The winds shifted and clouds darkened as the earth itself seemed to mourn.

The sinister energy erupting from beneath the county government office spread like ink dropped into clear water, rapidly diffusing throughout the entire county. Ordinary citizens might only feel an abrupt chill in the air and inexplicable oppression weighing on their hearts, but to cultivators' senses, the very heavens and earth seemed to be slowly tightening like an invisible net.

Within the Emerald Dream.

Li Pingcan's expression changed abruptly.

He could clearly sense an immense, corrupt force erupting violently in the real world, eroding the fundamental essence of this royal domain. In the dream world, areas he had previously purified were now being infiltrated anew by tendrils of black energy.

"Using resentment as a catalyst and demonic corruption of ley lines as foundation... What a remarkable 'Endless Testing Site'!"

"Going all-in, are they?"

Li Pingcan's expression turned grave. He knew he had to destroy this testing site before it fully formed. Sitting cross-legged, he formed hand seals, combining his knowledge of formations learned from the Dragon Palace's Formation Spirit with druidic natural energy, immersing his consciousness completely into the land beneath him.

His voice no longer issued from his mouth but transformed into ripples of spiritual energy that spread through the Emerald Dream's network, reaching every corner of Yunshui County.

"By my name, I command all creation!"

An enormous Five Elements formation diagram slowly unfolded around him within the dreamscape.

The next moment.

Throughout the mountains and forests, birds and beasts simultaneously paused and turned toward the county town, emitting cries both high and low.

On Spirit Mountain, the Five Spirit Beasts abruptly awakened from their slumber, sensing nature's summons. Without hesitation, Tiger Elder, Bear Second, Ape Third, Crane Fourth, and Deer Fifth roared in unison, pouring strands of their life essence unreservedly into the earth beneath them.

Then there was the ancient peach tree, the old mulberry tree, the White Snake of Dragon Spring Lake, the flood dragon of Qing River...

Streaks of life energy—some strong, some weak, but all exquisitely pure—rose from all corners of Yunshui County, transcending spatial barriers to converge into Li Pingcan's Five Elements formation!

Countless trickles merged into rivers and seas!

"Hum!"

The formation blazed with radiant light as overwhelming natural power descended with world-shaking force!

Before this majestic, heavenly natural energy, the filthy "Endless Testing Site" shrieked unwillingly like ice beneath the sun, dissolving inch by inch before collapsing completely!

Simultaneously, on the county's main street.

The Black Lotus Envoy, locked in mortal combat with Li Pingfu, suddenly shuddered violently as if drained of all strength. The black mist around him dissipated instantly as he coughed up blood and collapsed weakly.

With the testing site destroyed and his power source severed, he suffered fatal backlash.

"How... how could..." he muttered in disbelief.

"Die, demon!"

Li Pingfu's eyes flashed with killing intent, giving no quarter as his fist pierced the man's heart.

Li Pingcan's "gaze" turned toward the northwest of Yunshui County—the Black Wind Mountain Range perpetually shrouded in miasma. Through the Emerald Dream's reflection, the sight there was particularly horrifying. Rather than mountains and forests, the entire range's dream reflection showed an enormous formation.

All pollution originated here, spreading through invisible veins to every corner of Yunshui County.

This was the Endless Life Sect's stronghold—the Holy Lord's hidden Nine Nether Palace!

"Found you."

Li Pingcan's consciousness withdrew from the Emerald Dream, returning to his cave dwelling. His eyes snapped open, shining with brilliant light as he acted without hesitation.

Time to end this.

Transforming into Nightingale, he spread his wings and shot through the sky directly toward Black Wind Mountain.

True to its name, Black Wind Mountain's jagged rocks and sparse vegetation exuded a faint, nauseating stench permeating the very air.

Li Pingcan suppressed his aura, landing at the mountain's periphery. Rather than charging in, he again immersed his consciousness into the Emerald Dream.

As expected, from the dream's perspective, the entire Black Wind Mountain was concealed beneath an enormous Concealment Formation.

"What an impressive Yin-Yang inversion mountain-protecting formation."

Li Pingcan inwardly praised—this formation ranked at least upper first-grade, its creator's skill far surpassing that half-baked Black Cloud Temple Saint Envoy.

Unfortunately for them, they faced Li Pingcan—a "cheater" bearing the [Emerald Dream] capable of directly observing formations' essence. In this spiritual plane, all disguises were meaningless. Every formation node and energy channel shone as clearly as fireflies in darkness.

