Druid Fairy

Chapter 92 Spirit Gathering Array, First-Ring Spell

The azure water rippled rhythmically with the sound, and a few leisurely snails slowly crawled on the rock wall.

"Old tortoise, you are free now," the white snake said gently.

The resentment that had been building up for three hundred years dissipated the moment he regained his freedom. It wasn't that he no longer harbored resentment, but rather that he had made peace with himself.

Humanity has its evils, but also its good ones.

The Xuan Turtle remained silent for a long time before letting out a muffled groan: "That kid has some conscience... However, human cultivators are ultimately cunning. You'd better be careful, or you might get sold out and end up helping them count the coins."

Even so, when it looked in the direction Li Pingcan had left, its eyes held less hostility and more complexity.

The white snake chuckled lightly, offering no rebuttal.

It gazed at the rippling lake outside the cave, its eyes distant, and murmured, "Good karma leads to good results. Even if it is not what I hoped for, I will have no regrets."

"It's that same old 'good argument' again. I'm sick of hearing it."

The black tortoise shook its head and asked, "Now that you've regained your freedom, do you still want to be 'Lady White Snake' here?"

“This is my ‘path’,” the white snake countered. “And yours?”

"Who's as 'unorthodox' as you? Only humans cultivate the Dao." The Xuan Turtle snorted. "I'm just used to staying still and don't want to move."

The White Snake laughed heartily and stretched her body freely in the vast Longquan Lake.

The world is vast and boundless, and the brilliant sunlight shines equally on every living being.

…………

Li Pingcan transformed into a golden eagle and sped along, the wind whistling past his ears, his desire to go home even stronger than when he came.

The vast amount of information in his mind twinkled like stars, with mysterious runes and exquisite arrays constructing a grand and wondrous world he had never heard of before.

"The Five Elements Mysterious Array" is the name of this array technique.

Back in Peach Blossom Village.

The golden eagle instantly transformed into a human and gently landed back in the courtyard. It immediately spotted Xiao Ke, who was sleeping on the veranda, with glistening drool dripping from the corner of his mouth.

"This girl is sleeping again. Isn't she afraid of catching a cold?"

Although Xiao Ke is a heavy sleeper, he always does his job very well and is extremely loyal.

With a casual gesture, Li Pingcan summoned a blanket, which was gently draped over Xiao Ke in a breeze. He then excitedly returned to his room, his mind immersing itself in the information stream formed by the white light.

The opening of "The Five Elements Mysterious Array" does not directly explain how to set up the array, but starts with the most basic "array principles".

What is the array eye, what is the array base, how to draw upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, how to use runes as the skin and spiritual materials as the bones to construct a small universe independent of heaven and earth.

This array technique meticulously describes five basic array formations, completely dispelling any doubts previously raised by the "Mysterious Record of Blessed Heaven." If one had to describe the "Mysterious Record of Blessed Heaven," it would be like a beginner's apprenticeship, while the "Five Elements Profound Array" is already at the grandmaster level, a return to simplicity and authenticity.

Li Pingcan is currently learning the most basic formation, the "Spirit Gathering Formation".

For the first two weeks, he was completely confused and felt dizzy.

Those abstruse theories, such as "the convergence of Kan and Li, the balance of water and fire" and "the positioning of Qian and Kun, the mutual generation of Yin and Yang," are even more difficult to understand than the most convoluted articles in my second brother's study.

Fortunately, he was mentally strong; he first memorized it by rote and then gradually understood and digested it.

"The most important aspect of formations is the power of divine sense."

He had a sudden realization.

Materials, composition, and the order of items are all important, but the most crucial element is the spiritual power that connects with the formation.

Fortunately, Li Pingcan had taken the Dao Ling Pill and was a born druid, so he already had divine consciousness at the first level of Qi Refining, which was a "shortcut overtaking".

Taking advantage of his deepest understanding of the Spirit Gathering Array, he decided to draw an "array diagram".

As a beginner, one is completely incapable of constructing a "mountain-protecting formation" like those used for towns and prefectures. One must be down-to-earth; beginners should honestly draw formation diagrams and build the basic framework of the formation.

If a workman wants to be good, he must first sharpen his weapon.

The Xuan paper was specially purchased through someone in Yunshui County. Actually, it would be best to use animal hides, such as those of blood beasts or treasure beasts, as these would increase the success rate and power of the formation.

But considering that I'm just practicing, I don't need to use such expensive materials.

Because the ink was needed to depict the array patterns, Li Pingcan specially prepared a "treasure ink" that was a mixture of precious beast blood, cinnabar, and gold ink. It smelled a bit pungent, and the array patterns it produced were pale red with flowing gold radiance. Apart from being a bit hard on the eyes, the color was exceptionally beautiful.

