Druid Fairy

Chapter 203 Dojo
The air inside the study at Tingtao Xiaozhu seemed to have frozen into ice.

Beneath the glamorous exterior of the Great Yu Dynasty, the most rotten flesh and blood are laid bare before us.

"Sacrifice..."

Li Mengyue's face turned pale. She was not afraid of evil spirits or resentment, but the realization that she was about to face a being that fed on the entire dynasty, whose coldness transcended the level of power, made her shudder.

Li Yuanhu jumped to his feet. "Damn it! I risked my life for this dynasty on the frontier, enduring countless near-death experiences, only to have them feed the lives of my brothers to an evil dragon?!"

"Now is not the time."

Li Mengze's voice was unusually calm: "Since the emperor has deposed the crown prince and appointed the fifth prince to oversee the country, it means that he has already laid a trap."

"Then what should we do? Are we just going to wait like this, waiting for the National Sacrifice Ceremony to take place and watch Crescent Moon be pushed onto the altar?"

Li Mengjin's voice was as cold as a sword, tinged with an uncontrollable killing intent.

“No.” Li Mengze slowly shook his head, his gaze sweeping over his younger brother, sister-in-law, and Li Yuanhu. “We will wait for Father’s instructions.”

Without hesitation, he took out the emerald green "message mushroom" again and imprinted the discovery of the underground altar, the mural rubbing of the vengeful dragon contract, and all his speculations about the emperor's mind into the divine message.

After all this was done, the study fell silent once again.

This time, everyone felt an unprecedented sense of powerlessness.

They were facing a massive machine that had been running for hundreds of years, a wicked dragon from the underworld whose fate was intertwined with the nation's, and a cold-blooded emperor who treated kinship and human life as bargaining chips.

Individual wisdom and strength seem so insignificant in the face of such a being.

Just as this oppressive atmosphere was about to engulf everyone, the "messenger mushroom" that had just transmitted the information suddenly lit up with a soft emerald green halo on its cap once again.

The light grew brighter and brighter, eventually transforming into a curtain of light that enveloped the four of them.

“This is…” Li Mengze exclaimed in surprise.

The next moment, they felt their surroundings blur, as if their souls were being drawn away by a gentle yet irresistible force. When their vision cleared again, they found themselves in a completely different world.

There is no oppressive study here, no cold imperial power.

Above us was a clear, azure sky, and beneath our feet stretched an endless expanse of lush, fragrant green grass.

In the distance, ancient and majestic towering trees pierce the sky, each leaf shimmering with the radiance of life.

The air was filled with a rich, almost tangible, life force and natural energy. With just a gentle breath, the fatigue and depression of the past few days vanished, and one's soul felt as if it had been cleansed.

Not far away, beneath an ancient tree of life, a familiar figure stood with his hands behind his back, smiling as he looked at them.

Still dressed in his blue robe, with a gentle face, he was their father, Li Pingcan.

But the father at this moment was completely different from the gentle, unassuming mountain dweller they remembered.

Although he did not release any amazing aura, he just stood there casually, yet he seemed to have become one with the vast天地 (heaven and earth).

He is the core of this world, the source of all life.

"Father!" Li Mengyue was the first to react, rushing over like a swallow returning to its nest.

"Father!" Li Mengze and Li Mengjin were also deeply shaken. They could clearly sense that this was not an illusion, but a real space that was independent of the world.

"This is my 'Druidic Dojo,' a mental space that I projected based on the Emerald Dream."

Li Pingcan's voice was gentle, yet carried a calming power: "Here, even the imperial dragon's aura cannot detect you in the slightest. You no longer need to hold back on what you want to say or do."

Druid Dojo!
Li Mengze, Li Mengjin, and Li Mengyue stood there dumbfounded.

Although they had suspected it, the shock of their father admitting it in person and "taking" them to this sacred place in such a dramatic way still left them speechless.

It turns out that my elder brother's miraculous alchemy skills, his power to manipulate the life force of plants...

It turns out that my second brother's swordsmanship, which was in harmony with nature and transcended the ordinary...

It turns out that my younger sister was born with an auspicious body that could soothe all things and purify resentment...

The source of everything is here!
They are not geniuses who stumbled upon a serendipitous encounter; they are the offspring of druids!

Looking at the wonderful expressions on the children's faces, Li Pingcan felt a pang of guilt, but even more so, pride.

He slowly raised his hand, and the jade slip that had just been sent from the capital was quietly floating in his palm.

