Druid Fairy

Chapter 95 Rapid Progress, Li Fang's Downfall

"This is quite troublesome."

A strong desire to survive welled up in his heart. This was not Li Pingcan's emotion, but the old mulberry tree's prayer.

All living beings desire to live.

Even an old mulberry tree that has lived for thousands of years is filled with fear of death and wants to strive to live a second life.

Li Pingcan frowned; he could feel the pain emanating from the old mulberry tree.

The deathly aura emanating from those holes was somewhat similar to the aura during the demonic calamity at Mount Ling, but it was more concentrated and sinister. These insects were formed from yin energy and fed exclusively on the essence of plants. Like maggots clinging to bones, they firmly attached themselves to the roots of the old mulberry tree, constantly eroding its life.

"Old Master Sang, don't be hasty," Li Pingcan said in a deep voice. "I was fortunate enough to comprehend a technique for exorcising evil spirits, and I will try it out for you today!"

In the past, with only a zero-ring [Nature's Gift], his meager "luck" blessing would probably not even be enough to tickle the insects when facing this level of Yin worms.

But things are different now. The upgraded first-level spell, [Nature's Grace], is the perfect weapon against such sinister things!
"Crash!"

The old mulberry tree swayed its leaves excitedly, filled with gratitude.

Li Pingcan said no more. He flew down to the cracked tree root, his expression solemn.

This was the first time he had used the grace of nature to bless others.

He closed his eyes, recalling the mysteries of the spell, the strange rhythm, and how it merged with the mountain wind, the earth, and the pulse of the entire sacred mountain.

"In the name of divine grace, cleanse the filth and expel evil spirits!"

"Nature's divine grace!"

With a low shout, what burst forth from his fingertips was no longer an ethereal blessing, but a visible ball of energy radiating a soft emerald green light!
This sphere of light was warm and pure, filled with a powerful life force, like the first touch of green as the earth revived.

Wherever the light reached, even the dust in the air seemed to be washed away, and the flowers, plants and trees all radiated vitality.

"go with!"

Li Pingcan flicked his finger, and the emerald green ball of light seemed to come alive, floating lightly towards the roots of the old mulberry tree and slowly merging into the charred holes.

"Squeaky!!!"

A series of sharp, piercing screams, unlike anything that could be made by any mortal creature, suddenly erupted from underground!
The emerald green divine light was like a scorching hot iron falling into the ice and snow. The moment the light came into contact with the deathly black mist in the hole, it erupted with a violent "sizzling" sound, and wisps of foul-smelling black smoke rose from it, only to be instantly purified and dissolved by the pure natural power.

Countless black, maggot-like worms with fine, sharp teeth poured out of the hole.

They were terrified by the emerald green light, as if they had encountered a natural enemy, and fled in panic.

However, the radiance of divine grace has formed an invisible force field that envelops the entire root region.

In the light, the worms writhed and twisted in agony. Their hard shells melted rapidly like candles under the blessing of nature, revealing even more filthy black energy within them.

Pure natural power is their greatest nemesis. Each attack by the Yin Insects is like a moth drawn to a flame; not only do they fail to shake the light in the slightest, they hasten their own demise.

They were disintegrated inch by inch in the light, eventually turning into wisps of smoke and completely dissipating into the world, leaving not a trace behind.

The entire expulsion process lasted for almost the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

As the last wisp of black energy was purified and the last Yin worm let out a mournful cry of resentment and turned to ashes, the emerald green light gradually faded away, transforming into the purest life energy, slowly nourishing the damaged roots of the old mulberry tree.

The charred holes, nourished by life energy, began to heal at a visible speed, regaining a faint vitality.

Li Pingcan let out a long sigh of relief, his face somewhat pale. Casting a first-level spell, especially the "Blessing Spell," was quite taxing for his current cultivation level.

But seeing that the old mulberry tree's crisis was over, he was filled with relief.

"Wow~~"

The old mulberry tree's massive trunk swayed slightly, its countless leaves rustling, as if bowing to Li Pingcan in gratitude, filled with the joy of surviving a calamity and an indescribable thank you.

"No need for such formalities, Elder Sang. It was nothing more than a small favor," Li Pingcan said with a smile.

If it weren't for the guidance of the old mulberry tree's leaves, he might not have been able to find the node of the Lingshan Misty Array and easily "fish in troubled waters".

Perhaps because he was a druid, he had a natural affinity for tree spirits.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, a sapling, about a foot long and brimming with vibrant green, slowly separated from the trunk of the old mulberry tree and gently landed in front of Li Pingcan.

