Druid Fairy

Chapter 100 Animal Companions
"The formation is complete!"

Looking at the mysterious array diagram before him, Li Pingcan was overjoyed and filled with a sense of accomplishment.

After countless attempts and mountains of discarded array diagrams, perseverance finally paid off.

Carefully put away this complete and intact "Hidden Mystery Spirit Array" diagram.

With the concealment array, the Mulberry Spirit Tree can be moved to the Li family's residence, improving their blessed land and making it the foundation of the family's existence.

Next, it's time to set up the formation.

"There are many suspicious people in the Li family, but luckily I have a max-level Hallucinogenic Mushroom."

The matter was of great importance, and Li Pingcan had to be careful. He secretly replaced the fresh mushrooms with hallucinogenic mushrooms and made an authentic mushroom soup, which he then distributed to the servants. No one was able to reveal the Li family's secret.

Enveloped in his divine senses, and after confirming that all outsiders had drunk the mushroom soup, he wove a "beautiful dream" before beginning his work.

First, the ground was leveled with [Sculpted Soil], and array pits of varying depths were dug. Then, the materials for the various Five Elements array bases were buried underground according to the positions shown in the array diagram.

The "Hidden Pearl" traded with the Nine-Tailed Fox served as the array's core, century-old lightning-struck wood was used to make the array's bones, and animal hides were used as array flags. The spirit stones, which served as the array's core energy, were buried in the center of the array's core, forming an interlocking whole.

Li Pingcan personally handled every step with great care and caution.

As he buried the last jade stone engraved with runes into the ground, Li Pingcan took a few steps back and took a deep breath.

He quickly formed hand seals and chanted incantations. Strands of pure magical power, like fine rain, fell down, nourishing the entire formation.

"Conceal the mysteries and hide the spirits, activate the formation!"

With a low shout, an invisible force quietly spread out from the center of the array.

"Buzz!"

A very faint buzzing sound came from the air, and the entire Li family mansion seemed to distort slightly before returning to calm.

"Let's test the effect of the formation."

Li Pingcan wanted to cast a spell, but found that he didn't know any spells in the traditional sense, only druid skills. He could only reluctantly use a first-tier "water arrow talisman" that he had scavenged from the woman in black to test the formation.

The runes spontaneously combusted, drawing upon wisps of spiritual energy that condensed into water arrows that shot towards the sky.

Li Pingcan quickly transformed into a bird and hovered in the air to observe. He was delighted to find that there was no spiritual energy fluctuation in the outside world.

"Done!"

The Hidden Spirit Array has been successfully activated, concealing the aura of the entire Li family mansion, making it appear to outside cultivators as an ordinary mortal place, with no spiritual energy leaking out.

It's practically an essential skill for family development.

With the protection of the Hidden Spirit Array, Li Pingcan had no more worries and immediately began to set up a spirit-gathering array in the Li family mansion.

He chose his own training ground, a spacious place that would be a frequent training ground for his future generations.

This time, he was much more skilled at setting up the formation, readily available with various materials, and his formation diagrams flowed smoothly. However, the effect of activating the formation was far inferior to that of Tingfeng Cliff.

"Better than nothing."

Li Pingcan was not surprised. After all, the spiritual energy in Peach Blossom Village was already thin, and there was no natural spiritual vein to support it. Being able to gather even a trace of spiritual energy to improve the feng shui of the house was already quite good.

"At least, with such a blessed place, my family members will recover from minor illnesses and pains more quickly and have more energy and spirit."

A few days later, the spirit mulberry tree was specially moved to the Li family's house. With the presence of a concealment array, this spirit sapling looked no different from an ordinary mulberry sapling.

Once planted, the mulberry seedlings immediately burst forth with vitality, their emerald green branches swaying gently, and wisps of pure spiritual energy emanating from them, merging with the mixed spiritual energy gathered by the spirit-gathering array, making it even more gentle and pure.

Although the spiritual energy is far less concentrated than that of Mount Ling, the nourishment from the mulberry seedlings and the assistance of the spirit-gathering array have significantly increased the spiritual energy of the Li family mansion. With generations of accumulation, the probability of future clan members possessing spiritual roots will also increase.

Looking at the lush green mulberry seedlings, Li Pingcan silently prayed.

"I hope it can thrive here and bring good fortune to the Li family."

…………

Day after day, spring goes and autumn comes.

On this day, Madam Qin called him to her side, her eyes filled with affection, "Can'er, you're sixteen this year." Then she hesitated, as if she wanted to say something more.

