When Li Pingcan first encountered the human scattered cultivators, he was extremely cautious on his way back.  

He took several wide detours, ensuring that the tracking qi behind him—resembling several tracking talismans—was completely severed before quietly returning to his Spirit Mountain cave residence.  

He first checked his financial status.  

From the Holy Lord, he had seized over a thousand spirit stones. He spent more than four hundred lower-grade spirit stones purchasing pills and seeds. Later, he sold his magic robes and gained twenty medium-grade spirit stones.  

If these spirit stones were converted into pills, without being frugal, that would only last three to four years of pill cultivation. Fortunately, the remaining Star Iron, Corefire Jade, and other spirit materials were still abundant, serving not only as materials for formation refining but also as hard currency for barter.  

As for those two plundering cultivators, their spirit stone pouches spilled out with a clink, scattering several pills and a small pile of spirit stones and spirit crystals on the ground.  

"Hmph, these days, life is really tough for scattered cultivators."  

They didn't even have storage pouches and were living extremely poorly—worse off than demonic cultivators who had money.  

"What’s the point of such a hopeless profession like banditry?"  

After this incident, he fully understood that robbing poor cultivators would never bring wealth. The scattered cultivator path could be summarized in one word: difficult!  

Not only did they have to constantly guard against being "black-eaten" by other poor cultivators, it was practically the worst kind of toxic competition imaginable.  

"It seems I still have to take the path of sustainable development."  

Li Pingcan sighed deeply and increasingly appreciated how precious his own small patch of land and the Emerald Dream were.  

If he relied on robbing and looting, when on earth could he accumulate enough resources to break through to the fourth layer of refined energy?  

Before sorting and storing the spoils, he solemnly took out a mysterious white seed and planted it in a patch of spiritual soil beside the Mulberry Spirit Tree.  

Because of the seed’s energy, Li Yuanhu also applied the Divine Blessing of Nature, hoping it would sprout and grow.  

The clouds above the world drifted leisurely.  

Li Yuanhu returned once more to his regular disciplined cultivation life.  

He meditated and refined energy in the evenings, improving his familiarity with Divine Berry Technique and Thunderclap Wave, while during the day he strolled back to the old mansion to enjoy family happiness.  

Now, teasing his several big kids had become his smallest joy after cultivation.  

That morning, as soon as he returned home, he heard childish laughter of "hehe haha" from the martial arts arena in the front yard.  

He saw Li Pingcan standing shirtless, staring at a wooden post thicker than his waist, swinging his big fists, making crackling sounds as he punched.  

"Uncle Ba! Look at his move, 'Ferocious Tiger Ascends the Mountain'!"  

Li Pingcan’s eyes brightened when he saw Li Yuanhu coming. He gave a small shout, then leapt back, pounding his fists solidly on the wooden post, shaking off wood chips.  

"Wrong, wrong, not like his father back then."  

Li Yuanhu laughed and walked over. "Isn’t it that your hips are a bit too low? Your upper stance is steady, but if you were a real fierce tiger, you’d flip over the moment you charge up."  

"Not at all!" Qin Qiufan’s big face flushed red as he obediently puffed out his chest. "Uncle Ba, don’t just talk—let’s spar a few moves!"  

"Alright."  

Li Yuanhu grinned. Since they started practicing the Five Elements Body Conditioning Technique, their strength had grown, and their confidence ballooned. It was time to show him how tough the world really was.  

He casually snapped off a willow twig and beckoned Li Yuanhu, "Come on, I’ll give you three moves."  

"Watch out!" Li Yuanhu couldn’t take it and let out a shout. He charged forward on short legs, launching a set of tiger-style fists learned from the Five Elements Body Conditioning Technique, fierce and full of momentum.  

However, in Li Pingcan’s eyes, this little tiger’s attacks were riddled with flaws.  

His footwork was like willows swaying in the wind, and he always dodged Li Yuanhu’s heavy punches with the smallest movements and impossible angles.  

Li Yuanhu threw over a dozen punches, all hitting empty air, panting heavily. Suddenly, he slid and grabbed Li Pingcan’s thigh, using the ultimate dirty trick of children’s fights: "Hehe, now you can’t escape!"  

