Immortal Druid

The journey back to the Touch Grass Sect had been unexpectedly peaceful. Mab remained beside me in her Spring form, her emerald hair swaying gently with every step while the breeze carried the scent of blooming flowers through the forest. Neither of us felt the need to speak. After everything that had happened, the silence itself became comforting. It gave me time to organize my thoughts and simply appreciate the quiet world around me.

When the tallest tree that had once been my own body came into view, I immediately realized something was different. A crowd had gathered beneath its vast canopy. Standing at the forefront was Li Qing, the leader of the Willow Order. Beside her stood Guo Yupin of the Serenity Cliff Sect, Xing Mei of the Steel Sky Sect, and Xu Ping of the Stone Spire Sect. Behind them were numerous elders and trusted disciples, each wearing solemn expressions that made the atmosphere feel heavier than the peaceful walk that had led me here.

The voices of their clothing whispered anxiously into my ears, their concerns overlapping until they became little more than restless murmurs.

"Will he accept?"

"Please... let everything go well."

"Our future rests upon this."

Their anxiety gradually faded into quiet anticipation, leaving only silence behind. I let out a slow sigh. If every one of my allied organizations had gathered beneath my tree, then whatever brought them here had to be significant.

I stepped forward with a smile and looked toward the elderly cultivator.

"Congratulations, Senior Guo Yupin, on becoming the Sect Leader of the Serenity Cliff Sect."

Guo Yupin clasped his fists respectfully and returned the smile.

"Thank you, Sage Wo Li. Your magnanimous words honor this old man more than I deserve. I shall strive not to disgrace the position entrusted to me."

Before anyone else could speak, spiritual fluctuations rippled through the air.

Hao Lei appeared beside me without warning.

He looked noticeably worse than the last time we had met. His complexion had grown paler, the vitality within his eyes considerably dimmer despite the overwhelming immortal aura surrounding him. It was obvious that whatever burden he carried had continued to weigh heavily upon him.

He folded his arms behind his back before speaking.

"They have all gathered here for one simple reason."

His tired gaze swept across the assembled sect leaders before settling on me.

"They have come to pledge their allegiance to you."

The declaration settled over the clearing like a mountain.

Li Qing slowly stepped forward.

She appeared even frailer than Hao Lei. Fine wrinkles decorated her face, and the passage of time had made it impossible to hide. Yet paradoxically, the spiritual pressure she emitted had become even deeper than before, as though countless years of hardship had finally tempered her into something unshakable.

She bowed deeply.

"Sage Wo Li, the Willow Order would not have survived without your mercy. Time and time again, you spared us when others would have erased us completely. Therefore, this old woman shamelessly asks for your mercy once more."

She raised her head, meeting my gaze without hesitation.

"I wish to retire from my position as Archon. The Willow Order shall surrender its treasures, its authority, and its future into your hands. We pledge our loyalty to you and ask only that you accept us beneath your protection."

I remained silent for a brief moment before shaking my head with a faint smile.

"I have no desire to inherit your position as Archon."

Confusion flickered across several faces.

"I do not wish to bind myself to a single organization. The Touch Grass Sect exists because I created it, yet even it does not bind me. Likewise, I belong to no sect, and no sect shall own me. That is the relationship I wish to share with every one of you."

I looked toward the countless Willow Order disciples standing behind Li Qing.

"The Willow Order possesses a history few organizations can rival. Despite countless setbacks, you endured. You adapted. You refused to disappear. That determination deserves respect."

I nodded once.

"I accept your allegiance."

Relief washed across Li Qing's face. She lowered herself into another respectful bow, tears quietly forming at the corners of her eyes.

Guo Yupin stepped forward next.

This old man had always worn his emotions openly, and today proved no different.

"The Serenity Cliff Sect owes you its continued existence," he said firmly. "Again and again, you rescued us from calamity when destruction stood at our gates. Without you, our lineage would already exist only in history."

He knelt without the slightest hesitation.

"If you were to command us to die for you, then every disciple of Serenity Cliff would do so gladly."

I quickly shook my head.

"There will be no such command."

The old man looked up.

"I have always admired the disciples of the Serenity Cliff Sect. Their hearts are straightforward, their convictions sincere, and they face both victory and failure honestly. Such qualities are far more valuable than blind sacrifice."

I smiled warmly.

"I accept your allegiance."

Guo Yupin laughed heartily before bowing once more.

Xing Mei approached afterward.

Even standing among legendary cultivators, her elegance remained unmistakable. Her calm demeanor concealed the fierce spirit that had allowed the Steel Sky Sect to stand proudly through countless storms.

She clasped her fists respectfully.

"Sage Wo Li, thank you for protecting my son. Thank you for calling him your friend instead of merely another junior. Beyond that, thank you for every kindness you have shown the Steel Sky Sect. We have received more from you than we could ever hope to repay."

