Druid Fairy

Chapter 208 Refining
The specks of green light all entered Li Mengze's body.

The black fruit that held everything slowly fell, hovering between his brows, forming a mysterious resonance with his dormant soul.

Li Mengze slowly opened his eyes, his gaze shining brightly, his aura more than ten times stronger than before!
Instead of bursting out of his wits, he turned misfortune into blessing, using the century-old grudges of the dynasty to lay a solid foundation for his "Hundred Herbs Dojo"!

High above, Master Qingxu, seeing this, stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes filled with admiration and satisfaction.

At the top of the altar, with the emperor's fall and the complete dissipation of the demonic dragon, the Dragon Shadow Guards who had stubbornly resisted finally fell into disarray.

Seizing this fleeting opening, Li Mengjin and Li Yuanhu, with their swords flashing and blades gleaming, joined forces with the experts from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion to swiftly kill all of the emperor's last remaining loyalists.

There was a deathly silence on the altar.

The wind stopped.

The rain has stopped.

With that, the dust settled and the overall situation was settled.

All that remained was the mess on the ground, the broken sacrificial vessels, and the scattered corpses of the Dragon Shadow Guards, silently recounting the earth-shattering events that had just transpired.

"elder brother!"

Li Mengyue was the first to react. Ignoring her weakness, she stumbled to Li Mengze's side, but dared not touch him with her small hands, for fear of disturbing his current state.

Li Mengjin and Li Yuanhu immediately surrounded them. They were covered in blood and wounds, but their eyes were full of concern.

Although Li Mengze's aura was stable, it was as if a ferocious beast capable of destroying the world was lurking within him. That restrained power was even more terrifying than that of the Emperor Dragon before.

"No need to panic."

Master Qingxu descended gracefully from mid-air. With a gentle wave of his whisk, a soft breeze enveloped everyone. The breeze contained a calming Daoist charm, which soothed the souls of the crowd and calmed their turbulent blood and chaotic magical power caused by the fierce battle.

His gaze fell on the black fruit between Li Mengze's eyebrows. Even with his usually calm and collected demeanor, a hint of amazement and solemnity flashed in his eyes.

"Using the Life Dao Field as a cauldron and the purifying power of the Taiyin Sacred Body as auxiliary fire, we forcibly merged the resentment of a Nine Netherworld Wraith Dragon with the source of resentment of a dynasty's destiny."

Qingxu muttered to himself, "You kid, you're a madman, but also a genius."

He stretched out his finger, the tip sparkling with starlight, and carefully touched the Dao Fruit.

"Buzz!"

A vast and powerful torrent instantly surged into his sea of ​​consciousness. Even with Qingxu's extraordinary cultivation, he couldn't help but let out a muffled groan and retract his finger.

“Good heavens,” his gaze toward Li Mengze changed completely, his expression grave. “This is no longer just simple power, but the rudimentary form of a ‘Dao.’ He has turned the ‘fruit’ of that vengeful dragon into his own ‘cause.’ If he can overcome this tribulation, his future achievements will be beyond even my comprehension.”

"Imperial Preceptor," Li Mengjin asked in a hoarse voice, "how... is my elder brother?"

Qingxu shook his head, his expression solemn: "It's hard to say. At this moment, his soul is connected to this Dao Fruit, undergoing the deepest level of fusion and refinement. No one can interfere with this process; it all depends on his own will and fortune. He will remain in this living dead state for as short as three to five months, or as long as several years. During this period, he must not be disturbed in any way."

Just then, from below the altar, deafening shouts of battle and the clang of metal resounded.

The Duke of Zhenguo, wielding his sword, personally led the Zhenguo Army, which stormed into the imperial city, to launch a final purge against the remaining Imperial Guards who were stubbornly resisting.

Seeing the scene on the altar, his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down. Then, with tears in his eyes, he knelt on one knee in the direction of Master Qingxu and bowed to him from afar.

"On behalf of the people of Great Yu, I thank the Imperial Preceptor for restoring order and justice! On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of heroic souls who died unjustly on the frontier, I thank the righteous men of the Li family for clearing their names!"

Behind him, 30,000 soldiers of the Zhenguo Army knelt on one knee in unison, their voices resounding throughout the world.

"Thank you, Imperial Preceptor! Thank you, Li family!"

These voices converged into a powerful force of popular and military support, dispelling the last gloom over the capital.

Those people who were affected by the resentful rain and whose minds were disturbed were miraculously restored to their senses under the cleansing force of this righteous energy.

Qingxu watched this scene, nodded slightly, and then flicked his whisk, an invisible force lifting the Duke of Zhenguo up.

"Your Excellency, please rise. Cleaning up the mess and pacifying the people are the most urgent tasks."

