Druid Fairy

Chapter 137 Human life is worthless
"At the fifth level of Qi Refining, one is already considered a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator."

His dantian and qi sea had expanded several times over compared to before. His magical power surged, and his divine sense spread outward like a tide. Within a radius of several miles, he could perceive every rustle of grass and every movement of the grass.

With this breakthrough in cultivation level, the Druid's stats have changed again.

[You have broken through to the fifth level of Qi Refining, your Druid level has increased, and you have gained 5 upgrade points.]

This is truly a windfall.

Without hesitation, he immediately distributed all five precious upgrade points to his "old buddies" who had been with him for a long time but remained at the zero-ring level.

As the light shimmered, the text on the panel began to refresh rapidly.

[The Oak Stick Technique has been upgraded to: Oak Stick Technique (Level 1)]

The staff you hold is no longer limited to sturdiness and amplification. You can consume a small amount of mana to freely change its length, thickness, and shape, and even temporarily simulate the sharpness of other weapons (such as spear tips and blades), adding a slight vibrational force.

"Good heavens, it's the Golden Cudgel!"

Li Pingcan had an idea and casually picked up a dry twig.

The moment the magic power was injected, the tree branch stretched and thickened in his hand, transforming in the blink of an eye into a black iron rod more than three meters long, with a cold metallic feel to it.

With a flick of his wrist, the iron rod swept out horizontally, producing a muffled boom in the air, which also brought with it an invisible force.

"It's a combination of offense and defense, and it can even transform." Li Pingcan nodded in satisfaction.

[Primal Strike has been upgraded to: Savage Fury (Level 1)]

[You are no longer limited to a single claw strike; instead, you can temporarily transform parts of your body into a "wild rage" state. In this state, your strength, speed, and regeneration will be greatly enhanced, and you will possess an innate instinct for danger.]

This is practically a berserker transformation; although it's only a partial beast transformation, it brings an all-around boost.

[Fire Control has been upgraded to: Fire Affinity (Level 1)]

Your mastery of fire grants you powerful fire resistance. You can absorb some of the fire energy from the outside world and store it within your body to enhance your fire spells or form a weak fire shield around your body.

With a thought, a small flame danced on Li Pingcan's fingertip, its color purer and its temperature higher than before.

[Elemental amplification has been upgraded to: Elemental Infusion (Ring 1)]

[You can no longer simply amplify the damage of elemental spells. Instead, you can infuse your weapons or fists with elemental power, imbuing them with corresponding elemental damage. Making every attack unique and dynamic.]

[Dance style has been upgraded to: Windrunner's Refuge (Level 1)]

[You can no longer only create small-scale tornadoes. Instead, you can summon a protective wind barrier around yourself. This wind barrier not only deflects most ranged attacks (such as arrows and low-level spells), but also makes you incredibly agile, greatly increasing your movement speed.]

Experiencing these five powerful, brand-new skills, Li Pingcan felt an overwhelming sense of security.

He is capable of both close and long-range combat, combining offense and defense. Coupled with his martial arts golden body and a plethora of druidic techniques, he dares to challenge even a Foundation Establishment cultivator!
"Little carp, you...you've gotten stronger again?"

The azure dragon approached, its golden snake eyes filled with shock. It could clearly sense that Li Pingcan's aura was several times stronger and more solid than before.

"Just lucky, just lucky." Li Pingcan chuckled.

"You freak, you're a monster!"

The Azure Dragon clicked its tongue and said, "But this is good! With a good buddy like you, there's always meat to eat! I feel like the dragon blood in my veins is about to boil. This time, I, the Dragon Lord, will take on ten of those scum from upstream!"

After forming a contract with Li Pingcan, it also received tremendous benefits. Not only did its cultivation level improve and stabilize at the mid-stage of the first tier of spirit beasts, equivalent to the mid-stage of Qi Refining in human cultivators, but because spirit beasts have powerful physical bodies, their actual combat strength is still much stronger than that of magic cultivators.

The legacy contained within that dragon skin and horns has also unlocked many secrets.

"Alright, stop bragging," Li Pingcan laughed. "Get ready, it's time to set off."

"okay!"

