Immortal Druid

[POV: Kang Wen]

The gap between the Twin Mountains Domain was a desolate stretch of ridges and jagged stone where cold winds howled endlessly through narrow cliffs. Few cultivators passed through the area willingly. The terrain was harsh, spiritual veins were unstable, and demonic beasts often nested deep within the valleys. Yet within one secluded cave hidden behind hanging vines and fractured stone, a middle-aged man cultivated in silence.

His beard had long since grown unruly, spreading across his face like tangled roots. Dirt and dust clung to his robes, and the sharp dignity he once carried as an elder of the Steel Sky Sect had dulled beneath exhaustion and regret. Even so, his eyes remained clear. Whenever he looked down from the mountain ridges toward the distant horizon, longing filled them.

Kang Wen imagined the sect he betrayed almost every day.

It had not been long since his exile, but each passing sunrise only deepened the remorse gnawing at him. More than once, he had attempted to end his own life in pursuit of what he believed would be an honorable conclusion. A traitor deserved death. A disgraced elder deserved no grave within the world of cultivators.

In the end, however, he failed every time.

Kang Wen eventually realized the truth about himself. He was a coward.

At the same time, he was still a cultivator.

The centuries of lifespan he possessed were not easily discarded. Every additional year he had earned through cultivation had become instinctively precious to him. Ironically, even that lifespan had been given by the Steel Sky Sect. The resources they provided, the manuals they entrusted him with, the protection of their mountain gates?

Everything he had become originated from there.

And yet he still betrayed them.

The thought made his chest ache.

Kang Wen exhaled slowly before rising from his meditation mat and walking out of the cave. Morning mist drifted between the mountain ridges while the cries of distant beasts echoed faintly through the valley. He extended a hand, and his flying sword emerged from within the cave with a metallic hum.

A moment later, he began his sword dance.

His movements were neither flashy nor theatrical. Every strike carried decades of refinement. The sword whistled through the air with frightening precision, carving invisible trajectories that split clouds of mist apart. As a Core Formation cultivator, Kang Wen could have easily shaved entire portions off the surrounding mountains if he wished. One swing imbued with spiritual power would have been enough to collapse cliffs and split boulders apart.

Doing so, however, would merely waste energy.

His swordsmanship instead remained restrained and controlled, focused more on preserving vigor than displaying destructive power. Even while isolated in exile, Kang Wen continued maintaining the habits drilled into him by the sect.

After finishing his exercises, he descended deeper into the rocky terrain to hunt.

The beast he targeted was a mountain ram roughly the size of a carriage. Jagged gray fur covered its body while spiritual qi pulsed faintly from its horns. Although only comparable to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, the creature possessed exceptional agility and could maneuver across steep cliffs with unnatural speed.

The instant the ram sensed danger, it bolted across the mountain paths.

Kang Wen’s flying sword shot forward like a streak of silver light. Instead of striking directly, it repeatedly cut off escape routes and forced the creature toward a narrow stone pass. The ram let out an enraged cry and attempted to leap over a boulder.

At that exact moment, Kang Wen exploded forward.

Stone shattered beneath his feet as he crossed the distance in a blink. Before the ram could react, his hands seized both horns violently. The beast struggled with immense force, its hooves tearing trenches into the ground, but Kang Wen’s grip did not budge.

With a flick of his fingers, the flying sword curved behind the creature and cleanly sliced through its throat.

Warm blood spilled across the rocks.

Kang Wen dragged the carcass back toward his cave before beginning the familiar process of butchering and preparing the meat. Once the fire was lit, the rich scent of roasting flesh gradually spread through the mountain air.

He ate voraciously.

Many mortals believed cultivators no longer needed food after reaching higher realms. The truth, however, was far more complicated. Cultivators expended tremendous amounts of vigor whenever they fought, trained, or circulated qi. Meditation could replenish those reserves. Sustenance pills could do the same. Remaining still within a spiritually rich environment also restored energy over time.

That was precisely why powerful experts rarely wandered endlessly outside their sects.

Sect grounds were built atop spiritual veins rich in qi. Within such places, cultivators could replenish themselves efficiently without wasting external resources. The stronger a cultivator became, the more refined their absorption of qi turned. High-level experts could remain active for astonishing lengths of time before exhaustion finally caught them.

Still, even they required replenishment eventually.

After finishing his meal, Kang Wen buried the ram’s remains outside the cave before returning inside to meditate. The cave itself rested atop a minor spiritual vein hidden beneath the mountain range. Compared to the Steel Sky Sect, the qi density was pitiful, but within the Twin Mountains Domain, this location was among the better environments available.

