Regarding the Stone Spirit, Qi Ping decided to play it safe for now.
'The Stone Spirit has already evolved into a War-Machine Stone Spirit. Its attraction to those with ill intentions will only increase. The risk of premature exposure is too high.'
'It's better to let the Crow and the others scout the way. Once they've established a foothold and gathered information about the Stone Spirit clan, I can plan its development in the Forest Sea Demon Realm.'
With his mind made up, Qi Ping began preparing.
He looked into the habits and laws of survival for the demons in the Forest Sea.
He studied the distribution of power in that realm—which factions were to be avoided at all costs.
He also analyzed how to join the Golden Crow avian clan, how to gain their trust, and how to compete for resources...
Qi Ping conducted targeted analyses for the Golden Crow avian clan, the Illusory Spirit Fox clan, the Flower Fairy clan, the Nine-Colored Deer lineage, and the Illumination Mysterious Green Snake clan.
He prepared as much as he possibly could, striving to ensure they could grow into demon titans while remaining safe. If this plan succeeded and he could control resources from both the Star Sea Continent and the Forest Sea Demon Realm, he would have much higher fault tolerance and development opportunities in the future.
'I'm acting like a parent nagging a child before a long journey,' Qi Ping thought, somewhat amused.
But it was necessary. The Forest Sea Demon Realm was too dangerous. Even if the companions could be resurrected by his side at any time, establishing a foothold there would be no easy feat.
For these companions, most of whom had stayed by his side since childhood, this was a journey filled with challenges and the unknown. This was the most Qi Ping could do for them now.
Several months later, having completed all preparations, Qi Ping took the Crow, the Spirit Fox, the Deer, the Flower Fairy, and the Green Snake to the super-coastline on the western edge of the Star Sea Continent.
The Forest Sea Demon Realm lay across an ocean incredibly far from this coast. All year round, the sea was filled with raging waves, powerful ferocious beasts, and undersea demons. Even a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator stood a high chance of perishing there. Only those with the combat strength of the Core Formation stage had a chance to cross.
"Once you head to the Forest Sea Demon Realm, you will have to rely on yourselves!"
Qi Ping looked at the five companions standing before him, his eyes filled with both worry and expectation.
Before he knew it, these little guys, who were only in the Qi Refinement stage in his memory, had all grown into great demons of the Core Formation stage. One must remember that the Core Formation stage was a level most cultivators could never hope to reach.
The Crow, in particular, had already advanced to the late stage of Core Formation. Given another century or two, it would have the chance to reach the Nascent Soul stage.
Moreover, all of these animal companions had manifested divine beast phantoms during their core condensation. Their bloodline potential was peerless.
"Crow, you have the most experience. You've been through many life-and-death situations. After entering the Forest Sea Demon Realm, look after the others!"
"Caw! (Don't worry, Boss! No one will harm them as long as I'm standing!)"
The Crow's body flickered with golden flames, and the pressure of a Golden Crow swept in all directions. With its current strength, which was enough to dominate the Core Formation stage, if it gained the backing of the Golden Crow clan, it could become a demonic crown prince that few in the Forest Sea would dare to provoke.
In the Forest Sea Demon Realm, the Golden Crow clan was one of the top three super demon clans! In terms of strength, they were not inferior to the Flood Dragon clan. The Crow's evolution had always maintained the purest Golden Crow bloodline, and combined with its own terrifying will to cultivate, it was the most likely among Qi Ping's companions to obtain a core demon inheritance.
The Little Immortal Tiger had also cast a simple divination for the Crow. In a fragment of the future, it saw an incredibly massive, terrifying golden-flamed bird standing upon a throne, with a fervent and powerful demonic army below!
Even more terrifying was that after seeing that fragment, the powerful bird on the throne seemed to sense something. It glanced in the direction of the Little Immortal Tiger and offered a gentle smile, as if knowing exactly who was performing the calculation.
This frightening scene had shaken the Little Immortal Tiger deeply. Although it knew that was the Crow it spent every day with, that bloodline pressure was far too terrifying, making its own bloodline tremble violently.
