Immortal Druid

[POV: Zi Wen]

Zi Wen never took his eyes off Wo Li.

The immense phantom of the World Tree stood behind the Hermit Sage like the axis of heaven itself, while the flourishing life blanketing the mountains continued expanding in every direction. Every instinct cultivated over a century screamed the same warning.

'Do not fight him.'

He took a slow breath before leaning slightly toward Su Zhelan.

"Uncle," he whispered through sound transmission, "calm down."

Su Zhelan kept his gaze fixed upon Wo Li.

"He threatened our sect."

"I know."

"He intends to subdue us."

"I know."

Su Zhelan clenched his fists.

"I cannot allow—"

"This is a fight we cannot win."

The words finally caused Su Zhelan to glance sideways.

Zi Wen's expression had become unusually solemn.

"The man before us is unlike anything I've ever seen. Certainly, not in this lifetime."

His inherited memories surfaced one after another, recalling emperors among physicians, peerless immortals, ancient beasts that eclipsed mountains, forgotten calamities, and supreme cultivators who had once walked beneath the heavens.

"...Not even within the memories left behind by the Divine Physician."

His breathing slowed.

"I cannot understand his power."

That admission alone carried terrifying weight.

The inherited knowledge of the Divine Physician stretched back into an era predating the Ten Great Sects themselves. Those memories contained cultivation methods long forgotten by history, yet none resembled the strange vitality surrounding Wo Li. His power felt wrong. It was neither evil nor righteous. Instead, it was simply different, as though it belonged to another system entirely.

Regardless of Zi Wen's warning, the sect leader refused to retreat or make concessions as he declared. "You are still not welcome within the Renewal Sect. Leave."

Wo Li merely looked toward the sky, and then he calmly raised his staff. "I believe it's about time."

The world dimmed.

The brilliant afternoon sunlight abruptly disappeared beneath an expanding blanket of shadow. It was created by thick and turbulent clouds. Every cultivator instinctively looked upward at the fearsome sight.

"...What?"

"The sky..."

"Is that... clouds?"

"No."

One elder narrowed his eyes.

"...Those aren't simply clouds."

Massive silhouettes gradually emerged above the Dragon Snake Domain.

Their outlines became clearer as they descended through the cloud cover. They were flying ships. Every enormous vessel floated effortlessly through the heavens upon banks of white clouds, each bearing identical banners that fluttered proudly from towering masts. Gray fortresses stood embroidered upon white clouds against fields of azure cloth. It was the unmistakable standard of the Steelfrost Fortress.

Zi Wen silently counted fourteen of them, using his spiritual senses to get a good look at them.

The moment the last ship cleared the cloud cover, the fortress fleet answered with terrifying precision.

Runes along the hulls lit up one after another.

First the bow arrays, then the side cannons, and then the massive central formations embedded into each fortress-like deck.

A low, thunderous hum rolled across the heavens as every vessel began to gather spiritual energy at once. The air itself trembled. Streams of light converged into the mouths of the ships, compressing into blinding points of white-blue brilliance.

Zi Wen’s pupils contracted.

“Qi cannons…”

The first beam fired before the words had fully left his lips.

A pillar of condensed spiritual force tore through the sky, so bright it seemed to split the darkness itself. Then another followed. And another. In the span of a single breath, the entire fleet unleashed a coordinated barrage.

Hundreds of qi beams descended like divine spears.

They crossed the heavens in staggered waves, each one thick as a palace pillar and fast enough to leave burning trails in the air. The mountain peaks below were instantly washed in searing light as the bombardment rained toward the Renewal Sect’s defensive formations.

Boom!

The first impact struck the outer barrier and exploded into a storm of sparks.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

More beams slammed down in rapid succession, each collision sending violent ripples across the sect’s protective array. The translucent shield shuddered under the concentrated assault, its surface warping and flashing as if it might shatter at any moment.

“Hold the formation!”

“Reinforce the east ridge!”

“More spirit stones, now!”

Cultivators scrambled in panic as the sky became a lattice of descending destruction. Entire sections of the mountainside vanished beneath the glare of the bombardment, stone and dust blasted outward in waves. The qi beams carved, burned, and tore through the air with merciless force, leaving molten scars in their wake.

Zi Wen’s face tightened.

This was no probing attack.

The Steelfrost Fortress had come prepared to flatten the entire domain.

Wo Li lightly tapped his staff against the earth.

“Control Weather.”

The thick overcast dispersed in an instant. Warm sunlight flooded the mountainside once more, revealing the massive Steelfrost Fortress armada hovering directly overhead. Gasps rippled through the gathered cultivators.

“They’re already here!”

“The Steelfrost Fortress!”

“How did they bypass our scouts?!”

“Battle stations, now!”

High above, the vast murder of crows suddenly shifted formation. Thousands of black wings spread across the sky in perfect, synchronized harmony. They circled faster and faster, then released waves of shadow all at once. Night descended without warning. The bright afternoon sky plunged into complete darkness, stars glittering coldly overhead as though the sun had vanished beyond the horizon.

