Immortal Druid

“Should we stop this now, before it got worse?” Jia Ping asked nervously as she stared at the arena with widening eyes.

I understood why she was worried.

The duel between Old Crow and Mumu had escalated far beyond what anybody expected. The two figures moved in blurs across the clearing, colliding so quickly that even my eyes struggled to follow them and get used to there speed. Every clash gouged trenches into the earth while violent shockwaves tore through the arena. The vine barriers surrounding the battlefield were ripped apart repeatedly, shredded by claws, flames, and earth qi, forcing me to continuously replenish them through phytokinesis before debris could fly toward the audience.

The spirit beasts in the bleachers had long abandoned any semblance of civility.

“Peck her eyes out, Elder Crow!”

“That oversized chicken’s about to become dinner!”

“Shut your beaks, featherbrains!”

“You crows only talk big because there’s dozens of you!”

The crows screeched curses from one side while several hawks, cranes, parrots, and even a furious woodpecker began cussing back at them. Wings flapped wildly as feathers flew everywhere. Some of the smaller spirit beasts were already trying to climb over the seats to fight each other. If I had not been using phytokinesis to separate them with wooden partitions and vines, the bleachers would have turned into a battlefield of their own.

“It should be fine,” Zhen Ai remarked calmly beside me, as if two monsters were not in the middle of demolishing parts of the forest.

The ground suddenly rended apart.

Mumu unleashed a devastating kick infused with dense earth qi, and the force behind it exploded through the arena like a miniature earthquake. A wall of fractured stone surged toward the spectators.

I immediately raised my hand.

“Verdant Barrier.”

Towering walls of thick wood erupted before us just as the shockwave arrived. The impact thundered through the clearing hard enough to shake the bleachers. Dust and pebbles rained from above.

When the tremors subsided, I dispelled the barrier.

Half the arena was gone.

The clearing now resembled a cratered wasteland filled with shattered earth and uprooted trees. Above the destruction, Old Crow hovered in the sky with his wings spread wide. Flames gathered around him in spiraling currents of blazing orange qi.

“Sunblaze Inferno!”

A gigantic sphere of fire descended from the heavens like a falling sun.

The audience erupted in cheers.

“BURN HER!”

“THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!”

“Flatten that oversized bird!”

The flaming sphere crashed into the arena with catastrophic force, engulfing the clearing in a storm of fire. Yet at the final moment, Mumu escaped underground by phasing through the earth itself, avoiding the inferno entirely.

Unfortunately, the surrounding forest was not so fortunate.

The flames spread outward rapidly, devouring grass and plant life in every direction. I immediately used phytokinesis to smother the fire before the entire forest caught ablaze. Thick roots surged from beneath the soil while countless vines wrapped around the flames, choking them apart and burying the burning areas beneath damp earth.

“Both fighters are amazing,” Zhen Ai praised with sparkling eyes.

Tao Wolong stared at the battlefield with unconcealed longing. “One day… I’ll become as strong as them.”

“Say ah.”

Mab suddenly shoved a stalk of celery toward my mouth.

I winced.

“You don’t want this?” she asked innocently before picking up a grape instead. “I guess you prefer this, huh? Say ah.”

I sighed and opened my mouth while she happily fed me grapes like I was some injured woodland creature under rehabilitation.

Behind us, the spirit beasts continued arguing loudly over their bets.

“I wagered three spirit fruits on Elder Crow!”

“You idiot, Mumu hasn’t even used her full strength yet!”

“If I lose this bet, I’m eating dirt for a month!”

“You already eat dirt!”

Mumu suddenly burst from underground.

A massive earthen spire launched her upward at terrifying speed. Old Crow vanished instantly before her kick could connect, his figure disappearing in a flash of golden light. He reappeared several meters away and unleashed a radiant sphere from his claws.

“Sunlight Orb!”

The compressed projectile streaked toward Mumu like a miniature star.

