Beloved things grow flesh and blood from their struggles.
They fill the hollow chambers of the heart.
They stain the colorless bones.
The power of love may not be infinite, but for some, it is the only force that keeps them alive.
"The courtyard seems a bit warmer today."
Xu Xi gazed out of the window, where the autumn desolation seemed less pronounced.
Was it the joy of reunion that diluted the cold?
Or perhaps, more specifically, it was the presence of two supreme beings that even the withering autumn dared not approach.
"Mo Li, let me introduce you to someone."
After speaking with Xu Moli,
resolving their emotional knots and learning about the girl's recent circumstances,
Xu Xi led her out of the bedroom, hoping to introduce his sister to the witch, ensuring they wouldn't end up in a fierce battle like the one in his dreams.
However, when the two met,
the quiet atmosphere was like an invisible hurricane,
sweeping through every corner of the courtyard.
The warmth quickly faded, replaced by something colder than autumn—a chill that reached deep into the soul, making one shiver involuntarily.
Xu Moli and Krisha Christina stood quietly, their gazes crossing over Xu Xi's body.
Every glance, every movement, was strikingly indifferent.
"I am Xu Moli, Xu Xi's sister."
"I am Krisha Christina, the mentor's disciple."
Under Xu Xi's watchful eyes,
the "first meeting" between the two girls ended abruptly.
They seemed utterly indifferent to each other's existence, and after the brief introductions, the atmosphere fell into an awkward silence.
Both, as if by unspoken agreement, avoided mentioning the battle among the stars.
No, perhaps it wasn't just silence.
The witch made a move.
She brought over hot tea and pastries—the tea rich and flavorful, the pastries delicious—but she only prepared enough for Xu Xi.
Later, Xu Xi once asked the witch how she viewed Xu Moli.
The witch replied, "...She seems like a pitiful yet kind-hearted person."
A pitiful yet kind-hearted person?
Hearing Krisha's answer, Xu Xi hesitated, feeling the response was somewhat subtle.
However, at least it was clear that Krisha harbored no ill feelings toward Mo Li's arrival.
Thus,
Xu Xi found another opportunity to ask his now-grown sister about her thoughts on Krisha.
Her reply was even more subtle: "...A lucky one, but I don't dislike her."
A lucky one? Lucky in what way?
Xu Xi realized that his sister and his disciple might have crossed paths long ago, but thankfully, neither held any animosity toward the other.
Xu Xi's anxious heart finally settled: "It seems the scene of them fighting in my dreams won't come true."
"But how did Mo Li and Krisha come to know each other?"
"Could it be that they met in the myriad realms after achieving supreme status?"
Xu Xi speculated but didn't dwell on it.
The past no longer mattered.
What was more important now was to focus on the future.
Xu Xi prepared a bedroom for Mo Li to stay in. The new courtyard had plenty of empty rooms, enough to accommodate four or five more people.
However, unlike Krisha, who resided in the courtyard full-time,
Xu Moli's presence was intermittent.
She often focused on the grand task of Earth's ascension, striving tirelessly through the river of time to allow her true form to descend.
When she appeared,
she either stayed by Xu Xi's side or studied the dragon's blood grass in the courtyard.
During her younger years at the Heavenly Sword Sect, Xu Moli had also loved flowers and plants, but unforeseen events had forced her to abandon this hobby.
Now, under Xu Xi's influence, she had inexplicably picked it up again.
"What a beautiful and peaceful life."
In the courtyard,
Xu Xi sighed softly, taking a sip of the hot tea handed to him by the witch.
Such tranquil and serene days were exactly what he desired—well, if one ignored the anomaly in the collection cabinet.
"Swish—"
The Gray Rekindling Wand shifted to the first position.
"Swish—"
The sugar jar took the first position instead.
At some point, the collection cabinet had entered a Schrödinger-like state, where the first item would change every time Xu Xi opened or closed his eyes.
"Gulp, gulp," Xu Xi finished the hot tea in one go.
He paid no attention to the anomaly in the collection cabinet.
At first, he had tried to intervene, asking the witch and his sister to tone it down.
The witch was obedient, and his sister was understanding—they never wanted to trouble Xu Xi.
Thus,
when Xu Xi was in the bedroom, the collection cabinet would remain perfectly still, as it should be.
But when Xu Xi was elsewhere, like now in the living room, the silent rivalry would quietly resume.
"Children grow up, and they become harder to manage."
Xu Xi set down the teacup, the base lightly clinking against the table, emitting a faint tremor.
He summoned the simulator panel, visible only to him,
and began to ponder seriously.
What world should he choose for the third simulation?
"With my current cultivation speed, whether it's ascending to immortality on the path of cultivation or achieving godhood on the path of magic, it's only a matter of time."
"But when it comes to strength, one can never have too much."
"Since the simulator allows me to simultaneously master multiple supernatural systems, it would be a waste not to make full use of it."
Xu Xi pondered,
flipping through the introductions of different worlds.
He was now wealthy, with all the necessary anchor points and mediums prepared in his storage space. All he needed was to choose a world to simulate.
"Cultivation is the path of comprehending the Dao, allowing me to perceive the workings of heaven and earth."
"Magic meditation grants me spiritual clarity and stable control over the world's elements."
"These two paths have almost dissected the essence of the world. The system for the third simulation should ideally not overlap with these directions."
Thinking.
Searching.
Comparing.
After a round of screening, Xu Xi finally settled his gaze on "Xuanhuan" and "Martial Arts."
Among the many supernatural systems, Xuanhuan and Martial Arts were somewhat unique.
Both systems placed exceptional emphasis on the physical body.
A single punch could carve a path through life and death; surging blood energy could dominate the Nine Netherworlds.
All Dao.
All techniques.
Were concentrated in a single fist or kick.
This was precisely why Xu Xi was drawn to Xuanhuan and Martial Arts.
"My spiritual roots allow me to perceive the energy of heaven and earth; meditation grants me unobstructed spiritual access. On the path of a mage, I've already traveled a great distance."
“Essence, energy, and spirit are interconnected. Right now, my greatest shortcoming is the essence of my body.”
Xu Xi deliberated for a moment,
then locked onto the "Martial Arts" option among the two choices.
Though both systems focused on tempering the body,
there were differences between them.
Xuanhuan often blended the laws of heaven and earth with a powerful physique, while Martial Arts emphasized unlocking the hidden potential of the human body, making it suitable for Xu Xi to integrate essence, energy, and spirit, paving the way for a composite extraordinary system.
Then, let's begin the recharge.
Xu Xi gently brushed his storage ring,
pouring out a pile of Martial Arts-related supernatural items.
[Ding—]
[Martial Arts anchor point medium loading: +1%, +1%, +1%, +1%]