Based on the basic framework of the "Spirit Gathering Array" in his mind, he wrote with great speed and ease, completing the work in one go. Because of the strength of his divine sense and the foundation of the array patterns, there was almost no pause.

"There are still two mistakes in the drawing."

Li Pingcan put down his pen, carefully examined the document, and discovered the oversight.

Some things look complicated, and they're not easy to do either.

He circled the mistakes and continued drawing.

The lamplight flickered, and they worked tirelessly.

…………

Time flows by, and life in Peach Blossom Village is peaceful and serene.

Although Li Rongzhou no longer needs to rely on planting peach trees for a living, he still goes up the mountain to cultivate the land in his spare time from martial arts training—to remember the bitter past and appreciate the sweet present, not wanting to forget the path he came from.

Li Pingfu's martial arts school grew and expanded, and with the help of the Jiang family, he successfully opened the Li Family Escort Agency, which got on the right track.

Li Ping'an took office and married a woman from the Mu family, enjoying immense prestige.

Xie Yuan also lived up to expectations. She was already quite talented and was most compatible with the Baihe style. At the beginning of the year, she reached the peak of her energy and blood.

The Li family had a strong tradition of martial arts, which sparked a wave of martial arts learning throughout Peach Blossom Village. In response, Li Pingfu specially assigned Li Yuan and Li Chao to teach the village children for free, much to the delight of the old village chief, who became even more spirited.

However, Li Yuan has been preoccupied lately, and there has been no news of Li Qian for many years, which has caused dissatisfaction among the wealthy families in Pantao Town.

Besides drawing formations and planting trees, Li Pingcan spends his days meditating and practicing martial arts, which can be said to be quite fulfilling.

This day.

"The Spirit Gathering Array Diagram is finally complete!"

A meticulously crafted array was laid out before them; the patterns were interconnected, shimmering with golden light, and it was 100% complete.

A pure joy of exploring the unknown welled up in Li Pingcan's heart, no less than the satisfaction brought by the improvement of his cultivation.

However, once the formation diagram was completed as a "skin", a real problem arose – he lacked the materials for the "formation bones".

The art of array formations is not something fabricated out of thin air. Even the simplest spirit-gathering array requires "old yang wood" as its backbone and the five elements as its base. Depending on the array, more complex ones also require array flags, array eyes, and "spirit stones" as the energy source to activate the array.

In the mortal world, any one of these things would be a rare and precious treasure.

Perhaps you could find them by waiting and searching on the black market, but that would be too time-consuming and make you an easy target.

After much deliberation, Li Pingcan could only place his hopes on his second brother, who was now a member of the "official family."

He picked up his pen and wrote a letter. In the letter, he did not directly mention the matter of immortal cultivation formations. He only said that he had recently become fascinated with some ingenious mechanisms and wanted to ask his second brother to help him find some materials for securing the house and protecting the home.

"Little Black, hurry back!"

Under the cover of night, the black crows disappeared without a trace, then cawed and flew away.

Li Pingcan's eyes showed anticipation; with his second brother's intelligence, he was sure he would understand the deeper meaning.

……

Yunshui County, the residence of the Registrar.

Li Ping'an unfolded the letter, and looking at his younger brother's familiar handwriting, a helpless yet indulgent smile appeared on his lips. He could easily see that the so-called "ingenious mechanisms" hidden between the lines were clearly a different approach altogether.

"That kid always manages to come up with something new." He shook his head and carefully put the letter away.

In the past, he would have been helpless in the face of such a situation. But things are different now. As the son-in-law of the prestigious Mu family in the prefecture, these things that seem impossible to others are nothing more than a piece of cake for him.

Instead of going directly to see his father-in-law, Mu Hong, he went to the backyard, to his wife Mu Wanqiu's boudoir.

Mu Wanqiu was embroidering by the window when she saw him come in. She quickly put down her embroidery frame, came forward to greet him, and asked softly, "Husband, are you not busy with official duties today?"

"No matter how busy I am, I have to come and see my good wife." Li Ping'an smiled and held her hand, then casually mentioned his younger brother's "request," saying that his brother had some strange hobbies, such as collecting odd stones and old wood.

"I wondered what a big deal it was."

After hearing this, Mu Wanqiu covered her mouth and chuckled, "My husband's younger brother is also my younger brother. These things are usually used by the newly initiated disciples of the clan for practice, so they are not considered rare items. I will go and tell the steward to prepare a set, and have it sent to Peach Blossom Village tomorrow."