His gaze swept over the emperor, who was now completely crippled and lying on the ground, and then over the eldest and fifth princes, who were being held captive by the imperial guards and whose faces were ashen. His voice returned to its usual calm: "As for these few... let the Duke and the Empress Dowager discuss and deal with them together. I am a person outside the secular world and it is inappropriate for me to interfere in these mundane affairs."

After saying that, he walked to Li Mengze's side, waved his sleeve, and a soft starlight lifted Li Mengze and the "Dao Fruit" up, suspending them in mid-air.

"The resentment here has not yet subsided, so it is not advisable for them to stay any longer. I will escort them back to their residence first."

Before he finished speaking, he and the Li siblings transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the horizon.

Only the Duke of Zhenguo and the entire court remained, facing this broken dynasty and a future in dire need of rebuilding.

…………

Overnight, Tingtao Xiaozhu became the most central and mysterious place in the entire capital.

Guards were stationed every three steps and sentries every five steps. The Duke of Zhenguo personally dispatched his most elite personal guards to surround the area in layers, leaving no room for escape. Anyone who dared to spy would be killed without mercy.

The study was temporarily converted into a secret room, and Master Qingxu personally set up a "Four Symbols Constellation Array" to isolate all internal and external energies.

Li Mengze lay quietly on the cold jade bed, the "Dao Fruit" between his eyebrows emitting a deep light, like a black sun. With each breath, the light and shadow flickered, affecting the tide of spiritual energy in the entire room.

Li Mengyue sat on the edge of the bed, gently placing her small hand on her brother's wrist, and gently channeling the Taiyin energy that had recently recovered within her body into him, helping him to regulate the violent and vibrant energy within his body.

Her movements were focused and devout, as if she were guarding a rare treasure.

Li Mengjin stood like a statue, holding the "Shadow Fang," outside the door. His presence blended seamlessly with the grass, trees, wind, and rain of the entire courtyard, and no movement could escape his perception.

"Girl, you've already exhausted yourself, there's no need for this." Qingxu looked at his resilient disciple and said with some heartache.

“Master, it’s alright.” Li Mengyue raised her head, her eyes glistening with tears, yet tinged with stubbornness. “Brother went through all this for us. As long as he gets better, Yueya’er is willing to do anything.” Qingxu sighed, no longer trying to persuade her. He knew that the bond between these siblings had long surpassed ordinary kinship, becoming a part of each other’s “Dao.” Li Mengyue’s Yin energy indeed had an irreplaceable and miraculous effect on neutralizing the resentment within the Dao Fruit.

He walked into the courtyard, looked at the century-old pine tree, but was thinking about something else.

Severing the contract with the vengeful dragon might seem like a quick and easy solution, but that contract had sustained the dynasty for centuries and had long been intricately linked to the land's veins and destiny. Forcibly severing it now would be like abruptly removing a vital organ from a person's body.

Although the lesion is removed, a huge "hole" will inevitably be left behind.

What kind of chain reaction will this void trigger?
How will the laws of this world repair themselves? All of this remains unknown.

Just as he was pondering this, the "communication mushroom" in Li Mengjin's arms lit up without warning.

A flash of light, and a gentle, mellow voice resounded directly in everyone's hearts.

"Kids, you did a great job."

It was his father's voice, Li Pingcan's voice!

"Father!" Li Mengyue exclaimed in surprise.

Li Mengjin also clenched her fists excitedly.

“I am aware of Mengze’s situation,” Li Pingcan’s voice continued. “Although the Wraith Dragon is an evil creature from the Nine Netherworlds, it has been intertwined with the nation’s destiny for hundreds of years. Its original resentment has long been tainted with a trace of the ‘dragon vein energy’ of this world. Mengze’s actions are tantamount to snatching food from a tiger’s mouth, turning this trace of dragon vein energy, along with his overwhelming resentment, into his own foundation for cultivation. If he succeeds, he can ascend to the heavens in one step and forge a path of ‘life and death reincarnation’ that is unprecedented.”

"However, this path is difficult and cannot be assisted by external forces. You only need to protect him and wait for him to emerge from his cocoon and become a butterfly."

Li Pingcan paused, seemingly panting, clearly indicating that the projection of the Daoist temple spanning tens of thousands of miles had also greatly exhausted him.

"I am sending this message today to inform you of another matter." His voice became extremely serious. "With the severance of the Vengeful Dragon Pact, a void has appeared in the laws of this world, and its aura has already leaked out. I can sense that some very ancient and powerful beings have already turned their gaze upon this land."

"What?" Li Mengjin's heart skipped a beat.

