Immortal Druid

Willow stared at me for several long seconds, as though deciding how much psychic damage I could survive hearing at once.

“Master,” she began carefully, “your reputation is terrible.”

“…What?”

“It is catastrophically terrible.”

I sat there in stunned silence while the three elderly cultivators collectively avoided eye contact with me.

Willow hopped slightly along the branch before continuing in the same casual tone one might use while discussing weather.

“You resurrected the dead.”

“That was two times, max.”

“Resurrecting an entire village and a sect does not count two times..”

“…Fair.”

She lifted a wing. “Many cultivators already considered resurrection techniques taboo, forbidden, or outright heretical. Then rumors spread that a mysterious life cultivator descended upon the Serenity Lake Domain, seized control behind the scenes, revived the dead, and turned entire sects into devoted followers.”

“…I did not seize control of anything.”

“You live in a giant magical forest surrounded by powerful cultivators loyal to you.”

“That sounds worse when you say it out loud.”

“It becomes even worse with context,” Willow assured me as she continued mercilessly. “There are also stories from your hunt against the Dark Order cultivators.”

I immediately had a bad feeling about this.

“Witnesses claim your arrival was heralded by murders of crows blackening the skies.”

“…Okay, that one sounds kinda cool.”

“They also say you ripped mountains apart with living vines before burning entire landscapes afterward.”

“That was tactical forest management.”

The three old cultivators looked deeply unconvinced.

Willow ignored me completely. “The cultivators you interacted with afterward further reinforced the rumors. The Serenity Lake Domain’s cultivators speak highly of you. The sects in the Twin Mountains Domain also speak highly of you. Too highly, some would say.”

I blinked slowly.

“…People think I started a cult?”

“A terrifyingly effective cult,” Willow corrected.

I buried my face into my hands.

Honestly, this was partially my fault.

Okay, maybe mostly my fault.

I really had resurrected the dead. I also probably had been too flashy while hunting Dark Order cultivators. In my defense, they were bad seeds. If there was ever a time to dramatically summon vines and weaponize forests, that felt appropriate.

Still, why was everyone acting so nervous about me?

I was literally just some guy.

An extremely powerful druid guy.

Possibly immortal.

Potentially capable of flattening mountains.

…Okay, maybe I understood the concern a little.

Li Qing sighed heavily. “This old woman attempted to suppress as much information as possible. However, the destruction of the Serenity Cliff Sect and the subsequent resurrection of many individuals created too much attention. Information spread beyond our control.”

Ding Yahui bowed his head slightly. “This one also bears responsibility. I failed to anticipate the number of spies already hidden around the sect.”

Guo Yupin immediately shook his head. “Sect Leader Ding blames himself too much. At this point, exposure was inevitable.” His expression darkened. “Especially after that monster who possessed my grandson’s body slaughtered people without restraint.”

The atmosphere became heavier after that. I quietly leaned my head against the tree trunk behind me. Part of me did want to help them. I just also wanted to be lazy about it.

Willow casually said, “You could simply establish a one-person sect.”

I slowly looked at her.

“…That’s a thing?”

“It is highly impractical,” she answered.

“That somehow makes me want to do it more.”

The owl gave me what somehow felt like a judgmental stare despite being an owl.

I rubbed my chin thoughtfully. “Alright. Hypothetically speaking, if I did agree to this… what exactly happens next?”

Immediately, Li Qing moved with terrifying efficiency.

The old woman pulled out an entire wooden table from her storage ring before placing down stacks of parchment, jade slips, brushes, seals, and enough official-looking paraphernalia to make me feel ambushed by bureaucracy.

“You prepared paperwork beforehand?!” I exclaimed.

“We had hope,” Li Qing answered with complete dignity.

That was somehow more frightening.

The old woman straightened the documents carefully before explaining, “To establish a recognized sect, you require acknowledgement from at least two existing major sects. The Serenity Cliff Sect will naturally sponsor your recognition. Additionally, we have already secured several favorable votes among affiliated powers.”

