CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 56: TURNING THE FAKE INTO REALITY!

"You’re setting off?"

On the way back from returning the secret manual of True Cultivation Power, Yuan Baiyi told Qi Xiu about the West Wind Army’s impending departure.

"Yes, the Golden Flower Maternal Sect intends to make a comeback. Currently, all armies are marching toward Qingliu County, intending to concentrate their strength and deal the Golden Flower Maternal Sect another crushing defeat. The Huangtan Prefecture Governor has sent over ten letters, and I can’t really keep delaying."

"I see."

With a thoughtful nod, Qi Xiu smiled and clasped his fists at Yuan Baiyi, "Then I wish Lv Shuai a victorious campaign and a crushing blow to the rebels."

"Brother Qi, you’re too kind. In fact, if you’re willing, I can secure a position for you as an internal Chapter registrar in the West Wind Army. With our excellent teamwork, achieving great things wouldn’t be difficult. Plus, having military merits would be greatly beneficial for your future cultivation."

Turning to face Qi Xiu, Yuan Baiyi sincerely extended an olive branch. He truly coveted talent like Qi Xiu, who was proficient in several types of talismanic techniques, possessed exquisite methods, and hailed from a major sect like the Divine Light Treasure Sect.

Not to mention anything else. That technique alone, of creating medicine from talismans, could significantly reduce the West Wind Army’s casualty rate.

Veteran soldiers are most precious. If there were a talisman master like Qi Xiu with the army, given time, his entire West Wind Army would be composed of veterans.

Faced with Yuan Baiyi’s sudden recruitment, Qi Xiu chuckled and gestured a polite refusal.

"Thank you for the generous offer, Lv Shuai, but I’m used to a life of laziness and freedom. The strict military discipline is too much for me to handle. If you ever need my help in the future, just say the word."

Stretching out his hand from his sleeve and rubbing two fingers together, Qi Xiu once again showed that sincere and simple smile, "I’ll give you a discount."

"You rascal..." Yuan Baiyi laughed speechlessly, "You’re truly a money-grubber. You don’t seem like a disciple of the Divine Light Treasure Sect. You’re more like the innkeeper of the God of Wealth Inn. Well, if you’re unwilling, I won’t force you. If there’s a chance in the future, you can come look for me at the Jixi Army Garrison. I will definitely welcome you with open arms."

With a light wave of his hand, Yuan Baiyi was about to leave, when Qi Xiu suddenly spoke, "Wait a minute."

"What, changed your mind?" Yuan Baiyi turned around with some anticipation.

"No." With an innocent smile, Qi Xiu spread out his right hand, "When we were saving Nie Xun before, didn’t you say there would be a substantial reward when you returned? You’re about to leave now, so this... HEH HEH... you know what I mean."

Yuan Baiyi was speechless.

Standing atop the city wall’s battlements, Qi Xiu waved farewell to Yuan Baiyi and the West Wind Army, and to Nie Xun, who kept looking back with every step, reluctant to leave.

The way this guy looks at me is getting weirder and weirder. Had I known, I wouldn’t have saved him.

Rolling his eyes to ignore Nie Xun’s gaze, Qi Xiu leaped down from the battlements. He then took out a plain and simple scroll from his bosom, adorned with Jade Pendants at both ends.

With this, traveling will certainly be much more convenient from now on.

Pleased with the scroll, Qi Xiu hummed a tune and turned to go home.

With the Demons vanquished, an era of peace began. Without the many lurking dangers in the shadows, Qi Xiu finally achieved the peaceful life he had always dreamed of.

As spring arrived, the weather gradually warmed, all things revived, and the grass grew lush as flowers bloomed.

He completed his daily martial arts practice as usual. Bare-chested, Qi Xiu revealed well-defined muscles. His physique was exactly what he had dreamed of in his previous life: appearing slim when clothed, yet muscular when undressed.

