Rays of azure, gold, and purple lightning flashed across the sky, creating a terrifying storm over the Nine Domains. It was a tribulation that would make even a Void Refinement expert frown. If an ordinary cultivator's Soul Transformation tribulation had reached this intensity, they would have perished in an instant.
Yet, such powerful lightning failed to slay the azure dragon. As the tribulation neared its end, the dragon had completely absorbed and refined the lightning's power and no longer feared its damage. The bolts falling on its azure scales were like cheers celebrating the birth of a world-shaking expert!
"The three-colored lightning is passing?"
"The azure dragon actually survived! And its body seems to have fully awakened and mastered a certain power under the lightning's stimulation!"
"Heaven blesses the Star-Sea!"
The low spirits of the cultivators below, suppressed by the weight of the tribulation, finally erupted. At this time, the Star-Sea Continent truly could not afford to lose another expert, especially not a Four Symbols divine beast with peerless talent!
The crisis had passed, and the dragon had gained a blessing in disguise, awakening its constitution. Though no one knew what power it had awakened, just looking at the natural aura of the dragon and the force field that even the lightning couldn't pierce, they knew its power was beyond imagination. The dragon's struggle—from being heavily injured to being utterly fearless—not only proved its talent but gave the cultivators of the Nine Domains greater confidence.
The Nine Domains were flourishing, overall strength was rising, and the Qing-God Army was growing stronger by the day. With Qi Ping and the azure dragon awakening powerful constitutions, the courage and confidence of every cultivator were being boosted bit by bit.
The Star-Sea Continent was not weak! Work hard, train, and protect our home and families! This conviction rose in everyone's hearts. Simultaneously, they all had another thought: they had to get their hands on some of the Bee Daoist's honey!
Aside from the dragon stealing the show, Qi Ping's honey had also achieved the effect of a legendary advertisement. At the start, the dragon had clearly been struggling. Even with its terrifying recovery ability, it was suppressed by the three-colored lightning. The destructive aura of the tribulation was too terrifying; everyone could sense it.
But the deadlock was broken by the honey! From the medicinal effects shown to the aura the honey radiated, it was staggering.
"People used to say Senior Bee's honey was better than pills, but I thought they were boasting. After all, how could our alchemists, with countless years of heritage, lose to a group of spirit beasts? But seeing it today... I was shallow!"
"Indeed. As expected of the life-bound beasts nurtured by Senior Bee. That honey... I'm afraid even Rank 5 pills can't compare!"
"There were rumors in the markets that Senior Bee's bees were the strongest alchemists. I didn't believe it, but now I'm convinced!"
"I almost had enough contribution points to exchange for the honey. After this... I'm done. I probably won't be able to get any!"
One could predict that after this event, the market for the honey produced by the Golden Marrow Bees would be fully opened, and the concept of "pills above all" would be thoroughly shaken. Honey had become more sought-after than pills.
This event also brought about an interesting situation: all the alchemists of the continent felt like they had lost face! Their respect for the Bee Daoist was sincere; without him, they wouldn't have gained so much knowledge or hope for improvement. But that didn't mean they could stand by and watch the continent's alchemists be suppressed by a group of bees!
"What a humiliation!"
"Are there no alchemists left in our generation? The pills we refine can't even compare to honey?"
"This is too insulting!"
Having a divine beast with peerless combat power born on their side was a happy thing, especially since it was the Bee Daoist's beast. The only ones who felt stifled were the alchemists!
"Dammit! I, Xiao Feng, swear here: if I do not surpass Senior Bee's bees in alchemy, I will never touch a woman again! I will not allow spirit beasts to step on our dignity in alchemy!"
"Me too! Until I regain the honor of alchemists, I won't touch my favorite wine!"
"Count me in! Alchemy has always been the glory of human cultivators. How can we let spirit beasts surpass us?"
Many alchemists made their vows. Then, they realized that despite their usual competition and mutual disdain, they were now united against a common foe. This realization felt a bit strange, but they quickly moved on. Someone made a suggestion:
"The position of the Alchemy Pavilion Master remains vacant, and none of us respect the others. How about a bet: whoever surpasses Senior Bee's spirit beasts in alchemy shall be the Master?"
"Deal!"
"Hmph, whoever takes back the honor of human alchemists, I wouldn't mind calling them master!"
"Dan Qizi, you better be prepared to call me master then!"
"Bah! With your level? If you actually do it, I'll call you father!"
"I don't have such a stupid son!"
This bet, recognized by the continent's alchemists, created a legend that would last for a long time. Under this pressure and motivation, brilliant alchemists emerged from the Pavilion one after another, reaching the most prosperous era in history. Yet, for a long time, no one was qualified to serve as the Pavilion Master...
Qi Ping, who practiced the Way of Sentient Beings, naturally heard these discussions. He was truly caught between laughter and tears. His use of honey to help the dragon had unexpectedly acted as an advertisement and ignited the fighting spirit of the alchemists. He had a premonition that with this goal, genius alchemists and masters would emerge in the Nine Domains at an unprecedented rate.