Li Pingcan's heart stirred, and he somewhat knew what his mother wanted to say. He composed himself and listened attentively.

"Now that your eldest and second eldest brothers are married and living happy lives, the only thing the family is worried about is you, regarding your marriage..."

Madam Qin sighed softly and finally got straight to the point: "Mother knows you've always had your own ideas since you were little, but... what do you think of Yuanyuan?"

Qin's eyes held a hint of unease. Xie Yuan had been raised by the Li family since childhood. Although not their biological daughter, they treated her as their own. She was gentle, obedient, and sensible. Moreover, she and Li Pingcan were childhood sweethearts, and they knew each other well. She was the perfect daughter-in-law candidate.

Qin also asked Xie Yuan, and the little girl nodded with a blush, clearly pleased.

But in any case, it ultimately depends on what Lee Pyeongchan likes.

"Yuanyuan?"

Upon hearing this, Li Pingcan was both amused and exasperated, as he had always regarded Xie Yuan as the girl next door.

He had thought about his own marriage, wanting a relationship as loving and devoted as his parents'. But having always lived a secluded life with a narrow social circle, he had never experienced a "love that felt like a robbery."

But life isn't just about love and romance; there's also the responsibility of expanding one's family.

According to Li Pingcan's plan, the best option would be to find a cultivator to "combine" with, so as to give birth to offspring with "spiritual roots". However, given the current level of the Li family, let alone a fairy, they cannot even marry the mortal offspring born of a fairy.

There is actually a natural hierarchy of contempt hidden here. The Li family started out in martial arts, while the immortals disdain to associate with crude and vulgar martial artists.

If it weren't for Li Ping'an's academic success, which brought glory to the Li family, their journey to where they are today might not have been so smooth.

In fact, if one were to be a little more ruthless and forcibly imprison Su Meiniang and the woman in black, these rogue cultivators might still have offspring with spiritual roots.

But Li Pingcan felt nauseous on his own. This completely crossed the line of what a person should do and did not conform to the Druid's "following the natural way." Even Li Rongzhou, who was determined to make the Li family glorious and prosperous, could not agree to it.

Being born a man means having certain things to do and certain things not to do!

I really can't bring myself to force a woman into this, so I'd better kill that kind of rogue cultivator while he's still alive.

Moreover, in essence, Li Pingcan could not possibly trust outside rogue cultivators; he might just sell the Li family off in the blink of an eye.

Therefore, the pool of potential wives became quite narrow and limited.

Xie Yuan is naturally drawn to nature and has received blessings from his "natural grace" and the Peach Tree Grandpa, giving her far superior aptitude. If they were to marry, their offspring might possess even greater potential for cultivating immortality.

Most importantly, after nearly ten years of getting to know each other, I know Xie Yuan's personality well. She is a simple girl who longs for love and I can trust her.

Thinking of this, he looked up at Madam Qin and said earnestly, "Mother, I have no objection."

"Really?" Qin was overjoyed upon hearing this, as she had thought Li Pingcan would decline.

"Don't worry, Mother, Yuanyuan is fine."

Madam Qin was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly: "Good, good, good! Then I'll go and discuss it with your father and find an auspicious day to finalize the marriage!"

……

That afternoon, Li Pingcan summoned Xie Yuan to his room.

In the courtyard, the mulberry saplings have grown to more than a person's height, with lush branches and leaves, and a refreshing and spiritual aura wafts through the air.

Xie Yuan blushed, lowered her head, twisted the hem of her clothes with her small hands, and her heart was pounding like a deer. She naturally knew what Qin Shi and Li Pingcan had talked about. From childhood to adulthood, she had liked Brother Can, and now that her wish had come true, she felt both shy and happy.

"Yuanyuan." Li Pingcan's voice was soft, with a hint of solemnity, "My mother has already told me about our matter. For the sake of the Li family's prosperity, I may take a concubine in the future."

Putting aside cultivation, the Druid's profession leveling up also allows him to gain experience points from his descendants planting trees, which alone compels him to believe in "many children, many blessings".

He looked directly at Xie Yuan; if she refused, it would be perfectly reasonable.

Xie Yuan suddenly raised her head, her obsidian-like eyes instantly welling up with tears. She hadn't expected Li Pingcan to say such a thing.

"Brother Can..." Her voice trembled slightly, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Li Pingcan sighed softly, also feeling a pang of reluctance.

But what he wants is someone who can understand and support him, not someone who will hold him back.

