Druid Fairy

Chapter 187 Tao follows nature
One sword can shatter a magical artifact, one palm can cripple a cultivator!

Is this really the kind of power a fifteen-year-old boy could possess?
His nonchalant demeanor made it seem as if he had merely crushed a trivial bug, rather than crippling a fellow Qi Refining cultivator who was also a chosen one of heaven!

Han Youwei's mouth dropped open, feeling like his brain couldn't process what he was seeing. He knew his newly recognized elder brother was powerful, but he never imagined he was this powerful to the point of being outrageously arrogant!

"Cough cough."

Zhuge Qingcheng's soft cough broke the tense atmosphere.

She walked slowly to the center of the field, not looking at the half-dead Wu Qian, but instead observing Li Mengjin with great interest.

"Using sword energy to break through techniques and using the heart of the sword to defend against enemies, not bad, not bad at all, keep up the good work."

"Thank you for your praise, sir." Li Mengjin sheathed his sword and bowed, his expression calm, as if the earth-shattering series of events just now had nothing to do with him.

…………

As they walked out of Tianji Valley and saw the bright sunshine again, many candidates felt as if they had been transported to another world.

With undeniable skill, Li Mengjin broke through two levels in a row, astonishing everyone present.

"Have you heard? This time, the selection process for the prefectural government has produced an unparalleled prodigy!"

"He's more than just a prodigy! He's practically a sword immortal descended to earth! His swordsmanship is unparalleled; he even dismantled a puppet in a single move!"

“My third maternal uncle’s second aunt’s son’s classmate was there! He said the boy’s name was Li Jin, only fifteen years old, and he was from no particular sect or faction. Truly, heroes don’t care about their origins!”

For a time, the legend of "Sword Immortal Li Jin" became the hottest topic in the streets and alleys, teahouses and taverns of the prefecture.

The major aristocratic families and powerful clans were quick to react upon hearing the news.

In just half a day, the "Youjian Inn" where Li Mengjin and Han Youwei were staying was filled with visiting cards from all walks of life.

"Young Master Li, this is a small token of my lord's appreciation. He would like to invite you to his residence for a chat!"

"Young Master Li, we are from the Qingcheng Sword Sect. Our sect leader greatly admires your swordsmanship!"

"Young Master Li Jin! Our young lady says she will marry no one but you! Here are her birth date and time and her portrait!"

Han Youwei sat on the threshold, grinning from ear to ear: "Big brother! You're the hottest commodity in Songling Prefecture right now! Look at this Miss Zhao, she's so beautiful! And this Sun family, they say they're willing to give a spirit stone mine as dowry! My god, big brother, you're going to rise to the top in one step, marry a rich and beautiful woman, and reach the pinnacle of life!"

Li Mengjin sat cross-legged on the bed, ignoring these mundane matters, and silently wiped the "Shadow Fang" in his hands.

Even though he was as calm as still water, he was still somewhat annoyed by the endless harassment.

Indeed, as the saying goes, "People fear becoming famous, just as pigs fear growing fat."

My father was right; reputation can sometimes be more troublesome than swords.

Just as he was considering whether to run away that very night and find a quiet place, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the inn.

A procession of luxurious carriages, guarded by armored soldiers, stopped in front of the inn. The spectacle was even more grand than that of a prefectural governor's procession.

A middle-aged, overweight man, dressed in a merchant's robe with gold trim, whose figure was seven or eight parts similar to Han Youwei, but whose aura was a hundred times more imposing, strode in, surrounded by a group of servants.

As soon as he entered, his sharp eyes locked onto Han Youwei, who was sitting on the threshold.

The moment Han Youwei saw the person, the smile on his face froze instantly. He was like a mouse that had seen a cat. He sprang up from the threshold and tried to run into the house.

"You unfilial son! Where do you think you're going?!"

The middle-aged fat man roared loudly, his voice like thunder, making the beams of the entire inn vibrate.

He took three steps in two, grabbed Han Youwei by the back of his collar, and lifted him up like a chick.

"Father! Father! Why are you here! Let's talk this out, don't hit me! So many people are watching! Give me some face!" Han Youwei struggled wildly, his face full of terror.

The person who came was none other than his own father, Han Wanshan, the head of the wealthy Han family of Qinghe!

"Face? You still have the nerve to ask me for face?"

Han Wanshan was so angry that his beard bristled and his eyes widened. He raised his large, fan-like hand as if to slap someone. "I sent you to participate in the selection to bring honor to our ancestors! Not to make a fool of yourself in public and embarrass us! You spent a lot of money to buy false information, cheated in front of the examiners, and were exposed on the spot! You have completely disgraced the Han family!"