Zhen Ai narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. “That ability is almost like the short instant movement techniques used by Nascent Soul cultivators. If he can maintain that mobility, the fight tilts more toward Old Crow’s side.”

Jia Ping looked increasingly distressed.

“Sage,” she said, “do you know of the saying called the Rule of Ten?”

I shrugged. “Dunno.”

She inhaled slowly before explaining, “At the beginning of Body Tempering, a martial artist could easily deal with ten mortal men. An early Qi Condensation cultivator could easily defeat ten Body Tempering cultivators. Likewise, a Foundation Establishment cultivator could overwhelm ten Qi Condensation cultivators.”

Her gaze returned toward the battlefield.

“The exception begins at Core Formation and above. Those realms become difficult to quantify because of how destructive they are. If such cultivators fought without restraint, they could become natural disasters to mortals.”

Right as she finished speaking, the earth shook violently.

Mumu leaped high into the sky before crashing back down onto the arena. The impact split the ground apart as enormous slabs of earth levitated upward around her. Using the floating debris as cover, footholds, and projectiles, she accelerated unpredictably through the air. Stone fragments shot toward Old Crow from every direction while she zigzagged across the battlefield with explosive speed.

Old Crow dodged every single projectile.

Yet in the next instant, Mumu suddenly appeared directly behind his blind spot.

“You are dead, old man,” she declared coldly as one leg descended from above like a heavenly execution blade.

The strike connected.

Old Crow exploded into a storm of black feathers.

An illusion.

Even I was surprised.

Then a thunderous voice echoed across the entire forest.

“SUNBLAZE INFERNO!”

I looked upward.

An enormous sphere of fire, far larger than the previous one, descended rapidly from the heavens with enough heat to distort the air itself.

“Eh, we’ll be fine,” I remarked casually, raising my staff. “Verdant Barrier.”

A colossal wall of wood enveloped the spectators just as the sea of flames crashed into the clearing. Fire exploded outward in all directions, swallowing the entire battlefield beneath a blazing inferno while my barrier endured the heat with deep groaning creaks.

When the inferno finally subsided and the flames died down, smoke drifted across the ruined clearing in thick black waves. The arena no longer resembled an arena at all. Melted earth, burning craters, shattered stone, and uprooted trees filled the landscape. Even the air itself still shimmered from the lingering heat.

At the center of the devastation, Mumu lay sprawled on the ground motionlessly.

I used Nature’s Stride and crossed the distance instantly, emerging beside her in a swirl of leaves and green light. Kneeling beside the emu, I activated Druidic Insight.

Still alive.

Barely, but alive.

Honestly, she should have been roasted into spirit beast charcoal by that last attack. The only reason she survived was probably because of the providence Zhen Ai had cast over the area earlier. Luck and fate had likely bent themselves enough to keep this duel from becoming a funeral.

I placed a hand on Mumu’s neck.

“Lifepulse.”

Warm green light spread from my palm into her body. The damaged qi pathways stabilized while burns and internal injuries rapidly recovered beneath the healing spell. After several moments, Mumu groaned loudly and jerked awake.

“What in the blazing mountains happened?” she croaked. “Why does my entire body feel like roasted meat?”

“You lost,” I told her honestly.

Mumu stared at me blankly for a few seconds before her eyes widened in disbelief.

“That old fossil cheated!”

A familiar weight landed on my shoulder.

Old Crow folded his wings calmly as if he had not just dropped a miniature sun onto somebody moments ago.

“I have no interest in becoming the Sky Tribe’s chieftain,” Old Crow declared with dignity. “This old one possesses greater responsibilities as a retainer of Sage Wo Li.”

I was touched.

Mumu looked utterly offended.

“This doesn’t make sense!” she complained. “You were screaming about honor and tribe pride ten breaths ago!”

Old Crow slowly turned toward her with the air of a profound elder who had comprehended the mysteries of heaven itself.

“Little Mumu,” he said gently, “victory and defeat are fleeting things. One must not cling too tightly to worldly outcomes.”

