Druid Fairy

Chapter 25 The Breath of the Tree
Peach Blossom Village.

In the early morning, the sky was still dimly lit, and the thin mist was just beginning to dissipate.

In the village chief's house, the six children all looked tense. They were wearing blue robes and peach wood headbands. They listened to the village chief solemnly say, "Now we must pay our respects to our ancestors. Only if our ancestors agree can you enter the mountain to receive the blessings of the Tree Ancestor."

"Yes, Grandpa Village Chief."

The children's voices were clear and solemn. Li Pingcan, mingling among them, also felt a strange, inexplicable sense of solemnity.

The old village chief nodded in satisfaction.

No child was naughty; they had obviously been warned by their family members that if they messed up the ceremony, they would be in for a beating.

On the altar, beside the three sacrificial animals—pig, ox, and sheep—were placed five-colored rice dumplings and a basin of clear, transparent water.

Then the old village chief held a bright green peach leaf in his hands and carefully placed it on the water's surface.

Then he loudly proclaimed, "Follow my movements and perform the bowing ceremony: first, kowtow; second, bow your head; third, prostrate your head."

The children, without looking to the side, respectfully bowed to the basin of water.

Li Pingcan also performed the bow, his eyes sparkling as he watched the "ritual" with curiosity.

'I remember in the game template, the Druid's legacy seemed to involve knowledge of rituals. Successfully completing them would reward you with a significant increase in enlightenment, attributes, and experience points...'

'Perhaps it shares similarities with rituals in the cultivation world; experience points are unlikely to be gained, but increased understanding is still possible.'

He kept this idea in mind and his actions became more devout. However, upon closer inspection, he realized that the ritual was more like a spontaneous folk prayer and did not possess any "extraordinary" power.

With another bow and a glance upward, he saw the peach leaves in the water swaying precariously, about to sink.

The old village chief's expression changed, and a look of regret appeared in his eyes.

'Could it be that the peach leaves being completely submerged in the water basin means the ancestors disagreed?'

'Then I'll have to wait three more years to see the Tree Ancestor!'

This opportunity was made possible by my father saving someone's life, and it was also given to me by my two older brothers; it was hard-won.

Thinking of this, Li Pingcan immediately made a decision that went against his ancestors' wishes!

Silently recite "Dance Wind" in your heart.

A faint but precisely controlled current of air appeared out of nowhere and steadily supported the peach leaf.

The leaves, which were about to sink to the bottom of the pot at any moment, stubbornly held on until the end of the ceremony before swaying and sinking into the water.

Seeing this, the old village chief exclaimed with delight, "It's truly a blessing from our ancestors!"

"what?"

Li Pingcan scratched his head sheepishly.

Grandpa Village Chief, I really didn't mean to take advantage of you!

……

The old village chief dipped a clean peach branch in water and sprinkled it on the children.

"The leaves of the ancestral tree cleanse my heart; the water of the ancestral tree cleanses my body."

Under the rising sun, the water droplets glistened, seemingly shrouded in a sacred aura.

This is the final step of the ceremony.

"Let's go up the mountain to pay our respects to the Tree Ancestor."

Following the old village chief's unhurried pace, and protected by several villagers, the group of seven headed towards Peach Blossom Mountain.

……

The towering trees obscured the sky, and when the wind blew, the green waves rustled.

The deeper you go, the more thorns and wild grasses grow.

Fortunately, some villagers prepared hoes and machetes, clearing away the brambles and creating a path.

Along the way, clusters of small gray mushrooms grew rapidly, opening their glistening caps and connecting with Li Pingcan's mental network.

As summer turned to autumn, after a quarter of time, Li Pingcan, realizing the importance of "foresight," maxed out the two skills, [Spore Growth] and [Spore Sensing].

These two skills respectively generate the traits of [Delicious] and [Connection].

[Delicious] Needless to say, even some mushrooms with a unique pungent smell have an extraordinary and delicious taste. They were sold to restaurants in Pantao Town and earned a lot of money.

The "Connection" feature allows any growing mushroom to instantly generate ten "monitoring perspectives" and simultaneously input sound and visuals into the mind, forming a mushroom local area network.

The combination of the [Spore Growth] and [Spore Sensing] skills means that you can change the perspective anytime, anywhere, making the "camera" move.

Before he even stepped into the forest, the mushroom scouts had already gathered firsthand information!
'What a quiet forest, with an inexplicable sense of warmth and intimacy that makes you want to get closer.'

Li Pingcan was extremely surprised.

As a druid, he was always incredibly approachable, with birds and butterflies fluttering happily around him.

It's unbelievable that something exists that makes him want to "stick" to it!
and……

He silently activated [LV4 Earth Vein Sensing]. In the deep and vast underground world, the massive plant roots were densely packed and intertwined. Rather than saying he was stepping on this land, it would be more accurate to say that he was standing in the embrace of that "tree".