"Huwa, fighting isn’t just about strength and dirty tricks."  

Li Pingcan smiled and lightly tapped the willow twig onto Li Yuanhu’s nerve.  

The little guy felt his arm go numb, half his strength drained instantly. Li Pingcan pulled him gently, making him spin around involuntarily and sit heavily on the ground.  

"Third Uncle! You’re not playing fair!" Li Yuanhu sat on the ground, rubbing his butt, face full of grievance and dissatisfaction.  

"War is deception," Li Pingcan said, tapping his little head with the twig. "Raw strength alone is for bears. You have to learn to use your brain, got it? Now watch this."  

He flicked a finger lightly on Li Yuanhu’s forehead as he charged again.  

Li Yuanhu suddenly felt a subtle force, and his unstoppable charge instantly deflated. He staggered backward and knelt, once again sitting down.  

"True combat isn’t won by strength alone."  

Li Pingcan shifted his posture, imitating a bear’s playfully awkward stance and leaned forward.  

Li Yuanhu instinctively tried to resist with brute force, but as soon as they touched, he felt like hitting a mountain of cotton. All his strength was useless, and the soft yet firm force pushed him down again.  

He brushed off the dirt and thought deeply, as if enlightened, his fighting spirit soaring: "Again!"  

Although every time ended in defeat, Li Yuanhu’s understanding of the essence of the Five Elements Body Conditioning Technique—like the agility of monkey play and the lightness of crane play—improved dramatically with each real fight.  

After guiding his nephew through the Five Elements Body Conditioning Technique, Li Pingcan came to Qing River.  

In recent years, as the family grew stronger and more populous, his visits to Qing River became less frequent, mainly to consult with the Formation Spirit on formation techniques.  

The moment he entered the water, he saw Qing Jiao bored, lying at the bottom and poking a dozing old turtle with the tip of his tail.  

"Little Carp, you finally came!"  

Qing Jiao perked up and swam over. "I tried the method you gave me for breaking through the second layer last time, but I still failed." His expression was full of regret.  

Li Pingcan was speechless. After four or five years, Qing Jiao still hadn’t broken through the Illusion Realm. This showed his "steadfast" will—steadfastly indulging in his comforts.  

"I get it, I get it. That’s just dragon nature," Li Pingcan said. Dragons are naturally lustful.  

"You made the same mistakes that all heavenly dragons make," Qin Qiu said, even more dejected, clutching his arm. "You were just a bit away from passing."  

Hearing this, Qin Qiufan’s heart stirred.  

Since his ancestral bloodline and animal companion Golden Eagle Da Fei’s soul could be drawn by Nature’s Heart to retire into the Emerald Dream for nurturing, could his closely related spirit beast also do the same?  

The Emerald Dream itself wasn’t a place for soul cultivation.  

He cleared his throat and said, "Qing Jiao, maybe I have a way to help you pass."  

Qing Jiao was stunned. "Little Carp, are you still half asleep? You can really help me break through?"  

Li Pingcan didn’t explain much. "Believe it or not."  

Qing Jiao was half-believing but couldn’t help feeling tempted by the chance. "So... how?"  

"Simple. Close your eyes, empty your mind, and just sleep."  

Qing Jiao suspiciously closed his golden snake eyes. Moments later, snoring sounds emerged.  

How carefree must one be to fall asleep instantly? This was a skill many insomniacs dream of.  

Li Pingcan commented softly, placing his hand gently on Qing Jiao’s forehead. His mind sank into the Emerald Dream as he cautiously guided the power of Nature’s Heart to probe Qing Jiao’s soul.  

The next moment, within the Emerald Dream, a faint cyan glowing soul orb was slowly drawn into this spiritual sanctuary.  

Li Pingcan’s expression brightened. It really worked!  

With this guidance, Qing Jiao effectively obtained a "permit" to enter and exit, enabling future soul cultivation within the dream.  

The cyan soul orb swam leisurely in the dream lake.  

At the lake’s center, a white jade lotus emitted soft light, continuously infusing Qing Jiao’s soul with pure soul energy.  

In the real world, Qing Jiao’s once tense serpent body completely relaxed, even smiling foolishly as he snored loudly.  

