Immortal Druid

[POV: Mab]

The moment Mab felt the strange energy, she knew something had gone terribly wrong. Her expression tightened as she immediately took to the skies, her innate flight carrying her above the vast canopy of the Hermit Sage Forest. The peaceful sea of emerald beneath her had always brought comfort, yet now every leaf trembled beneath an invisible pressure that weighed upon the world itself.

Before long, she reached the far edge of the enormous lake that embodied the Serenity Lake Domain. What greeted her caused even her immortal heart to skip a beat. The entire lake exploded upward as countless colossal tentacles emerged from its depths. Every writhing appendage was covered with countless lips lined by jagged teeth, while innumerable eyes opened and closed without rhythm, each gazing upon reality with unbearable malice. They clawed against empty space itself until a massive tear split across the heavens, exposing a darkness that did not belong to their world.

The surrounding spiritual energy erupted into utter chaos. It churned so violently that even sound transmission became impossible across such a short distance.

A memory surfaced unbidden within Mab's mind.

"Mab," Wo Li had said with unusual seriousness, "I have a favor to ask of you. Please protect the Touch Grass Sect, Freedom City, and Leafhome City. I still don't know how to stop the calamity that is coming. Perhaps I'll find a way before that day arrives, perhaps I won't. If everything truly falls apart... no matter what happens, promise me you'll protect the people you can still reach."

Back then, she had only smiled and wondered why someone as optimistic as him would utter such pessimistic words. She had never imagined that he had been speaking about this very moment.

"This is wrong," Mab muttered through gnashed teeth.

Her first instinct was not to fight.

She wanted to find Wo Li immediately and drag him away from this battlefield. No matter how monstrous his growth had been, he was nowhere near strong enough to confront a primordial existence. Even she, whose cultivation had long surpassed the mortal realm, could not confidently say she would survive such a confrontation. Running away was not cowardice. Against an enemy born before countless worlds, retreat was wisdom.

Freedom City still possessed that mysterious flying ability whose origins even she failed to fully comprehend. If necessary, they could uproot the entire Hermit Sage Forest and flee through the heavens. Perhaps the Earthly Heart Continent would be destroyed. Perhaps the entire world would eventually perish behind them. Even so, such devastation would not occur instantly. Time remained the only weapon they possessed. Given enough years, enough opportunities, Wo Li could continue growing stronger.

The memories of her previous life reminded Mab all too clearly how profoundly unfair primordial beings truly were.

"What is happening?"

The voice belonged to Hao Lei.

The sickly-looking man appeared behind her, his pale complexion making him appear as though a strong breeze might topple him despite the immense cultivation hidden beneath his frail appearance.

"Begin the evacuation immediately," Mab ordered without turning around. "Bring everyone through the gate connected to the Sky Stone Cave. Leave no one behind."

Hao Lei remained silent for a brief moment before asking, "And what are you planning to do?"

"I'm going to save whoever I can."

Before Hao Lei could answer, the entire world suddenly changed.

The blazing sun vanished without warning.

Darkness descended across heaven and earth as the brilliant moon silently replaced the sun, bathing the continent beneath a pale silver glow. Night had arrived in an instant.

Mab immediately understood that it was the work of Nyx.

Only she possessed authority capable of blanketing the entire world in eternal night. This was no ordinary darkness. It concealed the world itself from the monstrous entity clawing against reality while shielding every mortal from witnessing a form that no sane mind should ever behold.

"I shall go now and carry out your orders," Hao Lei said before disappearing without another word.

The instant he departed, Mab inhaled deeply.

Her long hair gradually transformed into radiant silver-white as an ancient aura flowed from every strand. Endless vitality erupted from her body, spreading throughout the surrounding forest as though the world itself had awakened.

"Spirit of the World Tree."

The immense life force gathered around her before blooming into divine radiance.

"Maiden of the Four Seasons."

The light separated into four magnificent figures, each born from a different aspect of Mab's very existence.

Winter appeared first, her flowing icy-blue hair shimmering like frozen rivers beneath the moonlight as frost quietly formed beneath every step she took.

Spring emerged next, vibrant leafy-green hair cascading behind her while countless blossoms danced around her graceful figure.

Summer descended wrapped in blazing flames, her fiery-red hair moving like living fire as unbearable warmth spread across the surrounding air.

Finally came Autumn, whose bright golden hair glowed with the gentle brilliance of a harvest sunset while countless amber leaves spiraled peacefully around her.

The four maidens required no explanation as they understood the duty entrusted to them from the instant of their creation. It was to serve Mab's will. They scattered toward the four corners of the Hermit Sage Forest without hesitation.

Mab watched each of them depart before speaking softly.

"Winter... Spring... Summer... Autumn... all of you, please do your very best. Save as many people as you possibly can."

None of them answered aloud.

They merely nodded before vanishing into streaks of divine light.

...

