Immortal Druid

[POV: Xing Ning]

A few more years passed.

“Waaaah! Daddy, save meee!”

“Mommyyy! This crazy man is beating us againnn!”

“Senior, mercy! We just wanted an autograph—ow ow ow!”

A group of young cultivators wailed dramatically as they fled through the trees, their voices cracking with exaggerated panic. Right behind them, a silver-haired man with a wooden stick chased after the fleeing cultivators like an angry rooster, his robes fluttering wildly.

Senior Wo Li angrily kicked one of the slower cultivators square in the groin, sending the youth flying into a bush with a high-pitched squeak. “DON’T COME BACK AGAIN! AND NO, I AM NOT TAKING IN DISCIPLES!” roared Wo Li, shaking his stick furiously at their retreating backs.

Xing Ning, who had been watching from a short distance, suppressed a burst of laughter behind his sleeve. He had grown used to living here in the forest, now more popularly known as the Forest of the Hermit Sage. Over the years, rumors of the reclusive expert had spread far beyond the immediate area, reaching every corner of the Serenity Lake Domain. As a result, Senior Wo Li was now receiving quite a lot of uninvited visitors.

Shaking his head in amusement, Xing Ning pulled his sturdy wooden cart along the familiar dirt path, the wheels creaking softly under the weight of several large baskets. He hoped the local smithy had finished his latest request for pipes. After months of tinkering, he had finally managed to work out a proper plumbing system for himself, complete with a decent outhouse where he could relieve himself in relative comfort and privacy.

Back in the sect, such mundane tasks had always been left to outer disciples or hired mortals from nearby villages. But Xing Ning had taken to the hobby surprisingly well. What began as simple wood sculpting had gradually evolved into a full workshop filled with tools and half-finished projects. When Senior Wo Li had casually mentioned something about a flushing mechanism, Xing Ning had thrown himself into the experiment with unexpected enthusiasm. The result was far superior to the crude outhouses provided to regular sect members.

Ideally, he would one day craft a smooth porcelain seat for himself… though in hindsight, it all felt rather pointless once one reached Foundation Establishment or Core Formation. Still, he had been terribly bored lately, and the project kept his hands and mind occupied.

As he approached the outskirts of the settlement, two sturdy guards standing at the wooden gate waved at him cheerfully.

“Brother Xing! Back from the forest again?” one called out with a broad grin.

“Safe travels, as always! The missus asked if you brought any of those sweet spirit pears this time,” the other added with a wink.

Xing Ning greeted them back with a polite nod and a small smile. “Good to see you both. I’ll drop some off later if the baskets aren’t emptied first.”

The village of Leafhome had changed dramatically since the last time he had paid close attention. What was once a modest hidden village had grown into a bustling town. New wooden buildings lined the widened streets, merchants’ stalls multiplied, and the population had swelled noticeably. If they started constructing proper walls anytime soon, the place would soon qualify as a small city. Whether it would declare itself an independent city-state or seek vassalage under the local governing power, Xing Ning did not know, nor did he particularly care.

This place had once been nameless, simply referred to as the Hidden Village of Leaf, a namesake tied to a secretive continental organization. Xing Ning only knew of its existence because of his father. He was mildly curious about the rapid development, but it was not his business.

When he reached the usual trading hall where he sold the goods, he was immediately greeted with white-glove treatment. Attendants hurried forward with respectful bows, and a graceful beauty in elegant robes appeared, personally escorting him to a private sitting area while another servant brought out a pot of expensive spirit tea.

The beauty accosted him gently with a warm smile as several workers began unloading the heavy baskets from his cart. “Young Master Xing, please make yourself comfortable and wait here for a moment. We will handle everything with the utmost care.”

Xing Ning was genuinely moved by the respectful treatment, though he tried hard to hide his surprise behind a calm expression. The reason for such deference was undoubtedly Senior Wo Li’s growing reputation. More than that, the items he brought back, such as rare fruits, spirit beast meat, and unusual herbs, were all of exceptionally high quality. He did not fully understand the cause, but as someone who observed things closely, he had a faint feeling it had something to do with Senior Wo Li’s presence.

He could not quite describe it, but the forest itself seemed to be transforming with Senior Wo Li at its center. Rare fruits, spiritual herbs, and precious materials would suddenly appear where none had grown before. Even the local wildlife had begun rising in both cultivation level and rarity, making the once-ordinary woods into a budding treasure trove.

This also contributed to the growing number of cultivators visiting the forest.

A well-dressed manager soon appeared, bowing deeply with hands clasped in respect. “Young Master Xing Ning, it is always an honor to receive your deliveries. Your goods this month are truly exceptional as usual.”

