Druid Fairy

Chapter 128 Yin Yang Mirror

"Li Qian?"

These two words, like a thunderclap, exploded in Li Pingcan's mind.

How can it be?

He buried the girl's remains with his own hands, and the small peace knot still lies quietly in his storage bag.

Then who is this lively, smiling young girl in front of me?

Could it be that they share the same name?

He observed the master and apprentice silently.

The white-haired old man appeared unkempt, but his old eyes occasionally flashed with a sharp light. His steps were steady, and his aura was restrained, clearly indicating that he was a cultivator with considerable skill.

The girl who called herself "Li Qian" was innocent and carefree, but she had a certain air about her. She was someone that an ordinary family could not cultivate, and the one who could be called "master and disciple" was most likely from a sect.

Seven Star Sect!
A thought suddenly popped into Li Pingcan's mind.

The one who killed Li Qian was most likely the Guide Immortal of the Seven Star Sect.

Now another person with the same name, "Li Qian," has appeared and even taken a master. What a coincidence!
The only explanation is that this girl took the place of the real Li Qian and joined the Seven Star Sect.

As for the master and disciple duo appearing in Yunshui County at this moment...

Li Pingcan's eyes narrowed slightly. They hadn't come earlier or later, but they had to appear right after Zhao Wuyou's death.

He didn't believe it was a coincidence.

Zhao Wuyou was also a disciple of the Seven Stars Sect. Although he was just an old man whose path to enlightenment had been severed and who had been abandoned by the sect, he was still a member of the Seven Stars Sect. It was impossible for the sect to be unaware of his death.

Is it revenge? Vengeance? Or is it simply a case of the fisherman profiting?
Regardless, these two, master and disciple, are clearly up to no good!

Li Pingcan felt a chill in his heart, but his face remained gentle and humble. He cupped his hands in greeting to the old man and said with a smile, "It's getting late, I have things to attend to at home. We'll meet again someday."

After bidding farewell to the old man and the girl, he turned and went downstairs without searching further.

The white-haired old man stroked his beard, watching Li Pingcan's departing figure. A hint of surprise flashed in his cloudy old eyes: "This lad is quite interesting. He was neither humble nor arrogant in front of me, unlike an ordinary mortal."

“Master, he’s a very nice person. He even treated us to fish!” Li Qian pouted, clearly dissatisfied with her master’s scrutinizing remarks.

"What do you know?" The old man shook his head. "Yunshui County has been rife with undercurrents lately. Even Zhao Wuyou perished here. We should proceed with caution on this trip."

Li Pingcan stepped out of Wangjiang Tower, the clamor behind him seemingly shut out. He looked up at the sky, the joy he felt for his elder brother's promotion long since replaced by a deep sense of vigilance.

This Seven Star Sect is like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, ready to unleash its fangs at any moment.

"Still not strong enough." Li Pingcan sighed softly, his eyes growing increasingly determined.

He couldn't possibly handle everything meticulously; he also had to raise his family's descendants.

Upon returning to the Li family mansion, as soon as they entered, they saw Li Pingfu rushing out to greet them.

"Little brother, you're finally back!" Li Pingfu's face showed a trace of lingering fear.

"Brother, what happened?" Li Pingcan's heart tightened.

"Do you remember when we deliberately left that 'Yunshui Mirror' at Laoyin Mountain?" Li Pingfu lowered his voice.

"Of course I remember." Li Pingcan nodded. This was the most crucial part of his plan, how could he forget?

“That thing… was taken back by the dynasty.” Li Pingfu’s tone was somewhat dry. “The newly appointed magistrate of Wen County received a message from the prefecture a few days ago that a ‘Cloud and Water Mirror’ had been delivered to him. It is said that the dynasty’s national celestial master divined the secrets of heaven and summoned the Cloud and Water Mirror back from afar.”

Upon hearing this, Li Pingcan was first stunned, and then a fine layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.

The Immortal Master Who Protects the Nation!

Deducing the secrets of heaven!

He was extremely relieved that he hadn't coveted the official seal back then; otherwise, given the extraordinary abilities of those old monsters, it would have been easy for him to get into trouble by following the clues.

"What a risk, what a risk!"

A wise person is cautious even when alone!

Even with the presence of druidic monasteries, this land ultimately belongs to the "Yu" family. To establish oneself on this land, one must always maintain a sense of awe towards such a colossal entity as the dynasty.

