Peach Blossom Village.

Dawn broke with hazy light as the morning mist began to dissipate. In the old chief's house, six children stood stiffly in their green robes, wearing peach wood ornaments, listening solemnly as the chief declared, "We shall now pay respects to our ancestors. Only with their approval may you enter the mountains to receive the Ancestral Tree's blessing."

"Yes, Grand Chief," the children chorused earnestly. Among them, Li Pingcan felt an inexplicable solemnity well up within him.

The old chief nodded approvingly. None of the children acted mischievous—clearly their families had thoroughly warned them against disrupting the ceremony unless they wanted a taste of the bamboo rod.

On the altar beside the sacrificial pigs, cows, and sheep lay five-colored rice balls and a basin of crystal-clear water. The old chief carefully placed an emerald peach leaf upon the water's surface with both hands, then announced loudly, "Follow my movements in paying respects—first bow, second empty bow, third prostrate bow."

The children focused intently, performing the ritual bows toward the water basin with reverence. Li Pingcan followed along, though his eyes darted curiously about this "ceremony."

'I recall from the game template that Druid traditions also involve ceremonial knowledge. Completing them properly grants gifts that greatly enhance comprehension, attributes, experience points...'

'Perhaps there's common ground with cultivation world rituals. Experience points might be off the table, but increased comprehension should be possible.'

Keeping this thought in mind, his movements grew more devout. Yet upon closer observation, this ritual seemed more like folk prayer than anything containing "supernatural" power.

When he raised his head after the third bow, he saw the peach leaf teetering on the verge of sinking. The old chief's expression darkened with disappointment.

'Does the leaf sinking completely mean the ancestors disapprove?'

'Would I have to wait three more years to meet the Ancestral Tree?!'

This opportunity had cost his father a life-saving favor and his brothers' voluntary withdrawal—it couldn't be wasted. At this realization, Li Pingcan made a decision that would defy ancestral expectations!

Silently invoking "Dance of the Wind" in his mind, a faint, precisely controlled airflow materialized to buoy the leaf. The previously doomed leaf miraculously endured until the ceremony's conclusion before finally sinking.

"Truly our ancestors' blessing!" the old chief exclaimed joyfully at the sight.

"Ah?"

Li Pingcan scratched his head sheepishly.

Grand Chief, I didn't mean to take advantage of you!

...

The old chief dipped a clean peach branch into the water, sprinkling droplets over the children.

"Leaves of the Ancestral Tree purify our hearts; waters of the Ancestral Tree cleanse our bodies."

Under the rising sun, the glistening droplets took on a sacred quality—the ceremony's final step.

"Come, we ascend the mountain to pay respects to the Ancestral Tree."

Following the old chief's measured pace under villagers' protection, the group of seven began their journey up Peach Blossom Mountain.

...

The sky disappeared beneath a canopy of leaves that rustled like jade waves in the wind. Deeper in, brambles and wild grasses flourished until villagers armed with hoes and machetes cleared a narrow path.

Along the way, clusters of gray mushrooms rapidly sprouted, unfurling dewy caps that connected to Li Pingcan's mental network. Since summer's end, realizing the importance of foresight, he had maxed out his [Spore Growth] and [Spore Sense] skills through relentless practice.

These skills respectively developed [Deliciousness] and [Connection] traits. [Deliciousness] spoke for itself—even pungent varieties became exquisite delicacies that earned him good coin at Flat Peach Town's restaurants. [Connection] allowed any sprouted mushroom to instantly generate ten "surveillance angles," transmitting audiovisual data directly to his mind, forming a fungal intranet.

The combined [Spore Growth] and [Spore Sense] essentially created mobile surveillance cameras. Before even entering the forest, his mushroom scouts had gathered intel!

'So quiet... and this inexplicable sense of affinity.'

Li Pingcan marveled. As a Druid, he normally radiated such natural affinity that birds and butterflies flocked to him joyfully. Yet something here made him yearn to "snuggle"—utterly astonishing!

Moreover...

Activating [LV4 Earth Pulse Sense], he perceived the vast subterranean world—a dense tangle of massive roots. Rather than standing on soil, he stood embraced by that singular "tree."

'Tremendous natural power!'

His excitement grew. These roots undoubtedly belonged to the millennial peach tree villagers revered as the Ancestral Tree. His anticipation for this encounter mounted.

...

When the first sunlight pierced the canopy to illuminate the ancient peach tree's dragon-scale bark, the weary old chief suddenly perked up. Li Pingcan gaped upward, unable to conceal his awe.

The crown stretched like a green lake shading nearly an acre. The central trunk required nine grown men to embrace, its branches gleaming like tempered steel ribs. Surrounding it stood countless towering peach trees like divine soldiers guarding their colossal deity.

But the true wonder lay underground—through earth pulse sensing, Li Pingcan realized every tree originated from the central giant. One tree had become a forest!

Before he could further marvel, the villagers deposited offerings and withdrew, leaving only their group of seven as the blessing ceremony commenced.

"Homage to the Ancestral Tree!" The old chief knelt devoutly.

"Homage to the Ancestral Tree!" the children piped.

"Roots piercing the nether, gnarled boughs spanning heaven's balance. Rings bearing the world's weight, veins cradling stars' courses. With sacrificial blood's warmth, we entreat the Ancestral Tree's blessing."

As the old chief's prayer concluded, Li Pingcan felt a wondrous sensation blossom within—joyous as spring flowers, summer rains, autumn harvests—nature's purest essence. A warm, gentle presence enveloped all the children.

'Actual blessings?!'

Li Pingcan felt his natural comprehension expand significantly while his "MP" increased by about ten percent.