Wait.

They had already started lobbying people?

These old people moved fast.

“Afterward,” Li Qing continued, “the Serenity Cliff Sect would formally recommend your sect for inclusion among the Ten Great Sects. However, you would still need to prove your qualifications when the formal test is conducted.”

I frowned slightly. “Test?”

“Most likely a demonstration of power, influence, resources, or territorial stability,” Guo Yupin explained. “The specifics vary depending on circumstance.”

It sounded suspiciously like cultivator politics again.

I hated that.

Li Qing suddenly bowed her head deeply as she said solemnly. “If Benefactor Wo agrees, this old woman is willing to offer anything within the Willow Order’s ability.”

Anything, huh? That was a massive offer. I thought carefully, and realized there actually were things I wanted. Really important things.

“Two conditions,” I said.

Li Qing immediately became nervous.

“First, I want access to every piece of knowledge the Willow Order possesses.” I looked directly at her. “No holding back this time.”

The old woman’s expression tightened almost imperceptibly.

“And?” she asked carefully.

“I want more pills like the one Sect Leader Ding Yahui gave me.”

“How many pills does Benefactor Wo desire?”

“Preferably?” I leaned back against the tree comfortably. “As many varied ones as possible. Different effects, different properties, different paths. And they need to be around the same quality as the one Sect Leader Ding Yahui gave me.”

The moment those words left my mouth, Ding Yahui nearly inhaled his own beard.

The old sect leader stared at me in complete disbelief.

“Benefactor Wo…” he said weakly, “a pill of that grade is sufficient to purchase a favor from a major sect. Entire nations have risen over treasures inferior to it.”

I blinked.

“…Seriously?”

“Yes!” Ding Yahui exclaimed. “Even Soul Transformation cultivators would treasure such a medicinal pill!”

I slowly turned toward Li Qing.

The old woman merely maintained a calm expression.

“The Willow Order can provide dozens over time,” she answered steadily. “If necessary, we can begin gathering them immediately.”

Holy hell.

The Willow Order was absurdly rich.

Or perhaps another interpretation was more accurate.

They needed me that badly.

Li Qing eventually sighed softly, some of her composure finally cracking as exhaustion entered her aged eyes. “Truthfully, doing so would cripple our ability to nurture a Soul Transformation cultivator within the next generation.”

That sounded… really bad.

Soul Transformation was not exactly some random roadside cultivation realm. From the way cultivators treated the realm, every Soul Transformation expert seemed capable of becoming the backbone of multiple domains.

The old woman massaged her forehead before speaking again.

“Perhaps another arrangement would be more sustainable.” She paused briefly. “Instead of delivering everything at once, the Willow Order can provide Benefactor Wo with three high-grade pills every decade.”

Three every decade honestly still sounded insanely generous.

“As an advance,” Li Qing continued, “this old woman can immediately provide five pills. Each represents one of the five classical elements.”

I immediately sat up straighter.

“…What elements?”

“Wood, fire, metal, water, and earth.”

Holy shit.

That sounded amazing.

My newly awakened Circle of Aqua practically started vibrating in excitement. If consuming a single water-aligned pill had unlocked an entirely new druidic specialization, then what would the others do?

Circle of Flame?

Circle of Stone?

Circle of Metal?

Okay, maybe not that last one. Druids and metal traditionally had beef with one another.

Still, the possibilities alone made my brain light up.

“We have an arrangement,” I said immediately.

The three elderly cultivators visibly relaxed all at once.

Honestly, they looked moments away from collapsing from stress.

Li Qing quickly pulled one of the parchment sheets closer before dipping her brush into ink.

“Then we must determine the sect’s official name.”

“Ah.” I pointed at her lazily. “I’m leaving that part to you.”

The brush paused midair.

“You wish this old woman to choose?” she asked carefully.

