A short distance from where Ya Ya was breaking through, Wang He's hand trembled. He jerked his head toward the site of the tribulation, his eyes wide with shock. He could hardly believe what he was seeing.
As the obscuring Yin-Yang mist dissipated, Qi Ping's main body, dressed in black, appeared in view. Before him, the mangled remains of the two Golden Core cultivators fell.
In Qi Ping's hand, he was suppressing two Golden Cores radiating dense Dao-rhyme. One was filled with fire-attribute intent and sword qi, while the other seethed with arrogant demonic qi. Both displayed the powerful pressure of a Golden Core cultivator.
Yet, two such formidable Golden Cores had been easily suppressed by Qi Ping!
"Two Golden Core cultivators... just like that?" Wang He spoke in disbelief.
When the duo first appeared, Wang He had asked the Treant Clone if he needed to help, as that was the reason Qi Ping had invited him. But the Treant Clone had simply shaken its head, saying these two were not worth his trouble.
In less than a few breaths, the two Golden Core cultivators had been slain. The impact of this scene was far too strong.
Those were Golden Core cultivators!
In the Qingtian Domain, their numbers were strictly limited. Every one of them was a figure of supreme combat power and status. If not for the anomaly that was Qi Ping, the saying 'All beneath the Golden Core are but ants' would be absolute truth.
And yet, two of them—including a mid-stage expert—had been killed in seconds!
As the remains hit the ground and the spells faded, their true identities were revealed. One was Du Lingpeng, an early-stage Golden Core cultivator of the Qingyuan Sect who practiced the Fire-Sword Intent. He was a member of the Neutral faction and had broken through during the same era as Wang He. They had once been peers and rivals.
Recognizing Du Lingpeng's corpse, Wang He's eyes were filled with complex emotions. He never thought that the arrogant youth of the past would descend to such an ugly act as blocking another's path to the Dao.
If he had to guess a reason, Wang He could only think of one: the human Golden Core or a monster's Beast Core.
Like a Beast Core, a human Golden Core was the crystallization of a cultivator's entire essence and Dao-fruit. It contained pure energy and dense Dao-rhyme; it could be used for enlightenment or refined for cultivation. It was often more effective than the vast majority of spirit pills!
The only drawback was that they contained indelible wills and rules. If these could not be completely erased, they would leave hidden dangers in one's foundation, leading to instability or even demonic possession. But to a cultivator lacking resources, these risks were secondary.
'Even Du Lingpeng eventually walked this path?'
Though Wang He knew many made this choice, recalling the high-spirited words Du Lingpeng had once said to him made his heart heavy.
The young Du Lingpeng had once said, "One day, I will be a step ahead of you and become the strongest sword immortal in the Qingtian Domain. My glory shall be recorded in history, and you shall eventually be defeated by my hand!"
Yet, that spirited individual was now a petty man who had died attempting a shameless ambush.
Wang He recalled a meeting years ago. Du Lingpeng had said, "Brother He, I never imagined being a Golden Core cultivator would be this difficult. After seeing the true world of cultivation, I searched for a century, yet I still find no hope for the future..."
Thin spiritual energy, withering leylines, the extinction of spiritual herbs, and the corruption of the immortal path... wherever one looked, there was only despair.
The Qingtian Domain only had two remaining Rank 3 spirit veins. The Rank 3 resources produced each year were negligible, and the share that reached an early-stage Golden Core was even smaller. A large portion of the spirit stones the sect earned was used to buy Rank 3 and 4 resources from higher-level powers at exorbitant prices; the local production simply wasn't enough.
Because of this, the Qingyuan Sect was bled dry by superior sects every year.
This scene was hauntingly similar to how Foundation Establishment clans had to buy Rank 2 resources from the Qingyuan Sect. The exploited gains were never used to strengthen the sect; they were ultimately swallowed by even bigger fish.
Looking at Du Lingpeng's tragic remains, a sense of helplessness and grief rose in Wang He's heart.