This is a mulberry seedling!
At the same time, a sense of enlightenment slowly emerged in my mind.

Formed from the essence of a thousand-year-old mulberry tree, it contains pure wood-elemental spiritual energy and life force. When planted on a spiritual vein, it can slowly grow into a new mulberry spirit tree. Its fruit can enhance cultivation, and more importantly, it can automatically gather the surrounding wood-elemental spiritual energy, improving the local environment and forming a natural blessed land for cultivation.

"This...this is far too valuable!"

Li Pingcan was greatly shocked and his expression became excited.

This is no sapling; it is clearly a mobile, growing "spiritual vein"!
It might even improve the Li family's Peach Blossom Mountain and bring blessings to the area!
"Thank you, Elder Sang."

He held the mulberry seedling in his hands as if it were a priceless treasure, and immediately flew back to Listening Wind Cliff.

Although they wished to build their own "blessed land," they knew that possessing such a treasure was a crime, and the current Li family was not yet capable of supporting such a spiritual object. It would be better to plant it in their cave.

Li Pingcan carefully planted the spirit mulberry seedling in the center of the spirit gathering array.

As soon as the mulberry seedling touched the spiritually rich soil at the top of the cliff, it seemed to come alive. Its roots automatically burrowed into the ground, and its previously withered leaves instantly unfurled, greedily absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathered by the spirit-gathering array.

It takes root and thrives as soon as it lands!

In the Druid panel, the experience points for planting trees have increased by one point, meaning even the most incompetent tree planter can keep the tree alive.

Several months passed in a flash.

The mulberry tree grew stronger day by day, sprouting new buds from its original branches and growing three tender green leaves.

The spiritual energy of the entire Listening Wind Cliff has been completely renewed.

The original spiritual energy, though abundant, was somewhat impure. But now, under the guidance of the mulberry seedling, the spiritual energy in the air has become exceptionally active and pure.

With each inhalation, one could feel that the circulation of one's "Earth God Qi Refining Technique" carried a trace of the ever-flowing wood element, with earth and wood mutually generating each other, creating a subtle and miraculous effect!
"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!"

Li Pingcan was secretly grateful to the old mulberry tree.

With such a blessed place for cultivation, the future is promising!
……

Cultivation knows no time, and the grotto is unaware of the years.

In the beautiful and spiritually rich place of Tingfeng Cliff, with the double blessing of the Spirit Gathering Array and the Mulberry Spirit Seedlings, Li Pingcan cultivated steadily and rapidly.

Every morning, he would greet the first wisp of purple qi coming from the east and cultivate by breathing in and out, and now he has accumulated more than three hundred strands of "pure purple qi".

During the day, he would meditate amidst the rich spiritual energy, comprehending the "Earth God Qi Refining Technique".

In his spare time, he would practice formations or exchange ideas with the spirit beasts of Mount Ling, living a fulfilling and pleasant life.

On this day, Li Pingcan celebrated his sixteenth birthday.

He sat cross-legged under the mulberry tree—the seedling had now grown into a small tree about half a person's height, with lush green leaves and a vibrant spirit.

The magical power within his body had already accumulated to the peak of the first level of Qi Refining, like a flood about to burst its banks, constantly impacting that invisible barrier.

"It's now!"

Li Pingcan's eyes narrowed, and he unleashed all the medicinal power accumulated from the precious herbs and spiritual fruits he had consumed over the past few days.

The Earth God Qi Refining Technique was running wildly, carrying immense spiritual energy, and launched a final all-out attack on that pass!

"boom!"

With a muffled thud that seemed to exist only in the soul, the solid barrier shattered!

A surge of magical power, far more refined and profound than before, arose from his dantian, flowing through his limbs and bones like a mighty river. His spiritual sense expanded once more, and his perception of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth became increasingly acute and clear.

Qi Refining Level Two, done!
At the same time, his years of arduous training in the "Five Spirits Play" came to fruition. With the breakthrough in his cultivation realm, his physical body seemed to receive a boost, his blood and internal energy merging and transforming, breaking through the limits of ordinary martial artists.

The innate realm has been achieved today!
Feeling the powerful force of the unity of immortality and martial arts within his body, Li Pingcan was overjoyed.

"But blindly meditating and cultivating is too foolish; taking drugs is the way to go!"

Recalling the past, he realized that without the aid of spiritual fruits and medicines, he might not have been able to achieve such rapid progress in his cultivation.

Although this combination of "Listening to the Wind Cliff," "Spirit Gathering Array," and "Spirit Mulberry Seedling" is not as effective as a true first-tier spiritual vein.

