Wait… I’m a Druid in a Cultivation World?! - Chapter 14

On Misty Cloud Mountain, Qi Ping cultivated two types of spiritual flowers: Moonrest Blooms and Sunspirit Flowers.

He chose these two because they were relatively easy to seed, had long blooming periods, and weren’t restricted by seasons—making them ideal for sustained honey production.

Additionally, their requirements for spiritual energy and growing conditions were lower compared to other spiritual plants.

Most first-rank spiritual flowers needed to grow in first-rank spiritual fields or atop first-rank spiritual veins; otherwise, they would wither. However, the mountain Qi Ping rented—Plot 007, Ding District of Misty Cloud Mountain—was on the fringes of the range, far from qualifying as a first-rank spiritual field.

Only a tiny patch of land here had spiritual energy even a quarter as dense as the lowest-grade first-rank spiritual field.

Given these limitations, Qi Ping didn’t have many options for spiritual flowers. Moonrest Blooms and Sunspirit Flowers were the most cost-effective choice.

Even so, many still withered due to insufficient spiritual energy. In particularly bad years, the seeds saved from previous harvests weren’t enough for replanting, forcing him to buy more from Qingshi Market.

Fortunately, the seeds were cheap, costing only a few spirit stones.

Such were the constraints of not having access to a high-quality spiritual vein or field.

Qi Ping had once considered renting a more spiritually dense plot—some areas in Yi District or even Bing District were decent—but after checking the prices, he immediately dismissed the idea.

Those plots weren’t for low-level rogue cultivators like him.

With rents that high, he’d need to raise higher-grade bees and cultivate far more spiritual flowers just to break even. Succeeding could bring substantial profits, but failure—whether due to disease, pests, beast attacks, or bandit cultivators—could bankrupt him instantly.

And defaulting on rent wasn’t just a matter of debt. If the Green Yuan Sect determined a tenant couldn’t pay, they might enslave the offender—forcing them into perilous work like herb gathering or mining, which often left survivors with ruined foundations.

Given these risks, Qi Ping found the Ding District mountain far safer. Even if he had a bad year or two, he could still scrape together enough for rent, avoiding the threat of enslavement.

As long as he tended his bees diligently, he could earn a steady income. In good years, after covering living expenses, he could even save a few spirit stones!

All things considered, the Ding District was the best fit for a cultivator like him.

And Moonrest Blooms and Sunspirit Flowers were the most practical choice, despite the risk of withering.

But then, a single Druid skill completely solved that problem—[Plant Growth]!

[Plant Growth: Consumes energy to accelerate a plant’s development.]

After some experimentation, Qi Ping discovered that using [Plant Growth] on these flowers not only sped up their growth but also prevented withering for extended periods. Even if they began to wilt, the skill could revive them.

The reason these spiritual flowers withered was lack of spiritual energy—and [Plant Growth] provided a burst of absorbable energy, sustaining them despite the poor environment.

This revelation thrilled Qi Ping.

The withering issue had plagued him and Old Man Zhou for years. They’d tried countless methods, yet the solution had been this simple all along!

After some time managing the flower fields with the skill, withering ceased entirely, and yields surged dramatically.

The Black Dwarf Bees were overjoyed.

Nectar production more than doubled!

Combined with the bloodline enhancement their queen received from Golden Marrow Honey, this was a double boon for the hive. Their admiration for Qi Ping skyrocketed, and their trust deepened.

In a way, Qi Ping had gained over ten thousand loyal little followers.

While their combat strength was negligible, they made excellent scouts—after all, ten thousand extra eyes were nothing to scoff at.

Even the Golden Marrow Bees benefited slightly.

By blending Moonrest and Sunspirit nectar into their honey, the overall quality improved.

…..

Perched atop an ancient fir tree on Misty Cloud Mountain, Qi Ping sat cross-legged, meditating as he absorbed spiritual energy and contemplated the intricacies of the [Wooden Shield Art].

Night faded, and a warm beam of sunlight filtered through the branches, illuminating his calm, refined features. Slowly, he opened his eyes—dark and clear.

“Dawn already…”

After a night of rest, his spirit and energy, drained from accelerating the blood ginseng’s growth, had fully recovered. The sensation was deeply satisfying.

He’d also noticed that each time his spiritual energy depleted and replenished, it grew slightly stronger. Over time, this incremental growth became quite significant.

Thanks to the Forest Druid’s enhanced recovery in wooded areas, Qi Ping could now meditate while retaining partial awareness, allowing him to absorb ambient energy and refine his [Wooden Shield Art] simultaneously.

This boosted his cultivation efficiency, steadily improving his energy control and mastery of the technique.

As he stirred, the Golden Marrow Bees stationed on nearby branches—some guarding, some dozing—fluttered over. Some landed before him; others perched on his shoulders.

He’d grown accustomed to this over the past month.

“It’s already been over a month since I awakened as a Druid…”

“Rent payment is coming up soon.”

“The day after tomorrow is the Fortune Life Society’s gathering. I’ll scout the recent developments, then sell the Black Dwarf Honey I’ve stockpiled to cover the rent.”

“I should also restock on spirit rice, daily supplies, and some wine for Old Man Zhou…”

He began planning his next steps.

Over the past month, Qi Ping had settled into a steady rhythm: tending bees, harvesting honey, cultivating, nurturing blood ginseng and spiritual flowers, and occasionally planting ordinary blooms. Life was fulfilling.

During this time, guided by the Golden Marrow Bees, he’d also discovered two spiritual herbs:

• A low-grade first-rank Tranquil Mind Grass

• A low-grade first-rank Glowwater Blossom

Unfortunately, due to the poor spiritual energy in their growing spots, both were in less-than-ideal condition.