Conflict in this world was inevitable. Even with Meng Yan's extraordinary talent and a Golden Core Master as his backer, he could not guarantee his survival in this complex struggle.
Don't even mention him—could his Golden Core Master, or even the Nascent Soul Patriarchs within the Qingyuan Sect, truly sleep soundly?
The higher one's position and the closer one stood to the center of resource distribution, the more eyes would be fixed upon them.
He had come to Qingshi County precisely to escape the fiercest whirlpool of strife, seeking a peaceful place to comprehend the Dao and break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. This was only possible thanks to his Golden Core Master; otherwise, he would have been at the mercy of others in many matters.
Yet, even so, he felt himself caught in a web of schemes, constantly watched.
The appearance of Qi Ping had sparked a thought in his mind: to find an unexpected ally for himself.
Regarding his choice of Qi Ping, it was a decision made after careful deliberation.
When he first met Qi Ping, the man was wrapped in a black robe. Meng Yan could see nothing and paid it no mind. But when the Li-Fire Crow decisively chose Qi Ping, he realized the man was extraordinary. Later, out of concern for the crow and curiosity about Qi Ping, he specifically inquired with Boss Gao.
Through various deductions, he realized Qi Ping likely possessed hidden, remarkable strength. He also learned about Qi Ping's past conduct and character from Boss Gao. Consequently, he instructed Boss Gao to keep Qi Ping's information strictly confidential.
However, that alone was not enough to make him a worthy ally.
It was only today that he discovered Qi Ping was on the verge of condensing his Intent!
This meant Qi Ping was nearing the completion of the first stage of Dao-heart cultivation!
How staggering was this for a rogue cultivator?
Furthermore, Qi Ping had just admitted he had never heard the phrase 'When the Dao-heart condenses, Intent is born.' This meant Qi Ping had reached this step entirely on his own!
Meng Yan himself had only stepped onto this path under the direct guidance of a Golden Core Master.
In other words, Qi Ping's talent might even surpass his own.
Since Qi Ping had reached this stage, condensing his Intent and comprehending the True Meaning of Laws should not be far off. With the resources and cultivation methods Meng Yan could provide, who was to say which of them would be the first to reach the Foundation Establishment stage?
Coupled with the Li-Fire Crow's recognition and Boss Gao's high praise, Meng Yan finally made his decision. Boss Gao had met countless people and rarely misjudged them. With the crow as a witness, he was certain that Qi Ping was an ally worth making.
With sentiment as the thread and mutual benefit as the weave, such cooperation should be sufficiently stable.
As for what a rogue cultivator needed, it went without saying. The items Qi Ping sought today proved as much.
As for the opportunities and secrets Qi Ping possessed, Meng Yan had no excessive interest. It was perfectly normal for every cultivator to have their own secrets.
As the disciple of a Golden Core cultivator, Meng Yan was talented and had long since grasped the True Meaning of Laws. Once his Dao-heart condensed and his Intent was born, he would merge the power of the True Meaning to break through to Foundation Establishment! From there, his path would be smooth, a grand march straight toward the Golden Core stage!
What help could vague 'opportunities' offer him? He wished to tread the path of the immortal Dao and become a supreme powerhouse, not a Dharma Brute who remained a slave to energy without even realizing it.
Meanwhile, after hearing Meng Yan's words, Qi Ping's heart was in an uproar.
The impact of this speech was simply too great!
It turned out that tempering the heart and comprehending the Dao were far more important than ordinary cultivators imagined. Without clarifying the Dao-heart, one remained a slave to Laws and spiritual energy! The power of the Laws in this world was so vast—how could mediocre individuals hope to master it easily?
No wonder his control over spiritual energy had grown stronger and stronger since his two epiphanies and his constant self-reflection.
So that was why!
At this thought, Qi Ping immediately stood up and bowed solemnly to Meng Yan.
"Many thanks, Brother Meng, for clearing my doubts!"
The grace of teaching and resolving doubts was entirely worth such a gesture, especially since Meng Yan had shared insights from a Golden Core perspective.
As for Meng Yan guessing his hidden strength, it was only natural. If Boss Gao could see Qi Ping's uniqueness, how could Meng Yan miss it?
The only thing that surprised Qi Ping was the discourse on the Dao-heart. It not only revealed the nature of his own emerging Intent but also interpreted the essence of cultivation that had been puzzling him, making his future path suddenly clear!
