“Not only has Yaya fully recovered to the peak of first-grade strength, but she has also evolved into a Solar Fire Crow, with her combat power skyrocketing.”
“The effort and time spent cultivating Fire Spirit Grass and experimenting with Fire Spirit Honey have finally paid off, even yielding unexpectedly rewarding results.”
“Now that the Solar Fire Crow’s combat power exceeds expectations, it’s time to immediately investigate the secrets hidden beneath the ginseng growth site.”
“After that, I can soon rent a better plot of spiritual land for farming and expanding the bee colony. Then, I’ll be able to focus on brewing Ginseng Fire Honey and Fire Spirit Body-Tempering Honey to raise my cultivation level as quickly as possible.”
Both Peak Seven and the ginseng growth site had gradually become burdens.
In the past, there were no other options, but now, Qi Ping had the ability to find a better spiritual land.
So, after Yaya evolved into a Solar Fire Crow, Qi Ping eagerly began preparing to explore the secrets hidden beneath the ginseng growth site.
Previously, he lacked the strength and confidence to proceed, fearing that underground dangers might be too formidable to handle.
But now, not only had the Fire Crow recovered to the peak of first-grade strength as expected, it had also evolved into an even more powerful Solar Fire Crow!
With Yaya’s current combat power and the bee colony’s well-practiced battle formations, Qi Ping was confident he could handle various dangers.
While there was still time, Qi Ping inspected the entire mountain peak once more to ensure nothing had been overlooked.
Finally, he stored all the Golden Marrow Bees and the Bee Queen into his spirit beast bag.
“Nothing has been overlooked. Battle preparations and escape routes are all planned. Once Yaya familiarizes herself with her new strength, we can begin with peace of mind.”
“I’ll also store my clothes in the storage bag and have some bees take them away.”
After confirming everything was in order, Qi Ping tasked a squadron of High-Speed Cutting Bees, Ink-Armor Bees, and Venomous Bees—organized in a military formation—to escort his storage bag and spirit beast bag to a predetermined hiding spot.
It was a deep underground cave, secure enough to safeguard his belongings.
Watching the bee squadron carry his possessions away, Qi Ping felt completely at ease. Now, he had no worries holding him back!
Roughly half an hour later, the sun grew intense, casting scorching golden rays across the land.
To ensure sufficient sunlight, Qi Ping had even cleared away a few obstructing branches.
Bathed in sunlight and surrounded by solar energy, this was the ideal environment for Yaya to fight.
The only regret was that Yaya was still far from awakening a Solar Body. If she could harness solar energy to amplify her combat power, her strength would soar even higher.
Aside from that, nearly two thousand bees—comprising High-Speed Cutting Bees, Ink-Armor Bees, and Venomous Bees—formed a massive battle formation, encircling the ginseng growth site.
If enemies appeared, they could either converge for an attack or scatter to escape, preserving as much of their strength as possible.
After waiting a moment, Yaya swooped down like an eagle, landing instantly on Qi Ping’s shoulder.
“How about it? Are you ready?” Qi Ping turned to look at the spirited creature.
“Caw caw! (Don’t worry! No matter what enemies we face, Yaya will hold the front line for you!)”
“Not so fast. Let the bee colony scout ahead first. We’ll decide whether to fight or flee once we know what’s down there. You’ll stay with me at a distance. If the enemy is too powerful, we retreat immediately. You’ll be the most visible target, so don’t take any risks.”
Qi Ping spoke earnestly to Yaya, who clearly had no fear of trouble. He didn’t want anything to happen to her.
The main force of the bee colony had already been evacuated. Even if they suffered total losses here, it would only mean a setback—one that time and effort could eventually overcome.
But if something happened to Yaya, she would be gone forever.
The shared Solar Fire Body talent would vanish completely. While his cultivation level and insights would remain, future progress would become much harder. Even if he formed a new bond with another animal companion, there was no guarantee he would luck into a suitable cultivation talent again. After all, even a 99% chance of success still carries the risk of failure.
No matter what, Qi Ping was unwilling to risk Yaya’s safety.
“Caw caw! (Alright! I’ll listen to you, boss!)”
Planning an escape before even starting wasn’t really its style.
But since the boss had given the order, it had to obey.
“Good. Hide in the spot I showed you earlier. If I say ‘run,’ immediately escape under cover of the trees and avoid exposing yourself.”
“Understood, boss!”
With that, Yaya flew off to a distant hiding spot as instructed.
Once Yaya was hidden, Qi Ping transformed into an Ink-Armor Bee and flew far away to conceal himself.
He also positioned other hidden Ink-Armor Bees, Venomous Bees, and High-Speed Cutting Bees in similar spots to reduce his own visibility.
If any danger arose, the Ink-Armor Bee’s high defense could withstand attacks. Mid-escape, he could switch to the High-Speed Cutting Bee form to confuse pursuers and increase his speed.
In one word: caution.
In Qi Ping’s principles, survival came first—only by staying alive could one pursue immortality. So, preserving his life was always the top priority.
With everything prepared, Qi Ping didn’t hesitate. He immediately issued the order:
“Bee Corps, begin digging!”
“Buzz buzz! (Understood, boss!)”
At his command, hundreds of bees sprang into action.
The Underground Golden Marrow Bees were naturally skilled diggers, and for first-grade late-stage mutant bees, moving earth was effortless.
The soil at the ginseng growth site was quickly cleared, and a large pit soon formed.
At first, nothing seemed unusual, but when they reached a depth of five meters, a faint peculiar scent emerged, and the spiritual energy in the soil grew noticeably denser.
Qi Ping couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.
By ten meters, the spiritual energy in the soil was as rich as in some spiritual lands, and the bee colony began to detect an unusual aura.
When this information reached Qi Ping, he knew the truth behind the underground secret was about to be revealed.
“Keep digging!” Qi Ping ordered, his focus intensifying.
The bee colony continued digging as commanded.
Soon, all the soil was suddenly cleared away, revealing a mysterious cave large enough for a person to enter. The spiritual energy and unusual aura were emanating from within.
