Creating a cultivation technique is difficult.
To create a technique that disregards innate talent and bone structure is even more challenging.
Xu Xi had no other martial arts to reference, no knowledgeable individuals to assist him. He could only rely on himself and the few techniques he brought from the real world.
Cultivation.
Martial practice.
More cultivation, more martial practice.
Xu Xi's life was monotonous and dull. In a courtyard occupied only by himself, he silently threw punches and stood in stances.
Only the scorching sun, the pale floor tiles, and the large tree in the courtyard bore witness to his daily routine and the countless drops of sweat he shed.
"Time is running out..."
After an unknown period, the figure that had been continuously throwing punches finally stopped, letting out a long sigh.
From the winter of last year to the summer of this year, the "Nourishing Origin Technique" had undergone several transformations, but none were what Xu Xi desired.
A technique that disregards innate talent and bone structure—can it truly be created by human hands?
Xu Xi knew the difficulty of deducing such a technique was immense, but he refused to give up. He couldn't bear to watch the familiar, vibrant faces around him fade away.
...
[Your heart warns you]
[A martial artist's intuition alerts you to an impending calamity]
[The next winter's demon tide will be even larger in scale, with demons of your level or even stronger appearing. These are beings that the people of Qingniu Town will struggle to resist]
[You reduce the time spent practicing punches, dedicating more time to deducing the technique]
[To your surprise, reducing your martial practice time hasn't slowed your strength growth. In fact, your blood flow seems to have accelerated slightly]
[This is because your entire being is devoted to your path]
[While deducing the "Nourishing Origin Technique," your martial conviction is firmer than ever]
[Smiling, you take another bite of the bitter and astringent vegetable bun, burying your head in the increasingly tattered pages of the "Nourishing Origin Technique," pondering where improvements can be made]
...
[Long hours of cultivation and martial practice have become a part of your daily life, but occasionally, you venture out]
[Sometimes, you head to the Ten Thousand Mountains to slay demons and temper yourself, distributing the excess flesh to the townsfolk]
[Other times, you stand atop a high place, overlooking the now quieter Qingniu Town, reminiscing about those who are no longer here]
[Outsiders arrive]
[They hurry about, searching for a fugitive as they did last year]
[This time, the officials search more thoroughly, not merely asking questions but entering every household to inspect]
[As expected, they find nothing]
[Ignoring the somewhat dilapidated Qingniu Town, ignoring the fact that half its population is gone, the officials quickly depart, fearing that staying too long will expose them to demon attacks]
[They ride away on their green-scaled horses, while you, a Xiantian martial artist, silently follow behind]
[You watch as they enter several more villages, finding nothing before cursing and returning to the border checkpoint]
[Faintly, you catch words like "disgusting" and "swine"]
[You gaze at the dark mass of troops stationed at the checkpoint]
[You gaze at the towering walls that guard against both demons and people]
[The burning fire in your heart and the flowing blood in your veins grow even hotter in silence]
...
When Xu Xi returns to Qingniu Town,
the sky darkens.
A light drizzle falls.
Raindrops strike the blackened walls, a mixture of human and demon blood that has, over time, formed stains that are difficult to remove.
No one thinks of cleaning them, for the future is too uncertain to see tomorrow.
Gradually, the rain grows heavier.
Xu Xi walks through the pouring rain, his protective aura shielding him from the water as he makes his way home.
"Perhaps the previous approach can be improved."
"The 'Nourishing Origin Technique' is of low quality, but that's precisely why it's suitable for improvement."
"Only by keeping the barrier low can we ensure everyone can learn it."
Xu Xi ponders as he walks.
He wants to complete the improvements to the "Nourishing Origin Technique" before winter arrives, despite the immense difficulty and the mental and physical toll it takes.
"Creak—"
Pushing open the heavy reddish-brown wooden door, Xu Xi enters his home.
He pauses for a moment.
In the spacious, clean courtyard, he sees the muddy ground being washed by the heavy rain. The mud and blood mix, gradually cleansed by the rain, revealing a figure that Xu Xi is not at all surprised to see.
"Sorry, sir..."
The girl, in a pitiful state, coughs up blood with a bitter smile. "I might not be able to pay you this time."
"It's fine. I'm a kind-hearted person."
Xu Xi shakes his head, stepping forward to help up Wu Yingxue, who can no longer move. "You can pay me back in installments later."
The girl is stunned, as if wanting to say something.
But her severe injuries cause her to faint immediately.
"Such heavy injuries—did you fight a Xiantian martial artist?" Xu Xi glances at the girl's wounds, using his protective aura to stop the bleeding before carrying her inside.
He treats her wounds, unblocks her blood flow, and bandages her up.
After finishing, Xu Xi waits for Wu Yingxue to wake up.
"In the past, I never heard of this child in the border regions. She must have truly returned to the Thirteen Prefectures of Great Qian."
"Is there a special passage that bypasses the border guards?"
"I can ask her later."
"If we truly can't hold out this winter, we can have everyone leave the border, so they don't die in Qingniu Town."
Xu Xi's eyes lower as he grips the girl's dragon-patterned spear.
He brings it closer.
Examining the wear on the spearhead.
And the various nicks and gaps along the shaft.
Besides being interested in how the girl entered and exited the border, Xu Xi is also curious about her experiences during her absence.
He wonders what she went through to once again attract the officials' search, and why this time it was more thorough and serious.
"Thankfully, the border is complex, or else this child wouldn't have had a chance to return."
Drip—
Drip—
Outside, the heavy rain continues to pour.
The pitter-patter of the rain sounds like a fast-paced performance, striking everything in its path.
Xu Xi practices the "Nourishing Origin Technique" while waiting for Wu Yingxue to wake up. The wait lasts until nightfall.
The rain stops, and the moon dims.
The heavily injured 17-year-old girl slowly regains consciousness.
"Thank you, Mr. Xu..." She lies on the bed, her eyes blankly staring at the ceiling, devoid of her usual alertness and liveliness, silent and still.
Xu Xi is familiar with this look; he has seen it in other girls before.
"Can you tell me what happened?"
Xu Xi asks.
...
[You have once again found the injured princess]
[This time, her injuries are more severe, her appearance more pitiful, and even her sturdy dragon-patterned spear shows multiple signs of wear]
[You suspect the girl faced enemies beyond the Xiantian level]
[You ask the awakened girl for the truth]
[After a long silence, tears stream silently down her cheeks. In a hoarse, dry voice, she tells you that both her parents are dead]