Volume 3: Deep Blue Sea
Witnessing Shu Xun’s transformation, evolving from the size of a palm to a refined young gentleman is an experience that most people must be feeling for the first time. Twenty days later, the once chubby little dumpling is entirely gone, replaced by a slender figure, an outstanding young man with flowing ink-like hair. His deep black eyes exude tranquility, and a vermilion mark at the center of his eyebrows adds a subtle charm. While modern attire might suit him well, once adorned in ancient clothing, he gives off an ethereal and untouchable aura.
If this transformation were sudden, no one could likely connect this picturesque young man with the past image of the little dumpling that used to end up on a plate. The peculiar aspect is that they witnessed the growth process of Shu Xun in just twenty short days, observing changes every day. It feels as if they are watching their child gradually grow up, a truly unparalleled sensation. Consequently, the viewers in Shu Xun’s livestream continue to remain high in numbers, and even increase over time.
In addition to witnessing Shu Xun’s growth, the audience also keenly observes that Shu Xun seems to possess special and peculiar talents. For example, when Shu Xun matures into a youthful appearance, he is accompanied by various plants and minerals, practicing and researching unknown skills. Often, he draws peculiar patterns on the ground and sits cross-legged for hours without moving, as he is doing now—meditating in the same spot for an entire morning.
After reaching a youthful appearance, Shu Xun no longer settles in one place but chooses to travel. For ten years, he traverses numerous continents and oceans with the help of his blue butterfly wings. However, this world seems to have no boundaries, vast and expansive to a frightening extent. Whenever Shu Xun flies independently over a vibrant land, the sense of insignificance becomes even more apparent. Year after year, the youth grows into a young man, from confusion to indifference, from panic to the tranquility of a calm sea. This gradual accumulation of growth shapes the unique individual he has become.
Not long ago, nourished by abundant spiritual energy and various treasures of heaven and earth, Shu Xun successfully advanced to the growth stage, signifying his formal adulthood. After the growth stage, only the mature stage and the final transcendence and tribulation remain. Such a cultivation speed is awe-inspiring even in the era of cultivation.
Of course, corresponding to this high cultivation speed, Shu Xun’s combat ability and strength are seriously lacking because the world he resides in is too safe. This results in Shu Xun having almost no practical combat experience. Shu Xun is aware of this, so besides alchemy, refining, and formation arrays, he began preparing to learn a sword technique suitable for himself after advancing. Of course, the prerequisite is to have a spirit sword. Today, Shu Xun is preparing to forge his first spirit sword, featuring coveted spiritual ores and intricate formation arrays to assist in the process, all while meditating to optimize his condition.
Shu Xun chose a foothold in a spacious and flat valley with a gentle slope, devoid of any congestion. Lush green grass spread in all directions, even as the sun rose high, casting a faint misty haze. Amidst the fragrant grass, Shu Xun sat in quiet meditation. Clad in ancient attire, he showcased a smooth and refined figure. His ink-black long hair was casually tied and hung down behind, and his delicate features exuded a unique sense of tranquility. The vermilion mark on his forehead was striking, sharp eyebrows framing his temples, instantly sharpening his aura. Despite the lack of movement, his thin lips displayed a soft curvature, even when not smiling.
The scenery in the livestream room remained unchanged throughout the morning, and the viewers in the livestream were also motionless. However, even so, the popularity of the livestream continued to increase.
“It seems he hasn’t grown since eighteen days. Does that mean he stabilized after reaching adulthood?”
“Shu Xun looks so beautiful. Even more beautiful than me, a woman. Even sitting motionless, he’s stunning.”
“Being a man and still captivated by his beauty, what should I do?”
“Upstairs! Are you sure you can beat Ye Qian?”
“Newcomer reporting in. I’ve been curious about this livestream for a long time. Every time I come in, I think I’ve entered the wrong channel. Other gamers are on the brink of life and death, running in distress. The style here is completely different!”
“Same here, as a newcomer. This streamer is so unique. The first time I saw him, he was stunning. Upon further observation, there’s a soothing and tranquil comfort. I can’t explain it, but it’s special…”
“That’s because Shu Xun has been surviving alone in a world for twenty years! Pity, an ordinary person would probably have gone mad by now! The extraordinary environment entirely shapes Shu Xun’s uniqueness. There probably won’t be a second one like him in this world.”
Opposed to such remarks were various doubts and disdain, as not everyone appreciated daily life. Since choosing to watch a survival game, most players favored thrilling adventures. Compared to those streamers who risked their lives and struggled to survive, Shu Xun’s popularity, with his unique style, made many people feel uneasy.
“It’s just luck. He happened to encounter a system glitch. I don’t understand how such a streamer stays in the top three?”
“I bet that in ‘Deep Blue Sea,’ someone like him won’t survive a day.”
“Meng Muyu and Ye Qian are both near the disappearance point. I’m sure the glitch will be fixed soon. It probably won’t take a day, and this person will have to choose to log out of the game voluntarily.”
In the livestream room, various comments continued to pour in, and viewers with different opinions were engaged in endless debates. As the conflicts escalated, Shu Xun, who had been sitting quietly, finally made a move. He opened a pair of tranquil eyes and took out the alchemy furnace he had previously crafted, along with various prepared spirit ores and materials. His movements were elegant and smooth, exceptionally swift.
