Qi Ping didn't have an extremely clear understanding of Destiny power. Most records on the Star-Sea Continent were superficial, and many had been destroyed. What he was certain of was that for an individual, this power was a special kind of strength, though it wasn't necessarily game-breaking. Beings with Destiny weren't always stronger than cultivators of the same rank who had walked the path of transcendence.
The true significance of Destiny was its connection to the world's source. Furthermore, it wasn't that rare; many divine beasts held a portion of Four Symbols Destiny. Only those with powerful Destiny were capable of stirring the winds and clouds of the world.
'I wonder what kind of power Little Azure's destiny holds.'
Qi Ping looked at the giant dragon in the sky, a trace of anticipation in his heart. For him, the stronger the Destiny, the better the benefits. He already had a deep foundation, and his Earth Immortal Druid power was his trump card against any threat. The more animal companions he had with special destinies, the stronger the power he could master. Not to mention the benefits for the continent; he could control part of the dragon's power through the Beast King Wild Shape, which would be a significant enhancement for him.
Qi Ping also faintly sensed that Destiny power was closely related to the Myriad Worlds. In the future, unlocking the mystery of immortality would likely rely on this power. He had previously been indifferent to such ethereal concepts, but the special power that erupted from the dragon just now gave him a different feeling. To truly understand the essence of the world and step out with a system of power free from all constraints, he likely couldn't do without this special power.
His goal was simple. If anyone claimed one could only become immortal by obtaining a specific power, he would never believe it—no matter who or what authority said it. Even if the whole world said it and provided cases, Qi Ping would remain skeptical. He only believed in his own research and comprehension. He believed that only by researching the essence of the world and cultivation from top to bottom, from past to future, could he unlock the ultimate mystery of power and longevity.
This was not just to truly master power, but to avoid being trapped by pre-set lures. The Mahayana experts of the Star-Sea Continent had all died mysteriously in the past, yet those of other continents hadn't suffered as much. If it was just them who had perished, causing the once-prosperous continent to be wiped out, Qi Ping wouldn't believe it for a second. He had reason to suspect a deeper cause—perhaps experts beyond the Mahayana stage, or something inherent in the cultivation system itself.
As Qi Ping learned more, the more he felt the waters of this world were unfathomable. A single misstep could turn him into food for someone else's path to immortality. If one was a naive fool, even cultivators weaker than themselves could find ways to finish them off. The higher one went, the deeper the water. Far more cultivators had reached the Soul Transformation and Void Refinement stages in the past than now, yet many had died mysteriously, often right after their breakthroughs.
Even peak experts like Qi Ping, Meng Tianqi, and Bai Liyun were unclear on the causes of many deaths. Qi Ping had used his Treant Clone to investigate for the safety of his territory, but even he couldn't find the true reason. What power throughout history kept causing these newly promoted experts to disappear or die?
A few deaths in one era might not be conspicuous, but looking at the grand scope of history, these events happened continuously in different periods. This proved they were no coincidence. The true horror was that a power could span the ages to consistently cause these deaths. Never mind a method Qi Ping couldn't detect; the sheer temporal span of this power was enough to cause awe.
This was undeniably a terrifying force, one that Qi Ping didn't have enough confidence to face right now. Every time he thought of it, he felt a strong sense of unease. This was why he never slackened in strengthening his life-preserving measures.
He was nearly invincible within his territory as an Earth Immortal Druid. His soul-bound tree, the Yellow Spring Tree, was hidden in a secret location. He was even planning to change his life-bound contract to a tree he had raised himself with Immortal-grade potential, like the Azure Lightning Bamboo that had been absorbing tribulation lightning since it was Rank 1. He felt a tree without any prior karma would be a more suitable life-bound anchor. A special tree like the Yellow Spring Tree was tied to the Yellow Spring World and might one day be exposed by some mysterious power, which would defeat its purpose as a hidden life-saver.
Furthermore, the spatial realm of the Void-Aether Fish was his most secret location, allowing him to be resurrected through the faith of sentient beings. Thus, he was arranging for a group of his most faithful followers—both humans and beasts—to move there to develop a secret base. If he encountered the most dangerous situation, he could use the power of sentient beings to revive. Of course, the greatest guarantee was the knowledge in his mind; that was the foundation that would allow him to flip the table even if only a sliver of his true spirit remained.
As Qi Ping pondered the Destiny power, the dragon's breakthrough reached a critical moment. The three tribulations—Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Soul Transformation—merged into one! It became a unique three-colored tribulation cloud of gold, azure, and purple!
