Qi Ping thus led the Little Immortal Tiger along the paths he had once known so well. However, nothing remained as it was. The once-deserted roads were now bustling with activity—people riding spirit beasts, others flying on swords, all sorts of people walking the paths.
When Qi Ping passed the Qingshi Market, the once-small market had expanded dozens of times over, appearing almost like an immortal city. Countless shops, large and small, alongside stalls run by rogue cultivators, sat in an orderly yet lively fashion throughout the market. There were those selling cultivation pills and weapons, spirit herbs, food, and even wood carvings and curios... all types of shops were present.
There were even more tourists—over a hundred times more than in the past. A young, vibrant, and energetic atmosphere permeated every corner of the market. The most staggering part was the transaction volume; the daily cash flow generated was more than a hundred times what it used to be. Consequently, the taxes generated were immense, which was the main reason Qi Ping's storage rings were currently stuffed with spirit stones.
Qi Ping slowly walked through every corner of the Qingshi Market, finding that most of the old shops no longer existed. However, some had remained. For example, the Treasure Pavilion of the past had expanded more than tenfold and was now one of the ten leading shops in the Qingshi Market.
Unknowingly, Qi Ping arrived at the location where Boss Gao's shop had once stood. The old shop had naturally vanished, replaced by a more luxurious and better-designed immortal abode structure. Then, in one of the most prominent positions, he saw a place called "Gao's Honey."
'Gao's Honey? Could it be related to Boss Gao?'
Driven by curiosity, Qi Ping walked in. It was a very luxurious shop, with various types of honey displayed inside, packaged in exquisite jade bottles. The moment Qi Ping stepped inside, one of the beautiful female cultivators working there approached him and asked sweetly, "Welcome to Gao's Honey. May I ask what type of honey you are looking for, sir?"
"Which are the most unique honeys in your shop?" Qi Ping asked.
"Then you've come to the right place, sir! Our Gao's Honey is the largest and most unique shop in the entire Qingshi Market!"
"Oh? Then I truly have come to the right place! Qingshi County is famous for its honey industry. For you to claim such a title, your strength must be extraordinary!"
"Sir, it's not that we're arrogant, but the two most formidable honey producers in Qingshi County are our exclusive partners. You must have heard of Senior Zhou and Senior Nan? They are honored guests of our shop!"
"Are they very powerful?"
"Naturally. In all of Qingshi County, no one can match their bee-keeping techniques! Some of the special honeys they produce are in high demand across the entire Star-Sea Continent. Some have already been pre-ordered ten years in advance!"
"In that case, I'll buy some to try. What do you recommend? Any price range is fine!"
The female cultivator was startled, thinking she had encountered a major client. She became even more enthusiastic. "Well, sir, follow me. This one is made from the pollen of Foundation Establishment spirit herbs. Consuming it can keep one energetic—you won't feel tired even after three days of constant activity. It also consolidates the foundation and nurtures the essence!"
"Not bad! Pack it up for me!"
"Coming right up!"
Just as Qi Ping was experiencing the mortal world as a customer, a middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator walked out. He was the owner of Gao's Honey, and he had come for a routine inspection. But as his gaze swept across the shop and landed on the white-clad Qi Ping, he suddenly froze. A specific memory began to surface from the depths of his mind.
Then, after staring at Qi Ping for a few more seconds, his eyes went wide, and his pupils shook violently. Without hesitation, the owner rushed to Qi Ping and bowed with the utmost solemnity.
"Junior Gao Ming greets the Senior!"
Gao Ming's action immediately startled all the female attendants! This was the famous owner of Gao's Honey, yet he was bowing so formally to a young man? Just what was the identity of this youth?
As Qi Ping heard the voice, he turned to look at the man. Seeing the face that was seventy percent familiar, the figure of an old friend emerged from his memories.
"Gao Ming?"