As she spoke, she tried to get up. But Li Ping'an stopped her, pulled her into his arms, and whispered, "Thank you for your hard work."

Mu Wanqiu's pretty face flushed slightly as she leaned against his chest and whispered, "It is Wanqiu's blessing to be able to share her husband's burdens." She was overjoyed; this feeling of being needed and trusted by her husband made her feel incredibly secure. And the fact that her husband's family was helping her made her feel like she was part of the Li family, giving her a strong sense of belonging.

The next day, an inconspicuous carriage drove out of the Mu family's side gate, carrying the very materials for setting up the formation that Li Pingcan wanted.

The Mu family was very generous, sending several different types of Five Elements materials, none of which were the same, and their quality was far superior to ordinary products on the market.

This is the foundation of a powerful family. What ordinary people consider precious materials are nothing more than junk stored up in their warehouses.

Of course, these materials are far from meeting the criteria for "spiritual materials".

With the newly acquired spiritual materials, Li Pingcan once again began his seclusion.

Using his fingers as a brush, he drew upon the spiritual energy within his body to carve new array patterns on the century-old Yang wood.

Spiritual energy flowed through his fingertips, like an invisible carving knife, leaving marks on the hard old yang wood.

Li Pingcan looked focused, with fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

This is not just a physical task, but also an extreme test of mental strength and the ability to control spiritual energy. If any mistake is made, the entire formation will be ruined.

Several hours later, a formation of bones covered with intricate patterns finally took shape!

Finally, there's the Five Elements Array Base, which was meticulously carved once again.

Looking at the newly created array, Li Pingcan's eyes revealed a smile. This "Spirit Gathering Array" may not be perfect, but in his eyes, it is "flawless," and he felt a great sense of accomplishment.

…………

Once the Spirit Gathering Array is complete, it's time to test its effectiveness.

"Grandpa Peach Tree, I'll set up a 'Spirit Gathering Array' for you."

Li Pingcan didn't intend to set up the "Spirit Gathering Array" in Peach Blossom Village. Unless he learned the "Concealment Array," he wouldn't set up the "Spirit Gathering Array" in a crowded and conspicuous place.

Setting up an array for Grandpa Peach Tree not only tests the array's effectiveness but also rewards Grandpa Peach Tree in some way. Plus, the peach tree's location is hidden, making it a win-win situation.

According to the directions indicated in the array manual, the Five Elements Array Base was placed in five different locations, and finally the array diagram was buried underground in the center of the Peach Tree Grandpa.

After doing all this, he retreated to a distance, formed hand seals, and muttered incantations.

"Borrowing the power of heaven and earth, gathering the energy from all directions, we create a unique space!"

He channeled a wisp of spiritual energy into the underground array.

"Buzz!"

An invisible fluctuation emanated from the array diagram and instantly spread throughout the entire peach grove. It seemed to distort slightly before returning to calm.

Li Pingcan stared intently at the familiar peach grove before him, but with his cultivator's divine sense, he could sense wisps of spiritual energy constantly gathering and condensing.

It really did!

"Unfortunately, this is only the most basic spirit-gathering array. A more powerful large-scale spirit-gathering array requires 360 smaller arrays to be constructed seamlessly."

The spiritual materials used were of such an unknown quantity that Li Pingcan could not even imagine them.

"Forget it, don't be too ambitious. I'd better learn the new formations first!"

Too many skills don't overwhelm the body.

Once the Spirit Gathering Array was successfully completed, the pages of "The Five Elements Mysterious Array" were turned to reveal a new array.

This is exactly what Li Pingcan needs: the "Maze Array" that can break the Lingshan Mist Array!
…………

Zuixian Tower.

Two young men, who looked like scholars, were having a small gathering.

"Weining, I'd like to propose a toast to you."

Zhou Junzhi laughed heartily and drank first as a sign of respect, "You really have a way with things. I thought I would waste my whole life in that poor, remote place."

He wasn't as good a student as Li Ping'an, ranking lower on the list, and because of his humble background, he had no connections. Students who scored lower than him got better positions.

Back then, he was a scholar full of youthful vigor, eager to take the imperial examinations and become an official, serving the people. Little did he expect to die before he could even begin, having been taught a lesson by the world of fame and fortune.

If it weren't for Li Ping'an's help, he probably would never have had a chance to get ahead in his life, spending his whole life as a lowly official, a miserable official, scheming over trivial matters, and wasting his time.

He has now been successfully transferred to Yunshui County, where he serves as a clerk under the county magistrate. Although the position is not high, Zhou Junzhi is extremely grateful to be able to stay by his friend's side and work together.

