Immortal Druid

Mab hovered high above the battlefield, concealed among the clouds as her immortal senses swept across the entirety of the Hermit Sage Forest. To ordinary cultivators, the forest was a chaotic battlefield filled with countless individual struggles. To her eyes, it resembled a massive board upon which countless pieces moved according to ever-changing strategies and opportunities.

The Dark Order possessed overwhelming numbers. Core Formation experts appeared throughout the forest in organized groups, while Nascent Soul cultivators lurked behind them as hidden trump cards. Yet the defenders were proving far more resilient than anyone had anticipated.

One of the greatest reasons for that was Li Qing.

The Heavenly Eye floated above her like a divine star, continuously gathering information from every corner of the battlefield. Through the artifact, she tracked enemy movements, identified vulnerable targets, and relayed instructions to the Willow Order. More impressively, she coordinated seamlessly with Jia Ping and the three spirit beast chieftains.

"Enemy formation approaching from the eastern ridge," Li Qing transmitted through spiritual sense. "Four Core Formations. Elder Monke, take the center. Buff, break their defensive formation. Mumu, circle behind and cut off retreat."

The monkey elder grinned savagely.

"Finally. A strategy involving punching people."

The four enemy Core Formation cultivators had barely crossed a clearing when Elder Monke descended from the treetops like a falling mountain.

His staff struck first.

The leading cultivator raised a sword artifact to defend.

The sword shattered.

The cultivator was launched through six trees.

"See?" Elder Monke declared proudly. "A simple strategy. My old bones still have it in me!"

The remaining enemies immediately reorganized.

"Formation!"

Golden spiritual chains erupted between them.

Before the formation could stabilize, the earth suddenly trembled as Buff emerged from the undergrowth. The enormous water buffalo lowered his horns.

"Your formation is impressive, but I am larger and stronger."

The formation exploded apart as two cultivators were thrown skyward.

That was when Mumu arrived. The emu chieftain was a blur of feathers and talons.

"Too slow."

Her kick landed against the first cultivator's chest.

Crack.

The second received a peck to the forehead powerful enough to dent a defensive artifact.

Both crashed into the forest floor.

"Targets isolated," Mumu reported calmly.

"Excellent," Li Qing responded. "Finish them."

The three chieftains moved as a single unit. Monke attacked from above. Buff crushed defenses from the front. Mumu exploited every opening they created. The remaining Core Formation cultivators found themselves overwhelmed despite their numerical superiority.

Elsewhere, Roo continued his absurd stand.

More than a dozen Core Formation cultivators surrounded him. They moved in coordinated battle formations, launching sword arts, talismans, and martial techniques from every direction. Yet none could pin him down.

The giant kangaroo bounded across the battlefield with impossible speed.

A spear thrust aimed at his heart.

Roo twisted aside.

A sword descended toward his head.

The signboard in his hands intercepted it.

The impact sent spiritual sparks flying.

Then the signboard smashed directly into the swordsman's face.

Crunch.

The cultivator spun through the air.

"You lot are hopeless!"

Roo laughed.

"The WAY OF THE BOUND SKY STRIDER cannot be contained!"

Three cultivators attempted to surround him. Roo immediately leaped over them. A kick struck one. The signboard struck another. His tail swept the legs from beneath the third.

"Too slow!"

Another formation activated, and golden chains erupted around him in an attempt to trap him. Roo immediately bounced off one tree, then another, and then a third, his movements becoming so erratic and unpredictable that the chains failed to anticipate his trajectory.

"What kind of movement technique is this?!" one cultivator shouted.

Roo landed atop his signboard and pointed dramatically.

"This?"

He grinned.

"This is what happens when talent meets superior legs!"

The cultivators nearly coughed blood.

Meanwhile, the true monsters of the battlefield battled among the heavens. Zhen Ai pursued two Nascent Soul cultivators across dozens of kilometers. Dragon scales orbited around her like a celestial constellation. Each scale became a deadly sword.

The two enemy Nascent Souls repeatedly teleported through the forest.

Zhen Ai chased relentlessly.

