Druid Fairy

Chapter 85 Marriage, Dissatisfaction

The panel displays the numbers after the elements have been collected.

The wood attribute sensitivity is 45, and the earth attribute sensitivity is 41; both are of superior quality.

The metal attribute sensitivity is five, and the water attribute sensitivity is three, both of which fall into the category of pseudo-spiritual roots.

Fire attribute sensitivity is zero.

As long as he obtains the Fire Spirit in the Rift Valley, his Five Elements will be complete. Based on the highest level of sensitivity, Li Pingcan is a cultivator with dual superior-grade Wood and Earth spiritual roots.

Having two top-grade spiritual roots is far from his limit. As long as the attribute spiritual energy is sufficient, he can even upgrade to earth-grade, heaven-grade, or even mutated spiritual roots.

"Is the Immortal Venerable satisfied?" the pangolin asked.

While the meteorite was somewhat useful to it, it couldn't extract the essence from the outer shell of the star stone, only the spiritual energy that gradually dissipated over time. It usually used it as a pillow when sleeping.

Seeing the nightingale standing motionless on the branch, the pangolin was somewhat alarmed, wondering if the meteorite could not satisfy the immortal's requirements.

Hearing the words of the pangolin, Li Pingcan snapped out of his thoughts and smiled, "I'm very satisfied. Thank you for the meteorite."

He unleashed a skill, and a gentle breeze blew through the air. A flash of azure light appeared on the pangolin, and a profound aura of blessing surrounded it.

Skill: Nature's Gift!
In an instant, the pangolin clearly sensed the changes in its body, as if someone was guiding it through the fog, and its mind was filled with inspiration, giving it a deeper understanding of the earth.

Even if spirit beasts develop intelligence, they are still quite dull and their spiritual insight into cultivation is far inferior to that of humans. Therefore, it takes decades or even hundreds of years for them to "open their minds" in order to improve their comprehension!
This little bit of "guidance" is worth more than sixty years of human experience!

"It was the work of Immortal Venerable Ye!"

The pangolin was still savoring the experience. When it finally realized what the immortal had done and wanted to express its gratitude, it only saw a phantom in the clouds, vanished without a trace, roaming freely between heaven and earth.

It knelt down sincerely, keeping its gratitude hidden in its heart, and secretly vowed that if Night Immortal Venerable ever needed its help, it would do everything in its power to assist him.

…………

Three months have passed in the blink of an eye; autumn has gone and winter has come, and auspicious snow heralds a bountiful year.

Pantao County, Li Family Martial Arts School.

A carriage engraved with sword patterns stopped in front of the martial arts school, and a woman dressed in white jumped down.

It was Jiang Ling'er.

She was tall and slender, with a long sword at her waist. Her gentle features and affectionate gaze were directed at the tall man who walked out of the martial arts school.

The martial arts students around burst into laughter, and Sun Zheng shouted, "Master, Master, the future mistress is here again!"

"Shut up." Li Pingfu's face hardened, and he smacked his apprentice's bottom. "Have you finished your homework for today? Hurry up and practice your moves!"

He chased away all the noisy apprentices.

Li Pingfu looked at Jiang Ling'er, "Ling'er, what brings you here?"

"I miss you," Jiang Ling'er said softly, her face slightly flushed. "A day apart feels like three autumns. Only you don't miss me." Her voice carried the gentle melancholy of a young girl.

The two made their relationship clear a month ago. It is said that it is easy for a woman to pursue a man, but Jiang Ling'er always felt that Li Pingfu did not like her that much.

To him, she was more like a suitable partner in every way than someone he was attracted to.

'What can I do, you rascal? I was the one who fell in love first.'

Li Pingfu's expression shifted slightly. He was still not used to Jiang Ling'er's straightforward affection, but he was not averse to it either.

Compared to Lin Xiaowu, any woman with a normal personality would be a relief, let alone Jiang Ling'er, who is gentle and compliant in everything.

During these three months, Li Pingfu was busy dividing up the disciples of the Vermilion Bird Martial Arts School with the other three martial arts schools, managing to grab 60% of the disciples. At the same time, he also gathered all the information about the Jiang Family Sword School.

In Yunshui County, the Jiang Family Sword Hall is quite famous. The owner, Jiang Han, is a martial artist who has acquired his skills. He has two sons and a daughter, the youngest of whom is Jiang Ling'er.

Jiang Ling'er's two older brothers, Jiang Qi and Jiang Shan, are both more than fifteen years younger than her and are both martial artists at the Divine Fiend Realm.

Jiang Qi opened a security escort agency and ventured out into the world, while Jiang Shan, whose cultivation was slightly inferior to his elder brother, helped mentor students while training at the sword academy.