Qi Ping looked at the familiar face and remembered the Boss Gao who had always purchased the products of his Fusing Association in the past. Back then, his "Bone-Shrinking and Face-Changing Technique," "Notes on Alchemy," and "Encyclopedia of Spirit Herbs" were all given to him by Boss Gao. His second animal companion, the Li-Fire Crow, was also thanks to Boss Gao's introduction, which led to him meeting Meng Yan. All of this had a vital impact on his future cultivation.
Qi Ping had a very deep impression of the old Boss Gao, who only ever cared about business. Boss Gao had mentioned that he had a child; was it Gao Ming?
"Are you Boss Gao's son? Where is he?" Meeting the son of an old friend caused a ripple in Qi Ping's heart. Most of his companions from the Fusing Association had already vanished into the river of time.
"Yes, Senior. My father failed his breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment stage and passed away long ago."
"Passed away?"
Qi Ping sighed softly. Although he had expected it, he couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy. Not everyone could break through the limits of their realms, even if Boss Gao had made a fortune from his honey back then. Even the son before him, Gao Ming, had a touch of twilight aura about him...
"Yes, Senior. Father was but an ordinary cultivator. He could not compare to Senior's immortal talent."
Saying this, Gao Ming stole a glance at Qi Ping. He looked exactly like the portrait from all those years ago; after so much time, the years had left no mark on this senior. He knew that as a Foundation Establishment cultivator himself, he was already entering his twilight years! This meant the senior before him was at least at the Golden Core stage! This left Gao Ming's heart filled with shock. Even though Azure Heaven was now full of talent, a Golden Core cultivator was still a formidable existence.
"Alas," Qi Ping sighed again. "Then how did you recognize me? We shouldn't have met before, right?"
"I won't hide it from Senior. Before my father passed, he gave me a solemn instruction: if I ever encountered a predicament or crisis, I should take all our wealth and seek your protection. He said that no matter what, Senior is trustworthy! He even gave me a portrait of you."
"However, my business has been quite successful these years. Since Daoist Bee began to rule Azure Heaven, things have gotten even better, so I didn't dare to disturb you..."
Understanding dawned on Qi Ping. Boss Gao's evaluation of him was quite high!
"So that's how it is. Your business has indeed developed well!"
"A small achievement, I wouldn't dare boast before Senior... Oh, Senior, please wait a moment."
As he spoke, Gao Ming quickly ran to the back of the shop and brought out nine portions of Foundation Establishment-grade honey. He respectfully presented them to Qi Ping. "Senior, this is a token of my respect. It is the finest treasure of our Gao's Honey. I hope Senior won't find it too humble."
Seeing the sincerity in Gao Ming's eyes, Qi Ping didn't refuse the junior's gesture. With a wave of his hand, the nine honeys entered his storage ring. "Very well, I shall accept them!"
Then, Qi Ping picked an item from his storage ring, which was currently stuffed with heavenly treasures, and placed it in Gao Ming's hand. "Consider this a gift to you. If you encounter difficulties in the future, you can contact me via transmission talisman..."
After saying this, Qi Ping's figure vanished instantly, leaving behind a dumbfounded Gao Ming and a crowd of female attendants. Just what was this senior's strength?
However, their shock wasn't over. When they saw the item Qi Ping had left behind, their eyes went wide!
"This is actually Sun Essence Dew!"
"Thank you for the gift, Senior!" Gao Ming bowed deeply in the direction Qi Ping had left.
He would never have imagined that something he considered priceless was merely a trivial gesture for Qi Ping. He would have imagined even less that his father's old friend was the most legendary existence in all of Azure Heaven—Daoist Bee!
'Time truly passes quickly. Even the child of an old friend is approaching his twilight years.'
The path of the immortal Dao was a process where old friends gradually disappeared into the river of time.
'The Immortal Dao... Longevity!'
This thought flashed through Qi Ping's mind. If he hadn't used the Druid path to quickly break through his cultivation, he would have long since turned into a handful of yellow earth, and all traces of him would have vanished from this world.