"I know all the news you sent."

His voice deepened, and deep within his gentle eyes ignited a fury powerful enough to burn the entire world: "Treating the people as straw dogs, sacrificing soldiers as offerings, allying with the evil dragon, in exchange for the mere survival of one family and one clan!"

An invisible pressure suddenly spread out from him. The wind in the entire training ground stopped, and the branches and leaves of the ancient tree of life in the distance rustled without wind, as if echoing their master's anger.

The children were seeing their father like this for the first time. It wasn't the anger of an ordinary person, but the wrath of the heavens that came from the depths of his soul as a guardian of nature, witnessing life being wantonly trampled upon!
"Father, what should we do?" Li Mengze took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock in his heart, and asked in a deep voice.

"You really can't crack the emperor's schemes head-on."

Li Pingcan concealed his aura, and the dojo returned to tranquility and peace. "He wants you to find the 'method to break the curse' before the National Protection Ceremony. This is both a death warrant and his biggest weakness."

He looked at Li Mengze: "Mengze, what you need to do next is not to search for some vague solution, but to act."

"Acting?" "Not bad." A cold smile curved Li Pingcan's lips. "The emperor wants a sacrifice. Then you'll create two more 'suitable' sacrifices for him."

He held up two fingers: "The First Prince is ambitious and too sharp. The Fifth Prince seems indifferent to worldly affairs, but in reality, he is very shrewd. One wants to live, and the other wants to win. This is your bargaining chip."

"You must go see the First Prince and tell him that you have found a secret method to suppress the 'Curse of the Vengeful Dragon' in the royal records. However, this method is dangerous and requires a prince with pure dragon energy as a 'catalyst' to refine the true 'Dragon Suppressing Pill'. Once successful, you will not only be able to lift the curse, but also obtain a portion of the Vengeful Dragon's power and become the rightful Chosen One."

"At the same time, you must also go to see the Fifth Prince. Tell him that the Emperor's choice of him as regent is actually a way to put him on the altar. You are willing to pledge your loyalty to him and help him escape the fate of being a sacrifice. The only way is to find a 'dragon energy vessel' that is more powerful than him at the national festival to take the brunt of the vengeful dragon's backlash in his place. And that person is the First Prince."

Li Mengze's eyes lit up instantly; he understood his father's meaning.

"One seeks death actively to gain power. The other seeks survival passively to stay alive."

Li Pingcan's voice was icy, "Let them fight over this 'sacrifice' spot. What you need to do is move among them, make them all feel that you are one of their own, and make them all see you as their only hope. In this way, before the National Protection Festival arrives, none of them will dare to touch you. Instead, they will devote all their resources to protecting you and winning you over."

“As for Yueya’er,” Li Pingcan’s gaze softened. He walked to his youngest daughter and gently stroked her head. “You don’t need to do anything. Just stay in the palace and stay by the Empress Dowager’s side. The Emperor wants you to be the ‘auspicious omen’ to appease the resentful dragon, so just be that ‘auspicious omen’ dutifully. The Empress Dowager is your only protection in the palace.”

“Father,” Li Mengjin, who had been silent all along, finally spoke, “What about us? What are Yuanhu and I doing?”

“You,” Li Pingcan looked at the two of them, “integrate all the forces that can be won over in the Golden Scale Guard, and secretly contact the Duke of Zhenguo’s Mansion. Since the Emperor can sacrifice the Crown Prince without hesitation, then the Empress and the Duke of Zhenguo’s Mansion will be his next targets to eliminate. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

"When a great building is about to collapse, there will be cracks. What you need to do is, on the day of the festival, turn that crack into a huge gaping hole that will cause the entire dynasty to crumble!"

His words were like the sun breaking through the clouds, bringing clarity to the world.

…………

As my mind returned to my body, the lights still flickered in the study of Tingtao Xiaozhu, while outside the window, the wind and rain were gloomy.

However, the four siblings, including Li Mengze, had completely different mindsets.

The following day, at the First Prince's residence.

When Li Mengze appeared at the door, the eldest prince, who had been waiting for a long time, personally welcomed him into the secret room.

"Mengze, you are my last hope."

The eldest prince dismissed his attendants, his usual gentle demeanor replaced by a near-mad anxiety and resentment. "Father... he's abandoning me! He'd rather choose that useless fifth prince than give me even the slightest chance!"

"Your Highness, please calm down." Li Mengze said calmly, pushing a cup of tea in front of the eldest prince. "His Majesty is not abandoning you, but protecting you."

