Druid Fairy

Chapter 144 Tracking Mark
Although the beast tide had receded, the oppressive and tense atmosphere in the air remained unchanged.

Li Pingfu stood atop the city wall of Hongyang County, directing his soldiers to repair the city defenses destroyed by the monsters and handling various post-war matters.

The days of intense battles had made him noticeably thinner, but his posture remained as upright as a pine tree.

Just then, a streak of light streaked across the distant sky and arrived in an instant, landing in front of him.

As the light faded, a woman with a cold and exquisite face, dressed in a palace gown with cloud patterns, was revealed.

Her body was brimming with magical power, and her aura was powerful. She was none other than Su Qingyun, the current patriarch's wife of the Su family.

"County Commandant Li."

Su Qingyun's voice was like a thousand-year-old iceberg, devoid of any warmth, "Where is my daughter?"

Li Pingfu frowned slightly; he recognized the man.

After the Seven Star Sect elder died, it was the wife of the Su family patriarch who came and took away her daughter's belongings. In her words, she expressed some dissatisfaction with him, the person in charge of guarding the city.

The problem is that no one knows how those two immortals perished. It is said that their bodies were never found, and they may have died when the Jiang Mang erupted.

Of course, all of these are just Li Pingfu's guesses. As a low-ranking military officer, he was not "qualified" to know about immortals.

"Mrs. Su."

Li Pingfu clasped his hands in a respectful but not arrogant manner and said, “On the battlefield, swords have no eyes. Your daughter, as a cultivator of the sect, was also a key player in this battle. It is a great pity that she has fallen. However, the battle is fierce, and we ordinary martial artists have done our best to protect the people in the city. We really have no way to spare any attention for anything else.”

"Unable to concentrate?"

Su Qingyun sneered, "What a convenient excuse of being unable to protect her! My daughter is a direct disciple of the Seven Star Sect, a prodigy with a superior spiritual root. If she were here, how many demonic beasts could she have slain, how many lives could she have saved? You bunch of incompetent trash, you can't even protect her, and you don't even know how she died?"

She was well aware of the innocence of these mortals, but at this moment she only wanted to vent her anger.

The pressure of the late-stage Qi Refining Realm cultivator was released without reservation, forcing the surrounding soldiers to retreat repeatedly, their faces turning pale.

Upon hearing this, Li Pingfu found it all quite laughable.

The sect cultivators consider themselves superior and usually look down on ordinary people. Now that their own disciples have died, they turn around and blame these "ordinary people" for not protecting them properly.
How absurd and hypocritical this is!
"Mrs. Su."

Li Pingfu slowly raised his head, his eyes cold and indifferent.

"I'll say it again: my duty is to protect the people of this city. As for you immortal cultivators, you may have extraordinary abilities and profound magic, but I'm afraid your lives are beyond my control!"

"you!"

Su Qingyun was so angry at his words that she trembled all over. She never expected that a mere military officer would dare to talk back to her like that!

"Insolence?! How dare a mere brute speak of 'duty' before me? Do you know that a single hair on my daughter's head is worth a thousand times more than the combined lives of all of you lowly commoners!"

Before she finished speaking, the crimson flame in her palm suddenly swelled up and transformed into a lifelike fire phoenix, rushing towards Li Pingfu!
The air was instantly ignited, producing a sizzling sound.

Seeing this, Li Pingfu sneered and advanced instead of retreating!

Without the slightest fear, the pent-up anger in his chest finally erupted.

"Five Spirits Play, the Power of Bear and Tiger!"

He straightened up and stood at attention, his blood and qi surging like a furnace.

The phantom of the giant bear roared to the sky, while the phantom of the tiger coiled on the hillside. The two divine auras miraculously merged into one on his fist!

There are no fancy moves, just a simple straight punch!
"boom!"

The fist and the fire phoenix collided violently in mid-air!
The devastating scene that Su Qingyun had imagined did not occur.

The spell, formed from pure flames, shattered instantly upon contact with Li Pingfu's fist, its flames scattering everywhere. It was brutally destroyed by the overwhelming force of the punch!
Su Qingyun was dumbfounded. "How is this possible?!"

How could a martial artist withstand her sixth-tier spell with his bare hands?

