Immortal Druid

The Ten Great Sects had endured for countless ages, their histories buried beneath layers of myth, fragmented records, and legends that blurred the line between truth and fiction.

Long before their names echoed across the Earthly Heart Continent, the ancient sects had preferred isolation above all else. They secluded themselves atop unreachable mountains, hidden valleys, and secret realms where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathered in abundance.

The affairs of mortal kingdoms held no value in their eyes. Dynasties rose only to crumble into dust. Empires conquered half the continent before vanishing into forgotten pages of history. To cultivators who pursued immortality, the lifespan of nations was no more significant than the passing of seasons.

Yet the mortal world never ceased moving forward. Civilization flourished with astonishing speed, and its greatest achievement was not the construction of magnificent cities or towering fortresses, but the birth of nations themselves.

Whenever people gathered in sufficient numbers, they formed societies governed by laws and traditions. Wealth accumulated into the hands of a privileged few while poverty settled upon countless others. Currency emerged to facilitate trade, nobles rose to command authority, peasants tilled fertile fields, merchants chased prosperity, and slaves bore the burdens of those above them.

As generations passed, settlements became kingdoms, kingdoms became empires, and every ruler desired more land, greater wealth, richer resources, and stronger armies. Ambition inevitably gave birth to war.

No historian could identify the first spark that ignited the catastrophe which engulfed the continent. Some believed a wounded soldier had been rescued by a hidden sect and later deserted, carrying cultivation techniques back to the mortal realm. Others claimed an ambitious outer disciple abandoned his sect to establish a noble house using spiritual arts. Still others insisted that fallen aristocrats had discovered forgotten immortal inheritances hidden within ancient ruins. Countless tales circulated across the continent, each contradicting the last, yet all arrived at the same conclusion. The secrets of cultivation had begun to spread among mortals.

The consequences proved disastrous.

Once rulers discovered that cultivators possessed the power to overturn entire battlefields, every kingdom sought those secrets for itself. Hidden sects that had remained untouched for millennia suddenly found themselves hunted by ambitious monarchs, greedy nobles, and desperate warlords alike. Refusing to surrender their inheritances, they emerged from seclusion to defend themselves.

The conflict escalated beyond anything the continent had ever witnessed, dragging immortal cultivators and ordinary armies into the same endless inferno. By the time peace finally returned, countless ancient sects had vanished forever, while ten supreme powers stood triumphant above all others. Thus, the Ten Great Sects came into existence, and among them stood the Renewal Sect.

Across the continent, the Renewal Sect inspired reverence unlike any other. Farmers prayed for its physicians whenever plague swept through villages. Nobles competed for its miraculous medicines capable of extending life. Even common laborers spoke of its halls with hopeful admiration, for unlike many cultivation sects, its medical knowledge was not reserved entirely for immortals. Mortal physicians could study its teachings, refine their craft, and dedicate their lives to healing others even without possessing spiritual roots.

Countless families offered incense toward the distant mountains where the sect resided, whispering, "May the Renewal Sect continue to bless the world. May their healers preserve countless lives. May our children one day inherit even a fraction of their sacred knowledge."

In the present era, the Renewal Sect was celebrated for its wandering hermits, unparalleled physicians, and vast treasury of rare herbs, spiritual medicines, and treasured pills sought by every major faction.

Long before the Ten Great Sects had been established, however, the sect had been known by another distinction. It had been founded by the Divine Physician himself, an immortal whose accomplishments belonged to an age so ancient that even history struggled to preserve his name. His miracles had become folklore, his teachings sacred scripture, and his legacy the cornerstone upon which the sect continued to stand.

Every year, thousands of mortal physicians climbed the mountain to participate in the annual examination. Few possessed spiritual roots, yet all carried unwavering determination. Before entering the examination grounds, rows of hopeful candidates knelt before the towering jade statue of the Divine Physician. Even the outer disciples joined them, placing their palms together with solemn expressions.

"Great Ancestor Divine Physician, guide my hands so that I may never bring harm where I seek to heal."

"May my heart remain compassionate, my judgment unwavering, and my resolve unbroken."

"If it is your will, grant me the honor of becoming an outer disciple, so I may continue your legacy and save countless lives."

Ancestral worship had never been viewed as unusual among cultivators. Quite the opposite. It had become the very foundation of sect culture. Every great sect honored the immortal ancestors who had carved their names into history through impossible feats. Their statues, shrines, and memorial halls reminded each generation that they walked paths first forged by legends whose achievements remained beyond imagination.

Far away from the bustling examination grounds, deep within a quiet valley, the Renewal Sect's leader remained inside a modest wooden hut scarcely larger than a farmer's home. The humble dwelling contained little more than a wooden table, a bookshelf overflowing with medical texts, and a kettle gently steaming over a charcoal fire. Despite its simplicity, no elder dared underestimate the man who lived there.