The Azure Dragon responded, and then its massive body flashed with light, transforming into a small azure snake no bigger than a palm. With a flick of its tail, it coiled around Li Pingcan's wrist, disguising itself as an ancient snake-shaped bracelet.

"It fits perfectly, so convenient." Li Pingcan thought to himself, this dragon clan inheritance is indeed very appealing.

The man and the snake, without further delay, immediately set off to meet up with Xiao Fei, who was waiting outside.

"Wow!"

When Xiaofei saw Li Pingcan, it wanted to let out an affectionate call, but as soon as it got close, its huge body suddenly stiffened, flapped its wings and retreated repeatedly, and all the feathers on its body stood on end.

"Huh?" Li Pingcan was taken aback, then realized. Xiao Fei was afraid of him!
It's [Dragon's Might]!
This is the bloodline talent he gained after forming a contract with the Azure Dragon. It originates from the pressure of the ancient dragon race and has a natural suppressive power over all beasts!

"Xiaofei, don't be afraid."

Li Pingcan quickly composed himself, drawing all the dragon's might back into his body, and at the same time, conveying a soothing thought through the contract.

The terrifying pressure that had made its soul tremble suddenly disappeared, and Xiao Fei slowly calmed down, nuzzling Li Pingcan's hand with its head in a fawning manner, its posture extremely humble.

"Hehe, see that? This is the power of the dragon bloodline!" The smug thought echoed in the Azure Dragon's mind.

"Yes, yes, yes." Li Pingcan agreed with the Azure Dragon, but in his heart he thought that the Dragon's Might should also be useful to monsters that had not yet developed intelligence, after all, the pressure of a superior was an instinctive fear etched into their bones.

…………

On the drill ground in Yunshui County.

The cold wind howled, whipping up the snow on the ground and stinging people's faces.

But what's colder than the wind and snow is the human heart.

On the drill ground, thousands of newly recruited soldiers stood in a dense, dark mass.

They were less soldiers and more a group of farmers who had been forcibly assembled.

They held spears in their hands, their movements clumsy, many of them even making the simplest thrusts awkwardly, their eyes filled with fear and confusion.

The ranks were disorganized and showed no signs of military discipline.

Li Pingfu stood on the high platform, his face ashen, his heart growing colder with each passing moment.

He knew perfectly well that these five days of training were just a formality, something to show the higher-ups.

These people weren't even cannon fodder; their only purpose was to use their fragile flesh and blood to fill, block, and wear down the first wave of the beast tide, buying a little precious time for those high-ranking figures.

He sighed deeply, powerless to change anything.

Perhaps this is fate!
…………

Qingyang County is no longer the tranquil place it once was.

Li Pingcan changed his appearance, becoming an ordinary-looking personal guard, and followed behind Li Pingfu as the group headed to the front line in Qingyang County.

On the city walls, dried dark red bloodstains and broken weapons can be seen everywhere.

Inside the city, the streets were desolate, the shops were closed, and an atmosphere of despair and oppression permeated the air.

A group of ragged, emaciated disaster victims swarmed forward and surrounded them.

"Sir, please have mercy! Give us some food! We haven't eaten for three days!"

"My child is starving to death, please, sir!"

A woman holding a child knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly to them, her forehead already covered in bruises.

"Get out of my way! All of you, get out of my way!"

The soldiers responsible for maintaining order brandished their long whips, lashing the disaster victims mercilessly. "Take another step forward, and you'll be killed without mercy!"

"Snapped!"

The whip fell, blood splattered, and the woman let out a scream, but still held the child tightly in her arms.

"Why don't you give them food?" the Azure Dragon asked, puzzled, on his wrist. "They look so pitiful."

Li Pingcan's eyes were calm and expressionless, but his heart was icy cold. He explained to Qingjiao in a low voice, "Look at those disaster victims around us. Although they are emaciated, there is a hint of shrewdness and ruthlessness in their eyes. They are not real disaster victims, but local thugs who are taking advantage of the chaos. They are mixed in with the crowd, waiting for an opportunity to cause trouble."

He paused, his voice growing colder: "As for the real disaster victims, they've already been pushed to the periphery, with no chance to even get close. Giving them alms now would only cause greater chaos and trampling. A moment of kindness will only invite greater evil. In such chaotic times, pity is the most useless thing."

