Stronger from Earth

Chapter 252

Wang Xuan came from Huaxia, the summer heat covering the earth, all things brimming with vitality, green everywhere. But the Mars city Huali, where he and Lin Xiyue arrived, was now covered in falling snowflakes.

A cold air wrapped around the city, with buildings in a Chinese architectural style standing tall, far surpassing Earth's in height, with numerous underground levels, and a population density several times that of Earth.

Swaying snowflakes floated down, driving pedestrians as they took steps towards home. Amidst the cold, they involuntarily shrank their bodies, wrapped in clothes, and hurried along.

The snow was pure and white, and the fourth senior sister really liked such a scene. Her snow-like jade hand reached out, letting the snowflakes fall onto her palm, watching them melt into colorless water.

Intelligence Number One connected to networks everywhere. With the rise of Wang Xuan's status, its authority and capability were enhanced, coupled with several upgrades of its carrier, bringing its ability to rival the super-intelligent brains used by medium-sized enterprises.

Before long, some collected and analyzed materials were already transmitted to Wang Xuan. Even if guided by a local, it was unmatched by its excellence.

"Senior sister, let's head directly to the province prison in Huali City." Wang Xuan knew Ling Jie was currently detained here, under strict guard. However, his status allowed him to intervene without issue, so long as it was within legal boundaries.

Lin Xiyue nodded, her eyes often glancing around the city.

Compared to Mother Star, Mars lags in various aspects. The economic level cannot maintain high standards of welfare, causing considerable living pressures among the population, with work and life guarantees far from those on Mother Star.

Above, the fortunes of the whole city floated into view, mingled two to three parts gray, with some black, evidently showing crime and violence nurtured by the environment.

"The wealth gap is vast in this city, overall it stands at a moderately developed level. Due to cultivation consuming resources, those capable of obtaining them grow increasingly powerful and the lower levels see no hope for cultivation. While no one may wander the streets starving, under such disparity, fairness is hard to manifest in many ways."

Wang Xuan looked at the city's prosperity, patrons coming and going below advertisement billboards, the neon-lit life intoxicating.

Yet even this cannot mask the huge wealth gap and the issues of social standings and class solidification. Despite a decent consumption level, many lower-tier people feel unhappy.

On bustling streets, the two boarded a city magnetic suspension track, the train crowded with weary faces. Nutritionally healthy but physically inferior to Mother Star.

Adults on Mother Star can easily run a hundred meters in under eleven seconds, doing a hundred push-ups wasn't hard. But the people here were far from achieving that.

Without sufficient resources for cultivation, their personal time and energy were squeezed for work, unable to see prospects for advancement, deep-rooted unhappiness set in.

"Senior sister, have you been to Mars before?" Wang Xuan asked.

He looked at Lin Xiyue beside him, a beauty to topple cities akin to an Immortal. Yet even an Immortal cannot aptly describe her, for she herself was one. Many on the train discreetly stole glances, dazzled by her charm, never having seen a woman of such beauty.

Lin Xiyue passed her hand over her face, immediately rendering her appearance plain and unremarkable. Comfortable to look at, but lacking any astonishing allure.

"No." She shook her head, the faces of men and women, young and old on the train bore awe, evidently showing high-level cultivators were beings not to be provoked.

Wang Xuan found it surprising, his senior sister truly was a homebody, unwilling to step outside if avoidable, and reluctant to engage with others. He asked, "Is there any city you are familiar with, senior sister?"

Lin Xiyue was not unfamiliar with the lifestyle conditions of cities like Mars, her thoughts seemed to drift far away before she said, "I was born on Mother Star, roughly in Anhui region, and moved to Saturn at the age of seven or eight, living in Huachen City for a few years."

"Were you not very talkative since childhood, senior sister?" Wang Xuan hesitated slightly before asking.

"Since childhood, I liked staying at home, disliked school, had no friends, my childhood might have been that of a peculiar child, gradually growing reclusive in my teens."

"You're just not fond of talking, that's all, no big deal. Anyway, today I feel you're quite approachable, isn't that right?" Wang Xuan said.

"Perhaps." Lin Xiyue turned her face, observing the city.

In not much time, they reached the edge of the city to a small district, known for the large prison there, often a site of turmoil and crackdown, so besides the residents, outsiders seldom visit.

"Big brother, big brother, buy a rose for your girlfriend?! It's planted by Ning himself, very pretty." A seven or eight-year-old boy by the roadside tugged on Wang Xuan's sleeve.

The child was ordinary looking, Wang Xuan raised his brow and looked at Lin Xiyue, disregarding the mention of girlfriend as mere innocent talk.

"This child lost his father to an accident a few years ago, his mother isn't well either, life is tough for him, often relying on government aid for survival." Wang Xuan and Lin Xiyue exchanged Divine Thought.

Some places' aid includes food and goods, of very ordinary quality, even to the point that given a choice, an average family would opt against it.

Of course, such welfare in the twenty-first century was unimaginable, for even in adversity, government assurance meant one wouldn't face ruin.

