Li Pingcan deliberately created two swamps of varying depths, causing the giant crab to tilt toward one side and lose its balance. After creating the swamps, he didn't stop but continued manipulating water currents, generating turbulent undercurrents against the higher side to overturn the crab and expose its vulnerable underbelly. 

For any creature, the abdomen is a weak spot. If he could find and pry open the crab's "flip lid," killing it would be easy. Li Pingcan had no intention of negotiating peacefully with this spirit beast. Spiritual creatures are simple-minded—if they dislike you, that's that. This crab was as stubborn as an antique, impossible to reason with, filled with hostility, and crabs had long-standing enmity with Green Jiao.

Just when victory seemed certain, the giant crab opened its mouth downward and released countless bubbles that buoyed its body, lifting it from the swamp. "That's too slick!" Li Pingcan was stunned. The crab's signature bubble-blowing technique could be used this way! 

Never underestimate any spirit beast, especially a "monarch" surviving in the dangerous waters of the Dayu River. The crab broke free from the swamp and charged again, its eight legs clanging like metal. At the critical moment, Li Pingcan mixed water with mud and hurled it at the crab's eyes, blinding it temporarily. He then froze water around the crab's legs, coating them in frost. 

Water Manipulation included freezing, but its power was limited—it could only slightly hinder the crab's movements. "If soft methods don't work, we'll go hard!" After all, his body had reached the Postnatal Realm martial artist's toughness. 

Exchanging a glance, the fish and snake shot toward the crab's shell like lightning. The giant crab sensed danger and thrashed, shattering the ice instantly. "Now!" 

Their tails pierced through the murky water, each striking one of the crab's eyes. With a sickening pop, the eyes burst, spraying blood and filling the water with a fishy stench, leaving behind empty black sockets. 

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The massive crab reeled backward, howling in agony. Its frenzy turned the waters turbulent, sending stones flying. In its madness, it even crushed countless smaller crabs underfoot, their shells cracking loudly. 

"This is too brutal." Li Pingcan sighed, too kind-hearted to bear such devastation. Resolving to end their suffering, he pondered whether to steam or braise them. 

Blind and flailing wildly, the crab was now defenseless. "I'll deliver the final blow!" Green Jiao declared eagerly. It swam beneath the crab, its tail stiffening into a spear, and stabbed the crab's ventral nerve center—a fatal weak point it had discovered through years of battling crabs. 

With a thrust, the colossal creature stilled before collapsing into the mud. The remaining crabs scattered in panic while the Qing River aquatic forces rallied, their morale soaring. As the saying goes, "Capture the leader, and the gang collapses." 

Green Jiao wreaked havoc among the crabs—spirit beasts were on a completely different level from ordinary creatures. The crab "centurions" were torn apart by swarms of treasure fish, reduced to shattered shells. 

When the battle ended, Li Pingcan gazed at the motionless giant crab with awe. "We actually killed such a massive spirit beast." He never imagined achieving such a feat before. In the past, he would have fled at the mere sight of such a creature. 

"Calling it a 'spirit beast' isn't quite right," Green Jiao corrected. "This crab was actually a demonic beast. True spirit beasts like you and me possess intelligence and can communicate." 

"Demonic beasts? Spirit beasts? There's a difference?" Li Pingcan was confused. 

After Green Jiao's explanation, he learned that demonic beasts had physical power comparable to spirit beasts but lacked awakened intelligence, relying solely on brute strength. They were far more numerous—most creatures never developed spiritual awareness, remaining violent and savage. 

"I once heard a legend," Green Jiao mused. "In ancient times when the world was newly formed, multiple realms were interconnected, and all beasts were born as enlightened spirit beasts. But during an immortal war, the realms shattered, and our ancestral realm drifted into the sea of three thousand minor worlds, lost forever." 

Green Jiao envied those primordial times. Only those who had undergone spiritual awakening understood how rare it was. Being born awakened was beyond imagination. Before Li Pingcan arrived, it had no one in the Qing River to talk to, living in lonely isolation. 