"Using the mountain as foundation, drawing earthly malevolence as source, gathering wandering souls as barrier... Clever concept, but too many flaws."

Li Pingcan's lips curled in a cold smile.

Rather than force his way in—which would alert the Holy Lord—he silently adjusted several key nodes in the formation's energy flow. The process resembled inputting correct codes into an intricate lock.

In the real world, the dense miasma silently parted, revealing a narrow path barely wide enough for one person.

Resuming human form, Li Pingcan strode unhurriedly along the path.

..........

Within Nine Nether Palace, upon a bone lotus throne.

"I've succeeded! I've finally succeeded!"

Feeling Yunshui County's destiny and vitality being continuously extracted by the testing site to nourish his soul, the Holy Lord smiled in satisfaction.

"Though incomplete, given time to fully plunder this destiny and escape, the gains will still be substantial!"

His original plan had been meticulous and covert, allowing sustained theft—until those Li brothers interfered! Now forced into damage control, he could only minimize losses.

Thinking of this, hatred for the Li family burned in his heart—those ants had ruined everything!

"When I succeed, the Li family will... Hmm?"

The Holy Lord's voice cut off abruptly as he suddenly coughed blood, his aura withering, eyes wide with disbelief.

The testing site he'd just established had been instantly annihilated by heaven-and-earth-defying power!

Frantically trying to suppress the backlash, he found it useless—his cultivation at late Qi Refining stage began plummeting uncontrollably to mid-stage, early-stage, then eighth layer...

"Who... who keeps thwarting me?!"

These past days, that mysterious purifying force had clung like maggots to bone, constantly eroding his remaining power. He even had the absurd premonition that his adversary would soon arrive.

"No, impossible..." he reassured himself. "Nine Nether Palace's mountain-protecting formation would stop even Foundation Establishment cultivators from entering undetected."

Yet as this thought formed, the Holy Lord suddenly looked up, pupils contracting violently.

At the dim hall's entrance stood a slender figure that had appeared without warning.

Clad in green robes with delicate features, the youth seemed an ordinary neighbor boy. Yet no trace of magical energy emanated from him—as if he were a complete mortal.

But the Holy Lord's hair stood on end as if facing a mortal enemy!

From this youth, he sensed an aura both familiar and terrifying—that very same majestic, pure, warm natural energy that had tormented him endlessly these past days!

"You destroyed my testing site's formation core?!" the Holy Lord croaked hoarsely. "Who are you?!"

Baffled and unable to comprehend—what divine power could achieve this? Having never considered the Li family worth attention, he didn't recognize their third son.

Li Pingcan chuckled softly but wasted no words, stepping forward calmly.

Feeling threatened, the Holy Lord forcibly suppressed his injuries and abruptly pointed at Li Pingcan.

"Endless Life Palm!"

Instantly, magical energy condensed into a massive black palm dozens of feet wide, crashing down with earth-shattering force—a desperate gamble exhausting his remaining power.

Li Pingcan didn't even blink, merely raising his right hand casually.

True Essence from his Divine Martial Realm surged from his dantian, flooding his entire body.

Five Spirit Play—Bear Form!

No flashy techniques—just a simple upward punch.

"Boom!"

The seemingly ordinary fist met the sky-blotting black palm midair.

No deafening explosion, no dazzling lights.

Upon contact, the black palm sizzled like ice under sunlight, dissolving from the point of impact until vanishing completely into scattered black mist.

Li Pingcan stood unmoved, not even his robes fluttering.

"What kind of power is this?!" The Holy Lord's eyes bulged, face twisted in mind-shattering disbelief.

He sensed no cultivator's magic in that punch—only incomprehensibly pure, condensed physical force.

But how?!

How could mere martial arts challenge his Endless Life Palm empowered by the testing site's energy?!

This defied all reason!

"The martial path too can reach divinity."

Li Pingcan spoke softly, then vanished instantly.

Five Spirit Play—Monkey Form!

Moving at blinding speed, leaving afterimages, he appeared directly before the Holy Lord.

"Danger!"

The Holy Lord's combat instincts screamed retreat as magical defenses shimmered around him.

Too late.

A jade-like fist glowing faintly pressed lightly against his protective barrier.

"Crack!"

The barrier shattered like eggshells.

