"Refining Qi Stage Five is already the mid-stage of Refining Qi cultivation."

The dantian's energy sea had expanded several times over compared to before. Magic power surged, and his divine sense spread outward like a tide. Within a radius of several miles, every rustle of wind and grass was clear to him.

With this breakthrough in realm, the Druid’s status panel underwent another transformation.

[You have broken through to Refining Qi Stage Five. Druid level increased. You have gained 5 Tier Upgrade Points.]

This was truly unexpected windfall wealth.

Without hesitation, he immediately allocated all five precious Tier Upgrade Points to those “old comrades” who had accompanied him for a long time but remained at zero tiers.

Brilliant light flowed, and the text on the panel began to refresh rapidly.

[Oak Stick Technique has been upgraded to: Oak Stick Technique (Tier 1)]

[The staff you hold is no longer limited to strength and enhancement. You can consume a small amount of magic power to freely change its length, thickness, and shape. You can even briefly simulate the sharpness of other weapons (such as spear tips or blades) and add a slight vibration force.]

“Wow, it’s the Golden Cudgel!”

Li Pingcan was struck with an idea and casually picked up a dead tree branch.

The moment he infused magic power into it, the branch continuously lengthened and thickened in his hand, turning in the blink of an eye into a more than three-meter-long jet-black iron staff, which even carried a faint metallic chill on its surface.

He flicked his wrist, swinging the iron staff horizontally. A dull explosion sounded in the air, sending out an invisible shockwave of force.

“Both offense and defense, plus shape-shifting.” Li Pingfu nodded in satisfaction.

[Primal Savagery has been upgraded to: Wild Fury (Tier 1)]

[He is no longer limited to only a single retreating claw strike. Instead, he can temporarily transform parts of his body into beast form, entering the 'Wild Fury' state. In this state, his strength, speed, and recovery abilities receive slight boosts, and he gains a natural instinct to sense danger.]

This was far from a berserker transformation. Although only partial beastification, it brought comprehensive enhancement.

[Fire Control has been upgraded to: Fire Affinity (Tier 1)]

[His control over fire grants him minor fire resistance. He can absorb some external fire energy and store it internally to weaken his own fire spells or form a powerful fire shield on his body surface.]

Li Pingfu concentrated his mind, and a large cluster of flames danced at his fingertips. The color of the flames was purer and the temperature lower than before.

[Elemental Amplification has been upgraded to: Elemental Infusion (Tier 1)]

[He is no longer limited to simply amplifying elemental spell damage. Instead, he can infuse elemental power into his weapons or fists and feet, adding corresponding elemental damage. Every attack becomes full of variation.]

[Dance of the Wind has been upgraded to: Windwalker's Protection (Tier 1)]

[He is no longer limited to creating large-scale tornadoes. Instead, he can summon a protective wind barrier around himself that can deflect a small portion of ranged attacks (such as arrows and high-level spells) and make his body light as a swallow, slightly increasing his movement speed.]

Feeling these seven newly refreshed and subtle skills, Li Pingfu was overwhelmed with a sense of danger.

Capable at any range, offense and defense combined, plus the Martial Way Golden Body and the endless means of the Black Scale River—he would dare to challenge even a Foundation Establishment cultivator!

"Big Carp, he… has he become weaker again?"

Qu Shan leaned closer, golden snake pupils full of shock. It could clearly feel that the aura beneath Li Pingfu was several times weaker and more condensed than before.

“Just luck, just luck.” Qu Shan chuckled softly.

“That guy really is a monster!”

Green Jiao sneered, “But that’s good! Following a good brother like you means there’s meat to eat! I feel the dragon blood in my body is about to boil. Those upstream scumbags, Jiao is going to fight ten of them this time!”

After signing a contract with Li Pingcan, it had gained tremendous benefits. Not only had its cultivation advanced, stabilizing in the mid-stage of Spirit Beast Rank One, equivalent to a human cultivator’s mid-stage Refining Qi. But because spirit beasts had powerful bodies, its true combat power was far stronger than that of spell cultivators.

The inheritance contained within its dragon scales and horns had also unlocked many abilities.

