Druid Fairy

Chapter 219 Fukuzawa
"Your Majesty, I request to spar with this esteemed disciple of the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion before the palace, so as to demonstrate the might of our Great Yu Kingdom!"

Li Mengjin turned around and bowed towards the direction of the beaded curtain.

"Granted." The Empress Dowager's calm voice rang out.

Having received permission, Ye Gufeng laughed loudly, and in a flash, he appeared in the open space in the center of the hall. He pointed his fingers like a sword, aiming them at Li Mengjin.

"please."

Without uttering any unnecessary words, Li Mengjin appeared opposite him in a flash.

The two men stood facing each other, about ten feet apart.

There was no earth-shattering clash of power, but the space between the two was silently twisting and cracking.

The officials present felt breathless, as if two invisible mountains were pressing down on their hearts.

"The Sword Domain of Stillness... truly lives up to its name." Ye Gufeng exclaimed, then abruptly changed his tone, unleashing a burst of incomparably sharp sword intent!

"My sword is the sword of 'destruction'! It is dedicated to destroying all illusions in the world."

As soon as he finished speaking, he didn't move, but simply pointed out with a single finger!
"Hey!"

A visible white sword aura tore through space, actually cleaving a path through Li Mengjin's still sword domain, and piercing straight for his brow!
This sword strike was incredibly fast and incredibly domineering!

Faced with this earth-shattering sword strike, Li Mengjin's face remained completely calm.

He slowly raised his right hand, his fingers also pointing like a sword, and gently touched the white sword energy.

"Om..."

An incredible scene happened.

Instead of unleashing the same sharp sword energy from Li Mengjin's fingertips, a circle of emerald green ripples spread out.

The domineering white sword energy, upon touching the ripples, vanished as if it were a mud ox sinking into the sea. All its sharpness and power were completely worn away and dissolved by the seemingly weak ripples, ultimately dissipating into nothingness.

"What?!" Ye Gufeng's pupils suddenly contracted.

His sword intent of "breaking" is indestructible; how could it be so easily neutralized?

"Your sword is too sharp, it has lost its weight."

As Li Mengjin finished speaking, his previously still sword domain subtly changed.

Within the realm, it was no longer a deathly still place; faint shadows of grass and trees appeared, and the outlines of mountains and rivers were sketched out.

At this moment, Li Mengjin's sword domain was no longer simply "still," but transformed into a real world with the solidity of mountains and rivers and the resilience of all trees!
This is the result of Li Pingcan bestowing upon him the power of the Azure Dragon of the Earth Vein through "bloodline grace"!

"What kind of swordsmanship is this?!" Ye Gufeng was utterly shocked.

He felt that he was no longer facing a person, but a whole, continuous, and ever-renewing land!

The invincible sword intent of "breaking" appears so small and powerless before this land.

"I lost."

After a long while, Ye Gufeng sighed and withdrew his sword finger, all his fighting spirit and arrogance dissipating.

He was convinced of his defeat.

The other party's level of understanding had already exceeded his comprehension.

Li Mengjin also withdrew his sword domain, nodded slightly to him, and then turned around and returned to his original position, as if he had only done a trivial matter.

The entire Golden Palace was completely silent.

Everyone was utterly stunned by this brief exchange.

Xiong Ba of Hundred Beasts Manor broke out in a cold sweat. Mei Ying of Listening Snow Tower, for the first time, revealed an extremely solemn expression in her captivating eyes.

They finally understood that the information from the Heavenly Profound Sect was not exaggerated at all, but rather... far too little!
The Li family's strength is unfathomable!
…………

The state banquet ended unhappily.

The atmosphere in the courtyard of Wanjian Pavilion was heavy.

"Senior brother, why is Li Mengjin's sword domain so strange?"

One of the disciples asked with lingering fear, "That no longer seemed like a simple sword technique, but rather like a small world."

Ye Gufeng sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, the scene of his fight with Li Mengjin replaying in his mind.

After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes. The fervent fighting spirit in his eyes had long since faded, replaced by a deep contemplation.

“That wasn’t his power,” Ye Gufeng said, emphasizing each word. “Or rather, not entirely. Within his sword domain, I sensed a power… far surpassing his, as weighty as mountains and the earth. That power wasn’t controlled by him, but rather ‘bestowed’ upon him.”

"A bestowal?" The other two disciples looked at each other, unable to understand.

“That’s right.” Ye Gufeng nodded, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes. “The Li family is more complex than we imagined. That Li Mengjin is just a sword they’ve brought to the surface. The truly terrifying one is the being behind them, the one who can ‘bestow’ power.”

