'Heaven-Earth Favor? This is quite formidable!'
Qi Ping was stunned as he studied the talent that had evolved from the Blessing of Heaven and Earth. Increased speed in comprehending laws, a higher probability of sudden enlightenment, the ability to channel more of the world's power, and an all-encompassing enhancement of his physical body, soul, and spiritual affinity—the list was staggering.
While each individual increase might not have been game-changing on its own, their collective effect was transformative. This holistic improvement was exactly what Qi Ping needed. The talents he shared with his animal companions were specialized; this universal boost significantly improved his overall foundation.
Moreover, the last two effects were a welcome surprise.
'Divination and curses targeted at me will be significantly weakened by the world...'
This effect was precisely what he lacked. His greatest fear remained the arts of divination and heavenly secrets, which was why he had insisted on his Treant Clone's final act ending in death.
'With the combination of Heaven-Earth Favor and Curse Immunity, ordinary curses should be completely ineffective. As for divination, I'll still need to perform some tests.'
The one aspect that left him somewhat puzzled was the Power of Qi Fortune.
'I have gained a wisp of Qi Fortune... unfortunately, I haven't come across any detailed records regarding this power, so I can't be sure of its specific effects. Still, any form of providence is a blessing; it's a solid gain!'
This baptism from the world was an unexpected windfall. With Heaven-Earth Favor in his possession, his future path of cultivation would undoubtedly be smoother.
Once the baptism concluded, Qi Ping settled back into his routine, ignoring the chaos of the outside world. The spiritual energy within his territory was already quite dense. Even without the aid of spiritual herbs, he could maintain a steady pace of cultivation.
At this stage, his primary objective was to nurture the Blood-Blaze Garment to the limit of his Plant Growth skill and facilitate Yaya's bloodline metamorphosis. Once the fervor from his recent actions died down, he would venture out to retrieve his spoils and exchange them for resources that could rapidly advance his cultivation realm.
'In about two years, the Blood-Blaze Garment should reach its limit.'
The herb resembled a burning mushroom, enveloped in a fire-attribute energy that felt thick like blood. Under Qi Ping's dedicated care, it had grown to the size of a human head. Whenever he was near it, he could feel his own body's primal hunger for its power.
He was now certain that the Blood-Blaze Garment would push his Yang-Fire Physique to a new level. He was even more curious to see what height Yaya's bloodline would reach after consuming it. As soon as Yaya's constitution evolved, his own shared fire-attribute talent would improve accordingly, accelerating his cultivation speed once again.
Staring at the increasingly enticing aroma of the Blood-Blaze Garment, Qi Ping felt a renewed surge of motivation. Two years would pass quickly if he immersed himself in the study of arrays and spells.
Not many days after the "death" of the Bee Daoist, Meng Yan took the initiative to chat with him about the event and the Celestial Alliance.
"Brother Qi! Have you heard about the incredible event that occurred in our Azure Heaven Domain?" Meng Yan asked. "An early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator named the Bee Daoist consecutively annihilated various branches of the Celestial Alliance. He slew a host of early and mid-stage experts and even took a late-stage expert down with him via self-detonation! Such ferocity!"
Meng Yan's voice was filled with a mixture of admiration and regret. "It's a tragedy that someone with such talent died in that explosion. I wish I could have met him. Given time, he surely would have reached the pinnacle of the cultivation world."
Qi Ping found the situation quite ironic. The Bee Daoist was him, after all.
'If Brother Meng knew that the Bee Daoist is not only alive but standing right in front of him, he would probably drop his jaw in shock.'
However, Qi Ping remained silent. He would never reveal his true identity or the fact that the Bee Daoist would eventually return.
Additionally, Meng Yan provided a name for the organization that processed infants into blood food: the Celestial Alliance.
'The Celestial Alliance? So that's what they're called. They certainly picked a grand name.'
According to Meng Yan, the Celestial Alliance was an ancient and mysterious underground organization that specialized in capturing individuals with unique constitutions or exceptional cultivation talent. Their origins were shrouded in secrecy, and they were rumored to be backed by terrifying entities. Meng Yan warned Qi Ping never to provoke them until his strength was sufficient.
When Qi Ping tried to probe for more details, Meng Yan admitted he knew little else. Specific data, such as how many people they captured annually, was never made public. If Qi Ping hadn't witnessed those thousands of blood foods and felt the world's mourning, he might never have grasped the true horror of their operations.
Two years passed in a flash—neither too long nor too short.
During this time, the heat surrounding the Bee Daoist gradually cooled. People only brought him up occasionally during drunken boasts. Meanwhile, Qi Ping's cultivation, array mastery, and spell comprehension grew steadily.
But the event that excited him most was finally here: the Blood-Blaze Garment was complete.
Mid-tier second-grade Blood-Blaze Garment! Eight hundred years of medicinal efficacy!
This was the current limit of Qi Ping's Plant Growth skill. Even a single breath of the spiritual energy radiating from the herb made his Yang-Fire Physique stir with anticipation.
Because the herb had grown to the size of two human heads, the portion was quite large. Qi Ping cut off a small piece and gave it to the Apothecary Bees to see if they could brew something extraordinary.
"Caw caw! (Boss! This is it! The effect is about forty to fifty percent stronger than consuming the raw herb directly!)"
After Yaya performed a thorough test, it quickly identified the most potent combination.
"Excellent. We shall brew it according to this recipe," Qi Ping said with a satisfied nod.
While a forty percent increase wasn't world-altering, it meant that by using only a twentieth of the herb for testing, the remaining batch was roughly equivalent to consuming 1.4 copies of an eight-hundred-year herb.
"Yaya, prepare yourself. Once the honey is ready, we will begin the metamorphosis."
"Caw caw! (No problem, Boss. I am ready at any time!)" Yaya's voice was full of confidence.
Since awakening the Great Sun Physique, its speed in absorbing solar energy had increased dramatically. With the help of the Sun-Blaze Wood and solar essence, its growth had accelerated. Even though its realm was still at the mid-tier of the second grade, its foundation was incredibly deep. Every feather radiated a scorching, dense solar power. Its once pitch-black feathers were even beginning to show a golden sheen.
If Qi Ping hadn't asked it to wait, it could have initiated the metamorphosis long ago. But Yaya trusted Qi Ping implicitly. To awaken even more of its bloodline power was its greatest desire. Having felt the honey made from the Blood-Blaze Garment, it saw a path to becoming even stronger.