Dedicated practice alone indeed leads to slower proficiency gains, but its advantage lies in safety and stability. Once Crimson Sand Palm reaches another 30% proficiency, it can enter the Third Realm. By then, I can integrate it into the "Purple Sun True Skill Chart" and officially begin cultivating True Cultivation Power.

Lying on the rocking chair and exhaling deeply, Qi Xiu rested his hands behind his head, silently planning for the future.

It had been half a month since Yuan Baiyi and the West Wind Army had departed. During this half month, Baoho County had gradually plunged into chaos due to the lack of official governance. Petty thefts, burglaries, and even daylight robberies became common.

Fortunately, this trend was somewhat curbed after a concerned citizen apprehended a criminal. The culprit, who had robbed someone and was attempting sexual assault, had his limbs broken and was then hung behind the main gate of the city tower.

This situation persisted until three days ago. Only after the arrival of the new County Magistrate did Baoho County begin to return to normal order.

Maintaining the current pace for Crimson Sand Palm is sufficient. With another month or two of painstaking practice, it should enter the Third Realm. After Calligraphy reached the Third Realm, proficiency growth slowed to a crawl. An entire day of earnest practice wouldn’t even yield a 0.1% increase. The direction for a breakthrough still lies with Divine Talismans such as Suppression Talismans and Martial Talismans. However, with no Demons around these days, I can’t just go around blasting these talismans everywhere. Trade caravans have only recently resumed, and the market for medicinal ingredients isn’t abundant yet. It seems I’ll have to wait longer for Alchemy. All things considered, I can focus my energy on Qinggong and Painting.

Going through the skills one by one in his mind, Qi Xiu’s gaze slowly settled on Qinggong and Painting.

Tonight happens to be the trading day for the Ghost Market Treasure Ship. It would be a good opportunity to go up there and see if I can find another Qinggong manual.

As for Painting...

Speaking of Painting, Qi Xiu cast an interested glance at the pile of stone carvings stacked in the corner of the room. These stone carvings were exquisitely lifelike: a descending fierce tiger, a spread-winged eagle, a mountain-coiling python, and even a Peppa Pig. Every detail was so fine it looked as if it had been meticulously painted with a delicate brush.

These stone carvings were exquisite and unique, yet each was only about the size of a fist. There were none any larger.

If I had known earlier that Painting possessed such a Divine Marvel, I might have forsaken martial arts to prioritize leveling it up first.

Looking at the Painting skill on his panel, which was only at the First Realm, Qi Xiu felt a tinge of regret.

Painting’s Divine Marvel was simple yet powerful. It could be summed up in four words: turning the false into real.

As a skill similar to that of the legendary Ma Liang and his magic brush, the Divine Marvel of turning the false into real was very straightforward. It allowed what he drew to leave the paper and materialize as a tangible object.

But like other skills, this Divine Marvel also had various restrictions. Or rather, at the First Realm, this Divine Marvel was still rudimentary. ’Turning false into real’ at the First Realm could only materialize fist-sized images.

Furthermore, the more complex the drawing, or the more potent the energy or substance it represented, the greater the expenditure to materialize it. For instance, drawing ordinary stone carvings like these consumed very little energy. However, if he were to draw living creatures, the energy consumption would skyrocket.

He had once tried to draw a swallow. That attempt consumed even more energy than using a Martial Talisman.

However, the created objects would fall under his control through some unseen connection, but this applied only to living things. Items like this pile of stone carvings were just that—a pile of stone carvings.

On the surface, Painting’s Divine Marvel seems to surpass even Calligraphy’s. If this skill reaches a high enough level, could I perhaps even draw legendary mythological figures into existence?

After a brief moment of fancy, Qi Xiu shook his head with a light chuckle.

Drawing a small sparrow is enough to exhaust me. As for those mythological figures capable of overturning rivers and seas or plucking stars from the sky, I’d probably have to wait until Painting reaches the Tenth Realm or higher to even consider it.

Dismissing these impractical imaginings, Qi Xiu opened the drawer of the tea table beside him and took out a bright, glittering chunk of something.

This thing isn’t a living creature, so drawing it shouldn’t be too difficult.