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[POV: Li Qing]

Li Qing's brows gradually knitted together as she stared at the crystal orb resting upon her desk. Silence filled the office. The Heavenly Eye had never failed her before, yet now its surface remained completely blank, refusing to reveal even the faintest glimpse of the future. It was as though fate itself had ceased to exist.

Her unease deepened as she slowly lifted her gaze toward the window.

The bright afternoon had vanished. Instead, the entire sky had transformed into an endless night illuminated only by an unfamiliar moon.

Before she could comprehend what had occurred, space inside her office distorted.

A man quietly stepped out from the ripple.

His complexion was deathly pale, long dark hair hanging loosely over shoulders that seemed too frail to support his body. Dark bags rested beneath his eyes, giving him the appearance of someone suffering from an incurable illness. Yet beneath that sickly exterior lurked a spiritual pressure so overwhelming that Li Qing instinctively held her breath.

It reminded her of the immortals recorded within ancient legends.

Immortality was the supreme state of existence attainable only by cultivators who had reached the absolute pinnacle. As if to prove this, the ring resting upon her finger suddenly emitted a faint vibration. Her granddaughter had gifted it to her not long ago, explaining that it would react only to one thing.

The sickly man regarded her calmly before speaking.

"My name is Hao Lei. I am an acquaintance of Wo Li."

Li Qing remained silent, sensing no hostility yet finding no room to interrupt.

"You will immediately begin evacuation procedures," Hao Lei continued. "Use the gate portal connected to the Hermit Sage Forest and send everyone to the Sky Stone Cave. Waste no time."

His emotionless eyes met hers.

"This is not a request."

…

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[POV: Guo Yupin]

The summit of Serenity Cliff Sect had never felt so small.

Guo Yupin stood upon the mountain peak and stared at the sky in silence as daylight vanished beneath an unnatural night. The moon hung overhead like a cold eye watching the world. Only days ago, his greatest concern had been the endless discussions among the sect elders. They wished for him to become the next Sect Leader and publicly sever his ties with the Willow Order to gain the Sage's favor. The idea had not come from him. It had been the elders' plan from beginning to end.

The irony was that he could not even argue against their reasoning.

To the outside world, Guo Yupin had always appeared more like a hired sword than a true member of the Willow Order. Severing ties would not damage Serenity Cliff Sect's reputation. Yet only he knew the truth.

The Willow Order had given him back a future.

In his youth, he had been regarded as Serenity Cliff Sect's greatest genius. Elders once predicted he would become the youngest Nascent Soul cultivator in the continent's recorded history. Everything changed during a journey undertaken while he was only at the early Core Formation Realm.

Back then, he had met a remarkable young man.

The youth possessed extraordinary insight into the sword. Every conversation had left Guo Yupin astonished. Admiration became friendship, and friendship brought disaster. Several nations targeted the young man for reasons Guo Yupin never fully understood. When conflict erupted, he chose to stand beside his friend.

The price had been devastating, resulting into his foundation suffering irreversible damage and the path to the Nascent Soul being severed.

What should have been a glorious future became a dead end.

Had the Willow Order not intervened many years later, he would never have stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm at all.

The debt he owed them was immeasurable, yet now, standing atop the mountain, Guo Yupin could not see any meaningful way to repay it.

His gaze drifted toward the distant lake.

An enormous black sphere continued expanding above the Serenity Lake Domain. Countless colossal tentacles supported its growing mass while reality itself twisted around it. Near the lake stood an immense tree overflowing with life force. Another gigantic tree could be seen farther away in the direction of the Hermit Sage Forest.

Neither sight should have been possible, yet here they were.

Something warm trickled from his nose.

Guo Yupin reached up and touched it, only to discover blood staining his fingers. His expression changed as the horrifying realization struck him: merely observing the creature emerging from the lake was already warping his mind. Strange whispers echoed in his ears, while indistinct shapes darted at the corners of his vision.

Below, the disciples had descended into chaos, their screams piercing the air. Some attacked empty space in frenzied delusion, others collapsed to the ground clutching their heads in agony, and several turned their weapons on their own fellow sect members.

Guo Yupin immediately inhaled and unleashed a thunderous roar.

"GET A HOLD OF YOURSELVES! DON'T LOOK AT THE CREATURE!"

The wave of qi exploded outward.

Like a bell resounding across heaven and earth, his voice shattered much of the confusion afflicting the disciples. Many regained their senses immediately. Those who remained delirious found several flying swords appearing behind them before striking pressure points with precise force with their hilt.

Bodies collapsed harmlessly to the ground.

"Grandfather!"

Guo Yimu landed nearby.

The young man's robes were stained with dirt and sweat.

"I've evacuated as many people as possible. The children, the elderly, and those unable to fight have already boarded the ships at the river behind the mountain. They've departed for the inner grounds of the Touch Grass Sect."

Guo Yupin's eyes widened.

"You foolish boy! Why are you still here?" he barked. "You should have left together with them and escorted the ships!"