"I'm innocent, Father!" Han Youwei cried out. "I was deceived by a villain! Besides, I still passed the test in the end!"

"How dare you say that!" Han Wanshan was furious. "Everyone else got through it based on their own abilities, but what about you? How did you get through it? If you hadn't been lucky enough to latch onto a powerful figure, you would have had your legs broken and been thrown out by now!"

As he continued cursing, Han Wanshan seemed to only then notice that there were other people in the room.

His gaze shifted and he saw the young man in a blue robe sitting cross-legged on the bed.

The young man had a cool and aloof demeanor, held an ancient-looking longsword, and had eyes that remained calm and undisturbed.

He was just sitting there quietly, yet he possessed an air of profound composure and unwavering strength.

Han Wanshan's sharp eyes, honed over decades in the business world, instantly recognized the young man's extraordinary nature.

"Son..." Han Wanshan released his hand, his tone instantly changing 180 degrees to gentle and kind, "This... could it be the one you often mention in your letters... Li Jin, Brother Li?"

“That’s right! Dad! This is the older brother I told you about!” Han Youwei rubbed his neck, which was sore from being pulled, with a proud look on his face.

"Ouch!"

Han Wanshan slapped his thigh, his face instantly beaming with the warmest smile.

"So it's Young Master Li in person! I've long admired your name; it's legendary!"

Li Mengjin slowly opened his eyes and returned the greeting: "Uncle Han, you're too kind."

"Oh! What do you mean, 'uncle'? You're being too polite!"

Han Wanshan, in a very familiar manner, took Li Mengjin's hand and said affectionately, "Since you and my good-for-nothing son have become sworn brothers, then you are half a son of mine, Han Wanshan! From now on, call me Uncle Han... no! Call me Uncle! Just call me Uncle!"

Han Youwei was dumbfounded when he saw his father like this.

Han Wanshan exchanged a few warm greetings, then changed the subject and glared at his son, but this time, his eyes were filled with unprecedented praise.

He patted Han Youwei's shoulder hard, so hard that Han Youwei grimaced.

"Good lad! You've caused more trouble than I've ever eaten salt in your life, and you've done countless stupid things! But today, you did a good job! You did a brilliant job!"
"To befriend a prodigy like Young Master Li is the best fortune you could ever have accumulated in eight lifetimes! From now on, you'd better cling tightly to Young Master Li's coattails! If he tells you to go east, you absolutely cannot go west! If he tells you to beat a dog, you absolutely cannot chase a chicken! Do you hear me?!"

"I...I heard it..." Han Youwei was completely baffled by his father's incredible ability to change his expression.

Li Mengjin, on the other hand, was increasingly troubled.

This father and son are practically identical.

…………

At Han Wanshan's enthusiastic invitation, Li Mengjin was "invited" onto the luxurious carriage that was taking her back to the city.

“Nephew Li,” Han Wanshan personally poured Li Mengjin a cup of spiritual tea and said earnestly, “you must be extremely careful in this final hurdle.”

"Oh? What makes you say that, Uncle?"

“You’ve offended Wang Tianba,” Han Wanshan said in a low voice. “That guy is vindictive! You embarrassed him in public, and while he may say nice things, he’s probably plotting something bad to trip you up at the last hurdle!” Li Mengjin had naturally thought of this as well.

He just hadn't expected Wang Tianba's methods to be so direct and insidious.

The final test was held at an ancient battlefield ruin called "Ten Thousand Souls Cave".

This place is a gathering place of yin energy, where vengeful spirits linger and evil ghosts often cause trouble.

The content of the assessment is even more chilling—at the deepest part of the Ten Thousand Souls Cave, there is a "Soul-Suppressing Altar," on which is enshrined a "Soul-Suppressing Pearl," which can soothe all ghosts and purify their resentment.

However, the resentment over the years has caused the "Soul-Suppressing Pearl" to lose its spiritual power, and it needs to be "rekindled" with the pure blood and soul power of a cultivator.

When Zhuge Qingcheng announced the rule, everyone gasped.

This is hardly an assessment.

This is clearly a life-threatening situation!

Can one use their own vital energy and soul to illuminate the Soul-Suppressing Pearl?

How much energy would that take?

One wrong move and you could be drained dry on the spot, your soul scattered!

Wang Tianba stood to the side, his gaze seemingly casually drifting towards Li Mengjin.

Even if you have the highest talent and the strongest divine sense, if you try to withstand the erosion of the resentment in the Ten Thousand Souls Cave and then light up the Soul Suppressing Pearl, you will inevitably suffer a great loss of vital energy!

At that time, wouldn't a weak genius be at his mercy?
"Wang Tianba, you have such a vicious heart!" Han Youwei trembled with anger.