Suppressing his lingering fear, Li Pingcan decided to take stock of his spoils to distract himself and also to see if there were any treasures that could enhance his strength.

He went to his secret room and emptied out all the storage bags he had seized from Liang Zhiyuan and Zhao Wuyou.

Elixirs, spirit stones, magical artifacts... In an instant, the small secret room was filled with precious light.

The first thing he picked up were the two magical artifacts he had obtained from Zhao Wuyou. One of them was the ancient bronze mirror that Liang Zhiyuan had taken from Zhao Wuyou's corpse, while the other half was in the storage ring that Zhao Wuyou had left for Li Mengjin.

Li Pingcan placed the two mirrors together.

With a soft "click," the two crescent-shaped bronze mirrors, representing yin and yang, perfectly merged into one, forming a complete circular ancient mirror.

The intricate patterns on the mirror surface lit up instantly, exuding an ancient aura.

"The Yin-Yang Mirror!"

Li Pingcan's eyes lit up; this was definitely a high-grade magical artifact. He couldn't wait to pour his magical power into it, trying to activate it.

However, the ancient mirror remained unresponsive, like a stubborn rock.

He tried to communicate using his divine sense, but it was still to no avail.

"Strange."

Li Pingcan frowned slightly. The mirror was clearly intact, so why was it still unusable?

He studied the mirror over and over for a long time, meticulously unraveling its secrets, and discovered an extremely subtle, blood-red restriction that was almost integrated with the patterns.

"Bloodline Restriction!"

Li Pingcan's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly understood.

This mirror is actually a bloodline artifact.

Only those with a specific bloodline can activate it.

The owner of this mirror is Zhao Wuyou. Therefore, the only one who can use it is…

"Dream Gold!"

Li Pingcan's gaze instantly pierced through the walls of the secret room and landed on his second son in the backyard, who was learning to speak and waving a small wooden sword.

Ultimately, the Zhao family's possessions will be inherited by their descendants. However, since these descendants are surnamed Li, it's not a bad thing.

Thinking of this, he even felt somewhat grateful to that immortal Zhao, thanking him for this generous gift of inheritance!

"This is truly a case of sending someone to their death from afar; the gift may be small, but the sentiment is profound!"

“Son, I’ll keep this magic artifact for you for now, and give it to you when you grow up.”

Li Pingcan was in a great mood. Even if he couldn't activate this magical artifact, simply placing it on his chest could serve as a protective mirror for his heart.

Of course, the most important thing is to prevent the youngest son from being coveted by others.

…………

In the warm spring of March, the rain falls continuously.

The warm, moist air nourishes the mushrooms, which are scattered among the pavilions and towers, inconspicuously hidden.

"Master, we've been searching for six months now. Could it be that the broken mirror isn't even here at all?"

Inside the private room of the restaurant, Li Qian pouted and poked at the rice in her bowl with her chopsticks. "I'm almost tired of the sweet and sour carp from Yunshui County."

I lingered in Yunshui County for several months, traversing almost every inch of its land, but always returned disappointed.

"Alas, it's normal that we can't find him because his vital energy has been disturbed by Zhao Wuyou."

The old man sighed, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes. "As your teacher, I can only wait for the 'Yin-Yang Mirror' to be activated by a destined person. When its precious light shines into the sky, it will be not too late for us to come and find it."

He said earnestly, "Qian'er, you must know that the Yin-Yang Mirror is a treasure, the key to your future crafting of your natal magic weapon and the support of your 'superior spiritual root'. You must never discard it lightly."

"Oh," Li Qian replied, and followed her master as they got up and left.

Li Pingcan witnessed everything clearly from the shadows, and only breathed a sigh of relief when the figures of the master and apprentice completely disappeared from Yunshui County.

"The Yin-Yang Mirror? A natal magic weapon?"

He silently repeated these words to himself, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.

Judging from the anxious expressions of the master and disciple, this mirror must be extraordinary. "Seven Star Sect."

They kept the matter to themselves for the time being. The Li family was not in a position to confront such a sect head-on, so it was better to avoid trouble.

…………

Without Liang Zhiyuan's occasional suppression, the Li family flourished and grew stronger.

After Li Pingfu was promoted to county magistrate, the Li Family Escort Agency took the opportunity to clear out the most dangerous "Black Wind Road" leading from Yunshui County to the prefecture, and several bandit strongholds that had been entrenched for many years were uprooted.

This road, which once struck fear into the hearts of countless merchants, was now completely controlled by the Li Family Escort Agency. The Li family was involved in many of the high-profit freight shipments of silk, medicinal herbs, and ores traveling between the north and south.

