Autumn arrived in the blink of an eye.

The Li family mansion had been celebrating nonstop.

First, Xie Yuan finally showed signs of pregnancy, diagnosed with a joyful pulse that brought delight to the entire household.

Lady Qin treated her like fragile porcelain, tending to her daily until Xie Yuan's complexion glowed with health and her blood qi flourished.

Meanwhile, Li Mengze, studying at the prefectural academy far away, had already spent two years there, displaying astonishing talent in alchemy.

Just days ago, he specially sent back a bottle of first-grade low-tier Qi Gathering Pills he personally refined, explicitly for his father's cultivation and mental focus.

Holding that pill in his palm, Li Pingcan felt warmth flooding his heart.

"That brat actually remembers to honor his old man."

Watching one's child grow up brought more satisfaction than even breaking through cultivation realms.

Li Mengjin had now reached seven years old—the age for spiritual root testing.

With Li Mengze's outstanding precedent, the entire Li family held high expectations for this equally bright and lively child.

Only Li Pingcan remained pensive the night before the test, staring at extinguished candles in deep contemplation.

For a family to produce one top-grade Wood Spirit Root talent was already remarkable fortune enough to attract attention from various factions. Producing another prodigy wouldn't be fortune—it would be ostentation.

Tall trees catch much wind—a principle he understood better than anyone.

"One in the light, one in the shadows—that's the path of longevity."

On testing day,

Li Mengjin placed his small hand on the cool surface of the Mirror of Immortal Reflection, eyes brimming with curiosity and anticipation.

Yet after one breath, two breaths... enough time for an incense stick to burn, the mirror's surface remained utterly still without the slightest reaction.

"How could this be?"

Immortal Master Wang inspected the mirror and had Li Mengjin try again, but the result remained unchanged.

"No spiritual roots."

He could only shake his head regretfully in the end.

Li Mengjin bit his lip hard, desperately holding back tears.

He couldn't understand—why?

Why could his brother succeed where he failed?

Lady Qin hugged her devastated grandson tightly, knowing how crushing this outcome was for a child.

After this incident, whispers spread quietly that the Li family had produced a "good-for-nothing."

Li Pingcan received many pitying sighs from outsiders, which he ignored completely.

Late one night, he took the despondent Li Mengjin to the back mountains.

"Father, does having no spiritual roots make me useless?" Li Mengjin's voice quivered slightly.

"Who said that?"

Li Pingcan knelt to meet his son's gaze directly. "Your talent is unique in this world. It's just that your sword isn't ready to be drawn yet."

Drawing a willow branch from his waist, he gave it a gentle flick under moonlight—the supple twig emitted a crisp sword chime.

"Starting today, I'll personally teach you swordsmanship."

Li Pingcan concealed the truth of Li Mengjin's mid-grade Sword Spirit Root. Unlike steady Li Mengze, it was better the impulsive boy didn't know.

He didn't teach complex techniques, beginning instead with the most basic first stance of the Thirteen Wind Returning Swords—"Willow Caress."

"See this wind—it has no fixed form yet exists everywhere. Your sword must be like the wind."

Willow branch in hand, his figure drifted unpredictably, sword light gentle as spring breeze against Li Mengjin's cheek, letting him feel that ethereal artistry.

Then observe water.

Guiding a stream, his sword tip lightly touched the surface, creating ripples. "Water bears boats yet capsizes them. Sword momentum works the same—borrow and follow forces rather than brute strength."

Though only half-understanding, Li Mengjin's innate sword comprehension quickly made progress seem effortless.

He learned astonishingly fast, mastering "Willow Caress" convincingly within days—his wooden sword no longer lifeless but gaining fluid vitality.

Father teaching unreservedly, son learning voraciously—sword legacy passed quietly on these secluded slopes.

..........

Yet Peach Blossom Village's peace couldn't last forever.

One day, white funeral banners hung from the old locust tree at the village entrance.

The Old Chief had passed.

The centenarian died peacefully in sleep without illness—what villagers called a blessed passing.

The Li family came to pay respects.

Inside the mourning hall, sorrowful music played as joss paper fluttered.

The Old Chief's sons wailed dramatically before the coffin, their "filial piety" moving heaven and earth—though their eyes kept darting about.

Once guests left, this "dutiful sons" act couldn't continue.

"Father loved me most—held my hand at the end! I should be next chief!" The seventy-year-old second son wiped tears and puffed his chest.

