Chapter Fifty-Six: Turning Falsehood into Reality!

"Are you preparing to march out?"

On the way back from returning the True Skill Manual, Yuan Baiyi told Qi Xiu about the West Wind Army's imminent departure.

"Yes. The Golden Flower Matriarch Sect intends to make a comeback. Now, all the armies are converging on Qingliu County, planning to concentrate their strength for another crushing blow against the Golden Flower Matriarch Sect. Magistrate Huangtan has sent over a dozen letters—I can't afford to delay any longer."

"I see." Qi Xiu nodded thoughtfully and smiled, cupping his hands to Yuan Baiyi. "Then let me wish you a victorious campaign in advance, Commander, and may you strike the rebels with force."

"You're too kind, Brother Qi. Actually, if you're willing, I can arrange a position for you as Chief Scribe in the West Wind Army. With our tacit cooperation, achieving great merit is no difficult task. Besides, military achievements will benefit your future cultivation immensely."

Yuan Baiyi turned to look at Qi Xiu, offering his invitation sincerely. He truly desired talents like Qi Xiu—someone adept in multiple talisman techniques, skilled and resourceful, and hailing from a prestigious sect like the Radiant Light Sect.

Not to mention anything else—just the art of turning talismans into medicine could greatly reduce the West Wind Army's casualties. Battle-hardened veterans are invaluable. If a talisman master like Qi Xiu accompanied the army, before long, his troops would all be seasoned warriors.

Faced with Yuan Baiyi's sudden offer, Qi Xiu merely smiled, waving his hand to politely decline.

"Thank you for your kindness, Commander, but I’m used to a carefree life. I couldn’t endure the strict discipline of the army. If you ever need my help in the future, just ask."

He extended his palm, rubbing two fingers together, and flashed that honest, simple smile again. "And I’ll give you a discount."

"You…" Yuan Baiyi laughed in helpless amusement. "You’re quite the miser. You seem less like a disciple of the Radiant Light Sect and more like the innkeeper of the Fortune Inn. Well, if you’re unwilling, I won’t force you. If you ever change your mind, you can find me at Jixi Military Garrison—I’ll welcome you with open arms."

With a wave of his hand, Yuan Baiyi was just about to leave when Qi Xiu suddenly spoke up.

"Wait."

"What is it? Changed your mind?" Yuan Baiyi turned back with a trace of expectation.

"No," Qi Xiu replied with an innocent smile, opening his right palm. "When we saved Nie Xun earlier, didn’t you promise a handsome reward upon our return? Now that you’re leaving… well… you know what I mean."

Yuan Baiyi: "…"

…

Standing atop the city wall, Qi Xiu waved farewell to Yuan Baiyi, the West Wind Army, and Nie Xun, who kept glancing back with every step, reluctant to part.

That fellow’s gaze is getting stranger by the day. If I had known, I wouldn’t have saved him.

Rolling his eyes to ignore Nie Xun, Qi Xiu jumped down from the battlements and took out a simple, elegant scroll from his robe, both ends adorned with jade pendants.

"With this, traveling in the future will be much more convenient."

Satisfied, he examined the scroll for a moment, then, humming a little tune, turned to head home.

…

With demons and monsters eradicated, peace finally reigned over the world.

With no more hidden dangers lurking in the shadows, Qi Xiu finally lived the tranquil life he had always dreamed of.

As spring arrived, the weather gradually turned warmer, everything revived, grass grew lush, and flowers blossomed.

Having completed his daily martial training as usual, Qi Xiu—bare-chested—revealed a lean, muscular physique, the kind he had longed for in his previous life: slim in clothes, powerful without.

"Pure cultivation is slow to improve proficiency, but it’s safe and steady. Thirty percent more, and Red Sand Palm will reach the Third Stage. Then I can integrate it into the 'Ziyang True Skill Diagram' and begin cultivating true skill in earnest."

Lying back in his rocking chair, hands pillowed behind his head, Qi Xiu quietly considered his plans for the days ahead.

Half a month had passed since Yuan Baiyi and the West Wind Army set out. In that time, Baohua County had fallen into chaos, lacking official governance. Petty theft, burglary, even brazen robberies in broad daylight had become common.

Fortunately, thanks to a concerned citizen who broke all five limbs of a criminal who, after stealing money, also tried to assault a woman, hanging him behind the city gate, such lawlessness was curbed for the time being.

It wasn’t until three days ago, when the new county magistrate arrived, that order gradually returned to Baohua.

"If I keep up this pace, Red Sand Palm will reach the Third Stage in about a month. As for calligraphy, since reaching the Third Stage, proficiency has slowed to a crawl—one full day of hard practice barely adds 0.1%. My next breakthrough likely lies in divine talismans like 'Suppressing Talisman' or 'Martial Talisman.' But without demons around, I can’t exactly throw those around the courtyard. The merchant caravans have only just resumed, so the medicinal market is still thin, and refining pills will have to wait. That leaves lightness skill and painting as my main focus."

Listing his skills one by one, Qi Xiu’s gaze settled on lightness skill and painting.

Tonight just happens to be the trading night on the Ghost Market Treasure Ship. I’ll go take a look—maybe I’ll find another lightness skill manual.

As for painting…

Thinking of painting, Qi Xiu glanced with interest at the pile of stone carvings stacked in the corner.

These stone sculptures were lifelike: mountain tigers ready to pounce, eagles with spread wings, giant pythons coiled, and even a little pig named Peppa.

Every detail was meticulously rendered, as if painted with the finest brush.

However, all these carvings, though exquisite, were no larger than a fist. None were much bigger.

"If I had known the supernatural aspect of painting was like this, I would have advanced its level before martial arts, even at the cost of putting aside my cultivation."

Looking at his skill panel, where painting was only at the First Stage, Qi Xiu felt a twinge of regret.

The supernatural aspect of painting was simple yet powerful: to make the false real. In essence, whatever he painted could leave the paper and become a physical object.

But, like all his skills, this supernatural effect came with limits. Or rather, at the First Stage, it remained quite rudimentary.

At the First Stage, he could only make images the size of a fist real. And the more complex, or the more energy or matter the object contained, the greater the energy cost.

For ordinary stone carvings, the consumption was negligible. But for living creatures, the drain rose steeply.

He’d once tried painting a swallow. The energy cost was even higher than using a Martial Talisman.

However, whatever he created would be, in some ineffable way, under his control—though this only applied to living things. The stone carvings, for example, remained just that: stone.

"On the surface, the supernatural power of painting even surpasses calligraphy. If I could raise this skill high enough, could I perhaps paint those mythic figures from legend?"

He indulged in a brief fantasy, then shook his head with a smile.

"Painting a small sparrow is enough to exhaust me. Those mythical beings who move mountains and seize stars—perhaps best left until I reach the tenth stage or higher."

Abandoning such unrealistic thoughts, Qi Xiu opened the drawer of the nearby tea table and took out a piece of yellow, gleaming, block-like material.

"This isn’t a living thing—it shouldn’t be too difficult to paint."

…