Earth is ascending.
Earth is expanding.
More and more Boundary Ruins are appearing, collapsing and merging into the Earth's interior, causing the Earth's surface area to grow rapidly.
All of this is because of the three girls around Xu Xi.
Cultivation, magic, and martial arts.
Each of them has struck down different great worlds, causing them to merge into Earth, all in order to descend in their true forms.
Naturally, as these Boundary Ruins merge into Earth, they bring with them numerous extraordinary legacies, all related to cultivation, magic, and martial arts.
Previously balanced numbers of extraordinary individuals.
Suddenly shifted, with cultivation, magic, and martial arts taking the lead.
This is because these three systems not only have mature and complete advancement materials but also various cultivation resources produced by the Boundary Ruins.
And so.
A new hot topic emerged.
Among these three most popular and widely spread extraordinary systems, which one is truly the dominant force?
The more experienced extraordinary individuals just smiled.
Believing that strength doesn't lie in the system of cultivation but in the person using it.
But the younger extraordinary individuals argued fiercely over this.
"Understand the prestige of being a One-Punch Man, I can punch through all you fragile wimps!"
Outside the courtyard.
The sun was scorching, and the human voices were boisterous.
A young martial artist practicing blood and qi martial arts shouted to his companions, cultivators and mages: "Muscle is the ultimate power!!"
The young martial artist was full of pride, but his companions obviously didn't agree with his view.
"You mere martial brute, how can you comprehend the profound mysteries of flying on a sword?"
"Like you, I can kite you to death from a distance, damn soldier!"
Arguments.
Bickering.
The quiet summer, with long, lazy hours, seemed so heavy that even breathing became difficult.
But hearing the voices of those low-level extraordinary individuals, Xu Xi felt the air become more lively, filled with the scent of "youth."
"Being young is great, unlike me, who has everything."
Xu Xi clicked his tongue lightly.
The discussion outside gradually faded away, as the breeze carried everything away, leaving only silence behind.
Xu Xi stretched out his palm, extending it beyond the recliner, catching the blazing sunlight with his palm, feeling the scorching heat.
"So quiet..."
Contrasting with that heat.
Was the silent environment around him.
In the scorching heat, everything was silent, completely still.
Even the usually noisy birds had taken refuge, avoiding the harsh sun.
"Mentor."
No, there was still sound.
The "mirror" of tranquility shattered.
Krisha walked slowly forward, each step resonating with the ground, completely shattering the summer's silence.
"Mentor, would you like something to eat?"
Krisha stopped in front of Xu Xi.
Holding a plate of freshly baked cookies in both hands.
The cookies were crispy, emitting steam, with a slightly golden surface, exuding the unique aroma of baked goods.
"Krisha, did you make these yourself?" Xu Xi was a bit surprised.
"…Yes," Krisha nodded lightly.
Her silvery-gray hair fell past her neck, like overlapping silver light, rippling like water.
"I thought you might like them, so I made some."
Krisha replied.
Calm and sincere.
"Mentor, would you like to try one?" she asked again.
Under Krisha's movements, a cookie was gently picked up and, with subtle gestures, presented to Xu Xi.
"Thank you, Krisha."
Xu Xi didn't refuse, sitting up from the recliner.
He took the cookie from the witch and began to chew slowly.
Just as it looked, it was crispy on the outside, soft and fragrant on the inside, and not at all dry.
"They're very good, Krisha, your skills have improved again."
Xu Xi didn't hesitate to praise her.
"Thank you, that's what I should do."
Krisha stood beside Xu Xi, very quiet, her pale white dress making her appear even more ethereal.
She still held the plate of cookies.
Only after Xu Xi spoke and asked her to sit down did she bend her knees and sit.
"Krisha, you should eat some too."
"…Alright."
Krisha nodded, following Xu Xi's words, slowly placing one of the cookies she had made into her mouth and chewing gently.
She had no expression.
Only her mouth moved.
Making Xu Xi think of a hamster eating.
"You seem to be thinking of something bad..." Krisha suddenly looked up, her hollow eyes momentarily sharp.
"No, I just think that Krisha is very cute like this," Xu Xi smiled, his warm hand patting the top of Krisha's head, gently stroking her silver hair.
"Is that so..."
Krisha didn't understand, tilting her head slightly as she continued to enjoy her cookies.
Mmm.
The mentor is right.
Her cookies really are delicious.
Watching such an endearing witch, and looking up at the vast blue sky above, Xu Xi chuckled softly, thinking of many past events.
Once, in the magic world of Allenson City, he had picked up Krisha, who was wandering the streets.
Back then, Krisha knew nothing.
Her cooking was terrible.
Xu Xi had seen the then powerless and helpless witch as a pitiful little girl in need of care.
But astonishingly, time seemed to pass in an instant, transforming the once weak and helpless little girl into a supreme deity with immense power.
Thinking of this.
Xu Xi felt a sense of unreality, as if dreaming.
"Mentor?" Krisha noticed Xu Xi's distracted expression, her face was blank, "What are you thinking about...?"
"It's nothing, don't worry about me."
The sun was harsh, the light sharp and painful, the sun scorching the air, distorting it.
It was the ultimate summer heat.
In the shady corner of the courtyard, Xu Xi continued to pat Krisha's head: "I was just thinking about something from long ago, in Allenson City."
It was a distant past.
Shared memories with Krisha.
Krisha wasn't quite sure why Xu Xi suddenly thought of these things, but she could see that Xu Xi's mood was good.
"What were you thinking about?"
"Well...many things, like the time you messed up with water magic and destroyed the courtyard's flowers and plants."
"Or when you first cooked and accidentally blew up the kitchen."
"And in Apogu City, when you wanted me to eat those poisonous seafood."
Xu Xi listed Krisha's "embarrassing" moments softly.
His expression gentle.
"Did you hate me then?" Krisha asked innocently.
"No, I just think that Krisha was also very cute back then, and now that I can't see that anymore, it feels a bit nostalgic," Xu Xi replied.
Was she cute?
Krisha didn't think so.
But if the mentor liked it...