As Qi Ping's thoughts shifted, his Dao heart became even more resolute. It appeared calm and waveless, but was in fact indestructible. This journey of the immortal Dao was only just beginning!
As he walked, Qi Ping found himself at the foot of the Cloud-Mist Mountains. This place had undergone a massive change. The concentration of spiritual energy was several times higher than before, and the area of spiritual land had expanded significantly. Due to the large population of cultivators, a Cloud-Mist Market had appeared at the foot of the mountains to facilitate trade.
The crowds here were no less than those at the Qingshi Market, but the buildings were much humbler. Most were stalls run by rogue cultivators. Some sold spirit fruits, others various immortal poultry, and some sold rare wild berries or game. There were also people selling tools for planting and animal husbandry.
Compared to the Qingshi Market, the goods here were more closely related to the spirit plant and spirit poultry industries—they were much purer. The Qingshi Market focused more on high-end resources and services for enjoying the immortal life. In the Cloud-Mist Market, Qi Ping saw shadows of his former self in these people.
On a whim, Qi Ping acted as a small spirit farmer and bought many things he had wanted to buy in the past but couldn't afford. For instance, those items that looked strange but might contain mysterious inheritances. After all, who hasn't dreamed of finding a supreme treasure just by stepping out the door?
Of course, Qi Ping no longer had such unrealistic thoughts; he simply wanted to do some things he hadn't done as a youth.
'Acting like this... it feels a bit like the saying that a person is ultimately haunted by what they couldn't have in their youth.'
Though Qi Ping no longer had that youthful feeling, his heart felt a different kind of satisfaction and pleasure. In this transformation of his mindset, he seemed to catch a whiff of the Soul Transformation stage...
In the cultivation world, to increase the probability of reaching the Soul Transformation stage, one must elevate their Dao heart to the Fourth Realm. Otherwise, there was a high probability of being backlashed by the transcendent power of the Soul Transformation stage or losing control and dying.
Qi Ping's First Realm of the Dao heart was the Domain of Farming—his goal was only to practice quietly until he achieved longevity. The Second Realm was the Power of Slaughter, born from his frantic killing of the Immortal Alliance to protect his home. The Third Realm was the Eternity of Ages—a special will he grasped through the memories of the mountain and river spirits after witnessing the rise and fall of countless beings.
Now, after more than a hundred years, Qi Ping finally caught a glimpse of the Fourth Realm through this journey among the rogue cultivators and walking the paths of his past. The Soul Transformation Dao Heart was not far off!
However, he was still one step short. What was Soul Transformation? Once one entered the Soul Transformation stage, it was the moment their Dao fruit underwent a complete transformation. All the accumulations of the past would bloom at this moment...
'I'll wait until I reach the peak of the Nascent Soul stage and complete the Five Elements Physique before discussing it further.'
'Only by reaching perfection can I walk a true path of Soul Transformation.'
But reaching this step today gave Qi Ping more confidence in his path, and he realized that his Soul Transformation might be much more special than that of ordinary cultivators.
"Eh? What's this?"
Qi Ping, who was experiencing the mindset of his youth, was suddenly surprised by an item on a stall. 'This is the same kind of material as the cloth that once wrapped the Yellow Spring Tree seed?'
Qi Ping picked up a piece of ragged cloth and examined it closely to find its secret. If he hadn't seen this special fabric before, he probably would have overlooked it! This was terrifying! He was now an Earth Immortal Druid. How could something on a roadside stall hide itself from his perception?
'Could it be that the appearance of the Yellow Spring Tree—a unique tree of heaven and earth—wasn't a coincidence, but had another secret?'
After some thought, Qi Ping couldn't find an answer. However, the Yellow Spring Tree was now his life-bound spirit tree through the Life-Link Contract. It concerned one of his lives, so he had to care.
'I should pay attention to news about the Yellow Spring Tree in the future.'
