Druid Fairy

Chapter 176 Misfortunes never come singly
Peach Blossom Mountain, the night is cool as water.

Li Pingcan, unusually, didn't cultivate. Instead, he sat in the courtyard with his beloved daughter, Li Mengyue, counting stars.

"Daddy, look, that star is the brightest!" Li Mengyue rested her head on Li Pingcan's arm, pointed her chubby little finger at the night sky, and said in a soft, sweet voice.

“Yes, that’s the morning star.” Li Pingcan smiled and pulled his daughter closer to him. “Crescent Moon, in a few days, you’ll be seven years old.”

"Yes! I'm seven years old now, so I can take the test for the spiritual root that the immortal talked about, just like my older brothers!" Li Mengyue blinked her big eyes, her face full of anticipation.

Li Pingcan's smile faded slightly, and his tone became gentle and solemn: "Yueya'er, there's something I want to discuss with you."

He paused, organized his thoughts, and said in the simplest way possible, "Do you remember, you could make the injured uncles recover very quickly?"

"I remember!" Li Mengyue proudly puffed out her little chest. "Daddy said it was the moon that gave me strength!"

“Yes, that’s a power that belongs only to you, an extremely powerful one.” Li Pingcan looked into his daughter’s clear eyes. “This power is like the sweetest candy in the world. If everyone outside knew about it, a lot of bad people would swarm around like flies, trying to steal your candy.”

"But you will also reap countless benefits because of your sweetness."

"So, Daddy wants to ask you," Li Pingcan gently stroked his daughter's hair, "would you like to hide this sweetest piece of candy during the test in a few days?"

He gave the choice to his seven-year-old daughter.

He could force his daughter to comply, but he hoped she could understand the pros and cons herself and make her own choice.

Li Mengyue lowered her head, her small brows furrowing tightly.

She did not answer immediately, but fell into a long silence.

She thought of her eldest brother, who was far away in the capital. Her mother had told her that her brother had to get up before dawn every day to refine elixirs in order to bring honor to the family, and that he was often bullied.

She thought of her second brother again. Every day before dawn, he would practice swordsmanship on the back mountain. The calluses on his hands were thicker than her father's. He had fallen countless times and sweated a lot, but he never complained.

There's also my uncle's son, Yuanhu, who trains himself until he looks like a mud monkey every day in order to catch up with the immortal.

Everyone in the family is doing their best for this family.

And what about yourself?

Having such great power, should I hide it away forever out of fear and comfortably hide behind my brothers?

After a long while, Li Mengyue raised her head, and in her clear eyes, there was a firmness that was beyond her years.

"Father, I'm not afraid."

She looked at Li Pingcan and said earnestly, "Yueya'er is a child of the Li family, and also a member of this family. My eldest brother and second brother are working hard for the family, and I also want to do something for everyone. If my strength can help the family and make Father and Mother less tired, even if bad people come to steal my candy, I won't be afraid! Because I know that Father and my brothers will definitely protect me!"

These words filled Li Pingcan with both pride and heartache.

"Good, good...you're truly my daughter." He murmured to himself, "Father understands. Don't worry, with Father here, even if the sky falls, Father will hold it up for you!"

…………

Several days later, in Yunshui County, at the Li family mansion.

The scale of the spiritual root test far surpassed that of the previous year.

Not only did the county magistrate attend in person, but the prefectural government also sent an envoy dressed in official robes, clearly acting on the orders of the capital to come and observe the ceremony.

Everyone knows that the third generation of the Li family produced a master of alchemy. How could the master's younger sister be any less capable?

All eyes were focused on Li Mengyue, who was wearing a moon-white dress.

The spirit stone for testing spiritual roots was brought up.

Everyone watched with anticipation as Li Mengyue placed her small hand on it.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths...

The spirit stone was tested, but there was no reaction.

The faint white light above didn't even cause a ripple.

"What...what's going on?"

"Could it be... that he has no spiritual root?"

"Impossible! Like begets like. Both young masters of the Li family are exceptional individuals, how could this young lady..."

A murmur of suppressed discussion immediately arose in the room, and many people showed disappointment on their faces.

The envoy from the prefecture frowned slightly, and the eagerness in his eyes as he looked at Li Pingcan diminished.

"Could it be... that she has mortal roots? That's impossible! The Li family produced a Daoist immortal, how could my sister have mortal roots?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down! Don't let the Li family hear!"

Even Lee Pyeongchan himself feigned surprise and disappointment, perfectly capturing the nuances of his acting.

