Chapter 136: Sir, They Are Really Bad at Cooking

[Simulation Year 9, Spring]

[You are 24 years old, Wu Yingxue is 18 years old]

[The winter snow melts, and spring revives. The snow covering the earth’s surface disappears a little each day, gradually revealing the soil beneath]

[You know well that the Army of Survival desperately needs food. Only a large amount of food can ensure people’s survival]

[You and the girl split into two groups]

[One heads to the border, leading the Army of Survival to slay demons and harvest as much flesh as possible]

[The other stays in Pingshui County, responsible for spring plowing]

[The girl chooses to take up her long spear and head to the border to hunt demons. For her, this is what she excels at]

[“Great Master Xu and his demon-slaying general.”]

[This is how people describe your relationship with the girl]

…

[About twenty days later, Wu Yingxue returns with the army, bringing back a lot of demon meat, but many are injured]

[The border is still in the aftermath of the Demon Tide]

[Far more dangerous than usual]

[Fortunately, with the numerical advantage of the army and Wu Yingxue’s innate strength, no major incidents occurred]

Bright spring light pours from the sky, shining on the barren yet bustling land.

The soil is turned over.

Grass and leaves mix with dew.

Exuding a subtle, earthy scent unique to nature.

The returning girl, in a carefree manner, squats beside Xu Xi, watching the lively scene of spring plowing together.

Pingshui County doesn’t have many plow oxen, but there are many who have practiced the Fool’s Technique.

“The power of an ox!!”

In the newly plowed field.

A Niu shouts to the sky, transforming into a human plow, rumbling past, loosening the soil with pure brute force.

“Bravo!”

“Great job!”

The onlookers exclaim in admiration.

They say A Niu is even stronger than a real ox, a true master of farm work.

“Sir, why is everyone so happy?”

The girl squatting beside Xu Xi asks curiously. She doesn’t understand why plowing the fields can be so lively.

Xu Xi chuckles.

Explaining to the girl.

“Yingxue, many commoners never leave their hometowns in their lifetime.”

“All they know is the sky above and the yellow earth beneath their feet.”

“But the land at the border…”

“Is unusable, soaked with demon blood, yielding little grain…”

Xu Xi’s voice is soft.

So soft it seems to dissipate in the wind, yet it reveals heavy sorrow and joy.

The “sinful people” living on the border of the Great Qian Dynasty not only face demon attacks but also have their land eroded, almost unusable.

That’s why.

People are so excited.

Grabbing the soil with their hands, what slips through their fingers are normal grains of earth, not the foul, demon-blood-soaked black cursed soil.

And there are no high and mighty “lords” whipping them.

The “sinful people,” not treated as humans, can finally take a hard breath in this muddy, evil world.

“A Niu, save some strength, don’t forget you have to practice boxing this afternoon!”

“I know, Brother Xu!”

In the field.

Hearing Xu Xi’s words, the honest man stops plowing, wiping his sweat with a silly smile.

Yellow-brown soil grains scatter into the air with his movements.

Briefly dyeing the sky above with another color.

The same color as the earth.

People who couldn’t survive, standing on solid, thick land, even if covered in sweat and dust, will smile genuinely under the sun.

…

[Simulation Year 9, Summer]

[Spring plowing ends, Pingshui County becomes slightly quieter, but the quiet is brief]

[War rages on]

[You still haven’t waited for the Great Qian army, but you’ve been surrounded by nearby counties]

[You are slightly surprised. You thought you would be the one to attack first, but it turns out the nearby Great Qian counties struck first]

“It seems I underestimated the officials of the Great Qian.”

“Perhaps they are not so incompetent.”

On the battlefield.

Xu Xi looks at the distant black army, commenting with a grave expression.

As the distance closes, with his innate realm’s extraordinary hearing, he hears the voices of the enemy army.

“Kill! Just a bunch of refugees, not worth pity!”

“Haha, this year is really lucky, military merits falling from the sky, just like that!”

“Such audacity, not staying outside the checkpoint, daring to break through!”

“Kill! Kill! Kill! Let them come and never return!”

Disdainful tones.

Arrogant attitudes.

Overconfident expressions.

Xu Xi sighs, deciding to retract his earlier assessment.

These attacking county soldiers and their officials have no idea of the Army of Survival’s combat strength, just here to snatch “military merits.”

Before the real fight even begins.

Several counties are already at each other’s throats, fearing the other’s merits, completely underestimating the Army of Survival.

Thus, the outcome of the war is self-evident.

…

[You achieve a great victory]

[Thanks to the stupidity of the surrounding counties, you effortlessly sweep through multiple counties, like autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves]

[The so-called noble families, the so-called high officials, upon hearing of your arrival, all flee in panic]

[“Sir, they are so weak.”]

[Wu Yingxue complains to you]

[In Wu Yingxue’s imagination, this year should have been a hard-fought battle, she even prepared for sacrifice, but the stupidity of the Great Qian officials almost handed victory to you]

[You are literally unable to lose]

[You laugh and comfort the girl, saying such an easy victory is what you wanted]

[Unfortunately, such foolproof victories only happen in the early stages. As your territory grows, you will face real challenges]

[The Thirteen Provinces of the Great Qian, each with elite troops]

[Soon, whether this autumn and winter, or next spring and summer]

[You will face the provincial capital of Xuanqi Province, a powerful enemy force, determining whether the Army of Survival can continue to exist]

[You feel immense pressure]

[The good news is, your realm is starting to loosen]

[Day after day, you persist in observing the world with the Martial Heavenly Eye, gradually understanding the workings of heaven and earth, and mimicking it with your energy]

[Now, the energy circulation in your body has completely detached from the original techniques, becoming the mysterious veins of heaven and earth]

[You rely on no external forces]

[The only thing you have is the effort and perseverance witnessed by the sun and moon]

“Observing the principles of heaven and earth to build the foundation.”

“Nurturing the martial soul to form the branches.”

“Seeing the true self to bloom the leaves.”

“Now, it’s time for me to advance to the next realm.”

Pingshui County.

Xu Xi, leading the Army of Survival, after conquering several counties, returns to this original county.

He waits for the autumn harvest while attempting to break through to the Soul Nurturing Realm.