"Sadly, his experience is unfortunate, yet his spirit remains clean and pure." Lin Xiyue was kind-hearted.

She picked up a rose and said to the little boy, "How much is this rose?"

"Ten, uh, eight Star Yuan, just eight Star Yuan." The little boy wanted to say ten Star Yuan, but was afraid the price was too high and she wouldn't buy it, so he quickly changed his words.

Amidst the fluttering snowflakes, the cold wind was biting, and his hands were red from the cold. If these roses stayed out overnight, they'd wilt.

Lin Xiyue bought all the roses in his basket, and with a light touch of her fingers, a pattern resembling a Snow Lotus appeared on the boy's forehead.

Lin Xiyue thought for a moment, then a Divine Thought entered the boy's mind, containing a simple set of Inner Strength techniques, which he could learn in his dreams.

"The weather's getting cold, go home early; your mother is waiting for you to take care of her." She held the bouquet of dozens of roses, feeling they were exceptionally fragrant.

"Thank you, sister! Thank you!" The little boy was happy to have earned money. Now he could buy supplements for his mother in the coming days, making her a bit better, which made him feel very happy.

Yet, he didn't know how lucky he was to encounter an Immortal who graciously gave him a chance, something rare among millions.

That Snow Lotus pattern would continuously draw in Spiritual Qi to nourish the boy's body. After some time it would dissipate, but during this period, his physique should improve quickly, making it possible for him to break through one or two Great Realms if he worked hard in cultivation.

"Senior Sister is kind-hearted. Although it was a casual action, it will greatly change his life," Wang Xuan said, feeling that Lin Xiyue wasn't emotionless but rather had some barriers with the outside world.

When they passed a piece of grassland, Lin Xiyue planted the roses into the soil. After casting a spell, the roses grew roots and returned to the embrace of the earth.

"I just feel a bit of compassion. The world is full of suffering; physical pain is secondary, but mental pain is hard to heal. Life can be full of setbacks and difficulties." Lin Xiyue seemed quite pessimistic about the world.

Wang Xuan didn't know what kind of family environment had shaped his Senior Sister's cold temperament, making her avoid contact with outsiders, preferring solitude.

"Senior Sister, I've been on the mountain for over a year, why haven't I seen your parents?" Wang Xuan asked. The eldest master's brother's parents were both alive, their grandparent was Wu Jiu of the Nine Martial Tribes, and the second and fifth master's brothers' parents were both healthy, but the third master's brother's parents had died in battle.

Yet, on the mountain, Lin Xiyue seemed to have no external relations. No one came looking for her, and she rarely left the mountain.

Lin Xiyue's brow furrowed, her face like frost, her mood turned somber as she softly said, "My mother died long ago. As for my father... I have no father."

"I spoke out of turn, my apologies," Wang Xuan said, with a look of remorse.

Lin Xiyue sighed lightly. She didn't want to touch the memories of her early life, which held little light, being mostly bitter and gloomy.

One cannot choose their birth; even if you struggle to change, some impacts remain with you for life. Some people's families are happy, but such happiness can be elusive for others.

Finally, they arrived at Huali City's provincial prison. Wang Xuan boldly entered the formidable prison, brandishing his identity as a True Disciple of Immortal Martial Mountain, his special status quite evident.

With his status, he could move unimpeded through much of the Federation. Many sects and families were eager to form ties, not only because of his status but also recognizing his potential.

"Mr. Wang, when you meet Ling Jie, a lawyer and several police officers must be present. This is the lenient approach; otherwise, we would have a difficult time," said the deputy warden, a Third Realm Earth Immortal cultivator who had guarded this place for many years.

Faced with the favors of some dignitaries, he had to show respect, especially to a True Disciple of the Immortal Holy Land like Wang Xuan. If truly offended, he would have no future if Wang Xuan chose to be obstinate.

A balance between firmness and gentleness can lead one further. A well-rounded person learns to navigate various situations with finesse, and by doing so, the path becomes broader. If one isn't sensible, numerous matters may turn disastrous.

Wang Xuan nodded: "Following regulations is necessary. I'm here for a legal visit only, do as you please." Receiving respect from others, he naturally reciprocated with understanding.

Passing through layer upon layer of checkpoints, with steel gates and energy shields ready to activate at any moment, along with high-energy weapons, this prison was like a Heaven and Earth Net, an impregnable fortress.

But even such a Heaven and Earth Net could be breached in this era of cultivation, so many Earth Immortals guarded this place, and experts from Huali City often paid attention.

With a 'clunk', a heavy metal door opened, and the energy defenses were withdrawn, allowing the dejected Ling Jie to emerge.

"Someone's here for a prison visit, Ling Jie, come with us."

Before long, the disheveled Ling Jie saw Wang Xuan, along with a lawyer and three High Level police officers. A glimmer of hope ignited in his eyes, but it quickly dimmed.

Wang Xuan did not speak, and in the absence of words, the room was eerily quiet; everyone's breathing was clearly audible.

He closed his eyes, his Spiritual Cultivation fully expanded, silently invading Ling Jie's memory, searching for the answers he needed.