As the only girl in her family, Jiang Ling'er was pampered from a young age, yet she remarkably did not develop a picky or willful personality, which shows that she was of pure and kind nature.

"Brother Pingfu." Jiang Ling'er gently tugged at Li Pingfu's sleeve and said shyly, "When will you come to Yunshui County to see my parents?"

Ever since Ling Shan was rescued in a harrowing moment, feeling her heart pounding wildly, Jiang Ling'er realized she had fallen head over heels for Li Pingfu.

However, Li Pingfu was introverted by nature, and she couldn't see through his true thoughts, so she felt very uneasy and wanted to establish a formal relationship with him.

Looking at Jiang Ling'er's expectant gaze, Li Pingfu felt a mix of emotions.

Firstly, he has already broken through to the Divine Fiend Realm, so even if he marries and has children, and depletes his essence, it will not affect his martial arts.

Secondly, he is already twenty-two years old. A normal man would have been married and had children long ago. Even Li Yuan has a big, healthy son, so there is someone to carry on the family line.

The continued growth and prosperity of a family depends on its successful descendants.

Li Pingfu truly felt no spark for Jiang Ling'er. His life's goal was the safety of his family and the pinnacle of martial arts; there was probably no woman in the world who could make him experience love and romance.

He both envied the love between his parents and felt that he was not so lucky.

Finding a wife who is suitable in every way is already quite good.

Where do so many passionate, undying loves come from? True love is the simple, everyday companionship.

"Then let's do it tomorrow," Li Pingfu decided.

…………

Li family.

Upon hearing that Li Pingfu planned to visit his "father-in-law" the next day, both Li Rongzhou and Qin Shi became excited.

My son has finally figured it out!
Although martial arts are important, how could parents not be anxious when they see Li Pingfu's calm and composed demeanor?

Madam Qin smiled and said, "I've seen Jiang Ling'er too. She's a nice girl. You should try your best to please your father-in-law and not miss out on such a good girl."

"The gifts you bring when you visit should not be too shabby."

Li Rongzhou was thinking about something deeper. What good things hadn't Master Jiang of the Yunshui Sword Pavilion seen? Their "treasures" might not even be of interest to him.

However, one should not be careless or perfunctory; one should simply try to show the necessary sincerity.

Li Pingcan smiled broadly, feeling that his older brother and Sister Jiang could get together.

The eldest brother is cold on the outside but warm on the inside; it's unknown whether Sister Jiang can warm his heart.

Li Pingcan said, "We should also tell my second brother about this, so he can come back for the feast and share in the joy."

After years of preparation, Li Ping'an will take the spring examination for the imperial examination next year, hoping to emerge from obscurity and make a name for himself.

Xie Yuan also smiled and said, "My eldest brother is getting married, and the family needs to prepare auspicious clothes." Auspicious clothes embroidered by family members are considered to bring even more good fortune.

The whole family was in a flurry of activity, some preparing gifts, others arranging fabrics, busier than during the Lunar New Year.

Li Pingfu said helplessly, "I'm just going to see Master Jiang; he might not agree to marry his daughter off."

He understood that while Jiang Ling'er might like him, he still had to get past Jiang Ling'er's family!
Unfortunately, the sound was drowned out by the festive atmosphere, and no one paid any attention to the "groom".

…………

The next morning.

Yunshui County truly lives up to its reputation as a superior county. The roads are clean and tidy, shops are everywhere, and vendors are neatly lined up in one street without blocking the main road, making it difficult for horses to move around.

The residents of this county town are full of energy, and you can't see beggars or the like.

At the Jiang family residence, after the servant announced their arrival at the gate.

Jiang Ling'er walked over lightly like a bird and affectionately took Li Pingfu's arm, saying, "I've come to take you in to see your parents."

Li Pingfu nodded and followed Jiang Ling'er into the Jiang residence. Along the way, clear water rippled beneath piles of Taihu stones, several koi swam in the water, and the tips of the yellowed bamboo leaning against the wall drooped towards the water's surface. In the corridor with its white jade balustrade, maids would occasionally stop to respectfully greet the guests.

Li Pingfu paused, thinking of his own small courtyard in Peach Blossom Village—even if ten more Li family courtyards were built, they wouldn't be as precious as the fishpond in Taihu Lake belonging to the Jiang family.

The stark class divide immediately became apparent.

But he did not hesitate; once he made up his mind, he would strive to achieve it.

Jiang Ling'er valued him as a person, not his family background. A real man doesn't need to be coy.

At this moment, in the reception room.

