Immortal Druid

[POV: Hu Gang]

Hu Gang had always believed that every kingdom possessed a strength worthy of admiration.

The Steelfrost Fortress commanded magnificent cloud ships that carved through the heavens like floating fortresses, allowing entire armies to descend from the skies without warning. The Azure Queendom ruled the seas through grand sorcery so profound that even the oceans themselves bent to their sovereign's will. The Sunblood Dynasty armed its soldiers with legendary sun-forged treasures, weapons and armor imbued with blazing power that lesser nations could scarcely dream of replicating.

As for the Horizon Kingdom under the rule of Sword King Hu Gang, its greatest pride was the magnificent Horizon Striders.

The spiritual steeds were treasures unlike any other. Every foal was born possessing the cultivation of the Core Formation realm, granting them the natural ability to soar through the skies long before they reached maturity. Their speed rivaled shooting stars, while their stamina bordered on the inexhaustible.

Although spiritual beasts advanced far more slowly than human cultivators, the Horizon Striders compensated with extraordinary longevity, living through generations of riders and witnessing centuries of history unfold before their intelligent eyes.

Within the Horizon Kingdom, they were treated with reverence equal to nobility. Their lives held greater value than those who rode them, and every knight understood that should disaster strike, they were expected to sacrifice themselves before allowing harm to come to their trusted companions.

Hundreds of Horizon Striders streaked across the skies in immaculate formation, their silver-white manes fluttering against the rushing wind as they carried Hu Gang's chosen warriors toward the Purple Flame Sect. Each rider sat proudly upon their mount with practiced ease, while the Sword King himself led the procession astride the oldest and most respected of them all.

"Men, our mission is to befriend the Purple Flame Sect," Hu Gang transmitted through spiritual sense, his voice echoing directly within the minds of every warrior under his command. "Under no circumstances are you to antagonize them. I know I have already repeated this countless times, but our purpose today is to forge an alliance. Conduct yourselves with the dignity worthy of the Horizon Kingdom."

A chorus of determined acknowledgments answered him through sound transmission before silence reclaimed the formation.

Hu Gang would have preferred to ride toward either the Clear Harmony Sect or the True Origin Sect and aid them against their attackers. Doing so would undoubtedly earn goodwill, but it would also expose his intentions far sooner than he desired.

The other leaders of the Four Sovereign Flags were perceptive. If he openly defended one of the Ten Great Sects, they would immediately begin questioning his motives. His relationship with Sage Wo Li and the Touch Grass Sect remained his greatest hidden card, one he intended to conceal until the proper moment.

"Thank you for letting me ride you once more," remarked Hu Gang to his steed. "I know we just went a campaign not long ago and that you should be resting right now, but this is gravely important."

Unlike ordinary Horizon Striders, shimmering dragon scales lined portions of Blade's neck and shoulders, while a pair of elegant horns curved backward from his head. His golden eyes shifted toward Hu Gang with unmistakable curiosity.

"Why the change of heart?" Blade asked through their spiritual bond. "Not long ago, you were utterly determined to join the Four Sovereign Flags. You spoke of balance, of strengthening our coalition until no one could threaten the continent. Yet now you seek friendship with the very people your allies expect you to oppose."

Hu Gang released a quiet sigh as the endless sea of clouds drifted beneath them.

"Because my reasons have changed without abandoning my purpose," he replied. "From the beginning, I sought an alliance to preserve balance and reduce the devastation that this continental war would inevitably bring. If I wished to influence the greatest number of lives, then I needed someone whose strength could stand equal to an immortal cultivator. The Ten Great Sects lacked such a figure, so I searched for the next closest existence."

His gaze remained fixed upon the distant horizon.

"Sage Wo Li of the Touch Grass Sect was perfect. He possessed power capable of shaking the continent, yet he maintained friendly relations with the Serenity Cliff Sect, an organization to which I owe a tremendous debt. If anyone could compel both sides to negotiate through overwhelming strength, it would be him."

His expression gradually darkened.

"At first, my calculations were simple. I intended to minimize casualties through overwhelming force. If enough sects resisted, then I would help Wo Li crush them until the survivors accepted coexistence. Cruel though it sounded, fewer deaths today would save countless more tomorrow."

Hu Gang fell silent for several moments before speaking again, his voice noticeably heavier.

"But everything changed after I visited the Serenity Lake Domain."

Blade's ears twitched.

"Wo Li fought something that should never have existed. A creature covered in endless tentacles tore open the fabric separating our world from another and attempted to force itself into this realm. He defeated it... barely. Even someone as monstrous as Wo Li paid a terrible price to stop that invasion."

The Sword King's fingers tightened around the reins.

"That battle made me realize something I had refused to acknowledge. We have spent generations preparing to kill one another while horrors beyond our imagination already know our world exists. If even one such creature nearly overwhelmed Wo Li, then how many others wait beyond that broken veil? What hope do fractured kingdoms and feuding sects have if they arrive together?"

