Because of the massive influx of rogue cultivators, spirit herbs and medicinal pills had become exceptionally scarce in the Qingtian Domain. Prices skyrocketed, yet demand was so high that it was still impossible to find even a single pill.
Although Qi Ping and the Qingyuan Academy made a fortune from this, such a short-sighted "draining the pond to catch the fish" situation was clearly not what Qi Ping wanted. Over the long term, this would significantly drag down the domain's progress in becoming stronger.
"Sigh... there are too many cultivators in the Qingtian Domain now. The price of herbs has been inflated so much that it's harder to practice here than in other domains!"
"There's no helping it. Things are expensive because they are rare. With so many people and limited output, the supply just can't keep up!"
"If this continues, we might as well go back to where we came from. Should we just leave?"
A region's carrying capacity was limited, and this was an era of powerlessness. Fortunately, as these sentiments began to spread, Qi Ping released the "Trump Card" he had been frantically nurturing:
A full three hundred thousand Bixia Earth Loongs!
When such a terrifying number of Bixia Earth Loongs manifested, the entire Star-Sea Continent was stunned!
"Heavens! Senior Bee Daoist nurtured so many Bixia Earth Loongs? This is insane!"
"Yeah, even that Beast-Taming Sect we were part of didn't have this many, right? They only had a few thousand, and they were pampered like sacred treasures!"
"Aren't Bixia Earth Loongs just Rank 1 and Rank 2 spirit insects? Is there a need to be so shocked?"
"Shocked? You clearly don't know that these loongs produce Wood-Spirit Vitality that accelerates herb growth! Do you know what three hundred thousand of them mean?"
"What does it mean?"
"The herb production speed of the Qingtian Domain will skyrocket! Now that the spiritual veins and energy are growing so fast, combined with these loongs, the output of Rank 1 and Rank 2 herbs will experience a super-explosion. In the future, the production will definitely keep up!"
"Is it really that exaggerated?"
"Not at all. The Bixia Earth Loong is a true accelerator for low-level herbs, but they are notoriously difficult to breed and nurture. Who would have thought that besides being a master of bees, Senior Bee Daoist is also an expert at raising these loongs!"
"The Senior is truly a man of miracles! Having him is a true blessing for us rogue cultivators!"
Rogue cultivators who had survived many harsh environments understood better than anyone how precious the current safety and fairness of the Qingtian Domain were. The chance to obtain high-level techniques, to cultivate safely, to earn spirit stones, and to advance fairly... in the past, it was a dream too beautiful to imagine!
But now, it was all coming true, and it was all because of one person: the Bee Daoist!
After learning of his deeds, their reverence for him reached an unmatchable height. Through this development, not only was the herb crisis solved, but Qi Ping's status as an Earth Immortal Druid gained even more Faith-Bound Followers. His Power of Living Beings surged, and the follower-power he could mobilize continued to climb!
The appearance of the loongs surprised not just the rogue cultivators, but the Academy leadership led by Lin Yue and Wang He. How could their Dean be this absurd? Just recently, five mysterious Golden Cores advanced at once, and now he had produced hundreds of thousands of Bixia Earth Loongs!
"Dean Bee is truly peerless!"
"It is our fortune to serve under him!"
"Otherwise, let alone our current status and prospects, we would likely have been devoured by that old monster Ling Qianjue..."
As one miracle followed another, the Academy leadership's feelings toward Qi Ping shifted from awe and fear to profound reverence. Following the Bee Daoist meant actually getting a share of the spoils! Having such a Dean was ten thousand times better than an old vampire like Ling Qianjue who only knew how to siphon blood. Simultaneously, they grew increasingly curious: what other methods did their mysterious Dean have hidden? Where was his limit?
However, while some rejoiced, others grieved. The Qingtian Domain was raking in massive profits, and the influx of human resources and wealth naturally incited the jealousy and dissatisfaction of many outside forces.
But given the Bee Daoist's mystery and terrifying combat power, no one dared to openly provoke him for the time being. After all, even Deity Transformation masters had retreated for some unknown reason; sects that only had Nascent Soul experts didn't dare say a word.
However, just because they didn't dare move against him didn't mean they would stand by and watch the Qingtian Domain grow rich. After discovering that many rogue cultivators were being ambushed on their way to the domain, a plan to spite the Bee Daoist while making a quick profit began to form in their minds.
Qingtian Domain, Qingyuan Mountain Range.
This was the site of the Rank 4 leyline, which Qi Ping had officially named the Qingyuan Mountain Range. The Academy headquarters was currently being relocated here. Massive structures were rising rapidly, and a super-immortal dwelling and a grand statue dedicated to Qi Ping were being constructed under the personal supervision of the Golden Core expert Lin Yue.
This was something they did voluntarily, not at Qi Ping's instruction. Qi Ping did not stop them; instead, he secretly offered his support. Establishing his statue at the headquarters and the branches would make it easier for him to gain followers and Power of Living Beings.
However, Qi Ping didn't bother participating in these affairs, leaving them to Lin Yue and Wang He. He threw himself entirely into his own practice. Cultivation, techniques, arrays, laws... there were many things to master. Eternal immortality and invincibility were his ultimate goals. Now that the domain was developing at high speed, with Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment cultivators breaking through daily, the world was growing stronger. Qi Ping felt that given enough time, he didn't even know how powerful his Earth Immortal Druid abilities would become.