That was why he chose it as his refuge.

One day, if calamity ever befell the Steel Sky Sect, perhaps he could still lend his strength from the shadows. Though truthfully, Kang Wen doubted he would ever be needed again.

The mysterious sage, Wo Li, already stood behind the sect.

Compared to someone like that, Kang Wen’s strength meant little.

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open.

“Who goes there?” Kang Wen demanded sharply as spiritual pressure burst from his body. His flying sword instantly hovered beside him.

“It’s me, uncle,” a young man’s voice called out from outside the cave.

Kang Wen frowned deeply as he saw Kang Kong climbing the rocky slope with practiced ease.

“You foolish child,” Kang Wen scolded. “How many times have I warned you not to come here? What if someone followed you? What if the Dark Order discovers this place because of your carelessness?”

Kang Kong merely rolled his eyes before brushing dust from his robes. “You should stop acting like some hunted criminal every waking moment. I’m just visiting my uncle.”

Kang Wen’s expression stiffened.

The first time Kang Kong found him, he had nearly drawn blood from sheer shock. Yet somehow, the boy kept returning despite every warning he received. Each visit brought medicine, supplies, or sustenance pills stolen from his own personal allowance.

“A thank you would suffice, uncle,” Kang Kong said with a grin as he tossed over a small pouch. “You need to replenish your energy properly. Or do you prefer losing your precious muscles?”

Kang Wen caught the pouch awkwardly before opening it. Inside were more than a dozen mid-grade sustenance pills. Even for inner sect disciples, this amount was far from cheap.

Silence lingered briefly before Kang Wen reluctantly bit into one of the pills.

“Muscle mass won’t matter anymore once I reach Nascent Soul,” he muttered weakly. “At that realm, the body itself begins transcending the flesh.”

Kang Kong snorted. “That sounds exactly like something an old man says after skipping meals.”

Kang Wen wanted to rebuke him, yet the warmth spreading through his meridians from the pill made the words difficult to voice. More importantly, he understood how valuable these pills truly were.

This much would last him an entire year.

Kang Wen had only just swallowed the sustenance pill when a terrifying pressure descended upon the cave.

The mountain winds abruptly stilled.

Spiritual sense swept across the area like a blade scraping over exposed flesh, causing Kang Kong’s grin to vanish instantly. Kang Wen’s expression darkened as he firmly grabbed his sword beside him.

A Core Formation figure stepped into view at the entrance of the cave.

“I guess the blood of a traitor flows in the Kang family,” a powerful voice remarked coldly.

The newcomer wore the robes of the Steel Sky Sect. Sharp eyes stared forward with unconcealed disgust while over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators stood behind him in formation, sealing the cave entrance completely.

Kang Wen’s pupils contracted.

“Brother Chang—”

“I don’t have a brother called Kang Wen!” Chang Jiang snapped.

The words struck harder than any sword.

Kang Wen lowered his head briefly before forcing himself to speak. “Leave Kang Kong out of this. He had nothing to do with my sins.”

Chang Jiang laughed harshly. “Nothing to do with it? Sneaking sect resources to a traitor is betrayal itself.”

Kang Kong immediately stepped forward. “Those pills were bought with my own contribution points and spirit stones!”

“Kang Kong, quiet down!” Kang Wen hissed sharply.

The boy flinched.

Chang Jiang’s expression only grew colder. “Kill them.”

The Foundation Establishment cultivators immediately moved.

Steel Sky Sect disciples were trained to fight in coordinated formations, and the moment the order was given, sword qi flooded the cave entrance in overlapping layers. Killing intent surged violently through the narrow passage.

Kang Wen acted instantly.

He grabbed Kang Kong by the collar and hurled him toward the entrance with explosive force.

The disciples blocking the path instinctively tightened their formation. Kang Wen himself rushed directly behind his nephew at the same instance, almost using the younger man as cover.

A look of fear and disbelief crossed Kang Kong’s face.

“Uncle—”

Kang Wen ignored him outwardly, but his voice echoed directly into Kang Kong’s mind through sound transmission.

“Harden your body. The moment you can move, flee this place.”

Kang Kong’s eyes widened before spiritual energy surged across his physique. His muscles tightened as the Steel Body Art activated, causing faint metallic patterns to spread beneath his skin.

At that exact moment, Kang Wen kicked him.

The strike exploded against Kang Kong’s back like a battering ram.