"It's a pity that there's no method for refining elixirs."

Li Pingcan sighed and swallowed it whole, wasting a lot of the medicine's potency. What could he do?

However, when he thought of the inside information his second brother had mentioned about the government's plan to eradicate a certain cult, some "dark" thoughts began to arise in his mind.

But he quickly abandoned this delusion.

"The more you move, the easier it is to expose yourself..."

"It's better to stay calm. I'm only sixteen and I've already reached the second level of Qi Refining, which is much better than many rogue cultivators..."

"When doing things, you should proceed step by step and not be impatient."

Moreover, drugs are not a panacea.

If one's cultivation level increases too quickly, one's foundation will become unstable.

Taking large amounts of herbs and pills can lead to drug and pill poisoning. It may not be obvious now, but it will definitely have an impact once you break through to a higher realm!
…………

Li Pingcan transformed into a nightingale and flew back to the Li family.

Upon arriving at the Li family mansion in Peach Blossom Village, before even entering the gate, one could hear the clear laughter and babbling of a baby coming from the courtyard.

Li Pingcan's heart stirred, and he quickly walked into the courtyard, where he saw his elder brother Li Pingfu holding a cute, chubby-cheeked baby boy, while his sister-in-law Jiang Ling'er sat beside him, smiling gently and doing needlework.

There's an old saying that it's better to hold a grandson than a son, but Li Pingfu didn't take it seriously. He ran a security escort agency in Yunshui County, and in recent years it had been doing better and better, with the size of the escorts becoming larger and larger. He even received escort contracts from the prefecture through his connections with the Li Pingan and Mu families.

But because of this, I spend less time at home and dote on my son whom I haven't seen in a long time.

"Brother, sister-in-law!"

"Little brother, you're back!" Li Pingfu smiled when he saw his younger brother.

"Little brother!" Jiang Ling'er also quickly stood up, her eyes full of smiles.

"Come here, give your nephew a hug!" Li Pingfu handed over the baby boy in his arms. "Now is the time for some fun."

"Big brother." Li Pingcan was both amused and exasperated. Were children born just to be played with?

He carefully took the soft little life into his arms. Tiger Cub wasn't shy at all. He opened his big, dark eyes and curiously looked at his uncle whom he had never seen before. He even reached out his chubby little hand, grabbed a strand of Li Pingcan's hair, and grinned with his toothless mouth, giggling.

"Hey, this kid's got some strength!" Li Pingcan thought to himself. Although his older brother and sister-in-law had good genes, it was normal for their child to be strong and healthy. But Tiger Cub's strength was frighteningly great for an ordinary baby, almost like a calf.

This may be related to the "natural grace" he bestowed upon him a year ago.

Moreover, my elder brother was also blessed by nature. If this "natural grace" can refine one's aptitude generation after generation, then the family will surely produce cultivators in the future!
As the family was chatting and laughing, the second sister-in-law, Mu Wanqiu, who was heavily pregnant, came out with the help of Qin Shi.

"Can Di is back." Mu Wanqiu smiled gently, looking radiant.

"Second sister-in-law, what's wrong...?"

"Your second sister-in-law is already three months pregnant." Madam Qin's face flushed with joy. As she gets older, she loves a large and lively family.

Although on the surface, Qin Shi and Mu Wanqiu look as young as sisters.

…………

At dinner time.

The Li family rarely gets together, and they happily enjoy a meal together.

Upon learning that Li Pingfu's cultivation had improved again, breaking through to the Acquired Realm, Li Rongzhou was so happy that he drank three bowls of wine in a row. He patted his eldest son on the shoulder, his eyes full of pride: "Good! Good! Good! My sons, Li Rongzhou's sons, are all dragons among men!"

After meal.

Li Ping'an specially took the opportunity to take out the treasured "Strengthening Pill" and solemnly handed it to Li Pingfu.

"Brother, this pill can strengthen your foundation and nourish your vital energy, which will greatly benefit your stabilization of your realm and help you break through to the Innate Realm."

He hesitated for a long time, never taking the medicine himself, nor daring to give it to his family. He was afraid of disrupting his marriage with Mu Wanqiu, and also worried about incurring the wrath of the immortal.

Who knows what kind of temper an immortal has? What if they tell you something, and you end up giving it to someone else, and they think you're being inconsiderate?
Seeing that time had passed and no trouble had gotten into him, Li Ping'an felt relieved. Upon hearing that Li Pingfu had reached the Acquired Realm, he made up his mind.

