Natural Perception could predict danger and was currently Qi Ping's only mystical skill for sensing the unknown. In the games, it was only useful in specific dungeons, but in this world, he could use it anytime. However, it was a passive trigger; it only warned him when a threat was imminent.
Qi Ping felt this was too risky. If it only triggered at the last second, it might already be too late. For several months, he had been trying to find a way to trigger it actively and interpret the results. Through trial and error, he actually found something!
If he focused his entire mind on a specific action he intended to take, he could receive a faint sensation of fortune or disaster. For example, a month ago, the bees found a group of late-stage Rank 1 demon insects. Qi Ping focused his mind on the idea of walking through their territory without any spiritual energy defense. His Natural Perception gave him a "Minor Omen of Disaster." The feeling wasn't strong, meaning it was dangerous, but not lethal.
He tested various scenarios and confirmed that he could indeed trigger the skill actively! The only cost was a significant drain on his mental energy. He then tried expanding the scope. If he focused on walking through the entire region, the sensation remained the same but drained even more energy. By the time he was done, he felt like his Foundation Establishment mind was on the verge of collapse.
"A god-tier skill!"
"This is a true god-tier ability!"
He was now far more confident about leaving his territory. Before doing anything, he could simply "scan" the outcome.
Around the time he finished his testing, the second batch of Rank 2 bees was completed. With the Spirit-Source Stone Pillars depleted, he had reached his limit. Without a Spirit Vein Essence, his cultivation and herb growth would effectively grind to a halt.
"Two hundred and thirty Earth-Armor Bees; twenty each of the Pharmacist, Blood-Armor, Scout, Toxic, and Balanced bees; and five Mountain-Moving Bees."
"Not bad at all!"
At Rank 2, the bees were now larger than a fist. They were harder to nurture, but their individual combat power had skyrocketed. He immediately etched a battle array onto the Earth-Armor Bees. When activated, it boosted their power by twenty to thirty percent and allowed Qi Ping to redirect defensive energy to wherever it was needed most.
He sparred with the swarm to test them. Even with his Foundation Establishment defense, he found the two hundred and thirty Earth-Armor Bees incredibly troublesome. They attacked from every angle, forcing him to keep his defenses at full power.
His Flameburst Fireballs felt like using a cannon to swat mosquitoes; unless he used a full-power attack, he couldn't break their defense. Meanwhile, they could attack from range and moved with incredible coordination.
"Good, good. While it might not be enough to kill a strong Foundation Establishment cultivator, it's more than enough to stall one. A weak one might actually die."
Satisfied with his preparations, Qi Ping packed up the swarm and Ya Ya. He left enough defensive forces at the array and, for the first time in over a year, stepped out of the Cloud-Mist Mountain Range.
He was going to find Old Man Zhou.
On the way, he used his "Omen Reading" frequently. Only when the way was clear did he proceed. It was tedious, but he enjoyed the peace of mind. He hadn't felt this relaxed since the Great Sky Domain fell into chaos. The ability to predict fortune was intoxicating.
However, he didn't let his guard down. Mystical skills had limits. If he encountered someone who could bypass divination or someone whose power far exceeded his own, the omens might fail.
"The mortal realm should be just ahead!"
After traveling for a long time, Qi Ping felt the spiritual energy thin out until it was almost undetectable. He knew he was leaving the cultivation world. This was his first time setting foot in the mortal world since he arrived in this universe. Only now did he realize what "thin spiritual energy" really meant. Compared to this, even the depths of the mountains were like a paradise. It was no wonder cultivators couldn't stand staying here.
He crossed a final forest filled with mundane beasts and insects—the barrier between the worlds—and entered the mortal realm. Using the address Old Man Zhou had given him, he simulated the route and triggered an omen. He expected nothing, but to his surprise, an "Auspicious Omen" appeared.
"A lucky omen? In the mortal world?"