Immortal Druid

[POV: Wo Li]

We arrived at the Dragon Snake Domain before long. Standing atop Zhen Ai's forehead while she remained in her dragon form, I looked across the mountain range stretching into the distance. The entire landscape resembled a colossal serpent coiling across the earth before lifting its head toward the heavens. The entrance to the Renewal Sect rested near what appeared to be the tail of that immense stone snake, where towering gates had been built into the mountainside.

I rested both hands atop my staff and smiled faintly.

"We've arrived."

A chorus of caws immediately answered me.

"Caw!"

"Caw! Caw!"

"Caw!"

The murder of crows circled overhead with unmistakable excitement. Most of them had spent their entire lives within the Hermit Sage Forest. Everything before them was unfamiliar, and they eagerly flew in widening circles as though trying to memorize every mountain and valley within the Dragon Snake Domain.

Zhen Ai turned her enormous draconic head just enough for one brilliant golden eye to glance toward me.

"Sage, may I announce your arrival?"

I shrugged.

"You may."

I honestly didn't think much of it.

The next moment, Zhen Ai's dragon qi erupted.

A brilliant azure radiance exploded from her scales, surging into the heavens with overwhelming majesty. The surrounding clouds churned violently as thunder rumbled through the sky. Powerful winds swept across the mountains, shaking forests and causing rivers below to ripple beneath the sheer force of her aura.

Then she opened her jaws.

Her roar echoed across the entire Dragon Snake Domain.

"Hear me, Renewal Sect! The Hermit Sage, Wo Li, Master of the Hermit Sage Forest, has arrived! Open your gates and welcome his honored arrival!"

The mountains themselves seemed to tremble beneath her declaration.

I internally winced.

...I didn't think she'd go that far.

Her draconic aura had become considerably stronger than before. The battle against the Heavenly Domain Sect had clearly tempered her further, allowing her bloodline to mature even more.

Zhen Ai looked back toward me with an expression that somehow managed to appear both majestic and expectant despite her enormous dragon body.

"Sage... did I do well?"

I couldn't help smiling.

"You did good."

Her eyes brightened.

"...But preferably less theatrics next time."

"...Yes, Sage."

She sounded just a little disappointed.

Beside us, Xuanwu slowly approached in his turtle-snake form. Perched comfortably atop his shell sat Xing Mei, who calmly observed the commotion unfolding below.

"Sage," Xing Mei said, "let me speak with them."

"Go."

Xuanwu immediately dove from the sky.

His enormous body descended with surprising grace before landing just outside the sect gates, where numerous cultivators had already gathered with weapons in hand after Zhen Ai's dramatic announcement.

The massive gates opened without delay.

Two figures stepped outside.

One appeared to be a refined young man whose quiet presence concealed unfathomable depth.

The other looked considerably rougher around the edges, his wild hair and weathered appearance giving him the impression of a wandering hermit rather than the leader of one of the Ten Great Sects.

Xuanwu landed before them before calmly returning to his human form.

From my position high above, I could feel countless spiritual senses locking onto me from throughout the mountain. Hidden experts concealed within forests, caves, medicine pavilions, and distant peaks all focused upon our group with varying degrees of vigilance.

Some even subtly prepared themselves for battle.

I paid them no heed.

Something already felt different.

According to the vision shown by the Heavenly Eye, the Renewal Sect should have been under attack by now. Furthermore, every cultivator I had originally encountered from the Renewal Sect had regarded me with suspicion and outright hostility.

That wasn't happening.

Had our complete annihilation of the Heavenly Domain Sect's ambush changed the future already?

Just then, Xing Mei's voice echoed within my mind through sound transmission.

"Sage, you may descend now. I'll introduce you to the Renewal Sect."

"Thank you."

I gently patted the dragon beneath my feet.

"Let's go, Zhen Ai."

"Yes, Sage."

She descended toward the sect entrance before transforming back into her human form midway through the descent. Her robes fluttered gracefully as she landed lightly beside me without making the slightest sound.

I stepped onto the stone ground alongside her.

Above us, the murder of crows continued circling through the skies while the Shadow Elementals hidden within each crow remained silently concealed, watching every movement below.

Xing Mei stepped forward and respectfully addressed the two waiting figures.

"Sect Leader Su, Young Master Zi, allow me to introduce Lord Immortal Wo Li, Master of the Hermit Sage Forest."

Lord Immortal...

I still wasn't particularly fond of that title.

Then again, considering why I had come here, perhaps allowing a little distance between myself and the Renewal Sect would make the coming discussion easier.

The rough-looking man immediately stepped forward before bowing deeply enough that his upper body nearly reached a right angle.

"This humble one greets Lord Immortal."