Li Mengjin's expression finally turned cold.

He didn't want to bother with such people, but they kept provoking him.

Upon entering the Cave of Ten Thousand Souls, a howling wind and the incessant wailing of ghosts filled the air. The surrounding resentment was almost tangible, constantly eroding the protective aura of the group.

The deeper you go, the greater the pressure becomes.

Many candidates hadn't gone far before their faces turned pale and their magical power waned, forcing them to crush the teleportation jade talisman and withdraw from the assessment.

In the end, only a handful of people were able to reach the Soul Suppression Altar.

Li Mengjin, Han Youwei, the Sun brothers, and several other cultivators with the highest cultivation levels.

On the Soul-Suppressing Altar built of bones, a fist-sized, dimly lit bead exudes an ominous aura.

"I come!"

The burly man Lei Dong was the first to step forward. He was confident in his strong physique and vigorous blood and wanted to be the first to try.

He placed his hand on the Soul-Suppressing Pearl and activated the Qi and blood throughout his body.

"what!"

But the next moment, he let out a scream. If the Sun brothers hadn't pulled him away quickly, he would have died on the spot.

Upon seeing this, everyone was horrified, and no one dared to step forward easily.

Just as everyone was hesitant and caught in a dilemma, they were caught between a rock and a hard place.

Li Mengjin slowly walked up to the altar.

"Big brother! No!"

Li Mengjin didn't turn around, but simply said, "It's alright."

He walked up to the altar and gently placed his hand on the cold Soul-Suppressing Pearl.

"Buzz!"

A powerful, chilling suction force instantly emanated from the bead, frantically devouring his divine soul power!

At the same time, within the entire Ten Thousand Souls Cave, countless illusory soul shadows seemed to have smelled the freshest blood food, letting out sharp howls, transforming into a black tide, and swarming towards Li Mengjin on the altar!

If it were an ordinary person, under such a double attack from both inside and outside, they would probably have been drained of their life force and their soul torn to shreds by now.

"Big brother!" Han Youwei was terrified.

Li Mengjin calmly took out a crystal-clear leaf, as if carved from jade, from the innermost part of his bosom.

The leaves of that tree were naturally covered with mysterious patterns and exuded a powerful and vast life force. They were the leaves of the Mulberry Spirit Tree that his father, Li Pingcan, had given him before he left!

This tree was created by my father using druidic magic, gathering the essence of heaven and earth. Its leaves possess the special effect of "natural grace," making it impervious to all evil!
"go."

Li Mengjin flicked his finger, and the mulberry leaf floated lightly onto the Soul-Suppressing Pearl.

There was no earth-shattering explosion, nor any destructive power.

The moment Sang Lingye touched the Soul-Suppressing Pearl, an extremely soft emerald green halo, like ripples on water, slowly rippled outwards from the altar.

This green light is filled with the purest life and the breath of nature.

Wherever the halo passed, those originally ferocious and violent soul shadows, filled with resentment and malevolence, became as if brushed by the warmest spring breeze, and instantly quieted down.

They stopped attacking, staring blankly at the small leaf, and in their empty eye sockets, a long-lost...longing appeared.

The biting wind inside the Cave of Ten Thousand Souls gradually subsided.

The incessant wailing and howling of ghosts transformed into sighs of relief.

The power of the mulberry leaves did not disperse or suppress them, but rather cleansed the resentment that had accumulated over thousands of years, soothed the wounds deep in their souls, and guided these lost souls who were sinking in boundless darkness to a path of rest.

One after another, the soul shadows became transparent in the green light. They bowed deeply to the boy on the altar, then turned into specks of light and disappeared into the world.

When the last trace of resentment was purified, the Soul-Suppressing Pearl shone brightly, as dazzling as the sun, illuminating the entire Ten Thousand Soul Cave as bright as day!
Li Mengjin withdrew his hand, his expression unchanged and his breathing steady, as if he had only done a trivial matter.

Outside the valley, Wang Tianba stared at the holy pillar of light that shot into the sky and purified the entire heavens, his cold smile freezing on his face.

The scale representing the resentment value of the Myriad Souls Cave on the Xuan Guang Mirror next to him, which was used for monitoring, had been cleared to zero.

"Impossible... What is that?!"

He had imagined countless possibilities, but he never expected that Li Mengjin would be able to produce such a treasure that could suppress Yin spirits!
As Zhuge Qingcheng watched this scene, her eyes shone with a dazzling brilliance.

"It is neither a method of immortality nor a supernatural power of Buddhism... This power is more like... the natural primordial power at the beginning of the world."

Her voice, tinged with admiration, resounded throughout the entire Heavenly Mystery Valley.

"The leader is Li Jin!"

(End of this chapter)