Away from the outside world's turmoil, Qi Ping slowly returned to his peaceful life of farming. Though the days were quiet, the pursuit of the Great Dao and immortality made them fulfilling. Having witnessed the cruelty of the cultivation world, he appreciated the value of this tranquility more than ever.
The Natural Sanctuary—with its growing spirit veins, dense spiritual energy, Apothecary Bees that brewed diverse honeys, and a stable environment for research—was a paradise that countless cultivators would kill for. Many would never even dare to dream of such conditions. Qi Ping cherished this environment because he had built it himself, brick by brick.
He had started with the crudest Rank 1 concealment arrays, hauling soil across the mountains. He had planted the Star-Spirit Wood to gather spiritual energy, upgraded his formations, and risked his life for Black Market tasks to buy spirit veins. He had meticulously nurtured the spirit veins with the essence of his contracted spirit trees. The sprawling, spiritually rich territory he owned today was the result of his and his companions' hard work.
However, Qi Ping had run into a problem.
'The [Plant Growth] skill is starting to fall behind.'
It wasn't for lack of effort. Qi Ping invested more effort into this skill than any other; it was his daily ritual. Unless he was in a deep breakthrough, he would cast [Plant Growth] as many times as his mental energy allowed. But as the skill advanced, the difficulty of further comprehension increased. Furthermore, as he gained more companions and spirit trees to nurture, he could no longer manage everything with a single skill. He had to make a choice.
[Plant Growth] was still powerful, capable of helping spirit plants break through their natural limits, but he could only use it on his most critical assets now.
'From now on, besides Rank 1 herbs, I need to start large-scale cultivation for Rank 2 herbs. [Plant Growth] will be reserved for my own cultivation, the breakthroughs of key companions, and the nurturing of my contracted spirit trees. Everything else must rely on natural, large-scale farming!'
Nurturing his contracted spirit trees was mandatory, as the continued growth of the spirit veins depended on their essence.
'As long as the spirit veins keep improving, and the herbs are grown on a large enough scale, the pressure on [Plant Growth] will lessen. The companions can use naturally grown herbs for their daily needs.'
After devising a strategy, he called over his 'Internal and External General Manager.'
"Buzz... (Big Brother, did you call for me?)"
A domineering Golden Marrow Bee Queen, the size of two fists and shimmering with gold, landed gently on Qi Ping's shoulder.
"Yes. I'm planning a major overhaul of the spirit fields. Many areas have upgraded to Rank 2 spiritual land, so I want to start large-scale cultivation of Rank 2 herbs. The Rank 1 herbs need to be moved elsewhere. Most of these herbs are difficult to raise without my talent, so I need your colony to tend to them according to their specific needs."
Qi Ping explained his vision. The Bee Queen pondered for a moment before replying.
"Buzz... (I'll immediately have the other bees transplant the Rank 1 herbs!)"
"Buzz... (Don't worry about the herbs, Big Brother. I'll divide the spiritual land into small zones and assign specialized groups of Equilibrium Bees to care for each type of herb. My only concern is that our stock of Rank 2 herbs and seeds isn't enough to fill all the new land.)"
"I'll handle that! I'll bring the seeds back soon!"
Shortly after, Qi Ping manifested a new Treant Clone to retrieve the stash of herbs he had hidden. Before bringing them back, he had the little tiger perform a quick divination to ensure there were no tracking charms or hidden dangers. Once cleared, the herbs and seeds were brought into the sanctuary.
Qi Ping also included a batch of seeds purchased from the Black Market. After handing them over to the Bee Queen, she immediately began organizing the planting with frantic efficiency. Under the bees' diligent work, the Natural Sanctuary took on a new look, resembling a professional, large-scale farm. Watching the busy bees, Qi Ping felt lucky to have them as companions; otherwise, the labor of farming would have consumed all his time.
Satisfied with the progress, Qi Ping turned his focus to his own cultivation and the research of his arrays and spells. The years flowed by, and in the blink of an eye, seven years had passed.
'Seven years! Time truly flies!'
Immersed in the joy of unraveling the laws of the world and feeling his strength grow, Qi Ping hadn't noticed the passage of time. This was the benefit of high talent—every step of research and cultivation yielded immediate, positive feedback.
His harvest during this period was exceptional. His cultivation had climbed steadily toward the late stage of Foundation Establishment, and he had successfully comprehended the True Intent of Water! Furthermore, he had developed a Rank 2 High-grade array: the [Water-Origin Spirit Binding Array]. This formation focused on suppression and binding, and its effectiveness was on par with the [Six-Ding Flame Snake Array].
Most importantly, by studying various water and fire manuals, he had achieved 'Water-Fire Fusion.' When he combined his two grand arrays, their power didn't just add up—they achieved a synergy where one plus one was far greater than two!
'Water-Fire Fusion' was the essence of the new magic he had researched. He also upgraded his [Mystic-Gold Slaughter Array] to a Rank 2 High-grade version. Integrating these three—water, fire, and metal—into a Three-in-One combination array made his defensive and offensive capabilities far more formidable than before.
'It's a pity I haven't comprehended the intents of Wood and Earth yet. But the real challenge isn't the laws themselves—it's the Five Elements Fusion. That is ten times harder than Water-Fire Fusion.'
Even with his current wisdom, Qi Ping didn't have the confidence to achieve Five Elements Fusion yet. He would wait until he had gathered all the Five Elements spirit bodies. In the meantime, he considered switching his primary cultivation method to a water-fire based manual. With his [Golden-Flame Physique] and [Monarch of Waters] talents, and his mastery of Water-Fire Fusion, a specialized manual would drastically boost his strength and foundation. It would also serve as a perfect stepping stone for his eventual transition to the Path of the Five Elements.