NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 142
Chapter 142 The Power Of Persistence Is So Terrifying:
The passage of time brings many changes.
Several years passed.
The group of “sinners,” once pitiful and frail, as if they might collapse and die on the roadside at any moment, had transformed into a true army. Armed with blades and armor, they now moved with discipline, advancing and retreating in unison.
No longer were there merely two or three warriors who had reached the innate martial arts level.
Since A Niu’s breakthrough, others had followed, becoming what people fondly called “Little Mr. Fighters,” innate martial arts masters revered for their strength.
The old, the weak, women, and children were stationed in the rear. They farmed, wove cloth, and learned to read and write.
The expansion of territory over several states and the passage of time had brought an influx of talent to the Qihuo Army. No longer was it just Xu Xi and Wu Yingxue managing everything, as it had been in Pingshui County.
Now, the survival army had defined roles: Little Mr. Teacher, Little Mr. Pig Raising, Little Mr. Blacksmith. Each person had a job.
Yet, at every house, objects like hoes, manure forks, and spades were still kept at the ready.
It was a habit born of caution.
The people insisted on being prepared. If Xu Xi ever faced danger, they would charge forward again for Mr. Xu, the one who had worked so hard to find a way for them to live.
“Brother Xi is just too honest. He’s so easy to bully!”
They muttered in frustration, feeling helpless that their leader could not shield himself better.
…
Xu Xi found great satisfaction in Wu Yingxue’s remarkable progress.
“That girl Yingxue…”
“Since I modified her cultivation technique, her progress has been extraordinary. The quality and quantity of her Qi, blood, and inner world are far beyond others at her level. She’s almost comparable to the third level of the innate realm.”
“This compatibility is an unexpected surprise.”
“Now, if only she could be a bit more composed.”
…
In the newly captured Diyanzhou, inside the state capital, Xu Xi practiced boxing in a quiet courtyard.
His boxing method hadn’t changed much since the days in Qingniu Town. It remained simple and straightforward.
With fingers clenched into fists, he struck forward.
There were no earth-shaking explosions or dazzling light effects.
Only a faint breeze stirred when he punched.
However, Wu Yingxue, A Niu, and most of the Qihuo Army understood the terrifying power behind that seemingly ordinary punch.
They had seen it cleave mountains and rivers with ease.
“Mr. Xu is truly terrifying!”
“This is the power of persistence,” Xu Xi remarked.
Leaves swirled in the wind as Xu Xi slowly retracted his punching stance. A single blade of grass floated down, landing softly on the stone floor.
…
The three realms of the innate level were notoriously difficult to master.
Unlike the fifth realm of physical cultivation, which focused on polishing Qi and blood, the third innate realm required perfection of the inner world of Qi and blood.
It was a painstaking and time-consuming process.
Ordinary warriors, though exceptional compared to regular humans, found it nearly impossible to reach the heights of creating their own Qi and blood world.
But Xu Xi was different.
His persistence, bolstered by the power of entries, allowed him to improve steadily, day by day. His Qi and blood world grew closer to perfection with each passing moment.
Thus, he reached the stage of seeing his true spirit and perfecting the heaven and earth within him, achieving the pinnacle of the Grandmaster realm.
Closing his eyes, Xu Xi felt the purity and perfection of his Qi and blood circulating within. His every movement resonated with the power of heaven and earth.
“The third realm of the innate level—Seeing the God Realm.”
“This realm has two layers of meaning.
“One, to see one’s true self, to understand the essence of the martial arts one practices.
“Two, to perceive the spirit of Qi, blood, and the inner world, achieving a state of indestructibility.”
“For those at the God Realm, every punch and kick carries the power of heaven and earth. It is beyond ordinary comprehension.”
“After this, when Qi, blood, and the inner world reach true sublimation, one steps into the realm of martial arts immortality.”
“Immortals who cultivate martial arts… are closer to [people] and [mountains] than transcendent beings.”
Xu Xi paused, imagining a martial artist in the immortal realm.
He could picture them tearing mountains from the earth, throwing them like artillery shells, with force akin to supersonic missiles.
“The martial arts system based on Qi and blood holds immense potential. Even at the level of a martial arts immortal, it’s merely the beginning of what this system can achieve.”
“But that’s not my focus right now.”
“The urgent matter is…”
…
After completing his boxing routine, Xu Xi walked through a corridor where light and shadows interwove.
His cloth shoes made no sound on the floor, though the fine dust beneath still betrayed his presence. A ladybug flew past, circling Xu Xi before landing among the flowers lining the corridor.
From outside, the sounds of the survival army’s cheerful chatter reached his ears.
“Eat! Eat!”
The voices of fools echoed joyfully. Even A Niu joined in the foolish excitement.
Xu Xi paused, listening to the lively sounds.
“Qingniu Town, Xuanqi Prefecture, Jiangdao Prefecture…”
“So many years of struggle, and yet survival remains so fragile.”
He stepped into the light, the sunlight forming vibrant halos on the tiles of the house.
His shadow stretched long as he entered the temporary room, his thoughts lingering.
Xu Xi wanted people to live.
It was a genuine wish.
But reality always reminded him of the daunting challenges ahead.
“Great Daqian, the Emperor, immortals…”
“Everything feels… wrong.”
The current prosperity of the Qihuo Army, their capture of four states, seemed like a tremendous achievement.
But Xu Xi couldn’t shake the unease. The Emperor’s inaction felt unnatural.
No emperor, tyrant, or wise ruler would allow rebels to encroach on their territory without a fight.
Unless…
The Emperor didn’t care about his people.
Or the states under his rule.
Perhaps he wasn’t even looking at the world from the perspective of an emperor—or even a human.
“Sir, I brought what you asked for!”