Emerald Dream.

Li Pingcan studied the newly acquired "merit," sensing the dense power of destiny, and contemplated for a long while.

"If this Druid training site can divert the dynasty's destiny, then... can I disguise it as part of the dynasty's destiny?"

The dragon energy system of the dynasty, perfected over centuries, had its own laws and was overwhelmingly domineering. Any intrusion of foreign energy would be instantly detected and suppressed.

The reason his Druid training site remained unharmed was entirely due to the isolation of the Emerald Dream and the purification of the "Saint Lotus Heart," allowing him to "divert" the flow undetected.

But actively disguising and integrating were two entirely different concepts.

"Though the risk is great, the rewards are greater!"

Li Pingcan's eyes flickered, and he quickly made up his mind.

The threat from Liang Zhiyuan loomed over him like a thorn in his back. Rather than passively waiting for the other party to make a move, it was better to take the initiative and stir the waters further.

With a thought, he mobilized the full power of the Emerald Dream, using the white jade Saint Lotus as the core, and began carefully analyzing and imitating the "dynasty dragon energy" he was already intimately familiar with.

The process went more smoothly than he had imagined.

Perhaps it was because his training site had already stolen and converted part of the dragon energy, or perhaps the "Saint Lotus Heart" itself contained some form of rule power.

When he simulated his pure natural energy according to the dragon energy's circulation method and covered it with a shell of "public will," a miracle occurred.

The "merit destiny" produced by the training site actually simulated an aura strikingly similar to Li Pingcan's own!

Though there were still slight differences in purity, for someone like Li Ping'an, who only knew the surface without understanding the underlying principles, it was already indistinguishable.

Liang Zhiyuan was overjoyed and immediately controlled the disguised "dragon energy," slowly "returning" it along the original path to Yunshui County's destiny system.

County Government Office, front hall.

Li Ping'an, who had been sighing and frowning at the "Yunshui Mirror," suddenly exclaimed, "Eh?" and stood up abruptly, his face filled with disbelief.

"It's back? How... how is this possible?!"

He could clearly sense that the "disappeared" destiny had actually returned!

The familiar sensation of public will was unmistakable.

Li Ping'an was utterly baffled.

He rubbed his eyes and pinched himself to ensure he wasn't dreaming.

"What in the world is going on? Did I misperceive earlier? Was it Zhao Wuyou's dying counterattack that temporarily disrupted the earth veins, and now they've recovered?"

This thought crossed his mind, but he immediately dismissed it.

No! Absolutely not! The feeling of being diverted was too real to be an illusion!

"But if it wasn't an illusion, why has the destiny returned? Could it be that the hidden perpetrator realized I'm not to be trifled with and retreated, returning the destiny voluntarily?"

The more Li Ping'an thought, the more agitated he became, feeling as if his brain was about to tie itself in knots.

He was like a farmer guarding his melon field, watching helplessly as a thief stole his melons, only for the thief to return them the next day, even watering the plants for him.

What kind of nonsense was this?!

It was driving him mad!

"Magistrate! Magistrate!"

Just as he was racking his brains, the county clerk stumbled in, his face full of panic.

"The men we sent to raid the Li family's shops were all stopped by the Mu family's guards! Even the salt and iron shop in the south district closed today!"

"What?!"

Liang Zhiyuan was even more incensed, slamming the table so hard the teacups rattled.

He had intended to use the raid on the Li family to assert his authority and intimidate the unruly factions in the city. Instead of seeing the Li family's reaction, he was met with the Mu family's counterattack!

And every move struck his weak spots!

Salt, iron, cloth, and grain were all lifelines for the county's stability and tax revenue!

"Damn Li Ping'an! Damn Mu family! Are they joining forces to provoke me?!"

Liang Zhiyuan trembled with rage, caught between internal and external crises. On one side was the elusive "destiny thief," and on the other was the Mu family's pressure.

For the first time, he felt how humiliating it was to be a county magistrate.

Though his heart burned with fury, itching to lead his men to crush the Li family, reason told him this was not the time to break all ties.

The Mu family was not to be trifled with, and the unresolved "destiny" issue made him hesitate.

"Forget it! Forget it!"

After a long while, Liang Zhiyuan slumped back into his chair and waved weakly. "Release them! Have the county clerk return the shops! Tell Li Ping'an it was all a misunderstanding!"

He seethed inwardly: 'Li family! You ungrateful wolves! Just wait—this isn't over. Once I free my hands, I'll make you understand what it means to face the might of the law!'

Li Family Mansion.

When the news arrived that the raided Li family managers and workers had returned, bruised and battered, and the shops had reopened, the entire Li family breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Ping'an smiled. "It seems we took the right step this time."

Li Pingfu also relaxed. Among those detained were trusted brothers like Xie Xiaodao, and even with bribes, they might have suffered.

