Wait… I’m a Druid in a Cultivation World?! - Chapter 126

As the special energy of Plant Growth slowly entered the Hundred-Eyes Flower Demon’s body, Qi Ping felt a bit nervous.

“I hope this works!”

If Plant Growth could accelerate the Hundred-Eyes Flower Demon’s development, it would make his future cultivation efforts much simpler.

Otherwise, if he had to rely solely on those precious soul-type spiritual materials, the difficulty of raising it would increase by more than just one level.

The main issue was that the Hundred-Eyes Flower Demon’s spiritual intelligence didn’t seem fully awakened yet. Until its intelligence truly opened up, Qi Ping couldn’t complete the contract ritual with it.

“But its intelligence should awaken very soon… Now I just hope Plant Growth can speed up the Hundred-Eyes Flower Demon’s maturation…”

Under Qi Ping’s expectant gaze, the Hundred-Eyes Flower Demon’s body visibly strengthened a bit thanks to the special energy of Plant Growth.

“It’s effective!”

Seeing this, Qi Ping was inwardly delighted.

After confirming that Plant Growth was beneficial for the Hundred-Eyes Flower Demon, Qi Ping continued to cast it, steadily channeling the special energy into the creature’s body.

Detecting the Plant Growth energy, the Hundred-Eyes Flower Demon began actively absorbing it.

With the help of this special energy, the Hundred-Eyes Flower Demon started growing rapidly.

Seeing this, Qi Ping didn’t pause for a moment, continuously applying Plant Growth.

“After sharing the little Spirit Fox’s Mystic Immortal Divine Mark talent, the number of times I can cast Plant Growth has more than doubled…”

“And with more practice, I should be able to increase it even further.”

“It’s just a shame I don’t have a soul-type cultivation technique; I can’t truly unleash the full potential of the Mystic Immortal Divine Mark talent yet…”

…

The path of immortality and longevity is not easy. For now, all Qi Ping could do was make the best use of the resources he had, focus on improving his strength first, and then slowly find ways to acquire the necessary techniques and resources.

Recently, through exposure to higher-level matters, Qi Ping had gradually come to understand something very important.

In the cultivation world, techniques, resources, spirit lands, and treasures to enhance spirit lands are all controlled by the major top powers. The Qingyuan Sect is merely the starting point.

Wanting to obtain these resources, Qi Ping gradually realized that the only thing he could do was discreetly manage his own spirit land and earn spirit stones through steady, solid work.

Then, he needed to find ways to purchase the necessary resources, techniques, and knowledge through channels without drawing attention.

Killing people for their loot, exploring secret realms and ruins – these were ultimately not reliable paths, and the risks were far too high.

Quietly managing his own territory and secretly exchanging for needed resources, techniques, spirit beasts, etc., with people and various factions in the cultivation world… was the best choice for Qi Ping.

After his recent understanding of the sect, Qi Ping felt increasingly that navigating a sect was beyond his capabilities and involved significant risk.

Because every long-established sect has intricate internal factions. Just like the current Qingyuan Sect, disciples without backing are basically sent to perform missions in the most dangerous areas…

According to Meng Yan, an exceptionally high number of Qingyuan Sect disciples had died in the last six months. If he hadn’t had his master’s protection, he too might have fallen.

For example, that senior brother who sold the Hundred-Eyes Flower Demon was forced to sell it and other prized possessions just to save his own life.

Why would anyone want to join a sect like that?!
Qi Ping estimated other sects were probably much the same.

Think about how well the Qingyuan Sect used to manage its industries, and now it’s being slowly driven into a corner, unable even to protect its own disciples.

Qi Ping had no desire to join a sect and become a pawn that could be discarded at any moment, unable to even guarantee his own life.

Of course, during this time, Qi Ping had also clarified an even more important issue: he had far too many secrets and anomalies!
Once joined a sect, operating and cultivating under the watchful eyes of those Golden Core and Nascent Soul stage cultivators and above, could Qi Ping be confident in completely hiding himself?

No!

He had absolutely no confidence at all!
If those Golden Core or Nascent Soul cultivators harbored malicious intent, Qi Ping might have a chance to escape in the wilderness, but inside the sect, he would have no option but to wait for death!

There would be no escape!
Qi Ping had read about similar cases in many “Records of Cultivation Oddities”; great cultivators seizing opportunities from their disciples wasn’t rare—they just did it more discreetly!

Some sects even specifically targeted disciples with poor innate talent but rapidly advancing cultivation.

If there was no reasonable explanation for such a person, just rob them!
After all, if a disciple with trash talent could soar after gaining an opportunity, wouldn’t that opportunity be better used by oneself or a talented junior?

Whenever Qi Ping read such stories and recalled those revenge, face-slapping tropes from many novels, he felt so embarrassed he could dig his toes into the ground.

They might seem satisfying to read, but in reality, that’s just asking for death!
Did they really think the sect higher-ups would say: “This disciple’s talent and immortal fate are actually extraordinary! We must nurture him properly, pour resources into him, and cultivate him vigorously!”

In reality, many sect elders would think: “How did this disciple with such garbage talent cultivate to this level? Could it be he has an incredible opportunity? Heaven helps me indeed! It’s only right that this opportunity was discovered by me…”

The harder you show off, the faster you die!
Did they really think those old monsters who had lived for hundreds or thousands of years were fools!?
Some old devils even particularly enjoyed observing their disciples’ fortunes, using the disciples as their personal opportunity harvesters.

While there certainly were good sects and good masters out there, the Qingyuan Sect clearly wasn’t one, and Qi Ping had no confidence in avoiding those cunning, treacherous schemers…

Especially for someone like Qi Ping, whose talent frequently changed—he would be a walking target for envy. The slightest abnormality would be a sure path to death!
Those old monsters limited by their own talent and unable to advance further, upon seeing Qi Ping’s ever-increasing talent—wouldn’t they be tempted?
Without overstating it, at least more than half would likely try to secretly capture Qi Ping for dissection and study…

Qi Ping acknowledged that some sects were decent, but that was for normal, talented disciples. For someone like Qi Ping, probably every old monster would want to soul-search and dissect him.

So, after thinking through these issues clearly, Qi Ping resolved to stay hidden in the mountains and forests from now on.

Here, he could escape at any time. It would be even better with some protective arrays…

A mountain forest sanctuary was the most suitable path for him!
He also decided that for future external transactions, he would only associate with people he could handle himself…

…

After two full days of Qi Ping’s intensive cultivation, the Hundred-Eyes Flower Demon finally reached its critical point of transformation. A green energy cocoon, marked with strange pupil-like patterns, gradually enveloped the Hundred-Eyes Flower Demon…

The Hundred-Eyes Flower Demon stopped absorbing Qi Ping’s Plant Growth energy.

Two more days passed. While cultivating, Qi Ping was startled awake by a cracking sound.

Immediately after, Qi Ping saw a sprite-like figure emerge from the strange energy cocoon…