"Caw caw... (Lord Ya has succeeded! Caw caw!)"
When Ya Ya's extraordinary body broke through the black shell and bathed in the sunlight, the golden patterns on its feathers radiated a brilliant glow. The wild, scorching solar energy now surrounded Ya Ya like obedient soldiers. The flame mark on its forehead had become even more radiant.
The most significant change was Ya Ya's size—it had grown again. When its wings were spread, it appeared even larger than a person. Its aura went without saying; it had completely stabilized at Rank 2, and its entire body radiated a terrifying pressure.
After acclimating to its aura in the sky, Ya Ya landed in front of Qi Ping.
"Caw caw... (Boss! I succeeded! Hehe!)"
"Not bad! You've successfully awakened the Great Sun Physique too, right?" Qi Ping asked with a smile. He was in an excellent mood. One of his animal companions finally possessed Foundation Establishment-level combat power—and it was a Solar-Fire Crow with the Great Sun Physique!
"Caw caw... (Thanks to your nurturing, Boss, I've awakened it!)"
"Caw caw... (Now I can not only absorb more solar energy to strengthen my body, but when I fight under the sun, my combat power, endurance, and recovery will increase by thirty or forty percent!)"
"Caw caw... (Boss, I haven't finished digesting my inherited memories. I need to take advantage of this bloodline activity to contemplate. I'll tell you more later!)"
"Good, go ahead!" Qi Ping naturally had no objections. Such an opportunity was rare and had to be seized.
To ensure no one disturbed Ya Ya's breakthrough, Qi Ping had chosen a very secluded spot deep in the Cloud-Mist Mountain Range. Consequently, it took him quite some time to return to his peak.
Back at the peak, Qi Ping was in high spirits. Ya Ya had successfully reached Rank 2 and awakened the Great Sun Physique. As a rare spirit beast, its combat power was far greater than that of an average Foundation Establishment cultivator.
'Now, with a Rank 2 Ya Ya, ten thousand bees, and the sprite's Hundred-Eyed Demon Realm, the three working together should be able to easily slay an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator...'
In that case, there weren't many people in Qingshi County who could threaten Qi Ping. As long as he didn't actively provoke powerful Foundation Establishment masters or draw the attention of a Gold Core cultivator, his safety was guaranteed. Given his current identity, the chances of even a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator coming for him were low.
He could already imagine his future battles:
Enemy (7th Level Qi Refinement): "Little early-stage brat, hand over your storage bag immediately! Then tell me everything you know!"
Qi Ping (Releases a Rank 2 crow from his spirit beast bag): "Why did you stop talking?"
Enemy (!!!???): "Have mercy, Great Immortal!"
Qi Ping: "Mercy? In your dreams! Ya Ya, incinerate him to ash!"
This was the combat mode Qi Ping liked best. However, he knew that the possibility of drawing a Foundation Establishment cultivator was not zero.
His previous large expenditures of spirit stones in the Qingshi market had likely been exposed. Now, he had rented two spirit lands in Section B, and these behaviors were somewhat abnormal. Especially given that so many rogue cultivators were dying or fleeing, his continued peaceful existence here made him stand out. He even suspected that the pair of disciples Lin Qingzhu had slain had come for him, not her.
There wasn't much Qi Ping could do about this. In the cultivation world, seeking techniques and resources inevitably left traces. Many things were unavoidable. What he could do was ensure he only left traces within his ability to handle.
Furthermore, no one would ever suspect that he already possessed the strength to slay an ordinary Foundation Establishment master. That was his true confidence. As long as his trump cards remained hidden, he was safe.
But as the population of Qingshi County dwindled, he would eventually be exposed. Especially since the disciples sent by the rival sects were being killed by either Meng Yan or Qi Ping, Qingshi was likely to become a true battlefield for Foundation Establishment cultivators. If Qi Ping were caught in that and targeted, it might not be a matter of just one enemy. If several Foundation Establishment masters or geniuses from great sects were involved, the losses would be immense.
'So, I must research the First-Rank Mid-Grade illusion and concealment arrays as quickly as possible!'
Once the secret base was built, he could leave a few eyes and guards on the peak. Aside from obtaining techniques or rare herbs, he could stay in his own territory, farming and cultivating in peace.
Under this pressure, Qi Ping accelerated his research. About two weeks later:
"Success! The First-Rank Low-Grade basic illusion array, the Virtual-Real Illusion Array!"
(TN: Virtual-Real Illusion Array: A First-Rank Low-Grade array. It can simulate the surrounding environment to a lifelike degree. The higher the grade of the simulated object, the higher the distortion.)
Qi Ping looked with satisfaction at the small hill in front of him. He had just set up a Virtual-Real array there, and from the outside, it looked no different from usual. He even had a few small birds fly through the area. When they touched the array, they began to circle around the edge, believing they were flying as usual.
When they flew back to Qi Ping, they were confused about why he had sent them there. Even from a distance, the scene looked perfectly normal. Qi Ping could find no fault with his naked eye; it was only when he used spiritual power to enhance his sight or used his divine sense that he noticed the abnormality.
"It looks good, but a low-grade illusion array is still a bit rough. A mid-grade one should be much better!"
After testing, Qi Ping resumed his research. If other formation masters knew he had taught himself illusion arrays in such a short time, they would be shocked. Illusion arrays were several times harder to set up than standard elemental ones. Qi Ping's speed was entirely due to the Fairy-Trance Divine Seal, the Hundred-Eyed Demon Realm, and the assistance of the little spirit fox.
There were very few beasts below Rank 2 that could rival the spirit fox in illusions. With such an expert assisting him, Qi Ping's research into basic illusion arrays was naturally smooth.
With this success, he knew the day he could build his exclusive territory was not far off.