The afterglow of the setting sun spilled across the land, leaving only mangled remains!
The group who once held the highest status in the Qingtian Domain had become a collection of tragic corpses.
'Sigh... why bother?'
Looking at the scene, Qi Ping felt no pity, but his heart was full of complex emotions. Those who committed errors must pay the price; these people had blocked another's path to the Dao and deserved to die.
But thinking of the reason they struck, Qi Ping let out a sigh.
In truth, if Rank 3 resources were not so scarce, many of these people would not have chosen the path of 'cannibalism.' The story Wang He told of Du Lingpeng was a typical example. A spirited young genius who stood above his peers to become one of the few Golden Cores in centuries... his talent needed no further explanation.
Yet, after reaching the Golden Core stage, the famine of resources forced him onto the path of preying on others. This state was no different from people swapping children to eat during a famine.
'Though it relates to one's Dao-heart and character, the environment's influence is more fatal.'
However, people like Du Lingpeng were not the most pitiable; the most pitiable were the cultivators who had been 'eaten.' In these years of harsh conditions, who knew how many had died in such hunts? The scarcity of Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators and the near-total absence of Golden Core rogue cultivators was proof enough.
In such a state, how could the Qingtian Domain not continue to decline?
Qi Ping had previously thought it was mostly people causing their own destruction, but as he learned more, he felt it might have been designed.
'A variation of the "thirty-three taels of silver"?' (TN: A reference to a trap where the amount of debt or taxes is designed to be impossible to pay, ensuring perpetual servitude.) This thought suddenly occurred to him.
Then he thought of the hidden formation beneath the leylines. It seemed it might not have been set up by someone from the Qingtian Domain; the domain might not have a formation master of such skill.
'Sigh. This world of cultivation feels more frightening the more I learn. I must be more cautious in the future.'
'The goal for the second base needs to change. Placing it in a domain further away from the Qingtian Domain will make the insurance for my "second life" stronger.'
The events of today sparked many thoughts in his mind. But he didn't delay his hands, quickly cleaning the battlefield. He had the Earth-Vein Ants take the corpses deep underground to decompose their essence and return it to the world.
The cycle of life and death allowed the world to become more complete and stronger. In prosperous regions, the world itself would become more stable and powerful.
"Master, please let me back into the spirit beast bag!" the old Shanyao said, its voice trembling.
The scene today had been too terrifying for it. It thought it had taken a Foundation Establishment master and would be fighting minor battles.
Instead? Every battle was an 'Elite Rank' match! Last time was a mid-stage Golden Core, but this time? A total slaughterhouse. Seven Golden Cores! It had never fought so many when it was with its old master. There was even a late-stage expert! How could its small body handle such a fight?
The most ridiculous part was that it expected a bloody war, but the terrifying enemies had been slaughtered by its current master in short order. It seemed its master was the true monster, and it was the one who was just there for show! It was better to head back into the bag.
"Mm, go back," Qi Ping replied with a smile. He understood the Shanyao's thoughts. Though it was a bit cowardly, it did step up when needed. He wouldn't need its help much more, so he should find a time to give it to Old Man Zhou as a companion.
Shortly after Qi Ping finished collecting the spoils, Ya Ya successfully completed its breakthrough and flew to his side.
"Caw! (Boss! I broke through!)" Ya Ya's voice was full of excitement and joy. As a 'cultivation shut-in,' nothing made it happier than an increase in its realm.
But it immediately added with gratitude, "Caw! (Thank you for protecting me, Boss and everyone!)" It knew that without them, it would have been nearly impossible to complete the breakthrough normally. It would remember this in its heart.
Looking at the fully transformed Ya Ya, Qi Ping's eyes were full of smiles. Ya Ya's aura after reaching Rank 3 was far stronger than the old Shanyao's, despite the latter having been at that rank for years.
Under the baptism of the lightning and bloodline, the Golden Crow pressure on Ya Ya had become incredibly heavy. Every inch of its flesh radiated a powerful pressure. After it grew for a while, Ya Ya would likely become a figure that made all Golden Core cultivators tremble. It might even welcome another transformation!
"There is no need for such courtesy among partners. This place isn't safe; let's return first!"
"Caw! (I'll listen to the Boss!)"
Thus, immediately after Ya Ya finished its breakthrough, Qi Ping left the area.
But for Qi Ping, this breakthrough was not the end; it was only the beginning. Predictably, after slaying nine Golden Core cultivators, his next breakthrough would be at 'Hell Mode' difficulty.
But Qi Ping felt no fear. Instead, he was determined to use this opportunity to slay the 'vermin' that were poisoning the Qingtian Domain! Only when they were gone could he truly grow the domain and obtain the Power of Living Beings from its inhabitants!
Once that was done, if the domain was strong enough, he would be a true Immortal!
After Qi Ping returned to his territory, news of the nine Golden Core deaths spread, causing a massive earthquake in the Qingtian Domain!