Must the world truly be this way?
Regardless, Wang He could never approve of blocking another's path to the Dao or using their flesh and Dao-fruit as resources. To block a path to the Dao was akin to killing one's parents; such people deserved their deaths!
Why could they not follow the ancestors' example and nurture leylines and spiritual plants? Why must they 'drain the pond to catch the fish'?
'Wait...'
Wang He suddenly remembered something. A Golden Core elder in the sect had once used a secret formation to steal the spirit vein essence of a subordinate power.
'Could the decline of the Qingtian Domain also be because someone came here to plunder? To maintain a monopoly and steal precious spirit vein essence? No wonder there were several unexplained declines in our sect's history!'
As the possibility occurred to him, Wang He's mood turned dark. He wasn't certain yet; he would have to return to the sect and consult more records. For now, he had to help Qi Ping's 'friend' through this ordeal.
The matter was far from over. Though two Golden Cores had been slain, there were clearly more Golden Core auras watching from the shadows. The Li-Fire Crow and the human Golden Cores in Qi Ping's hand were like top-tier delicacies to these starving wolves.
Moving his gaze from Du Lingpeng, Wang He looked at the other corpse. This was an old Golden Core cultivator from the Immortal Alliance, a mid-stage expert named Fang Jiao. He practiced the demonic manual Asura Blood-Slaying Art. His Ten-Thousand Soul Banner had been famous across the Qingtian Domain five hundred years ago, and he was now a renowned elder of the Alliance.
Yet, even such a famous figure had died at the hands of Qi Ping's friend, unable to hold out for even a few breaths.
A legendary demon had fallen so unceremoniously!
This sight actually brought Wang He a sense of satisfaction. He had long wanted to kill this man, but the complex politics between the sect and the Alliance had denied him the chance. Now that the man had been killed while blocking another's path, no one could say anything; in the cultivation world, those who died while committing such an act were considered to have deserved their fate.
However, Wang He was not surprised to see this old villain here. Fang Jiao had reached the Golden Core stage by devouring others' flesh and blood; the souls in his banner were proof enough.
When Wang He turned his gaze to Qi Ping's main body, he was shocked once more.
'The aura of Foundation Establishment?!'
He could hardly trust his senses. The person who had just slain Du Lingpeng and Fang Jiao was actually a Foundation Establishment cultivator! This was far too preposterous.
"Junior Brother Lin Ya, is this friend of yours a Foundation Establishment cultivator? He killed two Golden Cores in an instant?" Wang He looked at Qi Ping, dumbfounded.
Since when did Golden Core cultivators become as easy to harvest as cabbages? In the Qingtian Domain, every Golden Core death was a monumental event. Even Wang He himself had only barely reached the mid-stage after years of cultivation and fighting for resources.
"You can't exactly put it that way. He had other helpers," Qi Ping replied, somewhat amused.
Because the auras and moves of the Royal Bees and Coal Ball had been masked by his own spells, it had created this misunderstanding.
"I see! Still, such a style reminds me of the 'Bee Daoist' who slaughtered all the Immortal Alliance's subordinate powers decades ago. Junior Brother, tell me the truth... is this friend of yours him?"
Wang He looked at Qi Ping with curiosity. To accomplish such a feat, the only person he could think of was the Bee Daoist.
Qi Ping did not hide it. He nodded slightly. "It is indeed him."
He didn't deny it because Wang He was someone he had invited for help and someone who had already assisted him greatly; he trusted Wang He. Furthermore, Wang He had spoken of the Bee Daoist before with a sense of admiration, even expressing a wish to recruit him into the sect.
"Junior Brother, you truly are a man of hidden depths..."
Though he had suspected it, receiving confirmation still left Wang He stunned. The Bee Daoist, who had vanished for decades, had reappeared.
And in terms of causing trouble, Wang He felt the Bee Daoist might even surpass his Junior Brother Lin Ya. Fortunately, the trouble the Bee Daoist caused usually aligned perfectly with Wang He's own desires.