The Little Immortal Tiger felt that if the Crow hadn't held goodwill toward it, even with the protection of Fortune and the Bai Ze bloodline, it might have died on the spot!
It was precisely because of this divination that Qi Ping became firm in his resolve to send his companions to the Forest Sea Demon Realm.
However, Qi Ping didn't dare let the Little Immortal Tiger continue divining for the other companions. The risks of peeking into fragments of the future were too great. If they accidentally encountered another terrifying cultivator or a demon titan during the process, it would be truly dangerous.
"Chirp chirp... (Boss, don't worry, Fox-Fox will take care of itself! I've secretly hidden a lot of fruits in my storage ring. With Fox-Fox around, I won't let them go hungry...)"
Though the Spirit Fox said this, it remained snuggled firmly in Qi Ping's arms.
Ever since it lost its parents, it had lived a life of wandering, never knowing where its next meal would come from, and constantly facing danger. It was only after joining Qi Ping that it no longer had to worry about hunger.
Therefore, the thought of leaving Qi Ping's side to go on an adventure filled its heart with reluctance.
Yet, it also knew it had to become strong and stand on its own as a great demon!
To keep Qi Ping from worrying, it showed no cowardice, but its attachment to him was impossible to hide.
After saying goodbye to each companion, Qi Ping watched as they disappeared together into the raging, roaring ocean.
During the process, a sea beast emitting a frenzied aura surged up from the depths, only to be instantly killed by a single golden feather released by the Crow.
"After this parting, I wonder when we will meet again..."
A hundred years? A thousand?
For a cultivator, that wasn't actually a very long time.
But these animal companions had been with Qi Ping from the very beginning. Their sudden departure left him feeling empty and unadjusted for a moment.
But that was all. As long as they continued to grow, they would eventually meet again. By then, perhaps they would all be titans of the Forest Sea Demon Realm.
Qi Ping also knew this was something that had to happen.
After studying all the spirit beast cultivation data he could find, he was certain that if he kept these companions in a greenhouse, it would be difficult for them to reach the pinnacle of the Dao.
The path of cultivation was a true ascent to the heavens. Without enough experience and an unbreakable Dao Heart, one could never stabilize at the peak of the immortal way. Without a strong enough Dao Heart, even if one were directly granted Great Transcendence stage cultivation, they would likely be instantly annihilated by the backlash of that immense spirituality and the laws of the Great Dao. In other words, one wouldn't even have the qualification to control the realm of immortality if it were placed before them.
Looking at the great cultivators at the top of the cultivation world, which one of them hadn't grown through the baptism of blood and fire?
'I have already given them the best foundation and knowledge. Their knowledge of the cultivation world and the Forest Sea should be enough to surpass the vast majority of demons.'
'On such a foundation, the level they reach will truly depend on their own opportunities and development.'
The Crow already had the Little Immortal Tiger's prophecy. Although the future was ever-changing, Qi Ping had enough confidence in the Crow's ability to become a demonic titan.
The Spirit Fox and the Flower Fairy, though normally clingy, were exceptionally serious and diligent in their cultivation.
The Spirit Fox possessed the most complete Illusory Spirit bloodline, and the Illusory Spirit Fox clan was famously protective and friendly toward their own, being one of the most united clans. Thus, Qi Ping wasn't too worried about it.
The Flower Fairy clan, however, was a bit more complex and troublesome. To grow within it, the Little Flower Fairy would likely have to endure a great deal of experience.
As for the Deer, because the bloodline of the Nine-Colored Deer—the Child of the Forest—was so harmonious, it would likely receive full cultivation support the moment it returned to the clan. Few demons in the cultivation world were as united and non-combative as the Nine-Colored Deer lineage.
Furthermore, Qi Ping had given the Deer a lot of Druidic abilities and an understanding of nature and forests. With these concepts, it should be even more at home among its kin.
However, there were rumors in the Forest Sea that some demon clans had recently set their sights on the Nine-Colored Deer lineage, and the situation wasn't great. Thus, the greatest crisis for the Deer would likely come from the outside after returning to its clan.
