“Aren’t you afraid of me?” the demon asked.

“Yes,” A Niu replied honestly, his body shaking uncontrollably.

He wanted to run—to roll away in the mud and escape. But he bit his lip and forced himself to stay.

“You want to delay me?” the demon asked, its curiosity piqued.

A Niu nodded silently.

“What did he give you?”

A Niu knew the demon was referring to Xu Xi.

“Food,” he answered.

“That’s it? I could give you a hundred times more if you join me.”

“No. Your rice smells sour.”

The demon sighed, almost disappointed.“Is that so? Then there’s nothing I can do.”

It raised its hand, which expanded into a massive claw covered in thick dragon scales, reaching toward A Niu.