'But it won't be easy for them to surpass Little Bee and the others...'
It wasn't that Qi Ping looked down on them; it was that the talent of the Golden Marrow Bees in brewing honey was truly staggering. As the swarm's overall strength, attributes, and soul intensity grew, the ceiling for their honey brewing also rose. Most importantly, the bees weren't individuals; they were a massive collective. Countless alchemy techniques and knowledge were merged into the hive's inheritance memory through unique methods.
With their massive numbers and daily experiments, new types of honey were born at regular intervals. All experimental data was integrated and utilized, becoming part of their massive brewing experience. The swarm had accumulated the best experience and could collaborate seamlessly to brew difficult honey. As long as the swarm didn't suffer massive casualties, this experience would continue to evolve and strengthen at extreme speeds!
The current Golden Marrow Bees were a group of "alchemist" monsters that made even Qi Ping feel alarmed. Their experience, cases, and knowledge were enough to crush any single alchemist! This was Qi Ping's greatest achievement in nurturing animal companions—he had raised a group of monster alchemists who could crush everything! He was very proud of this. He felt the bees' brewing ability was more important and outstanding than their combat ability. Production and creation were what he valued most; combat was just a means of protection.
'Perhaps one day, the honey of the Golden Marrow Bees can be sold to the Myriad Worlds, collecting precious resources and wealth for me!'
This was one of the greatest wishes in his heart. Conquering the Myriad Worlds was just a dream; he didn't want to slaughter his way through like an invader. Building a super-power that made everyone surrender sounded cool, but it was just for show. Who knew what old monsters were hidden out there? He might not encounter them the first few times, but doing so would eventually lead to death.
More importantly, Qi Ping felt most beings were living individuals, just like he was when he was a junior cultivator, and like the partners who fought alongside him. They all had their own pursuits in life. He respected that. To kill and enslave them one by one... he was unwilling from the bottom of his heart, even if it fit the "strong eat the weak" rule.
He truly didn't like it! As for why he said "most" beings... it was because some people and creatures really deserved to die! For those, he didn't even have an interest in talking. He would just turn them into ash. He had never been soft-handed in that regard; in terms of the blood on his hands, he was among the top in the Star-Sea Continent.
But most importantly, more than invasion, Qi Ping preferred farming, development, and making money! And what was the best way to make money? Naturally, it was honey with various miraculous effects. Human pills were already famous in the Myriad Worlds, so the wealth-gathering ability of honey would be even better. What was most exaggerated was that the number of bees could be increased on a massive scale if resources were sufficient, ensuring a stable output of honey.
Once the farming and spiritual herb industries in the Nine Domains developed, a swarm of powerful bees would be more terrifying than a money-printing machine! As a Druid, he could research farming seriously. Once the markets of the Myriad Worlds were opened, he could collect rare herbs, recipes, and knowledge, and the bees' brewing ability would continue to rise, further increasing his ability to gather wealth.
Once he had enough money, there was no resource in the Myriad Worlds he couldn't trade for. He could use this to strengthen the continent and his own Earth Immortal Druid power while laying the foundation for exploring the world and pursuing true immortality. This was the cultivation life Qi Ping enjoyed most! He felt it was much more comfortable and safer than those who were always invading and plundering.
This was his vision for the future, but it was just a temporary plan for now. There were many problems to solve, such as how to build trading channels, whether he had the strength to deal with those who coveted his wealth, and how to find the worlds that needed trade... too many problems.
Most importantly, he had to resolve the crisis with the Sky-Dragon Continent and the Demon Race first. Otherwise, he would have to wander the Myriad Worlds. Until he found a world that would accept him, he couldn't even farm properly. Small, incomplete worlds couldn't produce high-level resources. Even as a Druid, he needed to rely on the world's natural power and couldn't create the power to nurture high-level herbs out of thin air.
So he had to first protect the Star-Sea Continent, which had accepted him and where he had become an Earth Immortal. Then he could develop and accumulate strength. Once development reached a bottleneck and he needed more knowledge and resources for the next breakthrough—and when he had the strength to protect himself—he would begin the journey of trading honey for resources from the Myriad Worlds.
Step by step, he would conquer the Myriad Worlds with honey! His greatest reliance was the brewing ability of the Golden Marrow Bees.
Looking back at the alchemists who swore not to touch women or wine until they surpassed the bees, and those who wouldn't appoint a Pavilion Master... they were going to regret it. Qi Ping could only shake his head. The vows were made; it was too late to remind them!
But this was a good thing for the Nine Domains and Qi Ping. He wasn't afraid of them being ambitious; he was afraid they wouldn't try. After all, it wasn't him who couldn't touch women or wine.
His gaze returned from the alchemists to the newly promoted azure dragon. A heartfelt smile appeared on his face. An unexpectedly powerful tribulation had created an unexpectedly powerful animal companion! He could clearly feel that while the dragon's realm hadn't reached Void Refinement, it already possessed power comparable to it!
Even more enviably, after its breakthrough, the legendary dragon lowered its head before Qi Ping and affectionately rubbed against his arm...