Absolute Destiny Game.

Chapter 531 The Art of Limb Regeneration
Time flies, and Xiao Jie has completely settled down in Niujiao Village.

They worked at sunrise and rested at sunset, farming and hunting, living a simple and down-to-earth life.

He was weary of the deceit and treachery of human society, and also weary of the savage chaos of wild beasts. These half-human, half-beast beings, striving to integrate into civilization, possessed a strange affinity for him.

The demons were not foolish; in fact, they were quite shrewd, yet they possessed a simple and honest naiveté. They were pleasant to be around. They lived in clans, farming and trading, having learned human ways of life quite well. After a few years, if one ignored their beast-headed, human-bodied appearance, their orderly village life was almost indistinguishable from that of the human world.

This experience also gave Xiao Jie a deeper understanding of the essence of humanity and bestiality. So-called bestiality is humanity; the two are merely the manifestations of life's innate nature in different environments. In lawless wilderness, humans can become more bloodthirsty and brutal than wild beasts; but once incorporated into the framework of civilized order, even demons evolved from animals can live peacefully and contentedly, following etiquette and law, just like humans.

However, the peace did not last long. In the third year since Xiao Jie settled in Niujiao Village, a great upheaval swept across Canglin Prefecture. Some powerful demon kings, nostalgic for the past life of survival of the fittest and unrestrained freedom, raised their banners in rebellion, intending to overthrow the "humanized" order established by King Xiaoyue.

At King Xiaoyue's command, towns and villages throughout Canglin Prefecture mobilized urgently, recruiting local militia to form a pacification army. Niujiao Village also received its recruitment officer—the very same Canglang official who had overseen land distribution years before. He requested the recruitment of one hundred local militia to serve in the army.

Xiao Jie readily accepted the conscription. His reason was simple: the military regulations clearly stated that those who joined the army would not only receive pay and land, but those with merit in battle would also have the opportunity to study advanced demonic arts at the Giantwood City Demonic Arts Academy, or learn secret military martial arts. This was an irresistible temptation for Xiao Jie, who yearned to systematically master demonic power.

Moreover, his unparalleled martial arts skills honed through his experiences in the martial arts world, and his powerful physique evolved in the wilderness and forests, are certainly worthy of being put to good use.

For the next five years, Xiao Jie followed the Canglin Prefecture army in battles across various regions. Although the various rebellious demon kings were fierce and cunning, and some were exceptionally talented, they had inflicted considerable casualties on the prefecture's army. However, under the crushing force of the entire prefecture's war machine, they were ultimately like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. They rose and fell in a flash, with no chance of victory.

Xiao Jie accumulated considerable merits through the baptism of blood and fire. With his superb martial arts and strong physique, he could even fight against a demon king. From a local soldier to the Canglin Prefecture Army, he accumulated merits and was promoted to squad leader and captain. Xiao Jie can be described as a model of a general who rose from the ranks of the army.

He also witnessed firsthand the absolute crushing power of "civilized order" over "primitive society." With a single command, Master Xiaoyue could mobilize tens of thousands of troops, with a constant supply of provisions and rapid replenishment of lost soldiers. In contrast, the rebel army fought independently, a disorganized and disorganized mess, lacking both structure and logistical support; once drawn into a war of attrition, they quickly collapsed. Master Xiaoyue's foresight in learning from humans to establish a state system is evident in this.

By the ninth year, the rebellion, which had lasted for several years, was finally quelled. Xiao Jie, thanks to his outstanding military achievements, successfully entered the Giantwood City Sorcery Academy and began systematically training in sorcery.

Although they cannot speak, the demon society has fully adopted human writing. Xiao Jie communicates by writing instead of speaking, and it goes smoothly without any obstacles. The demon core power that has been dormant within him for many years has finally found a use.

By the tenth year, Xiao Jie had mastered many powerful demonic arts. However, the academy remained tight-lipped about how to use demonic power to become a demon immortal, and they had learned nothing about it.

Over the past decade, he has also experienced several "tests" set by the system, including temptations of beauty, life-or-death crises, and coercion from those in power. But with the tempering he had endured in the previous decades, he dealt with them calmly and with a will as firm as a rock. He never wavered in the slightest and never uttered a single word.