A jade communication slip rested upon the table.

Sect Leader Su Zhelan read its contents once more before letting out a long breath.

"The Four Sovereign Flags have truly lost their minds," he muttered in disbelief. "An ultimatum? They dare issue the Ten Great Sects an ultimatum? Have those nations become so intoxicated by power that they believe they can declare war upon cultivators without consequence?"

His wild, unkempt hair framed a rugged face weathered by countless years, while piercing eyes reflected neither panic nor anger, only profound disappointment.

Though he lived more humbly than many outer disciples, Su Zhelan possessed the cultivation of the Soul Transformation Realm. His presence alone carried the quiet authority of a towering mountain.

He rose from his chair and infused spiritual energy into another jade slip.

"Notify every elder immediately. This Sect Leader is convening an emergency council. Let none be absent."

...

..

.

[POV: Zi Wen]

Not far from the sect's main grounds, a gentle river wound its way through the forest beneath swaying willow trees. Sitting upon a smooth boulder beside the water was a young man whose appearance hardly matched the lofty reputation surrounding his name.

Zi Wen, hailed by many as the second coming of the Divine Physician, wore robes so oversized that they hung loosely from his slender frame. The faded cloth had clearly been patched countless times, and his sleeves nearly concealed his hands altogether. Were it not for his refined features, gentle eyes, and serene smile, anyone encountering him on the roadside would have mistaken him for a wandering vagabond instead of the greatest medical genius of his generation.

He lazily leaned against his homemade fishing rod, fashioned from a simple tree branch with animal sinew serving as the fishing line. The tranquil river reflected drifting clouds as he watched the float bob gently upon the surface.

"I'm so bored," Zi Wen softly muttered, letting out an exaggerated sigh. Moments later, the float suddenly plunged beneath the water.

"Oh, I got a catch!"

His eyes brightened as he pulled the rod upward with surprising enthusiasm.

Snap.

The fishing line broke cleanly in half.

"Eh?"

Zi Wen stared blankly at the dangling end of the severed sinew while the unseen fish escaped back into the river without so much as a ripple.

Outside the art of healing, Zi Wen possessed astonishingly little talent. Whether fishing, cooking, farming, crafting, or any ordinary skill unrelated to medicine, his aptitude bordered on disastrous.

Just as he contemplated whether the fish had somehow outsmarted him, a familiar voice echoed directly inside his mind through sound transmission.

"Zi Wen, report to the main hall immediately," Sect Leader Su Zhelan said. "I've called an elders' meeting."

Zi Wen rolled his eyes toward the heavens.

"I'd rather not."

There was a brief silence before Su Zhelan replied in an eerily calm voice.

"You may refuse. If you do, I'll inform every elder about that little secret of yours. Specifically, the incident involving—"

"I'll be there."

The interruption came so quickly that Su Zhelan almost laughed.

"Good."

The sound transmission vanished.

Zi Wen stood motionless for several moments, his expression filled with reluctant resignation, before he sighed toward the empty river.

"...There goes my peaceful afternoon."

The Renewal Sect was based on a long, winding mountainous terrain in the shape of a rising snake reaching for the heavens, a landmark that gave their domain the name Dragon Snake Domain.

Legends claimed an ancient azure dragon and a primordial earth snake had once battled there, leaving behind the terrain itself as the scar of their conflict. Whether true or not, the Renewal Sect had flourished upon those mountains for countless generations.

Like every great sect, the Renewal Sect was surrounded by villages and bustling settlements that had gradually formed around its influence. Physicians, herbalists, merchants, blacksmiths, hunters, farmers, and the families of disciples all called the mountains home. The narrow stone paths bustled with life as Zi Wen leisurely made his way uphill, his oversized robes swaying with every step.

The moment people noticed him, warm smiles spread throughout the crowd.

"Young Master Zi!"

"The Divine Physician's successor is here!"

"Doctor Zi, thank you again! My grandson is already running around because of your medicine!"

An elderly farmer hurried over with clasped hands before giving Zi Wen a respectful bow.

"If not for you treating my old bones last winter, I wouldn't even be able to carry a basket today."

Zi Wen scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

"It was only arthritis. Remember to stretch every morning and stop carrying sacks heavier than yourself."

The old man laughed heartily.

"My wife tells me the exact same thing!"

Nearby, a little girl ran toward him carrying a small woven basket.

"Brother Zi Wen!"

She held it high with sparkling eyes.

"Mother baked sweet buns this morning. She said I have to give you some before they get cold."

Zi Wen accepted the basket with a grateful smile.

