“Not bad, not bad. Better than the Returning Qi Pill and the Spirit-Concentrating Pill by a notch.”  

Li Pingcan carefully savored the feeling. In just a few minutes after taking one Divine Berry, not only was his physical fatigue completely gone, but his spirit was also fully energized, and even the magical power within his body had recovered to its peak state.  

Whether it was long-distance travel, prolonged battles, or daily cultivation, this provided unparalleled endurance. With it, it was like carrying a mobile healing spring at all times.  

The only downside was that its effect lasted only twenty-four hours.  

After testing the endurance skill, Li Pingcan turned his gaze to Thunderclap Wave.  

To avoid unnecessary trouble, he deliberately came to a remote, deserted rocky forest in the back mountains.  

Here, the strange stones were plentiful, and the vegetation sparse—perfect for testing the spell’s power.  

He took a deep breath and circulated the natural magical power inside his body along a specific trajectory. A violent and wild energy gathered within him, causing the air around him to tremble slightly.  

“Thunderclap Wave!”  

With a low shout, a visible circular sonic shockwave erupted from his body, spreading fiercely outward in all directions!  

“Boom!”  

Purple lightning flashed, followed by a tremendous explosion. Where the shockwave passed, the air was violently compressed, instantly lifting scattered gravel and dry leaves from the ground.  

Several half-man-high rocks nearest to him were battered by the shockwave, their surfaces cracking with a series of unbearable “crackling” sounds.  

Within a radius of about six meters around him, any object was forcibly pushed outward by an irresistible force, creating a brief vacuum space.  

“Such strong control!” Li Pingcan’s eyes flickered with sharp light.  

This move not only dealt considerable damage but, more importantly, had powerful knockback and interrupt effects. When surrounded or needing to create distance, this move was truly divine.  

Moreover, the lightning attribute naturally countered ghosts and evil spirits. Used well, it was a powerful area-of-effect ultimate skill.  

Yunshui County, Li Ping’an’s residence.  

“I’m pregnant?”  

Mu Wanqiu instinctively touched her belly, joy lighting up her face.  

Since marrying Li Ping’an, her husband had been considerate, her natal family supportive, and her in-laws doting.  

Her elder legitimate sisters, married into other families, not only had to handle household affairs but also had to take on concubines and raise children for their husbands… Without comparison, there was no pain; her life was much more comfortable.  

The only worry was that their daughter Li Nianhe was too quiet by nature and physically weaker than other children her age, fragile enough to be knocked over by the wind, causing concern.  

Now, with a new pregnancy diagnosed, it was a tremendous blessing and would provide a companion and support for the daughter’s future.  

Upon hearing of his wife’s pregnancy, Li Ping’an was also happy, holding Mu Wanqiu’s hand and saying, “Wanqiu, when your belly grows bigger, we’ll send Nianhe to live at the old residence with Hui Zi.”  

Mu Wanqiu was startled, her delicate brows knitting slightly, showing obvious joy mixed with worry.  

“Husband, why send Nianhe away? You’re already physically weak and afraid of childbirth. Without you all, I really worry.”  

Her voice remained gentle, but the resistance in her tone was clear. A mother’s heart is connected to her child; how could she bear to send her strong son away?  

The Druid patiently explained, “It’s precisely because you’re strong that we want to send her back to the old residence. Has he noticed? Every time Nianhe returns to the old residence, her spirit worsens, and she becomes stiff. She only stays a few days.”  

Mu Wanqiu fell silent, knowing her husband’s words were true.  

Every time they returned to the Li family old residence in Peach Blossom Village, their daughter inexplicably became calm and comfortable and was less prone to coughing.  

But reason aside, emotionally, she still found it hard to accept.  

Seeing her wife silent, Li Ping’an comforted her, “You’re pregnant now, so you need to rest well. Leaving Nianhe at the old residence means she has her parents, older brother, and sister-in-law to care for her, with Yuanhu and Yuanxi playing alongside. It will be better than staying here. This is decided.”  

He secretly hoped their daughter wouldn’t grow distant from the Li family.  