The power contained in that punch even made her feel a slight tremor in her heart!
Just as Su Qingyun was in shock, waves of angry killing intent locked onto her from all directions.

She turned around abruptly, her pupils contracting slightly.

On the city wall, the mortal soldiers who had previously trembled in fear from her oppressive aura now gripped their spears tightly. Their thousands of eyes no longer held fear, but were filled with a burning red of shared hatred for the enemy!

They didn't shout or charge; they simply expressed their stance in the purest way.

Their adults are fighting to protect them.

Then they would live and die with him!
The combined aura of thousands of people, a powerful and fierce military force, formed an invisible force field that caused Su Qingyun's protective aura to tremble slightly.

"You've rebelled! You bunch of ants, how dare you..."

Su Qingyun was so angry that she trembled all over. She had never suffered such humiliation before.
Just as she was about to teach these ignorant mortals a lesson, a calm voice drifted from below the city.

"Madam Su, please calm down."

Jiang Yunsheng had appeared beneath the city wall at some unknown time.

He was still clad in black armor, his face solemn, but his deep eyes held a hint of weariness that was hard to conceal.

"This is a strategically important military location. We hope that Madam Su will prioritize the overall situation and refrain from resorting to force here, which would disturb the morale of the troops."

He first clarified the nature of the place, then gave Su Qingyun a way out, before turning his attention to Li Pingfu:
"As the commander of a city, you should know your responsibility to defend the territory. The monsters have not yet retreated, and the city's defenses are not yet secure. How can you let personal matters interfere with your duties and cause conflict with friendly forces?"

These words, which seemed to assign equal blame to both sides, were actually a covert defense of Li Pingfu.

How could Su Qingyun not hear it?
Her anger intensified, but looking at Jiang Yunsheng's calm and composed face, and the hundred powerful Dynasty cultivators behind him, her killing intent was ultimately suppressed by reason.

To attack the commander-in-chief of an army in a military camp is tantamount to openly challenging the dignity of the dynasty.

She cannot bear this crime, nor can the Su family behind her.

"Well done, what a fine celestial official of the dynasty, what a fine Li Pingfu!"

Su Qingyun took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the killing intent in his heart.

“I’ve noted what happened today. Li Pingfu, you’d better pray you don’t fall into my hands.”

Having said that, she didn't linger any longer, and her figure transformed into a streak of light and disappeared.

Jiang Yunsheng breathed a sigh of relief. He walked over to Li Pingfu, patted him on the shoulder, and whispered, "This crazy woman is not to be trifled with. She has the Su family behind her. Be careful."

"Thank you, sir, for reminding me."

Li Pingfu returned the salute with clasped hands. Looking at the soldiers who had survived the ordeal below the city wall, the anger in his heart gradually turned into a heavy sense of responsibility.

If this woman is not eliminated, I will have no peace of mind and endless troubles to come.

Just as he was feeling worried, a familiar presence approached. Li Pingfu turned around and whispered, "Little brother, why are you back?"

"Brother, there's no need to say more, I know everything."

Through the [Master's Domain], Li Pingcan saw Su Qingyun's true colors clearly, and his murderous intent grew stronger.

But then he keenly sensed something was wrong.

Under the power of the Druid's dojo, Su Qingyun was surrounded by a faint energy fluctuation that was completely out of place with her own spiritual energy.

"Tracing the mark?"

Li Pingcan felt a chill run down his spine and instantly understood.

This Su Qingyun is either being tracked by someone, or she is searching for the tracker herself using some kind of secret method.

The person tracking him was none other than the "culprit" himself!
Regardless of the circumstances, this person is a menace and must be eliminated.

…………

Outside Hongyang County, there is an abandoned post station.

In a corner of the inn, a campfire was burning brightly, crackling loudly.

Li Pingfu added a dry twig to the fire, his voice low and menacing, "Little brother, are you really sure she'll come here?"

“She wanted to return to the prefectural capital from Hongyang County, and this was the only way through.”

Li Pingcan raised his head, a relaxed smile on his face, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Moreover, I also planted a 'Frosty Pool Grass' of good age upstream of that river. Fire-type cultivators like her are most unable to resist the temptation of such a rare and precious herb that can neutralize fire poison and enhance cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Li Pingfu's lips twitched involuntarily, and he thought to himself, "This young man has truly mastered the art of 'fishing' to his very core."