'A very powerful force of nature!'

Li Pingcan looked excited. The origin of this tree root was naturally the thousand-year-old peach tree, which the villagers of Peach Blossom Village called the "tree ancestor".

He was increasingly looking forward to this encounter.

……

As the first ray of sunlight pierced through the tree canopy and shone on the thousand-year-old peach tree's dragon-scale-like branches, the weary old village chief suddenly felt a surge of energy.

Li Pingcan looked up, his expression revealing undisguised shock.

Its canopy, like a green lake, shades an acre of land. The central trunk requires nine people to encircle it, and its lush branches gleam like steel umbrellas. Around it, countless giant peach trees grow, surrounding the most colossal peach tree, which resembles a giant god.

What's surprising isn't just that; according to the earth vein sensing, all these peach trees originated from the giant peach in the center.

A single tree makes a forest!

Before Li Pingcan could continue marveling, they arrived at their destination. The villagers who had been protecting the ancestral worship ceremony put down their offerings and retreated, leaving only the seven of them. The blessing ceremony then began.

"Greetings, Tree Ancestor!"

The old village chief knelt down devoutly.

"Greetings, Tree Ancestor!" the children exclaimed in their clear voices.

“The roots reach the nine netherworlds, the gnarled branches pierce the heavens, the annual rings bear the weight of the nation, and the veins of the leaves float on the stars. Today, we offer the blood of three sacrificial animals to warm the tree and receive the blessing of the ancestral tree.”

As the old village chief's devout words fell, a wondrous feeling arose in Li Pingcan's heart. That joyful feeling was like spring flowers, summer rain, and autumn fruits—the most natural and beautiful existence in the world.

A warm atmosphere enveloped all the children, filled with a sense of approachability, comfort, softness, and friendliness.

'The blessing...it's actually real?'

Li Pingcan felt his understanding of nature had grown significantly, and at the same time, his "blue energy" had increased by about 10%.

No wonder the villagers were fighting tooth and nail for the "Lucky Child" spot!

'The tree is so old it has become sentient; this peach tree has indeed developed consciousness, but it is not an evil spirit that harms people. It has protected the villagers of Peach Blossom Village for generations.'

Of course, otherwise he wouldn't have risked his life alone.

Li Pingcan carefully digested this gift from the Tree Ancestor, and a flood of inspirations surged through his mind. After three years, the realization of "skill awakening" frequently surfaced. But as time passed, his expression gradually became constipated.

No matter how hard I try, it still feels a little off.

Stay calm and composed, avoid arrogance and impatience; things can't be rushed.

"Hoohoo."

Exhaling the stale air from his lungs, Li Pingcan closed his eyes and meditated for a long time. Gradually, crisscrossing lines of light appeared before his eyes.

The regular beating, rising and falling with his heartbeat, formed a unique and complex rhythm of nine breaths that constantly intertwined and echoed in his mind until it broke through that invisible barrier.

"Snapped!"

The world instantly became clear, light poured in, and it was unlike anything I had ever seen!

[You observed the rhythmic movement of the leaf veins of the thousand-year-old peach tree, gained profound insights, and successfully awakened the [Breath of the Tree]]

[LV0 Tree Breathing: An advanced breathing technique that can prolong life. At its maximum level, it extends lifespan to three hundred years.]

……

"The method to prolong life!"

I searched for her a thousand times in my dreams, and suddenly, turning around, I found her where the lights were dim.

At this moment, Li Pingcan had this feeling: the longevity method he had been searching for so long had unexpectedly come to his attention under such circumstances.

Everything is the best arrangement.

"Speaking of which, trees live much longer than tortoises!"

Ordinary turtles may not live for more than a hundred years, but trees with sufficient nutrients can easily live for a hundred years.

Not to mention this spirit peach tree.

As long as he cultivates the Breath of the Tree, he can live for three hundred years, which is terrifying even in the world of cultivation. It is said that even Golden Core Immortals only live for a thousand years.

"Thank you, Grandpa Peach Tree!"

Li Pingcan was sincerely grateful. He was excited to receive such a great benefit and did not forget to express his sincere thanks.

However, his verbal thanks didn't seem very sincere.

Let's reciprocate then.

His most outstanding asset is undoubtedly the gifts of nature!
"You wish me well, and I wish you well too."

Driven by an invisible force, a mysterious and gentle green light emanated from the tree ancestor, resonating with the winds of heaven and earth, causing the peach tree branches and leaves to rustle like a light and ethereal song.

A feeling of joy and surprise flowed through Li Pingcan's heart; this was Zu Shu's emotion.

The ancestral tree, which always blessed others without asking for anything in return, never imagined that one day it would receive a gift from the villagers it protected.

In places unseen by mortals, strands of spiritual energy from heaven and earth are absorbed into the branches and trunks by the Tree Ancestor at a speed several times faster than usual, and exhaled as turbid air from the veins of the leaves.

