Within the Natural Sanctuary of the Cloud Mist Mountains.
When Qi Ping opened his eyes, he felt a sense of disorientation, as if he had spent a lifetime in another world. He looked at the flowers blooming in his territory, the busy bees, the playing Spirit Fox and Three-Colored Deer, and the little tiger napping quietly by his side... Crow-Crow was, as always, cultivating atop the Scorching Sun Wood.
The only thing that had truly changed was Qi Ping's gaze.
"Is it finally over?"
Qi Ping could hardly remember how many people he had killed. Everywhere he went, he left behind fields of corpses. Living people had turned into broken remains under his hands.
He had started with a heart full of fury, wanting to annihilate every organization involved in refining bloodfood, sometimes blasting them into nothingness. Later, he grew numb, and his anger faded, leaving only a cold, unwavering killing intent. He knew those people deserved to die; there was no room for forgiveness.
But killing so many people had inevitably changed his mindset. A mysterious sense of 'Heartless Great Dao' began to surface in his heart. Although he had killed before, he had never killed on this scale. It wasn't as simple as wiping out a city with a single palm; he had hunted these people down one by one, crushing their flesh and souls with his own hands.
Qi Ping did not regret it. If given the choice again, he would still choose to kill them all. If similar people appeared, he would kill them again without hesitation. He was now carefully reflecting on these changes in his mentality to grasp the true meaning of his Dao-Heart. Only by treating every realization on the immortal path seriously could one possess a complete and powerful Dao-Heart and truly control one's power.
Throughout his journey, Qi Ping regretted nothing. Whether it was being cautious, acting like a coward, or engaging in a brutal massacre, every action was a stroke of color upon his path.
As he pondered, he slowly closed his eyes. The Grace of Heaven and Earth took effect, and Qi Ping plunged into a state of sudden enlightenment. A unique Daoist charm, mixed with a pure killing intent, rose from him. Furthermore, the offensive power of his Grace of Heaven and Earth grew significantly.
The moment that pure killing intent surfaced, it drew the attention of every creature in the sanctuary. The fox, the flower demon, the deer, and the bees all looked at Qi Ping with shock. They had never seen him emit such pure and terrifying killing intent within the sanctuary.
Even Crow-Crow was surprised. He knew his Big Brother was usually a peaceful sort; even in battle, he simply used his full strength to kill the enemy, rarely manifesting such concentrated killing intent. Clearly, the Treant Clone had experienced a great deal during its time outside.
Perhaps the only one not surprised was the little tiger. From the beginning of Qi Ping's operation, its connection to him had allowed it to see the mountains of corpses and the purgatory he had created. After killing so many, such killing intent was only natural.
As for the Little Stone Spirit buried near the spirit vein, it was still asleep and hadn't woken up.
Perhaps because he was in a state of enlightenment, the transformation happened rapidly. First, the intensity of his Grace of Heaven and Earth increased. Then, his original Farming Domain talent began to merge with that pure killing intent.
Qi Ping had just finished a series of slaughters, and his killing intent was at its most potent. When this intent fused with the First Realm of the Dao-Heart, a violent transformation occurred. The domain's strength soared. Its range also began to expand slightly away from his body, though it remained relatively small.
By the time the transformation ended, the intensity had reached an entirely new level.
"The Second Realm of the Dao-Heart... Homeland Domain!"
Qi Ping emerged from his enlightenment, a powerful and unique aura radiating from his body. His heart was filled with realization and joy. He had reached the Second Realm! Another barrier on the path to immortality had been shattered.
Special Talent: Grace of Heaven and Earth, Homeland Domain (Second Realm of the Dao-Heart).
Homeland Domain: A special intent produced upon reaching the Second Realm. It allows for greater control over laws, spiritual energy, and soul power. It is highly effective against inner demons; the effect increases with cultivation. This talent has three special effects:
Effect 1: Forms a special protective layer around the user that can block attacks of soul, spiritual energy, and other forces. The protective will grows with Dao-Heart comprehension.
Effect 2: Within the user's 'homeland' territory, they can control more of the power of Heaven and Earth. This control grows with Dao-Heart comprehension.
Effect 3: Gains a type of killing power born from protection, which significantly boosts attack power.
'My control over spiritual energy and soul power has improved so much!'
Qi Ping tested it and found that the Second Realm was significantly stronger than the first. It was no wonder that only Golden Core cultivators usually reached this level. His talent in the 'Wise Heart' was indeed extraordinary.
This meticulous and powerful control was exactly what he needed for setting up arrays. His ability to craft formations would see a massive boost.
However, the biggest change wasn't in the raw power, but in the definition of his 'homeland.' Perhaps because he had killed to stop the decline of the region, the scope of his 'homeland' had expanded to include the entire Qing Tian Region!
This meant that no matter where he was in the region, he could receive an augment from the power of Heaven and Earth through his Dao-Heart! Combined with his Grace of Heaven and Earth talent, he now had a double stack of environmental buffs!
In this state, the stronger the region became—the more spirit veins it had, the more powerful its creatures—the greater the boost Qi Ping would receive. The upper limit of this ability was terrifying; the only catch was that he had to protect the land and help it grow. But the benefits were obvious. Who in the world could resist the majesty of Heaven and Earth?
Furthermore, the special killing power in the third effect gave him a great surprise...