Ten years later——

“Captain Suifeng, it’s not that I’m hiding something from you, but this ‘Limb Regeneration Technique’ is a secret art that my Xi clan doesn’t pass down. Our ancestral rules are strict, so it really can’t be taught lightly.” A demon with a lizard’s head and skin covered in fine green scales rubbed his hands together and looked at Xiao Jie with a troubled expression.

Xiao Jie remained expressionless and slammed another heavy gold bar onto the table with a thud. A dozen or so gleaming gold bars now sat on the table, dazzling in the dim light.

A glint of greed flashed in Xitu's green vertical pupils, his Adam's apple bobbed, but he still shook his head: "It's...it's really not about money..."

Xiao Jie remained expressionless, picked up the empty money bag, flashed it, and made a gesture as if to sweep all the gold bars on the table back into the bag before turning to leave.

"Hey, hey, hey! No, no, no! Brother Suifeng! Look at you, still so impatient!" Xitu quickly reached out to stop him, a smile plastered on his face. "We're brothers who've fought side by side, fought together, and shared life and death! Can't we talk things out? Fine!" He seemed to have made a huge decision, lowering his voice, "For the sake of our life-or-death bond, I'll make an exception and teach you this ancestral secret technique! Come closer..."

Half an hour later—

Inside Xiao Jie's residence. His eyes were cold, his left hand gripping the broken sword tightly. Without hesitation, he sliced ​​off the scar on his right shoulder, which had been bare for twenty years! The long-healed scar, along with a large piece of flesh, was cleanly sliced ​​away, and blood gushed out instantly! He didn't even flinch, ignoring the excruciating pain, and immediately followed the method taught by Xi Tu, fully circulating the power of his demon core!

Sorcery—the art of limb regeneration!
A surge of powerful, vibrant demonic energy erupted from the demon core in the dantian, converging at the severed right shoulder! In an instant, intense pain mixed with an indescribable tingling sensation swept through the nerves! The flesh at the severed site writhed wildly, and pink buds sprouted and extended rapidly like bamboo shoots after a spring rain! The outline of the skeleton quickly took shape under the impetus of the demonic energy, and muscle fibers, nerve networks, and skin tissue wove and covered at a visible speed... In just a few breaths, a brand new, fair-skinned, slightly slender but completely intact right arm had grown out!

Xiao Jie breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling immensely gratified. He had long since grown accustomed to his one-armed life over the past twenty years, but the regained whole body was ultimately a blessing. He moved his newly grown fingers, savoring the long-lost sensation of touch.

It seems that my talent as a 'demon refiner' has not disappeared; it's just that in this real world, it can no longer be presented using that illusory 'panel'.

Stretching his arm, which he had lost and then regained, Xiao Jie felt a rare sense of ease and joy.

It's worth having a drink to celebrate.

Leaving the military camp, they arrived at the tavern they frequented. The place was never short of soldiers who were also charlatans. Since the turmoil in Canglin Prefecture had been quelled, most of the soldiers had been discharged and sent back to their hometowns to be given land and fields.

They all had some spare cash left, so the tavern did exceptionally well.

"Captain Suifeng!!!" "Oh! It's Brother Suifeng!"

"Brother Suifeng, let's have a drink together."

Along the way, the demons greeted him warmly. Xiao Jie had now fully integrated into this peculiar demon society, and he accepted their respectful greetings with equanimity. The only regret was his inability to speak.

Xiao Jie ordered a pot of wine, some dried meat and fruit, and found a corner to enjoy it comfortably.

Slightly tipsy, he casually glanced out the window, but his expression suddenly changed!
Outside the window, several brightly colored butterflies flutter gracefully over a cluster of blooming orchids, their reflections shimmering dreamlike in the sunlight.

Butterfly...butterfly...Zhuang Zhou...Zhuang Zhou.

Am I Xiao Jie, or Yin Yue Sui Feng?

Xiao Jie silently recited to himself, and an indescribable sense of desolation suddenly welled up in his heart. He was now over fifty years old. Thinking about his life, he had been wandering and had experienced life and death, but he had never tasted the joy of love between men and women, nor had he ever truly enjoyed the peace and beauty of life. He had only thought about passing the test and completing the mission.

But now, that so-called "reality" in his memory has long since become blurred, even illusory and unreal. He can no longer be sure if it was truly just a long and absurd dream from his youth. What if it was false? What if he died here, truly perishing without any possibility of "returning to reality"? Wouldn't his wasted and struggling life have been utterly meaningless?

