The countless cultivators of the Star-Sea Continent had originally abandoned their plans to move to the Qingtian Domain after Qi Ping and the Qing-God Army dealt with the demonic cultivators and other threats. Because the Qingtian Domain was truly overcrowded, offering no more industries or positions, some cultivators chose not to join the struggle there.
However, when news of the Demon descent and their horrific nature spread, the resulting panic drove everyone to surge toward the Qingtian Domain once more! And this was precisely the opportunity Qi Ping had been waiting for!
Thus, a message was quickly promulgated:
[The Qingtian Domain has reached its capacity limit. Entry and exit are suspended starting today!]
When the Qingyuan Academy broadcast this news, the cultivators who had traveled from afar were thrown into an uproar.
"Heavens, the Qingtian Domain is temporarily sealed! No entry or exit! What are we supposed to do?"
"We should have gone earlier. My cousin in the domain told me not long ago that it was incredibly crowded and that even waiter positions in tea houses would be gone soon. I didn't believe him then... I truly want to slap my past self. My regrets are endless!"
"We can't get in. Where else can we go?"
"Aside from here, no other place seems to guarantee safety!"
"No, I have to use some connections. I'm a skilled alchemist; let me see if I can pull some strings to find a livelihood inside."
"If we can't get in and the Demons arrive, are we really just waiting to die?"
As countless cultivators were intercepted outside, they immediately panicked like headless flies. When faced with life and death, even cultivators found it difficult to remain perfectly calm. Suspicion, doubt, and resentment began to spread. Some even began to slander Qi Ping, complaining that his actions were cold and heartless.
As these voices of slander rose, they actually gained the recognition of many cultivators. In this moment of existential threat, many practitioners naturally tilted the scales toward their own interests. Since Qi Ping had a reputation for never killing the innocent, it created a delusion that they could use public opinion and momentum to coerce him into compromising.
Faced with these slanderous voices, some cultivators with ill intentions also began to join in. Others chose to stay on the sidelines; they remained rational, but they also wanted to see if this behavior could help them secure some benefits.
However, many who believed in Qi Ping chose to argue in his favor. It was a fact that the Qingtian Domain was currently over-capacity. Had it not been for the domain's deep foundations and the high level of its management team, it likely would have collapsed or devolved into chaos by now.
As this farce intensified, those with ulterior motives secretly gloated. But they didn't get to gloat for long before an army that left a deep impression on everyone appeared in their sight.
Sword lights flashed. Heads flew!
Even their souls were instantly annihilated!
Almost instantaneously, those who had been the loudest instigators became corpses. The severed heads still carried the final trace of terror from the moment of their deaths.
The survivors looking at the corpses were instantly doused with cold water. What kind of madness had they just committed?
Who was the Bee Daoist? He was a killing god who had stepped over mountains of corpses to reach his current height! He had just led a group to slay over two-thirds of the continent's top cultivators!
Those brainless fools had actively slandered such a fierce man—the undisputed number one expert and supreme leader of the Star-Sea Continent!
At the thought of this, and looking at the bodies on the ground, a chill rose from their hearts. Normally, cultivators of a higher realm were not to be offended; let alone someone like the Bee Daoist.
"Heavens, what did we just do?"
"Wait, something isn't right. Normally, I would have run away long ago. Why was I standing here watching? It was too irrational!"
"Indeed, I felt it too. Could someone have been stirring the pot?"
Just as this question arose, the Qing-God Army units—having slain the primary instigators—began to precisely apprehend the hidden agitators among the crowd, following the information from their message talismans. Among them were several Soul Transformation cultivators who were instantly suppressed by the army combined with Qi Ping's bee swarms!
At that moment, a general in silver-white battle armor, wearing an Azure-Sky-White-Cloud mask, stepped out from among the thousands of Qing-God Army soldiers. He looked coldly at the suppressed and broken cultivators and said:
"You wicked little things... we hadn't found the time to deal with you yet, but you chose to deliver yourselves to our door!"
"Good. It saves us the trouble of hunting you down one by one. Kill them all!"
As those words, dripping with blood-lust and killing intent, fell, heads rolled once again. From Soul Transformation down to Qi Refining, not a single person escaped the Qing-God Army's blade!
Having bathed in the blood of traitors across the entire Star-Sea Continent, this general and his soldiers possessed a thick aura of providence and blood-energy. Their presence was entirely different from before, radiating a fearsome majesty.
His voice, amplified by the army's formation and spiritual energy, instantly awed every cultivator present. In this moment, the strength of the Qing-God Army was displayed vividly, leaving everyone shaken. The visual impact of those once-aloof Soul Transformation and Golden Core heads rolling across the ground was indescribable!
The image of the Qing-God Army was once again etched into everyone's minds. The young, talented cultivators looked at that armored soldier with eyes full of heat and envy. Who wouldn't want to join such a powerful army? As the elite force of the Qingyuan Academy, the support and growth they received would be immense. What spirited youth wouldn't want to be part of that?
Amidst the bloody slaughter, the cultivators became even more silent. The army's actions clearly signaled the Bee Daoist's attitude. They really couldn't enter the Qingtian Domain!