Seeing her husband’s firm stance, Mu Wanqiu knew it was difficult to change his mind, so she sighed lightly and reluctantly nodded.  

A few days later, Li Nianhe was sent to the old residence in Peach Blossom Village.  

The little girl left her parents completely for the first time, her eyes full of unease, clutching tightly at her aunt Jiang Ling’er’s clothes.  

“Nianhe, don’t be afraid.” Jiang Ling’er gently stroked her head.  

At that moment, a soft, adorable cooing sound came from the cradle.  

Li Nianhe curiously leaned forward, meeting a pair of clear, jet-black eyes like black gemstones. It was her cousin, Li Mengze.  

Little Mengze seemed very interested in the new young lady and smiled purely with his toothless mouth, as if greeting her.  

For some reason, seeing that smile miraculously dispelled much of Li Nianhe’s unease. She cautiously stretched out a finger and gently touched Li Mengze’s tiny hand.  

“Brother…” she whispered.  

“Ah!” Li Mengze responded joyfully.  

Li Yuanhu looked at his cousin, confidently patting his chest, “Don’t be afraid, Sister Nianhe! I’ll protect you! Anyone who dares to bully you, I’ll beat until they’re toothless!”  

He waved his fist, causing Li Nianhe to giggle out loud.  

Under the dual nurturing of the Druid training site and the Spirit Gathering Formation, the natural energy of the old residence grew stronger day by day.  

Li Nianhe’s health improved steadily, her pale little face gradually gaining rosy color, and her temperament became much livelier.  

When Mu Wanqiu saw her daughter again, she could hardly believe her eyes. The anticipated scenario of her daughter suffering from environmental changes had not happened.  

She saw Li Nianhe toddling with short legs, laughing as she chased a butterfly, her cheeks flushed with healthy color, and her once timid eyes now bright and lively. Her eldest nephew Li Yuanhu watched over her anxiously, afraid she might fall.  

In the pavilion, Li Yuanxi was still learning to crawl, while Li Mengze waved his little hand in Li Nianhe’s direction.  

Sunlight bathed the four children, the scene warm and picturesque.  

“Nianhe…” Mu Wanqiu tentatively called.  

The little girl turned and saw her mother, her eyes lighting up like a happy little bird as she rushed over, “Mama! You’re here!”  

Holding her now heavier daughter, feeling the vibrant life force emanating from her, Mu Wanqiu’s eyes welled up with tears. The last trace of resentment toward her husband vanished, replaced by admiration.  

“Sure enough, my husband had foresight.”  

Life went at a steady pace as the Li family descendants grew strong.  

Seven-year-old Li Yuanhu was a little tyrant among his peers.  

Relying on brute strength, he climbed trees to raid bird nests and waded rivers to catch fish and shrimp, dominating Peach Blossom Village. Ordinary kids around ten would avoid him.  

He always thought himself a chosen one, destined to be as imposing as his father, maybe even becoming a legendary immortal who could fly and disappear at will.  

However, a recent spiritual root test was like a bucket of cold water poured over him.  

No spiritual roots.  

These three words weighed down his proud heart like three mountains. The strength he was proud of suddenly seemed laughable in the face of “immortal fate.”  

An unprecedented sense of frustration flooded his heart, and the sympathetic gazes from village children felt like mockery.  

The smile disappeared from Li Yuanhu’s face. No longer the mischievous little devil, he ran alone to the back mountains every day, pounding a huge unlucky green stone with his fists.  

The weathered stone soon became covered with shallow pits from his small fists.  

Li Pingcan watched his nephew’s self-destructive behavior with both amusement and exasperation.  

This kid was just like his eldest brother when he was young.  

Not only was his personality similar, but also his martial path. He contained a primitive and magnificent life essence and power within, with vitality far surpassing ordinary people, making him extremely suited to cultivation methods that train and strengthen the body.  

Though lacking immortal spiritual roots, he could rely on his innate martial body to cultivate specific body-conditioning techniques. Perhaps he could combine his natural vitality with the five earthly elements and eventually enter the Dao through martial arts.  

