NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 145:
Chapter 145: Sir, It’s Cold. I’ll Give You Some Clothes:
[You share the truth of the world with Wu Yingxue.]
[Wu Yingxue falls into great shock.]
[You expect her to be disheartened for a long time, but she proves to be far stronger than you anticipated.]
[She quickly accepts the cruel truth and follows your instructions to search for more clues.]
[With a clear goal, the girl uncovers information effortlessly.]
[You gather evidence from various parts of Daqian, even from within the Hundred Thousand Mountains, concluding that the outside world is real.]
[Daqian is not a sanctuary but a feeding ground for demons.]
[Even the widely circulated “Primordial Energy Technique” technique is likely a creation of demons, designed to make the human body more “nutritious.”]
“Sir.”
“What is it, Yingxue?”
“What should we do next? Are we really going to attempt breaking through the Hundred Thousand Mountains?”
“We have no other choice. There’s no second path.”
For so many years, the people of Daqian failed to uncover the truth. This wasn’t just due to the court’s tight control over information. It was the terrifying danger of the Hundred Thousand Mountains that curbed curiosity.
Countless deaths in its treacherous expanse had extinguished people’s will to venture out.
But now, the Qihuo Army had no alternative.
Continuing their assault on Daqian would only make them better prey—fine delicacies to be devoured by the waiting demons.
Even if they survived, their descendants would live in perpetual fear, repeating the same bloody tragedies.
Unless, like the Emperor of Daqian, they chose to submit to powerful demons like Qinglong.
But was that truly living?
Xu Xi didn’t think so.
…
[Your plans begin to shift.]
[Your primary objective is no longer to capture more states or overthrow Daqian’s rule.]
[You understand the futility of this. You will never succeed because the real enemy isn’t Daqian—it’s the demons in the Hundred Thousand Mountains.]
[This is a false world.]
[This is a world of lies.]
[In such a cruel reality, survival seems meaningless. Demons make living unbearable. Even if people surrender, the demons will still devour them.]
[You refuse to watch someone you care about die at a demon’s hands.]
[You resolve to change everything.]
[You decide to lead the Qihuo Army beyond the mountains, out of the prison of Daqian.]
[The girl is skeptical. She believes the Hundred Thousand Mountains are far too dangerous, teeming with endless demons, leaving almost no hope of escape.]
[She complains and calls you a fool again.]
[You smile and immerse yourself in studying how to lead the Qihuo Army beyond the mountains.]
…
[You send scouts to explore the Hundred Thousand Mountains, searching for patterns in the demons’ movements.]
[You deploy observers to monitor the Daqian Imperial Palace, tracking the emperor’s actions.]
[You slow the Qihuo Army’s offensive.]
[Your goal is no longer the Daqian Empire. Fighting on will only deplete your forces and supplies in vain.]
[If not for fear of drawing the demons’ attention, you would halt the offensive completely. For now, you play along, minimizing losses while gaining more intelligence.]
[Day and night, you practice boxing. Your punches grow slower and more deliberate, the winds from your fists becoming softer yet more profound.]
[You persist in perfecting your inner world. With each burst of Qi and blood, your internal heaven and earth evolve, becoming as flawless and boundless as reality itself.]
…
There were no shortcuts, no hidden pathways through the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
The mountains were not a single peak but a vast, overlapping range, forming an unyielding natural barrier.
To escape, they would need to traverse the endless peaks one step at a time.
Xu Xi knew his only option was to continue strengthening himself. He had to reach the realm of human immortality as soon as possible, to lead the Qihuo Army with unmatched strength and break through the overwhelming number of demons.
His schedule, already rigorous, became even more demanding.
He alternated between practicing boxing, managing the army’s affairs, and compiling information on the Hundred Thousand Mountains. Every moment was spent preparing for the breakthrough.
“It’s not enough. This alone is far from enough. I don’t have much time left.”
“The realm of immortality… sigh.”
Though Xu Xi never voiced his exhaustion, the weariness on his face was evident, even with the restorative effects of his third innate realm cultivation.
It wasn’t physical fatigue—it was mental strain.
He constantly worried that the demons in the mountains would lose control of their bloodthirst and attack the Qihuo Army.
Still, Xu Xi concealed his anxiety well. No one around him sensed anything amiss.
…
“Let’s stop here for tonight.”
Half a year later, under the silvery glow of the moonlight, Xu Xi placed his brush down.
He looked at the documents spread across his desk and sighed softly.
“The information on the Hundred Thousand Mountains is still too sparse. I hope we can identify useful patterns and choose the best time to break through.”
“As for strength…”
“The Qihuo Army needs more innate realm warriors.”
“Individual power has its limits. Even if I achieve human immortality, I won’t be able to protect everyone.”
“The only way to ensure survival is for people to protect themselves.”
A cool breeze swept through, bringing a chill to the tip of his nose.
Xu Xi shook his head and decided to rest. Lying down on the hard floor of the room where he handled government affairs, he fell asleep.
The moonlight spilled across the room, casting shadows that danced in the corners.
The quiet was broken only half an hour later when hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor.
Wu Yingxue entered the room, holding a thick velvet coat in her hands.
“Sir, it’s getting cold. Let me bring you some clothes.”
Time moved swiftly.
As seasons changed, the bitter chill of winter returned.
Wu Yingxue walked through the dim corridor with the coat, but upon entering, she saw Xu Xi asleep on the floor.
“Sir?”
Her voice was soft as she realized he was already resting.
Tiptoeing across the room, she gently draped the velvet coat over him.
Even though an innate warrior like Xu Xi didn’t need warmth, the girl thought he deserved it.
“Sir, you’ve worked so hard,” she whispered.
And in the silent room, under the faint candlelight, the girl ensured he was warm.