"Bullshit!"

The fifty-year-old third son jumped up pointing at his brother. "I fetched the doctor and medicine when father coughed last winter! You brought expired pastries! How dare you?"

"Seventh Brother loiters in town all year—fields going wild! He's practically dead already! Him as chief? I refuse!" The eldest joined the fray.

"Enough! Why fight over this poor village? Sell the land and old house—split the money and enjoy town life!"

They squabbled viciously, accusations of "unfilial," "favoritism," and "selfishness" flying like the joss paper ashes, airing all their dirty laundry.

In a corner, the Old Chief's beloved grandson—twenty-year-old Li Xiaoshan—trembled with rage.

"Uncles! Grandfather's body isn't even cold yet—"

"Scram! Children shouldn't interrupt!"

Clenching fists, Li Xiaoshan watched his uncles' disgusting greed with despair.

Villagers whispered and pointed but none dared intervene—until a light cough sounded at the entrance.

The noisy hall instantly silenced.

Li Family's steward Zhou Yu stood quietly at the door in plain blue robes, his calm expression belying intimidating eyes.

The former Phoenix County refugee had taken root here, becoming the Li family's trusted steward.

"S-Steward Zhou!"

The arguing sons froze like strangled ducks.

"The Li family's steward is here!"

"Now we'll see some action!" Villagers murmured—all knew who truly governed Peach Blossom Village now.

Zhou Yu entered slowly, first offering three incense sticks respectfully before the Old Chief's tablet, then turning to the flustered sons.

"My condolences."

"Before passing, the Old Chief mentioned to my master his deepest concern was this village's future. He wished its burden passed to someone steady and fair."

Zhou Yu's gaze swept the room before settling on Li Xiaoshan.

"He also said among his grandchildren, Xiaoshan showed most promise—inheriting his spirit. This seal," Zhou Yu produced a warm jade token, "belongs in his most valued descendant's hands."

The sons paled but dared not protest.

When the Li family "master" spoke, who would question it? That'd be like lighting a lamp in an outhouse—seeking death!

Li Xiaoshan accepted the token with trembling hands, bowing deeply toward the Li mansion.

..........

Time flowed on.

Before the Dragon Palace's Five Elements Stone Tablets,

Li Pingcan felt himself splitting apart.

Meditating before the Metal Tablet, his consciousness was like iron under endless hammering—shredded and tempered by countless intangible sword energies.

That indomitable sharpness hurt enough to make one gasp.

"If Metal's a hothead, then Fire's downright insane!" he grumbled inwardly.

"But this is true cultivation! Perfecting all five elements forms the foundation of the Great Dao! How could I remain content as some dirt-digging farmer dual-cultivating wood and earth?"

Rather than retreating, he immersed deeper into that rending pain, actively welcoming it to comprehend metal qi's essence amidst excruciating refinement.

Engrossed in this bittersweet cultivation, his elemental affinities progressed—Metal to "15," Water "16," Fire "13"—each subsequent point proving exponentially harder.

Li Pingcan had sought natural elemental energies, but their mutual repulsion made wild specimens extremely rare throughout Yunshui County.

One day while comprehending tablets in the Dragon Palace, through his Animal Speech ability, unprecedented turmoil suddenly surged from the Dayu River's direction—like a depth charge detonating in calm waters as countless panicked animal thoughts bombarded his mind!

"Hmm?"

Li Pingcan's eyes snapped open in alarm—this wasn't ordinary fright but apocalyptic terror!

He rushed outside to find the usually relaxed Green Jiao frantically circling underwater, scales slightly raised along his massive serpentine body.

"Little Carp, feel that?"

The Green Jiao's voice held panic. "Upstream creatures are fleeing downstream like mad! I saw a giant green-backed crocodile abandon its lair—running like its tail was on fire!"

Li Pingcan's heart sank.

Whatever made these territorial demonic beasts flee couldn't be ordinary conflict.

A beast tide!

An unprecedented catastrophe sweeping the entire river basin!

A thousand miles away in Songling Prefecture's Civil Affairs Office,

Li Ping'an buried himself in piles of documents handling an old case—now firmly established here with increasingly steady competence.

Suddenly an aide hurried in with a wax-sealed urgent missive.

"Sir! Emergency report from Qingyang County!"

Seeing the hastily scrawled "URGENT," Li Ping'an's heart clenched.