'No wonder villagers fight over "Blessed Child" spots!'

'An ancient tree gaining sentience, yet not as some malevolent spirit but as generations' guardian.'

Had it been otherwise, he wouldn't have risked coming. As he absorbed the Ancestral Tree's gift, inspiration surged—after three years, that "skill awakening" sensation emerged repeatedly.

But as time passed, his expression grew strained. However he tried, the final breakthrough eluded him.

'Peace and patience—no rushing this.'

"Whew."

Exhaling deeply, Li Pingcan closed his eyes in meditation. Gradually, a network of luminous veins materialized before him—pulsing rhythmically with his heartbeat into nine distinct breathing patterns that intertwined until breaking through an intangible barrier.

*Pop!*

Clarity flooded his world as radiant light poured in—something extraordinary had happened!

[You observed the millennial peach tree's leaf vein rhythms and achieved profound enlightenment, successfully awakening [Breath of the Tree]]

[LV0 Breath of the Tree: Advanced breathing technique granting longevity. At max level, extends lifespan to 300 years.]

...

"Longevity technique!"

After endless searching, the answer appeared when least expected. The elusive life-extension method had come so unexpectedly—perhaps everything unfolded as it should.

"Trees do outlive turtles, after all!"

Ordinary turtles rarely surpass a century, whereas trees easily live hundreds of years with proper nourishment—let alone this spiritual peach tree. Mastering [Breath of the Tree] would grant him 300 years—astonishing even by cultivation standards, where golden core immortals barely reached a millennium.

"Thank you, Grandfather Peach Tree!"

Li Pingcan's heartfelt gratitude overflowed. For such an incredible boon, mere verbal thanks felt insufficient—he must reciprocate properly.

His finest offering? [Nature's Gift]!

"Your blessing deserves mine in return."

Under unseen forces, gentle emerald light erupted from the Ancestral Tree as winds harmonized, rustling leaves into ethereal song. A delighted surprise resonated in Li Pingcan's heart—the ancient tree's emotions.

Accustomed to giving without expectation, the Ancestral Tree had never imagined receiving gifts from those it sheltered. Invisible to mortals, spiritual energy poured into its roots at several times the normal rate, expelling impurities through leaf pores.

This supercharged sensation proved so wonderfully unexpected that the ancient tree stretched its branches joyfully, verdant light shimmering.

"The Ancestral Tree's leaves glow greener—clearly moved by filial piety," the old chief remarked contentedly, unaware of the hidden exchange yet perceptive nonetheless.

Those who care always notice changes first. Invigorated, his fatigue forgotten, the chief concluded the "blessing journey" after another incense stick's time.

At parting, Li Pingcan turned back secretly, waving while mouthing, "Thank you for the breathing technique, Grandfather Peach Tree! I'll visit again!" before scampering after the group.

The towering ancient tree's rustling leaves seemed to coalesce into a hoarse, affectionate chuckle.

"Thank you, child."

...

Unlike conventional skills, [Breath of the Tree] didn't level up through MP expenditure. Instead, it required replicating the nine breathing patterns imprinted in his mind—each full cycle (nine breaths) earned 1 proficiency point by circulating energy through organs.

Returning home, Li Pingcan immediately practiced.

"As the name suggests, [Breath of the Tree] mimics a peach tree's respiration—employing plants' unique gas exchange to expel bodily impurities, achieving longevity like Grandfather Peach Tree."

Having observed his father's White Crane Breathing and eldest brother's Black Tiger Breathing, neither matched the complexity of arboreal respiration—proof of [Breath of the Tree]'s superiority.

No wonder it promised 300 years!

Sitting upright with cleared mind and full concentration, those luminous leaf veins reappeared as he entered profound tranquility. His breathing grew steady, prolonged, soundless—by the ninth breath, no vapor escaped his nostrils!

This longevity method doubled as an exceptional stealth technique.

After two hours motionless as an ancient coiled dragon tree, [Breath of the Tree] gained +1 proficiency—yet instead of martial arts training's exhaustion, he felt refreshed.

"Clearly, [Breath of the Tree] accelerates MP recovery!"

Unlike [Moonlight Microbeams] limited to nighttime, this technique restored MP through mere regulation—a godsend for proficiency-grinding hampered by MP shortages.

Most crucially...

"If [Breath of the Tree] resembles health preservation more than skill, could I teach Father and brothers to extend their lifespans too?"

Mortals seldom exceed a century, their final years often bedridden and diseased—a fate Li Pingcan's past self deemed worse than hanging himself. Ironically, terminal illness cut that life short at twenty-something, leading to this transmigration.

Now with loving parents and dependable brothers, such despair had vanished—he wanted to live well and long.

"While 'fortune as vast as eastern seas, longevity matching southern mountains' might be unattainable, perhaps I can grant parents another century!"

...

"Martial arts? What would a woman like me do with martial arts?"

Lady Qin chuckled at her youngest son's sudden mysterious enthusiasm upon returning home. While female martial artists existed, training had to begin young—at her age, she saw no point.

"Mother, please! It's good for health—could help you live to a hundred!" Li Pingcan pleaded, shaking her arm.

He dared not promise 300 years—while he could grind proficiency, his family would have to progress conventionally.

Humoring him with "Later, I'll try later," Lady Qin busied herself cooking, dismissing his words entirely.

"Father convinces Mother best—I'll teach him first."

Undeterred, Li Pingcan devised another plan. As a martial artist, his father would recognize [Breath of the Tree]'s benefits and surely persuade Mother. Then he'd teach his brothers.

Longevity for all, while pursuing immortality!