“I have absolute confidence in your ability to do paperwork.”

“That is not reassuring.”

“I believe in you.”

Li Qing stared at me for several long seconds before sighing in defeat.

“Does Benefactor Wo possess any preferences at least?”

“Simple characters,” I answered immediately. “Nothing overly complicated or pretentious. Maybe something about nature. Grass. Trees. Going outside. Touching grass or whatever.”

The old woman slowly nodded as though she had received profound enlightenment.

The brush moved smoothly across the parchment.

Her calligraphy was beautiful. Every stroke carried elegance and refinement that made the characters themselves seem alive with spiritual rhythm. By the time she finished, the ink itself appeared almost natural, like roots intertwining across the parchment.

Li Qing turned the document toward me.

“What is Benefactor Wo’s opinion of this name?”

I looked down at the two characters. They looked cool as hell, though I couldn’t read them that well. Was that character meant feel? And the one next to it was blade of grass or something?

“Your calligraphy is incredible,” I admitted sincerely. “What does it mean?”

Li Qing folded her sleeves calmly and began explaining in the slow, profound tone unique to ancient cultivators trying to sound wise.

“These characters speak of one harmonizing with the natural world,” she said. “To understand heaven and earth through every strand of grass and every falling leaf. To perceive the rhythm of life not through lofty detachment, but through direct connection with the living world beneath one’s feet.”

I stared at the parchment, and looked back at her.

“…That’s actually perfect.”

Li Qing smiled faintly for the first time since arriving.

“I am pleased Benefactor Wo approves.”

…

..

.

[POV: Li Qing]

Li Qing carefully ensured every detail of the paperwork was completed properly. Such matters could not be treated lightly. Recognition of a sect, especially one that would soon contend for a seat among the Ten Great Sects, required layers of formal acknowledgment. Spiritual signatures, qi imprints, witness seals, and oath recognition all needed to be accounted for. A single mistake in procedure could give rival sects justification to challenge legitimacy later.

Sage Wo Li did not appear particularly interested in the bureaucratic process itself. The young-looking sage simply signed where instructed with a relaxed expression, pressed his thumb into the prepared spiritual ink, and breathed qi into the parchment. The document immediately shimmered faintly as the heavens recognized the agreement.

Ding Yahui followed afterward, solemnly adding the support of the Serenity Cliff Sect through his own signature and spiritual imprint.

The moment the final seal settled, Li Qing quietly released a breath she had not realized she was holding.

The matter was done.

The sect had been born.

Li Qing cupped her fists respectfully toward the sage.

“This old woman thanks Sage Wo Li for his assistance,” she said sincerely. “The Willow Order shall arrange delivery of the pills requested as swiftly as possible. Additionally, this old woman will send appropriate personnel to serve as liaison regarding whatever knowledge Sage Wo Li wishes to access.”

Wo Li waved a hand casually. “Thanks.”

His relaxed response somehow made the terrifying significance of what had just happened feel strangely unreal.

Li Qing carefully gathered the parchments, jade seals, brushes, and ceremonial paraphernalia before storing everything back into her storage ring. Every document had to be protected properly now. If news of these papers spread too early, countless forces would begin investigating.

Once everything was secured, the group exchanged farewells.

“This old man shall take his leave,” Guo Yupin said respectfully.

Ding Yahui also bowed deeply. “May Sage Wo Li enjoy peace within these forests.”

Wo Li leaned comfortably against the massive willow tree behind him and lazily raised a hand. “Travel safe.”

Willow fluttered her wings from the nearby branch.

“I’ll stay here a bit longer,” the owl remarked casually. “Master still looks one conversation away from accidentally founding another organization.”

Wo Li looked mystified.

Li Qing quietly hid her amusement behind her sleeve before departing together with Ding Yahui and Guo Yupin.