Master Jiang Han sat on a pine-scented bamboo chair, while Madam Jiang sat on the other side. Both were dressed quite formally today, clearly satisfied with Li Pingfu. Young, skilled in martial arts, and composed, he had established his own martial arts school in Pantao Town without relying on his family. He could be considered a promising young talent and a rising star.

This child is only held back by his family's circumstances; otherwise, he would have soared to great heights long ago.

Jiang Han believed that with his resources, Li Pingfu would soon be able to gain a foothold in Yunshui County and establish his own business.

But at this moment of "meeting", Jiang Han and his wife did not look very good, because of their eldest son, Jiang Qi, who was standing in front of them.

Jiang Qi, tall and slender, with a long sword of cyan dragon pattern sheathed at his waist, frowned and said, "Father, Mother, how could you marry my sister off to a country boy of unknown origin?"

“What do you mean by ‘of dubious origin’? That’s Master Li from Pantao Town,” Jiang Han emphasized. “Your sister took a liking to him first.”

“My sister was just acting on a whim,” Jiang Qi said. “Besides, that Master Li might have acquired his martial arts school by relying on his family’s wealth.”

Jiang Han was speechless. So you're just opposing for the sake of opposing, without even bothering to find out anything?
He coughed and said, "Master Li is twenty-two years old and is now a martial artist in the Divine Fiend Realm, with the potential to reach the Innate Realm."

Jiang Qi was stunned.

He only entered the Divine Fiend Realm at the age of thirty, and he was already a dragon among men.

But he stubbornly insisted, "Being young and full of ambition doesn't necessarily mean I can break through to the Innate Realm! What if my younger sister suffers after marrying into the Li family?"

Is talent important? Yes! But can so-called talent really bridge the gap in family background?
Besides, he had a more suitable candidate in mind, Yunmo.

He had practically watched the Yun family boy grow up; he had a good personality, knew his background well, and they were a good match. Wasn't he more reliable than this inexplicable Li Pingfu?

Jiang Qi had traveled all over the country for many years and heard many stories, including one about a young lady from a prestigious family marrying a poor but promising young man, only for the young man to become successful, climb the social ladder, and divorce his first wife.

It makes one's anger flare up instantly.

The thought of his beloved younger sister possibly ending up in such a situation made Jiang Qi furious.

"Father, you're marrying off your daughter, not selling her. It's one thing for my little sister to be bewitched, but how can you bear to use her happiness to win over a potential martial artist?"

"Jiang Qi, is this how you see your father?"

Jiang Han was speechless. Seeing that Jiang Qi was immersed in his own fantasy, he didn't bother to say anything more. "You should meet Li Pingfu yourself in a bit!"

Outside the reception room, a servant came to report, "Miss and Master Li have arrived."

The servant looked at Li Pingfu, knowing in his heart that this man might be the future "son-in-law," and therefore his attitude was extremely respectful.

But hearing the commotion in the reception room, she looked at her future son-in-law with pity. This young master Jiang Qi was not someone to be easily fooled!

"Hmph!" Jiang Qi snorted coldly upon hearing the servant's report: "Let him see me then. I want to see what makes this brat think he can marry my sister. He will never gain my approval as his elder brother!"

He turned to walk out when he saw Li Pingfu coming towards him. Li Pingfu was tall and strong, with long arms and a narrow waist. He was powerful and had a calm and reserved demeanor, perfectly matching the aesthetic standards of a martial artist.

He was momentarily stunned.

In that brief moment, Li Pingfu, with a smile on his face, cupped his hands in greeting to Jiang Han, his attitude humble yet not obsequious, "This junior greets Senior Jiang, Madam Jiang, and Brother Jiang."

"Alright, alright, no need for formalities," Jiang Han said with a smile. "Please take a seat."

"Thank you very much, Senior Jiang."

Li Pingfu got up and strolled around leisurely, as if he were in his own home.

Jiang Qi then realized that he had almost been fooled by the kid's appearance.

He glanced at his sister again and saw that Jiang Ling'er's eyes were fixed on Li Pingfu. He became even angrier. Even he had almost been fooled by this kid. No wonder his sister was so infatuated with him.

He was straightforward and didn't want to play games. He said, "If you want to marry my sister, I don't care whether my parents agree or not. You have to get past me first."

Jiang Han remained silent.

Although he thought highly of Li Pingfu, if the other party couldn't even get past Jiang Qi and couldn't withstand the test, then they could only be destined to be apart.

Losing is acceptable, but not lacking the courage to fight back is not.