"Brother, you don't need to worry too much."

Li Pingcan seemed to see through his thoughts and laughed, "No matter how powerful she is, she is still just a cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining. Her soul is not strong, and her methods are limited. If you and I join forces, she can't escape."

“I’m not worried about not being able to beat her.” Li Pingfu shook his head, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes. “I’m worried that killing her will invite retaliation from the Su family. Our Li family is ultimately too shallow in its foundation.”

“That’s why we can’t let her go back alive to report.” Li Pingcan’s smile remained unchanged, but his tone turned colder. “Brother, when a dog tries to bite you, either stay far away from it, or beat it to death with a stick until its owner doesn’t dare to let it out again. Su Qingyun, that mad dog, is already chasing after us.”

Li Pingfu remained silent, knowing that his younger brother was right.

"coming."

Li Pingcan suddenly spoke up.

A figure was seen riding a flying sword, speeding towards the post station.

Su Qingyun clearly had no intention of hiding her whereabouts. In her view, no one in this desolate wilderness would dare to harm her, a cultivator in the late stage of Qi Refining.

Just then, a sudden, alarming warning sounded, and she abruptly dodged, only to see a crossbow bolt shot out from the direction of the post station.

"It's you!"

Upon seeing Li Pingfu, Su Qingyun's eyes turned red with hatred, and without thinking, he immediately dropped his flying sword and charged towards Li Pingfu, his hands forming a hand seal as he prepared to unleash a spell.

Li Pingfu shook his head. Just as his younger brother had said, by not concealing his figure, he was able to lure Su Qingyun into "falling into his trap."

The Five Elements Unify and erupted without fear, charging towards the fire spell.

"You're courting death!" A smug glint flashed in Su Qingyun's eyes. This "Blazing Flame Technique" was a seventh-tier technique, and even with Li Pingfu's protective energy, he would still be injured.

But then Li Pingcan made a move.

He didn't even get up; he simply picked up a half-burnt stick from the campfire and gently swung it at the terrifying flames.

[Elemental Infusion] + [Windrunner's Sanctuary]!
In an instant, a strong gust of wind howled in, blowing the raging fire away like smoke and dissipating in an instant!

"What!?"

Su Qingyun's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. She never imagined that her proud spell, which was powerful enough to threaten cultivators of the same level, would be so easily neutralized.

Moreover, the opponent doesn't need to perform any hand seals, only using a fire poker?

"You! You're a cultivator too!?" She stared at Li Pingcan in shock.

Li Pingcan said with a smile, "It's a cold and windy night. Why don't we sit down and have some barbecue to warm ourselves up?"

Warm my ass!

Su Qingyun was furious. She had never been played like this before.
"Pretend to be a ghost!"

She let out a sharp cry, and her hand seals changed again. Dozens of crimson fire snakes appeared out of thin air, as if they had life of their own, surrounding Li Pingcan from all directions and sealing off all his escape routes.

"Let's see where you run this time!" Su Qingyun grinned maliciously.

"Little brother!"

Upon seeing this, Li Pingfu felt a pang of anxiety.

"Brother, don't worry."

Li Pingcan strolled leisurely into the sea of ​​fire, letting the ferocious fire snakes coil around his body.

A strange scene happened.

The flames that were powerful enough to melt even refined iron turned into docile pets the moment they touched his body. Instead of causing any harm, they transformed into wisps of pure fire-attribute spiritual energy, which were completely absorbed by his body!
[Fire Affinity]!
"This...how is this possible!?"

Su Qingyun was completely dumbfounded.

It's one thing to break spells with bare hands, but now it can even "eat" flames?
In the instant she lost her composure, Li Pingfu made his move.

"Roar!"

With a roar like a tiger, he was like a tiger released from its cage, carrying unparalleled power, and instantly rushed in front of Su Qingyun, delivering a powerful punch straight for his face!

"not good!"

Alarm bells rang in Su Qingyun's mind. Her rich combat experience made her instinctively want to retreat, and at the same time she took out an earth-yellow talisman from her storage bag.

