"The time has come. We can move!"
At those words, Qi Ping nodded, concealed his aura, and followed Meng Yan up Heaven-Prop Mountain.
'Though it seems Meng Yan has control of the situation, I must still handle this with caution,' Qi Ping warned himself. If the Qingyuan Sect could use ruins or caves to set traps, other sects might well turn the tables and use them to ambush Qingyuan disciples. After all, if the twin demonic witches were known as the Black and White Twin Slayers, they surely possessed extraordinary means. Without knowing their style, it was entirely possible they were counter-plotting against Meng Yan.
The cultivation world was simply too dangerous; a single slip-on led to one's Dao being extinguished. Rogue cultivators who acted on impulse were sometimes truly as naive as fools. You think you are the mantis hunting the cicada, but how can you be sure there isn't an oriole behind you?
Fortunately, the thing Heaven-Prop Mountain lacked least was trees, which gave Qi Ping a significant boost in perception as a Jungle Druid. With the Natural Perception talent active, the likelihood of him falling into a desperate situation was low. The complex terrain was also an ideal environment for escaping as a bee.
After following Meng Yan for about five miles, Meng Yan's pace suddenly slowed, and he became incredibly cautious. He glanced at Qi Ping, who nodded in understanding. They were close!
Qi Ping couldn't help but feel a surge of tension. This would be his first time fighting against geniuses from a major sect.
After walking cautiously for a short while, they heard the sound of someone attacking a formation ahead. However, when they looked toward the source, they saw only an ordinary rock wall.
'This must be the outer Illusion Formation Meng Yan mentioned.'
Seeing an Illusion Formation of this level for the first time, Qi Ping was profoundly shocked. Neither his spirit-soul nor his naked eyes could detect any difference between the wall and the surrounding forest.
This intensified his desire to learn the art of formations. This skill would be far more useful to him than alchemy! While bees could serve as a substitute for alchemy, formations could only be laid by Qi Ping himself. More importantly, formations could protect him and his territory. Illusion, trapping, killing, and defensive formations—Qi Ping craved them all.
'Once I obtain a spirit-soul talent and secure my breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, I can begin studying formations.'
Druids were close to nature, and formations often utilized the power of heaven and earth. To some extent, of the four major cultivation arts, the path of formations was the most suitable for a Druid.
While his spirit-soul and eyes couldn't see through the illusion, his Druid intuition told him that the area ahead was slightly different from the natural environment.
"Brother Qi, behind that formation is the Foundation Establishment dwelling. Those people are likely attacking the inner defense array. There are no other abnormalities inside for now; we can move in soon," Meng Yan whispered, glancing at the strange black stone in his hand.
"Good. Can you determine their exact positions inside, Brother Meng?"
"I cannot," Meng Yan shook his head.
"Then I shall go in first to scout the way? If there are no issues, we will strike together."
Qi Ping took out ten ordinary Golden Marrow Bees from his storage bag to show Meng Yan. Meng Yan glanced at them and nodded his approval.
"Very well. I shall trouble you, Brother Qi!"
After receiving the go-ahead, Qi Ping sent the ten bees through the path Meng Yan indicated. After a series of twists and turns, the bees successfully traversed the illusion.
Beyond the formation lay a fairly vast cavern. A man and two women came into the bees' view, currently working together to blast a defensive array within the cave. As Meng Yan had said, there were two women and one man, all radiating the aura of the late stage of Qi Refinement. Aside from them, the cave was empty.
After confirming there were no other hidden dangers, the bees relayed the situation to Qi Ping.
"Brother Meng, there are only the two women and the man inside. No other dangers detected."
"Excellent! Once we enter, I will handle the demonic witches. You and Yaya slay that Heavenly Fire Pavilion disciple first, then come assist me!"
"Understood!"
With that, the two charged into the Illusion Formation.
The moment the bees entered the cavern, the demonic witches and the Heavenly Fire Pavilion disciple noticed them. The sudden appearance of bees filled them with a sense of unease. They were not so careless as to ignore them just because they were mere insects. How could a few bees pass through the Illusion Formation unharmed? The three of them had spent considerable effort just to get inside!
Sensing an unexpected turn of events, they immediately swallowed Qi-Restoration Pills and stood ready. One of the witches struck out with a massive sword light, instantly killing the ten first-grade mid-rank bees.
"Dammit! We're being watched!" the white-clad witch exclaimed.
"It's a trap! Didn't you say you had already scouted this place?" the black-clad witch glared furiously at the Heavenly Fire Pavilion disciple.
"I truly came here once before, and nothing happened! That is why I invited you!" the man in red explained, his brow furrowed.
"Then it must be targeted at us... perhaps it's Meng—"
Before the white-clad witch could finish, Meng Yan's tower-like, burly figure burst through the illusion and appeared before them. The sight turned their faces grim; they had been schemed against!
Meng Yan had been waiting for them to take the bait! Last time, they had only escaped by catching him off guard with a combined attack. They had a profoundly deep understanding of Meng Yan's terrifying combat strength.
The moment Meng Yan cleared the illusion, he said nothing. An ultimate-grade spirit tool hammer appeared in his hand, and the terrifying True Meaning of Fire instantly swirled around it. A powerful pressure bore down on the trio. Then, swinging the hammer with an agility that rivaled a sword cultivator, he delivered a fierce, thunderous strike that made their faces pale!
Qi Ping, following close behind, was equally shocked by the display. Meng Yan's combat strength was truly extraordinary! Seeing him start the fight without a word, Qi Ping did not hesitate. He released Yaya, while simultaneously executing the Explosive Flame Movement and Explosive Flame Art, crashing toward the man from the Heavenly Fire Pavilion like a cannonball.