“Given how fast Hundred-Spirit Grass grows, if I just rent a large enough plot and plant a massive amount of it…”
“Then… not only will I never need to worry about bee fodder again, I could even multiply my swarm several times over without any concerns!”
Qi Ping never expected that a single, common spiritual plant would directly solve his problems of bee sustenance and rapid swarm expansion.
“It really goes to show, you should never underestimate anything, no matter how insignificant it seems.”
Who would have thought that what seemed like a useless Big-Belly Bee could metamorphose into a rare-talent Brewer Big-Belly Bee? Most insect masters would probably have crushed it outright.
And who would have thought that this virtually worthless Hundred-Spirit Grass, which one hesitates to discard but finds barely useful, would solve Qi Ping’s pressing issues with bee fodder and swarm growth!
“The remaining questions now are whether the Brewer Big-Belly Bees can actually refine and blend the medicinal properties of the Hundred-Spirit Grass…”
“And how to develop a marketable recipe for ‘Hundred-Spirit Honey’.”
“If I can successfully develop a recipe for this Hundred-Spirit Honey, and use it to earn spirit stones… I’ll truly be set for success.”
The honey wouldn’t need to be exceptionally effective. It would be completely sufficient if it just reached the standard of a normal low-tier first-grade spiritual medicine, or even approached a mid-tier first-grade one.
The key point is that Hundred-Spirit Grass grows quickly and costs very little. Basically, every sale would be almost pure profit.
Another advantage is that he wouldn’t need to worry about attracting covetous eyes. After all, what Foundation Establishment expert or major power would bother fixate on honey that might not even reach mid-tier first-grade quality?
As for anyone below the Foundation Establishment level? Qi Ping would gladly call them “Wealth-Delivering Youths.” Especially after he finished expanding his swarm. Below Foundation Establishment, basically anyone who came would die. And if things looked bad, Qi Ping could escape without any problem whatsoever.
“The only remaining risk is to avoid anyone recognizing that the raw material for the honey is Hundred-Spirit Grass. If the recipe is so good that even my [Grand Brewmaster] talent can’t identify the source, the risk would be eliminated.”
As long as he could avoid that specific risk, it wouldn’t matter even if the effects were slightly weaker.
Having charted this path for future expansion and profit, Qi Ping felt refreshed and clear-headed.
The most troublesome problem was now half-solved. All that remained was to rent a good plot of spiritual land.
“Once I start earning spirit stones, I can think about acquiring my third animal companion.”
“If I could get my hands on the Soul-Nourishing Pill formula and the corresponding ingredients, then a Illusory Moon White Fox with talents in soul power, comprehension, or illusion wouldn’t be a bad choice…”
“Soul-type spirit beasts are quite rare. In the entire Qingshi County, apart from the Demonic Insect King, this might be the only one available. If I can develop a suitable ‘Soul-Nourishing Honey’ related to the pill, it wouldn’t be impossible to take it as my third companion.”
This would help him strengthen his own soul, reduce breakthrough difficulties, and compensate for the spiritual weaknesses of his bee swarm.
However, Qi Ping wasn’t absolutely set on buying and contracting the Illusory Moon White Fox. It would ultimately depend on his future needs and opportunities. If a more suitable or powerful spirit beast appeared, he would consider others.
Anyway, the immediate tasks were clear: first, make money and expand the swarm.
And quickly advance either the bee swarm or Crow to the second grade.
“As for that mysterious alchemist Boss Gao mentioned… if she targets me with malicious intent, I’ll lay low initially. I’ll use the Spirit Origin Stone Pillar to help one of my companions break through to the second grade, then find an opportunity to kill her.”
“Since she’s not from the Green Origin Sect, there’s no need for excessive caution. It just so happens I lack an alchemist’s inheritance anyway. In the worst case, I can have the bees that carry out the attack flee the Qingtian Domain. It can’t be traced back to me.”
If Boss Gao knew what Qi Ping was thinking, he would be utterly shocked.
