After successfully contracting the Metal-attribute Ironwood and the Water-attribute Over-Rain Tree, the immediate work regarding spirit wood was concluded.
"I really look forward to seeing what the Azure Lightning Bamboo, the Ironwood, and the Over-Rain Tree will become in the future!"
"And of course, there are the Peach Tree and the Fire Spirit Fruit Tree!"
Looking at his five newly contracted spirit trees, Qi Ping felt immensely satisfied. He was likely the Shepherd of Trees with the most high-level trees in existence. With so many spiritual and high-potential trees, he couldn't help but look forward to the future of his profession.
Next, Qi Ping acted like a gardener, inspecting all his spiritual trees to ensure there were no issues before leaving the area. However, unlike his usual routine of retreating to cultivate or grow herbs, he set out for the Cloud-Mist Mountain Range. The evolution of the bee swarm into the Soul Transformation stage was imminent, and his original body had to be present; only the original body possessed the strongest power to oversee and control the process.
Cloud-Mist Mountain Range, the Natural Sanctuary.
Within a massive, hidden formation, a true immortal paradise was revealed. The concentration of spiritual energy here was no less than that of the Grade 4 spirit vein in the Qingtian Mountain Range! What was more startling was the quality of this energy; its purity was many times higher than that of an average spirit vein.
Qi Ping's strategy of absorbing Yin-Yang and the Five Elements while fusing the essence of the sun and moon—built upon the foundation of a Dragon Vein and nurtured by years of spirit wood essence—had cultivated this vein to a staggering degree. If the Grade 4 vein in Qingtian was a convergence of the power and prayers of the domain's people, then the Cloud-Mist vein was a pure Dragon-grade vein. While smaller than the Qingtian vein, its quality was peerless.
After years of nurturing, the Cloud-Mist vein had reached Grade 4. Although its elevation speed was slower than the Qingtian vein (which was approaching Grade 5 due to the power of the people), the Cloud-Mist vein was used only by the bees, the Ground-Vein Ants, and the spiritual plants. The spiritual energy was so abundant that a single breath from an ordinary cultivator would improve their cultivation. Qi Ping placed high hopes on this vein; when he eventually cultivated a secret world, this vein would provide the most staggering power.
Currently, within the Natural Sanctuary, towering spirit trees radiated the power of laws—some like blazing fire, some like frigid ice, and others like the radiant essence of the sun and stars. Spirit herbs that were rare treasures in the outside world grew like common grass here, numbering in the thousands and tens of thousands, covering almost every known species.
Rank-4 (Nascent Soul level) bees worked like diligent farmers, meticulously tending to every plant. Beside these herbs, over a thousand beehives were neatly arranged, where Equilibrium Bees carefully researched various miraculous honeys. Qi Ping currently possessed over ten thousand types of honey!
While most of these honeys had little value, a small number possessed effects superior to any pill on the market. These top-tier honeys covered cultivation, healing, recovery, aptitude enhancement, and the repair of one's foundation. Under the leadership of the Golden Marrow Queen, these honeys were constantly upgraded. Their effects were nothing short of miraculous.
Qi Ping had released some of this honey to the market, and it immediately sparked a buying frenzy across the Star-Sea Continent. Even with prices set extremely high, it remained hard to find. Rare varieties didn't even make it out of the Qingtian Domain, as members of the Qingyuan Academy fought to buy them with merit points. Honeys that enhanced aptitude were treasures that countless people worked their fingers to the bone for. This industry brought Qi Ping a terrifying annual income; he was essentially a one-man industrial powerhouse, earning enough spirit stones to make his hands tired from counting!
The ones responsible for this were the Golden Marrow Bees hidden in the Cloud-Mist Mountain Range. Their daily labor made the world-famous honey industry possible and fueled Qi Ping's massive wealth!
"Buzz buzz... (Boss!)"
"Buzz buzz... (Boss!)"
As soon as Qi Ping stepped into the Natural Sanctuary, the bees swarmed around him. They hadn't seen him in a long time. Now that his original body had arrived, they felt the deep bond and connection, filling them with joy and peace. Additionally, Ground-Vein Ants crawled out from the spirit vein. Qi Ping's arrival made them very happy.
Qi Ping listened patiently as they 'talked' about the trivial matters of life in the Cloud-Mist Mountain Range. Though these were mostly small things, Qi Ping showed no impatience. He told them many interesting stories from the Star-Sea Continent, leaving them excited and cheering. To many of the bees and ants, the Natural Sanctuary was their entire world, and Qi Ping was their closest kin and their few windows to the outside world. In their eyes, Qi Ping was amazing—he could remember every single bee and ant.
Qi Ping had offered to let them travel outside, but most refused. Being able to farm and make honey in peace was happiness enough; the outside world wouldn't be as comfortable as their home. The growth of the clan relied on the small efforts of every individual.
After the initial excitement, the Natural Sanctuary returned to its usual rhythm. However, because of Qi Ping's presence, the air seemed to hold a bit more joy and vitality. Qi Ping didn't immediately check the training of the 'seed bees' for evolution. Instead, he lay down on a lounge chair specially made for him by the Little Guardian Fox and the three-colored deer. Beside the chair were various decorations they had crafted.
'I wonder how Crowy and the Little Guardian Fox are doing...'