Li Pingcan was astonished. By this logic, even the Great Yu Dynasty was but a speck in the vast cosmos. But since this was just a "legend," he didn't dwell on it. He'd been burned by rumors before—every "ancient spiritual site" or "legendary treasure" had turned out to be fake. 

"No rumors, no spreading rumors—starting with me," he muttered. "Let's check the loot first." 

As he spoke, Little Gold suddenly darted over, trembling. "Th-there... something terrifying..." Through Animal Affinity, Li Pingcan sensed its fear. The golden fish pointed shakily toward where the Qing River met the Dayu River. 

Realizing this might explain the crab invasion, Li Pingcan followed and found a pale bone protruding from raised mud. Stopping Green Jiao, he carefully cleared the silt, revealing a human skeleton covered in brown algae. 

The skeleton sat cross-legged in the mud, head bowed, eye sockets and teeth filled with black soil. Its hands were clasped except for one finger pointing rigidly skyward. The posture radiated resentment and defiance, as if the person had died in bitter injustice. 

"This isn't a cultivator's remains," Li Pingcan observed. There were no signs of spiritual roots—just thick bones bearing old martial arts scars. The lingering battle aura made his skin crawl. Perhaps this aura had attracted the demonic beasts. 

Relieved that his Evil-Repelling Talisman remained inert (no vengeful spirits here), he examined the skeleton closer. Aside from a rusted, broken sword confirming the deceased was a martial artist, there was no useful information. 

"Let's give them a proper burial." Li Pingcan thought underwater burials risked accumulating malignant energy, but since the body hadn't corrupted, the person must have been righteous. 

Using Earth Shaping and Water Manipulation, he dried the bones and dug a deep pit. As he prepared to bury them, a strange stone rolled out, inscribed with archaic-looking characters unlike the Great Yu Dynasty's script—and only partially preserved. 

Digging further, he unearthed more stone fragments, gradually piecing together text and a tattered map. "Green Jiao, can you read this?" 

The serpent flicked its tail smugly. "Of course I can't!" 

Li Pingcan was speechless. Since when was illiteracy a point of pride? Collecting the stones, he figured someone trustworthy might decipher them. Optimistically, this could even be a treasure map—keeping it couldn't hurt. 

............ 

After the battle, loot was tallied. The cowardly old turtle, skilled at survival, happily scavenged tender crab meat from the wreckage. 

Li Pingcan sorrowfully gathered the fallen Qing River treasure fish, honoring their sacrifice in defending their home. Of course, burying them would be wasteful—better to let his mother cook them fresh. 

Seeing this, Green Jiao tossed him a relatively intact butterfly carp. The aquatic world, hardened by survival, never wasted resources—any flesh that could enhance strength was quickly consumed. This wasn't "desecration" but nature's law: the strong prey on the weak. 

As a druid, Li Pingcan followed natural principles—not pacifism, but understanding and adhering to nature's rules. Distributing the crab meat to the treasure fish, he and Green Jiao split the giant crab's spoils. The pristine white meat, floating like art, made Li Pingcan joke, "We're having crab sashimi!" 

There was no time to cook—demonic beast meat would attract predators. Gulping down raw crab, Li Pingcan's Earth God Refining Qi Technique instantly converted it into spiritual energy. His stomach bulged then flattened rapidly, astonishing Green Jiao. 

"Little Carp, you're tiny! How can you eat more than me?" By the time it spoke, Li Pingcan had already devoured a whole leg. Green Jiao hurriedly shut up and ate, its dragon horns and scales flickering as it neared a breakthrough. 

"Ugh..." After finishing the crab, both lay exhausted, belching seafood fumes. Li Pingcan closed his eyes, feeling spiritual energy circulate through his meridians, warming his dantian. 

"Breaking through to the second layer of Qi Refining requires ten times more resources than the first. And I just advanced—rushing would risk bursting my meridians." Like weight loss, cultivation needed gradual progress. The ideal method was finding a spiritual vein for steady growth. 