Hundreds of dragon scales shot after them. Explosions erupted wherever the scales struck. One of the cultivators finally roared.

"Dragonslayer Art!"

A massive spear formed from spiritual energy. The second unleashed a similar technique. Ordinary dragons would have been greatly threatened. Unfortunately for them, Zhen Ai fought nothing like a dragon. Instead of confronting the attacks directly, she performed hand seals.

Three human cultivation techniques activated simultaneously.

A defensive barrier.

A movement technique.

A sword art.

The dragonslaying attacks missed entirely.

The dragon scales continued hunting their targets.

"What kind of dragon uses techniques?!" one enemy shouted.

Zhen Ai smiled.

"The winning kind."

Forced into desperation, both cultivators activated the Dark Seed, black veins spreading across their bodies as their strength surged dramatically, yet all Mab saw was the inevitable being delayed.

Nearby, Jia Ping dominated her own battle, her flags floating around her like a moving fortress while her spear flashed repeatedly through the air. Each strike forced her opponent farther backward, leaving the Nascent Soul cultivator scrambling to activate multiple treasures merely to survive.

"You should surrender," Jia Ping said calmly.

"Arrogant woman!"

Black energy erupted from the Dark Seed.

Jia Ping sighed.

"You chose the painful option."

Her spear struck again.

The battlefield trembled.

Not far away, Li Qing engaged another Nascent Soul cultivator, their battle unfolding in a tense stalemate as the Heavenly Eye continuously predicted movements and trajectories, allowing her to anticipate nearly every attack moments before it occurred.

However, the Dark Seed granted her opponent frightening adaptability, enabling them to adjust to her foresight and counter her strategies in turn. As a result, neither side managed to gain a decisive advantage, and their clash remained evenly balanced despite the relentless exchange of techniques.

As the conflict escalated, reinforcements finally arrived.

Cultivators from the Twin Mountains Domain began appearing throughout the battlefield, and shortly afterward the outposts successfully contacted the Serenity Cliff Sect, bringing even more defenders flooding into the forest.

For a brief moment, victory seemed within reach, but then the true danger revealed itself.

The Dark Order possessed ten Nascent Soul cultivators in total. Two were occupied fighting Zhen Ai, one battled Jia Ping, and another confronted Li Qing, yet that still left six unaccounted for. Until now, those six Nascent Souls had remained hidden.

Suddenly, six terrifying auras erupted across the battlefield. The pressure of Nascent Soul cultivation descended like heavenly judgment.

The first appeared before Captain Zhong and the Willow Order. A black-robed elder emerged from the shadows. "You insects have performed admirably."

Captain Zhong tightened his grip on his sword. "Then you'll understand how embarrassing your defeat is about to become."

The elder laughed. "Bold words from prey."

Captain Zhong smiled. "Boldness is free. Victory costs effort."

The second Nascent Soul descended before the spirit beast coalition. His aura shook the surrounding trees.

Elder Monke immediately stepped forward. "Oho?"

Buff snorted.

Mumu narrowed her eyes.

The cultivator looked at them dismissively. "A monkey, a buffalo, and a bird."

Elder Monke twirled his staff. "Correct."

Buff lowered his horns. "Observe carefully."

Mumu smiled coldly. "You will shortly become an educational example."

The third Nascent Soul appeared above the Steel Sky Sect. Xing Ning's short hair fluttered beneath the spiritual pressure. The enemy cultivator smirked. "You should run."

Xing Ning adjusted his grip on his blade. "I have heard that advice repeatedly."

"And?"

"I ignored it every time."

The fourth Nascent Soul confronted the Stone Spire Sect. Xu Lei's long hair swayed gently as he stepped forward, his spear faintly vibrating in anticipation.

The enemy sneered. "You understand the difference between our realms."

Xu Lei nodded. "Certainly."

"Then surrender."

Xu Lei smiled. "Unfortunately, understanding something and caring about it are different matters."

The fifth Nascent Soul landed before the arriving Serenity Cliff Sect.

Guo Yimu rubbed his bald head. "Ah."