The Li Family Martial Arts School, on the other hand, gained fame because its eldest disciple, Sun Zheng, won the championship at last year's "Yunshui Heroes' Gathering." The name "Tiger Disciple" resounded throughout the county, attracting countless talented young people to come and almost wearing down the school's doorstep.

Li Ping'an thrived in his new position. After taking office, he did not rush to seize power, but instead worked with his friend Zhou Junzhi to start with the household registration and tax files that no one had paid attention to.

With patience and meticulousness, he spent half a year sorting out the chaotic land and tax records that had accumulated in Yunshui County for decades, plugging countless loopholes that the old gentry had used to evade taxes.

Although this move offended many people, it unexpectedly increased the county government's tax revenue by 30%. The newly appointed county magistrate, Wen Yuzhi, greatly appreciated this and even regarded him as a confidant.

The Li family's most inconspicuous "preserved peaches" business, through Li Ping'an's hands, became a festival gift from the Mu family to high-ranking officials in the prefecture.

To everyone's surprise, the wife of the high-ranking official was a discerning woman, yet she praised this preserved fruit highly and presented it to the palace as a rare delicacy, where it won the favor of the Imperial Concubine. The name "Peach Blossom Li Family" spread throughout the capital, and the Li family's reputation and status rose accordingly.

Time flies, and another spring has arrived.

On the training ground, fourteen-year-old Li Yuanhu was sweating profusely. He was shirtless, and beneath his bronze skin, his muscles were smooth and explosive. Every punch he threw was accompanied by the roar of a tiger, making the giant stone lock in front of him vibrate.

The tailor-made "Five Elements Body Forging Technique" is incredibly powerful. Li Yuanhu's blood and qi strength and physical strength have long surpassed those of his peers, and are even better than some adult martial artists who have just entered the blood and qi realm.

"Huh!"

Panting heavily, Li Yuanhu stopped what he was doing, a look of distress on his face.

In the past few days, no matter how hard he tried, the barrier leading to the "Divine Fiend Realm" remained as solid as a rock and could not be shaken.

"Third Uncle, am I too stupid?"

He walked up to Li Pingcan somewhat dejectedly, saying, "Father said I have more than enough 'strength of a bear and tiger,' but not enough 'transformation of an ape and crane.' I have too much fierceness and not enough agility. If this continues, I will never be able to even touch the threshold of the Divine Demon in my entire life."

“Your father is right, but he’s only half right.”

Li Pingcan smiled and handed him a towel. "You're not stupid, you just haven't figured it out yet. The way of martial arts is to combine strength and gentleness. You only know how to charge and fight recklessly, but you don't know how to use skill to break through force and use softness to overcome hardness. Naturally, you will run into obstacles everywhere."

He casually picked up a fallen leaf, flicked it with his finger, and the leaf seemed to come alive, tracing a mysterious arc in the air, bypassing Li Yuanhu's parrying fist, and gently landing on his forehead.

Li Yuanhu was taken aback and reached out to grab it, but the fallen leaf nimbly drifted away, leaving him empty-handed.

"Do you understand now?" Li Pingcan smiled. "This is the 'force deflection' and 'borrowing momentum' in 'Crane Play'. True strength is not about how hard your fist is, but about how you use your power where it matters most."

He patiently and skillfully explained to Li Yuanhu the agility of "monkey play" and the lightness of "crane play".

Li Yuanhu seemed to understand but not quite, but his eyes gradually lit up.

Seeing that the time was almost right, Li Pingcan took out an object from his bosom. It was a piece of Soulwood leaf that was completely black, yet shimmered with iridescent colors.

"Tiger Cub, you've been stuck at this bottleneck for months, and your mental fortitude has been tempered enough. This leaf is your Third Uncle's reward for you, and also your opportunity to break through. Go, calm your mind and comprehend it; your Third Uncle will protect you."

"Thank you, Uncle!" Li Yuanhu accepted the leaf, which emitted a strange fragrance, with both hands as if it were a treasure.

He sat cross-legged, placed the leaf between his eyebrows, and slowly closed his eyes following the method taught by Li Pingcan.

The moment the leaf entered his body, a cool yet powerful surge of spiritual energy rushed into his consciousness. Li Yuanhu felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head, instantly making him incredibly clear-headed.

The previously obscure and difficult-to-understand moves and methods of energy circulation are now clearly presented in his mind, as if he could see the lines on his palm.