Even if he never reached the immortal path, he was solidly a top-tier foundation establishment level combatant in waiting.  

“Yo, Tiger Cub, got beef with this rock? Planning to make a window or carve a door?” Li Pingcan laughed.  

Li Yuanhu stopped, scratched his head, and said gloomily, “Third Uncle, don’t make fun of me… Am I useless?”  

“Who says you’re useless?”  

Li Pingcan sat beside him, putting an arm around his shoulder and pointing at the pockmarked green stone. “Look at this masterpiece carved by divine hands. In all Peach Blossom Village, except your father, who else has this skill? Useless? This is talent beyond the norm!”  

He paused and shifted tone, “Tiger Cub, Third Uncle asks you, what are spiritual roots?”  

Li Yuanhu blinked and honestly replied, “They’re… things for cultivating immortality.”  

“Half right.”  

Li Pingcan held up one finger and shook it. “Spiritual roots, simply put, are a bridge that lets you cross the river easily to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Those with a bridge can cross faster. But if we don’t have a bridge, does that mean we can’t cross?”  

He patted Li Yuanhu’s chest. “Can’t we build a boat? Can’t we swim? If not, we just fill in the river! Then we can go any way we want—way cooler than crossing a bridge!”  

Li Yuanhu suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with confusion but mostly excitement sparked by his uncle’s ‘twisted logic.’  

“Third Uncle has a special treasure tailored for you, called the Five Elements Body Conditioning Technique.”  

Li Pingcan lowered his voice. “It doesn’t require spiritual roots. It trains your own body. When mastered, you could blow an elephant over in one breath, and your body would be as hard as an iron lump. Even immortal spells hitting you would feel like tickles. How about it? Interested?”  

“Yes!”  

A blazing fire rekindled in Li Yuanhu’s eyes, like a drowning man grabbing the last straw—no, grabbing Third Uncle’s big ship!  

“Good kid, you’ve got vision!” Li Pingcan patted the back of his head. “But I have to be honest—this path is much harder and more exhausting than cultivating immortality. You have to practice every day, no skipping. Scared?”  

“Not scared!”  

Li Yuanhu straightened his small chest, his voice loud and firm, as if he had become the fearless little tyrant again.  

Li Pingcan smiled with satisfaction. He taught Li Yuanhu the first level of the Five Elements Body Conditioning Technique, which he created by combining Beast Form Intent with his Divine Martial Realm insights, in the most interesting way possible, like telling a story.  

This technique had no flashy moves. The core was one word: practice!  

Walk like a bear to build a body as strong as a mountain; learn tiger’s pounce to make fists thunderous; imitate monkeys picking peaches to develop nimble skills like a gust of wind; mimic the breathing of a crane to cultivate long-lasting stamina, so you won’t tire even after running all day. Temper the will and become one with the Dao through hundreds of refinements.  

With the Li Family Martial Arts School’s ultimate vitality medicines assisting cultivation, these blood and energy pills could maximize Li Yuanhu’s special physique potential, making his vitality flood like a dam break, providing endless power for body conditioning.  

Li Yuanhu was like a dry sponge thrown into water, greedily absorbing everything.  

His talent was astonishing, even surpassing Sun Zheng from the martial arts school. Though the routine seemed boring to others, he practiced it obsessively and enjoyed it deeply.  

……  

Three months later.  

Li Yuanhu went to Yunshui County to find his father, who was so busy he was rarely seen.  

Though Li Yuanhu hadn’t grown much taller, his whole demeanor exuded a lean, solid aura.  

Walking the road, his spine straightened like a coiled young tiger, full of power.  

As the two reached a street corner, a commotion was heard. A burly leader was seen kicking over an old man’s basket, scattering hot pancakes everywhere.  

“You old bastard, shameless! Your grandpa dares to charge for pancakes?” the leader cursed viciously.  

The old man trembled and pleaded, while the surrounding townsfolk were angry but dared not speak up.  

