Wait… I’m a Druid in a Cultivation World?! - Chapter 27

After bidding farewell to Fatty Zhou, Qi Ping and Sister Nan headed back together.

Since they were only separated by a single mountain peak, their paths home aligned.

“Xiao Qi, how did you figure out the Black Spirit Duck’s symptoms were related to Blood Sin Worm poison so quickly? I wouldn’t have realized it if you hadn’t pointed it out!”

Sister Nan looked at the beekeeping boy, whose face still carried traces of youthful innocence, with surprise. She couldn’t help but think—this scruffy kid Old Zhou had picked up back then had grown up in the blink of an eye, and now he was so capable!

She had read the Manual of Demonic Insect Cultivation more times than Qi Ping, yet it was only after he explained it that she understood.

His mind was just too sharp.

“Well, maybe it’s because I just finished reading it?” Qi Ping pondered for a moment before answering uncertainly.

The truth was, his Druid skill [Animal Speech] had allowed him to understand the Black Spirit Duck’s language.

The duck might as well have slapped the answer right in his face—how could he not know?

“That could be it.”

Sister Nan found his explanation reasonable, but she still couldn’t deny that Qi Ping’s mind worked exceptionally fast.

She could no longer treat him like the reckless kid he used to be.

Now, whether in terms of strength or intelligence, Qi Ping was already impressive!

As they chatted, it didn’t take long before they each returned to their respective mountain peaks.

Once back, Qi Ping immediately delivered the fine liquor, fruits, spirit rice, and other daily supplies he had bought to Old Zhou. After exchanging a few words, he retreated into the dense forest.

He didn’t mention the unpleasant events of the day—like running into bandits or the Ink Cicada—to Old Zhou. There was no point in worrying him over dangers that had already passed.

If possible, Qi Ping wanted the laid-back Old Zhou to continue enjoying his retirement in peace and happiness.

There was no need for outside troubles to disturb him now.

So when Old Zhou asked how things had gone, Qi Ping simply said it was the same as usual—bandits were still rampant, but as long as one stayed cautious, there shouldn’t be any major issues.

Back in the forest, Qi Ping checked in on the Golden Marrow Bees’ recent honey production.

Finding that the brewing was going smoothly and the bees had enough food, he had them fill a bottle for him.

With the Blood Ginseng in ample supply, the Golden Marrow Bees’ honey production was indeed efficient—not only enough to support the hive’s expansion and the bees’ individual growth but also leaving plenty for Qi Ping’s cultivation and other needs.

After collecting the honey, he promptly delivered the promised portion to Sister Nan.

Given their current trust, her breakthrough to the fifth level of Qi Refinement would be a good thing for him too.

At the fourth level, she had already been able to hold her own against that fifth-level bandit, even poisoning him at a critical moment. If not for the Ink Cicada, she likely would have won.

That alone spoke volumes about her strength.

Once she reached the fifth level, combined with her poison techniques, her combat power might rival the sixth level. And with her danger-sensing talent—which held great potential—she’d be even more formidable.

Since they lived so close, they could easily support each other if trouble arose.

Returning to the forest once more, Qi Ping wasted no time planting the two Radiant Grass stalks near the Blood Ginseng.

These were precious ingredients for crafting Bloodline Mutation Elixir—he couldn’t afford any mishaps.

After planting them, he immediately cast [Plant Growth] repeatedly to help the Radiant Grass take root.

Only after five consecutive casts, his spirit somewhat drained, did he stop.

Seeing the two Radiant Grass stalks glowing vibrantly again, Qi Ping relaxed into a smile.

“This is the life—peaceful, steady farming.” The sentiment came from the heart.

Though he’d only been gone for half a day, the trip had felt more exhausting than a month of work on the mountain.

The memory of those two skilled bandits still sent a chill down his spine.

They had ambushed him in stealth—if not for the Forest Druid’s enhanced perception in the woods and his own caution, allowing him to detect a faint anomaly, he might have been killed in a single strike!

And even after spotting them, they still had the Ink Cicada as a trump card. Thankfully, they hadn’t used it immediately.

More importantly, Qi Ping was certain that among the bandits lurking in Qing Stone County, there were bound to be others even stronger, with deadlier tricks or better concealment.

Any one of those factors could mean death for him.

The thought made him even warier of leaving the mountain.

“If there’s no urgent business, I’m better off staying here, tending the bees and the fields.”

Now, back in the familiar forest, Qi Ping finally felt a sense of security.

Perhaps it was the aftermath of a life-and-death struggle, or perhaps the mental fatigue from casting [Plant Growth] so many times, but under the Golden Marrow Bees’ watch, Qi Ping soon leaned against a tree and fell asleep.

At first, his sleep was restless—his brow furrowed, his grip tight around the mid-grade spirit weapon longsword he’d looted, still wearing the low-grade spirit robe.

The Golden Marrow Bees seemed to sense their leader’s unease, clustering protectively around him, alert to every movement.

Only after several hours did Qi Ping finally relax, sinking into deep slumber.

He slept for nearly ten hours before slowly stirring awake.

“I slept that long?”

Glancing at the sky, he realized almost a full day had passed.

Stretching, he felt utterly refreshed.

“That was amazing!”

This was the life for him—adventures might be thrilling, but the danger, panic, and anxiety weren’t worth it.

Peacefully cultivating Blood Ginseng and raising bees to grow stronger was far preferable. Why take unnecessary risks?

Besides, the potential of the Blood Ginseng and the spirit soil beneath it hadn’t been fully tapped yet—there was still plenty of room for growth.

“I’ll keep nurturing the Blood Ginseng and Radiant Grass. The sooner they reach the required age for the Bloodline Mutation Elixir, the better.”

“A wonderful day starts with accelerating herb growth!”

“Buzz… (Good morning, Boss!)”

“Buzz… (You slept so long, Boss! I don’t even sleep that much in three days combined!)”

“Buzz… (Yeah, yeah…)”

“Morning,” Qi Ping greeted the Golden Marrow Bees standing guard before immediately casting [Plant Growth] on the Blood Ginseng—this was top priority.

One of the Blood Ginseng plants was already over ninety years in medicinal potency. With just one or two more days of cultivation, it would reach the century mark required for the elixir.

After tending to the herbs, Qi Ping busied himself with other tasks—checking on the Black Dwarf Bees, caring for the mountain’s flowers, nurturing the Sunbloom and Moonrest Blossoms, and more.

[You have planted flowers. Druid EXP +1]

[You have deepened your bond with the Black Dwarf Bees. Druid EXP +1]

“Druid experience comes from many sources—as long as I follow the path of the Beastmaster and Forest Druid, the experience keeps growing…”

One day later…

Under Qi Ping’s care, one Blood Ginseng officially reached a century of medicinal potency.

One week later…

[Druid level has increased to 2.]

[Generating Level 2 Druid skills…]