The enemy blinked. "That is your reaction? Rather lackluster, no?"

Guo Yimu nodded. "I was hoping for a dramatic entrance."

The cultivator frowned. "What?"

Guo Yimu sighed. "Never mind. Since you're here already, let's fight."

Finally, the sixth Nascent Soul appeared before the Touch Grass Sect gate. The surrounding Core Formation cultivators immediately retreated. Even they did not wish to be caught by there superior's powers.

Roo stared at the newcomer, and the newcomer stared back.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

"You look important," said Roo.

The Nascent Soul cultivator smiled. "I am."

Roo nodded thoughtfully. "Good."

The cultivator frowned. "Good?"

Roo grinned. "I was getting tired of beating up your underlings."

The Nascent Soul's smile disappeared. "You think a mere Core Formation can challenge me?"

Roo slammed the signboard into the ground, and the impact echoed across the battlefield. "I think that you've arrived at the wrong gate. I AM THE STRONGEST!"

Across the entire forest, six Nascent Soul auras pressed down upon the defenders, their overwhelming presence causing the battlefield, which had slowly begun to favor the defenders, to shift dramatically once more. From high above, Mab watched with high expectations.

It was about time that the Turtle-Snake make his move.

…

..

.

[POV: Xuanwu]

Deep beneath the Hermit Sage Forest, within a cave that had remained undisturbed for years, Xuanwu slowly opened his eyes.

Darkness and silence greeted him.

For a long moment, he simply remained seated.

The meditation was finally complete.

Achieving harmony between chaos and order had proven far more difficult than he had initially anticipated. Countless times he had nearly lost himself to one extreme or the other. Order sought stillness and permanence. Chaos sought freedom and endless change. Reconciling both into a single existence had required years of contemplation.

Learning to use a humanoid body had been equally troublesome.

A snake's body moved differently.

A turtle's body moved differently.

A human body moved differently still.

The transition had not been smooth.

Fortunately, Xuanwu possessed an abundance of patience.

He rose from his seat and stretched, his joints cracking softly before he vanished from the cave. The cavern exploded behind him as his figure shot skyward, and moments later he hovered above the forest, the battlefield immediately entering his awareness.

Countless cultivators and spirit beasts clashed amidst explosions, bloodshed, and death as his spiritual senses spread throughout the forest, rapidly assessing the situation. Before long, his attention settled upon a very familiar kangaroo, Roo.

The guardian of the Touch Grass Sect entrance was currently engaged in battle against a Nascent Soul cultivator, and the situation looked unfavorable. A black sword descended as Roo committed too heavily to an attack, leaving him unable to evade. The blade raced toward his neck, only to stop inches from his throat abruptly. The Nascent Soul cultivator's eyes widened while Roo blinked in confusion. The sword was trapped between two fingers.

Xuanwu stood there calmly, his expression unchanged as he pinched the blade between his fingers.

Roo's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

"OLD BLACK?!"

Xuanwu glanced toward him. The familiar voice brought back many memories. The beasts of the forest had once called him Old Black out of respect and familiarity. It was a name he had worn proudly.

Roo hopped around him in excitement.

"Holy shit! It really is you!"

The kangaroo circled him several times.

"You look completely different!"

Xuanwu raised an eyebrow.

"Is that so?"

"YES!"

Roo pointed dramatically.

"Where's the giant snake?!"

He pointed again.

"And why do you have legs?!"

Another point.

"And hair!"

Xuanwu looked at his hair.

"It looks good on me."

Roo stared and nodded.

"Fair enough."

The Nascent Soul cultivator finally recovered from his shock. With a powerful tug, he pried his sword free from Xuanwu's fingers and retreated several hundred meters. His expression became serious. "I must commend you. To stop my strike so casually, you are clearly no ordinary cultivator."

Xuanwu simply looked at him.

The swordsman attacked. The sword split into hundreds of afterimages as sword intent flooded the battlefield. Illusions layered upon illusions. Each strike appeared real and lethal, yet Xuanwu could see every path, possibility, and intention.