Scanning the contents, his pupils constricted:

"Demonic beasts rampaging into a tide—already destroyed three riverside towns! The horde contains countless treasure beasts alongside demonic beasts matching Qi Refinement cultivators! Prefecture orders all riverside counties to prepare immediately!"

"Beast tide!"

Li Ping'an shot up—he knew what this meant.

This wasn't like Magistrate Liang Zhiyuan's staged "beast tide trap" at Spirit Mountain using mere treasure beasts for chaos.

This was true disaster—capable of destroying homes, leveling cities, and bringing utter devastation!

"I must warn the family immediately!"

Wasting no time, he retrieved the "Communication Mushroom" his younger brother left for long-distance messaging:

"Eldest Brother! Younger Brother! Beast tide approaches—prepare at once!"

..........

News reaching Peach Blossom Village instantly plunged the Li mansion into grave tension.

After reading the letter, Li Pingfu's rugged face showed no expression.

"Husband..."

Jiang Ling'er entered, eyes reddening at his silent back. "Must you really go?"

Pausing his blade polishing, Li Pingfu turned to wipe his wife's tears with calloused hands, voice low but firm:

"Ling'er, as Yunshui County Captain, protecting our land is my duty."

Lady Qin rushed in clutching her son's arm, trembling:

"Fu'er! This is no joke—a beast tide! Can't you send others? You're the Captain now!"

"Mother," Li Pingfu smiled bitterly, "precisely because I'm Captain, I must go. If not me, who? Send untrained boys to die?"

"Then I'll go with you!"

A clear, stubborn voice came from the doorway—strapping teenage Li Yuanhu stood there, fists clenched, face flushed with fervor.

"Father! I've reached the Divine Execution Realm! I can help!"

"Nonsense!"

Li Pingfu's face darkened sharply. "This isn't heroics! Your duty is staying home protecting your mother and grandmother!"

"But Father—"

"No buts! That's an order!"

Under that stern gaze, Li Yuanhu's fervor drained away, head bowing in frustrated tears.

Lady Qin hugged her grandson protectively, glaring at Li Pingfu—though knowing he was right.

..........

After comforting his family, Li Pingfu headed straight to the county office.

As Captain, he needed immediate accurate intelligence.

Chaos already reigned there—the atmosphere thick with tension.

Scouts from the Swift Squad returned bloodied and terrified.

Li Yuan reported hoarsely: "Brother, the front lines are collapsing!"

Li Pingfu's heart sank as he steadied him. "Details!"

"Demonic beasts—real ones! Not treasure beasts we've seen before! A three-eyed black ape—ten feet tall—smashes gates with one punch! A spined black-scaled river python churns waters—Wangjiang Town's garrison fell in under an hour!"

These demonic beasts' savagery surpassed mortal capabilities—ordinary weapons couldn't scratch them, only immortal techniques and heavy ballistae barely holding them off.

Li Pingfu's grip tightened until the bamboo report creaked.

This was true catastrophe—enough to shake the entire prefecture.

Taking a deep breath, Li Pingfu suppressed his shock, eyes turning icy and resolute.

There was no retreat from this battle.

..........

News of the beast tide inevitably leaked.

When conscription notices plastered Yunshui County's streets, the entire town erupted.

"What? Conscription? Every household must provide one man?"

"Damn it! I'm an only son—if I die, who'll care for my parents?"

"I heard this tide's unprecedented—even the prefecture's alarmed! Mortals like us are just beast food!"

Public outrage and panic spread instantly.

Zhou Enxian's household was particularly gloomy—his concubine Hong'er wept pitifully.

"What can we do? He's our only son!"

Zhou Enxian's weathered face twisted with anguish—of course he dreaded sending his son.

But who dared defy official orders?

"The Li family are Captains now—you're acquainted. Can't you ask for leniency?" Hong'er pleaded desperately.

Zhou Enxian sighed deeply, shaking his head.

He knew no exceptions could be made—this was Songling Prefecture's decree.

As Captain, Li Pingfu must lead by example—how could he show favoritism?

"Enough tears."

"Zhou Enxian was once Flat Peach Town's finest. These old bones can still move."

Turning to his concubine, he declared firmly: "I'll go."

His son's martial skills were too weak—certain death. As a veteran warrior, he at least stood a chance.

Zhou Enxian's choice mirrored countless families—some fled overnight into mountains, others wept while sending sons to die, some like him sacrificing themselves so descendants might live.

As the storm gathered, Yunshui County drowned in oppressive solemnity.