Those who had not reached this step would find it hard to understand the true meaning of Meng Yan's words, but for someone truly struggling with these questions, the effect was no exaggeration to describe as a spiritual awakening.
Furthermore, Meng Yan's invitation was also quite surprising. He did not doubt the sincerity of the offer. His Natural Perception had reacted, but not as a warning; rather, it was a sense of a fated opportunity.
As such, this was not a disaster but a matter of significant benefit.
Qi Ping had not expected the situation within the Qingyuan Sect to have reached such a point that even Meng Yan, the disciple of a Golden Core Elder, felt the need to prepare contingencies. The complex dispute had reached a level that even someone of Meng Yan's status could not avoid.
As for the proposed alliance, he was naturally more than willing. As an ally, it would be much more convenient to ask Meng Yan for help in obtaining resources.
As long as he earned enough spirit stones and had Meng Yan's channel, many precious cultivation methods and resources would be easily accessible. Naturally, Qi Ping would not let Meng Yan suffer a loss either.
Qi Ping then continued earnestly, "It is my luck to become your ally, Brother Meng. If there is ever a time of need, I will do my utmost to assist you!"
"Good, good, good! It is also my luck to be allied with Brother Qi. I shall drink this bowl first!"
Meng Yan laughed loudly and then drained his large bowl of wine in one go!
Qi Ping was not to be outdone and similarly raised his bowl to finish it. The spicy heat of the Fire-Raven wine instantly permeated his entire body, and rich spiritual energy filled his veins—energy far more concentrated than that of the Fire-Ginseng Honey.
After spending some time refining the spiritual energy within him, Qi Ping felt a fiery sense of comfort throughout his body. It was indeed a rare, fine wine!
Then, Meng Yan took the initiative to speak again.
"Brother Qi, regarding the clarification of the Dao-heart we just discussed, why don't we each share our experiences of the process? The Dao-heart is difficult to comprehend; if we can verify our insights against each other, it will be beneficial for both of us."
"I could not ask for more!"
"Then I shall go first!"
"Please, Brother Meng!"
"I was born into a family of smiths and learned the methods of artifact refinement from a young age. Later, I was noticed by my Master and brought into the Qingyuan Sect..."
Meng Yan then spoke of his many experiences and the insights he gained from them, explaining how they tempered his Dao-heart. Every experience and every realization he shared moved Qi Ping deeply. In particular, the interlaced concepts of cultivation philosophy filled many gaps in Qi Ping's knowledge.
Once Meng Yan finished, Qi Ping began to recount his own process of comprehending the Dao.
The two talked, and before they knew it, over two hours had passed!
During this discourse, Qi Ping and Meng Yan gradually came to know each other. Meng Yan sought the Dao through artifact refinement, using the forge to temper both his cultivation and his heart. For him, refinement was the best way to perceive the Dao.
Qi Ping's path was more complex, involving farming, beast taming, and living within the world...
These two different ways of seeking the Dao gave both men great inspiration. They even found themselves re-evaluating and gaining new insights during the discussion, making their Dao-heart Intent even more potent. Their control over spiritual energy and the True Meaning of Laws improved by a level.
When the discourse ended, they looked at each other and smiled. This exchange was an unexpected joy for both, yielding a rich harvest! It also created a sense of mutual respect between them. Finding a fellow seeker with whom one could sincerely discuss the Dao was not easy.
Before the discourse, their relationship was more of a partnership based on interest. After the discourse, they began to recognize each other in their hearts.
Words and experiences could be faked, but the cultivation of the heart and the Dao could not—especially with the unique Dao-heart Intent as proof, which most accurately reflected a cultivator's state. For example, a cultivator of the Heartless Dao could never pretend to be deeply affectionate; the moment they were bound by emotion, their Dao-heart would shatter, heart-demons would flourish, and their cultivation would be half-destroyed!
Thus, after the discourse, the two became much more familiar, losing the initial sense of strangeness.
Once the discussion concluded, Meng Yan brought up the matter of the Li-Fire Crow. He still cared about its condition; after all, the crow had indirectly helped him, and he had saved its life once.
"By the way, Brother Qi, how has the strength of that Li-Fire Crow you bought from me recovered?"
To this, Qi Ping replied with a smile, "Brother Meng, you'll know once you see it."
Qi Ping then released Yaya directly. When Meng Yan saw Yaya's appearance, his eyes widened in shock!