...
Elsewhere, the Golden Core cultivators hidden in the shadows were also shocked by the scene. The two familiar figures had become mangled corpses in an instant. They knew the strength of those two, especially the old demon Fang Jiao; he was extremely formidable, yet he hadn't even lasted a few breaths!
'What exactly happened within that Yin-Yang spell?'
As they looked at the two Golden Cores suppressed in Qi Ping's hand, a sense of dread rose in their hearts. Qi Ping's Foundation Establishment strike was already brilliant and world-shaking, but such an attack should not have been enough to kill two Golden Cores so quickly.
Some keen-eyed observers sensed auras within Qi Ping's attack that did not belong to him. The Golden Core cultivators who had been about to move settled down. However, they did not give up. Instead, their auras began to converge, and secret soul-transmissions began.
"Who is this man? To have a Li-Fire Crow pet breaking through to the third rank is one thing, but to match a mid-stage Golden Core as a Foundation Establishment cultivator?"
"Is it Lin Ya of the Qingyuan Sect? A disciple of a great traveling sect? Or the Bee Daoist from decades ago?"
"Did any of you sense what killed Du Lingpeng and Fang Jiao? One had sword wounds, the other was sliced with burn marks. Judging by the wounds, the killers are likely at the mid-stage of the Golden Core, possibly even the late-stage..."
"My judgment is the same. Fellows, what are our chances if we join forces?"
"This person holds two Golden Cores, a pet about to reach the third rank, and surely carries a heaven-defying fortune..."
"Such a person either has a great secret or the protection of providence. If we move, we must assemble several times the combat power! Are there any other fellow daoists who can make it here?"
As they discussed, a surging undercurrent began to move. If this current converged, it would surely whip up a terrifying storm!
Meanwhile, after slaying the two with Coal Ball, Qi Ping suppressed and sealed their Golden Cores. Including these, he now had four Golden Cores in his possession. He knew the value of these items; they were treasures that could be exchanged for vast amounts of spirit stones.
Though he would not hunt those breaking through for resources like these people, he would certainly not let the spoils go to waste. However, he would never use them himself. While refining them would increase his strength faster, the impact on his foundation would be too great. In a situation where he could farm and develop slowly, choosing to refine such things would be to 'forsake the root for the branches,' a self-destructive path.
"But just because I don't care, doesn't mean others don't..."
"Ya Ya still needs about half a day to complete its breakthrough. No one knows what kind of figures might be drawn here in that time."
Qi Ping sensed the converging auras in the distance and sighed.
"In the end, a hard battle is unavoidable! Fortunately, I have prepared enough."
He knew the breakthrough would be dangerous, but the number of Golden Core cultivators drawn here exceeded his expectations.
'It seems the lack of Rank 3 resources in the Qingyuan Sect is more severe than I thought!'
After gaining access to the sect's core, Qi Ping learned that the sect only had two Rank 3 spirit veins. The resources produced were far from enough for Golden Core cultivation, necessitating high-priced imports.
A phenomenon had long since emerged in the Qingtian Domain: 'Cannibalism.'
Holding the belief that 'in the absence of resources, my peers are my best resource,' many rogue cultivators without backing had been hunted and 'eaten' by extremist Golden Core practitioners. People like Wang He would never plunder another's Dao-fruit, but what about others?
This led to a decrease in rogue cultivators, to the point where rogue Golden Cores were nearly extinct. Even the Immortal Alliance and the Qingyuan Sect had ties to the greater world of cultivation... otherwise, they would have been wiped out for resources by demonic practitioners long ago. Of course, these ties were rarely true backings; more often, they were simply a 'shepherd' protecting a 'flock.'
"Regardless of the reason, blocking a path to the Dao is like killing one's parents. If you strike, be prepared to be killed!"
Qi Ping looked at the converging auras, his eyes turning colder. Though environmental factors played a role, it didn't mean he would willingly feed himself to the hawks. He was no saint.