Yet, among the five companions, the one with the most terrifying combat strength and growth potential was not the Crow, but the Green Snake!
The Green Snake's initial talent and bloodline were already the strongest among Qi Ping's companions. Added to that, it had absorbed the most complex spell and cultivation knowledge from the entire Azure Heaven Region, as well as the powerful bloodline talents of the other companions. Its foundation at the Core Formation stage was simply monstrous.
If it could successfully find a more powerful inheritance in the Forest Sea, combined with its accumulation in the Azure Heaven Region, its future development would be well worth the wait.
Besides these things, Qi Ping had given the animal companions a task: find his tenth animal companion!
Qi Ping's Druid level had reached Level 10. As a Beast Warden, he could now contract another companion. This was the time for him to fully complete his Five Elements Body.
If he wanted to find the strongest and most useful companion, there was no better place than the Forest Sea Demon Realm.
Of course, if that failed, Wood-attribute spirit beasts from the Star Sea Continent or the mysterious Black Markets could serve as a backup.
Qi Ping's bottom line was to complete his final Wood-attribute talent before the Nascent Soul stage, using a stronger Yin-Yang Five Elements foundation to break through. Only after that would he consider spirit beasts with special attributes like Space or Life.
After seeing off the five companions, Qi Ping returned to the Natural Sanctuary in the Cloud Mist Mountains.
Without the five companions, the mountains felt significantly lonelier.
The Stone Spirit and the Little Immortal Tiger were still exploring the underground world and didn't spend much time in the sanctuary.
The task Qi Ping had given them was quite heavy: along with the earth veins, they were to thoroughly explore the underground world of all several hundred regions on the Star Sea Continent.
Any resources discovered during the exploration were to be brought back to develop the Azure Heaven Region.
The exploration of the entire continent's underground was the most important part of Qi Ping's future planning. He intended to finish exploring the most difficult-to-develop part of the world!
Qi Ping had a premonition that the underground accumulation of the continent over countless ages would surely bring unique surprises.
Whether it was born heavenly treasures or powerful underground races, if they became Qi Ping's believers or followers, they could be partially moved to the Azure Heaven Region. He would turn the underground world into a kingdom no less than that of the human cultivators.
This massive hoard of resources and powerful underground beings would be enough to raise the strength of the Azure Heaven Region by another level. This was the hidden force Qi Ping was cultivating to deal with those truly terrifying existences.
However, exploring the vast Star Sea Continent was no simple task, as the Azure Heaven Region was just an insignificant part of it.
Moreover, beyond the regions where humans lived, the continent had massive areas of natural hazards. In those places, even Nascent Soul and Deity Transformation cultivators faced the risk of death. Some mysterious zones hadn't seen a single footstep or record to this day.
Thus, Qi Ping's goal of exploring the entire continent was a long and arduous journey. He was particularly interested in those mysterious lands whose enigmas remained unsolved.
This was one reason why Qi Ping ultimately kept the Stone Spirit and the Little Immortal Tiger behind. They were indispensable forces for exploring the underground. They would have to endure hundreds of years in the depths.
Fortunately, such exploration wouldn't hinder their cultivation.
The Stone Spirit ate ores; it could just eat as it explored. The hidden veins of the continent were enough to keep it fed for a long time. The Little Immortal Tiger could use the resources buried deep underground for eons to accelerate the growth and awakening of its Bai Ze bloodline.
Furthermore, Qi Ping estimated that to complete this goal, the number of Earth-Vein Ants would have to reach tens of millions, which would also take a very long time...
Once he finished arranging things for his companions, the only ones left with Qi Ping in the Cloud Mist Mountains were the busy bees dedicated to farming and brewing honey, and the Earth-Vein Ants developing the veins below.
For a moment, it felt like he had returned to the time when he first stepped into the cultivation world with only a single box of bees.
"The matters of the animal companions are settled. It's time to resolve the issue with Sister Nan and obtain the subsequent inheritance of the demon insect rearing manual from Peak Seven of District A."
Qi Ping was now curious and expectant. Would that ruin contain knowledge of how demon insects could break through to the Deity Transformation stage?