Wait… I’m a Druid in a Cultivation World?! - Chapter 26

“So it really is that!”

Hearing Zhou the Fatty’s answer, Qi Ping felt he was beginning to grasp the truth.

“Spirit Beast Cultivation: Demonic Insects, Blood Ginseng, Bloodsin Worm Toxin, Glowgrass, Blackspirit Ducks…”

One or two coincidences might not mean much, but with so many pieces fitting together, Qi Ping couldn’t help but suspect something hidden behind it all.

He wondered if, in the distant past, the Misty Cloud Mountain Range had once been home to a beast-taming or insect-controlling faction!

His speculation stemmed from the Druid skill [Animal Speech].

[Animal Speech: You can understand and communicate with animals.]

Using this skill, Qi Ping had picked up key clues from the ducks’ intermittent quacks:
“Quaaack… (Big red bugs!)”
“Quaaack… (Hurts!)”
“Quaaack… (Need glowing grass! Antidote!)”

Had Qi Ping not obtained [Spirit Beast Cultivation: Demonic Insects], he might have only realized they were poisoned and spent far longer figuring out the glowgrass connection.

He certainly wouldn’t have known about Bloodsin Worm poisoning or the deeper implications.

But after studying the demonic insect manual, Qi Ping remembered a note about a peculiar toxin found where Bloodsin Worms thrived.

This toxin caused livestock like Blackspirit Ducks to refuse food, slowly withering away from exhaustion.

The simplest antidote was a decoction made from glowgrass—just a tiny amount could neutralize the poison.

Historically, Blackspirit Duck farming had been widespread in Qingshi County. If an insect-controlling sect had once existed here, the manual’s specific mention of the ducks made sense.

Zhou’s mountain stream had long been a prime location for raising them.

So, where Bloodsin Worms appeared, glowgrass was likely cultivated nearby.

And if glowgrass grew here, it would further support Qi Ping’s theory.

“No doubt about it—Blood Ginseng, glowgrass, the demonic insect manual, Bloodsin Worms, even the main ingredients for the Blackspirit Duck bloodline mutation elixir being century-old Blood Ginseng and fifty-year glowgrass…”

“All these overlapping factors can’t possibly be coincidence!”

“Even the Goldmarrow Bees—like the Bloodsin Worms, they’ve only appeared recently. And that mysterious spiritual energy surging beneath the Blood Ginseng patch… not to mention Chaoyang’s mention of an emerging secret realm. Are these all random, or signs of something bigger brewing?”

Stringing these clues together sent a ripple of unease through Qi Ping.

If a major event was unfolding, the scale of disaster and bloodshed would be beyond anything a minor figure like him could withstand.

A single misstep could mean annihilation!

The urgency of the situation weighed on him.

“I must grow stronger—fast.”

He already had the Blood Ginseng. As for glowgrass, he could buy a couple of plants from Zhou instead of risking a trip to Qingshi Market.

Not only would it be safer, but he could start cultivating Goldmarrow Bees sooner.

Once the bees were successfully bred, his Druid level should have reached Tier 2 by then.

That would be the time to forge his second animal companion bond.

But knowing Bloodsin Worms were nearby made Qi Ping reconsider his options.

“I’ll wait and see how the Goldmarrow Bees evolve after taking the mutation elixir, then compare them with the tamed beasts Boss Gao mentioned before deciding.”

He wasn’t troubled by the dilemma—more choices were always good. Bloodsin Worms were mid-tier Tier 1 spirit insects, slightly stronger than Goldmarrow Bees in combat, with solid growth potential.

What they lacked was the bees’ honey-producing utility, but their aggression and agility more than compensated.

The only hitch? Despite being herbivorous, Bloodsin Worms were notoriously vicious. Qi Ping wasn’t entirely sure if his Beast King Druid status could successfully tame one.

…..

“Right, glowgrass should fix the ducks’ problem!” Qi Ping nodded firmly at Zhou’s questioning look.

“Great! Follow me!” Zhou exclaimed, overjoyed.

The trio swiftly navigated past jagged boulders to a secluded spot in the mountain stream.

There, three small plants grew—emerald-green blades veined with gold, their leaves shimmering faintly.

Undoubtedly, Tier 1 glowgrass.

But unlike the thriving Blood Ginseng, these appeared stunted and malnourished, likely from poor spiritual energy.

“Here they are. I didn’t pick them because they seemed underdeveloped—figured I’d wait till they matured,” Zhou explained.

“Even young ones will work. Just boil a tiny fragment of a leaf and give each duck a sip.”

“Should I take more, just in case?” Zhou fretted.

“No need. A piece the size of a pinky nail is enough. Any extra would be wasted.”

Cultivators moved fast. Soon, the three returned to the duck farm with a pot of glowgrass-infused water.

Zhou immediately used his spiritual energy to force-feed a spoonful to the nearest duck, terrified his precious birds might starve before his eyes.

As the duck swallowed, all three watched intently.

Zhou’s nervousness rivaled the tension of his wives’ childbirths.

Thankfully, after an agonizing wait, the duck struggled upright on wobbly legs and waddled to the feed, devouring it ravenously.

“Quaaack… (Saved! So hungry!)”

Tears welled in Zhou’s eyes—he looked like a 200-pound child crying in relief.

Who could understand the torment of these past days?

If all his ducks had died, the financial ruin would have crippled his family.

Falling behind on rent could’ve meant being conscripted into the mines. If he were alone, death might’ve been an escape—but with two wives and four children depending on him?

For now, saving the ducks took priority.

Swallowing his emotions, Zhou hurried to administer the antidote to the rest.

Qi Ping and Sister Nan pitched in without hesitation.

Before long, every duck had been treated.

Watching the weakened birds peck feebly at their food, Zhou’s vision blurred with tears again.

After composing himself, he bowed deeply to Qi Ping and Sister Nan.

“Little Qi, Sister Nan… thank you. Truly.”

“Little Qi, you’ve saved my whole family today.”

The raw gratitude was almost too much for Qi Ping, but Zhou’s emotional nature was predictable.

For payment, Qi Ping only asked for one glowgrass plant—but Zhou insisted on giving two, saying he could buy more at the market later.

He also tried to press a bag of spirit stones and several ducks on Qi Ping, with a smaller gift for Sister Nan.

Both refused.

Zhou had already suffered heavy losses. Between supporting his family and scraping together rent, his situation was precarious.

Meanwhile, Qi Ping and Sister Nan had recently profited from the bandit ambush. Taking Zhou’s hard-earned resources felt wrong.

For Qi Ping, the two glowgrass plants were more than enough.

With the two main ingredients for the bloodline mutation elixir—Blood Ginseng and glowgrass—now secured, his next step was clear.

Using [Plant Growth], he’d nurture the herbs to a century and fifty years of age respectively, then brew the elixir to evolve the Goldmarrow Bees…