Someone even the three major families wouldn’t dare to touch, and Qi Ping was actually considering killing her?
While Boss Gao was off purchasing the Moon-Slumber Flower, Sun-Essence Flower, and Hundred-Spirit Grass seeds, Qi Ping waited quietly at the Zhiyuan Trading Company.
Given Boss Gao’s familiarity with the Qingshi Market, it didn’t take long for him to gather everything Qi Ping needed.
The total cost was thirty-seven spirit stones, for which Qi Ping received a large quantity of spiritual plant seeds. These particular items were simply not worth much. It was only because Qi Ping wanted a large quantity that it cost this much; otherwise, a few spirit stones would have bought a considerable amount.
Additionally, Boss Gao bought Qi Ping three of the most common storage pouches. Buying through Boss Gao came with a discount, costing forty spirit stones each, for a total of one hundred and twenty spirit stones.
This left Qi Ping with just over five hundred and forty spirit stones.
The rent for spiritual land in Zone B typically ranged from three hundred to five hundred spirit stones. With the recent thirty percent increase, his five hundred and forty stones might barely be enough, if that.
Therefore, Qi Ping remembered the honey he had collected from the Black Dwarf Bees recently. After selling it to Boss Gao, he earned just over fifty spirit stones, bringing his total to six hundred and seven.
Now, Qi Ping finally had just about enough to cover the rent for the Zone B spiritual land.
With his purchases complete, Qi Ping bid farewell to Boss Gao.
Watching Qi Ping depart, Boss Gao’s usually cheerful face grew thoughtful. He didn’t know if Qi Ping could avoid being swept up in the coming turmoil. He could only hope the “Disguise and Bone-Shrinking Art” would offer some help. He felt that if Qi Ping survived, he could also bring significant benefits to Boss Gao himself. He knew Qi Ping wasn’t the type to hold minor grudges. If Qi Ping truly became a powerful figure in the future, Boss Gao might have a chance to serve him.
Building good relationships with promising individuals and avoiding making enemies—that was Boss Gao’s philosophy for survival. It had brought him considerable benefits. Otherwise, with his innate talent, he never would have reached the sixth level of Qi Refining, and might even have a shot at the ninth level.
After leaving the Zhiyuan Trading Company, Qi Ping indeed noticed that the Qingshi Market was much livelier than before. However, there were many more unfamiliar faces. Qi Ping could easily tell these were outside cultivators not from Qingshi County; anyone who had lived here long enough could sense the difference.
“It seems the Qingshi Market might not be safe for much longer either.”
“That mysterious alchemist has even made Meng Yan, the disciple of a Green Origin Sect elder, quite wary, let alone anyone else in Qingshi County.”
“Trouble just keeps piling up. I must be even more cautious from now on.”
Thinking this, Qi Ping just wanted to quicken his pace and leave this place. It would be best to come here less often unless absolutely necessary, and only after mastering the “Disguise and Bone-Shrinking Art.”
However, he restrained the urge to rush off, forcing himself to exit the Qingshi Market at a normal pace. After all, acting overly anxious might also draw unwanted attention from observant individuals.
But after traveling just over ten li from the market, Qi Ping let out a helpless sigh.
The news relayed by his surrounding bee swarm was bad: someone was following him.
He had changed his route several times, but the tail persisted. The bees also sensed clear hostility and killing intent.
The good news, however, was: there was only one enemy, and their aura was preliminarily estimated to be around the eighth level of Qi Refining.
Final assessment: A Wealth-Delivering Youth.
Even facing what seemed like a certain victory, Qi Ping still prepared comprehensive plans for both combat and escape.
Furthermore, once the enemy was dealt with, Qi Ping planned to immediately transform into a High-Speed Ring-Cutter Bee and flee via an unconventional route. He would also have some bees carry the storage pouches and escape in different directions, only returning them to him after confirming it was safe, to avoid this being a trap.
