Chapter 8: When You Wake Up, Everything Will Get Better

What counts as heavenly treasures and earthly wonders?

Things like the Great Sun True Fire and the Supreme Yin Emperor’s Nectar from mythological stories definitely count.

But such divine items are too transcendent.

Nowhere to be found.

And now, Xu Xi, who has just advanced to the Golden Core stage, looks at the dense vitality released by his divine ability and can’t help but wonder:

Does the product of a Heavenly Spiritual Root’s divine ability count as a heavenly treasure?

The answer is—

Yes.

Items that can heal Golden Core cultivators and Nascent Soul cultivators, how can they not be considered heavenly treasures?

Moreover, this divine ability has no limits.

In theory, the purer the cultivation power Xu Xi invests, the more Golden Core essence he activates, the more vitality Wood Rebirth releases.

Creating even more precious divine items.

“This is truly amazing…”

“How should I put it? Is this the benefit of a gold-grade trait? In the past, I would have been so happy I’d think I was the chosen one.”

Under the gradually dissipating thunder tribulation.

Xu Xi, who has achieved the Golden Core stage, receives blessings from all directions of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

“Congratulations, congratulations!”

“Junior Xu, so young and accomplished!”

“Congratulations, Senior Brother, for condensing the Golden Core and becoming a true person!”

More and more blessings come, from Nascent Soul seniors, Golden Core peers, and Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining juniors.

There are applause, cheers, and spirit beasts spitting fire like fireworks.

Bustling and noisy, the entire sect is in an uproar.

As if some grand feat has been accomplished, after Xu Xi breaks through to the Golden Core, the world before him inexplicably erupts in celebration, so lively, yet it feels like there’s a thick barrier between him and the world.

“You’re too kind.”

Xu Xi responds politely.

Facing the bustling crowd, he feels little joy, even a sense of loneliness and boredom.

If you must ask why.

It’s probably the lack of a girl’s laughter, like the morning sun, a beautiful dream, or the flawless sky.

And the endless calls of “Elder Brother.”

…

[Year 17 of Transmigration, you are 23, Xu Moli is 17]

[Despite the help of the Spirit-Sealing Formation, your sister’s vitality is sustained, but the Heaven’s Calamity has hurt her too severely, causing her to often fall unconscious, sometimes not waking for over ten days]

[Your cultivation has broken through, you’ve become a Golden Core cultivator, you’ve awakened the divine ability Wood Rebirth]

[You decide to base your divine ability on creating an External Spiritual Root for mortals, you have no way back, like a desperate gambler clinging to the last shred of hope, unwilling to let go]

[You succeed, your research on the divine ability goes smoothly]

[In a sudden inspiration, you keenly sense the commonality of the Four Arts of Cultivation, and based on this, you fuse your divine ability to explore the method of shaping an External Spiritual Root]

[But this joy doesn’t last long]

[Success comes with a price, you suddenly realize that the vitality needed to shape an External Spiritual Root is astronomical, even using all your cultivation power and Golden Core essence isn’t enough to truly shape it]

[Unless—]

[You are willing to truly burn your cultivation, burn your Heavenly Spiritual Root]

The Spiritual Root is a gift from heaven.

Whether one has a Spiritual Root is predestined.

In other words, giving a mortal without a Spiritual Root the ability to cultivate is an outright act of defying heaven.

The price naturally won’t be small.

If one had a divine item, the price of defying heaven would be borne by the item itself, but Xu Xi has no such thing, so he must bear it himself.

“Although I knew the price would be high, I didn’t expect it to be this high, requiring me to burn all my cultivation and Heavenly Spiritual Root.”

“If I really do this…”

“I’m afraid I won’t just revert to a mortal, but my lifespan will also be greatly reduced.”

“In that case, this simulation would basically be over.”

Heavenly Sword Sect, Forest Sword Peak, wooden hut abode.

Having just finished researching his divine ability, Xu Xi squats by a bed, looking at the sickly pale face of the girl, recalling the winters in Blackstone City when Mo Li, only 3 or 4 years old, would shiver with him.

Life was tough back then, but even so, little Mo Li would rub her hands warm and help Xu Xi warm his cheeks.

Thinking of this, Xu Xi can’t ignore the girl’s life and safety.

Yes.

This is just a simulation.

Xu Xi could completely abandon the girl, this sister with no blood relation, and choose the most utilitarian approach, continuing to adventure in this cultivation world, earning more simulation evaluation rewards.

But, but, but.

Xu Xi is tired, tired of the real him who is timid and can’t accomplish anything.

If even in the simulator he can’t be free, if he can’t save those close to him, then what meaning does such a life have?

A person’s life.

Actually doesn’t need to consider too much.

Just do what you think is right.

Yes, that’s all.

“Buzz—”

Xu Xi reaches out, gently brushing the girl’s face, faint green light flickering and intertwining, flowing into the girl’s body in a specific pattern.

It’s the full cultivation power of a Golden Core cultivator.

It’s the Golden Core essence of a Golden Core cultivator.

It’s the burning of a life-bound divine ability.

It’s the self-immolation of a Heavenly Spiritual Root.

Everything that can be driven is transformed by Xu Xi into pure vitality, forming the shape of a seed within the formation patterns, perfectly merging into the girl’s chest.

“Elder Brother…?”

Half-asleep, the girl’s eyes briefly open, but soon she falls back into unconsciousness.

“Keep sleeping, Mo Li.”

Xu Xi whispers: “When you wake up, everything will be better, Elder Brother promises.”

Pain.

Indescribable pain instantly spreads throughout his body.

Xu Xi can clearly feel that as his cultivation and Spiritual Root burn, his body is gradually approaching its end, the blood surging in his throat hard to control.

But the expression on his face grows brighter.

With blood.

With tears.

With a smile.

Just like that, he looks at the girl on the bed, feeling the life that has started beating again.

This is really great… this method works…

Xu Xi trembles as he reaches out, wiping the corner of the girl’s eye that, despite being asleep, has somehow become wet.

–

[You succeeded]

[You successfully shaped an External Spiritual Root, exchanging everything of yourself to save your sister Xu Moli’s life]

[Having lost your Spiritual Root and cultivation, you are now extremely weak, even an ordinary mortal could easily defeat you, and your lifespan is now only three short years]

[You have no regrets, you are willing]

[But you know, you still need to do something more, otherwise when the girl wakes up, she definitely won’t accept this fact]

[And you also need someone to explain to the sect on your behalf]

[You leave the abode, take out the flying boat that can be controlled by mortals, unused for a long time, and fly directly to the peak of Forest Sword Peak, meeting Nascent Soul Master Li Wanshou]

[This is the first time you’ve seen your teacher in a furious rage]

[He is very angry, you are scolded mercilessly]