“You literally exploded into fake feathers and blasted me to death!”

“The Dao is mysterious.”

Mumu looked like she wanted to peck him to death right there.

I stood and turned toward the bleachers where the spirit beasts were still excitedly screaming about the duel.

“Well,” I called out loudly, “the show’s over. I’m glad I got to know all of you, but the party’s over now, so please be on your way.”

The animals slowly began dispersing through the forest, though not without plenty of noise.

“That was incredible!”

“Sage Wo Li blocked that giant fireball like it was nothing!”

“I wanna watch another fight!”

“Old Crow’s final move was amazing!”

“Mumu almost won though!”

Several younger beasts stared at me with sparkling admiration while others excitedly reenacted portions of the battle for their companions. Quite a number of them loudly hoped the fights would become a regular event.

Apparently, the sapient spirit beasts had developed a frightening appetite for entertainment.

Before everyone could fully leave, I raised my voice once more.

“The chieftains of each tribe, remain behind for a moment.”

The rest of the beasts gradually departed afterward, disappearing into the forest in groups while still noisily discussing the battle.

Once the clearing quieted somewhat, I faced the gathered chieftains.

“First, thank you,” I said sincerely. “You all came here peacefully, and I appreciate that.”

The spirit beast leaders listened attentively.

“I don’t really want to tell any of you how to live your lives,” I continued. “You may continue your ways as before. I only ask for one thing. Maybe… try befriending the other sapient spirit beasts in the forest.”

I gestured toward Old Crow perched proudly on my shoulder.

“There are beasts here I’ve grown attached to. You don’t have to like one another, but I’d appreciate it if all of you could at least coexist.”

The various chieftains expressed their agreement.

“We shall respect Sage Wo Li’s wishes,” said the monkey chieftain.

“The river tribes shall comply,” added the water buffalo.

Mumu crossed her wings stubbornly. “Fine. But I still think the crows are annoying.”

“We think emus are uncivilized,” one of the crows muttered.

“I heard that!”

I quickly dismissed them before another war started.

Soon enough, the spirit beast chieftains departed and joined the others leaving the clearing.

Finally alone with my companions, I began restoring the area through phytokinesis. Vines spread across the devastated battlefield while broken earth shifted back into place. The ruined bleachers disassembled themselves into neat piles of lumber before returning into the soil as nutrients. Grass regrew rapidly while roots repaired the fractured terrain beneath us.

At the same time, I used phytokinesis to gather all the offerings and snacks scattered everywhere, particularly the absurd amount of fruits and vegetables Mab had been feeding me throughout the duel.

I looked toward the remaining spirit beasts nearby.

“Grab a fruit or two,” I told them. “Snack on them or something.”

The monkeys immediately erupted into cheers.

“FRUIT!”

Dozens of them lunged toward the pile eagerly.

“Don’t be greedy,” I warned.

The monkeys reluctantly slowed down while the other animals also took some fruits for themselves. Birds carried berries away while deer cautiously picked apples from the pile. Even several snakes dragged away fruits somehow despite not having hands.

As the beasts enjoyed themselves, I glanced toward Jia Ping.

“What exactly makes a spirit beast anyway?”

Jia Ping thought for a moment before answering carefully. “The definition varies between sects and scholarly traditions. Generally, spirit beasts are creatures that possess spirituality or cultivation, most often those that have reached Qi Condensation. Some are considered spirit beasts because they possess unique bloodlines.”

She adjusted her robes slightly before continuing.

“To more scholastic circles, the distinction lies in whether they possess a spark or not.”

“A spark? Yeah, I think I heard about something like that…”

“The seed of higher awareness,” Jia Ping explained. “The potential for sapience, cultivation, and spiritual understanding.”

I nodded slowly.

Honestly, it was intimidating.

Not the fighting. Not the cultivators. Not even the giant flaming death balls.

No, what intimidated me was suddenly becoming responsible for countless sapient lives belonging to entirely different species and tribes. Somehow, somewhere along the way, I had accidentally become an important figure in the forest.