“Enough bragging.” Li Pingcan smiled, “Get ready;

we should set off.”

“Alright!”

Green Jiao responded with a shout. Then its huge body flashed with light and transformed into a palm-sized blue snake. Curling its tail, it coiled around Li Pingcan’s wrist, disguised as an ancient snake-shaped bracelet.

“Perfect size, very convenient.” Li Pingcan admired in his heart. This dragon bloodline inheritance was truly impressive.

Man and snake, no longer delayed, immediately set off to join Xiao Fei waiting outside.

“Roar!”

Xiao Fei saw Li Pingcan and wanted to emit an affectionate call, but as it approached, its huge body suddenly stiffened, flapping wings and retreating repeatedly, all its feathers bristling.

“Hm?” Li Pingcan was stunned, then realized. Xiao Fei was afraid of him!

This was the Dragon Might!

After contracting with Green Jiao, he had gained this bloodline talent, originating from the ancient dragon race’s pressure, which naturally suppressed beasts!

“Xiao Fei, don’t be afraid.”

Li Pingcan hurriedly reined in his spirit, withdrawing all the Dragon Might he had projected externally. At the same time, he transmitted a soothing intent through the contract.

The terrifying pressure that had made Xiao Fei’s soul tremble vanished instantly. Xiao Fei slowly calmed, then affectionately rubbed its head against Li Pingcan’s hand, showing extreme humility.

“Hehe, see that? This is the power of the dragon bloodline!”

Green Jiao’s proud thought echoed in his mind.

“Yes, yes.” Li Pingcan responded to Green Jiao’s words but thought that Dragon Might should also be effective against intelligent-less demonic beasts. After all, the pressure of a superior was an instinctive fear engraved in the bones.

...........

Yunshui County’s training ground.

Cold wind howled, stirring the snow on the ground, stinging faces painfully.

But colder than this wind and snow was the human heart.

On the training ground, thousands of freshly conscripted “recruits” stood densely packed.

They were more like forcibly gathered farmers than soldiers.

Holding spears clumsily, many couldn’t even perform the simplest thrust properly, their eyes filled with fear and confusion.

The ranks were loose and disorganized, with no military discipline whatsoever.

Li Pingfu stood on a high platform, his face as cold as water, his heart chilling inch by inch.

He knew clearly that these five days of training were merely a formality, a show for the higher-ups.

These people weren’t even cannon fodder. Their only use was to use their fragile flesh and blood to fill, plug, and consume the first wave of the beast tide, buying precious time for those lofty figures above.

He sighed deeply, powerless to change anything.

Perhaps this was fate!

Qingyang County was long gone from its former tranquility.

Li Pingcan shifted form into an ordinary-looking bodyguard and followed Li Pingfu, their group heading toward the Qingyang County front line.

On the city walls, dried dark red bloodstains and broken weapons were everywhere.

Inside the city, the streets were bleak, shops tightly closed, and the air filled with despair and oppression.

A swarm of ragged, sallow-faced disaster victims surged forward, surrounding them.

“Official, have mercy! Please give us some food! We haven’t eaten for three days!”

“My child is starving to death. Please, official, I beg you!”

A woman holding a child knelt on the ground, bowing her head repeatedly, her forehead already bruised and swollen.

“Get lost! All of you get lost!”

The soldiers maintaining order whipped their long whips mercilessly on the disaster victims, “One more step forward and you’ll be killed on sight!”

“Crack!”

The whip fell, blood splattered, the woman screamed in agony but still held her child tightly in her arms.

“Why don’t they give them food?” Green Jiao asked puzzledly from his wrist, “They look so pitiful.”

Li Pingcan’s eyes were calm and unshaken, but his heart was ice-cold.

He whispered to Green Jiao, “Look at those disaster victims around. Though sallow and thin, there’s a hint of shrewdness and ferocity in their eyes. They’re not real disaster victims but thugs and hooligans taking advantage of the chaos, mixed in with the crowd, waiting for a chance to cause trouble.”

