Han Li departed after giving his veiled warning. Qi Ping watched his retreating back and fell into deep thought.
Though Han Li had spoken indirectly, a scent of slaughter seemed to waft through his words. The implication was clear: because Qi Ping had been granted priority for rare resources, he had effectively stolen someone else's share. He would likely be targeted, perhaps even murdered.
The 'senior brother' Han Li mentioned was very likely killed by the existing vested interests within the Qingyuan Sect.
'If that is the case, isn't this just killing off the future pillars of one's own sect?' Qi Ping mused. What was the difference between this and an ancient army killing its own core generals? 'Why does the Qingyuan Sect enjoy digging out its own foundation like this?'
He would set aside the previous war between the sects, as he didn't know the internal details. However, allowing the Celestial Alliance to harvest blood-food and helping them deal with his Bee Daoist clone were real events. Therefore, Qi Ping did not doubt the truth of these warnings.
Qi Ping had personally seen rogue cultivators who devoured their own kind for resources. In a world where cultivation resources were scarce, cannibalism was common, let alone killing a fellow disciple evaluated as a 'Mainstay.'
'But how long can this practice of self-destruction last? Could it be that they truly only care about felling trees for profit today, with no regard for the shade of the future?' Although it seemed absurd, it was exactly the kind of thing a cultivator might do.
Aside from the fierce competition for rare resources, Han Li had also hinted at the issue of sect factions. Currently, the upper echelons of the Qingyuan Sect were divided into three main factions. If Qi Ping wanted to settle down and ensure his safety, he had to choose a suitable faction to join.
With factional protection, his safety would be somewhat guaranteed, and he would have the standing to compete for the resources needed to reach the Golden Core stage. Given Qi Ping's aptitude, his chances of success would be much higher with such support. Conversely, standing alone was the most dangerous path, as demonstrated by the fate of Han Li's previous senior brother.
However, to gain a firm footing in a faction, one not only needed to be accepted but also had to sign contracts and swear Heavenly Dao Oaths.
According to Han Li, his senior brother had been too stubborn, refusing to join any faction, which ultimately led to his downfall.
'As expected, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Almost everything requires a corresponding price.' Qi Ping sighed. His current aptitude was good, but it was far from enough to make anyone break the rules and protect him for free.
Qi Ping could never swear a Heavenly Dao Oath. He didn't even need to know the details to imagine how restrictive the terms would be. Having read so many ancient records, he knew the consequences of such oaths all too well. An oath was not something to be made lightly!
'Therefore, in the matter of factional alignment, I can only disappoint Brother Han.'
Qi Ping would have to be like that deceased senior brother; he would join no one. Swearing an oath was equivalent to destroying his own future!
'However... I'm not the one who is necessarily in danger!' A smile played across Qi Ping's lips.
He possessed a powerful and solid foundation, mastery over various spells, the ability to deploy a six-in-one super-composite killing array, and a terrifying number of Wind-Blade Bees in his possession.
He had a positive impression of Han Li—a man of unremarkable looks but extraordinary temperament. Han Li's final warning had significantly increased Qi Ping's goodwill toward him. Nevertheless, Qi Ping did not fully trust Han Li's words; he intended to continue gathering information on the sect's internal situation before deciding on his next move.
And so, Qi Ping temporarily settled into Manor Number Seven in the Inner Sect area. In the days that followed, he researched the sect's regulations and various information while engaging with other Inner Disciples.
As the news of his four peak-grade talents and his 'Mainstay' evaluation spread, many Inner Disciples came to visit him daily. Some were genius disciples at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, while others were at the late or peak stages of Qi Refining.
Some came to extend olive branches, some to curry favor, and some simply to discuss the Dao with him. Regardless of their identity or purpose, Qi Ping welcomed them all and engaged in friendly exchanges.
These interactions continued for nearly two months! After communicating with numerous disciples, Qi Ping finally gained a relatively clear understanding of the Qingyuan Sect. The basic situation matched what Han Li had described, though Qi Ping had gathered more detailed gossip, secrets, and taboos.
Beyond information, the most unexpected gain was the Dao-discussions with other Inner Disciples. Among them were many who were purely devoted to seeking the Dao, possessing unique insights into realm cultivation, Dao-hearts, and Law Intents.
After deep communication with them, Qi Ping found that his own understanding of the Immortal Dao had deepened. Seeing the paths of so many others fortified his own convictions, making his Dao-heart stronger and more solid.
'If there is an opportunity in the future, these discussions should continue!'
This not only granted him many insights but also allowed him to make several friends. Many of the sect's more hidden secrets were revealed to him by these people. Among them was a woman he had once seen in Qingshi County—the green-clad Lin Qing-shu. After their discussion, Qi Ping realized she was a complete cultivation fanatic, but her understanding of cultivation and sword intent was impressive enough to grant him significant gains.
The reason these people were willing to befriend him and reveal information was not just because of his aptitude or the mirror's evaluation. It was primarily because of Qi Ping's profound understanding of cultivation and his vast knowledge! They benefited immensely from him. Compared to what Qi Ping gained, their harvest was the greatest. It was out of a sense of gratitude that they spoke to him without reservation.
Qi Ping did not care who gained more from these discussions. Overall, his harvest was already great enough, both in terms of information gathering and cultivation understanding.
'Based on these discussions alone, this trip to the Qingyuan Sect has been worth it!'
With that thought, Qi Ping's anticipation for the knowledge within the Pavilion of Scriptures grew even stronger. Yet, two months had passed, and the upper echelons of the sect had still not finalized the status or resource tilt corresponding to his 'Mainstay' evaluation.
"Strange..."
While puzzled, Qi Ping began to feel restless. He could not simply wait here forever.