“Brother Xu, you’re back from hunting demons again!”
“Yes, Aniu. How have you been lately?”
“Sa as always. I go wherever there’s work.”
As Xu Xi returned to Qingniu Town, the long, mournful cry of a bird tore through the dim red sunset.
The sunset was far from beautiful. The sky hung heavy with a gloomy pall, as if a ghostly domain were spreading its shadow over the earth. The sun’s residual heat could not penetrate the layers of darkness, leaving only a faint red haze.
On his way ho, Xu Xi received warm greetings from the townsfolk. So elderly won even used him as a topic of conversation.
“That Xu boy is good at everything. He makes money and is skilled in martial arts, but he’s too honest. He’ll end up being taken advantage of. We should find him a diligent wife.”
“Hey, I heard Butcher Wang’s daughter in the next town might be a good match.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! The next town was destroyed last year!”
“Oh, you’re right! It was overrun by demons. How could I forget?”
The physical acuity of a warrior extended to all senses, including hearing.
Even as Xu Xi walked away, he could clearly hear their conversation word for word.
Difficult to hear? Not at all.
Embarrassing? Not even a little.
Instead, Xu Xi felt a deep sense of compassion. Pausing, he looked up at the sky.
His eyes calmly traced the horizon as the last traces of red faded into darkness. The sky turned a deep, inky black, a suffocating canvas that painted life and death in oppressive strokes.
[Since your first year in Qingniu Town, reconstruction efforts have been ongoing.]
[You realize the rebuilding never truly ends. Each spring and winter brings a large-scale demon tide. Powerful demons erge from the Hundred Thousand Mountains, targeting human settlents like Qingniu Town.]
[The Skydog devours the sun, the Demon Fox consus essence, the Corpse Demon corrupts, and the Evil Tiger prowls.]
[Against such fearso creatures, even warriors with abundant qi and blood struggle to survive. Only innate warriors can truly contend with them.]
[But small towns like Qingniu Town lack innate warriors and receive no military aid.]
[Thus, each year you witness the cycle of destruction and reconstruction, the endless struggle for survival.]
Xu Xi’s personal experiences challenged the historical accounts he had read. Those records were nothing more than lies and whitewashing. The establishnt of the Daqian Dynasty did not bring safety to all.
[People in Qingniu Town, and all towns bordering the Shiwan Mountains, live in constant fear.]
“Such a grim reality…” Xu Xi murmured to himself.
“It’s clear this simulation isn’t about nurturing peaceful lives anymore.”
[The dangers of the martial arts world far exceed your expectations. You remain vigilant and focus on cultivating your body and qi.]
[Though your progress has slowed, your persistence keeps you improving steadily.]
[Day after day, you train diligently, pumping your fists and honing your stance through all seasons.]
[Your sweat flows like a torrent, and your growing muscles reflect your unwavering will. Both your body and your realm steadily advance.]
By the fifth year of the simulation, at age 20, Xu Xi had survived yet another demon tide in Qingniu Town.
In the sixth year, at 21, fewer familiar faces remained in town, yet Xu Xi was still alive.
By the seventh year, at 22, Xu Xi had beco a renowned warrior in the region. Even without seeking it, people brought him gifts of gold, silver, and dicinal supplies in exchange for his guidance.
[Despite your fa, you remain stuck in the Marrow Refining Realm. After three years of effort, you feel the Blood Exchange Realm is just within reach.]
Spring turned to autumn, flowers blood and withered, and the cycle of seasons passed. Over six years had elapsed since the simulation began, and Xu Xi now entered its seventh year.
“The lack of a lifespan limit in this simulation is an advantage. With Qi and Blood Martial Arts extending life, I have ti. No need to rush,” Xu Xi reassured himself.
After returning from another battle, Xu Xi walked the streets of Qingniu Town, feeling the qi and blood coursing through his body as he contemplated his next steps.
“Warriors must be bold and diligent,” he thought.
“Maybe I should fully embrace the reckless path this ti, beating the heavens, the earth, and everything else into submission.”
As Xu Xi neared his ho, he noticed sothing unusual. His residence, simple and functional, now bore signs of recent disturbance.
A large hole gaped in the roof, its shattered tiles swaying in the wind. Broken beams scattered wood chips across the floor, leaving a clear view of the sky above.
“Did soone fall from the sky?” Xu Xi muttered, stepping inside.
Inside his room lay a girl, unconscious and covered in blood. She bore serious injuries but still exuded a dignified presence.
The girl wore a red-and-white tight-fitting robe, accented with sturdy light armor that hinted at wealth and nobility. Her attire and the finely crafted spear beside her suggested she ca from one of the central counties of Daqian, far removed from Qingniu Town’s peril.
“She’s no ordinary person,” Xu Xi deduced.
“Perhaps she was ambushed by a demon… but why here?”
Though delicate in appearance, the girl was no frail figure. Her heroic aura was evident, even in her battered state.
As he observed her, Xu Xi realized, “She’s not a child. She’s grown—a young woman, perhaps sixteen or seventeen.”
A brief flicker of doubt crossed his face before he silenced his thoughts and focused.
Xu Xi closed the door, exhaled deeply, and reopened the inner room to assess the situation.
“She’s from a world far removed from this town. Things are finally getting interesting.”
Yet amidst the chaos of his discovery, Xu Xi’s mind remained clear. He resolved to continue his training and reflect on what had been preventing his breakthrough to the Blood Exchange Realm.
This wasn’t a simulation of nurturing a helpless little girl anymore.
This was sothing much more intriguing.
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