His only concern was that Ya Ya needed more time. He worried that the anomalies he had displayed—and the prize of the Golden Cores and the pet—would draw in Nascent Soul cultivators.
Before his strike, they might not have noticed, but now the risk was high. Fortunately, he had even invited Wang He to handle potential high-level enemies.
After he slew Du Lingpeng and Fang Jiao, an indescribable, oppressive atmosphere filled the area. The tension grew to the point where even Wang He felt a chill.
The only one unaffected was Ya Ya, who was fully focused on condensing its core and facing the lightning tribulation. Ya Ya could be this focused because of its absolute trust in Qi Ping.
As time ticked by, all sound in the world seemed to vanish, leaving only the roar of the lightning. Ya Ya's breakthrough entered its final, critical phase.
Powerful bolts of lightning crashed down, causing the earth to shake and the air to crackle with thunderous power. Where the lightning struck, massive craters formed, and the ground was turned into scorched earth. This terrifying power had slain countless cultivators who had dared to attempt the Golden Core stage.
As the bolts struck Ya Ya, massive booms erupted, and hideous, scorched wounds appeared on its robust body. But Ya Ya did not retreat; it proactively met the lightning, allowing the bolts to strike its body, then used that power to stimulate its bloodline potential.
Ya Ya succeeded. Under the pressure of the lightning, its body was continuously destroyed and quickly repaired by its life-fire and boiling bloodline. The pressure and tempering of the lightning became the best catalyst for its growth!
Every time its body rose from the ashes, it radiated a more brilliant golden light, and its bloodline became stronger. Aside from its body, the monster core within its abdomen became more solid and powerful under the dual tempering of lightning and bloodline. The pressure of a Rank 3 spirit beast became increasingly dense.
Most astonishingly, the phantom of the Golden Crow, radiating the pressure of a divine beast, nearly merged with Ya Ya. Under this phantom, Ya Ya's bloodline was incredibly active, rising at an incredible speed under the stimulus of the thunder.
Qi Ping saw the timing and cast [Potential Stimulation]. In an instant, Ya Ya's bloodline erupted with even more brilliant light, showing signs of a further bloodline promotion. After it reached the Golden Core stage, it might soon welcome another evolution!
"Good, good, good!"
Qi Ping's eyes were full of joy. As expected of Ya Ya!
At the same time, this phenomenon was naturally noticed by the watching Golden Core cultivators. Heavy breathing and greedy gazes erupted. Normally they would not be so out of sorts, but seeing Ya Ya's phenomenon, everyone realized the bird's value. Forget capturing it alive; even its corpse or its core would be worth any price to a fire-attribute cultivator!
This tipped the scales for those who had been hesitant. Thinking of the powerhouse about to arrive, they made their decision: 'Do it!'
Qi Ping, with his keen perception, felt their increasingly greedy gazes. He knew battle was unavoidable. He had the Treant Clone and Wang He move into position via the formations.
"Come then! I want to see how many people will strike today!"
At this moment, Qi Ping's killing intent soared! It had been a long time since he had been forced into such an uncontrolled battle. He only wanted to break through in peace. Was it because he had no background that he was a target to be 'eaten'?
No wonder there were no rogue Golden Cores in the Qingtian Domain—they had all been eaten! How could such a place ever prosper?
As Ya Ya's breakthrough neared completion, the lightning tribulation reached its end. The atmosphere turned frigid, and a rising killing intent made the air heavy.
At a certain moment, the air froze, and seven figures of Golden Core cultivators shot forth from the distance! Among them was a late-stage Golden Core expert!
When these seven figures arrived, a terrifying pressure descended. They stood there as the center of the world. In terms of lineup, these seven were one more than the radical faction of the Qingyuan Sect that had once surrounded Qi Ping!
As their combined pressure bore down on Qi Ping, even with the support of his animal companions, he felt a suffocating discomfort. Seven Golden Cores—this was at least a quarter of the Golden Core combat power of the entire Qingtian Domain! If they struck together, a single combined move could likely kill Qi Ping!
