Wait… I’m a Druid in a Cultivation World?! - Chapter 60

“Finally, my second animal companion is secured!”

“Not only did I get a Blaze Crow with a trace of Golden Crow bloodline—”

“I even received a spirit beast pouch as a bonus!”

Qi Ping could hardly contain his joy.

First, the Blaze Crow—with its faint Golden Crow lineage—was worth over 3,000 spirit stones on the market. And according to the blacksmith, its bloodline had once been so potent that, at its peak, it could have fetched 4,000 to 5,000 spirit stones!

With his [Plant Growth] skill, Qi Ping could cultivate fire-attribute spirit herbs to restore the crow’s strength. Once fully recovered, this creature would be worth three times the Jade-Scaled Demon Spider and more than double the Illusion Moon White Fox!

Market prices never lied when it came to rarity and power.

Moreover, once Qi Ping formed a contract and shared one of the crow’s innate talents, the strength of that talent would scale with the crow’s bloodline purity.

The stronger the Blaze Crow became, the stronger Qi Ping’s own abilities would grow—accelerating his cultivation and solidifying his foundation.

On top of that, the spirit beast pouch was an unexpected windfall. After imprinting on it, he checked its contents—though the space inside was only about one cubic meter, it was more than enough for his bees and the Blaze Crow.

“No more worrying about transporting my swarm!”

In short, Qi Ping had only one word to describe his mood:

Ecstatic.

Still, he forced himself to stay composed as he bid farewell to the towering blacksmith.

After this encounter, Qi Ping’s impression of the man had improved.

“He seems decent…”

“Once I’ve contracted the Blaze Crow, I’ll ask it about his character. If he’s trustworthy, I might try to build a connection with him.”

The blacksmith’s demeanor had sparked Qi Ping’s interest in forming a partnership.

Cultivation required resources—techniques, knowledge, rare materials, and powerful spirit beasts—most of which were monopolized by major sects. Having a friend in the Green Origin Sect would make buying, selling, and gathering information far easier.

The blacksmith, Meng Yan, was a late-stage Qi Refining blacksmith and a Green Origin Sect disciple—his connections had to be extensive. Through the Blaze Crow, Qi Ping saw an opportunity for mutual benefit.

“Especially once my Brewer Honeybell Bees start producing sellable honey. Meng Yan’s connections would be perfect for distribution.”

A lone cultivator peddling valuable goods would draw unwanted attention, but a Green Origin Sect inner disciple? No one would dare cause trouble.

“Still, I need to confirm his trustworthiness first. That’s the foundation of any partnership.”

People rarely put on acts in front of animals they planned to sell. If the Blaze Crow vouched for Meng Yan, combined with Qi Ping’s own observations, that would be proof enough.

At the very least, it was a solid starting point.

And crucially, as a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator himself, Qi Ping had the strength to defend against any treachery—whether by fighting back or escaping in bee form.

“A reliable partner is worth it, even if it means smaller profits. Safety outweighs risk.”

Discovering this potential avenue for growth lifted Qi Ping’s spirits even further.

…..

Return to Zhiyuan Trading House

Back at Boss Gao’s establishment, Qi Ping clasped his hands in sincere gratitude.

“Boss Gao, I truly can’t thank you enough.”

Without the merchant’s connections, Qi Ping would never have found the Blaze Crow—or met Meng Yan.

“If anything, I should be thanking you, Brother Qi. Helping Elder Meng fulfill a small wish is worth more to me than anything else.”

Boss Gao’s grin was nearly as wide as Qi Ping’s—his excitement was palpable.

“Elder Meng?”

“You don’t know his background?”

“Isn’t he just a blacksmith and an inner disciple?”

“That’s the surface. His real status? He’s a direct disciple of the Green Origin Sect’s Alchemy Elder!”

“An Alchemy Elder?!”

Qi Ping’s breath hitched.

In the cultivation world, an elder titled as such was undoubtedly a Golden Core expert.

After five years in this world, Qi Ping understood what that meant.

To put it bluntly:

• The three great clans of Bluestone County could crush a rogue cultivator like an ant.

• A Golden Core elder could crush the leaders of those clans just as easily.

The gap was unimaginable.

No wonder Boss Gao was over the moon.

“See why I’m thrilled? Hah! Countless merchants would kill for a chance to work under Elder Meng!”

With this connection, Boss Gao’s business in Bluestone County would flourish like never before.

“Congratulations, Boss Gao.”

“All thanks to you, Brother Qi!”

After exchanging pleasantries, Qi Ping shifted the topic.

“Boss Gao, does the market have any live Flame Spirit Grass or seeds?”

“Flame Spirit Grass? Should be available. Need some?”

“Yes, and extra seeds. Now that I have the Blaze Crow, I’ll need more fire-attribute herbs. Here—see what these are worth.”

He emptied his storage ring of all demon insect carcasses—except for the Bloodgrudge Mosquitoes and Rotwater Flies from the black-robed cultivator.

(The mid-grade spirit blade obtained with Nan Jie had already been sold for funds.)

He dared not touch the late-stage Qi Refining bandit’s belongings. The Green Origin Sect’s green-robed woman was hunting that man for unknown reasons, and Qi Ping had no intention of drawing her attention.

Boss Gao’s eyes bulged at the mountain of insect remains.

“What in the world did you do to get so many?!”

But true to his mercantile principles, he asked no questions. He simply accepted the goods, swiftly procured two Flame Spirit Grass plants and five seeds, and even returned 186 spirit stones in change.

The demon insects had turned a modest profit—not a fortune, but a tidy sum.

Now, with less than 200 spirit stones left, Qi Ping’s gains were undeniable:

• The Blaze Crow.

• A spirit beast pouch.

• Flame Spirit Grass and seeds.

His trip to Bluestone Market was a complete success.

…..

After wrapping up his business, Qi Ping left the market and hurried back to the Mistcloud Mountains.

Perhaps due to his caution, he encountered no bandits or demonic insects on the road. No cliché ambushes, no vengeful stalkers—just a smooth journey back to Peak #7.

The moment he arrived, he ordered his bee swarm to stand guard while he eagerly began the contract ritual with the Blaze Crow…