This profound fear, like a cold, venomous snake, would coil around his heart from time to time, sending chills down his spine.

At this moment, looking at the butterflies fluttering freely outside the window, this fear surged back once again.

"Have you heard? The immortals are about to descend again!"

"Really? Or is someone just spreading rumors again?"

"Hey! This time it's absolutely true! It's spread throughout several major cities nearby! I heard that the immortal came specifically to find a destined person and guide them to immortality! Back then, the Kaiyang Star Lord was said to have received guidance from this immortal, which allowed him to ascend to the heavens and join the ranks of the immortals! Hehe, what a pity, he 'started a relationship with our Xiaoyue King and then abandoned him'!"

"Shh! Keep your voice down! Are you out of your mind? The version I heard is that King Kaiyang attained enlightenment in the mountains and ascended to heaven on his own!"

"Tch! Who knows? If Lord Kaiyang really became an immortal through enlightenment, he'd be embarrassed and would say he achieved it on his own, which is normal! I think it's probably a lie!"

Xiao Jie's heart skipped a beat! Immortal guidance? Transcendence into immortality? If he continued to wait here, until he was seventy or eighty years old and had completed that illusory "trial," what if that "reality" didn't even exist? Wouldn't he have wasted his entire life? The ultimate goal of entering this Illusory Realm was to become an immortal and attain enlightenment, wasn't it? If he could achieve immortality in this realm, transcending the mortal world, perhaps he could see through all illusions and distinguish truth from falsehood!
He looked down at the reflection shimmering in the wine in the rough ceramic cup.

The cup reflected a weathered face. Though only fifty years old, his temples were already streaked with white, like withered grass in autumn. Deep wrinkles, as if carved by a knife and axe, spread from the corners of his eyes and forehead, recording countless life-and-death battles and the harshness of the wilderness.

His bronze skin was rough and resilient, bearing several indelible old scars. His thick, bushy beard was now white, adding to his weathered appearance. Only his eyes remained, deep as a frozen pool, sharp as a hawk's, occasionally flashing with a barely perceptible, eerie green light. Within their tranquility lay a resilience and insight honed by hardship, seemingly able to pierce through appearances and reach the very heart. This was a face belonging to a warrior, to the wilderness, and to the sedimentation of time.

In this life, he failed to learn the Qi cultivation technique that prolongs life. Although he mastered powerful demonic martial arts, he was ultimately limited by the limitations of his mortal demonic body. The laws of this world are harsh; even without illness or disaster, in another twenty or thirty years, he would probably not escape the fate of dying of old age.

Xiao Jie's fear deepened, and a sense of desolation even welled up in his heart. Once upon a time, he was also a handsome young swordsman, a young man in his prime.

------

That night, Xiao Jie had a bizarre dream. In the dream, he once again went to war with the Canglin army, only to encounter an unprecedentedly powerful enemy. The army collapsed like waves of wheat, corpses littering the battlefield, and even he himself was pulverized by the enemy's terrifying sorcery! However, in the instant his consciousness faded, he did not feel darkness, but instead "awoke"—finding himself trapped in a small, viscous cocoon, unable to move!
So it turns out I am neither Yin Yue Sui Feng nor Xiao Jie... I am just a butterfly about to emerge from its cocoon? Amidst the immense sense of absurdity, there is a hint of liberating joy!
He struggled, trying to break free from the cocoon that bound him, his heart filled with the joy of soon gaining freedom.

However, before the joy could spread, a giant white bird, blotting out the sky, swooped down with a piercing cry! Its sharp beak easily pierced the cocoon, snatched up the "butterfly" in one bite, and swallowed it whole!

"Ugh!" Xiao Jie suddenly woke up from his nightmare, his body covered in cold sweat! He instinctively opened his mouth wide, but couldn't even let out a scream—the mark of decades of "silence" had long been etched into his bones and become an instinct.

The fear of being swallowed in his dream felt incredibly real, making him tremble with fear and unable to fall asleep.

Looking at the rough wooden roof of the barracks, Xiao Jie had already made up his mind.

The next morning, Xiao Jie found the two demon soldiers who had been talking about immortals in the tavern the day before.

He slammed a piece of paper with a pre-written note on the table in front of the two of them. On it was written a line of large characters: Tell me about that immortal!

(End of this chapter)