Xing Ning nodded politely and spoke in a steady tone, “Thank you for your kind words. Please buy them at the current market price. No special treatment.”

The manager looked slightly surprised but quickly recovered with another respectful bow. “As you wish, Young Master. We will calculate everything fairly.”

With the transaction settled for now, Xing Ning planned to finish here, then go shopping for supplies and check on his earlier requests at the various workshops around town. Senior Wo Li had been unexpectedly kind, providing him with a regular ‘salary’ of spirit stones and resources. As a result, Xing Ning had accumulated quite a comfortable amount of savings over the years.

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[POV: Li Qing]

Li Qing watched her granddaughter from the upper pavilion as the young girl practiced her swordsmanship in the courtyard below. The girl’s movements were graceful yet fierce, each swing of the wooden practice sword cutting through the air with focused determination. Li Qing had been reluctant to teach the lass anything at all. The cultivation world was cruel, and it was even harsher for someone carrying the destiny she did. Still, she remained seated in the pavilion, quietly observing while her thoughts drifted toward the uncertain future.

“There’s so much to do, and so little time to do it,” Li Qing murmured to herself. She lifted the porcelain cup and sipped her tea, the warm liquid doing little to ease the weight in her chest.

It had been a few years since her village was destroyed and the long process of rebuilding began. Since then, the collective had decided on a series of decisive actions. First, they opened the village to the outside world and formally dissolved the ‘Hidden Village of Leaf’ in an attempt to erase any trace of their former existence. Of course, they were not truly gone; they had merely changed their shape. By opening the village, they intended to build a proper city atop its foundations.

Li Qing knew she was flouting the ancient rules of the Hidden Village of Leaf, but she had to do something. It was only recently that she learned so many of the other hidden villages scattered across the Earthly Heart Continent had also come under brutal attack. Roughly three of them remained intact. Whoever was searching for the Shén was undeniably dangerous, and they needed to prepare. Building a city was one step toward protecting themselves and their people.

She had initially thought it would be enough. Yet on top of the near-total destruction of their organization, it seemed they had also lost the few Nascent Soul experts from their ranks. It remained a mystery to her how their entire network had been upended so swiftly and thoroughly.

“I doubt even if we had all the time in the world, we could make a difference,” said Guo Yupin of the Serenity Cliff Sect, a close and trusted ally. The old man stood beside her with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression grave. “According to a few friends I managed to call in a favor from, it seems this Dark Order has at least one Soul Transformation cultivator. The entire continent hasn’t seen such a realm for a very long time. Those who reach it often leave this world to try their luck in the upper realms. What exactly is a Shén? Is it truly so important that it’s worth delaying ascension to the upper realms? And then there’s the sage… How do we know that the sage doesn’t mean ill toward us? What are the chances that he is really an immortal being? If not, then he is probably a Soul Transformation master who, for reasons similar to what I stated earlier, is delaying his own ascension.”

Li Qing set her teacup down with a soft clink and replied calmly, “It’s better that we don’t know. However, I do know he has no designs on the Shén.”

Guo Yupin turned to her with a raised brow. “And how can you be so sure?”

She grinned, a spark of mischief in her eyes. “That’s a secret.”

Her village had managed to maintain its position on this continent and fulfill its ancient duties for generations because of a certain treasure, an orb that could glimpse fragments of the future. It was an immortal treasure belonging to her lineage, something she had only recently acquired after delicate dealings with the surviving adjacent villages of their shattered organization. If she had possessed it years earlier, the devastating ambush that destroyed her village might never have happened.

Li Qing’s smile faded into something more serious as she looked out over the growing town below. “I hope you prepared yourself a proper gift for the sage. We’re going to ask something quite big from him, after all. And we’re already indebted to him so much.”

Guo Yupin let out a long sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly. “A proper gift… Easier said than done. Still, if anyone can help us stand against what’s coming, it may very well be him.”

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[POV: Xing Ning]

After finishing his shopping and loading the cart with supplies, Xing Ning prepared to set forth back into the forest. The sun hung high overhead, casting warm light across the bustling streets of the growing town. He had just gripped the handles of the cart when a familiar face suddenly appeared before him.

“Li Ming?” Xing Ning cried out in surprise.

She grinned, holding out a sheathed sword with both hands. “I believe this is yours. It’s time I return this to you.”

Xing Ning shook his head gently and pushed the sword back toward her. “You can keep it. I have no need for it anymore, and it suits you far better than it ever did me.”