He stood up, walked to the window, looked in the direction of Tingtao Xiaozhu, and muttered to himself, "It seems that the personal letter that the Pavilion Master asked me to deliver was the right thing to do. To be an enemy of such a family is the worst possible strategy."

……

The courtyard of Hundred Beasts Manor.

"Useless! That bunch of useless trash from the Tianxuan Sect!"

Xiong Ba smashed a table made of refined iron with a single punch, deforming it, and roared, "The intelligence only said that Li Mengjin had comprehended the rudimentary form of the Sword Domain, but it didn't say that his Sword Domain could withstand the Sword Intent of 'Breaking'!"

"Young Master, please calm down." An elder quickly advised, "Even Ye Gufeng of the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion has been defeated. If we force our way in, we probably won't gain anything either. In my opinion, this matter needs to be considered more carefully."

Xiong Ba paced back and forth in the room, his face contorted with rage. Though reckless, he wasn't stupid.

Even Ye Gufeng readily admitted defeat; if he were to go up there, the outcome would only be worse.

"Take it a long time? Once the people from the Central Plains Pill Tower arrive, will there still be any for us?"

A sly glint flashed in Xiong Ba's eyes. "If we can't do it openly, we'll do it covertly! I don't believe that the Li family can stay holed up in the capital forever!"

……

The courtyard of Tingxuelou.

"The original poster's judgment was indeed correct."

The Phantom's voice still carried that languid allure, but her eyes were more serious than ever before: "The Li family's situation is very complex."

"Sir, what should we do next?" one of the subordinates asked.

“Wait.” Phantom’s red lips parted slightly, uttering a single word, “Wait for them to make a mess of things themselves. We, the Listening Snow Pavilion, only need to be quiet listeners and watch a good show.”

She walked to the window, looked at the bright moon hanging in the sky, and a strange smile appeared on her lips.

"The Taiyin Sacred Body, the Dao Fruit of Life and Death, the Mountain and River Sword Domain... How can one possess all of these at the same time? My Listening Snow Pavilion is best at uncovering secrets."

...And inside an inconspicuous private room of a restaurant in the capital.

The shadow guard codenamed "Cicada Nine" was sitting by the window.

Opposite him was none other than the old Marquis Huai'en, who had been seated at the end of the banquet, keeping his head down and remaining silent throughout, completely unnoticed.

This Marquis Huaien was a descendant of a founding hero, whose family had been deeply rooted in the Great Yu Dynasty for hundreds of years.

However, during the previous Rebellion of the Two Kings, he chose the wrong side. Although he was spared his life and title thanks to the plea of ​​the Duke of Zhenguo, he was stripped of all his real power.

"My lord, was the state banquet tonight quite enjoyable?" Chan Jiu put down his wine cup and asked in a calm voice.

Upon hearing this, Marquis Huaien's wrinkled old face twitched violently, and a deep-seated resentment flashed in his eyes.

"Brilliant? Hmph, how brilliant!"

He sneered, "We, a family that has shed blood and sweat for the Great Yu Dynasty and passed down our traditions for hundreds of years, have now become mere spectators! On the contrary, a Li family that appeared out of nowhere has usurped our place and is stealing the limelight in the Golden Palace! This is simply a disgrace to the Great Yu court!"

"My lord, please be careful with your words," Chan Jiu said calmly. "The Li family is currently at its zenith, and even the three major sects of the Eastern Region have to temporarily avoid their wrath. If your words were to get out, I'm afraid..."

"afraid?"

Marquis Huaien's emotions were instantly ignited. He slammed his fist on the table and roared, "What am I afraid of? I'm just an old man with a title but no real power. Do you think the Li family can wipe out my entire family?!"

His eyes were filled with resentment. "Back then, how glorious my Huai'en Marquis's mansion was! Now we have to act according to the whims of a mere child! I refuse to accept this! And I am not the only one in the capital who refuses to accept this!"

Chan Jiu looked at his excited appearance, a barely perceptible hint of mockery flashing in her eyes, but her tone was full of sympathy and persuasion.

"I understand your feelings, Lord Marquis. A new emperor brings a new court; this has always been the case. However, although the Li family is powerful, their foundation is still shallow. They can suppress the court and the sects, but they may not be able to suppress the opinions of the people and the centuries-old foundation buried deep underground."

He leaned closer, lowering his voice even further: "My lord, do you want... to take back everything that rightfully belongs to you?"

Marquis Huaien's breathing quickened instantly as he stared intently at Chan Jiu: "Who exactly are you? What do you want?"