"If you are unwilling, I will go and refuse my mother."

Xie Yuan finally couldn't hold back her tears and they burst forth. She loved Li Pingcan so much that she would give anything for him, but hearing that he wanted to take a concubine still made her heart ache.

But she experienced the bitterness and warmth of life from a young age, and learned to weigh things earlier than her peers.

After a long silence, Xie Yuan hastily wiped away her tears, her voice trembling but unusually firm: "I...I do!"

A hint of surprise flashed in Li Pingcan's eyes, and he said softly, "Don't worry, I won't let you suffer any injustice."

...On the day of the wedding banquet, Peach Blossom Village was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the atmosphere was filled with joy.

The Li family originally intended to hold a low-key and simple event in their old house, but when prominent figures from Yunshui County arrived one after another, the entire Peach Blossom Village was in an uproar.

"The Jiang family's divine sword has arrived!"

"Isn't that...isn't that the County Commandant of Yunshui County? He actually came to offer his congratulations in person!"

"My goodness! The Mu family is a prominent family in the prefecture, and they've even sent congratulatory gifts!"

In an instant, the whole village was abuzz with discussion, and shocked and envious eyes were drawn to the Li family mansion.

"The Li family is... is about to take off completely!"

"That's right, one son is a celestial official, and the other son is a county lieutenant!"

Standing in the crowd, Li Pingcan watched as the once arrogant and powerful families of Pantao Town now wore fawning smiles and respectfully congratulated Li Rongzhou and his wife. He couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.

This was hardly a wedding banquet; it was clearly a naked exchange of favors and benefits.

"Worship heaven and earth!"

With a shout from the emcee, Li Pingcan, holding Xie Yuan's hand, slowly walked forward.

The bright red wedding dress accentuated Xie Yuan's petite figure, making her appear even more delicate. She lowered her head, her long eyelashes fluttering gently, her cheeks flushed like ripe apples, her heart pounding wildly.

"Two thanks to the high hall!"

Xie Yuan secretly looked up and glanced at the boy beside her.

His profile looked exceptionally handsome in the candlelight. Although the words about taking a concubine pained her, she felt it was enough to stand side by side with him.

"Couple greetings!"

The two stood facing each other, their eyes met, and they became husband and wife.

At the banquet, Li Rongzhou and his wife were beaming, and Li Pingfu looked pleased, saying, "My little brother has grown up."

Li Pingan downed his drink in one gulp, nodded gently to Xie Yuan, and said that they would be a real family from now on.

…………

After the wedding banquet, Peach Blossom Village returned to its usual tranquility.

After marriage, Xie Yuan was gentle and considerate, and managed the household very well.

Li Pingcan, on the other hand, devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation and the study of formations.

Life was leisurely and peaceful. On this day, Zhao Huafeng came to visit with a serious expression. Back when the Li family was in a poor state, the Weiyuan Escort Agency had helped them a lot.

On a whim, Li Pingcan joined his elder brother in receiving the guests.

"Uncle Zhao, what happened?"

Upon seeing Li Pingfu, Zhao Huafeng felt as if he had grasped a lifeline. He quickly stood up and sighed, "Nephew Li, I have no choice but to come today. My Weiyuan Escort Agency... has lost its shipment!"

Upon hearing this, Li Pingfu's expression also darkened. For any escort agency, losing a shipment is the most fatal blow to its reputation!
"Lost goods? Uncle Zhao, your Weiyuan Escort Agency has many escorts and experts in charge. Ordinary thieves wouldn't dare to mess with you."

Zhao Huafeng sighed and said with a wry smile, "That's exactly right! Moreover, what was lost this time was not ordinary goods, but a birthday gift from a very important person in Songling Prefecture. Originally, our escort team was very careful and the journey was smooth, but who knew that when we were almost at our destination, after a cloud of smoke, the birthday gift disappeared into thin air!"

He became increasingly puzzled as he spoke: "We searched the surrounding area for miles around, but there wasn't even a trace of a fight. The caravan was intact, and the goods were all there, but the wooden box containing the birthday gifts was completely empty, as if... as if it had grown wings and flown away on its own!"

"It grew wings and flew away on its own?"

How could such a bizarre thing happen in the world?

Lee Pyeongchan rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.

He stepped forward and carefully examined the wooden box that Zhao Huafeng had brought. The box was sturdy and tightly sealed, with almost no damage except for a few minor scratches on the top.