"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Liang Zhiyuan may have backed down for now, but he won't let this go," Li Pingcan reminded.

"Don't worry," Li Pingfu nodded. He had already quietly recalled the elite guards from the escort agency and martial arts school to protect the family.

After discussing some details, the family dispersed.

Under the pavilion, several children played and chased each other, the earlier turmoil kept outside the Li family compound.

Li Yuanhu, now twelve, stood half a head taller than his peers, his muscles firm and well-proportioned, exuding the vigorous energy of youth.

He practiced the moves from the "Five Elements Body Conditioning Technique" with fierce momentum, each strike carrying a domineering force reminiscent of Li Pingfu in his younger days, making one marvel at how the pupil surpassed the master.

Li Pingcan watched and nodded inwardly: 'Tiger Boy's innate martial physique is perfect for body cultivation techniques. Though he lacks spiritual roots, refining his body to its limits might open a path where martial arts break all laws. But his temperament needs tempering—too rigid and inflexible.'

Nearby, Li Nianhe sat quietly on a stone bench, a small abacus in her hands, murmuring calculations.

Before her lay several thick account books, her tiny brow slightly furrowed as she helped Jiang Ling'er verify the shop accounts.

"Aunt, the South Street silk shop's accounts last month are off. The purchased brocade was half a percent above market price, and three bolts are missing from the inventory," she said, looking up.

Jiang Ling'er took the book and indeed found the discrepancies, both surprised and delighted. "Heavens, Nianhe, how does your mind work? I've been staring at these complicated accounts for ages with a headache, and you spotted the issues at a glance?"

Li Nianhe smiled shyly. She had no interest in fighting, practicing martial arts only for fitness, but numbers held an innate fascination for her. The most complex accounts were clear as day to her.

Beside her, seven-year-old Li Yuanxi also held a small abacus, mimicking her movements. "Sister, I calculated it! The accounts are short by twenty-three taels and four qian of silver!"

Both showed remarkable talent for calculations, and their quiet, steady personalities made them the closest among the children, often collaborating on new algorithms.

As for Li Mengze and Li Mengjin, they were each more worry-free than the last.

Li Mengze, now five, was unnaturally composed for a child.

He spoke rarely, but when he did, his words were concise and to the point. He remembered the "secret" well, never revealing his peculiar ability to outsiders. Even his maids only thought him "precocious," unaware he could discern good and evil.

Li Mengjin, just a year old, could already wobble around, his personality the opposite of his brother's—lively and cheerful, smiling at everyone. Like Little Black, he especially loved shiny objects. A small gold-plated blunt sword in his hands looked almost real, even capable of summoning a faint metallic energy.

The youngest son of the second brother, Li Nianjun, was now four, showing no special talents yet but with a gentle temperament, content to follow his older siblings like an obedient shadow.

Li Pingcan watched the children with the pride of "watching our sons grow up."

He walked over to Li Yuanhu and smiled. "Tiger Boy, strength alone isn't enough. Come, Third Uncle will teach you a move—'Spiritual Monkey Steals the Peach.'"

"Brother! I want to learn too!" Li Nianjun toddled over.

"Good, everyone can learn."

Under the sunlight, one adult and three children played and sparred in the courtyard.

Their laughter rang clear, carrying far into the distance.

...........

The back hall of Yunshui County Government Office had recently been so tense it could freeze water.

Since the ill-fated prayer ceremony that ended in humiliation, Liang Zhiyuan's temper had grown increasingly erratic.

He shut himself in his study all day, sighing at the "Yunshui Mirror," his eyes filled with resentment and suspicion worthy of a scorned woman.

He even began to feel that everything in Yunshui County—from the roof tiles to the ants in the cracks—was against him, plotting his downfall.

"Traitors everywhere!" he muttered, his fingers tapping nervously on the desk.

The incident at the ritual altar, where his power was "stolen" in public, was like a thorn buried deep in his heart, tormenting him day and night.

No matter how hard he thought, he couldn't figure out who would dare to steal from the tiger's mouth right under his nose as a government official.

The Li family? Though one brother excelled in martial arts and the other in politics, they were mere mortals—how could they possess such mystical methods?

The Mu family? Possible! They might have some shady magical artifact. But why? To stand up for their son-in-law, they'd openly defy an immortal official and steal dynasty destiny? The cost was too high.

Or was it Zhao Wuyou's lingering ghost? That old dog might have left behind some venomous trap before dying.

The longer this went on, the more Liang Zhiyuan saw enemies everywhere.

He suspected the cook of poisoning his soup, the night watchman of spying on him, and even the cheerful magpie outside his window seemed to mock him.

"Seeing enemies in every shadow" might as well have been coined for him.