They stopped a short distance away, and the late-stage Golden Core cultivator at their head spoke:
"Fellow daoist, if you are willing to hand over those two Golden Cores and that golden beast, we can let you depart!"
This was their strategy: use these words to test Qi Ping's reaction and judge his strength and trump cards before deciding their next move. If they could get the gains without a fight, it would be ideal; while they had no pressure hunting rogue cultivators, they couldn't quite see through Qi Ping's depth. But they couldn't let go of the profit, especially when Qi Ping's overall display seemed inferior to theirs.
"Heh, let me depart? And if I say no?"
Qi Ping sneered, his gaze sweeping over the seven. There was no fear in his eyes.
"If the answer is no, then we can only send you to your death!"
As the late-stage expert spoke, his aura surged, and the powerful impact forced Qi Ping back a few steps. Terrifying pressure swept forward!
Faced with this, Qi Ping merely gave a cold laugh. He scanned the group with an indifferent gaze and then spoke words that caused an instant silence:
"A pity. But right now, I only wish to invite you all to your deaths!"
In an instant, one could have heard a pin drop. The Golden Core cultivators could hardly believe their ears. Invite them to their deaths? How could Qi Ping say something so arrogant?
A quarter of the Qingtian Domain's Golden Cores were here, led by a late-stage expert. Without a Nascent Soul expert present, who could claim a certain victory? Even Wang He was stunned. Though these people deserved to die, how could it be done?
"Let us die? Do you have the ability?" a voice mocked.
Faced with the ridicule, Qi Ping's expression did not change. He had decided to slay at least half of the Golden Cores present.
He now truly recognized the situation in the Qingtian Domain. After this, his next breakthrough would undoubtedly be in 'Hell Mode.' At that time, it wouldn't just be about Golden Core cultivators; he would face the strongest enemies in the domain. If he didn't have enough strength, he would never have the chance to reach the Golden Core stage!
The only way to pass safely was to mass-produce his swarm and nurture Coal Ball and Ya Ya. The Netherworld and Sky-Flame bees had royal bloodlines; though not as strong as the originals, with enough resources, reaching Rank 4 would not be a problem.
But resources were the bottleneck. He could not rely on slow farming to gather them. Thus, he had to use today's situation to slay these cultivators who blocked Ya Ya's path!
Use their weapons to nurture Coal Ball! Use their wealth and cores to exchange for high-level Yin-Yang resources! Use the heads of the Alliance cultivators to earn Black Market points!
Since these people would not let him farm in peace, then their flesh and Dao-fruit would pave his way to ruling the Qingtian Domain!
'Then I shall use this battle to lay the foundation for ruling the Azure Sky. Then I can slowly control the development of the entire domain!'
'By then, my new Druid profession should slowly awaken...'
Qi Ping looked forward to seeing just how powerful a Druid who used the living beings and lands of an entire domain as nutrients for awakening would be.
With his mind set, Qi Ping no longer felt any hesitation. He only had an indomitable resolve! These scumbags had to be killed eventually anyway!
Qi Ping raised his palm, and a Rank 3 formation instantly covered the field!
[Yin-Yang Five Elements Subduing Demon Formation!] A Rank 3 early-grade formation!
Qi Ping had used the opportunity of studying the leyline's Rank 3 formation—and the support of the Beast King True Body—to successfully set this up! It was a formation he had exchanged from the Qingyuan Sect, and now it was finally put to use!
As the magnificent formation descended, many of the trapped Golden Cores changed their expressions.
"This is the Yin-Yang Five Elements Subduing Demon Formation!"
"Damn! This man can actually set up a Rank 3 formation!"
Two panicked voices rang out. As Golden Core practitioners, they knew the power of such a formation. If an early-stage Golden Core was trapped alone in such a formation, it was a 'nine deaths, one life' scenario—perhaps even a 'ten deaths, no life' one.