Li Ping'an drank a cup of wine, his expression sincere: "You and I are brothers, and more importantly, we are kindred spirits and confidants. Only you, Zhou Junzhi, can understand my ambitions and aspirations. Why be so polite?"

He was living a smooth and successful life. Whether out of respect for the Mu family or out of genuine appreciation for his talent, Magistrate Liang treated him with great favor, often offering him guidance and displaying a kind and caring demeanor towards a junior. His colleagues, seeing his powerful background and strong abilities, naturally dared not cause him any trouble.

Moreover, everyone knows that his son-in-law Jiang's elder brother, Li Pingfu, is a master of the Divine Fiend Realm and a powerful figure in the entire Yunshui County. With such a powerful backer in both martial arts and literature, who would dare to provoke him easily?
Li Ping'an was well aware of this, and in the quiet of the night, he would reflect on the scene of being ridiculed by Granny Wang for failing the spiritual root test.

Sure enough, once someone rises to power, they are surrounded by "good people."

The rules of this world are just that real and cruel.

…………

On the back hill of Peach Blossom Village, a newly cultivated peach orchard is thriving.

Li Pingcan was barefoot, stepping on the soft soil, listening to the earth's breath, and enjoying this rare moment of leisure.

The new formation is being developed. Once it is understood, we can set off for Mount Ling.

These days, the sounds from the treasure-hunting bees have become increasingly excited, clearly indicating that they have found quite a few good things.

But Li Pingcan was not in a hurry to achieve quick results, and proceeded step by step at his own pace.

In spiritual cultivation, one must balance tension and relaxation.

With the passive ability of [Earth Vein Sensing], he could clearly sense the pulse of each peach tree. With a thought, he cast [Soil Shaping], precisely gathering the underground water veins and nutrients under each newly planted sapling, increasing their survival rate.

Now that I've reached the first level of Qi Refining in the Acquired Stage of Martial Arts, planting trees has become much easier. Even without my father's help, I can easily plant hundreds of peach trees a day if I put all my effort into it.

Unfortunately, apart from elemental skills, most Druid skills have limited offensive power, so Li Pingcan still needs to practice martial arts as a means of protection.

"Comfortable!"

With a gentle breeze, three hundred peach saplings were planted neatly in half a day, basking in the sunlight and radiating vitality.

Cultivating oneself, planting trees, and spending time with family—life is fulfilling and peaceful.

On this day, as he planted the last peach tree, the druidic power within him resonated with nature in an unprecedented way.

[You have successfully planted 10000 trees, and your Druid level has been raised to LV6!]

[You have mastered a first-circle spell, transforming beasts into your companions.]

You have gained 1 upgrade point, which can be used to upgrade your level 0 spell (gained upon breaking through to the first level of Qi Refining).

First-level spell!
Li Pingcan's spirits lifted, and he felt a surge of excitement.

If most of the skills of zero-ring spells are equivalent to "trickery", then the destructive power of first-ring spells is comparable to that of immortal spells!

He quickly checked his newly acquired abilities.

[Transform into a Beast: This spell helps you convince a beast that you mean no harm. Designate a beast within casting range that you can see, and that it must also be able to see and hear you. There is a chance of failure if the target's rank is too high. The effect lasts for one breath (approximately one minute).]

This spell can be considered an advanced version of "Animal Affinity," as one involves passive listening and sensing, while the other involves active and forceful soothing. For those irritable and difficult-to-communicate demonic beasts, or spirit beasts with bad tempers, this spell is undoubtedly the best way to get started.

What surprised him even more was the precious "Spell Upgrade" point. This was a reward given by the Druid panel based on his breakthrough in cultivation realm after he entered the first level of Qi Refining, allowing him to choose an existing spell to enhance and upgrade.

In a dynasty of destiny, destiny is undoubtedly the most important factor for anyone seeking immortality.

He added that amount to [Nature's Gift] almost without hesitation.

In an instant, the text on the panel changed.

[Nature's gifts have been elevated to: Natural Divine Grace.]

[Nature's Grace: You pray for nature's blessing, bestowing a divine grace upon your target. This grace not only brings good fortune and blessings but also contains pure natural power, possessing a powerful effect of warding off evil spirits.]

"To ward off evil spirits and exorcise demons!"

Li Pingcan's eyes lit up; this was a godsend!
A sacred and warm power flowed through his fingertips. This was no longer an ethereal blessing of "luck," but a powerful force that could truly intervene in reality and restrain evil!

From the demonic calamity of Mount Ling to the immortal's true meaning on the Soul-Locking Nail, he increasingly sensed the hidden dangers in this world.

With this "natural grace," he had gained a powerful trump card, a trump card strong enough to fight against those dark forces!

(End of this chapter)