"Is there truly no other way?" A sense of despair and powerlessness flooded their hearts again.
But that feeling was immediately suppressed by the general's next words.
"Fellow Daoists, I am here by the order of Principal Bee to inform you of one thing. We will be building war fortresses similar to the Qingtian Domain in the several large domains surrounding it to face the impending Demon crisis!"
"In these regions, the Principal will cultivate powerful spiritual veins and connect the ley lines of all these domains to those of the Qingtian Domain, forming a singular whole. Simultaneously, we will provide an environment, resource exchange system, and knowledge-sharing system similar to those of the Qingtian Domain..."
"Therefore, starting from now, you can go to our temporary outposts to register your cultivation and skills. We will provide appropriate industrial choices based on your abilities."
"This registration is not mandatory. You may choose to leave, and if you do not like the assigned industry, you may also choose to leave."
As that loud, powerful voice spread, the cultivators who had been in despair were suddenly ecstatic.
"Senior Bee is going to build war fortresses like the Qingtian Domain!"
"The knowledge and contribution systems will be similar? And safety will be guaranteed by the Qing-God Army?"
"The spiritual veins will be connected to the Qingtian Domain? Doesn't that mean we will have equally dense spiritual qi here?"
"Building war fortresses and restructuring industries with Senior Bee's strength and energy... doesn't that mean a chance to become the first batch of core members?"
"Senior Bee is truly invincible!"
Heated discussions broke out. None of them held back their excitement. Most experienced cultivators saw a massive opportunity: becoming part of the first core group! Once these war fortresses were built, as long as they could become an important screw in that massive machine, the benefits would be unimaginable. At the very least, securing far more resources than before would be no problem, and a rapid rise to power was entirely possible.
Thus, having thought through these matters, the cultivators swarmed toward the outposts to register, terrified of missing the chance by being slow.
The general of the Qing-God Army saw this and the corners of his mouth curled into an arc. Having perfectly completed the task Qi Ping had given him was, naturally, a wonderful thing. This deed would surely help him earn more merits and rewards.
However, his mission was not entirely over. Following Qi Ping's instructions, he took the souls of the enemies he had kept and, using a special method to nourish and imprison them, placed them near the outposts. These souls were the great villains and agitators the Little Immortal Tiger had handpicked; all were guilty of countless crimes.
Now, these specially treated souls retained their memories of their crimes and a portion of their cultivation experience. Qi Ping intended to leave them near the outposts for public viewing.
This served two purposes: one was a small benefit in the form of shared cultivation insights, allowing all who viewed them to gain some inspiration. The second—and most important—was to reveal the truth, ensuring the cultivators trusted Qi Ping more and were more motivated for the upcoming construction.
"Principal, General Qilin performed his task quite well, didn't he?"
Lin Yue stood slightly behind Qi Ping. Together, they watched the scene of the Qing-God Army suppressing the crowd and announcing the mission through Qi Ping's spell. He could clearly see the smile on his Principal's face, meaning he was quite satisfied with the result.
"He did excellently! Your choice of general was good. This man has performed brilliantly from the demonic purge until now."
Qi Ping did not withhold his praise. He was more than satisfied with the Qing-God Army; they showed incredible efficiency and ability in both combat and administration. For instance, had he been a lone wolf, he never could have completed today's task to such a degree.
Lin Yue had truly cultivated a god-tier army for him. And the Qing-God Army was only just beginning to take shape; their future growth potential was staggering. Even from his current position, it was hard to ignore such a force.
Lin Yue was ecstatic upon hearing Qi Ping's words. It wasn't easy to make his Principal this happy! And when the Principal was happy, rewards were never lacking. He could imagine that he and General Qilin would receive very generous rewards.
"In that case, can the New Domain Plan be launched in full? Or should we wait a bit longer? I see that the mood of the cultivators can still brew for a bit; it will likely reach its peak in about a week." Lin Yue estimated the best time to start based on his experience.
"Then let it begin in one week! Go over the preparations twice more. Not a single error is permitted!" Qi Ping urged.
"I will check them several more times when I return. I guarantee this mission will be completed beautifully!"
"Good! Once this is done, the rewards will not disappoint you!"
After confirming the start time, Lin Yue took his leave. Because Qi Ping prioritized this plan, Lin Yue had spent the most energy on it.
Once Lin Yue left, Qi Ping's gaze remained on those excited cultivators. He repeatedly thought through the plan. Given the current level of enthusiasm, he was even more certain of his ability to expand his Earth Immortal Domain into the surrounding regions.
Currently, the underground of the domains surrounding the Qingtian Domain was already filled with various spiritual beast companions... or more accurately, Qi Ping's living-being vassals. Over the years, Qi Ping had already turned the original underground beasts of these regions into his vassals, helping them improve their living conditions and grow their populations.
He had also migrated many vassals from other locations. In terms of the underground world alone, the current foundation of these large domains was even stronger than that of the Qingtian Domain back when he first became an Earth Immortal!
Now, to become the Earth Immortal of the adjacent regions, the only things he lacked were a massive population of cultivators who worshipped him and a tight karmic connection to those lands...