The size of a human hand is limited; there are too many things it cannot hold.
Xu Xi never believed he could change the world, nor did he think everything would go according to his wishes. He was just a man, not an omnipotent god.
But.
A person should always strive to do something.
When faced with something unpleasant, one should seek to change it. If one keeps their head down and ignores it, the gloom in their heart will only grow heavier.
At least this time, Xu Xi wanted to try solving things the way a reckless warrior would.
Within the limits of his ability.
Throw punches, wield a blade, and eradicate all evil.
...
[The fire within burns the self]
[The winter's cold wind pierces to the bone, stabbing the soul like needles, but you only feel a scorching heat. An invisible flame consumes your calm and ignites your killing intent.]
[You think, perhaps you've trained in martial arts for too long, to the point where your behavior and thought patterns have gradually shifted toward that of a straightforward martial artist.]
[You don't dislike this change.]
[Some things cannot be accomplished with too much clarity of mind. Only a heart filled with rage can provide the momentum to move forward.]
[The second wave of the demon tide arrives quickly in winter.]
[Qingniu Town enters a state of defense. The elderly, weak, women, and children hide in their homes, while the able-bodied men take up bows and arrows. Led by you, the martial artists rush out of the town to confront the invading demons head-on.]
[With longbows, hammers, or swords]
[The martial artists unleash the vital energy within their bodies, erupting with martial techniques that light up the sky, barely holding back the onslaught of demons. Among them, your performance is the most astonishing.]
[Your Nine Thunder Blade is like a bolt of lightning in a clear sky, vital energy attached to the blade, slashing out a massive and dazzling arc of light.]
[With a single slash, six demons are instantly cut down.]
[Your strength deeply shocks the other martial artists, and even you are briefly stunned. You realize your strength has improved.]
[Having only broken through the Blood Exchange Realm this year, you now show signs of reversing from the Postnatal to the Innate Realm.]
[You are deeply surprised, but the intensity of the battlefield leaves no room for distraction. You once again engage in fierce combat with the demons.]
Kill.
Kill again.
An endless cycle of killing.
The dance of blade light and the shock of fist strikes intertwine, creating a forbidden zone where all demons are annihilated.
Xu Xi's figure darts swiftly through the icy snow.
Using the Nine Thunder Blade to gather vital energy, he forms a blood-colored blade light, forcefully killing the green-winged eagles that constantly harass from the air.
Then, he quickly turns, steps, and throws a punch.
"Boom—!!"
Xu Xi draws power from the earth, shaking the snow layer into a scattered mist. Fist against fist, force against force, he engages in a fierce and violent exchange with a demon ape.
An astonishing scene unfolds.
The ape's fist, several times larger than Xu Xi's, is blown into a mist of blood. A fierce wind rises, scattering sand and stones. This exaggerated scene proves that Xu Xi's strength far surpasses his opponent's.
"So, it's not an illusion..."
"As the battle deepens, the bottleneck between the Postnatal and Innate Realms is gradually breaking down."
"What exactly is happening?"
Xu Xi's eyes flicker with realization. He sees clearly that his earlier punch already carried the nascent form of an Innate martial artist's energy.
This is why he could crush his enemy.
"Continue!"
Xu Xi seizes the opportunity decisively.
He locks his gaze on the remaining demons and, fueled by the burning heat within him, slashes with thunderous roars. The continuous, dazzling blade light resembles a sea of silver.
The more he kills, the stronger his spirit grows.
The more he kills, the fiercer his blood boils.
The high-intensity combat, coupled with his surging will, drives his vital energy to circulate rapidly within his body, flowing back and forth between his organs.
Finally.
As the battle ends, the circulation of vital energy within Xu Xi's body reaches perfect completion.
Without wasting time, Xu Xi finds a quiet room nearby, sits cross-legged, and begins cultivating. He circulates his energy through the grand meridians.
"The Five Realms of Body Tempering focus on refining a martial artist's physical body."
"The physical body is the foundation of vital energy. Only a strong body can contain the surging flow of energy."
"But—"
Xu Xi murmurs, "The reversal from Postnatal to Innate requires more than just vital energy."
"To step into the Innate Realm, besides the basics of vital energy and physical strength, a martial artist's temperament and willpower are also required. When did I..."
Xu Xi pauses, recalling the scene where he killed demons with unbridled rage.
"So that's it..."
"The elixir I received from Wu Yingxue replenished my vital energy quickly, skipping the normal accumulation phase."
"And the demon tide in Qingniu Town forced me to face my true self, killing demons without hesitation."
"Finally, and most crucially."
Xu Xi gazes at the simulation panel that belongs only to him, his voice soft, "I never stopped training in the martial path. The feedback from the 'Perseverance' trait helped me complete the final piece of the puzzle."
All his doubts are resolved.
Xu Xi's heart surges with excitement as he circulates his energy, condensing it into a thick, viscous liquid.
Sizzle~~
Sizzle~~
Strange sounds emerge from within his body.
It's as if his blood is boiling, his bones are trembling, his skin is pulsating, and his organs are leaping.
His entire body, mind, and will.
Are all renewed under the wash of vital energy.
Purging impurities, returning to a state of purity, reversing from the tainted Postnatal state to the flawless Innate Realm.
An Innate martial artist.
At this moment, he breaks through!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
His heart beats like a massive drum, shaking the walls and causing dust to fall onto Xu Xi's body.
With another pulse, the dust is blown away again.
Like a highly efficient and precise machine.
Xu Xi's body has entered a new realm, continuously radiating a red aura of vital energy. Even the world before his eyes has changed.
"Observing principles, observing the principles of heaven and earth."
"This is the first realm of the Three Realms of Innate."
"After tempering the physical body, martial artists gain extraordinary power, truly standing shoulder-to-shoulder with other supernatural systems."
"Observing the principles of heaven reveals one's true nature; observing the principles of earth reveals one's true heart."
"Observing heaven and earth leads to observing oneself, imitating heaven and earth to become heaven and earth."
Inside the room, Xu Xi finishes his cultivation and stands up. The intense drumming of his heartbeat gradually subsides, and all the supernatural phenomena return to his body.
He raises his hand lightly.
His already superhuman body is now enveloped in energy, easily stirring up a strong wind.
Dispersing, gathering, repeating this process until, after half an hour, Xu Xi finally gains some control over the flow of energy.
"Compared to cultivation and magic, martial arts are indeed unique."
"Transforming oneself into heaven and earth, one's will into the heavenly dao..."
"No wonder martial arts are so powerful in the later stages. Every punch and kick is like an entire heaven and earth striking down. How could it not be powerful?"