The Azure Dragon seemed to understand but not quite, yet it still felt the chill.

Li Pingcan said nothing more, but silently walked through the chaotic crowd towards the county government's protective formation.

To save these people, the only way is to quell this monstrous plague at its root.

…………

Qingyang County Government Office.

Dozens of cultivators dressed in various colored Taoist robes gathered together. Some had an ethereal air about them, while others had a Taoist demeanor of otherworldly grace. They were all cultivators from various sects who had come to resist the demonic beasts.

Li Pingfu, dressed in the official robes of a county magistrate, stood tall and straight, his hand on the sword at his waist, sitting at the end of the military officer's seat.

Li Pingcan, dressed in ordinary bodyguard uniform, stood quietly behind his elder brother, eyes downcast, like an inconspicuous shadow, taking in everyone's expressions.

“Seven Star Sect, Divine Blade Sect, Cloud Valley… they’ve all sent people.” Li Pingcan thought to himself, his gaze sweeping over the various forces present without making a sound.

The ones from the Seven Stars Sect were the master and disciple pair they had met once before. The white-haired old man leaned back in his chair, his eyes slightly closed, looking sleepy, as if he was about to start snoring at any moment.

The girl named Li Qian curiously looked around at the furnishings in the hall, occasionally resting her chin on her hand, looking somewhat bored.

The cultivators of the Divine Blade Sect are much easier to recognize.

The leader was a burly man with a towering build, named Chen Batian. He was dressed in a fiery red outfit and carried a huge, wide-shouldered sword on his back, exuding an arrogant aura of "I am the best in the world."

The representative of Cloud Valley was a beautiful female cultivator dressed in a light blue palace gown, known as "Fairy Luo".

She had a graceful figure and a cool, aloof face, like a celestial maiden descended to earth, but her beautiful phoenix eyes held a hint of detachment.

Besides these three major sects, there are also cultivators from several smaller sects, but they all clearly follow the lead of these three.

Compared to these sect cultivators with their diverse demeanors, the dynasty cultivators on the other side appeared exceptionally solemn and unified.

Leading the group was a middle-aged cultivator with a resolute face and an imposing presence, named Wei Yanzheng. He was a celestial official of the dynasty and the commander-in-chief who was resisting the beast tide. His cultivation had reached the late stage of Qi Refining.

He wore black armor specially bestowed by the dynasty, with an official seal at his waist. Just by standing there, he exuded a majestic aura originating from the dynasty, causing those arrogant sect cultivators to unconsciously restrain their arrogance and respectfully bow.

"Master Wei."

"Greetings, Lord Wei."

Wei Yanzheng simply nodded, his gaze sweeping over everyone, and said in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, the beast calamity is urgent, so let's not waste any more words. According to the information sent back by the scouts at the front, the main force of this beast tide is a great demon comparable to the late stage of Qi Refining, the 'Three-Eyed Demon Ape,' and a 'Black-Scaled River Python' that is entrenched in the Dayu River. Today, we need to discuss a countermeasure."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Chen Batian of the Divine Blade Sect slammed his broadsword into the ground with a clang, causing the ground to vibrate.

He said in a deep voice, "What other strategy is there to deal with these beasts? Just charge straight in! However, there are too many low-level demonic beasts, and it's quite troublesome to have them charging ahead. In my opinion, it would be better to conscript the refugees in the city and those greenhorns, and let them charge at the front to wear down the demonic beasts. Anyway, they're all worthless lives, so it's no loss if they die. It will buy us time to take the heads of those two great demons!"

Upon hearing this, Li Pingfu's fingers tightened suddenly, making a "crackling" sound.

Standing behind his elder brother, Li Pingcan sensed the suppressed anger emanating from him, and his heart turned cold.

'This is what cultivators are like; this is the immortal sect.'

He sneered inwardly, 'In their eyes, the lives of mortals are no different from those of weeds.'

After listening to Chen Batian's words, Wei Yanzheng's usually placid face remained completely expressionless. He pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, his voice cold and rational: "This method is feasible."

what! ?

Li Pingfu lowered his head, his expression one of disbelief. He had thought that Wei Yanzheng, as an official of the imperial court, would at least rebuke him and uphold the dignity of a mortal.