"Then thank your mother for me. I'll treasure every bite."

The little girl puffed out her chest proudly.

"I will!"

As he continued walking, cultivators returning from gathering medicinal herbs greeted him just as enthusiastically.

"Senior Brother Zi!"

"Back from fishing again?"

"Did you finally catch something this time?"

Zi Wen sighed dramatically.

"The fish escaped after seeing my face."

Laughter erupted among the group.

"I believe the fish healed itself and swam away."

"That's impossible."

"No, no. Senior Brother's medical skills frightened it into perfect health."

Even Zi Wen couldn't help chuckling at the ridiculous joke.

Further ahead, several young women carrying baskets of freshly harvested herbs happened to cross paths with him. Their conversation immediately ceased the instant they noticed him approaching.

One boldly stepped forward with a charming smile.

"Senior Brother Zi, would you accompany me to identify medicinal herbs later?"

Another gently pushed her aside.

"Don't listen to her. My garden has been blooming lately. Perhaps you'd like to visit?"

A third covered her lips while giggling.

"I don't have herbs or flowers, but if Senior Brother ever wishes for company over tea, my courtyard is always open."

Zi Wen maintained the same gentle smile that had made him so beloved throughout the sect.

"I'm afraid today's schedule is rather full."

One of the women sighed dramatically.

"You've said that every time."

"Then perhaps next week?"

"I'm afraid next week is also rather full."

The girls exchanged helpless looks before breaking into laughter.

"As expected."

"He rejected us gently again."

"At least he smiled."

Watching them walk away still laughing, Zi Wen quietly released a breath of relief.

Saving lives had earned him the admiration of nearly everyone within the sect. The elders praised his compassion. Mortal physicians revered his knowledge. Ordinary villagers viewed him almost as a living miracle. The younger disciples admired his talent, while countless young women openly pursued him despite his complete lack of romantic awareness.

There was truth behind the title bestowed upon him as the second coming of the Divine Physician.

When Zi Wen was born, he had already possessed the cultivation of the initial stage of Qi Refinement. The phenomenon had shocked the entire Renewal Sect. Several elders had seriously debated whether the infant had somehow cultivated inside his mother's womb. News of the miraculous child spread throughout the sect within a single day.

His growth afterward had only become increasingly unbelievable.

At merely ten years of age, he had entered the Foundation Establishment Realm.

At sixteen, he had formed his Core.

By twenty, he had stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm.

At fifty, he had reached the Soul Transformation Realm.

Then, only a century after his birth, Zi Wen quietly ascended beyond mortality itself.

No one knew.

To the outside world and to nearly every elder within the Renewal Sect, Zi Wen had only recently advanced into the Nascent Soul Realm. Only Sect Leader Su Zhelan knew the truth.

As Zi Wen approached the towering steps leading toward the main hall, several familiar elders noticed his arrival.

"Zi Wen!"

An elderly physician with a flowing white beard waved enthusiastically.

"So you've finally arrived."

Another elder stroked his beard while laughing.

"Congratulations on breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm! Such talent truly puts this old man to shame."

"Indeed," another chimed in. "At this rate, our Renewal Sect shall soon gain another Soul Transformation expert."

"Hahaha! Perhaps he'll surpass even the Sect Leader someday."

Zi Wen cupped his fists respectfully.

"You elders praise me too highly. I've merely been fortunate."

"Fortunate?"

One elder snorted.

"If fortune alone could produce a Nascent Soul cultivator before two hundred years of age, we'd all be immortals already."

Another elder chuckled.

"So, how does it feel becoming one of the strongest cultivators in the sect?"

Zi Wen smiled innocently.

"It mostly feels like everyone keeps congratulating me."

The elders burst into hearty laughter.

None of them noticed the faint amusement hidden behind Zi Wen's calm eyes.

If they discovered that the young man standing before them had long surpassed Soul Transformation and quietly entered the Immortal Realm decades ago, every one of them would likely faint from shock.

The reason behind such monstrous talent remained hidden within the deepest corners of his soul.

Ever since childhood, fragments of another lifetime had accompanied him. Those fragments gradually became complete memories belonging to the Divine Physician himself. Ancient medical techniques, forgotten cultivation methods, extinct herbs, miraculous pill formulas, and countless experiences spanning millennia flowed naturally into his mind as though they had always belonged there.

Whether he truly was the Divine Physician reincarnated or merely inherited his memories, Zi Wen had never discovered the answer.

Su Zhelan had warned him countless times.

"Never reveal your inherited memories. Never reveal your true cultivation. The Ten Great Sects despise those who steal another's body. Should rumors spread, enemies won't care whether you're innocent or not. They'll accuse our sect of harboring an unorthodox cultivator."