In truth, Qi Ping could no longer judge exactly how strong he would be if he unleashed his full power within the domain. He only knew it was enough to ensure that even a Deity Transformation master could not pose a fatal threat. But he also knew it wasn't enough. He didn't know when or if the truly terrifying masters of the cultivation world would move against him. He refused to let the Qingtian Domain be harvested into a wasteland like the Verdant Stream Domain.
The speed of growth could not be allowed to slow down. Fortunately, with Lin Yue and Wang He leading, most matters didn't require his attention.
In his spare time, Qi Ping planted various spiritual tree seeds he had obtained. As a Treant (Forest Druid), planting trees not only granted him Druid experience but also enhanced the strength of his Treant subclass. As a Druid, how could he not plant trees? One day, he would ensure that powerful spiritual trees grew across the entire domain!
Qi Ping was quite happy when a rogue cultivator from another domain offered a hundred oak seeds—rare in the Star-Sea Continent—to earn Merit Points. He immediately planted them in his Natural Sanctuary. Although these oak seeds were only Rank 2, as a Druid, obtaining so many at once was a joyful thing. Even if they didn't provide massive returns, they were aesthetically pleasing. How could a Natural Sanctuary not have oak trees?
However, this peaceful life was soon interrupted. One day, while Qi Ping was planting trees, Lin Yue and Wang He approached him together.
"What has happened?"
Qi Ping glanced at them and knew it had to be a thorny issue; otherwise, they wouldn't both appear. The last time they had come together was during the herb supply crisis.
"Dean, previously, the influx of rogue cultivators drew in many marauders and demonic cultivators looking to fish in troubled waters. Initially, these were minor players who were swiftly suppressed within the domain."
"Regarding the marauders outside the domain, we sent disciples skilled in tracking and assassination to handle them, which kept the situation stable."
"However, a large group of powerful marauders has recently emerged. They are slaughtering rogue cultivators on a massive scale outside our borders and in neighboring domains, intentionally leaving behind horrific scenes. Our scouting disciples have suffered heavy casualties. Now that the news has spread, many rogue cultivators who planned to come here are too afraid to move..."
"Based on the intelligence gathered, there are many Foundation Establishment cultivators among them, and even traces of Golden Core and Nascent Soul masters."
"After discussing with Wang He, we have concluded that these 'marauders' are actually agents sent by various major sects and powers. Their goal is to stop rogue cultivators from entering our domain."
Qi Ping instantly understood the situation after Lin Yue's explanation.
"The matter is very difficult. We must ask the Dean to take action. How should we proceed?" Wang He added. He gripped the Universal Justice Sword, his eyes brimming with killing intent. Such cultivators deserved to be wiped out entirely!
But Lin Yue's gaze held a trace of hidden worry. Based on past battles and Qi Ping's current realm, it was easy to guess that his terrifying power was tied to being within the Qingtian Domain. It was hard to say what would happen if he left.
Thus, he suspected this was not just a plot against the domain, but a trap for the current Dean of the Qingyuan Academy—the Bee Daoist himself. The prosperity of the domain rested on Qi Ping. If he fell, the domain would cease to be a sanctuary and would be carved up like a cake by wolves. It might turn into a living hell overnight, as those wolves wouldn't care about long-term growth; they would just plunder the spirit stones and leylines.
For the Dean's safety and the domain's future, Lin Yue felt he had to offer a warning. "Dean, I suspect the conspiracy is not just against the domain, but against you personally. The true target might be you..."
"They want to lure you out. There are rumors that your combat power is restricted by geography..."
Lin Yue spoke diplomatically, not questioning Qi Ping's strength but presenting the rumors and logic. Qi Ping didn't look as grave as they expected. He seemed to have anticipated this.
"It is true as they say. Once I leave the Qingtian Domain, my combat power drops significantly," Qi Ping said candidly. There was no point in hiding something that any perceptive person could guess.
Lin Yue and Wang He exchanged a look, both seeing the worry in the other's eyes. Such an obvious weakness was easily exploited. Qi Ping saw their concern and comforted them with a smile.
"Do not worry. If they think they can use this to manipulate me, they are dreaming!"
"I am aware of this matter. I shall handle it immediately. You only need to wait for my good news. Remember, do not let our people leave the domain again!"
After those words, Qi Ping vanished using an incredible method, leaving Lin Yue and Wang He standing in the wind.
"The Dean expected this. It should be fine, right?"
"It should be. He never does anything without certainty..."
But despite their trust, they couldn't fathom how he would deal with such an obvious weakness. They wanted to ask, but didn't dare to overstep.
After leaving the mountain range, Qi Ping immediately went to the Natural Sanctuary to pick up the Little Immortal Tiger and summoned his Treant clone. These petty thieves wanted to block his plan to strengthen the domain? He wouldn't show any mercy. Since they were being so rampant, he would slaughter them all and make them regret their greed.
This was where the Little Immortal Tiger's role became vital. After years of growth and the enhancement of its luck-power, its bloodline had evolved. Its Baize bloodline had awakened and been purified once, making its divination abilities far stronger than before. Especially the Baize phantom it manifested during its Golden Core breakthrough—it had granted the tiger a powerful luck-talent.
Qi Ping was confident that the tiger could locate every single cultivator below the Nascent Soul realm!
Soon, he arrived at the edge of the domain with the tiger. As the power of heavenly secrets churned, the locations of the marauders were transmitted directly into Qi Ping's mind via divine sense.
With that information, Qi Ping controlled his Treant clone and the bee swarms to charge out!