But as a druid, he was familiar with the claw marks of birds and raptors, and pointed to the scratches, saying, "Uncle Zhao, the scratches on this wooden box look like they were left by some kind of large bird."

Zhao Huafeng was taken aback, then suddenly realized: "That's right! We were so focused on checking people and things that we forgot about this!"

He slapped his thigh in frustration, "But in this deep mountain forest, what kind of giant bird could just magically carry away such a large wooden box?"

Li Pingcan already had a guess in his mind. It seemed that the robbers behind the scenes were not ordinary petty thieves, but rather those who could tame birds.

These "flying thieves" take advantage of birds to plunder rare treasures transported by land.

"Then, in your opinion, Nephew Li, what should we do?"

Zhao Huafeng humbly sought advice, finding himself increasingly unable to understand the three sons of the Li family. Though their reputations were not widespread, they always uttered surprising and insightful remarks.

“It’s simple.” Li Pingcan smiled slightly. “We’ll disguise ourselves as a caravan and travel this route again. However, this time we’re not transporting birthday gifts, but… bait.”

He explained his plan in detail: the caravan would continue along the original route, exaggerating the value of the goods. But this time, the wagons would contain an empty box filled with gravel. If the bandits reappeared, they could catch them like fish in a barrel.

"This is called luring the snake out of its hole! I don't believe those cowardly guys can keep hiding forever!"

Zhao Huafeng nodded repeatedly: "Let's do as Nephew Li says!"

…………

early morning.

Li Pingfu, along with Li Yuan, Xie Xiaodao, and several other trusted brothers, as well as Li Pingcan, met up with the bodyguards from Weiyuan Escort Agency.

When Fang Lin saw the boys he used to meet, he greeted them warmly. He was particularly impressed with Li Pingfu, the newly promoted county lieutenant, and repeatedly said, "I knew you were going to amount to something."

Following Zhao Huafeng's directions to the location where the goods were lost, the team searched all the way.

This time, they deliberately slowed down and disguised themselves even more loosely than before, as if they were truly an ordinary caravan without any precautions.

"Hoohoo!"

When they arrived at the place where the goods were lost, they heard a faint sound of wings flapping in the sky, and then a cloud of mist rose up, obscuring everyone's view.

"They're here!" Li Pingpingfu shouted in a deep voice, signaling everyone to get ready.

The group from Weiyuan Escort Agency covered their mouths and noses, and a moment later they saw a huge black shadow descend from the sky. It was a golden eagle with wingspans of at least ten feet!
Its claws, like hooks, fiercely grabbed at the "birthday gift" box.

Several smaller vultures swooped down nearby, seemingly wanting to join the golden eagle in the raid.

"Do it!"

With a shout from Li Pingfu, the bodyguards sprang into action, and a large net was suddenly unfurled from the truck, trapping the golden eagle.

Zhao Huafeng moved with lightning speed, leaping up from the ground and rushing straight at the golden eagle.

The golden eagle was clearly unprepared for the caravan's unexpected attack and was caught off guard.

It let out an angry screech and tried to flap its wings to dodge, but Zhao Huafeng was faster and punched it hard in the wing.

"boom!"

With a muffled thud, the golden eagle let out a painful howl as its massive body lost its balance in mid-air and crashed heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The other vultures, seeing this, were terrified and fled in panic into the depths of the forest.

"Wang Liu, Zhao Xiaogua, you two are fast walkers, hurry up and catch up."

Those vultures were deliberately released by Zhao Huafeng to track down the mastermind. He made Zhao suffer such a huge loss, and if he didn't get his revenge, Zhao wouldn't trust him anymore!

"Big brother, let's go too!" Li Pingcan said hurriedly.

He stared at the golden eagle, sensing something was amiss.

This golden eagle was listless and dispirited, with disheveled feathers, but the faint spiritual energy emanating from its body, though mixed, was undoubtedly that of a spirit beast.

He tried to soothe it gently, but the golden eagle reacted unusually fiercely. It let out a screeching cry, struggled even more violently, and even tried to peck at Li Pingcan with its sharp beak.

Li Pingcan frowned slightly.

This spirit beast harbors deep hostility towards humans, its eyes filled with fear and distrust. Perhaps it has been abused, and its thinking is very dull, lacking any spirituality.

"It seems its trust in humans has reached rock bottom," he sighed inwardly.

If an animal companion contract is forcibly established, even if successful, the golden eagle will only become a heartless fighting tool.

That was not what the druids wanted.

Therefore, we must find the culprit behind this and investigate the cause.

(End of this chapter)