Li Mengyue looked at the unresponsive test spirit stone, her face turning pale, and nervously turned to look at her father.

Li Pingcan gave her an encouraging look.

Just when everyone thought this highly anticipated test was going to end in a disappointing way, something unexpected happened!

"Buzz!"

An indescribable aura of holiness suddenly erupted from Li Mengyue's body!
It was a phantom of a cassia tree rooted in the void, its branches and leaves outstretched, seemingly able to cover the heavens!

Beneath the osmanthus tree, a full moon hangs high, casting down countless rays of clear light, filled with the supreme charm of life and healing!

Wherever the light shone, the withered grass on the training ground, which had turned yellow from years of practice, sprouted tender green shoots at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Everyone present, whether ordinary martial artists or Qi cultivators, felt as if they had been washed by the warmest spring water. All the hidden injuries and old ailments on their bodies were greatly relieved under the soothing power, leaving them feeling comfortable and refreshed!
"My God! What kind of power is this?!"

"A miracle! This is simply a miracle!"

"My chronic leg pain, which had bothered me for over ten years, is actually gone!"

The envoy, who had been indifferent, suddenly stood up from his chair, unaware that the teacup in his hand had fallen to the ground with a "clatter".

"The Sacred Body of Taiyin! This is the legendary Sacred Body of Taiyin, a sight that is only seen once in a hundred years! Heaven bless our Great Yu! Heaven bless our Great Yu!"

He was so excited that he was trembling all over and almost incoherent.

Ordinary spiritual roots are only tested for their affinity with the five elements of spiritual energy.

The Taiyin Sacred Body is one of the most advanced innate Dao bodies in legend! Those who possess this physique are born with the ability to communicate with the power of Taiyin. The magic power they cultivate has the special effects of purification and healing. It is the nemesis of all evil and heretical paths, and it is the "mobile spring" that all cultivators dream of!
If a family can possess a Taiyin Holy Body, it is equivalent to possessing a talisman that can protect the family for hundreds of years and ensure its prosperity!

"Quickly! Go and report to His Majesty!" The envoy snapped out of his daze and roared hoarsely at his attendants behind him, "This is an auspicious omen from heaven! The reign of our Great Yu Kingdom shall be extended for another thousand years!"

The news reached the capital with terrifying speed.

That very night, the imperial edict of the Emperor of Dayu was delivered to Yunshui County.

Li Mengyue was immediately bestowed the title of "Princess Mingyue," granted a fief of two thousand households, and bestowed with rare and precious treasures that filled ten carriages.

The emperor even issued an edict to build a "Bright Moon Palace" in the capital for this newly promoted princess, and stated that he would personally arrange her marriage after she came of age. The scale and treatment she received even surpassed that of most princes!
This favor is unprecedented and will likely never be repeated.

This is both a favor and a disguised form of "pledge".

Inside Zhaoyang Palace.

Princess Zhaoyang, who had just finished her lunch, was leaning back on a soft couch, enjoying the gentle massage of her shoulders by two beautiful palace maids.

The grievances her daughter Wei Ling'er suffered a few months ago, as well as the failed ambush, made her unhappy, but in her eyes, it was just a temporary setback.

That Li Mengze only managed to climb up to Prince Yong's mansion and Zhao Wuji by relying on his talent in alchemy.

As long as I use a little trick to make him never leave the capital, the Li family will forever be an ant in my palm, and I will crush them completely sooner or later.

Just then, a trusted old eunuch, his face beaming with joy, strode in with small, quick steps, his voice trembling slightly.

"Your Highness! Disaster! A terrible disaster!"

"What's all this commotion about, disturbing my peace?" Princess Zhaoyang said with displeasure. This chief eunuch was becoming increasingly inconvenient to use.

"It's...it's the Li family!" The old eunuch exclaimed in fear. "Your Highness, the youngest daughter of the Li family triggered a celestial phenomenon today during her spiritual root test! It's the legendary 'Taiyin Sacred Body,' a rare occurrence that only happens once every hundred years! The envoy from the prefecture has already sent an urgent report, and His Majesty...His Majesty is overjoyed, saying it's an auspicious sign of divine blessing upon our Great Yu!"

"What did you say?!"

Princess Zhaoyang sat up abruptly, the languid ease on her face vanishing instantly, replaced by astonishment.

"Snapped!"

She slapped the old eunuch hard across the face, so hard that he spun halfway around, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"You dog! How dare you spout nonsense in front of me!" Princess Zhaoyang's phoenix eyes widened, her chest heaving violently.