"What are you panicking for!"
Seeing the disarray, the late-stage expert at the head bellowed. "It is but an early-grade Rank 3 formation. I shall break it!"
His aura erupted with heavy wood-attribute spiritual power, and a jade-like green sword shot out from his dantian! A vast power began to converge on the green sword!
Seeing this, the panicked duo relaxed. Yes, they had a late-stage expert. What was there to fear from an early-grade Rank 3 formation?
However, their relief was short-lived. Their expressions changed once more. They saw Qi Ping take out a mysterious seal surrounded by the power of mountains and rivers, which crashed toward their side!
What truly shocked them was that the Mountain-River power surrounding the seal was no weaker than the late-stage expert on their side!
"What is this?!"
Faced with this terrifying strike, the late-stage expert had no time to break the formation. He looked at the magnificent seal with horror. What level of dharma treasure was this? Its energy seemed to connect to the mountains and rivers of the Qingtian Domain itself; its power even made his heart tremble!
The subsequent collision made his scalp tingle. It was as if he had struck the earth itself with his sword. The boundless force caused his body to shake, and a trickle of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
Qi Ping was also not feeling well. Though the Mountain-River Seal from the Heaven-grade treasury could store and control mountain-river power to unleash immense might, the backlash from a late-stage expert was still significant.
This late-stage expert's combat power was extraordinary. Qi Ping had only barely pushed him back by connecting to the heavens via the formation and the earth via the seal!
"All of you, focus on breaking the formation! I will stall him!"
Sensing his injuries, the late-stage expert made the most logical decision. He glared at Qi Ping with a ferocious gaze and charged!
To reach the late-stage of the Golden Core, he wasn't just there for show. To have reached this point, he was among the top tier of geniuses in terms of talent, wisdom, and combat awareness. Furthermore, as a wood-attribute practitioner, his self-healing was frightening; that small injury was nothing!
"You managed to wound me. Good. I want to see what you are made of. If this seal is your only trump card, then wait for your death!"
Once the formation broke, it would be Qi Ping's end! In fact, even without breaking it, he might be able to kill Qi Ping. How could Qi Ping compare to the foundation of a late-stage expert?
As he spoke, green sword-qi like a tide of vines surged toward Qi Ping. Without the protection of the seal and the formation—and the sanctuary of the Home Realm domain—Qi Ping might have been turned into a sieve in an instant.
Qi Ping had to admit that a late-stage expert was indeed formidable. Without his treasures and the home-field advantage, he wouldn't have lasted more than a few breaths. Unfortunately, there were no 'ifs.' Qi Ping almost never fought in a place without formation support.
"Trump card? You think too much. Look behind you and you'll see my true trump cards!" Qi Ping said calmly.
"Do not waste your breath on petty tricks. I will not give us a chance to ambush me!"
The cultivator fighting Qi Ping was aggressive yet cautious. Against an anomalous enemy like Qi Ping, he would not be careless. He kept all his focus on his surroundings.
"Laughable!" Qi Ping sneered and said no more.
Instead, he used the Supernal Eyes and Supernal Comprehension of the Mirror of Profound Illumination to analyze the combat. Within moments, he began to familiarize himself with the expert's style and calculated the best responses. The fight began to feel as smooth as flowing water.
The late-stage expert soon noticed this, and his expression turned darker. What enraged him more were the cries of terror and agony from behind him!
'What happened?'
He had to split a portion of his soul-sense to check behind him. When his sense swept over the scene, his expression changed drastically!
At some point, two figures radiating powerful auras had appeared within the formation! One was a mid-stage Golden Core with sky-piercing sword intent—a third-stage intent that swept the field! None of the Golden Cores on his side could match it!
"Qingyuan Sect! Wang He!"
Though Wang He had changed his appearance, who else had that third-stage Heavenly Heart Sword Intent?
The other figure was at the peak of Foundation Establishment, also disguised. But with that black-and-white Yin-Yang qi, and standing beside Wang He, who else could it be but Lin Ya, the one who had slain Ye Yanwu?