A martial artist at the Innate Realm, comparable to the mid-stage of Qi Refining, is more likely to give a family a foothold!
Li Pingfu was deeply moved when he saw the priceless elixir. Without refusing, he nodded emphatically, "Alright, I accept your kindness, Second Brother!"

Late at night, Li Pingfu skillfully slid into Li Pingcan's room through the window and took out a "Strengthening Pill".

Upon hearing that the pill was given by his second brother to his eldest brother, and then given to him by his eldest brother, Li Pingcan felt a mixture of speechlessness and warmth. He shook his head and said softly, "Elder brother, I don't need it."

Li Pingfu was puzzled for a moment, then suddenly realized something, his eyes widened, and he became so excited that he stammered, only managing to pat Li Pingcan's shoulder hard, "Good, good, good, good!"

Li Pingcan pretended to "grimace" and then gave the "Strengthening Pill" to Li Pingfu.

The Li family is thriving, the brothers are friendly and respectful, and the elixir was offered three times.

Meanwhile, in the Li Fang family's home in Pantao Town, the atmosphere was gloomy and desolate.

…………

"Trash! They are all a bunch of trash!"

Li Fang smashed a valuable blue-and-white porcelain vase to the ground, shards flying everywhere. His eyes were bloodshot, all traces of his former honest demeanor vanished, and his face became as ferocious as a gambler who had lost everything in a casino.

"You can't even handle a simple task like sending a message to the Seven Star Sect to invite Li Qian back?"

The servants trembled with fear and dared not utter a word.

Li Fang grew increasingly furious, trembling all over, and cursed loudly at Li Qian's portrait, "You heartless wretch! You swore you'd refine longevity pills for your father. Now that you've become an immortal, you've forgotten who your parents are! If I'd known she was this ungrateful, I should have sold her during that famine year!"

Beside him, his newly acquired beautiful concubine patted his chest to help him catch his breath, while sowing discord:

"Master, please don't be too angry. It is said that once a daughter is married, she is like water spilled from a cup. But once a daughter enters the immortal realm, she is probably not even water anymore. She is like a cloud in the sky, which we mortals can never reach."

In my opinion, we shouldn't have put all our eggs in one basket with Li Qian. Now look what's happened—Master Wang and Master Zhang are coming to our door every day demanding repayment. I'm afraid we won't even be able to keep this house.”

Li Fang's first wife, Huang, sat to one side, already weeping uncontrollably, pounding her chest and sobbing, "My poor son... what am I going to do, what am I going to do!"

Who could have imagined that Li Fang, who was once so successful, would fall to such a state in just a few years? Back then, he relied on his daughter's status as a "quasi-immortal" to be courted by various parties, who intentionally or unintentionally made countless promises.

Now, Li Qian has been out of contact for decades, and those wealthy families who were once treated as honored guests by him have all turned their backs on him, each resorting to more ruthless methods than the last.

Not a few days passed.

The grand mansion that symbolized Li Fang's lifelong glory and high spirits was still sealed off by the government.

Li Fang was utterly despondent and had nowhere else to turn, so he swallowed his pride and went to Li Rongzhou's house in Peach Blossom Village.

Standing in front of the Li family's mansion, amidst its prosperous scene, he felt a mix of emotions.

After he became successful, he looked down on this peasant who only knew how to wield knives and guns, believing that the warrior was crude and incapable of achieving great things, and that they only maintained a superficial relationship.

But now, everyone else's sons are more and more successful than the last. One became a celestial official, and the other became a renowned master in Yunshui County. On the contrary, I have become a homeless dog.

"Hey! Isn't this Uncle Li Fang? What brings you back to the village?" A young man recognized Li Fang and greeted him warmly.

Li Fang was immediately embarrassed, realizing that he wasn't wearing silver fox fur today, but only ordinary silk, which was really quite awkward.

He hurriedly knocked on the gate of the Li family compound as if he were fleeing.

Upon seeing Li Rongzhou, he was as vigorous and imposing as he had been years ago, even more so than before, displaying a more commanding presence than Li Fang himself, the "Master Li." Li Fang lowered his head stammeringly, not daring to reveal his purpose.

Borrow money? Redeem the house? Just saying you're down on your luck makes people hesitate to ask!
He was like a clown on a stage, awkwardly making a scene and only making himself a laughingstock.

Since Li Fang didn't say anything, Li Rongzhou naturally didn't ask.

Li Fang sat in the hard seat for half a day without receiving any inquiries from Li Rongzhou. The tea had gone cold, and in the end, he could only leave in shame and indignation.

Looking at his hunched back, Li Rongzhou shook his head and sighed softly, "Li Fang is really a fool."

(End of this chapter)