After an unknown length of time, Qing Jiao opened his eyes, relaxed, smacked his lips, and said, "That was a really comfortable sleep."  

He remembered nothing of the Emerald Dream’s appearance, only that soothing, refreshing feeling. His mind was clearer than ever, and many previously unsolvable cultivation bottlenecks suddenly became clear.  

"Little Carp! What secret method is this? Do it again! No, do it every day!"  

He immediately got addicted, his tail circling excitedly around Li Pingcan.  

"Alright, alright, go try the second layer of the Dragon Palace now." Li Pingcan laughed and pushed him away.  

"Okay! Watch me break that Illusion Realm today!" Qing Jiao charged toward the Dragon Palace with high spirits.  

Previously, he was only a straw’s length away from breaking through the Illusion Platform on the second layer. Now, with enhanced soul power and enduring determination, Qing Jiao truly succeeded in passing the second layer trial, the Illusion Platform!  

Seeing Qing Jiao clutching the reward happily and excitedly, Li Pingcan smiled too.  

He really feared his buddy would be stuck on the second layer forever.  

After resolving Qing Jiao’s breakthrough problem and encouraging him a bit, Li Pingcan thought silently, "It’s time I visited Master Formation Spirit."  

The scene shifted with a flicker of his thoughts.  

It was still the simple and solemn Path Selection Hall.  

Before Li Pingcan could steady himself, a lazy voice came from above the hall: "Yo, kid, you still remember to come back? I thought the flashy outside world had blinded you and you forgot that boring formation arts!"  

Li Pingcan looked up and saw the Formation Spirit, an immortal-looking old man, lying sprawled on a cloud bed made of gathered spiritual energy, picking his teeth and scolding him grumpily.  

He looked nothing like a high-level master, more like a country bumpkin basking in the sun on a dirt path.  

Li Yuanhu tried not to laugh and respectfully saluted, "Master jokes, your teachings, this junior would never dare forget even for a day."  

"Enough, enough, stop with the flattery."  

The Formation Spirit jumped down from the cloud bed and circled Li Pingcan twice, exclaiming, "Not bad, kid, your divine sense is getting thicker, your foundation is solid. Looks like you haven’t been slacking."  

He clapped excitedly, "Come on, let me see what new tricks you’ve been messing with these years!"  

Li Pingcan smiled slightly and gestured like holding a pen. Spiritual energy flowed as he wished, and in an instant, a complex and exquisite Hidden Profound Concealment Formation appeared in midair. The formation patterns flowed and spiritual light retracted, completely hiding his aura without a trace.  

"Heh, not bad!" Formation Spirit’s eyes lit up as he applauded, "Your qi guidance is like silk, your strokes leave no trace. Your skills finally don’t embarrass me. Alright, alright, put it away. If you keep showing off, this old bone of mine might get jealous!"  

Li Pingcan dispersed the formation illusion and said with a smile, "It’s all thanks to your excellent teaching."  

"Naturally!"  

The Formation Spirit shamelessly took credit, then waved his hand with a hint of carefree boredom.  

"But hey, kid, you’ve surpassed me now. I’ve basically emptied my treasure trove for you. Beyond this point is your own ‘path.’ I can’t guide you on these rigid theories anymore."  

Hearing this, Li Pingcan felt a moment of shock, realizing today was his "graduation."  

He couldn’t help but ask, "Master, if I go to the fifth layer, will you... disappear?"  

"Disappear? Dream on!"  

The Formation Spirit blew his beard and glared, "I’m tied to this broken Dragon Palace. As long as it doesn’t collapse, I have to stay here! You want to get rid of me? No way! You better come back often, or I’ll die of boredom alone!"  

Li Pingcan completely relaxed, smiling. After all these years together, although the Formation Spirit had a bad temper, he was a good teacher.  

He wouldn’t want to pay the price of the master disappearing to enter the fifth layer.  

"Alright, alright, stop whining here."  

The Formation Spirit waved impatiently, "Hurry to the next layer and don’t waste my nap time. Oh, and remember, when you make a name for yourself out there, don’t ever say I taught you—that would be embarrassing!"  

Though he said this, his old eyes were full of hidden smiles and expectations.  