Chan Jiu smiled slightly and took out a pitch-black token from his pocket, on which was carved a dragon totem with outstretched wings.

"We are the ones who can help the Marquis realize his wish."

Upon seeing the token representing the highest-ranking secret service organization of the Great Qian Imperial Family, Marquis Huaien's pupils suddenly contracted!

…………

Inside the study of Tingtao Xiaozhu.

Li Mengze was listening quietly to his second brother, Li Mengjin's, story.

“Brother, Ye Gufeng’s swordsmanship is pure; he is a true swordsman. But today, it seems he was just testing the waters,” Li Mengjin said in a deep voice.

"As expected."

Li Mengze nodded and poured him a cup of tea. "The Tianxuan Sect's dissemination of the news was an open conspiracy. Luring the three major sects here was to exert pressure. Their goal is still the Dao Fruit."

"Then how should we deal with this?" Li Mengjin asked.

"Just wait and see what happens."

A glint of wisdom flashed in Li Mengze's eyes. "They don't trust each other right now, each with their own ulterior motives, and they won't join forces for the time being. As long as we guard the capital, they won't be able to cause any major trouble. What we really need to be wary of are the venomous snakes lurking in the shadows."

His gaze seemed to pierce through the barriers of space, landing on a dark corner of the capital.

…………

Lingshan Cave, a Druid's dojo.

Li Pingcan sat cross-legged beneath the ancient tree that reached the heavens. The mountains and rivers of the entire Great Yu Dynasty were clearly presented in his perception, just like the lines on his palm.

Everything that happened in the capital city could not be kept from him.

"A few little insects, trying to cause trouble in my garden?"

A faint smile appeared on Li Pingcan's face.

He could clearly sense a cold, hidden power, carrying an aura of decay, quietly spreading among the former officials and bureaucrats of the capital.

That was the operation of the "Shadow Guards" of the Great Qian Dynasty. They were trying to incite the resentment of those who had lost power and undermine the foundation of the Great Yu Dynasty from within.

"Trying to manipulate people's hearts?"

Li Pingcan slowly opened his eyes, and those eyes seemed to contain the vitality and majesty of the entire world.

With a thought, the Druid Dojo, which had been completely integrated with the earth veins of the Great Yu Dynasty, suddenly started operating!
The divine power of "Bloodline Gift" was activated once again.

But this time, what he bestowed was not simply power, but a far greater and more subtle blessing—"blessing".

The next moment, a miraculous change occurred throughout the entire Great Yu Dynasty.

Farmers working in the fields were astonished to find that the barren land beneath their feet, which had just been ravaged by war, had become incredibly fertile overnight.

The crops, which were originally expected to take another half month to mature, turned golden and plump at a speed visible to the naked eye. A gentle breeze blew by, and the heavy waves of wheat rolled away, filled with the joy of a bountiful harvest.

In the town, the ordinary herbs in the pharmacies had inexplicably gained a touch of spirituality, and their medicinal effects were more than 10% stronger than before.

Many people who had been ill for a long time found that their ailments disappeared and they felt refreshed after drinking the freshly brewed herbal soup.

Within the capital, the water of the moat had become clearer than ever before, and the fish in the water were plump and delicious, attracting countless onlookers to marvel at it.

"Auspicious signs have descended from heaven!"

"It must be the Empress Dowager's and the new Emperor's benevolence that moved Heaven!"

"Our Great Yu shall rise! It shall rise!"

Countless heartfelt praises and joys converged into an invisible yet immense force of popular will, soaring into the sky and causing the newly stabilized national fortune of the Great Yu Dynasty to surge once again, becoming more stable than ever before!
Inside a private room of the restaurant.

Marquis Huaien was speaking passionately to several old friends who also harbored resentment, lamenting the Li family's "perverse actions" and painting a picture of a "miserable future."

Just then, a deafening roar of cheers erupted outside the window.

"What's going on?" Marquis Huaien asked, frowning.

A servant stumbled in, his face filled with shock and ecstasy: "My lord! Auspicious signs! Auspicious signs from heaven! The crops outside the city ripened overnight, the moat is crystal clear, and even the old locust tree you planted in the backyard last year, which was almost dead, has sprouted again!"

Marquis Huaien and his accomplices were instantly stunned.

Their carefully prepared rhetoric, intended to incite public sentiment and create panic, appeared so pale, so powerless, so laughable at this moment.

Chan Jiu remained seated in the corner, a look of horror on her face.

This is not done by human power!
This is a miracle!

He suddenly looked up at the sky, as if he could feel a pair of eyes coldly watching him, this "cicada," from above the clouds.

(End of this chapter)