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“What formation is that?” someone cried out. “I’ve never seen anything like it!”

“Those crows… they’re controlling the sky!”

Before the defenders could recover, two figures beside Wo Li erupted with overwhelming spiritual power. The elegant woman transformed first. Azure scales burst across her body as she swelled into an enormous dragon, her serpentine form coiling majestically through the heavens, crowned by majestic horns.

Almost simultaneously, another immense figure expanded beside her. A colossal turtle emerged, an ancient serpent coiled around its mountainous shell, raising its head toward the heavens.

The gathered cultivators drew sharp, collective breaths. Two divine beasts of terrifying cultivation stood revealed, yet both positioned themselves respectfully behind Wo Li.

Then brilliant spheres of sunlight ignited throughout the artificial night. One, three, five… dozens. Each radiant orb burned like a miniature sun suspended among the stars, their intense heat washing over the mountainside. Wo Li slowly swept his staff toward the invading fleet. The blazing spheres answered at once, streaking across the heavens like divine meteors.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Towering pillars of flame engulfed the leading vessels. Yet brilliant qi barriers flared to life around every ship. Massive defensive formations shimmered into existence, trembling violently but holding against the bombardment.

Zi Wen’s eyes narrowed. “Impressive. They came prepared.”

The fleet had indeed weathered the assault. Even such overwhelming power had failed to destroy them outright.

Wo Li nodded slightly, his voice calm and almost conversational. “Not done yet.”

He raised his free hand. The blazing remnants of the miniature suns converged rapidly, drawing every lingering scrap of fire element across the battlefield with frightening speed. Then he uttered a single quiet word.

“Explosion.”

BOOM!!

Two flying ships vanished instantly beneath catastrophic fireballs. Their defensive barriers shattered like fragile glass. The vessels split apart, raining burning fragments across the sky.

Before anyone could react, the azure dragon struck. She opened her jaws and unleashed a torrent of azure destruction. The dragon’s breath hammered relentlessly against another formation of warships, cracking their protective barriers until they collapsed. The remaining blast tore through wooden hulls, reducing decks, towers, and sails to splintered wreckage.

At the same time, the turtle-snake grew even larger, its body expanding until it rivaled a small mountain. The colossal divine beast launched itself skyward. Its mountainous shell crashed directly into one of the flying ships, erasing the vessel in a single devastating impact. Wood, steel, stone, and cultivators exploded into countless fragments that scattered across the heavens.

Wo Li watched the destruction with calm approval. “Better.”

He raised his staff once more. “Control Weather.”

Dark storm clouds rolled across the false night sky. Thunder rumbled deeply. Rain began to fall over the battlefield as lightning flashed again and again. Within every brilliant burst of light appeared countless silhouettes from crows, the azure dragon, and the mountain-sized turtle-snake, moving through the tempest like divine spirits delivering heavenly judgment.

Before Zi Wen could even consider joining the battle, the sudden assault upon the Renewal Sect had already been blunted.

Flaming wreckage tumbled from the heavens.

One flying ship broke apart as its burning hull spiraled into a distant mountainside, shaking the earth upon impact. Another disappeared beneath an expanding fireball before scattering into countless blazing fragments. High above, the remaining warships struggled to maintain formation while the azure dragon and the colossal turtle-snake relentlessly harried their advance.

The entire engagement had lasted mere moments, yet the invading fleet had already suffered grievous losses.

Wo Li calmly watched the battlefield overhead before speaking.

"The work is not yet over," he remarked. "But we've bought time for your people to prepare."

The silver sheen covering his skin gradually faded.

His sharpened fangs shortened.

The towering phantom of the World Tree dissolved into countless emerald motes.

When the transformation ended, he once again appeared as an elegant man with long silver hair and pointed ears, leaning casually upon his wooden staff as though he had not just devastated an invading army.

His calm gaze settled upon Su Zhelan.

“Do you still wish to fight your own battles?” he asked, pausing briefly. “A war, at that?”

The question struck deeply. The Renewal Sect was no stranger to conflict. They understood duels, skirmishes, and defending themselves against wandering cultivators or ambitious rival sects. But true war, large-scale, merciless destruction on this level, belonged to another world entirely.

Zi Wen quietly stepped beside his uncle, his expression grave.

“He didn’t hold back with that opening attack,” he transmitted through a soft spiritual message. “Those miniature suns were immortal-level spells.”

His eyes remained locked on the surviving fleet above.

“And those ships endured the first volley.”

The realization unsettled him more than anything else. He slowly exhaled.

“If their barriers can withstand attacks of that magnitude, then there is very little I can accomplish against them.” His voice grew firm as he continued aloud. “We cannot leave this to fate. If you intend to evacuate, then evacuate everyone.”

Su Zhelan remained silent. Zi Wen understood exactly why.

This mountain. These valleys. The lush medicinal fields. The ancient caves. The hidden inheritances passed down through generations. Everything the sect had built and protected for centuries now hung in the balance. Leaving it all behind was not a simple decision. It was a wound that might never heal.