He straightened only slightly before continuing.

"I am Su Zhelan, Sect Leader of the Renewal Sect."

The refined young man beside him bowed just as deeply.

"This junior is Zi Wen. It is an honor to receive Lord Immortal."

Both of them lowered themselves far more than simple courtesy demanded.

Had I not endured Mab's lessons and Zhen Ai's endless lectures about cultivator etiquette, I probably would have completely misunderstood what that gesture represented.

Among friends, I would have immediately waved them upright and insisted there was no need for such formalities.

Today was different.

The visible difference in status served the very purpose of my visit.

So I allowed it.

Looking at the two of them, I spoke plainly.

"I'm going to save your sect."

Both men froze.

Confusion immediately appeared on their faces.

Before either of them could respond, I continued.

"My intelligence indicates that every ruler among the Four Sovereign Flags has already stepped into the Immortal Realm. One of them is coming here to destroy the Renewal Sect."

Neither Su Zhelan nor Zi Wen interrupted me.

"I intend to stop this war at its roots."

I rested both hands atop my staff.

"And I'm going to begin by bringing the Ten Great Sects under control."

As the words left my mouth, I reminded myself of something simple.

I was powerful.

Power alone didn't make someone right, but it did grant them the ability to shape events.

If I possessed the strength to stop a catastrophe before it consumed the continent, then there was every possibility I could see that resolve through to its end.

Su Zhelan studied me quietly for several moments before speaking.

"That is rather a grand claim to make."

His eyes remained respectful, yet they carried unmistakable caution.

"So... do you mean to invade us?"

"No," I remarked plainly. "I intend to subdue all of you."

For a brief moment, silence reigned between us.

Then Su Zhelan laughed.

"Ha ha ha~! The arrogance!" He spread his arms, the laughter carrying a trace of bitterness rather than amusement. "If you truly mean what you say, then why not uproot the source of this problem instead? I admit, your power has rendered me in complete awe. A dragon willingly serves beneath you, and... even the aura of an Immortal. Yes, I can see through you." His gaze sharpened. "All of you immortals are the same! Your greed! Do you seek our ancient techniques? Our treasures? Our medicines?"

Immortal...

That was still a strange title to hear directed toward me.

I wasn't exactly perceived as a cultivator by other cultivators. Even if my lifespan could rival theirs, I didn't believe I had attained immortality in the same manner they did through cultivation.

Su Zhelan continued before I could answer.

"The Four Sovereign Flags are backed by a terrifying force rivaling even the Willow Order during its golden age." His voice grew increasingly grave. "Have you ever heard of the Heavenly Domain Sect?"

"I'm aware they're the ones backing the Four Sovereign Flags," I answered. "They'll receive their comeuppance eventually. Unfortunately, they reside upon a flying city, so uprooting them completely requires the cooperation of the Four Sovereign Flags."

I looked directly into his eyes.

"Listen. I intend to subdue the Four Sovereign Flags as well. This is the only path that avoids as much bloodshed as possible."

The moment those words left my mouth, something inside Su Zhelan snapped.

"You don't understand!"

His voice thundered across the mountainside.

"You don't understand at all!"

His breathing became ragged as years of hidden anxiety poured out all at once.

"The Heavenly Domain Sect has an army of immortals!" he shouted. "An army! Going against them is suicide! Utter suicide!"

Zi Wen stepped beside him, concern flashing across his usually composed face.

"Uncle, calm yourself."

"No!"

Su Zhelan's eyes had become bloodshot.

"The best we can do is shut our gates! Hide! Pretend we're already dead until they lose interest!"

Zi Wen frowned.

"What do you mean by that?"

Su Zhelan laughed bitterly.

"What do I mean?"

His shoulders trembled.

"I gathered everyone... told them to prepare for war..."

His voice cracked.

"But I never intended for all of them to fight."

Zi Wen's pupils contracted.

"...Uncle."

"I was going to send eighty percent of the sect into battle." Su Zhelan's expression twisted with anguish. "Eighty percent would die buying time. The remaining twenty percent... I would hide them. Hide the children. Hide the physicians. Hide anyone capable of rebuilding the Renewal Sect after we were gone."

His fists clenched so tightly that blood trickled between his fingers.

"If even one seed remains... then the Divine Physician's legacy survives..."

His breathing gradually slowed. Only then did he notice the movement surrounding them. Cultivators from throughout the Renewal Sect had silently gathered near the gates from Nascent Soul elders, Soul Transformation hermits, Pavilion Masters, and inner disciples alike. No one had dared interrupt earlier, yet every one of them had heard enough.

Su Zhelan immediately fell silent. The crowd remained frozen for a long moment before whispers began to spread like ripples across a still pond.