The Mu family's pressure was like a blunt knife slowly cutting flesh—not fatal, but keeping him in constant distress.

Rising prices and growing public discontent were messes he had to clean up as magistrate.

Meanwhile, the Li brothers had become unnervingly "well-behaved." Li Pingfu trained at the patrol camp daily, while Li Ping'an buried himself in paperwork, acting more deferential than ever.

But this only made Liang Zhiyuan more uneasy.

"No, I can't just sit here waiting for doom!"

If this continued, his position would be lost.

In his daily torment, Liang Zhiyuan remembered the "Martial God's Treasure Map" hidden at the bottom of his chest.

It was a map to an ancient body cultivator's legacy, found among Zhao Wuyou's belongings.

Initially skeptical, he now saw it as his only lifeline in this crisis.

"If I can discover a major treasure, it could become a significant achievement, securing my position."

After setting up several protective formations, he lit a "Night Light Talisman" and combed through ancient records.

From "Yunshui County Chronicles" to various unofficial histories, he cross-referenced every place name and mark on the map.

"Old Yin Mountain, ancient battlefield... Yes, historical records mention a great battle there, where a hundred thousand were slaughtered, their resentment lingering for millennia...

The Martial God's name is lost to time, but he existed—a man who achieved enlightenment through martial arts, his body sanctified, said to have faced three thousand demons alone with just a spear..."

Piece by piece, he assembled the evidence. The map's authenticity was undeniable in his mind.

An irrepressible joy dispelled his recent gloom.

"Heaven hasn't abandoned me!"

Liang Zhiyuan trembled with excitement, envisioning himself obtaining the legacy, soaring to new heights, becoming the emperor's right-hand man, wielding great power.

Who needed this measly magistrate position?

But after the euphoria faded, he quickly calmed down.

Old Yin Mountain was notorious—even he dared not venture there lightly.

The place was thick with sinister energy, where ordinary cultivators might die without knowing how.

"Sinister energy... spectral soldiers!"

A flash of inspiration struck Liang Zhiyuan—since it was an ancient battlefield, it must be haunted by the restless spirits of fallen soldiers, "spectral soldiers"!

Though troublesome, they weren't invincible.

He recalled another "privilege" of his position as an immortal official.

Beyond salary and authority, the Great Yu Dynasty had a secret "achievement exchange system." Officials could trade their accumulated merits for rare treasures, pills, or even secret techniques unavailable on the market.

Though not a paragon of virtue, Liang Zhiyuan had amassed considerable merits over the years.

Without hesitation, he accessed the mysterious "Merit Treasure Vault" through his official seal.

After spending a staggering amount of merits—enough to promote Li Ping'an comfortably—he finally obtained his prize.

A pitch-black token, cold to the touch, engraved with a ferocious ghostly face—the "Spectral Soldier Command Token"!

Forged with dynasty secrets, it specialized in suppressing battlefield malice and spectral soldiers. Wielding it not only resisted sinister energy but could also dominate low-level spectral soldiers—even command them!

Though painful, the merits could be regained once he secured the Martial God's legacy.

"Hahaha, everything is ready!"

Clutching the token, Liang Zhiyuan felt invincible again.

His heart, shriveled by paranoia and fear, swelled with confidence.

"With dynasty dragon energy protecting me and this token commanding ghostly soldiers, Old Yin Mountain is nothing but my backyard!"

He brimmed with confidence, as if he were the protagonist of a grand script.

In the following days, he made meticulous preparations in secret.

Claiming "ill health requiring rest," he announced his seclusion, delegating all duties to the county clerk and Li Ping'an, creating an undisturbed environment.

Using puppet techniques, he crafted a lifelike decoy of himself in the office—undetectable unless attacked or scrutinized by a Foundation Establishment expert.

Then he emptied his private vault of all treasures.

A "Golden Light Talisman" capable of blocking a full strike from a late-stage Qi Refining expert, three bottles of "Revival Pills" to stave off death, a "Seven-Star Peachwood Sword" blessed by a master to ward off evil...

He even prepared a portable sword formation, with the peachwood sword as the core—a thousand swords unleashing radiant energy to repel sinister winds.

He also packed a set of plain hemp clothes and a wide-brimmed hat to disguise himself as a herb-gathering peasant.

Every detail was planned meticulously, including three escape routes.

Trusting no one but himself—and Old Wu, controlled by pills, which was really just trusting his own methods—he stood before a bronze mirror, a cold smile on his lips.

"Li family, Mu family, and that hidden rat—just wait.

"When I return from Old Yin Mountain, your doom is sealed."

He concealed all his treasures, donned the disguise, and gripped the Spectral Soldier Command Token tightly.

Under the moonless, cloud-choked sky, Liang Zhiyuan slipped away unnoticed from the county office, evading all eyes.