Everything here had belonged to the Renewal Sect for countless generations.

Like every one of the Ten Great Sects, the Renewal Sect had established itself atop sacred ground where a mighty dragon vein coursed beneath the earth. Rich spirit stone deposits nourished every mountain, while unparalleled spiritual energy allowed rare medicinal herbs to flourish naturally.

Abandoning this place, even temporarily, felt like abandoning the legacy of the Divine Physician himself.

Zi Wen closed his eyes for a brief moment. When he opened them again, all hesitation had vanished. He stepped forward, and immense spiritual pressure surged across the entire Dragon Snake Domain. Every disciple instinctively turned toward him.

His voice echoed not only through the entrance plaza but throughout the mountain via powerful sound transmission.

“All Renewal Sect disciples, elders, physicians, and residents! Hear my command!”

The pressure surrounding him intensified.

“This is an immediate evacuation order.” His calm voice left no room for argument. “Leave behind possessions if necessary. Preserve lives first. The sect can be rebuilt.”

Across the mountain, countless cultivators froze mid-motion. Some stood in disbelief, while others immediately sprang into action. Zi Wen expanded his spiritual sense across the whole Dragon Snake Domain. The sharpness of his perception, something he had always taken pride in, now warned him with relentless urgency. The danger was far from over.

He silently clenched his fists. Despite standing in the Immortal Realm, he possessed remarkably little practical combat experience. Most confrontations in his life had ended the moment he revealed his cultivation. There had never been a need to refine battle techniques. His hands were made for saving lives, not taking them. Against ordinary immortals, he remained confident. Against Wo Li, however, he wasn’t certain he could win. That uncertainty alone was astonishing.

Su Zhelan finally drew a long breath and raised his voice.

“The evacuation procedure begins immediately!”

The surrounding elders acknowledged the order at once.

“Yes, Sect Leader!”

One pavilion master hurried forward. “Sect Leader, where shall we evacuate everyone?”

Before Su Zhelan could answer, Wo Li spoke first.

“Go to the Serenity Lake Domain. Head for Freedom City near the Hermit Sage Forest.” His voice remained steady. “Another immortal is defending the city. Your people will be safe there.”

He glanced upward toward the circling murder of crows. “I’ll entrust my crows with the task of guiding your people.”

Without waiting for a response, one crow broke formation and landed on a nearby rooftop.

“Caw!” It puffed out its chest proudly.

BOOOOM!

The earth shook violently. Lightning split the storm-filled heavens. Mountains trembled as several younger disciples nearly lost their footing. Then a mighty dragon’s roar echoed across the battlefield.

ROOOOOAR!

Almost immediately afterward, another roar answered. The colossal turtle-snake bellowed with ancient authority, its voice reverberating throughout the Dragon Snake Domain.

The thunderclouds abruptly parted. More silhouettes emerged from beyond the storm. It was additional flying warships, dozens of them, drifting through the heavens like floating fortresses.

Wo Li narrowed his eyes. “My companions can keep those ships occupied.” His grip tightened on his staff. “But someone must deal with the heavy hitter.”

As though answering him, a booming laugh rolled across the sky.

“Hahaha!”

The laughter alone carried overwhelming spiritual pressure, scattering clouds in every direction. A towering figure slowly descended from above.

“I’ve finally arrived!” His voice shook the mountains. “I am the Cloud General, Woon Yong of the North!”

He pointed his enormous spear toward the mountains below, eyes gleaming with battle intent.

Zi Wen's pupils contracted.

The newcomer possessed a gigantic frame wrapped beneath thick snow-white fur garments. Muscles bulged beneath weathered skin covered in cloud-shaped tattoos that glowed with faint spiritual light. In one hand rested a long spear whose tassel consisted of an actual drifting cloud. His other hand held an enormous axe forged in the shape of thunder and lightning itself.

"FIGHT ME!" cried out Woon Yong.

"COME AND GET ME!" screamed Zi Wen.

Zi Wen had spent far too long standing behind the shield of his own talent, behind the safety of healing hands and the comfort of being needed. He had cultivated in the Immortal Realm, yet how much of that power had truly been tempered by life-and-death struggle? How many times had he relied on the sheer difference of his cultivation to subdue his opponent? If he continued to hide from battle now, then what meaning did his cultivation truly hold?

This was not the time to retreat. This was not the time to wait for someone else to decide the outcome.

If he wished to call himself a cultivator, then he had to walk the path of one. He had to face danger, temper his spirit, and earn the strength he claimed to possess. Battle experience was not something he could avoid forever. It was something he had to seize with his own hands.

Zi Wen slowly drew in a breath, his expression sharpening with resolve.

“I have hidden behind healing for long enough,” he said, his voice low but unwavering. “If battle is the trial before me, then I will meet it head-on. I will not stand aside while others fight in my place. I am a cultivator, and it is time I did my part.”

His eyes lifted toward Woon Yong, bright with unshaken intent.

“If war has come to my sect, then I will answer it with my own hands.”

Silver strands of qi manifested from Zi Wen's fingers.