The various charms of "Five Spirits Play" intertwined and flowed in his heart.

The tiger's ferocity and the bear's composure are no longer merely brute force, but have transformed into a kind of "power" that suppresses everything.

The agility of the ape and the swiftness of the crane are no longer simply about dodging, but have evolved into the "skill" of using the opponent's force against them and moving at will.

An Shu, belonging to Lu Xi, acted as a catalyst, slowly blending these four completely different forces together.

"Roar!"

Behind Li Yuanhu, four illusory figures—a tiger, a bear, an ape, and a crane—rose uncontrollably into the sky, eventually showing a tendency to merge into one!

Guided by this sudden enlightenment, the qi and blood within his body began to boil, compress, and condense wildly!

"boom!"

With a muffled thud that seemed to exist only within his body, the seemingly indestructible barrier shattered!

A "fierce aura" far more refined and condensed than before arose from his dantian and flowed through his limbs and bones!

The Divine Fiend Realm has been achieved!

Li Yuanhu suddenly opened his eyes, and two beams of light shot out. He stood up and threw a punch, which made a "crackling" sound in the air. The wind from his punch was fierce, far more so than before!

"I've broken through!" He looked at his fist, overjoyed.

"Not bad."

Li Pingcan nodded with satisfaction, but was also surprised. This kid is a monster; God seems to be feeding him!

Back then, his father, Li Pingfu, only broke through to the Divine Fiend Realm at the age of twenty, and it took him a lot of effort. But this kid, at only fourteen years old, had a sudden enlightenment and it all came naturally.

This talent is even more extraordinary than that of his father, who was hailed as a "martial arts prodigy"!

"Through martial arts to attain enlightenment, Li Yuanhu may be the first among the younger generation of the Li family to achieve this!"

…………

At the family banquet, three generations of the Li family gathered together, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

Four-year-old Li Mengjin was already running around everywhere, full of energy. In particular, the swords and knives worn by the adults at their waists always attracted his full attention.

Looking at her mischievous son, Zhao Sisi adopted the strict mother's tone and hissed, "Li Mengjin!"

Xiao Mengjin stopped running and had no choice but to sit obediently at the table. She secretly took an ivory chopstick from the table and imitated the adults by gesturing "hehe haha" in the air, which made Zhao Sisi look embarrassed and helpless.

Everyone took it as a child's joke and laughed good-naturedly.

Only Li Pingfu's eyes narrowed sharply the moment he saw his nephew wield his chopsticks.

He has now reached the peak of the Innate Realm and has one foot in the Divine Martial Realm, so his senses are incredibly sharp.

In that instant, he actually sensed a faint yet incredibly pure "sharpness" from the tip of that tiny chopstick!
That's not childish play; it's an instinctive control over "weapons" that comes from the depths of one's soul!

"This……"

Li Pingfu looked at his younger brother, only to see Li Pingcan raising his glass to him with a smug smile on his face, a boast from his father.

"A natural swordsman's physique..."

Li Pingfu murmured to himself, then looked at his little nephew who was happily playing with chopsticks as swords, his eyes filled with anticipation.

And the other side.

Seven-year-old Li Mengze sat quietly beside his mother, Xie Yuan, eating his meal in small bites, appearing remarkably composed.

He rarely spoke, but his clear eyes seemed to see through everything.

The new manager greeted him with a smile, and he could see that beneath the pale yellow aura that represented "flattery," there was also a hint of gray-black that represented "greed."

The eldest aunt showed concern and care for the second aunt, but within that warm, pink aura, there was also a hint of almost imperceptible dissatisfaction.

This is his world, a world made up of the "colors" of good and evil.

Now, he can not only distinguish between good and evil, but also read more complex emotions from the shades and intensities of colors, and even gradually understand the "voice of the heart".

The future of the family is beginning to take shape in these gifted children.

Li Rongzhou and Qin Shi had long ago entrusted all household affairs to their daughters-in-law.

The elderly couple enjoys spending their days playing with their grandchildren, growing flowers and plants, and living a semi-secluded, idyllic life.

However, Li Rongzhou's martial arts skills did not decline.

Nourished by both the Druid's dojo and the spirit tree, his cultivation, which had stagnated for many years, began to loosen again.

In the peaceful years, the spirit and soul grow imperceptibly, and one's cultivation steadily advances towards the acquired realm, achieving a smooth breakthrough naturally.

(End of this chapter)