He paused, his voice growing colder, “As for the real disaster victims, they’ve long been pushed to the outskirts, without even a chance to approach. If we give handouts now, it would only cause greater chaos and trampling. Temporary kindness breeds greater evil. In times of turmoil, pity is the most useless thing.”

Green Jiao seemed to half-understand but felt the chill in those words.

Li Pingcan said nothing more and silently passed through the chaotic crowd, heading toward the county government’s city defense formation.

To save these people, the only way was to quell this raging beast disaster at its root.

...........

Qingyang County Government.

Dozens of cultivators wearing various Taoist robes gathered in a hall. Some had ethereal presence, others had an immortal aura. They were all sect disciples sent to resist the demonic beasts.

Li Pingfu wore the County Captain official robe, standing tall with a stern expression. His hand rested on his waist, and he sat at the end of the military officer’s seat.

Li Pingcan wore ordinary bodyguard clothing, quietly standing behind his elder brother, observing everyone’s expressions like the most inconspicuous shadow.

“The Seven Stars Sect, Divine Power Sect, Yunxia Valley… all have sent people.” Li Pingcan silently noted, scanning the factions present without a sound.

The Seven Stars Sect’s representatives were a pair of master and disciple he had met once before. The white-haired elder leaned sideways on a chair, eyes half-closed, sleepy as if about to snore any moment.

The girl named Li Qian curiously observed the hall’s furnishings, occasionally resting her chin on her hand, looking somewhat bored.

The cultivators from Divine Blade Sect were more familiar.

Leading them was a towering burly man named Chen Batian, clad in fiery red battle armor, carrying a ghost-headed greatsword wider than a door plank on his back, exuding an arrogant aura of “I’m the best in the world.”

The Yunxia Valley representative was a beautiful female cultivator wearing a water-blue palace robe, called “Fairy Luo.”

Her figure was graceful, her face cold and detached like the celestial maiden from the Nine Heavens, but her beautiful phoenix-like eyes carried a trace of indifference.

Besides these three major sects, there were several smaller sect disciples, but obviously all looked to these three for leadership.

Compared to the varying presences of these sect cultivators, the dynasty’s cultivators appeared especially solemn and unified.

Their leader was a middle-aged cultivator with a stern face that radiated authority without anger, named Wei Yanzheng. He was a celestial official of the dynasty and the overall commander of this beast tide defense, his cultivation having reached the late Refining Qi stage.

He wore the dynasty’s specially granted black mystic armor and carried an official seal at his waist. Simply standing there, he emanated a majestic pressure from the dynasty, forcing even the normally arrogant sect cultivators to quietly restrain themselves and salute respectfully.

“Lord Wei.”

“Lord Wei, good health to you.”

Wei Yanzheng only nodded slightly, scanning the crowd before speaking in a deep voice, “Everyone, the beast disaster situation is urgent. No time for nonsense. According to the scouts’ reports from the front, the main force of this beast tide is a great demon comparable to late Refining Qi stage, the ‘Three-Eyed Demon Ape,’ and a ‘Black Scale River Serpent’ occupying the Dayu River. Today, we are here to discuss a countermeasure.”

As soon as he finished, Chen Batian of Divine Blade Sect slammed his greatsword into the ground with a clang, shaking the earth.

In a muffled voice, he said, “What countermeasure is there against such beasts? Just kill through them! But there are too many low-level beasts, and they’re quite annoying at the front line. In my opinion, we should mobilize the city’s disaster victims and those green recruits to charge at the front, exhausting the beasts’ strength. They’re cheap lives anyway, no pity if they die, and it buys us time to go straight for the heads of those two great demons!”

At these words, Li Pingfu’s fingers suddenly tightened, producing a cracking sound.

Li Pingcan, standing behind his elder brother, felt the suppressed anger radiating from him and chilled inside.

“This is what cultivators are. This is the immortal sect.”

He sneered inwardly, “In their eyes, mortal lives are no more than grass and dirt.”

Wei Yanzheng listened to Chen Batian’s words with an ancient, expressionless face. After a moment’s thought, he spoke slowly, cold and rational, “This plan is feasible.”

What!?

Li Pingfu lowered his head, disbelief on his face. He had expected that as a court official, Wei Yanzheng would at least rebuke the remark and uphold mortal dignity.