Suddenly, a bald man dressed in simple kasaya robes appeared behind Li Ming. It was a monk. He pressed his palms together and bowed slightly, his voice calm and resonant.

“Amitabha. This humble monk greets Young Master Xing Ning. May the Buddha’s light shine upon your path and bring peace to your heart.”

Xing Ning frowned, studying the monk’s face for a moment. “Wait… you look familiar. Guo Yimu?”

It was the same guy he had dueled a few years back, the incident that had indirectly led to his meeting with Senior Wo Li.

The monk smiled serenely and bowed again. “Indeed, it is this poor monk. The wheel of karma turns in mysterious ways. What once was enmity has now become a shared path toward enlightenment. This monk has cast aside worldly desires and seeks only the Dharma.”

A familiar elderly figure then descended gracefully from his flying sword, landing lightly nearby. Xing Ning’s eyes widened.

“Sword Formation King!” he exclaimed.

The old man waved a hand dismissively. “Please, just call me Guo Yupin.”

Xing Ning couldn’t help but stare at Guo Yimu once more. He still remembered their altercation clearly. The monk had caused trouble by trying to show off in front of Li Ming, thinking she was nothing more than a simple village girl. Xing Ning had intervened, the situation escalated, and they dueled. He had nearly died that day.

Li Ming stepped forward and greeted Guo Yupin with a respectful bow. “Elder, I still haven’t given you my thanks for saving me that day. If you hadn’t pointed your sword toward the forest and told me to flee there, I wouldn’t have met Senior Wo Li.”

Guo Yimu pressed his palms together once more, his expression solemn. “Amitabha. This monk is also grateful to the sage. The incident opened this one’s eyes to the vanity of pride and the illusion of power. Through suffering, one finds the path to detachment. May the sage’s wisdom guide all beings toward enlightenment.”

Xing Ning asked cautiously, “What happened to him?”

Guo Yupin let out a dry chuckle. “He tried to touch a woman visiting from a neighboring country. I beat him up and offered him the choice of becoming a eunuch. He begged, cried, and pleaded before finally choosing to become a monk instead. I hope the sage will take him in and teach him some manners.”

“…”

Xing Ning was left utterly speechless at this point.

“Sorry, it took me some time to deal with other things,” said Elder Li Qing as she too descended from her flying sword, landing gracefully beside the group.

Xing Ning offered his greetings with a polite bow. “Elder Li Qing, Senior Guo Yupin, it is good to see you all again.”

Li Qing smiled warmly and got straight to the point. “Xing Ning, could you guide us through the forest and introduce us to the sage? We have important business with him.”

Xing Ning thought about it more carefully. These people were Senior’s acquaintances, and he trusted them enough. “I can do that,” he replied, “but you should all stay close to me. The forest has become… stricter with visitors lately.”

Because of the increasing number of uninvited guests, Senior Wo Li had increased his security measures. Thorny vines now patrolled the skies, ready to snatch anyone who tried to fly in and toss them out unceremoniously. Every time Xing Ning left, the silver-haired man would leave a safe path open for him, one that only he knew the route of.

On their way back toward the forest, the group witnessed a ridiculous sight. A large kangaroo named Roo was energetically beating up a group of Qi Condensation cultivators, hopping around them with surprising agility while delivering powerful kicks.

“Ow ow ow! Mercy, you oversized rabbit!”

“Mommy! This monster is bullying us!”

“Daddy, save your son from the demonic beast!”

The cultivators cried out in exaggerated panic as Roo bounced between them, landing solid kicks that sent them tumbling.

“Witness the Way of the Bound Sky Strider!” Roo bellowed, executing a spinning kick that launched one cultivator into a tree. “Hyaah! Feel the boundless leap of justice!”

Guo Yupin stared in open surprise. “That beast… it can talk?”

It was a truly ridiculous sight.

Li Ming’s eyes widened. “Should we help them?”

Xing Ning shook his head with a small smile. “No, just leave them. They got what was coming to them. Moreover, believe it or not, the damn kangaroo is the gentlest beast in the forest. After beating you up, it will just leave you be and not kill you.”

Roo watched the fleeing cultivators with visible disappointment, standing tall on his hind legs and shaking a fist. “Come back, you cowards! The Way of the Bound Sky Strider demands a worthy opponent! How can you flee from the path of true martial enlightenment? Bah! Weaklings!”

Li Qing sighed. "Truly, times are changing."

Li Ming looked equally confused, tilting her head. “What even is a kangaroo?”

Xing Ning simply shrugged, continuing to pull his cart along the hidden path. “You’ll get used to it. The forest is full of strange things these days. Just stay close and don’t wander off.”