This super-doubled feeling was so wonderful and unexpected; the old tree comfortably stretched its branches and leaves, shimmering with emerald light.

"The leaves of the ancestral tree seem to be even greener. This must be because the ancestral tree is happy to see the filial piety of its descendants."

The old village chief said with relief that he could not perceive the secret interaction between Li Pingcan and the Tree Ancestor, but that did not mean he could not use his five senses to sense it.

Those who care about you will always notice changes in you immediately.

He was in a good mood and his legs were no longer tired. After another incense stick's time, he announced the end of this "blessing journey".

As he was leaving, Li Pingcan secretly turned around, waved goodbye, and mouthed, "Grandpa Peach Tree, thank you for your breathing technique. I'll come to see you again next time!"

Having said that, he quickly took off with his short legs and caught up with the group.

Towering ancient trees, green waves surging, leaves rustling, seem to converge into an old yet kind laugh.

"Thank you, child."

…………

【Breath of the Tree】 is different from traditional skills. It is not a skill that can be mastered by consuming "mana" through mental effort.

Instead, one must follow the rhythm of the nine breaths perceived in one's mind, focusing on the breath to connect the five internal organs. The nine breaths constitute one cycle, increasing proficiency by 1 point.

Upon returning home, Li Pingcan immediately began practicing his spiritual cultivation.

"Tree breathing, as the name suggests, is to imitate the breathing of a peach tree. It uses the unique gas exchange of plants to expel impurities from the body, so that one can live as long as Grandpa Peach Tree."

Li Pingcan had also observed his father's White Crane Breathing Technique and his elder brother's Black Tiger Breathing Technique, but neither of them were as complex and varied as the Tree Breathing Technique. From this point of view, the Tree Breathing Technique was clearly much superior to those two techniques.

No wonder he was able to live to be three hundred years old.

Li Pingcan sat upright, his mind clear and focused, the luminous veins of the leaves appearing before his eyes again, and he entered a state of tranquility.

His breathing gradually became steady, continuous, and long. Upon reaching the ninth level of cultivation, there was no mist coming out of his mouth and nose, and his breath was barely perceptible!
This longevity technique can also be used as a powerful breath-concealing technique.

Half an hour passed, and Li Pingcan remained motionless, sitting cross-legged like an old tree with a coiled dragon!

When he opened his eyes again, his proficiency in [Tree Breathing] increased by 1. After practicing for half an hour, he felt not the fatigue he experienced when practicing basic martial arts, but rather even more energetic.

"Clearly, 'Tree Breath' can restore mana much faster!"

Unlike Moonlight, which has the fatal flaw of only being usable at night, Breath of the Tree can restore "mana" and unleash more skills simply by adjusting your breathing.

This is an amazing skill for Lee Pyeongchan, who often wants to grind for proficiency but is troubled by not having enough "mana"!

The key is……

"Since 'Tree Breathing' is more like a health-preserving technique than a skill, could I teach it to my father and older brother to extend their lifespans as well?"

Even if an ordinary person lives to a ripe old age, their lifespan is only a mere hundred years. Moreover, in the years of old age, they are often bedridden, plagued by a hundred diseases, and suffer greatly.

In his previous life, Li Pingcan had thought that if he were to end up like this in his old age, he might as well hang himself from a crooked tree and end it all.

I never expected that after living for more than 20 years, I would be diagnosed with a terminal illness and have to travel through time.

Now that he has loving parents and a reliable older brother, he no longer has such pessimistic thoughts. Instead, he wants to live well and for a long time.

"I can't wish for boundless happiness and longevity like the Southern Mountains, but maybe I can help my parents live a hundred years longer!"

……

"Practicing martial arts? What kind of martial arts should a woman like me practice?"

Seeing her youngest son, who had been acting mysteriously as soon as he got home, suddenly become energetic and say such things, Qin Shi waved her hand with amusement.

It's not that women can't practice martial arts; there are female martial arts masters in this world. It's just that martial arts training needs to start from a young age, and Qin Shi, considering herself no longer young, decided not to dabble in it.

"Mother, you should practice! It's good for your health and can help you live a long and healthy life." Li Pingcan grabbed Qin Shi's arm and shook it affectionately.

He couldn't guarantee that he could make his mother live another three hundred years, since he could accumulate proficiency and level up once he met the requirements. If his parents wanted to train, they would have to start from scratch.

Qin coaxed her son, saying, "Practice in a bit, practice in a bit," but she was busy cooking and didn't take her young son's words to heart at all.

“Mother always listens to Father the most, so I’ll teach Father first, and then he can teach Mother.”

When one plan failed, Li Pingcan devised another.

My father is a martial artist. Once he masters the Tree Breathing technique, he will naturally perceive its benefits and will definitely make my mother practice it as well.

I'll teach my brother myself.

May the whole family live long and seek a connection with the immortals!
(End of this chapter)