Is this the aura of Foundation Establishment?
When Old Man Zhou sensed the sudden surge of Foundation Establishment pressure emanating from Qi Ping, he stood frozen, staring at the younger man with wide, bulging eyes.
Foundation Establishment? Since when was Qi Ping at the Foundation Establishment stage?
Old Man Zhou wondered if his eyes were deceiving him, or if he was simply trapped in a vivid dream. This was utterly inconceivable! He knew Qi Ping's talent better than anyone; reaching the third layer of Qi Refinement in such a short time should have been nearly impossible, and attaining the mid-levels would have been considered a stroke of profound luck.
Yet now, Qi Ping was suddenly standing before him as a Foundation Establishment cultivator! It was beyond absurd! Old Man Zhou's mind felt as if it were on the verge of stalling. It took a long time for the reality to sink in as he continued to sense the authentic, stable aura of a Foundation Establishment expert radiating from Qi Ping.
"You brat! You nearly gave this old man a heart attack!"
Though Old Man Zhou didn't know the specifics of what had happened, the truth was laid bare before him. He was genuinely happy for Qi Ping from the bottom of his heart. After all, the person he cared about most in this world was this young man. What moved him most was that despite attaining such a lofty realm, Qi Ping remained unchanged—he didn't look down on a lowly, ordinary bee farmer like him.
Old Man Zhou didn't expect any rewards, but the feeling of being discarded or despised is never pleasant, especially for an old man whose life is nearing its end.
"Hehe." Qi Ping merely flashed a smug, triumphant grin. After working so hard to achieve this, he absolutely had to give Old Man Zhou a proper shock! Otherwise, how could he justify the effort to surprise this lazy old man?
"In that case, let's return to Qingshi County! Is it convenient to take those Green-Slave Bees with us? I've raised them for so long; it wouldn't feel right to leave them in these deep woods." (TN: Green-Slave Bee: A common breed of honeybee used by low-level farmers.)
Old Man Zhou didn't ask how Qi Ping had achieved his breakthrough; he didn't truly care. In fact, he quickly moved past his initial shock. He had long since made peace with the world; shock was one thing, but he didn't let it consume him. For him, as long as Qi Ping was safe and could occasionally bring him some good wine, everything else was secondary. Whether Qi Ping was strong or weak, these were the simple things he looked forward to.
"Of course it's convenient. I'll be back before you know it!"
As his voice faded, Qi Ping vanished from the spot. Not long after, he reappeared in the courtyard.
"So fast?" Old Man Zhou asked, surprised. He had only just begun packing a few things.
"Mhm. Every single one of them is tucked away in my spirit beast bag!" Qi Ping said, patting the bag at his waist. To a Druid like him, relocating a swarm of Green-Slave Bees was trivial.
"Good!"
Old Man Zhou continued his preparations. Since Qi Ping mentioned they were going to a new location—and that Peak Number Seven was no longer safe—he decided to bring everything useful. He stuffed the storage bags Qi Ping provided with a clatter of belongings. With enough bags, packing was easy.
As they neared the end, Old Man Zhou couldn't help but offer a warning. "Kid Qi, now that you've reached Foundation Establishment, do not forget to remain cautious. Do not underestimate those old-school Foundation Establishment experts in Qingshi County, nor the great sects that support them."
Old Man Zhou generally trusted Qi Ping, but the boy was still young. Reaching such a height at a tender age often led to arrogance and recklessness, a mindset that claimed the lives of countless cultivators every year.
"Don't worry, old man. I value my life above all else!" Qi Ping replied with a laugh.
"That's good then!"
After they finished packing, Qi Ping quickly escorted Old Man Zhou back toward the Cloud-Mist Mountain Range. With his Natural Perception providing a simplified form of omen-reading, they avoided all risks and returned safely to the depths of the range.
Within the mountains, at a location some distance from his primary territory, Qi Ping had already prepared a sanctuary. He had set up high-level illusion and concealment arrays, bolstered by defensive and offensive formations. He had also planted various flowers, grasses, and fruit trees, including many spirit fruits suitable for brewing wine. These were designed to keep Old Man Zhou from getting bored; if the old man wasn't going to focus on cultivation, he needed hobbies to pass the time.
Over the next few days, Qi Ping didn't return to his own territory to busy himself. Instead, he worked with Old Man Zhou to build a house that was a near-perfect replica of the one back at Peak Number Seven. He even found time to visit the old peak and retrieve familiar potted plants and greenery that were still alive. When everything was set, it truly felt like home again. One look at the smile on Old Man Zhou's face was enough to know how satisfied he was.
As for the Green-Slave Bees, they adapted quickly under the guidance of a Druid. Furthermore, this place was rich in spiritual energy; even if it was thin, it was far better than the mortal realm. The bees seemed delighted, busily gathering nectar and building their new hive, making the area feel vibrant and lively.
Qi Ping stayed for a few more days, drinking wine with Old Man Zhou and chatting about the recent events in Qingshi County and the secrets of the great sects. Only after ensuring the old man was settled did he return to his own territory.
He had considered bringing Old Man Zhou into his core territory, but there were simply too many secrets there. Although Old Man Zhou was completely trustworthy, it would be inconvenient. It was easier to just bring the old man whatever resources he needed, allowing him to live a carefree and relaxed life.
Regarding the life-nourishing honey, Qi Ping assisted Old Man Zhou in refining a portion as soon as they returned to the mountains, revitalizing the old man's fading vitality. By continuing to consume the honey, Old Man Zhou could easily extend his life by another eight to ten years. If luck was on his side, he might even break through a layer or two of his cultivation, adding a few more years.
However, that was likely the extent of his potential. When Qi Ping mentioned finding ways to extend his life further, Old Man Zhou declined.
"This old man's life is already fulfilling. There is no need to defy heaven to prolong it. I don't wish to merely linger; to me, more is not necessarily better."
"Going with the cycle of heaven is enough. Perhaps in the next life, I will be granted a good rebirth—if such a thing as reincarnation exists."
Returning to his territory, Qi Ping took some time to adjust his state of mind before diving back into his cultivation. For Old Man Zhou, life was already complete. But for Qi Ping, Foundation Establishment was merely the true beginning of his journey. Sensing the laws and creating his own techniques—his path to immortality was finally on the right track.
"It's been so many days; the little Stone Spirit must be getting impatient. It's time to complete the covenant!"
Qi Ping decided it was time to contract his fifth animal companion. He summoned the soot-black Stone Spirit from his spirit beast bag.
"Huh? Are we home already? That was fast!" The little spirit rubbed its sleepy eyes in surprise. It had only taken a short nap, yet they had arrived!