I looked helplessly toward Mab.

“Can’t you just become the master of the forest instead?”

The dryad smiled softly.

“I shall help rule,” she said, “but the position rightfully belongs to you.”

“That sounds fake.”

“It was decided long ago,” Mab replied calmly. “Perhaps through destiny. Perhaps through prophecy. Perhaps through the will of the land itself. Regardless of the reason, this is a path you cannot run away from.”

That honestly terrified me more than the duel.

Perceiving the memories of the land and witnessing the ruins of that ancient magical city had shown me incredible wonders, but also horrible truths. Entire civilizations had vanished. Kingdoms had crumbled. Powerful beings had fallen into madness, war, and ruin.

Responsibility carried weight.

Real weight.

Old Crow suddenly bowed his head slightly atop my shoulder.

“My murder shall provide aid to Sage Wo Li.”

Zhen Ai smiled warmly beside him. “I have yet to repay the kindness and grace you showed me.”

Tao Wolong puffed out his chest proudly.

“Godfather!” he declared eagerly. “I’ll pull my weight too!”

I stared at the three of them silently for a moment while the sounds of the forest echoed around us.

…Yeah.

That somehow made the responsibility feel a little less terrifying.

Mab stepped forward quietly.

The dryad’s green hair swayed gently beneath the forest breeze while countless motes of light drifted around her like wandering fireflies. There was an unusual solemnity in her expression that immediately made me wary.

“It is time to make it official,” said Mab softly.

Before I could ask what she meant, she fell onto one knee before me.

My eyes widened.

“Mab?”

The entire forest became still, while her voice echoed clearly across the clearing.

“I declare thee the Avatar of the Source. The Origin Keeper. The Verdant Guardian. The Bearer of Misfortune. The Monster King.”

Every title she spoke seemed to carry strange weight behind it. The air trembled faintly while the surrounding vegetation glowed with emerald radiance.

“The Avatar of the Source, for thou art beloved by the primal forces of life itself. The Origin Keeper, for the memories of the ancient land answer thy call. The Verdant Guardian, for the forests bend willingly beneath thy protection. The Bearer of Misfortune, for calamity and destiny coil together within thy soul. The Monster King, for beasts and spirits alike gather beneath thy shadow.”

As Mab continued her litany, the sky itself shifted.

An enormous spectral silhouette manifested high above the forest.

The Spirit of the World Tree.

Its colossal form towered beyond comprehension, ancient branches spreading across the heavens like a second world suspended above reality itself. Golden light cascaded downward from its leaves while immense spiritual pressure blanketed the forest.

Beside me, Zhen Ai immediately fell onto one knee.

Tao Wolong followed after her without hesitation.

Jia Ping lowered herself as well, her face pale with disbelief.

Even Roo, who had apparently just woken up from his nap moments ago, blinked sleepily before dropping onto one knee with a confused grunt.

The spirit beasts throughout the forest bowed.

The wolves lowered their heads.

The birds folded their wings.

The monkeys crouched in reverence.

Even the forest itself bent.

Trees creaked softly as they bowed inward. Grass flattened across the earth in supplication. Flowers lowered their petals while vines curled respectfully around the roots of ancient trees.

The entire forest acknowledged me.

Mab slowly raised her gaze toward me.

“We do not know the future,” she revealed quietly. “The path ahead is filled with uncertainty, for the Age of Chaos is an era of change and transformation.”

The spectral World Tree above us pulsed with ancient light.

“Yet despite the turbulence to come, thou shalt stand tall amidst the storm. Thou shalt become a guiding hope for the orderly path. Thou shalt tame chaos itself and bring harmony between the three worlds.”

Mab extended one hand outward.

A blackened crown appeared floating above her palm.

The instant it manifested, my breathing nearly stopped.

The crown was beautiful.

And terrifying.

