When You Wake Up, Everything Will Be Better

What qualifies as a heavenly treasure?

Treasures like the Great Sun True Fire or the Emperor Moon Fluid from mythological tales certainly count.

However, such divine artifacts are too transcendent.

They are nowhere to be found.

Now, as Xu Xi, having just ascended to the Golden Core stage, gazed at the dense vitality emanating from his divine ability, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.

Are the products of a Heavenly Spirit Root's divine ability considered heavenly treasures?

The answer is—

Yes.

An item capable of healing Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators cannot be anything less than a heavenly treasure.

Moreover, this divine ability has no limits.

In theory, the more pure spiritual energy Xu Xi invests and the more of his Golden Core essence he mobilizes, the greater the vitality released by Wood Regeneration will become.

Creating even more precious divine artifacts.

"This is truly remarkable..."

"How should I put it? Is this the benefit brought by the golden trait? If it were before, I'd probably be so happy that I'd feel like the chosen one of destiny, right?"

Under the gradually dissipating heavenly tribulation.

Xu Xi, having achieved the Golden Core, received blessings from all corners of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

"Congratulations! Congratulations!"

"Xu Shixiong, you're truly talented and promising!"

"Congratulations to our eldest senior brother for condensing the Golden Core and becoming a True Master!"

More and more blessings poured in, from Nascent Soul elders of the sect, fellow Golden Core cultivators, and juniors at the Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement stages.

There were applause, cheers, and even spirit beasts spraying fire like fireworks in celebration.

The entire sect was in an uproar, as if Xu Xi had accomplished some monumental feat. The world seemed to be celebrating wildly, yet it felt like there was an invisible barrier separating Xu Xi from all the noise.

"Thank you all for your kind words," Xu Xi responded politely.

Facing the bustling crowd, he felt little joy, instead finding it lonely and dull.

If he had to ask why.

It was likely because of the lack of the laughter of a young girl, like the morning sun, like a beautiful dream, like a flawless sky.

And those never-ending calls of "Brother."

...

【Seventeenth year of transmigration, you are 23 years old, Xu Moli is 17 years old】

【Despite the help of the Spirit Locking Formation, your sister's vitality has been sustained, but the Heavenly Calamity has caused too much damage to her, resulting in her frequent fainting, sometimes not waking up for over ten days】

【Your cultivation has made a breakthrough; you have become a Golden Core cultivator; you have awakened the divine ability Wood Regeneration】

【You decide to use your divine ability as a foundation to create an external Spirit Root that can be used by mortals. You have no other options left, like a gambler at the end of their rope, clinging to the last shred of hope】

【You succeed; your research on the divine ability is progressing smoothly】

【You have a sudden insight, keenly detecting the commonalities of the Four Arts of Cultivation, using this as a basis to fuse your divine ability and explore the method of shaping external Spirit Roots】

【But this joy doesn't last long】

【Success comes with a price; you suddenly realize that the vitality required to shape an external Spirit Root is an astronomical number, even using all your spiritual energy and Golden Core essence is not enough to truly shape one】

【Unless—】

【You are willing to truly, in every sense, burn your cultivation and Heavenly Spirit Root】

Spirit Roots are innate.

Whether one has a Spirit Root is predetermined by heaven.

In other words, giving a mortal without a Spirit Root the ability to cultivate is an unequivocal act of defiance against the heavens.

The cost, naturally, will not be small.

If there were divine artifacts at hand, this act of defiance would be borne by the artifacts themselves, but Xu Xi has none, so he must bear the cost himself.

"Even though I knew the cost would be high, I didn't expect it to be this extreme, requiring me to burn all my cultivation and Heavenly Spirit Root."

"If I really do this..."

"I'll not only revert to being a mortal but also have my lifespan drastically reduced."

"In that case, this simulation will basically be over."

In the Heavenly Sword Sect, on Forest Sword Peak, in the wooden cave dwelling.

After finishing his research on the divine ability, Xu Xi knelt beside a bed, gazing at the frail, pale face of the girl, and couldn't help but recall the winters in Blackstone City, when Moli, only 3 or 4 years old, shivered with him.

Back then, life was really tough, but even so, little Moli would warm her hands and help Xu Xi warm his cheeks.

Thinking of this, Xu Xi couldn't ignore the girl's safety.

Yes.

This is just a simulation.

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

But, but, but.

Xu Xi has had enough, enough of the cowardly, powerless self in reality.

If even within the simulator he cannot be free, cannot 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 one believes is right.

Yes, that's all.

"Hum—"

Xu Xi extended his palm, gently stroking the girl's face, with faint green light flickering and interweaving, flowing into the girl's body in a specific combination.

That was the entirety of a Golden Core cultivator's spiritual energy.

That was the essence of a Golden Core cultivator's Golden Core.

That was the burning of a core divine ability.

That was the self-immolation of a Heavenly Spirit Root.

Everything that could be mobilized was converted into pure vitality, combined in the pattern of a seed, perfectly integrating into the girl's chest.

"Brother...?"

Half-asleep, the girl's eyes opened briefly, but soon closed again.

"Keep sleeping, Moli."

Xu Xi spoke softly: "When you wake up, everything will be better. Brother promises."

Pain.

Unbearable pain instantly spread throughout his body.

Xu Xi could clearly feel that as his cultivation and Spirit Root burned, his body was gradually approaching its end, and the blood surging in his throat was becoming uncontrollable.

But his expression grew increasingly bright.

With blood.

With tears.

With a smile.

He looked at the girl on the bed, feeling the life that was regaining its rhythm.

It's really great... this method works...

Xu Xi tremblingly extended his finger, smiling miserably, wiping away the tears that, despite being asleep, somehow moistened the girl's eyes.

-

【You succeeded】

【You successfully shaped the external Spirit Root, exchanging everything for it, and successfully saved your sister Xu Moli's life】

【Having lost your Spirit Root and cultivation, you are now extremely weak, even a common mortal could easily defeat you, and your lifespan is now only three years】

【You do not regret it, you are willing】

【But you know there is still more to do, otherwise when the girl wakes up, she definitely won't accept this fact】

【And you also need someone to explain this to the sect】

【You left the cave dwelling, took out the flying boat that can be controlled by mortals, and flew directly to the hall at the top of Forest Sword Peak, meeting your Nascent Soul master, Li Wanshou】

【This was the first time you saw your teacher in a furious rage】

【He was very angry, you were scolded mercilessly】