Blood burst from the young cultivator’s mouth as his body shot through the narrow gap between disciples at terrifying speed.

Chang Jiang’s sword flashed.

Kang Wen twisted and parried the attack aside just in time. Sparks exploded through the cave as spiritual energy clashed violently.

“Senior Brother Kang Kong coughed blood!”

“He’s escaping!”

“He mounted his sword!”

Several cultivators panicked as Kang Kong flew into the sky atop his flying sword, wobbling dangerously while blood trailed behind him.

Chang Jiang’s face darkened. “Ignore him! Your focus should be on Kang Wen!”

The disciples immediately shifted their attention back.

Kang Wen pushed forward aggressively, expecting resistance, only to realize something strange.

They were allowing him through.

The moment he stepped fully outside the cave, the formation changed.

“Steel Butterfly Formation!” Chang Jiang roared.

The disciples scattered into motion.

Flying swords rose simultaneously into the air, weaving intricate arcs around Kang Wen like the wings of steel butterflies. Sword qi overlapped in spiraling layers while killing intent condensed from every direction. The formation was designed to shred opponents apart through relentless rotating strikes.

Kang Wen’s blood boiled.

For one fleeting moment, the warrior instincts buried within him surged awake. His heart thundered violently while excitement spread through his meridians. Faced against overwhelming odds, every instinct cultivated through centuries screamed for battle.

Fight.

Break the formation.

Kill his way out.

The impulse was so fierce that his fingers tightened around his sword hilt unconsciously.

Then he calmed himself.

Kang Wen slowly exhaled.

He deserved this.

There were likely many within the sect dissatisfied with the young master’s mercy back then. Many who believed exile was too light a punishment for betrayal. Chang Jiang was merely one of them.

Perhaps this was the ending he should have accepted long ago.

Kang Wen lowered his sword.

The whirlwind of steel closed around him.

Suddenly, a violent gust erupted across the mountains.

“Tempest Sword Art.”

The gallant voice echoed across the battlefield.

Wind spiraled around Kang Wen like a protective sphere as dozens of incoming swords were forcibly deflected away. The Steel Butterfly Formation shattered instantly beneath overwhelming pressure.

All disciples froze.

At the center of the raging winds stood a tall woman in flowing robes. Her presence alone suppressed the entire mountain range as sword intent spread invisibly through the air.

Kang Wen’s breathing stopped.

He immediately fell to his knees.

“Sect Leader Xing Mei...?”

Xing Mei looked down at him coldly before shifting her gaze toward Chang Jiang.

“Stand down, Chang Jiang.”

Chang Jiang’s expression twisted with fury, but after several tense breaths, he forcibly restrained himself and cupped his fist.

“I understand, Sect Leader.”

The disciples reluctantly withdrew their swords.

Silence descended upon the mountains.

Then Xing Mei spoke again.

“The execution order on Kang Wen has been rescinded.”

Kang Wen’s mind blanked.

He could barely process the words.

The young master himself had exiled him. Both the Sect Leader and Sage Wo Li acknowledged the punishment at the time. There should have been no reason for this execution order to exist.

Xing Mei studied his stunned expression.

“You must be confused right now,” she said calmly. “I have always hated you for killing my son. His resurrection is a blessing, but the fact remains that you betrayed him and the sect.”

Her voice did not rise, yet every word carried terrifying weight.

“My son is precious to me. Because of that, I had to restrain my anger. It also helped that I did not wish to oppose the Sage back then.”

Kang Wen lowered his head silently.

Xing Mei continued.

“Cultivators, regardless of their intentions, are often two-faced creatures. I am no different. Do not mistake this for sentimental mercy.”

The winds around the mountain gradually calmed.

“Sage Wo Li is a powerhouse we are helpless against, but he is also our most precious ally. Hear me well, Kang Wen. You have not been forgiven.”

Kang Wen clenched his fists.

“However,” Xing Mei said, “an opportunity now lies before you.”

Her sharp gaze locked onto him.

“From this day onward, you will work for the Willow Order. With their assistance, you shall infiltrate the Dark Order for atonement of your sins. Through your efforts, perhaps the Sage may finally put an end to them completely.”

Before Kang Wen could respond, another figure appeared nearby without warning.

An old woman stood atop a boulder with hands folded behind her back. Though her aura was restrained, every cultivator present immediately sensed the terrifying depth hidden beneath it.

“I shall take it from here,” the old woman remarked calmly. “I am Li Qing of the Willow Order.”

Her eyes settled on Kang Wen.

“I will explain the specifics.”

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