Without the gathering of martial spirit, how can one achieve innate mastery?
Martial artists have keen ears, especially after practicing the Five Elements Play. Li Pingfu's eyesight, hearing, and five senses are more acute than those of ordinary martial artists. Therefore, he had already heard the argument in the reception room and was prepared.

Besides, it's normal for the Jiang family to have concerns when marrying off their daughter; this is a sign of their love and care for their family.

He stopped Jiang Ling'er, who was about to get angry, and said, "I wonder how Brother Jiang wants to test me?"

"We martial artists naturally let our strength speak for itself!"

Jiang Qi stomped through the threshold, causing sword energy to clash and a murderous aura to surge forth.

…………

The Jiang family, being a swordsmanship clan, naturally has a place to practice martial arts.

On the training ground, Jiang Qi took the first step, throwing the sword at his waist to the ground. Facing martial artists who practiced close combat, he disdained using weapons to gain such an advantage.

Li Pingfu also removed his knuckle duster, and the winner was determined by whether the two fell off the stage or collapsed to the ground.

With the sound of a gong, the two figures collided violently, causing the stone platform to shake violently, and their stiff muscles deformed for a moment!

The two sides separated immediately upon impact; this seemingly fierce collision was actually just the initial test.

Jiang Qi suppressed his contempt. A true expert's skill is immediately apparent. Just now, it felt as if he had hit a stone wall, and his arm went numb for a moment.

This kid has a very solid foundation!
Li Pingfu looked serious. Although Jiang Qi practiced swordsmanship, his martial arts foundation was by no means weak. When he picked up a longsword, he was a swordsman; when he put it down, he was a martial arts master!

"I am coming!"

Jiang Qi shouted and unleashed a fierce whip kick, the hook of his foot piercing Li Pingfu's temple like a nail.

Li Pingfu dodged to the side by a hair's breadth, then met Jiang Qi's flying leg with both hands. He reached out with his claws and pointed fiercely at Jiang Qi's instep. If this strike landed, Jiang Qi's leg would need at least half a month to recover.

He didn't dare to hold back. Jiang Qi had more experience in combat than him. If he had hesitated for even a moment and failed to neutralize the opponent's killing move with a fierce offensive, he would already be lying on the training platform.

"That was a brilliant move!"

Jiang Qi praised him, then twisted his body strangely, executing a Dragon Tail Swing to shake off Li Pingfu's attack and close in with a punch.

"Bang bang bang!"

The two figures became entangled, erupting in an unprecedentedly intense sound.

……

"They're actually getting serious!"

Jiang Ling'er was in a state of turmoil. On one side was her older brother, and on the other was the man she loved. Tears welled up in her eyes. Torn between the two, she wanted to say, "Please stop fighting!"
"Daughter, don't worry, with your dad here, nothing will happen."

Jiang Han's eyes lit up with joy. He hadn't expected that Li Pingfu, who seemed calm and collected, had a ruthless and aggressive fighting style that suited his taste perfectly.

A martial artist should always have a bit of malice in his heart!
On stage, sweat and blood splattered.

Li Pingfu felt an exhilarating sensation. The blinding sunlight, the visceral impact of each punch, the salty, metallic taste on his lips, the cracking sounds of his bones... the excitement and thrill of this clash of titans coursed through his entire body!

Peach Town is too small, so small that there are no opponents left. How long has it been since I felt such intense fighting!

He desperately craved a real fight.

Suddenly, he heard Jiang Qi's voice: "If you admit defeat and abandon my sister, I can make you the second-in-command of my escort agency, which is much more promising than your position as the head of a martial arts school!"

Without any hesitation, Li Pingfu's eyes flashed red, "Let's fight!"

"You boy!"

Jiang Qi gave him a deep look; he was completely unyielding!
But a sense of satisfaction rose in his heart. Li Pingfu was a pure martial artist with an especially firm heart for martial arts. Such a person always had the same goal. No matter how difficult things were in front of him, he never forgot his original intention and was capable of great things.

Thinking of Yunmo, whom she had previously liked, she suddenly felt that he was a bit effeminate and not as valiant as Li Pingfu.

Thinking like this.

Jiang Qi slammed into Li Pingfu again, and then his body fell off the platform like a withered leaf.

"I lost."

Li Pingfu frowned.

Jiang Qi conceded defeat after only half the battle, as if he had only done half of a satisfying thing and was left hanging in limbo, feeling uncomfortable.

He was in a bad mood, but seeing Jiang Ling'er's expression as if she was about to cry, he could only say, "Brother Jiang, you are too kind."

We can't really fight Jiang Qi to the death, can we?
Jiang Qi shook his head. This kid won against him, but he still had a dissatisfied expression. He really got the benefit and then acted innocent!
(End of this chapter)