A century of grinding the blade, all for this singular moment!
When the Golden Marrow Bees learned that the moment they had awaited for so many years had finally arrived, they shed their usual industrious yet leisurely farming demeanor. They entered a state of extraordinary fervor.
This was especially true for the Equilibrium Bees, the chosen seeds for this transformation. They were constantly utilizing various types of honey to train and temper themselves, hardening their forms to withstand the immense pressure brought by the Triple Transcendent Evolution.
This training method originated from the Beast-Taming Secret Manual of the Qingyuan Sect. It could effectively stimulate physical potential and cultivate an adaptability to drastic bodily changes, allowing them to better host the violent shifts brought about by the bloodlines of the Sky-Flame Midge and the Demon Insect King.
The bees gave their absolute all to this training. The entire Natural Sanctuary was permeated with an atmosphere of nervous yet exhilarated tension.
'This atmosphere is quite good.'
Watching this scene, Qi Ping's mood was excellent. The emotions of the bees brought him a significant amount of positive energy.
Following this, with a heart full of both expectation and excitement, Qi Ping began the serious task of refining the Triple Transcendent Evolution Liquid.
This was the part of the work Qi Ping was most confident in. Over the years, he had already gathered all the medicinal herbs required for the formula, and he had them in various ages and potencies. He had even long since gained experience in successful refinement.
Consequently, as he began the refinement of the Triple Transcendent Evolution Liquid, progress was exceptionally smooth. He refined several batches of varying potencies.
Each bloodline, depending on its strength, required liquid of different ages for fusion. One had to experiment to discover which age was the most suitable.
"The medicinal liquid is partially refined. The next step is to integrate the purified bloodlines into it."
This was the most difficult step.
The bloodline of the Demon Insect King was manageable. Although its rank was high, the creature had only possessed the strength of the peak of the first rank when Qi Ping slew it. With his current strength, refining it was naturally easier.
As expected, under the refinement of his Yin-Yang Five Elements spiritual power and the Beast King's Flame, the bloodline was soon thoroughly refined and purified.
Drop after drop of blood essence—obsidian black and radiating pure Yin-Netherworld demonic energy—was extracted by Qi Ping. A pure, raw pressure emanated from these droplets.
Faced with this power, the bees' bodies began to tremble involuntarily. However, they did not retreat. Instead, they strove to draw closer, tempering their consciousness and will. This was a crucial part of the transformation; if they could not even adapt to the pressure of the bloodline, achieving the Triple Transcendent Evolution would be an impossible dream.
Refining the bloodline of the Sky-Flame Midge was far more difficult. After all, it had been a Rank 4 spirit insect in life, and its development of bloodline power was much more advanced than that of the juvenile Demon Insect King.
Nevertheless, it was ultimately a dead object. With the support of his formations and the Natural Sanctuary, Qi Ping eventually succeeded in thoroughly refining and purifying the Sky-Flame Midge's bloodline. It simply took a significant amount of time—more than ten times longer than what he had spent on the Demon Insect King's bloodline.
However, when the Sky-Flame Midge's bloodline was finally purified, an irrepressible smile appeared on Qi Ping's face.
This essence, radiating an aura of Extreme Yang heat like a miniature sun—was this not the most suitable bloodline for his bees?
Two months later, Qi Ping and the swarm finally completed all their preparations!
Currently laid out before the swarm were two types of medicinal liquid. One belonged to the Demon Insect King, and the other belonged to the royal bloodline of the Sky-Flame Midge!
One was as Extreme Yin as a demon; the other was as Extreme Yang as a blazing sun!
The only commonality was that both radiated an incredibly powerful bloodline pressure.
Standing before these two sets of liquids were two groups of bees. All of these bees were at the peak of the second rank. Their physical auras and spirits were incredibly robust, and they now stood calmly before the pressure of the Demon Insect King and the Sky-Flame Midge!
Their eyes burned with an unflinching will and intense desire. They did not fear death; they sought only to allow the swarm to complete this final leap toward the heavens!
At this moment, the Golden Marrow Queen Bee led tens of thousands of her kin to witness this centennial grand event of the bee race.
They had waited too long for this Triple Transcendent Evolution!
Shortly after they had become his animal companions, Qi Ping had told them about the final chapter of the Demon Insect Cultivation Manual—the Triple Transcendent Evolution. This was their ultimate leap to shed their ordinary bloodlines!
From that day forward, the seed of this ambition had been planted in the hearts of the bees!
As Golden Marrow Bees with ordinary spirit insect bloodlines, they knew that without a powerful innate bloodline like the Li-Fire Crow's, or a growth ability like devouring, it would be too difficult to evolve on their own. It was, for all intents and purposes, impossible.
The peak of the second rank was the zenith of their bloodline. Even if they were lucky enough to break through to the third rank, they would likely be the weakest of their kind.
Thus, if they wished to catch up to the Li-Fire Crow and the others in the future, the only opportunity they could grasp was the finale of the Triple Transcendent Evolution!
Although the first generation of bees who knew of this—aside from the Queen—had long since reached the end of their lifespans, this legacy had been passed down through the generations. They had worked toward this day tirelessly.
The Triple Transcendent Evolution had slowly become the collective goal of generations of bees, as well as their strongest source of conviction.
Now, that day had finally arrived! A chance for mortal insects like the Golden Marrow Bees to ascend to the heavens!
"Begin!"
As Qi Ping's voice fell, these Equilibrium Bee warriors, carrying a century of hope for the entire swarm, stepped forward in an orderly fashion. With unwavering determination, they consumed the first portion of the medicinal liquid.
This was the first part of the Triple Transcendent Evolution process, containing the least amount of bloodline essence. Only after enduring the first portion would they be qualified to face the second, which would be far more difficult to bear.
Only by surviving and adapting to the first two portions could they possibly withstand the final draught.
The concentration and efficacy of the final portion were more than ten times that of the previous two. One could say that everything prior was merely a foundation and preparation. Only this final leap would completely wash away the traces of a mortal insect, merging and evolving them into true Super Royal Insects!
At this final stage, because different bloodlines were used, no one could predict the success rate. It was heavily dependent on the swarm's own aptitude, their state, and the bloodlines they devoured.
In this transformation, the swarm had already undergone thousands of temperings and preparations; their physical bodies and traits were of the highest grade. Furthermore, they had the support of Qi Ping's Potential Stimulation and Beast King's Grace talents. Under normal circumstances, with suitable bloodlines, success should not have been a problem.
However, the bloodlines of the Demon Insect King and the Sky-Flame Midge were too potent. Both were royal-grade demon insects, leaving Qi Ping uncertain of the outcome.
Yet, if the bees truly succeeded this time, it would not just be a leap for them. The Qingtian Domain would see the arrival of a Bee Daoist capable of suppressing the very heavens!
Just as the Equilibrium Bees consumed the first portion of the liquid, the arduous path to the heavens officially began. One by one, Equilibrium Bees began to fall, their blood staining the ground!
However, these failures did not affect the other Equilibrium Bees. On the contrary, it stimulated an even stronger will within them to finish this path of ascension!