Before Guo Yimu could answer, another figure descended from the sky.

Guo Yume landed hurriedly atop his flying sword.

His face looked grim.

"Father, we've got a problem," he reported. "Strange dark creatures have started climbing the mountain. They don't look friendly at all."

Guo Yupin narrowed his eyes, a faint, bitter chuckle nearly escaping him at the sheer understatement. Nothing arriving from that direction could possibly be friendly. His gaze instinctively drifted toward the distant battlefield, where a familiar figure flashed through the night like a streak of moonlight. Silver sword light erupted repeatedly across the lake’s surface, each brilliant arc slicing through the darkness as tentacles fell one after another in a gruesome rain.

The man moving among them looked no older than before, untouched by the centuries that had passed. He was the friend whose life Guo Yupin had once protected at the cost of his own future. It was the same friend who had risen to become one of the most extraordinary figures in the cultivation world.

Meanwhile, beneath the enormous spiritual tree, the Sage remained perfectly stationary. The surrounding energies grew increasingly turbulent, swirling with raw power that made the air hum and crackle. The sight gave Guo Yupin a measure of confidence. He turned toward the gathered disciples, meeting the sea of faces staring back at him, etched with fear, confusion, and raw desperation. They needed guidance and certainty. And in that moment, he knew he had to provide it.

"Listen carefully," he began. "I don't know whether we survive tonight. I don't know whether Serenity Cliff Sect will still exist tomorrow. But I do know this. We are cultivators. This mountain is our home. The people behind us are our families. If we retreat any farther, there will be nowhere left to stand. Therefore, even if this becomes our final battle, we shall—"

His speech ended abruptly.

An enormous shadow descended from above, blotting out the moonlight as a single colossal tentacle stretched across the sky. It was so massive that it completely covered the sect grounds below. The disciples froze in terror, death looming over them like an inevitable tide.

Then silver light flashed. The enormous tentacle split apart with a sickening crack, unleashing an explosion of flesh and dark fluid that rained across the sky. A young man with perpetually half-closed eyes skidded across the ground before coming to a sharp halt beside Guo Yupin. A faint sheen of sweat glistened on his brow.

He sighed wearily. “Senior Brother, I’m afraid we could only save the drinking for later…”

Guo Yupin immediately frowned. “I told you not to call me that. The relationships between sects and nations are already complicated enough.” His gaze shifted toward the battlefield. “So, how bad is it?”

“Very,” Hu Gang replied, the answer coming far too quickly. “If we’re talking about odds, I’d say fifty-fifty. That’s on a bad day, though.” He glanced up at the moonlit sky with a wry smile. “But hey, it’s technically night right now, so maybe it’s not that bad.”

Before anyone could react, the dark creatures reached the summit. They surged from the forests in a relentless black tide. Hu Gang vanished in a blur. Silver sword light exploded among the monsters, sending limbs flying and bodies splitting apart. The creatures possessed flesh unlike any living thing, their interiors consisted of shifting gray matter and writhing darkness that refused to hold a stable shape. Even stranger, many of them immediately turned on one another, tearing each other apart with savage abandon, while others fought alongside shadowy humanoid figures that emerged from the gloom.

Guo Yimu stared in disbelief. “What in the world is happening?”

Hu Gang’s sword flashed through three monsters before he answered. “The shadowy spirits are friendlies.” Another slash reduced several creatures to pieces. “The unshapely terrors are not.”

The old swordsman laughed despite the dire situation. "Hah~! If this continues, your debts might as well have been repaid!"

“If I manage to beat this thing back into the lake tonight, I’ll still consider my debt to you and Serenity Cliff Sect unpaid.” answered Hu Gang.

Silver light erupted once more, and hundreds of dark creatures disintegrated in an instant. Hu Gang pointed his sword toward the distant horror clawing its way into reality.

“So Senior Brother,” he called out with a confident grin, “look forward to me beating this thing down.”

...

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[POV: Hu Gang]

Hu Gang talked a big game.

The problem was that he did not believe half of it.

His body flashed across the battlefield like lightning. Every movement carried the essence of countless years spent refining the sword. Tentacles exploded apart wherever his blade passed.

Yet the pressure weighing upon his soul never lessened.

This enemy was wrong.

Every instinct cultivated throughout his life screamed at him that the thing emerging from the lake should not exist. Even as he severed another tentacle, his eyes drifted toward the Sage standing beneath the enormous spiritual tree.

The energies surrounding Wo Li continued growing more turbulent as countless forces gathered around him.

Something enormous was taking shape.

Hu Gang prayed it would be enough. Another tentacle lunged toward him and his sword flashed. The appendage separated instantly, while dark blood rained from the heavens.

Hu Gang exhaled slowly.

"If the worst comes to it," he muttered to himself, "then I'll simply have to unleash the full potential of my swordsmanship."

His grip tightened around the hilt.

"Even if it costs me my life."