"The Great Yu Dynasty is nothing more than a mortal kingdom that occupies a corner of this continent. But in the eyes of those true immortal cultivation sects and ancient families, a Nine Netherworld Dragon connected with the fate of the nation, and a world that has just given birth to the 'Dao Fruit', are nothing more than a piece of fat meat that has just come out of the water."

"In the short term, they may still be observing. But it won't be long before they confirm that the laws are unstable, and a real 'dragon crossing the river' will come to test, and even... plunder!"

"For now, my druidic academy can still deceive you for a while, but you must be prepared. The enemy ahead will no longer be the intrigues and schemes of the court, but real, all-powerful... cultivators!"

…………

Half a month later.

Under the iron fist of the Duke of Zhenguo, order in the capital was quickly restored.

The emperor was imprisoned in the imperial jail for life.

The eldest and fifth princes were stripped of their titles and reduced to commoners, and imprisoned in the royal mausoleum to guard the tombs of their ancestors.

Under the joint supervision of the Empress Dowager and the Duke of Zhenguo, and with the recommendation of a group of senior officials from the imperial clan, an eight-year-old child from a collateral branch of the family was finally chosen to ascend the throne and change the era name to "Xinsheng".

The Empress Dowager ruled from behind the curtain, the Duke of Zhenguo was in charge of military and political affairs, and the Imperial Preceptor Qingxu was honored as the "Guardian Master of the Nation," holding a transcendent position.

The Li family, on the other hand, became a behemoth in this newly established dynasty that no one could ignore.

Li Mengjin was promoted to Grand Commander of the Golden Scale Guard and concurrently served as Commander-in-Chief of Defense, thanks to his merits in saving the emperor and quelling the rebellion. He held military power in the capital.

Li Yuanhu was appointed as the deputy commander of the Zhenguo Army, becoming the most trusted right-hand man of the Zhenguo Duke.

Li Mengyue was honored as the "Holy Maiden Protector of the Nation" by the new emperor, and the mansion bestowed upon her was the "Bright Moon Villa," second only to the imperial palace. Her status was so high that it was subtly above that of the eldest princess.

As for Li Mengze, although he has been in seclusion, the new emperor's decree has already been prepared. He is just waiting for Li Mengze to emerge from seclusion so that he can be conferred the title of the first non-royal king in the history of the Dayu Dynasty - "King of Zhennan".

On this day, Qingxu came to Tingtao Xiaozhu again.

He saw that the light of the "Dao Fruit" in the secret chamber had become much more restrained, no longer possessing the violent aura it had before, but instead showing a more harmonious and unified Daoist charm.

Under the nourishment of this Daoist energy, Li Mengze's skin developed a jade-like luster, and his internal energy surged like a dragon, far surpassing his previous vitality.

"It seems he has stabilized his foundation and weathered the most dangerous period." Qingxu nodded with satisfaction.

"Master," Li Mengyue obediently served him tea, "how much longer until my brother wakes up?"

"It's hard to say." Qingxu took a sip of tea. "He is reshaping his own path, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps next year. However, judging from the signs, everything is developing in a positive direction."

He put down his teacup, took out an antique-looking token from his sleeve, and handed it to Li Mengjin.

"This is the 'Heavenly Token,' the token of my sect," Qingxu said calmly. "The real trouble is probably about to begin. I have already informed the sect, and my fellow disciples will be arriving soon to help me stabilize the laws of this place. But distant water cannot quench immediate thirst, so you yourselves must also be careful."

"Thank you, Imperial Preceptor." Li Mengjin solemnly accepted the token.

"Furthermore," Qingxu's gaze turned eastward beyond the capital, "three days ago, the delegation from the Great Qian Dynasty entered the country. Leading them was the eldest prince, who was known as 'almost a demon in wisdom'."

"The First Prince of the Great Qian Dynasty?" Li Yuanhu frowned. "What is he doing here? We've just gone through internal strife; is he trying to take advantage of our misfortune?"

"Yes and no. Back then, the Great Yu was powerful, and they retreated in defeat. Now that the Great Yu is weak, they naturally want to take a bite out of them. This is human nature, and it is in accordance with the law."

“However…” Qingxu shook his head, “Judging from the celestial phenomena, this person did not come solely for battle. He has another purpose in coming here…”

Qingxu's gaze drifted almost imperceptibly toward the secret chamber where Li Mengze was in seclusion.

"It's very likely that he came for the 'Dao Fruit'!"

Before he could finish speaking, a Golden Scale Guard rushed over to report.

"Great Commander! News from the palace: the Great Qian delegation specifically requested to see... the Imperial Academy Minister Li, who is still in seclusion, and Her Highness the Holy Maiden of the Nation!"

(End of this chapter)