"How difficult!" The Spirit Mountain lacked even a first-tier spiritual vein, just slightly richer in energy than elsewhere. 

"Maybe White Lady knows." Remembering the trapped serpent, Li Pingcan wondered if he could now help her—and "politely" request information. More importantly, he sensed her immense power, far surpassing Green Jiao. Befriending her would be invaluable. 

"HAHAHA!" Green Jiao suddenly laughed manically, interrupting his thoughts. "This lord has succeeded!" 

Li Pingcan rolled his eyes, assuming it was being dramatic again—until Green Jiao's scales gleamed, its aura skyrocketing. Water swirled into a massive vortex, churning the river anew. 

When the commotion subsided, Green Jiao's golden serpent eyes gleamed with pride, its scales glossier than ever. "Second-tier spirit beast!" 

Li Pingcan was envious. As a spirit beast, Green Jiao just needed to eat enough to level up—no cultivation required. Half a Fire Spirit Mushroom and crab meat, plus stored energy, had propelled its breakthrough. 

"Your lord is a genius! A future true dragon!" It slung a tail around Li Pingcan smugly. "Call me 'daddy,' and I'll take care of you!" 

Li Pingcan deadpanned, "Really?" 

"Just say it! Call me 'daddy' today, and I'll spoil you!" 

"If you're so talented, you don't need my tips for the Dragon Palace's Bliss Platform trial." 

"Wait!" Panicking as Li Pingcan turned away, Green Jiao groveled. "DADDY! Please teach me!" 

"That's better." Li Pingcan smirked. "Keep dreaming, serpent." 

They salvaged the crab's toughest shell—a master smith could forge powerful weapons. Most martial artists used "treasure beast" materials like purple-tusked boar teeth (his father's spear), but spirit beast parts were rarer. 

Storing the shell with Green Jiao for future crafting, Li Pingcan declared, "Let's visit the Dragon Palace. I feel ready for the second trial." 

Last time, he'd nearly achieved "superior" grade. Now, with his breakthrough and the crab's energy, his spiritual sense had strengthened further. 

"You're such a cultivation maniac," Green Jiao grumbled. Its ideal life was eating and sleeping—grand ambitions like "becoming a dragon" rarely lasted three minutes. But under Li Pingcan's glare, it quickly changed tune. 

............ 

Dragon Palace. 

"Entering Bliss Platform, second layer." 

"Begin." 

As the familiar scenery faded, Li Pingcan forgot his identity, confronted by visions of earthly pleasures: feasts, wine pools, and beauties. 

An ethereal moon goddess asked tearfully, "Am I beautiful?" 

"The most beautiful," he admitted. 

"Then why won't you stay?" 

"Because I must cultivate. Once immortal, I can have ten like you." His trained delayed gratification served him well. 

The goddess vanished, replaced by other illusions—breaking through to Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul... 

Finally, a heavenly pill appeared: the Divine Transformation Elixir, promising instant ascension. "Why won't you take it?" celestial beings urged. 

"Is cultivation difficult?" Li Pingcan asked. 

"Extremely—defying heaven itself. But this pill grants divine fortune!" 

"If it's so hard, how can a pill bypass it? Without tempering your dao heart, how achieve dao fruit?" The immortals were speechless. 

Illusions dissolved like mist until the final trial collapsed. 

"Human Li Pingcan has passed the Dragon Palace's second layer: Bliss Platform." 

"Qi Refining first layer clearance rating: Heavenly Grade. Reward: Foundation Establishment Pill." 

"Success!" Elated, Li Pingcan celebrated his two-year-long victory. 

Before him materialized a dark golden pill with its description: 

[Foundation Establishment Pill: Crafted by Dragon Treasure Sage. Tempers the body's foundational dao.] 

Lacking the "ancient" prefix of the Dao Spirit Pill, it was less precious but still invaluable for consolidating one's foundation.