In the livestream room, a wave of questions and speculations flooded the screen. Due to the time constraints of the live stream, viewers could only see Shu Xun’s daily life on certain days and couldn’t track his whereabouts continuously. The ongoing debate in the livestream room continued, but Shu Xun had already formed a hand seal with one hand. The alchemy furnace floated in the air, and the flames inside suddenly intensified. This seemingly casual action silenced the entire livestream room in an instant.
Before the questions could be voiced, Shu Xun’s movements flowed seamlessly, as if he had practiced them countless times in his mind. Various forms and brightly colored rare ores were consecutively thrown into the alchemy furnace. They gradually melted, refined, and reshaped within the fiery flames, accompanied by the continuous addition of auxiliary materials and the gradually illuminating auxiliary array.
The visible spiritual energy almost condensed into a soft satin, circulating and lingering above the valley. Nourished by the rich spiritual energy, the flowers and plants in the valley bloomed eagerly. In an instant, the entire tranquil valley transformed into a celestial realm.
Shu Xun’s hands moved ceaselessly, manipulating the auxiliary array to light up one by one. The rich spiritual energy converged to the extreme, rushing madly into the flames. The nourished flames transformed into a purplish-red color, and various spiritual ores emitted dazzling lights as they probed, clashed, and ultimately merged. The multicolored radiance appeared dreamlike and ethereal. Suddenly, a hint of surprise flickered in Shu Xun’s tranquil eyes, followed by astonishing self-confidence and an unstoppable momentum. He once again took out numerous spiritual ores from the spiritual space and swiftly consumed replenishing spirit pills to replenish the rapidly depleting spiritual energy in his body.
In the live stream room:
“What just happened? What’s going on?”
“Did Shu Xun create this? What happened to the entire valley? What is Shu Xun doing?”
“I don’t know, but I inexplicably feel a surge of excitement. It seems like something is about to happen!”
“I’ve already sensed it; someone is about to be slapped in the face. Shu Xun is extraordinary and won’t be ordinary. Being at the top is a testament to his strength!”
“Don’t be too optimistic. It’s just affecting the mist and plants in the valley. Is there any substantial destructive power? It’s all about beauty, utterly useless!”
“I’m just waiting for someone upstairs to get slapped.”
“Maybe it’s just a peculiar natural reaction in this world. After all, it’s a strange world, and the universe is full of wonders. And what’s the point of heating stones in a pot? There is obviously no logical connection with the current scene.”
On the other side, all the auxiliary arrays in the valley had lit up. Spiritual energy gathered from all directions and once again surged into the alchemy furnace. Shu Xun silently stared at the changes in the flames. After the perfect fusion of various spiritual ores, he added the final drop of spiritual dew and then, with his consciousness, outlined the shape of the simple and ancient-looking spiritual sword that gradually took form. The furnace fire remained vigorous, and within the flames, the spiritual ores followed the contours left by consciousness to condense.
At the same time, the clear sky suddenly gathered dark clouds, and a breeze began to stir in the windless surroundings. It seemed like the prelude to a storm, with the world plunged into darkness. In the cloud layer, flashes of lightning began to shimmer, ready to descend at any moment, and a violent wind began to rampage.
Thunderclouds gathered, and a divine artifact emerged!
With the final condensation and formation of the last piece of ore in the alchemy furnace, a burst of splendid golden light erupted from within the furnace. Simultaneously, a long-awaited lightning bolt from the charged sky descended straight toward the valley.
Shu Xun stood motionless beside the alchemy furnace, his hands moving effortlessly as he continued to manipulate the incantations. The auxiliary array in the valley suddenly lit up, unexpectedly blocking the first heavenly tribulation out of thin air. The thunderclouds did not disperse. Without giving any breathing room, one thunderous tribulation followed another, each more powerful than the last. The earth trembled slightly, and a fierce and wild wind swept through the valley. Deafening thunder echoed in the ears, drowning out all other sounds.
After the last thunder tribulation descended, daylight broke through the clouds. The ink-colored cloud layer finally dispersed. In just a few breaths, the azure sky reappeared, cloudless, as if everything before had been an illusion. In the valley, the lingering mist seemed to have been swept away by the recent gusts of wind, and every blade of grass and tree was visible. Blooming flowers swayed gently with the breeze, blissfully unaware.
Shu Xun put away the alchemy furnace, and with the guidance of his consciousness, a spiritual sword swiftly arrived, gripped in his hand. It emitted a crisp and resonant hum, seemingly resonating with its master. The sharp blade, unstoppable in its momentum, could not be concealed under the sunlight. With a casual swing, the blade effortlessly cut through everything in its path—earth, rocks, offering no resistance. Shu Xun’s eyes flashed with admiration, followed by a melodious laughter echoing through the valley.
In the blink of an eye, the joyful young man found himself soaring in the vast sky, riding the sword with delight, and even Big Bliss, landed excitedly on Shu Xun’s shoulder, experiencing the sensation of hitching a ride for the first time.
In the live stream room:
“Feeling like even when not in a logical reasoning state, my brain still isn’t enough. My heart rate hasn’t returned to normal!”
“Shu Xun won’t last a day in ‘Deep Blue Sea’? Who’s saying that?”
“It feels like science has abandoned me. Why can he fly with some strange thing?”
“Just checked; that strange thing is called a spirit sword, a product of the cold weapon era.”
“The person upstairs is joking with me! Can a cold weapon have such power? Easily splitting rocks with a swing?”