He drew a slow breath before continuing.

"I no longer wish merely to reduce the damage of this war. I wish to prevent it entirely. Every cultivator we kill today is one less defender standing beside us tomorrow. Before those monsters return, this continent must learn to stand as one."

Blade remained unusually quiet.

When the ancient steed finally spoke, his normally composed voice carried an unmistakable hint of unease.

"My mother used to tell me stories of the Beyond," Blade admitted. "As a foal, I dismissed them as tales meant to keep young colts from wandering too far beneath the night sky. She said there were places where worlds drifted like leaves upon an endless river, and between them lurked things that hungered for every light they encountered. Hearing your story... I fear those stories were never meant as bedtime tales at all."

Hu Gang nodded solemnly.

Blade was unlike any spiritual beast alive. Born from the union between an ancient dragon and a mysterious celestial horse whose origins remained unknown, he had served every king of the Horizon Kingdom since its founding. His cultivation had reached the Soul Transformation realm a long time ago, yet he had stubbornly refused to take the final step toward immortality.

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Hu Gang often suspected the venerable steed possessed the qualifications to ascend at any moment, were it not for his inexplicable terror of doing so.

Whenever the subject arose, Blade merely muttered about refusing to be "summoned back home" before changing the conversation entirely. The Sword King had never pressed further, sensing that the old horse carried burdens rooted in memories older than kingdoms themselves.

As the mountain range housing the Purple Flame Sect finally emerged beyond the clouds, Hu Gang raised a single hand.

"Halt."

The flying formation came to a perfect stop with astonishing discipline.

"We have arrived," Hu Gang declared, surveying the distant peaks. "Descend in orderly formation. Remember every word I have spoken. Today, we come not as conquerors, but as honored guests."

Without hesitation, the Horizon Striders descended together in a controlled freefall, plunging toward the towering mountains below without the slightest hint of panic.

Unlike ordinary flying spiritual beasts, they possessed no wings. Instead, each powerful stomp against the air itself produced an invisible shockwave that propelled them in whatever direction they desired.

At the same time, their bodies became as light as feathers, an innate blessing they instinctively controlled at will. Gravity itself seemed reluctant to claim creatures so beloved by the heavens.

More than a hundred riders accompanied Hu Gang. Every one of them possessed at least Core Formation cultivation, while over a dozen had already stepped into the Nascent Soul realm. Two among them stood above the rest as Soul Transformation cultivators, warriors entrusted with protecting the Sword King himself. Combined with their Horizon Striders, the contingent represented a force capable of overwhelming nearly every first-rate sect upon the continent.

They landed before the Purple Flame Sect's imposing entrance. Towering stone walls surrounded the mountain stronghold, while an enormous gate of reinforced black steel sealed the path leading inward. The place was eerily quiet.

One of the Nascent Soul cultivators unfurled a jade-colored scrying talisman before narrowing his eyes. "Your Majesty... I cannot sense anyone inside. Not a single living aura."

Blade lowered his head, his nostrils flaring as he slowly inhaled the surrounding air.

"I smell something foul," the ancient steed warned through their spiritual bond. "Not blood... something much older. Something that does not belong in this world."

Hu Gang's expression hardened.

"Remain here," he ordered without taking his eyes off the gate. "Stay mounted and maintain formation. No one enters unless I give the command."

Not a single warrior questioned the order. Their trust in the Sword King had been forged through countless battlefields, while their loyalty bordered upon absolute.

Several voices nevertheless rose almost immediately.

"Your Majesty, allow me to accompany you."

"No, let me go."

"I am stronger."

"I can protect the rear."

The volunteers quickly turned into a competition, each warrior insisting they should be the one chosen to accompany their king.

Hu Gang pinched the bridge of his nose and released a weary sigh.

"You are all making far too much noise."

The arguing immediately ceased.

"Yao Jie. Qiu Hui. The two of you are coming with me."

A handsome middle-aged swordsman guided his horse forward.

"As you command."

Beside him, a young woman barely looking over her twenties beamed brightly before pumping a fist into the air.

"Yes! I knew you'd pick me!"

Yao Jie frowned immediately.

"Qiu Hui, conduct yourself properly. We are not on a light stroll."

She stuck out her tongue before hurriedly straightening her posture.

"...Right."

The pair dismounted before falling into position on either side of Hu Gang.

They guided there horses with them.

Without another word, the Sword King walked toward the massive gates, while Blade remained by his side. His hand settled upon the hilt of his sword before a dazzling arc of sword qi flashed across the entrance.

Boom!

The enormous gates exploded inward, crashing onto the stone courtyard with a deafening thunder that echoed throughout the silent sect.

Hu Gang stepped through the entrance.

"Stay close."

Yao Jie and Qiu Hui nodded as they followed several steps behind.

The vast courtyard beyond was deserted.

Qiu Hui frowned uneasily.

"This place... it's too clean."

Yao Jie slowly surveyed the abandoned buildings.

