Wait… I’m a Druid in a Cultivation World?! - Chapter 73

Noon, and the sun blazed like fire.

Anyone stepping into the sunlight could clearly feel an intense, scorching heat.

Many small plants and trees had wilted, unable to withstand it.

In this oppressive environment, only a black crow radiated powerful vitality and energy.

It was only slightly smaller than an eagle, yet its entire body emitted a deadly, scorching aura that even Qi Ping found threatening. The faintly glowing golden flame mark on its forehead looked particularly mystical.

After Qi Ping delivered the Hundred-Year Fire Spirit Honey to the Li Fire Crow, the bird gave him a grateful glance.

Then, filled with determination and excitement, it swallowed all the honey without hesitation. Even the residue on the bottle was carefully gathered with its spiritual energy and consumed.

It was astonishing—the crow’s small stomach showed no sign of bulging after consuming so much honey. Instead, an intimidating fire-attribute energy began to slowly spread from within.

This energy grew stronger and stronger, eventually becoming so intense that Qi Ping had to step back to avoid being overwhelmed.

As the fire energy intensified, a golden-red flame began to rise from the Li Fire Crow’s body.

It started as small flickers, then grew increasingly powerful until it completely enveloped the crow. The surrounding space even seemed to warp slightly from the heat.

Qi Ping had no doubt that if he were to stay near the Li Fire Crow at that moment, he would undoubtedly be burned to death.

Even though he also possessed a Li Fire Body and cultivated fire-attribute techniques, the difference in power level was simply too vast.

“No wonder ancient texts record fire as one of the natural counters to insect-type spirit beasts.”

“With the intensity of the Li Fire Crow’s innate spirit flame, unless a spirit insect has high fire resistance, few peers spirit insects could withstand the burn of its Li Fire.”

Sensing the strength of the Li Fire Crow’s innate spirit flame, Qi Ping felt more confident about later exploring the secrets buried beneath the blood ginseng’s growth site.

And this was likely just the Li Fire Crow’s normal state—after all, it had only just begun to recover some of its bloodline power. Its true bloodline transformation was only beginning.

Once it completed its bloodline evolution and breakthrough, the intensity of its innate spirit flame would undoubtedly reach another level.

The golden-red flames enveloping the Li Fire Crow didn’t last long. After reaching a near-peak intensity, they were gradually drawn back into its body.

Soon, both the innate spirit flame and the fire-attribute energy were fully retracted, not a trace of power leaking out.

If not for the Li Fire Crow’s increasingly powerful aura and the increasingly mystical flame mark on its forehead, it would look no different from an ordinary black crow.

After retracting all its energy, the Li Fire Crow’s body suddenly emitted a powerful suction force. An extraordinary amount of solar energy began condensing in the area, continuously pouring into the crow’s body.

Amid this dense solar energy, the Li Fire Crow’s aura grew stronger and stronger, its entire body gradually surrounded by the power of the sun.

The intense bloodline pressure made the surrounding High-Speed Ring-Cutter Bees, which were watching guard, tremble slightly, almost unable to withstand it.

“Buzz… (Boss, the crow’s bloodline is terrifying!)”

“Buzz… (Yeah, boss, I feel my body shaking!)”

The bees around began exclaiming in awe.

If they didn’t know the crow was also Qi Ping’s animal partner, they would have immediately fled or hidden with the swarm.

Firepower naturally countered them, let alone such an overpowering bloodline!

The Li Fire Crow’s Li Fire was their absolute nemesis.

Even with the defensive capabilities of the Ink-Armor Bees, they could likely withstand ordinary ninth-level Qi Refining attacks without issue, but they would never hold up against the Li Fire Crow’s Li Fire.

Qi Ping didn’t deny the bees’ astonishment.

Among spirit beasts, bloodline power was far too important.

Although the High-Speed Ring-Cutter Bees were rare, super-enhanced organs evolved through mutation, and in sufficient numbers, they could overwhelm many late or peak Qi Refining experts…

No matter how much they evolved, the foundation of the Golden Marrow Bees remained the same—their bloodline power had a limit.

So, compared to a spirit beast like the crow, which had evolved a bloodline stronger than that of an ordinary Li Fire Crow, the innate gap was significant.

“The crow’s bloodline is indeed powerful, but you also have opportunities ahead. I will find stronger bloodline powers for you in the future. If you succeed in evolving, your combat strength might not be lower than the crow’s.”

“Buzz… (Really? That’s amazing, boss!)”

“Buzz… (Boss is awesome!)”

Qi Ping didn’t believe the Golden Marrow Bees’ usefulness would diminish because of the Li Fire Crow.

Even without considering their potential to evolve by devouring other spirit beasts’ bloodlines, if their numbers were cultivated into the tens of thousands, they could likely wear down even the Li Fire Crow through sheer numbers.

The advantage of an insect swarm had never been individual combat strength but their terrifying numbers!

Theoretically, as long as the swarm was large enough, it could overwhelm over 95% of enemies of the same level.

The only drawback was that a large swarm demanded immense resources.

This was the very problem Qi Ping faced now. Fortunately, the Golden Marrow Bees had relatively strong production capabilities. Once they relocated, he was confident he could turn the swarm’s losses into gains.

Additionally, the Demonic Insect Cultivation Manual recorded a method involving devouring high-level spirit beast bloodlines. By procuring the corpses of high-level spirit beasts and combining them with spiritual herbs from the formula, it was possible to allow the spirit insects to devour and evolve, achieving a fundamental upgrade in their bloodline.

However, this formula was beyond Qi Ping’s current ability to produce. He would need at least Foundation Establishment level strength to have any chance of success.

So, the swarm’s potential was undoubtedly significant. As long as he could produce enough evolution potion, the swarm could有机会 (have the opportunity to) obtain the bloodline power of high-level spirit beasts and achieve a leap in their bloodline.

While Qi Ping was communicating with the bees, the Li Fire Crow gradually entered a deep state of evolution.

The entire bird seemed wrapped in a giant cocoon of solar energy, undergoing its most critical transformation.

Qi Ping slowly lost sight of the Li Fire Crow’s form.

He could only sense an increasingly strong and powerful heartbeat and a growing vitality.

This made Qi Ping realize that the crow’s evolution this time might be truly extraordinary.

As time passed, he could clearly feel his own Li Fire Body growing stronger.

The rate of enhancement wasn’t fast, but it was persistent, almost never ceasing.

Moreover, the Li Fire Crow’s evolution lasted surprisingly long. From noon until sunset, there was no sign of it ending.

If Qi Ping couldn’t sense that the Li Fire Crow was in good condition, he would have started to worry.

However, as night fell, a trace of concern arose in Qi Ping’s heart—not for the Li Fire Crow, but for the green-robed woman who might appear again at any moment.

So, he immediately put the bee swarm on high alert.

If pushed, Qi Ping was truly prepared to kill. He wouldn’t allow anyone to disrupt the Li Fire Crow’s evolution.

This also made him gradually realize the importance of a stable cultivation environment.

Fortunately, after a night of anxious waiting, no unexpected incidents occurred.

As the first light of dawn rose, a golden sunbeam and a strand of purple light shot into the Li Fire Crow’s body. After a night of silence, the Li Fire Crow finally broke free from its cocoon!