The moment this cloud formed, the entire world seemed to lose its color. The only center was that unique lightning tribulation, whose pressure was countless times stronger than a normal Soul Transformation tribulation. The three-colored lightning seemed to possess a power of a completely different level, making all other forces pale in comparison.
"Three-colored lightning?"
"How can there be such a terrifying tribulation!"
Almost all cultivators were baffled; they had no idea what was happening. They had never even heard of such a thing. Even the most knowledgeable among them couldn't solve this puzzle. The lightning became the only thing in existence, drawing every eye and making everything else fade. It was an incredibly eerie and frightening power. They didn't know what it was, but they could clearly feel its terror.
The power made their spirits tremble; they didn't even have the heart to discuss it, as if doing so would be a desecration. Even Meng Tianqi and Bai Liyun, at the Void Refinement stage, were shocked and felt a sense of unease. Qi Ping felt the same pressure. Looking at the dragon, he couldn't help but feel a trace of worry.
'Is this the dragon's calamity? Or is there some special reason?' Qi Ping was confused. Everyone else felt the same. After finally gaining a stunning Four Symbols divine beast, if it fell now, it would be a massive blow to the Nine Domains' morale. No one wanted to lose such a powerful partner now.
The sect leader of the Huatian Sect, who had preserved the egg for ages, was worried to the extreme. They had cared for it for so long; even if they couldn't hatch it, there was an emotional bond. Furthermore, with this connection, their future would be even more guaranteed under Qi Ping's support. They could visit the dragon in times of crisis, and a single visit would solve many problems. As the original owner, it was impossible not to be tempted by such a beast, but he knew it was not their fate. He had gained massive benefits from handing it over. He knew that in his hands, it would only be a disaster; now, no one even knew the egg came from them. This was the best result.
As Qi Ping and the others feared, the tribulation was simply too strong. When the first bolt fell, the majestic and powerful dragon was blasted until its flesh was torn open. Its dragon scales, comparable to divine weapons, were shattered and fell in large patches!
Qi Ping's brow furrowed. The power level of the lightning was far higher than he had estimated! Moreover, he sensed that this lightning power didn't just originate from the Star-Sea Continent; there was a more powerful and mysterious force behind it. Facing such lightning, he didn't dare interfere using his status, as even the thought of doing so triggered a sense of crisis and fear in his heart.
'Simply ridiculous. What kind of power is this?'
Facing this, Qi Ping chose the most conservative method: resource support! In such a time, no resource could compare to Soul Transformation-level honey with various healing effects. Providing resources wouldn't be judged as interfering with the tribulation. This honey was the result of the bees' tireless research after absorbing the continent's alchemy knowledge!
Qi Ping controlled his Treant Clone to fly up and stop just outside the range of the tribulation.
"Little Azure, catch! This is honey to restore your injuries and spiritual power!"
He threw bottles of honey radiating various divine auras toward the giant dragon.
"Thank you, Master!"
The dragon didn't hesitate and immediately swallowed them. Though just hatched, it had a contract with Qi Ping and knew its awakening was due to his immense effort and cost. With its inheritance memories, it knew exactly what those resources meant. Its only confusion was... what the heck is this honey? It knew it was good stuff, but its memories had no record of such honey. If other dragons found out it passed its tribulation by eating honey, they would laugh themselves silly.
But as soon as the honey entered its mouth, the dragon was shocked. The taste was fragrant and sweet, and the effect was beyond belief! Under the honey's effect, the dragon's stubborn injuries began to heal rapidly! Its flagging aura soared and even began to grow stronger!
"Master, the effect is too good! I didn't know such honey existed!" the dragon praised.
"Focus on the tribulation. I have plenty of honey. Once you've digested some, I'll replenish it immediately!" Qi Ping urged.
He couldn't give it all at once because the dragon couldn't store that much power. Too much power under the pressure of the tribulation would only cause a violent backlash. He would stay by its side and ensure the dragon always had enough power.
Fortunately, the rest of the process went smoothly. The lightning was still terrifying, but with the support of the honey, the dragon didn't weaken. Instead, its aura surged under the tempering of the lightning! Its Wood-attribute recovery ability and the honey combined to perfectly withstand the destruction of the three-colored lightning!
This scene left the cultivators below dumbfounded. No one expected that such a terrifying tribulation would be overcome... because of honey! Thus, the "Advertisement of the Year" for the Star-Sea Continent was born.