The sword seemed impossibly complex to ordinary cultivators.

To him, it was transparent.

A slight tilt of his head. A single step. A small shift of his shoulder. That was all it took for Xuanwu to dodge them. Every sword strike missed.

The Nascent Soul cultivator's eyes widened.

"What?!"

He retreated instantly. A massive jaw-shaped wave of qi suddenly tore through the area he had previously occupied, gouging a trench through the forest. Trees vanished. Earth split apart. The attack continued for several kilometers before finally dissipating.

Roo stared, and then his face lit up.

"THAT WAS AWESOME!"

The surrounding Core Formation cultivators hesitated as uncertainty entered their expressions.

The Nascent Soul cultivator narrowed his eyes.

"And who exactly are you?"

The battlefield grew quiet. Even the nearby Core Formation cultivators listened.

Xuanwu stepped forward and settled into a martial stance as his voice echoed across the battlefield with calm, unwavering authority. "I am the Black Turtle-Snake of the North, the Dark Warrior, son of the Great Turtle, born with the body of a snake and friend of Sage Wo Li. The heavens know my name, the earth remembers my steps, and neither chaos nor order shall sway my resolve. I am Xuanwu."

As he spoke, the air trembled, the clouds parted, the earth rumbled beneath countless feet, and spiritual energy surged outward while his golden eyes shone with ancient power.

The Nascent Soul cultivator's instincts screamed. Every Core Formation cultivator suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of danger. An illusion descended upon them. Their eyes turned white. Every one of them froze. They no longer saw reality, the battlefield, or Xuanwu.

Xuanwu raised a single finger and lowered it.

Dozens of heads fell simultaneously, and the corpses collapsed moments later. Blood sprayed across the battlefield. The illusion shattered. The dead never even realized what had happened.

Only the Nascent Soul cultivator survived as he had teleported away at the final moment. Even then, a thin line of blood had appeared across his cheek. Fear finally entered his eyes. Unfortunately for him, Xuanwu was already standing before him.

The swordsman recoiled, while panic exploded across his face.

In desperation, black veins erupted throughout his body. The Dark Seed activated. His cultivation surged and his sword intent multiplied.

"THOUSAND DARK WAVE SLASH—!"

Thousands of black sword waves erupted simultaneously. The battlefield disappeared beneath an ocean of destruction. Then Xuanwu released his humanoid form.

An enormous turtle appeared, while a colossal black serpent wrapped around its shell. The sensation of perceiving the world through two heads still felt somewhat strange. But there was no time to dwell on such matters.

The sword waves descended.

Xuanwu shrank.

His body became smaller.

Smaller.

Smaller still.

Until he was no larger than a raindrop.

The countless sword waves missed entirely. The Nascent Soul cultivator's expression turned pale. And then Xuanwu expanded. His body returned to its true scale. The sky darkened. A nearly mountain-sized shadow descended.

The swordsman barely had time to scream.

Crunch.

The earth shook and a crater formed. The Nascent Soul cultivator vanished beneath Xuanwu's immense weight. Moments later, Xuanwu returned to human form. He reached into the wreckage and plucked the Dark Seed free.

Then sharp strands of water qi sliced through flesh and bone.

Arms fell.

Legs fell.

The cultivator collapsed.

Terror filled his eyes.

"Please! Spare me! I can tell you everythi—"

Xuanwu punched him, and the man's head exploded.

The Dark Seed dissolved within Xuanwu's grasp.

Far away, another Nascent Soul aura entered his senses.

Xuanwu looked toward the horizon, looking for his next prey.

Behind him, Roo looked completely starstruck.

"Old Black!"

Xuanwu glanced back.

"Yes?"

"That was incredible!"

Roo's tail bounced excitedly.

"When this is over, we absolutely need to spar!"

A faint smile appeared on Xuanwu's face.

"Be patient."

He turned toward the distant battlefield.

"First, we should deal with our rude guests."

Roo burst into laughter.

His signboard slammed against the ground.

"Now you're speaking my language!"

The kangaroo grinned ferociously.

"Let's go beat them up!"

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