Zi Wen had obeyed ever since.

By the time he entered the grand meeting hall, nearly every influential cultivator within the Renewal Sect had already gathered. Pavilion Masters stood beside respected physicians. Reclusive hermits emerged from decades of seclusion. Elders filled both sides of the chamber until scarcely an empty seat remained.

An oppressive silence lingered over the gathering.

Su Zhelan stood before everyone, his expression unusually grim.

"The Steelfrost Fortress has mobilized its army," he announced. "Their forces are marching toward the Dragon Snake Domain."

The hall instantly erupted.

"What?"

"They've gone mad!"

"On what grounds?"

"How dare mortal nations threaten the Renewal Sect!"

"They seek death!"

One scar-faced hermit slammed his fist against a stone pillar.

"Then we'll crush the Four Sovereign Flags beneath the might of the Ten Great Sects!"

"They've forgotten who has protected this continent for thousands of years!"

"Let them come!"

Although the Renewal Sect rarely participated in warfare, no one present lacked courage. Their inexperience merely meant they had never needed to wage wars before. Every cultivator who had survived countless breakthroughs possessed unwavering confidence in their own strength.

Amid the commotion, Su Zhelan's gaze quietly shifted toward Zi Wen.

Understanding dawned almost immediately.

'So that's why Uncle threatened me...'

He wanted everyone to witness enough of Zi Wen's strength to reassure the sect before the coming storm.

Without speaking, Zi Wen allowed a mere fraction of his spiritual pressure to escape.

Silence descended.

It was as though an invisible mountain had suddenly materialized inside the hall.

Every voice disappeared.

Several elders instinctively lowered their heads.

Even the Soul Transformation hermits found themselves unable to meet Zi Wen's eyes, their instincts screaming warnings they couldn't understand.

The pressure vanished almost as quickly as it appeared.

Su Zhelan nodded almost imperceptibly before addressing the assembly once more.

"Earlier today, an ultimatum from the Four Sovereign Flags reached this Sect Leader's hands. They proclaimed their ambition to reshape the Earthly Heart Continent and declared that they would begin by culling half of the Ten Great Sects. Their first target... is the Renewal Sect."

His voice remained calm, yet every word echoed throughout the hall.

"We did not seek this conflict, but neither shall we retreat from it. Notify every disciple. Prepare every defensive formation. Secure every medicine pavilion. Summon every wandering elder back to the sect. If war has truly arrived upon our doorstep, then the Renewal Sect shall meet it without fear."

"Yes, Sect Leader!"

The unified roar shook the hall.

Discussions continued for hours afterward as strategies, logistics, medicines, evacuation plans, and defensive formations were debated. Not a single cultivator doubted that victory would ultimately belong to them.

Yet Zi Wen remained thoughtful.

If Su Zhelan had gone as far as forcing him to reveal even a glimpse of his true strength, then the enemy was likely far more dangerous than anyone else realized.

After the meeting concluded, Su Zhelan quietly gestured for Zi Wen to follow.

The two stood atop a lonely cliff overlooking the countless rooftops of the Renewal Sect. Gentle mountain winds rustled the surrounding pine trees as disciples continued moving below, completely unaware of the coming storm.

Zi Wen folded his arms.

"Uncle... is there something you aren't telling me?"

Su Zhelan remained silent for a long moment before answering.

"The Four Sovereign Flags aren't acting alone. A powerful sect is backing them from the shadows."

Zi Wen frowned.

"They're supplying resources?"

Su Zhelan slowly shook his head.

"They have an army of immortals."

Zi Wen's composed expression finally cracked.

"...What?"

Genuine disbelief crossed his face. He had long considered himself among the strongest beings on the continent. But an army of immortals? The very thought sounded absurd.

Su Zhelan continued in a low, measured voice. "I'm uncertain whether they'll reveal themselves immediately. Perhaps they'll allow the Four Sovereign Flags to test the waters first. Perhaps they'll never appear at all." He paused, his expression grave. "But one thing is certain. The Four Sovereign Flags are only the beginning."

The words had scarcely left his mouth when his gaze suddenly snapped upward.

"What is that?"

Zi Wen instinctively followed the direction Su Zhelan was pointing. His pupils contracted sharply.

Tiny black dots now dotted the distant sky, rapidly swelling in size with every passing heartbeat. A majestic azure dragon soon burst into view, soaring through the heavens with powerful, graceful movements. A massive murder of crows swirled around it like a living black storm, their dark wings beating in chaotic unison. Trailing behind the dragon flew an enormous turtle, its mountainous shell so vast it seemed to eclipse the clouds themselves.

Zi Wen stared in stunned disbelief, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Is someone riding that dragon?"