Li Yuanhu’s face darkened as he looked at the thug stronger than himself, feeling nervous. Yet his father’s teachings echoed in his ears: “Martial artists should uphold justice and serve the people.” But also: “Don’t be rash; use your brain in fights.”  

His eyes shifted, a plan forming.  

He first made some noise deliberately to catch the thug’s attention.  

The thug looked down at the seven- or eight-year-old kid with disdain and sneered, “What little bastard is this? Get lost, or I’ll beat you up too!”  

Li Yuanhu immediately put on a frightened expression, stepping back repeatedly, yelling “Ah!” as if scared out of his wits.  

While retreating, he quietly rubbed his hand along the peeling wall beside him, gathering a handful of lime powder.  

“I… I’m going now, going now…”  

He turned as if to flee. The thug laughed loudly, relaxing his guard.  

At that moment, Li Yuanhu suddenly spun around and threw the lime powder straight into the thug’s face!  

“Aiyo! My eyes!”  

Caught off guard, the thug was blinded instantly, clutching his eyes and screaming in pain.  

Before he could react, Li Yuanhu leapt forward like a monkey from the Five Elements Body Conditioning Technique, drawing a small arc in the air. His knee slammed hard into the thug’s kneecap!  

“Bang!”  

A muffled thud— the thug curled up in pain like a shrimp.  

Li Yuanhu didn’t stop, using the momentum to throw the smaller thug to the ground, then straddled him, raising his fists and pounding the thug’s face, still smeared with powder, mercilessly.  

“Smash! Bang! Smash!”  

Fist after fist landed solidly.  

The thug was stunned, unable to understand how this harmless-looking kid could be so strong.  

He struggled but couldn’t break free, beaten badly with a swollen face, howling miserably.  

The young attendants watching their “little young master” were speechless—this thug was useless, couldn’t even beat a seven-year-old!  

The onlookers cheered, mocking the thug’s incompetence.  

“Kid, thank you.” The old man smiled and handed over a pancake. “Hot and tasty.”  

Li Yuanhu looked at the thug he had utterly defeated, exhaled slowly, relaxed his clenched fist, took the pancake, his eyes shining with pride and spirit.  

He recalled his uncle’s words.  

Who said no spiritual roots meant you couldn’t be strong?  

……  

The night breeze was gentle, moonlight like water, quietly spilling over Listening Wind Cliff.  

Li Pingcan sat cross-legged, surrounded by a mist of spiritual energy. With each breath, streams of pure spiritual energy dragons were drawn into his body.  

With the upgraded Spirit Gathering Formation and the Druid training site’s dual blessing, this cultivation environment rivaled the outer sanctums of some sects.  

“Ahh…”  

With a soft sigh, he slowly opened his eyes, fully refining the last pill’s power. His cultivation at mid Refining Qi Stage Three stabilized somewhat.  

He glanced painfully at the empty jade bottle in his hand—no more supplies from the landlord.  

“These pills are too consumable!”  

The Holy Lord’s savings, those miraculous spirit pills, had been consumed almost completely in just two or three years of intense cultivation.  

The remaining ones were either for healing or of too low a grade to be useful at his current level.  

“Living off the land till it’s bare— the ancients did not lie.”  

Li Pingcan stood, dusted off his clothes, and began calculating in his heart.  

The four essentials of cultivation: wealth, companion, law, and place. The “wealth” aspect was truly unforgiving. Without pill assistance, cultivation speed by meditation alone would be at least three to four times slower, and he didn’t have that kind of time.  

“Looks like it’s time to visit that place.”  

In his mind surfaced the memory Su Meiniang had shared—the “Ghost Market” in the southern mountains of Yunshui County, a trading hub for scattered cultivators.  

……  

A dark, windy night.  

Li Pingcan once again employed the tendon shifting and bone altering technique, transforming into an ordinary-looking, gloomy middle-aged scattered cultivator who would blend unnoticed in a crowd.  

He sat astride his small Golden Eagle, skillfully avoiding detection as he approached the mountain trading site.  

This place was deserted during the day and even more so at night, with chilling winds and flickering ghost flames. Even escort warriors dared not approach it easily.