When Qi Ping summoned his Fire True Meaning, his Dao-heart Intent naturally merged with it. The process was seamless, encountering no resistance or friction.
'The Dao-heart realm is truly the core of a cultivator's control over the world's power. After comprehending the first level, my control over spiritual power, my physical body, and the True Meaning of laws has improved so much!'
The difference between having realized a Dao-heart and not was like the gap between heaven and earth. Now, Qi Ping felt as familiar with his own power as a veteran fisherman who had gutted fish for decades felt with his knife. Before this realization, he had been like a novice who had just picked up the blade. The disparity was immense. This was the terrifying gap between true cultivation geniuses and ordinary practitioners.
Next, Qi Ping called Ya Ya down and had the bird spar with him. After a brief bout, Ya Ya looked at Qi Ping in shock.
"Caw caw... (Boss, is this special power the intent you realized?)"
Ya Ya could clearly feel a very peculiar force resisting its attacks. With the support of this special power, Qi Ping's spiritual defense was exceptionally high, and every move he made carried this unique aura. No matter what angle or method Ya Ya used, it couldn't bypass this obstruction. It was quite frustrating to fight against.
In contrast, Qi Ping found the experience exhilarating. Under this power, he felt his spiritual energy and techniques gained a "Protective Trait," which could effectively block and weaken any incoming attack. Furthermore, this force covered every corner of his body and interior, allowing him to quickly block any form of strike and vastly improving his reaction time.
'Although this power isn't offensive, the defensive capability of this Protective Trait is really quite strong!'
Feeling this trait in combat, Qi Ping was immensely pleased. With his current strength, he could completely withstand any form of attack from Ya Ya! One had to remember that Ya Ya was not weak; the bird had even slain a genius of the Demon-Trance Sect who had realized Demon Intent. Though there were factors of attribute suppression involved, it spoke to Ya Ya's power.
Yet now, Qi Ping, bolstered by the Protective Trait of his Dao-heart, could defend against Ya Ya's attacks without much pressure. His survival capabilities had reached a new height!
"Yes, this is the special power I obtained after realizing my Dao-heart. Its primary characteristics are protection and defense, capable of effectively guarding against any form of attack," Qi Ping answered Ya Ya's question with certainty.
"Caw caw... (This Protective Trait is too powerful!)"
"Caw caw... (It's hard for me to even hurt you with my full strength now, Boss. Instead, every attack makes me feel incredibly uncomfortable!)"
Sensing this power, Ya Ya couldn't help but feel a bit of envy. However, the cultivation systems of spirit beasts and human cultivators were different; it couldn't practice Qi Ping's methods. Qi Ping noticed Ya Ya's envy and comforted the bird.
"When you awaken your Solar Fire Physique, you will truly master the power of the Solar-Fire Crow. Your combat strength will soar even higher then!"
"Caw caw... (Don't worry, Boss! Ya Ya will work hard!)"
"How much longer until you break through to Rank 2?"
"Caw caw... (Probably within a month. Maybe I can awaken the Great Sun Physique at the same time!)"
Speaking of this, Ya Ya's tone carried a hint of pride. This was the result of the bird's tireless, daily cultivation.
"Good. I've already nurtured the high-year spirit herbs for you. I'll have the bees brew them into honey now."
"Caw caw... (Thank you, Boss!)"
After testing the growth in his strength, Qi Ping was thoroughly satisfied. Nothing made him happier than an increase in his survival skills.
Immediately afterward, Qi Ping handed over a three-hundred-and-fifty-year-old First-Rank Mid-Grade Fire Spirit Grass, a nearly three-hundred-year-old First-Rank High-Grade Fire-Rain Grass, and a pile of accompanying herbs to the Big-Belly Bee brewer.
Spirit herbs of this age were currently the limit of his level three Plant Growth skill, and the difficulty of nurturing them increased significantly the further they went. To grow five-hundred-year-old blood ginseng, he would have to wait until his Plant Growth skill reached level four.
However, three-hundred-year-old herbs were already very potent. Qi Ping had even grown two sets of each, which was more than enough to support Ya Ya's breakthrough to Rank 2. If there were leftovers, he would keep them for his own Foundation Establishment.
Once the herbs were settled, Qi Ping rested for another two days. Feeling refreshed, he enthusiastically resumed his research into formations. This time, he wasn't studying fire-based arrays, but rather the placement of illusion and concealment arrays.
He could now easily set up First-Rank Mid-Grade arrays and was a true First-Rank Mid-Grade formation master.
'It's time to start researching illusion and concealment arrays!'
'First-Rank Mid-Grade versions should be enough to ensure the secrecy of my territory in the Cloud-Mist Mountain Range for now.'
'After all, the chosen location is a godforsaken place. After months of observation, I haven't seen a single person pass through, and even beasts and birds are rare.'
'The situation is unstable. I should build the preliminary base as quickly as possible and move the important spirit herbs and the spirit-source stone pillars over. Peaks 28 and 29 can remain as a front.'
Qi Ping's concerns were proven correct. After a week of researching arrays, he received a message from Meng Yan via a transmission talisman.
(TN: Brother Qi, because the disciples sent by the rival sects to Qingshi County have been killed one after another, there is a possibility that Foundation Establishment cultivators will be deployed soon. Please be extremely careful!)
(TN: I will let you know once I have more detailed information.)
Qi Ping's brow furrowed as he read the message. Although Meng Yan had mentioned long ago that Qingshi might become a battlefield for Foundation Establishment cultivators, and Qi Ping had prepared for it, hearing the news still caused him some anxiety.
Those were Foundation Establishment cultivators, after all. Right now, neither the flower sprite nor Ya Ya had reached Rank 2. While the swarm had the potential to slay a Foundation Establishment cultivator, the cost in casualties would be too high—it would be a net loss for Qi Ping.
The ten thousand combat bees were his final trump card and his greatest means of escape. If he used them up, he wouldn't have many left, and it would take a long time to breed them again. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, he would not deploy the swarm against Foundation Establishment enemies.
Thus, he had to speed up his formation research to build his secret territory as soon as possible.
However, only another week later, good news arrived: Ya Ya was ready to break through to Rank 2!