First-grade superior quality, Mountain Rock Talisman!
The talisman spontaneously combusted, and a thick, solid rock shield instantly enveloped her.

"boom!"

Li Pingfu's fist slammed solidly into the rock shield.

"Crack!"

The shield's surface was instantly covered with spiderweb-like cracks. Using the impact, Su Qingyun gracefully retreated, and at the same time, with a flick of his wrist, a flying sword flashing with cyan light bypassed Li Pingfu's frontal defense at an extremely tricky angle, and stabbed straight at Li Pingcan behind him!

Capture the thief first and capture the king!
In her view, this cultivator with his bizarre methods was the real threat!

Once we deal with him, the remaining brute who only knows how to use brute force is nothing to fear!
Her smile quickly froze.

Faced with that lightning-fast, fatal blow, the "frail" "magician" in her eyes not only showed no intention of dodging, but instead grinned, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth.

That smile was full of primal and wild charm.

[Wild Fury]!
Li Pingcan's body suddenly swelled up, the muscles in his arms bulged high, and beneath his skin, it seemed as if blue veins were swimming like dragons and snakes, and an extremely savage and fierce aura erupted!
He stretched out his right hand with its sharp claw and grabbed the blue flying sword that shot towards him!
"Qiang!"

A piercing clang of metal clashing rang out, sparks flying everywhere!
He actually caught Su Qingyun's flying sword with his bare hands!
"What!?"

Su Qingyun's mind went blank.

She felt like she wasn't fighting a person, but rather facing a ferocious beast in human skin!
What made her even more desperate was that the moment the other party grabbed the flying sword, an aura that was both familiar and terrifying to her so much that her soul trembled suddenly erupted from the other party!
This breath...

This aura completely extinguished the last vestige of life in her daughter, Su Huanuan!

"It's you! You're the murderer who killed my daughter!"

Su Qingyun let out a hysterical scream.

The enemy she had been searching for was right in front of her!

Ironically, she arrogantly regarded it as an easy target to manipulate!
"You recognize it now?"

Li Pingcan's voice became low and hoarse, "Unfortunately, there's no reward."

Su Qingyun was, after all, a cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining, with rich experience in combat, and did not completely lose his composure.

But then Li Pingcan pulled out a jet-black iron sword with an ancient design from who-knows-where.

"You're a sword cultivator!?"

Su Qingyun's voice was filled with disbelief and horror.

A guy with a physical body as strong as a demon beast and unpredictable magic actually also practices swordsmanship?
How could such an unreasonable monster exist in this world?!
Li Pingcan did not answer her, but slowly raised the "Awakening of Insects" in his hand.

Su Qingyun withdrew her longsword, twirling like a butterfly, her sword flashing like a startled swan, ready to thrust straight at him.

However, she was facing Lee Pyeongchan.

"The Thirteen Swords of Wind Return, First Form: Willow Sway!"

Li Pingcan flicked the Jingzhe sword in his hand, and a series of crisp metallic clanging sounds rang out.

Su Qingyun's exquisite sword techniques, which he was so proud of, were completely neutralized by his opponent, as easily as a child's scribbles.

"impossible!"

Su Qingyun gritted her teeth, "Fire Dance!"

She fused fire magic with swordsmanship. Wherever the sword light passed, the air was scorched and slightly distorted, carrying a scorching gust of wind that once again descended upon Li Pingcan!
"Well done!"

"Third move, Cirrus Clouds!"

The Jingzhe Sword in his hand no longer pursued ultimate speed, but transformed into a continuous black sea of ​​clouds.

The sword light surged like a tide, layer upon layer, wave after wave, directly engulfing Su Qingyun's swordsmanship.

Knowing he was no match for her, Su Qingyun gritted his teeth and roared, then unleashed a talisman and forcibly fled.

But she was fast, and Li Pingcan was even faster!
"Jingzhe!"

With a low shout, an extremely fast sword light flashed and disappeared!
"Pfft!"

Su Qingyun froze abruptly. She looked down in disbelief and saw a transparent hole the size of a bowl in her chest.

Life, like the receding tide, vanished rapidly.

In her final moments of consciousness, all that remained was that breathtakingly beautiful black sword light.

(End of this chapter)