The old eunuch was so frightened that he knelt down with a thud, covering his face and kowtowing repeatedly, his voice trembling with sobs: "This servant dares not! This servant would never dare to deceive the princess! This matter is absolutely true, and it has spread throughout the palace! His Majesty... His Majesty has already drafted an imperial edict to bestow upon that girl from the Li family the title of 'Princess Mingyue,' and he will even build a princess's mansion for her in the capital!"

"Princess?!"

Upon hearing these two words, Princess Zhaoyang felt a surge of anger rush from the depths of her heart to the top of her head!
She swept all the tea sets and fruit plates off the table in front of her, the sound of precious porcelain shattering echoing everywhere. The palace maids trembled with fear and knelt down in unison.

"The Li family! It's the Li family again!!"

Her pretty face was contorted with extreme anger. "One monstrous talent in alchemy wasn't enough, now there's an immortal body? They're doing this on purpose! They're deliberately trying to oppose me!!"

In her opinion, this was by no means a coincidence!
Especially when she heard the emperor's reaction and the generous reward, the feeling of being threatened drove her almost to madness.

"Good! My good brother!"

Princess Zhaoyang laughed in fury, her eyes filled with icy resentment. "My Ling'er, a noblewoman of noble birth, suffers only confinement and a reduced salary for being wronged! Yet this lowly girl from the Li family, who caused a strange phenomenon, is granted the title of princess and ordered to have a palace built for her?!"

"Does he even care about me, his own sister? Does he even care about Ling'er, his own niece?!"

She felt her position was under unprecedented threat.

The emperor's favor was finite; for every bit the Li family gained, she and her daughter would lose. This newly born "Taiyin Sacred Body" was like the sharpest poisonous thorn, piercing her heart.

She stood up and paced back and forth in the hall, her eyes shifting uncertainly, until finally a chilling killing intent settled in her eyes.

"I will not allow them to succeed!"

She forced out the words through gritted teeth, "I want to see just how much weight a fledgling auspicious creature can possibly carry!"

…………

frontier.

The setting sun, like blood, dyed the entire hillside a mournful crimson.

"General, the Crimson Flame Army has retreated again," a lieutenant said hoarsely. "This is their fifth attack today."

“They are wearing us down.” Li Yuanhu wiped the blood off his face, but his eyes were unusually calm. “Strange, very strange.”

The siege these past few days, the Crimson Flame Army's offensive, though seemingly fierce, has been shrouded in mystery.

It seemed as if they weren't trying to annihilate them, but rather to "bleed" them, charging in wave after wave, leaving hundreds of corpses behind, and then slowly retreating, repeating the cycle endlessly.

The entire Luofengpo seemed to have become a huge slaughterhouse, and they were the livestock imprisoned and waiting to be slaughtered.

As night fell, the Crimson Flame Army sounded the retreat once again, leaving behind only corpses scattered on the ground and a soaring resentment.

"Something's not right." Li Yuanhu's unease grew stronger.

Under the cover of night, he quietly made his way down the hillside alone. Using his familiarity with the terrain, he moved like a night owl, stealthily approaching the rear of the Crimson Flame Army camp.

He wanted to see what these guys were up to.

However, the sight that he saw made his blood almost freeze instantly.

In a secluded valley several miles away from the Crimson Flame Army's main camp, another group of people was stationed.

These people were not wearing military uniforms, but rather jet-black brocade robes, their faces covered by cold masks. They moved silently, exuding a chilling and murderous aura. In the center of the valley, on a makeshift altar constructed from giant stones, several cultivators dressed in black robes were chanting incantations around a strange spirit stone that appeared to be formed from congealed blood.

Teams of men in black were dragging the corpses of Dayu and Chiyan soldiers collected from the battlefield into the valley and throwing them into a huge pool of blood below the altar.

Whenever a corpse is thrown in, a blood-red bubble rises in the blood pool. Wisps of visible black and red resentment and malevolent energy are drawn out of the blood pool and eventually flow into the blood-red spirit stone at the top of the altar, making its light even brighter.

A familiar face stung Li Yuanhu's eyes.

Just a few days ago, that celestial official patted him on the shoulder and proclaimed him to be "a loyal and valiant general of the Great Yu." Now, he stood high above, watching the ceremony unfold with an indifferent expression.

"This is how the same thing?"

An absurd and terrifying thought exploded in his mind.

(End of this chapter)