In fact, it wasn't just this domain; the neighboring Sky-Fire Domain and Mountain-Sea Domain were also shaken! Nine Golden Cores—every one of them was a top-tier member of the ruling class. At the normal rate of breakthrough, these domains only produced one or two every few centuries. Qi Ping's battle had wiped out over a millennium of the Qingtian Domain's Golden Core foundation!
The shock was indescribable. Even during the wars between sects, the number of Golden Core deaths was only around this many.
"I heard nine Golden Cores died at once in the Qingtian Domain... and they were killed by a Foundation Establishment cultivator!"
"Are you stupid from taking low-grade pills? Slaying a Golden Core as a Foundation Establishment is one thing, but nine?!"
"He's not lying. It's true. A Golden Core who participated recorded it; he survived because he didn't want to take the risk. Look..."
The details of the battle were revealed. From Qi Ping slaying two in breaths to the final siege. When the formation vanished, everything was gone, leaving only the news that all participating Golden Cores had fallen.
"It's actually true? Who on earth is this person?"
Many people even if they saw it found it hard to believe. It challenged all their previous notions. Even Wang He, who had participated, found it unbelievable whenever he recalled Qi Ping's suppression of the cores.
Regardless of belief, the facts were there.
"Does anyone know his identity?"
"The biggest guess is a person called the Bee Daoist. Decades ago, he slaughtered..."
As the waves of this event spread, news of the Bee Daoist circulated widely. Some even guessed it was Lin Ya of the Qingyuan Sect, as Lin Ya was proficient in formations, used Yin-Yang power, and had a record of slaying a mid-stage Golden Core.
The spread of this news was partly due to people's guesses and partly due to Qi Ping pushing it from behind to gain more Power of Living Beings.
While everyone was debating, a certain Foundation Establishment cultivator at the late-stage froze when he saw the recording of the Li-Fire Crow. After a long time, he murmured in disbelief, "Ya Ya? Brother Qi?"
Though their appearances had changed, to Meng Yan, who saw Qi Ping as a close friend, it felt familiar. If it were only one of them, it might be a mistake, but both together?
'Brother Qi is the Bee Daoist?' Meng Yan's face was full of disbelief. He had actually considered this possibility before but thought it unlikely. Qi Ping was trustworthy and had fought by his side, but he knew Qi Ping was not a risk-taker; he was the 'cautious' type. That personality was too different from the Bee Daoist's, causing him to dismiss the thought.
But now it seemed his guess was likely true.
While the common cultivators were shocked, the high-level figures of the Qingtian Domain were going completely mad. A quarter of their Golden Core leadership had been killed; they had to be mad.
The Qingyuan Sect had lost three Golden Cores and a subordinate clan. Surprisingly, of the three, only one was from the Radical faction; the other two were from the Neutral faction! Or rather, Du Lingpeng had been led onto that path by Zhao Linjun, a mid-stage Golden Core of the Neutral faction—the one slain by the Netherworld and Sky-Flame bees.
Wang He had recognized him at the start and chose to strike the Alliance cultivator instead. If not for Zhao's lead, Du Lingpeng might not have walked that path.
As a result, Lin Yue, the leader of the Neutral faction and Sect Master, was furious. And Gu Yunxiao, the leader of the Radical faction, was equally enraged because the person they lost was a junior he favored, and the subordinate clan had close ties to him.
The two joined forces and simultaneously awakened the Nascent Soul Grand Elder who was in seclusion...
Of course, the most enraged was the Immortal Alliance! Because their internal Golden Core numbers were already low, and losing five at once was devastating. Only two Golden Cores remained within the Alliance leadership!
Furthermore, while others were guessing it was the Bee Daoist, the Alliance had already confirmed it. They had hired another Heaven-Seeker cultivator to divine the person in the recording, and that cultivator had immediately died! This was identical to the attempt decades ago, only the protection on the Bee Daoist was stronger, directly causing a fatal backlash for the diviner!
"Bee Daoist!"
A roar of boundless fury and killing intent echoed through the Alliance headquarters, causing everyone inside to tremble.
Within the headquarters, on a mysterious altar forged of flesh and bone, a blood-colored figure was spreading a bizarre aura. This was the Immortal Envoy, Lin Wuji!
Decades had passed, and his once beautiful face was now marked with a grotesque, ugly crack that caused him constant pain and humiliation—one that could not be hidden or erased. This was a 'gift' from the Bee Daoist, a punishment for his failure to complete the 'blood-offering' quota!
With the reappearance of the Bee Daoist, Lin Wuji could no longer endure!
As his aura surged, the bright red chains binding his body snapped one by one. With each snap, his aura soared, and his expression became more crazed. When all the chains were gone, a terrifying Nascent Soul pressure erupted, forcing every living being in the headquarters to the ground.
"Awooo! (Boss, someone tried to divine you!)"
Qi Ping had just returned to his territory and was about to check his spoils when the Cloud-Mist Immortal Tiger froze and spoke suddenly.
"So soon? What was the result?"
Doing something this big made divination inevitable, but it was fast.
"Awooo! (Hehe! I used the power of fortune to trigger a backlash. He's dead!)"