Perhaps that old hunter also had a filial son and adorable grandchildren, fighting for his family's livelihood in his twilight years before meeting an undignified end...

"But what does that have to do with me?"

In this moment, Li Pingcan's complete indifference toward anyone outside his family was laid bare. 

If all living beings suffer, better let others bear that suffering!

The chaotic battle raged on. 

The dazzling starry sky overlooked the battlefield of flashing hoes and axes, illuminating the savage faces contorted with primal ferocity. 

Torchlight flickered violently amid the struggle as darkness gradually encroached.

Cradled in Lady Qin's arms, Li Pingcan could clearly hear his mother's pounding heartbeat through her sweat-drenched thin garments, the moisture clinging uncomfortably between them.

'Visibility is terrible at night.'

'Good thing I have mushrooms!'

Initially dismissed as useless, the Spore Sense ability now proved invaluable with its unique gray surveillance vision that maintained clarity in darkness - its only limitation being the "signal loss" beyond certain distances. 

Currently, Little Black flew through the night sky adjusting the angle of a gray mushroom clamped in its beak, functioning like an agile drone.

Without this, Li Pingcan would never have spotted the hunter's arrow in time to activate Elemental Amplification + Dance of the Wind!

'Most torches have extinguished, and the grassland melee is perfect for Thorn Whip's maximum supportive effect.'

Under night's concealment, unnoticed greenish glimmers flashed through the grass as thorns slithered darkly across the ground.

"Clang!"

A crisp metallic scrape rang out.

Li Rongzhou expertly deflected a suddenly descending axe with a fluid spear thrust, sending the rusted weapon spinning wildly before it embedded deeply in mud. 

"Scram!" he barked coldly. 

The disarmed man's eyes cleared instantly from battle frenzy, and he scrambled away in terror.

Meanwhile, Li Pingfu helped steady the shaken Li Fang, asking quietly: "Uncle Fang, are you alright?" 

Li Fang - father of his friend Li Yuan - had always been somewhat aloof toward their family. 

Now his simple face displayed a complex mix of lingering fear and relief. 

Battle fervor had made him fearless, but the cold night air brought realization of how close death had been. 

"L-Li... thank you brother, no I mean, thank you, so much!" he stammered incoherently.

"Save gratitude for later," Li Rongzhou said tersely. "Pingfu, stay focused." 

"Yes, father." 

Taking deep breaths, Li Fang silently fell in behind them - his brush with death having drained all mob-instilled courage.

The fierce fighting continued, interspersed with Peach Blossom villagers' triumphant taunts:

"Pah! Can't even grip a hoe properly? Take this club!"

"Damn near speared my throat! Lucky this Peach Leaf bastard tripped!"

"Can't even stand straight and you challenge me?"

Conversely, Peach Leaf villagers grew increasingly frustrated. 

Whenever someone gained advantage for a potential kill, mysterious tugs from behind or inexplicable stumbles would interfere! 

Were they haunted? 

As superstitious fear spread through their ranks, morale rapidly deteriorated.

An anonymous Druid watched approvingly as the scales tipped toward Peach Blossom Village. 

However one sliced it, he was part of this village - loyalty dictated aiding his own. 

Keeping Thorn Whip's power restrained, the creeping vines moved like specters through battle's chaos, their subtle harassment going unnoticed. 

He deliberately avoided Zhou Enxian's combat zone to prevent detection.

"A full mana-draining large-scale Thorn Whip release could instantly partition and control this mortal battlefield," Li Pingcan mused while assessing his current capabilities. 

Even Bone Realm warriors like his father would struggle to approach before exhausting his "mana pool," likely getting thorn-pricked in the process. 

Blood Qi Realm fighters were different matter entirely.

His Spore Sense "vision" turned toward Zhou Enxian's position. 

The instructor's Blood Qi surged visibly as he crouched, a faint blood-tiger apparition forming behind him while his palm strikes generated howling gales. 

His opponent matched him blow for blow in their spectacular, intimidating duel.

After prolonged observation, Li Pingcan's expression turned peculiar as realization struck: 

"They're putting on a damn exhibition match!" 

While villagers fought to the death, these two were sparring with polite restraint!

Upon reflection, it made sense. 

At Blood Qi Realm, who would risk life for a petty water dispute? 

"The louder the bluster, the faker the fight. Even office slackers from my past life weren't this blatant." 

Li Pingcan felt genuine admiration.

Still, judging by Zhou Enxian's displayed power, breaking free from thorns would take mere breaths - an insurmountable gap in power tiers. 

Though sufficient thorns could buy time. 

"Besides martial training, how else can I increase 'mana capacity'?" 

Spirit stones or spiritual items came to mind immediately. 

If martial energy could convert to "mana," spiritual energy should work too. 

Were he cultivating immortality while absorbing spirit stone energy to fuel area attacks, even Blood Qi Realm warriors could be worn down through attrition. 

For now, this remained merely an appealing fantasy.

"Brother Zhou, shall we wrap up this performance?" 

"Indeed, Brother Wang. Time for curtain call." 

No silver payment, just obligatory favors - why exert real effort?

Zhou Enxian and the Wang-named warrior exchanged smiles before delivering a final dramatic fist clash, the shockwave shredding surrounding foliage. 

Their roared parting lines echoed across the field:

"Cackle! Consider this mercy today, Zhou!" 

"Save your boasts! Next time I'll send you straight to rebirth!" 

With that, both sides withdrew, leaving only bloodied ground behind. 

Thanks to certain... interventions, Peach Leaf Village's defeat was undeniable. Chief Fang's face darkened with impotent rage as water rights were conceded.

Yet Peach Blossom's old chief showed no victory cheer either. 

Many husbands, sons, and breadwinners lay among today's casualties. 

"Sigh... Still better than famine years where all starve!" 

"Survival demands its price," he murmured into the blood-scented wind as stars shone impartially over every grief-stricken face.