This legendary existence that could connect to the underworld might hold secrets he couldn't yet fathom. At that moment, a special spiritual insight rose in Qi Ping's heart—a sensation from heaven and earth: 'When the Yellow Spring Tree is complete, the Underworld shall restart...' It didn't seem like it would be a bad thing.
"Young master? Have you taken a liking to something?" The stall owner asked with an expectant look, seeing Qi Ping picking through his items for a long time.
"Hmm... how much for these?" Qi Ping asked, pointing to six or seven items, including the ragged cloth.
"Young master has a good eye! These items are all from various ruins. If you take them all, how about seventy-nine low-grade spirit stones?"
"Seventy-nine low-grade spirit stones?" Qi Ping acted as if he were considering it.
"Young master, seventy-nine spirit stones is a very good price. I can guarantee these items are worth it..." The stall owner talked incessantly.
"Alright, then." As the owner was about to talk himself hoarse, Qi Ping finally produced seventy-nine spirit stones and completed the trade.
As the owner watched Qi Ping leave with the white tiger, he felt a secret joy. This sale would sustain him for a long time! He had saved a bit more capital for the child in his wife's womb! But his business was honest; these items really did come from ruins, and people really had found treasures in them—it was just that the probability was less than one in a thousand.
"A youth who hasn't seen much of the world... good luck to you!" The owner silently prayed for the boy. He truly wasn't a scammer; he just earned a bit of hard-earned money! "Heavens above, Senior Daoist Bee above, please don't reduce my child's fortune!"
He didn't know that after the "youth who hadn't seen much of the world" left, a trace of providence from the mountains and rivers fell upon him.
Leaving the Cloud-Mist Market and walking along a small forest path in the mountains, Qi Ping looked at the cloth related to the Yellow Spring Tree, a faint surprise on his face. He had picked up a huge bargain!
'I didn't expect a journey on a whim would actually lead to such a huge find—a treasure of the Heaven and Earth rank!' This was something that even with his current status required luck to obtain; it wasn't something a Golden Core or Nascent Soul dharma treasure could compare to. Did this count as making up for a regret of his youth?
'In the future, when I tell Old Man Zhou about this, I can really rub it in his face. Hehe!' Qi Ping still remembered how Old Man Zhou had laughed at him back then.
After putting away the cloth, Qi Ping focused his attention on the spirit trees that had developed spirituality. In these five years, many trees had indeed awakened. Along the way, he had seen no less than twenty! And the area he had walked was far less than one percent of the total!
In just five years, one could imagine how many high-potential spirit trees this industry plan had brought him. All these awakened trees were eligible to become Treant Warriors! Given enough time, nutrients, and spiritual energy, they even had a chance to become spirits!
It could be said that the number of spirit trees with unique spirituality in Azure Heaven was now the undisputed number one in the Star-Sea Continent!
"Little Immortal Tiger, is the tree with the highest potential on that mountain ahead?" Qi Ping pointed to a peak covered in various spirit trees.
"Awoo... (Yes, Boss. And it has a significant background!)"
"Awoo... (If it wasn't for Boss's providence protecting me and my lack of malice, the backlash from heaven's secrets would have been enough to make me suffer!)"
The Little Immortal Tiger couldn't help but feel a lingering fear when it remembered its previous calculation. This wasn't any less than seeing Ya-Ya sitting on the throne! If the things it was calculating hadn't been related to Qi Ping, it would have been in trouble. It wasn't that the tiger was weak; it was just that anything related to Qi Ping was too monstrous! Back then, calculating those Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators had been as easy as pie.
"Awoo... (Boss, what do you think it is that could cause such a strong backlash?)" The tiger's chubby face was full of curiosity.
"We'll know when we see it!" Qi Ping was quite calm. With such a massive industry, it was a high probability that some trees with powerful potential would appear.
However, as he approached the peak, a look of surprise appeared on Qi Ping's face. The figure busy on the mountain was one he had seen before.
"Isn't this the little fellow Old Man Zhou rescued a few years ago?"
This Old Man Zhou... was he picking out "Children of Providence" to rescue on purpose?