She lowered her head.

"The Steel Sky Sect offers its allegiance."

I nodded.

"The Steel Sky Sect has always possessed an admirable fighting spirit. Strength without virtue becomes tyranny, yet your disciples continue striving toward both. Continue walking that path."

I extended my hand.

"I accept your allegiance."

Xing Mei smiled gracefully before stepping aside.

Finally, Xu Ping advanced.

The elderly Sect Leader carried himself with remarkable composure despite the significance of the moment.

He bowed deeply.

"My son once walked the path of arrogance. You spared him when punishment would have been justified. More importantly, you taught him humility and restraint. Those lessons changed him more profoundly than any cultivation technique ever could."

His expression grew solemn.

"When our people offended you, you answered not with wrath but with magnanimity. Another cultivator would have chosen bloodshed. Instead, you chose understanding. For that, the Stone Spire Sect shall forever remain grateful."

He knelt.

"We pledge ourselves to you."

I looked at the old man before speaking slowly.

"The Stone Spire Sect has always possessed remarkable steadiness. Even when overwhelming danger stood before you, you neither fled nor surrendered yourselves to despair. You faced adversity directly and endured. That resilience deserves admiration."

I inclined my head.

"I accept your allegiance."

One by one, every leader had offered their loyalty.

As the ceremony concluded, I found myself exhaling quietly.

It felt strangely suffocating.

Without realizing it, I had become the central figure around whom multiple major organizations now revolved. Influence, authority, expectations, responsibility? They accumulated with every passing day until they rested squarely upon my shoulders.

The truth, however, remained unchanged.

My relationships with these sects had never been so perfect that I would gladly throw away my life for them. Every one of them possessed flaws. Every one of them still stumbled along the path of cultivation and humanity alike. They carried traditions forged through countless generations of misguided cultivators, habits that refused to disappear simply because I had entered their lives.

Even so, I believed they could change.

Growth did not happen overnight.

As long as they continued questioning themselves instead of blindly following ancient customs, there would come a day when they finally outgrew the rigid methodology that had defined cultivation society for thousands of years.

Hao Lei broke the silence.

"I have already pledged my alliance before," he said with a weary chuckle, "but considering today's occasion, it feels appropriate that I do so once again."

His immortal aura expanded slightly.

"As long as you continue honoring the agreement between us, Sage Wo Li, then you shall forever possess my loyalty. That oath remains unchanged."

I nodded in appreciation.

"I never doubted it."

No sooner had the words left my mouth than a deep, ancient voice echoed throughout the clearing.

"Acknowledge him."

The voice had not come from the sky. Nor from the earth. Instead, it came from the towering tree that had once been my own body. For as long as I had known it, the tree had remained utterly silent, standing as nothing more than an enormous witness to the passing of time.

I used to be this tree.

That realization alone should have been absurd enough, yet now it had spoken, telling me what to do.

As strange as it sounded, I could still feel myself within its trunk. It was not my consciousness, nor was it another soul. It was simply... me. A remnant of something that had once been alive, rooted deeply within the world. I reached out and rested a hand against its rough bark. The moment my palm touched it, my thoughts drifted back to those horrific creatures clawing at reality itself, beings so monstrous that their mere presence threatened to tear our world apart.

I took a slow breath before turning toward everyone gathered beneath the tree.

"I acknowledge your loyalty, Hao Lei."

My gaze swept across every leader standing before me.

"However, loyalty alone is not enough. Most of you have already witnessed the kind of threat our world truly faces. Compared to what is coming, the conflict between the Ten Great Sects and the Four Sovereign Flags is insignificant. It is nothing more than a quarrel between neighbors while a wildfire approaches from beyond the horizon."

Silence settled over the assembly.

"The sooner we end this war, the better our chances of surviving what follows."

I tightened my grip around my staff.

"Today, I declare the creation of the Circle."

The words echoed beneath the towering canopy.

"The Circle shall exist to preserve the balance of this world and promote harmony among its people. We are not bound by sect, kingdom, race, or lineage. Our foremost duty is to protect this world itself. Should otherworldly creatures attempt to invade our home again, the Circle shall stand against them before they bring ruin to all living things."

As soon as those words left my mouth, I removed my hand from the tree.

The entire world rejoiced.

A warm breeze swept across the mountain, carrying countless leaves into the air. Flowers bloomed where there had been only grass moments before. The earth pulsed faintly beneath my feet, and the surrounding forest seemed to sway with indescribable joy.

Gasps erupted from every direction.

Everyone felt it.

They looked around in astonishment, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

The ancient tree rumbled softly before speaking once more.

"You have done well."

Its voice was deep and gentle, like mountains speaking after countless ages of silence.

"And you shall continue doing even greater good in the days to come."