These two, who had risen to fame in recent decades... could one not recognize them even with one's eyes closed?
'Good grief! Everyone is wearing a mask!'
But based on combat styles and moves, one could identify them all. Now, the only one whose identity remained a mystery was the person he was fighting.
However, that wasn't the most shocking part. The most terrifying things were the Rank 3 spirit beasts! They had instantly flipped the numerical advantage!
A group of mid-rank Rank 3 Earth-Vein Ants!
A group of mid-rank Rank 3 spirit bees radiating Yin-Yang qi!
And a Rank 3 early-rank Shanyao!
Crucially, his side only had two mid-stage Golden Cores; the other four were all at the early-stage. The opposing lineup was far more ridiculous!
Someone like Wang He, who had mastered the third-stage Heavenly Heart Sword Intent, was terrifying! Even as a late-stage expert, he had to be cautious. And while Lin Ya seemed to be at the late-stage of Foundation Establishment, one could not forget his record of slaying a mid-stage Golden Core.
The old Shanyao was average, but it was enough to stall an early-stage Golden Core. The Earth-Vein Ants could mobilize the power of the earth, fighting and defending on the ground; even a mid-stage expert had to be careful!
Of course, the most absurd were those bees.
'Are those royal-grade spirit bees?'
He had never seen them before, but sensing the royal bloodline aura... if there were more of them, even he would die! Those bees felt more dangerous than Wang He!
His shock didn't end there. Just after his sense swept by, a terrifying sword qi slashed out from underground! Under that strike, an early-stage Golden Core didn't even have time to scream before being sliced in half!
At this moment, everyone on his side finally realized what had been helping Qi Ping kill enemies in breaths: that mysterious sword qi from underground!
This bizarre scene instantly shattered his side's morale. Everyone began to panic!
"No! Stay back!"
"How can there be so many enemies?!"
"Elder Qin! Save us! we can't hold them off!"
The frantic cries made Elder Qin, the late-stage expert fighting Qi Ping, lose his focus. The song of death had begun. Even Elder Qin felt a sliver of panic; his intuition told him they might not survive this.
Despite being a veteran of countless life-and-death struggles, despair rose in him because he could not find an escape route despite flashing through hundreds of possibilities. The drop from being 'certain of victory' to 'having no way to survive' was a psychological pressure few could bear.
In the face of certain death, even Golden Core practitioners found it hard to remain calm. After considering his options, Elder Qin found only one path with a sliver of hope: begging for mercy.
Elder Qin slowed his attacks and adopted his best attitude. "Fellow daoist, can we not cease this conflict? We are willing to give up all our weapons, treasures, and spirit stones, and swear a Heaven-Path Oath never to retaliate. We will also assemble twenty million spirit stones for you!"
Those few sentences were filled with sincerity! Even Qi Ping was startled by the terms offered.
"Sincere indeed," Qi Ping evaluated.
"You agree? You can tell me any terms you have, and I will do my best to satisfy them!" Seeing Qi Ping's interest, the old man quickly added more.
But Qi Ping's next words made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
"A pity. I said I only wanted to invite you to your deaths! Besides, once you are dead, everything you have will be mine anyway!"
As Qi Ping's grim voice fell, the song of death reached its crescendo!
Though these Golden Core cultivators began to burn their blood and flesh in a desperate struggle, they were no match for Qi Ping's forces. After Coal Ball killed one from underground, the combination of the Netherworld and Sky-Flame bees was the first to slay a mid-stage expert!
Under the soul attacks of the Netherworld Bee and the physical strikes of the Sky-Flame Bee, the mid-stage expert only lasted a short while despite burning everything. How could a normal mid-stage expert match a combination of royal-grade insects? They were existences that even a Nascent Soul expert would find troublesome!
The next to fall was another mid-stage expert, this one from the Immortal Alliance. Facing Wang He—who controlled the third-stage Heavenly Heart Sword Intent and the Orthodox Law Sword—he didn't last long despite his eruption.