Crowy, the Little Guardian Fox, the Hundred-Eyed Flower Demon, the deer, the green snake... having not seen them for so long, Qi Ping suddenly missed them.
"I wonder how they are faring in the Forest Sea Demon Realm?" Qi Ping felt a pang of worry. These companions had followed him since they were young and had never faced the storms of the world alone. Now, they were wandering the lawless Forest Sea Demon Realm. The challenges they faced were predictable, and they were surely suffering.
But this was an experience they had to go through. Without enough hardship to temper their will, they wouldn't have the qualifications to control great power, let alone chase after longevity. Qi Ping also felt they deserved to have their own lives and experiences; that was the only way their journey would be complete. Even for the Small Stone Spirit and the Small Immortal Tiger, Qi Ping had them travel the continent to make new friends and experience the world. Many of the creatures now under the Qingtian Domain had been 'recruited' by them.
Fortunately, after all these years, they were all still alive; none had died and been resurrected. "It's just that they're too far away to contact!" Qi Ping sighed with regret. He really missed the fox that used to cling to his chest, whom he could pet whenever he liked.
"But we will meet again one day. With the Beast Sentinel profession, I don't have to worry about them too much..."
"Maybe at our next meeting, they will all be kings of their respective regions!"
Just as the Small Immortal Tiger had seen in a glimpse of the future—Crowy sitting on the highest throne, looking down upon a terrifying demon army. Such a being would be wasted if kept by his side.
"But how did that noisy Crowy, who was always shouting about 'beating up the other side,' become such a majestic and domineering king in the future?"
He could imagine that Crowy must have gone through a lot. Then again, the future had many possibilities, and that glimpse might not come true. No one could be certain of the future.
"I wonder what the Little Guardian Fox and the Flower Demon will become?"
As Qi Ping worried, he also felt a sense of anticipation. Every one of his animal companions had undergone his ultimate training and had a deeper understanding of cultivation than most spirit beasts. Plus, they had the 'Beast King's Grace' trait. Qi Ping believed they would achieve staggering success.
As he thought, a wave of exhaustion hit him. He didn't resist it and fell into a deep sleep. He began to dream—vivid dreams that were hard to grasp. Normally, cultivators didn't dream, especially at Qi Ping's level. In his sleep, he seemed to see his companions in the Forest Sea Demon Realm. In those blurred images, he could clearly feel their emotions: anger, perseverance, satisfaction, joy, and profound touch...
Qi Ping slept for several days. The bees and ants didn't disturb him; they occasionally rested or spaced out beside him. When Qi Ping woke up, he felt refreshed. He realized he hadn't been this relaxed in a long time. Compared to the Qingtian Mountain Range or the rest of the continent, he felt most at ease in this small home of his. Having a private sanctuary was truly wonderful.
After waking up, Qi Ping played with a little bee beside him and was about to check the selection for the evolution swarm when he suddenly felt his cultivation and Dao-heart loosen.
"My Dao-heart and cultivation are about to break through at the same time?" Qi Ping was surprised. He thought it would take a bit longer, but it seemed the breakthrough moment had arrived just by returning to the Natural Sanctuary.
He didn't waste the opportunity. He waved his hand and tore open a spatial rift.
"I'm going to break through. I'll be back in a few days..."
With that, Qi Ping stepped into the rift and vanished. The bees weren't worried; they believed a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage was no trouble for their Boss. Qi Ping's tone was as casual as 'coming back for dinner later.' Given his foundation, the empowerment of the Earth Immortal Druid, and his immense destiny and heavenly blessing, failing this breakthrough would be as ridiculous as drowning in a puddle.
When Qi Ping reappeared, he was at his specialized breakthrough sanctuary. Given the intensity of the lightning tribulation he would face, he didn't want to destroy the Cloud-Mist Mountain Range. Additionally, the Azure Lightning Bamboo was nearby. He could condense the tempered lightning essence for the bamboo. After this, the bamboo could safely absorb massive amounts of lightning to grow rapidly.
Arriving at the sanctuary, he declared his intent to break through, and the staff immediately began preparations. In a short time, a perfect breakthrough environment was ready. This wasn't because he was the Principal; this sanctuary was already built to be the ideal place for such events. Even if a breakthrough lacked certain supplies, they could be bought on-site.
Qi Ping didn't need any of that. He found a spot, sat down, and closed his eyes to focus. Although he didn't need guards, the Qingyuan Academy high-level leadership immediately sealed off the news and sent their most core cultivator army to guard the sanctuary. The formations were put into high-alert mode. Lin Yue and Wang He dropped everything to prioritize his breakthrough above all else.
Qi Ping didn't mind. He just had his Treant Clone inform the core members of the Academy and his friends—Meng Yan and Han Li—to come and observe. They had already reached the Gold Core stage and were heavyweights in the Academy. With Qi Ping's help, they had a good chance of reaching the Nascent Soul stage in the future, so watching him would be beneficial. They had fought alongside him and were willing to die for him; for such friends, Qi Ping naturally wanted them to rise with him.
When one reaches the Dao, even their 'chickens and dogs' ascend to heaven; let alone Qi Ping's brothers-in-arms. After arranging everything, he poured all his energy into his cultivation.
Nascent Soul realm, the Fourth Stage Dao-Heart... he was coming!