The deeper they traveled away from the sage’s forest, the heavier the atmosphere gradually became. Only after they had crossed quite the distance did Ding Yahui finally speak again.

“Sister Li,” the old sect leader asked carefully, “was it truly wise to promise so many pills to the sage? Treasures of that quality are exceedingly rare.”

Li Qing walked steadily through the forest path, her sleeves swaying gently.

“It was the only viable approach,” she answered calmly. “The continued provision of such pills gives Sage Wo Li reason to remain in this position for as long as we require.”

Ding Yahui frowned slightly.

“If we had simply provided everything immediately,” Li Qing continued, “then perhaps the sage would feel momentarily beholden to the Willow Order. However, Sage Wo Li is not someone ordinary obligations can bind. Should he wish to leave, no promise in this world could truly restrain him.”

Guo Yupin nodded slowly in understanding.

Ding Yahui, however, still looked troubled.

“But is such an arrangement sustainable?” he asked. “Three pills of that quality every decade… even major sects would struggle to maintain such output.”

Normally, it would have been impossible.

Even with the full resources of the Willow Order, producing a single pill of that caliber every decade already required immense preparation. Rare spiritual herbs, specialized alchemists, heavenly flames, and favorable environmental conditions all needed to align perfectly.

If the Order relied solely upon its remaining labor force and natural resource production, they could perhaps create two or three such pills in an entire century.

Yet Li Qing’s expression remained composed.

“The Willow Order has the matter handled,” she said simply.

Guo Yupin chuckled softly beside them.

“Senior Brother Ding,” he remarked, “perhaps it is time you trusted the Willow Order somewhat more.”

Li Qing did not elaborate further aloud, but inwardly, her thoughts drifted toward her granddaughter.

Li Ming.

A Shén.

Even now, the old woman still occasionally found the truth difficult to fully accept.

The Shén possessed the privilege of creation itself. Ancient records from before even the Age of Supremacy described their kind as miraculous beings capable of feats bordering upon divinity. Legends claimed they once assisted in the shaping of worlds themselves.

If Li Ming properly mastered her abilities, creating pills of such quality would eventually become as effortless as breathing.

In fact, the young girl had already recently begun developing interest toward alchemy. The Willow Order had quietly begun preparing for the possibility that within the coming decades, Li Ming alone might produce one of the sage’s requested pills every two years.

No, they were certain she could do it, if their divinations had been accurate.

That would leave additional pills for the Willow Order itself.

It was precisely because of this future possibility that Li Qing dared make such promises.

Ding Yahui eventually sighed.

“This old man still worries.”

Li Qing’s expression softened slightly.

“If Sect Leader Ding cannot trust the judgment of the Willow Order,” she said quietly, “then perhaps trust Sage Wo Li instead.”

The old sect leader looked toward her.

Li Qing continued walking while speaking softly.

“Sage Wo Li is… a genuinely good person.”

There was unmistakable remorse within her voice.

“In the past,” she admitted, “this old woman attempted to take advantage of his kindness.”

Memories surfaced within her mind. The time the sage had requested access to the Willow Order’s knowledge at the expense of the favor he was owed, Li Qing had dared to overstep her bounds out of desperation.

Her greed.

Rather than fully honoring the spirit of the agreement, she had deliberately held information back while attempting to maneuver Sage Wo Li closer toward formally joining the Willow Order instead. Of course, she failed.

Guo Yupin had warned caution back then.

Yet Li Qing had ignored it.

It was thankless, shortsighted, and reckless.

The old woman slowly closed her eyes for a brief moment. She had been fortunate Sage Wo Li possessed such patience and generosity of character. Another cultivator of his terrifying power might have eradicated entire sects over far lesser insults.

Ironically, even now, she was still taking advantage of his kindness.

They had just convinced the sage to establish an entire sect for their sake.

Li Qing released a quiet sigh.

“The least we can do,” she said softly, “is ensure we trouble Sage Wo Li as little as possible.”

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