“…Did… did Sect Leader truly intend that?”

“Eighty percent…”

“He wanted us to die so the others could live?”

“I don’t blame him…”

“The Heavenly Domain Sect…”

“Who even are these guests?”

“Should we trust them?”

“I’ve never seen Young Master Zi so serious.”

The anguish lingering around Su Zhelan was almost tangible. I sighed quietly, then raised my staff.

“Cleanse Spirits.”

Gentle emerald light blossomed from the head of my staff before drifting toward Su Zhelan like countless glowing leaves carried upon the wind. The spiritual spell washed over him. His trembling gradually subsided, the madness clouding his thoughts receded, and his breathing steadied. Finally, the light of reason slowly returned to his eyes.

Su Zhelan lowered his head. “Forgive me.” He bowed deeply. “I did not intend to present such an ugly sight before honored guests.”

Straightening himself, he looked at me with weary eyes. “Lord Immortal… please leave the Renewal Sect. You are not welcome here.”

Xing Mei’s expression changed at once. “Sect Leader Su!” she protested. “Is this truly what our years of friendship amount to?”

Su Zhelan closed his eyes. “I’m sorry.” When he opened them again, only determination remained. “This is over.”

I honestly hadn’t expected that. Even after bringing Xing Mei with me… even after everything… I had at least managed to hold a conversation this time. In the vision shown by the Heavenly Eye, I hadn’t even been given that opportunity.

I rested my staff firmly against the stone beneath my feet. “You’ll have to make me.”

There was no way I could retreat now.

If I fumbled here, how could I possibly convince the remaining Ten Great Sects?

Before setting out, everyone under me had carefully debated which of the five sects targeted by the Four Sovereign Flags and the Heavenly Domain Sect should receive our aid first.

The Renewal Sect had been our unanimous choice for a reason. It was because of their physicians, medicines, and knowledge. The value of preserving them exceeded every other target.

Su Zhelan hadn't been entirely wrong when he accused me of greed.

Zi Wen slowly stepped forward as an overwhelming spiritual pressure descended upon the surroundings. The very air became heavy. Mountains seemed to groan beneath the invisible force pressing downward.

"I'll indeed make you," Zi Wen said calmly. "Leave now, Lord Immortal, while I still offer you the courtesy of walking away. Otherwise, you'll regret it."

My companions instinctively stiffened beneath the pressure. Even Zhen Ai narrowed her eyes. Xing Mei unconsciously took half a step backward. Xuanwu remained calm, but he was more than ready to fight back.

Yet high above us...

"Caw!"

"Caw! Caw!"

"Caw!"

The murder of crows burst into noisy laughter, circling happily through the skies as though Zi Wen had just told them the funniest joke imaginable. Poor Zi Wen. He had absolutely no idea how ridiculous he looked from their perspective.

This was cruel, but there wasn't another way.

I gently thumped my staff against the earth. A sliver of quintessence escaped my body. Grass erupted through cracks in the stone. Tiny wildflowers bloomed around my feet. Vines spread outward in graceful spirals. Nearby trees visibly straightened as fresh leaves unfurled before everyone's eyes.

At the same time, I mixed mana into my spiritual pressure while quietly invoking my phytokinesis.

The entire mountainside answered my will. Every blade of grass, every flower, every tree, and every medicinal herb awakened at once. Life itself stirred around me, and the oppressive atmosphere Zi Wen had created dissolved in an instant. My companions visibly relaxed as the surrounding vegetation swayed gently toward me, as though bowing before its sovereign.

I met Zi Wen’s gaze without the slightest hesitation. “You really wish to test your mettle against me?” A faint smile curved my lips. “So be it.”

I struck my staff against the earth once more. “Let’s see how much you’d fare.”

The world answered.

Behind me, an immense phantom tree burst into existence. Its trunk soared toward the heavens, its countless branches spreading across the sky like a vast canopy. Leaves shimmered with emerald radiance as spiritual energy poured from every limb. It was the Spirit of the World Tree made manifest.

Without pausing, I embraced another transformation. “Wild Shape: Primal Nature Spirit.”

Power surged through every fiber of my body. My silver hair lengthened into a flowing mane that reached my waist. I grew taller, my features sharpened, and my teeth lengthened into the fangs of an apex predator. A porcelain-like silver sheen covered my skin, granting it an otherworldly beauty no mortal could possess.

I slowly exhaled. The surrounding mountains instantly became more vibrant as flowers blossomed in impossible numbers, ancient trees flourished with renewed vigor, and the very air filled with the rich fragrance of new life.

Looking directly at Zi Wen, I rested both hands upon my staff. “You wanted to make me leave. Go ahead. Make your next move.”