Unexpectedly...

Wei Yanzheng didn't seem to think it was a big deal, and said calmly, "To preserve the strength of us cultivators, some sacrifices are inevitable. The soldiers in the city and those refugees can be put to good use."

The voice of Fairy Luo from Cloud Valley was clear and cold as jade: "Now that the strategy has been decided, how should the demon cores and spiritual materials obtained after the battle be distributed?"

She doesn't care about the lives of ordinary people; she only cares about profit.

"Naturally, it should be distributed according to merit!"

Chen Batian said matter-of-factly, "Whoever kills the most demonic beasts will get the most! As for those two great demons, my Divine Blade Sect will definitely behead them!"

"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Chen, you have quite the big mouth." The white-haired elder from the Seven Star Sect finally opened his eyes and said slowly, "My disciples from the Seven Star Sect would also like to use the Three-Eyed Demon Ape to practice their skills."

Seeing that the major sects were about to argue over the distribution of the "spoils of war," Wei Yanzheng finally spoke up.

"enough."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority: "This beast calamity was led by our dynasty. Of all the spoils after the battle, the dynasty will take 70%, and the remaining 30% will be divided among you according to your abilities. As for those two great demons, the Three-Eyed Demon Ape will be dealt with by us, while the Black-Scaled River Python will be yours."

Wei Yanzheng made the final decision, and even if the sect cultivators were dissatisfied, they could only accept the order.

Wei Yanzheng's gaze fell on Li Pingfu.

"Lieutenant Li, you will be in charge of the defense line on the east side of the city. If any monsters attack the city, hold them off at all costs! Even if it takes a lot of lives, you must not let the monsters into the city."

“…Yes!” Li Pingfu squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth, clasped his hands in acceptance of the order.

What was a battle to defend the nation and its people that concerned the lives of countless people in the eyes of mortals, became a hunting game with clearly marked prices and pre-defined interests in the eyes of these cultivators.

Li Pingcan sneered inwardly, having lost all goodwill towards these so-called righteous sects.

After the meeting ended, Li Pingcan followed behind Li Pingfu and quietly activated the [Master Domain].

Intelligence is life.

Knowing yourself and knowing your enemy can help you win a hundred battles.

Soon, a clear image appeared in my mind.

It was a giant black python, over five zhang long, covered with black scales the size of bowls, appearing and disappearing in the murky river water.

Each time it rolls, it creates towering waves that smash the rocks on the shore to pieces.

"A late-stage Tier 1 demonic beast, indeed ferocious."

Li Pingcan thought to himself, but then he sensed something was wrong.

In the druid's perception, the life essence and demonic power within the giant python were like a volcano about to erupt, boiling and colliding wildly in an extremely unstable state.

The force was so immense that the surrounding river water bubbled and steamed.

“This is… a sign that a breakthrough is imminent!” Li Pingcan’s pupils suddenly contracted.

This black-scaled river python was actually on the verge of transforming from a first-tier demon beast to a second-tier demon beast!
If it succeeds, its strength will undergo a tremendous change, becoming comparable to a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the human race!
Just then, the two low-level demonic beasts began to tear at each other. One of them was no match for the other and had its neck bitten off, its crimson blood instantly staining the river red.

Just as the giant crocodile died, a stream of blood-red energy, barely perceptible to the naked eye, rose from its corpse, like a wisp of smoke drawn by an invisible force, and was completely inhaled by the black-scaled river python from a distance!
As this surge of blood energy entered, the already ferocious aura of the river python visibly intensified, its muscles beneath its scales bulging high, emitting a painful yet excited hiss.

'I see! ’

'It can actually accelerate its own breakthrough by devouring the blood and energy dissipated when other demonic beasts die!'

'The more devastating the beast calamity, the more monsters that die, the stronger its power will become!'

This is no beast calamity at all; it's clearly a grand feast prepared by this black-scaled river python for its own advancement!

'These idiots!'

He glanced at the sect cultivators in the distance, who were eager to "hunt," and sneered inwardly.

'They thought they were here to get some easy loot, but little did they know they were just feeding the BOSS experience points. The more monsters they kill, the faster this river python will break through its limits, and it won't even know how it died!'

(End of this chapter)