"Protect me?" The eldest prince seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world.

“Indeed.” Li Mengze nodded slowly, his voice not loud, but every word was piercing. “Does Your Highness know that the position of regent, though seemingly prestigious, is actually like sitting on a volcano? Now, with the curse raging and the nation’s fortunes unstable, the Fifth Prince is nominally the regent, but in reality, he is a scapegoat. If anything goes wrong during the national festival, he will be the first to be pushed out as a sacrifice to quell the vengeful dragon and the anger of the people.”

The eldest prince's breath hitched. He wasn't stupid; he instantly understood the key to the matter.

“And Your Highness,” Li Mengze continued, “you are too sharp and your dragon aura is too strong. His Majesty has placed you in seclusion precisely to keep you out of this most dangerous vortex and to preserve your vitality.”

These words, half true and half false, perfectly suited the eldest prince's arrogant and conceited personality.

"Then, in your opinion, what should I do?"

"Wait," Li Mengze uttered a single word, then changed the subject, "but we cannot wait idly. I observed the stars last night and consulted the royal archives, and have found a glimmer of hope."

He lowered his voice and said, word by word, "The Curse of the Vengeful Dragon is both a curse and an opportunity. If one can refine a 'Dragon-Suppressing Pill' and, during the ceremony, merge oneself with the Dao, not only will one not be devoured by the Vengeful Dragon, but one can also use its immense power to cleanse the dragon vein, gain the Vengeful Dragon's approval, and become the one who truly bears the Mandate of Heaven. At that time, the throne will be within one's grasp!"

A terrifying glint flashed in the Crown Prince's eyes, and his breathing became heavy: "Is this true?!"

“It’s absolutely true.” Li Mengze’s expression was extremely solemn. “However, the refining of this pill requires a prince who possesses the purest imperial dragon energy to willingly offer 30% of his own essence blood as a ‘medicinal guide.’ Moreover, once it begins, there is no turning back. On the day of the ceremony, this prince must personally ascend the altar to preside over the ceremony for it to be successful.”

He looked at the eldest prince and bowed deeply: "This matter concerns the fate of the nation, and even more so Your Highness's life and future. Your subject dares not act on your own authority. If Your Highness trusts me, I will go through fire and water for you. If you do not trust me, then Your Highness may as well pretend that I have never heard my words today."

The eldest prince stared intently at Li Mengze, as if trying to see right through him. The air in the secret room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

After a long silence, he slammed his hand on the table, his eyes filled with the madness of a gambler: "Fine! I'll take this gamble! Just tell me what you need! I'll give you everything I have to help you refine this elixir!"

After leaving the First Prince's residence, Li Mengze rushed to the Regent's Hall, where the Fifth Prince was currently residing.

Unlike the eldest prince's anxiety, the fifth prince, though also looking worried, possessed a more composed demeanor.

“Academician Li,” the Fifth Prince personally offered him a seat and went straight to the point, “I know my current situation, and you can see it clearly as well. My father put me in this position, and I am the most conspicuous lamb on that altar.”

“Your Highness is wise,” Li Mengze said, bowing. “That is why I have risked my life to come here today to offer my advice to Your Highness.”

"explain."

“The eldest prince is Your Highness’s only chance of survival,” Li Mengze said in a deep voice. “The eldest prince’s dragon aura is far stronger than yours. If he can replace you as the chief officiant at the ceremony, Your Highness can safely overcome this calamity.”

A glint flashed in the Fifth Prince's eyes: "Let him take his place? Easier said than done. He's currently being sidelined by Father, and I'm afraid he won't even be able to climb the altar."

"This requires Your Highness and I to work together from the inside and outside."

Li Mengze smiled slightly, "I will frequently contact the eldest prince under the pretext of 'refining the antidote,' making him believe that I am the key to breaking the deadlock and the one destined by heaven."

"Openly repair the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang pass." The Fifth Prince instantly understood Li Mengze's plan. "You keep him calm, and I'll lull Father and the officials into a false sense of security. On the day of the ceremony, we'll find an opportunity to make him 'legitimately' replace me?"

"Your Highness is wise." Li Mengze bowed again. "This matter is for the sake of Your Highness's safety and for the stability of the nation. Your subject is willing to give your life for Your Highness."

The Fifth Prince stood up and personally helped Li Mengze up, a sincere smile on his face: "With your help, I feel at ease."

(End of this chapter)