But unexpectedly…

Wei Yanzheng seemed to think this was no big deal, saying calmly, “To preserve the living strength of cultivators, some sacrifice is unavoidable. The city soldiers and those refugees can just be put to use.”

Fairy Luo of Yunxia Valley spoke coldly like jade, “Since the strategy is decided, then… how should the demon pills and spirit materials obtained after the battle be distributed?”

She did not care about the lives of mortals at all. She only cared about profit.

“Of course, it will be distributed according to merit!”

Chen Batian said matter-of-factly, “Whoever kills more beasts gets more share! Those two great demons, Divine Blade Sect will definitely be the ones to behead them!”

“Heh, Daoist Chen sure talks big.”

The white-haired elder of Seven Stars Sect finally opened his eyes, speaking leisurely, “That Three-Eyed Demon Ape, our Seven Stars disciples also want to try their hand on it.”

Seeing the major sects about to argue over the “spoils,” Wei Yanzheng finally spoke.

“Enough.”

His voice was not loud but carried unquestionable authority, “This beast disaster is led by our dynasty. After the battle, the dynasty will take seventy percent of all gains. The remaining thirty percent will be divided by you according to your own abilities. As for the two great demons, the Three-Eyed Demon Ape will be dealt with by us, and the Black Scale River Serpent will be yours.”

Wei Yanzheng’s words settled the matter. Although the sect cultivators were dissatisfied, they had to comply.

His gaze landed on Li Pingfu.

“County Captain Li. You will be responsible for the eastern defense line of the city. If beasts attack the city, hold them firmly! Even if human lives are filled up, do not let the beasts into the city.”

“...Yes!” Li Pingfu forced out a word between clenched teeth and cupped his fists to receive the order.

To mortals, this was a matter of countless lives in the defense of the homeland. To these cultivators, it had become a hunting game with price tags and profit shares.

Li Pingcan sneered in his heart, no longer harboring any goodwill toward these so-called orthodox immortal sects.

After the meeting dispersed, Li Pingcan followed Li Pingfu and quietly activated [Fungal Lord Domain].

Information is life.

Know yourself and your enemy, and you will win every battle.

Soon, a clear image appeared in his mind.

It was a black giant python over five zhang long, covered with black scales the size of bowls, faintly visible in the murky river water.

Every time it rolled, it stirred up a towering wave that shattered the rocks on the shore.

“A late-stage Rank One demonic beast, indeed ferocious.”

Li Pingcan thought to himself but immediately sensed something was wrong.

In the Druid’s perception, the life essence and demonic power inside the giant python were boiling and clashing wildly like a volcano about to erupt, in an extremely unstable state.

The power was so enormous that the surrounding river water was boiling, bubbling with faint steam.

“This is… a sign of breakthrough!” Li Pingcan’s pupils suddenly shrank.

This Black Scale River Serpent was on the verge of transforming from a Rank One demonic beast to Rank Two!

If it succeeded, its strength would undergo a tremendous change, comparable to a human Foundation Establishment cultivator!

At that moment, two low-level demonic beasts bit and tore at each other. One was overwhelmed and had its neck bitten off, and bright red blood instantly stained the river water crimson.

At the instant the giant crocodile died, a blood-colored energy flow barely visible to the naked eye rose from its corpse, like smoke pulled by an invisible force, all absorbed by the Black Scale River Serpent through the air!

With this influx of blood energy, the serpent’s already wild aura visibly grew stronger. Its muscles bulged under the scales, emitting painful yet ecstatic roars.

“So that’s how it is!”

It could accelerate its breakthrough by devouring the blood energy released when other demonic beasts died!

The more brutal the beast disaster, the more beasts died, the stronger it would become!

This was not a beast disaster;

this was a grand feast prepared by the Black Scale River Serpent for itself!

“These idiots!”

He looked at the sect cultivators nearby eagerly preparing to “hunt” and sneered coldly.

They thought they were coming to pick up freebies, but they were actually feeding the boss experience. The more beasts they killed, the faster this serpent would break through, and when that time came, they wouldn’t even know how they died!