Li Pingcan was moved and bowed deeply to this gruff but honest master.  

"Master, please take care."  

...........  

After bidding farewell to the Formation Spirit, Li Pingcan stepped into the light gate leading to the fifth layer.  

After a familiar sense of weightlessness, the scene before him suddenly opened up.  

He found himself inside a grand hall so vast it seemed unreal. The dome was endless, like a true starry sky, with billions of stars slowly revolving, casting soft and mysterious light.  

The floor was paved with a single slab of unknown pure black jade, smooth as a mirror, reflecting the star river above, making it hard to distinguish up from down.  

At the center stood five towering stone tablets that reached from heaven to earth.  

These five stone tablets were the core of the Five Elements Hall.  

The eastern stone tablet was emerald green, emitting endless life energy. Its surface seemed to flow with countless shadows of growing plants, and just looking at it made Li Pingcan feel his wood-element spiritual energy stir more actively.  

The southern stone tablet was blood red, its scorching energy slightly distorting the surrounding space.  

The western stone tablet was sharp metal color, shining with dazzling platinum light. A piercing sword intent radiated fiercely, making the skin tingle.  

The northern stone tablet was as deep as the sea, with wave-like patterns rushing across its surface—sometimes calm like a lake, sometimes turbulent like a tide.  

The central stone tablet was heavy and solid earth-yellow, giving a majestic feeling of bearing all things.  

[Welcome to the Dragon Palace Fifth Layer, Five Elements Hall.]  

[Cultivators may comprehend in front of the stone tablets, communicate with elemental origins, enhance their affinity, and strengthen corresponding spells. No time limit for this trial. The amount gained depends entirely on comprehension.]  

"Depends entirely on comprehension?" Li Pingcan’s eyes instantly lit up.  

Isn’t this the perfect trial tailor-made for him?  

As nature’s own child, no one was better than him in elemental sensing and comprehension!  

"The Dragon Palace really is my blessed land!"  

Li Pingcan felt joyful, "Isn’t this an all-you-can-eat buffet of elemental affinities? Eat whichever flavor you want!"  

Without hesitation, he strode to the emerald green stone tablet representing Wood and sat cross-legged.  

He was a Druid, and his wood affinity was ridiculously high. Comprehending the wood element was a piece of cake.  

Li Pingcan closed his eyes and immersed his mind into the stone tablet.  

In an instant, overwhelming life energy engulfed him like an ocean.  

His divine sense transformed into a falling leaf drifting on an endless sea of life.  

He sensed the growth rings of ancient trees, the sprouting of buds, the climbing of vines... All truths related to "wood" in heaven and earth unfolded before him without reservation.  

However, seven days later.  

Li Pingcan opened his eyes with a constipated expression. His original confidence had turned into complete confusion and frustration.  

"This... this isn’t right!"  

He scratched his head, baffled. During the week, he truly felt boundless wood mysteries, but that was exactly the problem.  

Because his wood affinity was already so high, these mysteries were like a university professor listening to first graders’ addition and subtraction.  

He understood everything but couldn’t find any new breakthrough points that could trigger an enlightenment.  

"Could it be that my wood affinity is so high it’s actually hindering my cultivation?" Li Pingcan sighed deeply and decided to temporarily give up.  

Getting stuck on a dead end wasn’t a solution. Better to go out and refresh his mind, and maybe show off his progress to Qing Jiao.  

"Little Carp!"  

Seeing Li Pingcan, Qing Jiao excitedly swam over, "You finally got it! Guess which layer I broke through to?"  

"Judging by that smug look, you must have passed the third layer?" Li Pingcan smiled. The dragon bloodline’s “chosen child” was tough and durable. His own breakthrough took two full years.  

"Naturally!" Qing Jiao boasted, "But the Third Layer Dragon Guards were too weak. I smashed them in no time!"  

"Earth Dragon Guards?" Li Pingcan was surprised.  

"Yeah, those guys were covered in rock bumps and incredibly tough. Without my dragon bloodline’s tough skin, I might not have beaten them!"  

Li Pingcan’s mind raced as a thought flashed through his head.  

So it was! The Dragon Palace trials really varied according to the individual!