Dark silver branches intertwined together into jagged antler-like shapes while tiny star-like lights flickered endlessly within the hollow spaces between them. Countless possibilities seemed to swirl around it infinitely. Merely looking at the artifact made my mind feel dizzy.

I could feel unimaginable power radiating from it.

Mab rose slowly to her feet.

“This is the Hollow Star,” she declared reverently. “Bow thy head only this moment, so that I may crown thee.”

The forest held its breath.

“As my predecessor ordained unto me, I shall now perform the honors of crowning thee as the great steward who shall safeguard the world.”

Her golden eyes met mine.

“Wo Li. Do you accept?”

Infinite possibilities surged before my mind.

Power.

Authority.

Strength enough to change the world.

Enough power to protect everyone.

Enough power to oppose horrors beyond imagination.

My body instinctively began lowering itself.

However, I stopped myself.

Inside my mind, the Supreme Monster exploded into furious rage.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” he roared.

His voice thundered across my consciousness like an apocalyptic storm.

“ACCEPT IT!”

The dark sun within my soul churned violently.

“You foolish idiot! Do you understand how much good you could accomplish with that power?!”

He raged endlessly.

“You call yourself compassionate? You claim to care about others? Then why are you turning away an opportunity to truly help them?!”

The Supreme Monster’s fury became increasingly savage.

“Damn idealist! You pretend to be righteous while refusing the very power that could save lives! Why?! Because of what?! WHAT?!”

I inhaled slowly, and answered aloud.

“I don’t think I’m ready.”

Silence filled the clearing.

The Supreme Monster froze briefly.

I looked at the crown floating above Mab’s palm.

“With that kind of power, I probably could do a lot of good,” I admitted quietly. “But to what end?”

I shook my head slowly.

“I’m not a saint.”

That was the truth.

I liked my current life.

I liked wandering through forests, talking to spirit beasts, helping people when I could, and discovering the world at my own pace. This second life of mine still held endless possibilities before me.

If I accepted that crown now?

All those possibilities would vanish.

I could feel it instinctively.

The moment I accepted the Hollow Star, my path would narrow into a singular destiny with no possibility of turning back.

The Supreme Monster glared at me with bitter disappointment from the back of my mind.

“…Pathetic,” he muttered.

Slowly, his presence receded into silence.

I took a deep breath and stood tall before Mab.

“I refuse.”

Contrary to the Supreme Monster’s disappointment, Mab smiled softly instead.

“That is fine too,” she said gently.

Still, there was sadness hidden in her eyes.

“May I ask why?” Mab questioned quietly. “A reserve of power, even if left unused, would not necessarily be harmful.”

“That’s true,” I admitted.

But the crown was not merely power.

It was destiny.

A role.

A path.

I looked toward the surrounding forest.

“This life gave me freedom,” I said slowly. “I want to preserve that freedom. I want to protect my agency. I want to cherish my ability to choose.”

If I accepted the crown, I could already imagine how destiny would tighten around me. The dark sun of misfortune within my soul would likely grow even heavier beneath the weight of that role.

I did not want my future decided for me.

Not yet.

Mab stared at me for several long moments, and she smiled warmly.

A snap echoed softly through the clearing.

The Hollow Star vanished instantly.

“I am proud of your choice,” Mab declared. “Your path belongs to you alone.”

Relief quietly washed through me.

“We cannot allow a mere artifact to dictate your fate,” she continued gently.

Then, to my utter alarm, Mab returned onto one knee before me once more.

The dryad lowered her head gracefully.

“Whether thou be crowned king or wandering fool,” she said softly, “my loyalty shall remain unchanged.”

My face immediately twitched.

“Mab—”

“I shall walk beside thee through flourishing spring and dying winter alike. I shall remain at thy side through fortune and calamity. Should the world condemn thee, I shall still know thy heart.”

Why did this sound like wedding vows?

“I shall lend thee my strength, my counsel, and my life if needed,” Mab continued serenely. “For where thou walkest, there too shall I follow.”

With all my might and resolve, I answered.

“I accept.”