Chapter 158

[There are countless martial arts practitioners, many brave ones, but you are the only one who used death to carve a path to life.]

[Your persistence ran through the entire simulation.]

[That persistence, called “human spirit,” is a miracle born of faith. You are the shining moon among the stars, bringing light to the darkness and hope to the desperate.]

[Martial arts forges the body; all things temper the spirit. You are a martial arts immortal with unparalleled talent. Every punch and kick embodies the principle of harmony with nature.]

[You trained tirelessly day and night, creating the ‘Martial Arts That Even a Fool Can Practice’ technique that allowed the poor to survive.]

[Your battle against demons became legendary, spreading throughout the Shiwan Mountains. To the demons with intelligence, you are known as “that man.”]

[You guided the young princess, becoming the light that reached out to her in her darkest moments.]

[People now walk the path you opened. You watched this scene unfold, then passed away with a smile.]

[The simulation ends, and the statistics of wonderful moments begin.]

[Simulation evaluation calculation in progress…]

[Simulation rewards are being generated…]

“It’s finally over.”

In a living room in the real world, Xu Xi opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling above him, sighing deeply.

Of all the simulations he had experienced, the martial arts world was the most exhausting. It wasn’t just about gaining strength. Xu Xi found himself constantly thinking about the people in the survival army. He willingly took on the burden, caring deeply for those who called him “Brother Xie.”

“This time, it should be a good ending,” he murmured. “But the sacrifices and the price paid were too tragic.”

His thoughts lingered on Yingxue and the survival army.

Would they make it in the end?

Escaping the Shiwan Mountains only meant avoiding becoming demon fodder. The world beyond was vast and dangerous, but not as utterly despairing as the mountains.

Xu Xi pondered whether his sister and the witch could help save those who didn’t deserve to die. He thought about the little fool, Niu, whose only concern had been eating.

“But then again…” Xu Xi’s expression became hesitant as he suddenly sat up from the sofa. “That kid Yingxue… could she also become the Supreme?”

Surely not…

Xu Xi turned his attention to the simulator panel, watching its updates with a mix of anticipation and apprehension.

…

The night was still and quiet. The wind had ceased, leaving an eerie silence.

A dark sky stretched above a long, flat road. There were no stones or trees blocking the way; it was remarkably smooth. Wu Yingxue stopped walking, her steps heavy as though weighed down by an invisible burden.

Tears streamed silently down her face, dripping from her trembling fingers. She wanted to look back—to see that figure one more time, just one more time.

But she knew, had always known, that the “sleeping” figure would never awaken again.

The thought crushed her.

Wu Yingxue’s face twisted with sorrow, her delicate features overtaken by grief. Her emotions surged uncontrollably, drowning her heart in despair.

She wanted to turn back, to carry Xu Xi’s body on her back once more, even if he could no longer move. But it wasn’t possible. It was absolutely impossible.

“Sir is already so tired… I can’t disturb him…”

Wu Yingxue’s shoulders shook violently as she wiped her tears away. Her hands became soaked with them.

Xu Xi had always been a fool, putting others first, shielding her from storms, and appearing as her hero when she needed him most. He was exhausted, both in body and spirit.

The princess understood this. Xu Xi deserved to rest. But the pain in her heart made it impossible to let go.

“I’m sorry, sir… I’m so useless…”

Xu Xi had often told her she was his second-in-command, someone he needed to help lead the survival army against monsters. But in truth, she was the one who needed him.

As she continued walking, her tears fell like drops of despair onto the road, reflecting her aching heart.

In her darkest moment, Xu Xi had been her light, her guiding star. He had given her a reason to live, imprinting himself in her heart with love and devotion.

“Ms. Wu is back! Look, everyone, it’s Ms. Wu!”

Ahead, the faces of the survival army came into view, filled with hope and expectation. Their gazes made Wu Yingxue tremble. How could she tell them that Xu Xi was “sleeping” and would never wake?

She stopped in her tracks, unable to move.

The evening wind brushed past her, soft and gentle, carrying a familiar touch. In a trance, she felt as though someone was gently pushing her forward.

“Keep moving forward…”

The wind seemed to whisper, urging her onward. With tears and a bittersweet smile, she walked into the ranks of the survival army.

The people quickly asked where Xu Xi was. Why hadn’t he returned with her?

“Sir… he’s a bit tired and wants to rest…” Wu Yingxue forced a smile. “He said he wanted to be lazy for once and will catch up with us later.”

The crowd fell silent. Then someone broke the quiet, speaking with a bitter edge, “If Brother Xie wants to rest, let him rest.”

“Yes, Brother Xie deserves a good rest.”

“We can’t disturb him!”

The tears of the survival army began to flow, spreading from one person to the next. Children and adults alike wept for the “lazy” fool who had stayed behind.

“Let’s go… While sir is resting, we must walk the path he paved for us.”

With Wu Yingxue leading them, the survival army continued forward, following the road Xu Xi had created.

Half a year later, the martial arts world was shocked by an unprecedented event.

An army had fought its way out from the demon clan’s territory without any external aid or supplies, relying solely on their resilience to escape the demons’ grasp.