The rest was simple. With one early-stage expert killed by Coal Ball's ambush, the remaining ones faced Qi Ping's Treant Clone, the old Shanyao, the Earth-Vein Ants, and Coal Ball's continued underground ambushes. They fell one after another in a short time. They didn't even find a chance to self-destruct.
"Ah! You deserve to die!"
Elder Qin's eyes nearly bled from the sight. Dead! All dead!
He knew words were useless now, but how could he face this result? Nearly a quarter of the Qingtian Domain's Golden Cores had died here! And the original intent was merely to plunder a Rank 3 monster core!
Elder Qin felt a complex mix of emotions and a mental breakdown. He had been a dominant figure all his life, yet he had fallen here!
"The Immortal Alliance will not let you go! You will die a horrible death! No one can insult the Alliance and live!" Elder Qin cursed furiously.
Faced with this toothless threat, Qi Ping was not panicked. He asked calmly:
"Is that so? I remember you all said the same thing decades ago."
"What? Decades ago?" Elder Qin was startled. Decades... he quickly thought of a person. "Bee Daoist! It's you! It really is you!" he screamed!
The man became crazed, burning his essence blood to push his aura higher and higher. Qi Ping remained unruffled, focusing the formation power on himself while using the Mountain-River Seal. He had already deconstructed Qin's style with his Supernal Eyes and handled him with ease.
More importantly, his helpers were arriving: Coal Ball from below, the Netherworld and Sky-Flame bees, and Wang He. Against such a lineup, a lone late-stage expert could no longer stir up any waves.
Even Qin's attempt to fake madness and get close to Qi Ping to self-destruct was seen through. Qi Ping kept his distance, using the formation and his attacks to restrict the old man's movements.
"Your time is up."
As Qi Ping's final words fell, the Mountain-River Seal suddenly reversed direction and slammed into Elder Qin. That strike snuffed out his last spark of life!
"My time is up? Bee Daoist..."
Filled with resentment and regret, the last late-stage expert died!
With that, all seven Golden Core cultivators who had besieged Qi Ping were dead.
At the end of the battle, Wang He scanned the field. Looking at the cold corpses, he was filled with shock. These were a quarter of the Qingtian Domain's Golden Cores! Gone!
Qi Ping's phrase, "I want to invite you to your deaths"—a phrase that seemed like a fantasy—had become reality.
"I thank Brother Wang He for your help today! If you have any need in the future, I shall not decline!"
Qi Ping's main body picked up three storage bags and three Golden Cores and handed them to Wang He. Wang He was shocked by the battle, but he couldn't fail to respond. Though his contribution wasn't the deciding factor, his Orthodox Law Sword was one of Qi Ping's biggest assurances against any hidden trump cards from peak Golden Cores or Nascent Soul experts.
Furthermore, given Wang He's past kindness, Qi Ping had to show his gratitude.
Wang He was stunned by the gift—three bags and three cores! Though it didn't include the late-stage expert's, it was still a terrifyingly rich haul. But he refused to take so much. He only took the bag and core of the Alliance cultivator he had slain.
"Brother, you are too polite. I merely gave a small effort today; this is enough. I only wish to make a bold request... if I have need of help in the future, could I ask the Bee Daoist to strike?"
Wang He spoke with sincerity. He was thinking of the potential internal strife within the Qingyuan Sect. With the Bee Daoist's help, their chances of victory would increase greatly. And based on past deeds and today's generosity, he felt the Bee Daoist was worth befriending.
"Naturally. If Brother Wang He has need, I shall assist with all my power!"
Having received Qi Ping's reply, Wang He departed. It was not the time for talk; with so many Golden Core deaths, they had to leave quickly.
Even long after he left, Wang He remained in shock. He knew that after today, the sky of the Qingtian Domain would change. Nine Golden Cores had fallen here. Who knew what kind of madness this would stir up?