Chapter 142: The Power of Perseverance, Terrifying as It Is

The passage of time always brings many changes.

Several years have passed.

The once pitiful and miserable “criminal” group, who seemed like they could die on the roadside at any moment, has now truly taken the form of an army—armed, armored, and moving with discipline.

Martial artists who have transitioned from Postnatal to Innate are no longer so rare.

Since A Niu’s breakthrough, others have gradually become what everyone calls “Little Battle Masters,” or Innate Martial Grandmasters.

The elderly, weak, women, and children have been settled in the rear by Xu Xi’s faction.

They farm, weave, and learn to read and write.

Over the years and across several provinces, the Army of Survival has grown in talent, no longer struggling like in the old days of Pingshui County, where only Xu Xi and Wu Yingxue barely managed.

Now, the Army of Survival has a more detailed division of labor.

Like Little Teaching Masters, Little Pig-Raising Masters, Little Blacksmith Masters.

Everyone has their role.

But at the doorstep of every home, hoes and pitchforks are habitually placed.

Xu Xi has reassured them many times, saying the Army of Survival is now strong enough and no longer needs everyone to fight for survival like before.

The people express gratitude, but no one listens.

They stubbornly keep their handy tools.

Waiting.

Preparing.

If Xu Xi ever faces danger, they will charge once more for Great Master Xu, for the man who painstakingly carved out a path to survival.

“Brother Xi is just too honest, easy to be bullied!”

They criticize Xu Xi with a mix of frustration and affection.

…

Aside from that, Wu Yingxue’s progress in strength has also brought Xu Xi great comfort.

“That child Yingxue…”

“Since she changed her cultivation technique, her progress has been faster every day. The quality and quantity of her Qi and Blood far surpass those of her peers, no worse than I was back then. She can even spar with those at the Third Stage of the Innate Realm.”

“This special compatibility is truly a pleasant surprise.”

“If only her temperament could be a bit more steady.”

In the newly conquered Diyan Province.

Inside the provincial capital.

Xu Xi practices his punches in a quiet courtyard.

Compared to the days in Qingniu Town, Xu Xi’s punching stance hasn’t changed much—still simple, still unpretentious.

Fingers clenched into a fist.

Exhaling as he punches forward.

No earth-shattering explosions, no flashy light effects.

Just a slight breeze stirred by the punch.

However.

Wu Yingxue knows, A Niu knows, and most of the Army of Survival knows just how incredible the power behind that seemingly ordinary punch is.

They’ve witnessed Xu Xi split mountains and cut rivers with the same ordinary punch.

Great Master Xu, terrifying as ever!

“This is the power of perseverance.”

In the quiet courtyard, leaves are swept away by the wind.

Xu Xi stands still, slowly retracting his punching stance. A leaf brushes past the back of his hand and lands on the stone-paved ground.

Each stage of the Three Innate Stages is extremely difficult.

Unlike the Five Stages of Body Tempering, which only require honing Qi and Blood, the Three Innate Stages focus on perfecting the Qi and Blood Cosmos.

This is an incredibly time-consuming task.

And also a difficult one to progress in.

Martial artists are strong, far surpassing ordinary people, but they are still within the realm of humanity.

To observe and mimic the world from a human perspective, even to shape one’s own Qi and Blood Cosmos, is daunting just to think about.

Because of this, every Innate Martial Artist’s cultivation is painfully slow.

Only Xu Xi is different.

The existence of the “Perseverance” trait allows Xu Xi to make daily progress, accumulating bit by bit, day by day. He watches as his Qi and Blood Cosmos naturally moves toward perfection.

Thus, seeing the divine within oneself, bestowing the divine upon the cosmos.

Seeing the Divine, unbreakable, achieving the status of Supreme Grandmaster.

Xu Xi closes his eyes, sensing the perfect and pure Qi and Blood Cosmos within him. As his mind flows, the Cosmic Power naturally empowers him:

“The Third Stage of the Innate Realm, the Seeing the Divine Stage.”

“The name of this stage has two meanings.”

“One is to understand one’s true self, to know the meaning of the Martial Path one walks. The other is to see the divine within the Qi and Blood Cosmos, making the cosmos perfect and achieving an unbreakable, leak-proof state.”

“Martial artists at the Seeing the Divine Stage carry their own Cosmic Power in every punch and kick, beyond the comprehension of ordinary logic.”

“Building upon this, elevating the Qi and Blood Cosmos to create a true inner world is what makes a Martial Dao Immortal.”

“Both are immortals, but while the immortal of cultivation is a transcendent being with divine abilities, the immortal of the Martial Path…”

“Is more like the literal meaning of 【Human】 and 【Mountain】.”

Xu Xi pauses slightly.

A scene flashes in his mind.

A Martial Dao Immortal, with both hands, smashes one or several mountains, using them as giant projectiles, casually throwing them with the effect of supersonic missiles.

Good, strong, very immortal.

“The Qi and Blood Martial Arts System indeed has immense potential. Even as strong as a Martial Dao Immortal, it’s only the beginning of the Martial Path.”

“But such things don’t need my consideration for now.”

“The urgent matter.”

“Is still the Great Qian Dynasty…”

Tap.

Tap.

After finishing his practice, Xu Xi walks through a corridor of light and shadow, heading toward the inner rooms.

The fabric of his cloth shoes is light, making no sound as they touch the ground.

But the dust stirred by his steps.

Still scares some small creatures.

Ladybugs fly around in confusion, circling Xu Xi before crashing into the plants on either side of the corridor.

“Heave-ho!”

“Heave-ho!”

“Food! Food!”

Outside, the voices of the Army of Survival’s simpletons can be heard, laughing foolishly, as foolish as A Niu, filled with an unusual enthusiasm for food.

Xu Xi stops, listening briefly to the sounds outside.

Only when the sounds fade does he continue walking.

“Qingniu Town, Xuanqi Province, Jiangdao Province…”

“After so many years of struggle, can we still not survive?”

The overly bright sunlight hits the roof tiles.

Creating a kaleidoscope of colorful halos.

Xu Xi walks in the light, casting a long shadow, moving toward the light, pushing open the wooden door of a temporary room.

Xu Xi wants people to live.

He genuinely thinks so.

But the twists of reality constantly remind Xu Xi that this might very well be a failing endeavor.

“Great Qian, the Emperor, the Martial Dao Immortal…”

“Everything is just too abnormal.”

Xu Xi stops. He knows that while the Army of Survival seems to be in a good position, having conquered four provinces, as if they could replace the Great Qian Dynasty at any moment.

But reason tells Xu Xi that the Great Qian Emperor’s inaction is far too abnormal.

A normal emperor.

Whether a tyrant or a wise ruler.

Would never allow others to encroach on their territory.

Even the most inhumane ruler, who sees the people as expendable, wouldn’t sit idly by as rebellion approaches.

Unless—

The Emperor doesn’t care about the people, doesn’t care about the Thirteen Provinces of Great Qian.

He never views the current situation from the perspective of an “Emperor” or a “Human.”

“Master, I’ve brought what you asked for!”