"It feels as though everyone simply vanished."

Hu Gang advanced only a dozen more steps before suddenly stopping. His instincts screamed. He slowly lifted his head.

"I changed my mind," he said quietly.

The two Soul Transformation cultivators looked toward him.

"Return to the others," ordered Hu Gang, his voice becoming unusually stern. "Relay my order. Retreat."

Confused, Yao Jie and Qiu Hui instinctively followed his gaze upward.

The color drained from their faces.

The ceiling beneath the fortress roof was completely covered with human remains.

Thousands of charred corpses had been fused upside down into the stone itself. Flesh and bone had melted together until they resembled grotesque black stains decorating the ceiling. Burned faces twisted in eternal agony stared downward with empty sockets, while countless skeletal hands protruded from the rock as though desperately trying to claw free.

Suddenly, the corpses groaned.

An ocean of hoarse, tortured voices filled the fortress.

Qiu Hui staggered backward.

"They're... they're still alive?"

Yao Jie's hand trembled around his sword.

"How... how is that possible?"

"It's the work of a demon," Blade said gravely. "I haven't encountered their ilk for a very long time."

Hu Gang narrowed his eyes. "You mean a demonic cultivator?"

Both Yao Jie and Qiu Hui blinked in astonishment before simultaneously turning toward Blade.

"...The horse talked."

"I... I thought only legendary Horizon Striders could speak."

"No," an unfamiliar voice answered with amused delight, addressing Hu Gang, while dark mist seeped from every corner of the fortress. "He means a literal demon."

The fog suddenly ignited.

Black flames devoured the darkness before revealing a tall humanoid figure standing upon the courtyard wall.

"Just a straight-up demon."

Its crimson skin gleamed beneath the firelight. Curved obsidian horns rose from a smooth bald head, while a long sinuous tail lazily swayed behind it. It possessed neither hair nor any visible features distinguishing gender, though its broad frame and deep voice gave Hu Gang the impression of masculinity. Two golden eyes burned with malicious amusement as they swept across the intruders.

Hu Gang felt every hair on his body stand.

"Run!"

Yao Jie and Qiu Hui obeyed instantly.

"Nope."

The demon smiled playfully before snapping its fingers.

Boom!

The shattered gates slammed shut behind them with impossible force as if time was rewound and the slashed debris mended themselves together to block there path of retreat.

"Now, die," the demon chuckled, raising its hand once more.

Hu Gang mounted Blade.

Before the demon's fingers could complete the snap, Blade disappeared with pure speed. The ancient Horizon Strider accelerated so violently that even Hu Gang barely managed to follow the movement. A silver blur crossed the courtyard before appearing directly beside the demon.

Slash!

Blood sprayed.

Three severed fingers spun through the air.

Without waiting to witness the outcome, Yao Jie and Qiu Hui mounted their horses and activated their innate spatial movement. Their Horizon Striders answered through their spiritual bonds, merging their powers with their riders as space distorted around them.

The pair vanished from the fortress.

Hu Gang simultaneously flooded Blade with his own spiritual qi through their bond. Horse and rider became one as overwhelming sword intent erupted toward the demon.

A heaven-splitting slash descended. The courtyard fractured. Buildings collapsed. Yet when the dust settled, the demon remained standing. A shallow wound crossed its chest before crimson flesh writhed and regenerated almost instantly.

Hu Gang frowned.

"Is this thing from the Beyond as well?"

The demon's amused smile disappeared and itts expression twisted into genuine irritation. "Compare me to those abominations again," it hissed coldly, "and I'll make certain your soul suffers long after your body dies."

Blade snorted.

"No. This creature isn't from the Beyond."

The old steed never took his eyes off their enemy.

"It is a denizen of the Spiritual World. Demons from the Beyond certainly exist, but this isn't one of them. More importantly..."

His golden eyes narrowed.

"I do not believe we are facing its true body. This feels like nothing more than an avatar. We should disengage, reorient ourselves, and locate the real demon before wasting our strength here."

The demon's eyebrows rose in genuine surprise.

"Well now."

A grin slowly spread across its face.

"A knowledgeable horse. That's rather rare."

Its tail lazily swayed behind it.

"Unfortunately..."

The severed fingers on the ground dissolved into black smoke before instantly regrowing upon its hand.

"...finding my real body won't be nearly as easy as you imagine."

Snap.

Its fingers clicked together.

The charred corpses embedded within the ceiling crashed onto the stone floor one after another. One by one, they staggered upright. Black flames filled hollow eye sockets. Each corpse released an overwhelming pressure that swept across the fortress like an endless tidal wave.

Every single one radiated the unmistakable presence of an immortal cultivator.

Hu Gang's breathing instinctively halted.

"Do not be afraid," Blade transmitted immediately. "Your senses are being deceived. Those auras are false. They're powerful, but nowhere near immortals."

The demon clicked its tongue in annoyance.

"Tch."

It tilted its head toward the ancient steed.

"How does a horse know that?"

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