I smiled faintly before turning toward another nearby tree. Perched comfortably upon one of its branches sat Hu Gang. He had apparently been watching the entire exchange from the very beginning.

I folded my arms.

"So, what do you think?"

Hu Gang scratched the back of his head before letting out a weary sigh.

"It is a start," he admitted. "But after seeing those things so closely, I honestly no longer know what the correct course of action is. A part of me simply wants to gather my people and run as far away as possible."

I couldn't help but chuckle.

"I looked at them more closely than you ever will."

His expression stiffened.

"And despite that, I chose to fight."

I looked toward the distant horizon.

"Perhaps not today. Perhaps not tomorrow. But someday."

Hu Gang stared at me for several long moments before shaking his head.

"You must be crazy."

"Probably."

I smiled.

"Would you care to join the Circle?"

Without another word, Hu Gang leaped from the branch.

He landed gracefully before me, placing one fist into his open palm and bowing respectfully.

"I, Hu Gang, pledge my allegiance not merely as a king, but as an individual. I seek mutual prosperity for my kingdom and every organization that shall stand within the Circle."

He raised his head slightly.

"However, I ask one condition. Until the current war concludes, my relationship with the Circle must remain secret. Once this conflict ends, I shall proudly wear the Circle's name upon my chest so the world knows where I stand."

I returned the gesture, cupping my fist and bowing in return.

"I accept your request."

I glanced toward everyone gathered beneath the tree.

"What has been said here shall remain here. Until the proper time arrives, no one speaks of Hu Gang's membership outside this gathering."

Every leader nodded solemnly.

Using sound transmission, I spoke directly to Hu Gang.

"Meet me later at the pavilion. There are matters I wish to discuss privately."

His expression barely changed, but his voice answered inside my mind.

"Understood."

The remaining formalities proceeded smoothly.

One after another, I exchanged respectful bows with every leader present. There was no arrogance, no display of superiority, only mutual recognition between those who had chosen to shoulder the same burden. When the final greeting concluded, I walked beneath the enormous tree and stood at its center.

Everyone's attention turned toward me.

"The Circle is a place of equals. It is a place where every voice may be heard, regardless of status or cultivation. We gather not to glorify a single individual, nor to pursue wealth, influence, or power. The Circle exists for one purpose alone. To protect this world."

I raised my staff before bringing its base firmly against the earth. A deep tremor spread outward. The ground shifted without violence, rising gracefully as stone emerged from beneath the soil.

At the center appeared a massive circular table.

Around it rose sturdy chairs, one for every person present.

Neither the table nor the chairs possessed ornate carvings or luxurious decorations. They were simple, plain, and sturdy. It was exactly as I intended. 

I knew true equality did not exist. My strength alone made that impossible. Yet equality had never been an absolute truth. Nor was it an absolute falsehood. Instead, it was an ideal. Something imperfect people continually strove toward despite knowing they might never fully attain it. If the Circle could continue pursuing that ideal, then perhaps one day it would become something genuinely worthy of protecting this world.

The discussion lasted for hours.

With everyone seated around the circular table, strategies gradually took shape.

Hu Gang openly shared everything he knew regarding the coming war, while Hao Lei occasionally filled in details only he could possess.

The atmosphere grew heavier with every revelation.

When they learned we had less than a month before the Ten Great Sects officially received the declaration of war, every expression around the table turned grim.

I looked at each of them.

"These are trying times, but we must remain strong."

The meeting continued as responsibilities were divided.

The merchant guild established by Guo Yimu within the Serenity Cliff Sect accepted responsibility for acquiring weapons, talismans, medicinal pills, and every other resource required to sustain a prolonged conflict.

Xu Ping and Xing Mei agreed to expand mining operations throughout their territories, increasing spirit stone production while simultaneously dispatching trusted diplomats to neighboring domains to quietly gauge political sentiment before the coming storm.

Hao Lei volunteered to cooperate with Xu Ping, Xing Mei, and Hu Gang in greatly expanding the Ignoble Sect's intelligence network across their combined territories, ensuring that information flowed swiftly between every member of the Circle.

Meanwhile, the Willow Order pledged to provide top-grade medicinal pills, rare treasures, and strategic resources capable of tipping battles in our favor when war inevitably arrived.

By the time every responsibility had been assigned, exhaustion could be seen on every face around the table.

I rose from my chair.

"Be careful," I said, my gaze lingering on each of them in turn. "Especially while I am away. Mab will remain here to assist all of you. But none of us knows what fate has prepared. We cannot afford complacency."

The clearing fell silent once more, the weight of my words settling over the group like a heavy mist. I let the quiet stretch for a moment before speaking again.

"I intend to visit the Ten Great Sects. If necessary, I shall also visit the Four Sovereign Flags. If this war can be stopped at its roots, before countless lives are sacrificed, then that is precisely what I intend to do."

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