Overwhelming force surged through the Holy Lord's body, organs seemingly displaced as he coughed blood violently, sent flying to crash against the stone wall behind.

"How can a martial artist's fist break my protective magic?!" 

Collapsed on the ground, he stared at Li Pingcan like some ancient beast in human skin.

"Too many questions."

Li Pingcan advanced emotionlessly, five vivid spiritual projections manifesting behind him with overwhelming pressure.

"Stay back!"

The Holy Lord finally felt true fear. His proud cultivation and unfailing techniques seemed laughably feeble before this "martial artist" who broke all rules.

Li Pingcan remained silent, throwing a simple straight punch.

"Thud!"

The Holy Lord felt his chest crushed by a mountain, bones creaking as he spat bloody froth. His eyes, once filled with venomous pride, now held only terror.

He had lost.

Utterly, inexplicably defeated.

"Why... why..." Gasping his last, he rasped, "This purifying power... martial arts... What are you?"

"Just a passing druid."

Li Pingcan's whisper was the last thing he heard before True Essence erupted beneath his feet.

"Die."

The Endless Holy Lord's chest exploded in a shower of gore, life extinguished.

His eyes remained wide open—filled with eternal confusion over the word "druid."

........

With the Holy Lord's death, the "Endless Testing Site" sustained by his consciousness collapsed completely.

Above the county government, the lingering black-gray miasma dissipated rapidly without its source. The skies cleared as citizens felt their oppression lift, though none knew a catastrophe had been silently averted.

Meanwhile, in that hidden underground space.

Li Pingcan examined the Holy Lord's remains with interest.

Upon death, the "White Lotus Inheritance" fragment he carried—along with the one in Li Pingcan's possession and the purified formation cores—transformed into streaks of light that flew up and merged perfectly with a resonant hum.

When the light faded, a palm-sized white jade lotus platform hovered midair—no longer corrupted, but radiating pure life and purification energy.

[Saint Lotus Heart (Damaged): Heaven-earth spiritual treasure with purification, protection, and soul-nourishing properties. Aids cultivation, wards against inner demons, purifies corruption.]

"Magnificent treasure!"

"So this is the White Lotus Inheritance's true form?"

Li Pingcan's eyes shone as he summoned the lotus to his palm. Its cool, soothing energy instantly refreshed his battle-wearied spirit.

This was undoubtedly a priceless spiritual artifact! Even damaged, its value surpassed ordinary magical treasures.

He sensed the artifact itself held no alignment—merely a vessel channeling various energies. While the sect had used it to harvest resentment and souls, he could reverse its flow to gather natural energy.

An idea struck him.

Reentering the Emerald Dream, he approached its center—a vast emerald lake brimming with life energy. Placing the lotus platform gently upon the water, the entire dream world trembled as a white jade seed emerged, releasing life energy a hundredfold stronger than before!

[You have transformed the Saint Lotus Heart into *Nature's Heart* at the Emerald Dream's core.]

[Your Emerald Dream gains new trait: Nature's Sanctuary.]

[Nature's Sanctuary: Your descendants will possess innate nature affinity with slightly higher spiritual root awakening chances. All nature-devoted beings within your domain receive protection—cultivation accelerated, resistant to demonic corruption.]

Li Pingcan was overjoyed.

The Druid's Testing Site was complete!

Now, neither the Endless Life Sect nor Magistrate Liang could threaten his family. He could peacefully develop, expanding the Emerald Dream's protection across Yunshui County and beyond.

"I've struck gold! But best not linger here."

Returning to the sect, Li Pingcan briskly approached the Holy Lord's corpse for his favorite post-battle activity—looting.

Most conspicuous was the lotus-patterned storage pouch at the waist. Erasing its residual consciousness imprint, Li Pingcan probed inside—then froze before bursting into ecstatic laughter.

"Heavens!"

The pouch's half-acre space overflowed with treasures like a miniature vault!

"So many spirit stones! At least a thousand!"

"Star Iron smelting materials? Even Heartfire Jade! These are priceless!"

"These pill bottles... Such potent medicine! Though tainted, Natural Divine Blessing can purify them into top-grade healing and cultivation aids!"

Additionally, several sinister jade slips contained cultivation manuals:

"Endless Holy Scripture," "White Lotus Meditation," "Blood Soul Curse Compendium."

While uninterested in the dark arts themselves, their soul cultivation and restriction techniques offered invaluable insights for his own path.