“The Heretic Affinity Alliance?”
Qi Ping frowned deeply as he examined the eerie “Affinity” (眷) character engraved on the bronze token.
This reminded him of what Skinny Li Peng had ntioned—a notorious organization that even the cultivation world found troubleso.
Given that the token was found on the black-robed cultivator, along with recent rumors of the Heretic Affinity Alliance infiltrating Qingtian Domain, there was little doubt about the man’s identity.
“And this guy could actually contract demonic insects… He even used them to locate the Blood Ginseng.”
Qi Ping suspected that the dramatic changes in the Qingyuan Sect over the past few years might be tied to these heretics.
“Qingshi County is getting more dangerous by the day.”
“At least Old Zhou and the others have returned to the mortal world. And with my bee Wildshape, I can escape most threats now.”
Having a reliable escape thod eased Qi Ping’s worries. As long as he could survive, he could afford to take things slow.
“Still, I need to get rid of this token.”
Many sect tokens had tracking functions, especially those emitting strange auras. No matter how valuable this one might be, keeping it was too risky.
“Not worth the danger.”
Qi Ping had a clear vision for his future, and mysterious tokens didn’t fit into it. Carefully, he wrapped the token in large leaves using spiritual energy.
“Take this far away into the Misty Cloud Mountains. Rember the location—but don’t touch it.”
“Buzz! (Understood, Boss!)”
The High-Speed Ring-Cutter Bees swiftly carried the leaf-wrapped token away.
Watching them go, Qi Ping finally relaxed.
“Good riddance. Where it ends up isn’t my problem anymore.”
…..
After changing clothes, Qi Ping headed to Sister Nan’s ancient fir tree.
Dressed in plain robes, Sister Nan was still ticulously setting up traps and poison arrays—her trademark defense strategy.
In her territory, even cultivators a realm above her would struggle to survive an ambush.
“Xiao Qi, you’re back? My traps are almost ready!”
She proudly showed off her work but warned Qi Ping to tread carefully. In these harsh tis, only these precautions gave her a sense of security.
“Sister Nan, we might not need them for now. Save them for the next ergency.”
Qi Ping didn’t mock her caution.
If not for my Druid abilities, I’d be far less survivable than her.
He deeply respected Sister Nan. Her prudence, ticulousness, and steadiness were qualities he admired—and needed to learn.
“Too many cultivators grow arrogant after minor successes… only to die from carelessness.”
Even now, Qi Ping could still die to a mid-stage Qi Refinent cultivator—or worse, attract a Foundation Establishnt expert’s attention. While he had a chance to escape, it was never guaranteed.
“Now that I have a real shot at immortality, I can’t afford recklessness.”
Risks like:
Drawing envy by buying high-tier spirit beasts.
The hidden dangers beneath the Blood Ginseng site.
Any misstep could be fatal.
Sister Nan excelled in risk mitigation, and Qi Ping wanted to emulate that. Just because he now commanded a swarm capable of killing late-stage Qi Refinent cultivators didn’t an he could afford complacency.
“I still have much to learn from her.”
…..
“Wait… it’s already resolved?” Sister Nan blinked in surprise.
“Take a look.”
Qi Ping pulled out the corpses of over a thousand Bloodgrudge Mosquitoes and Rotwater Flies from his storage pouch. So were still warm, their fluids oozing—clear evidence of a recent battle.
“Bloodgrudge Mosquitoes? Rotwater Flies? And this many?!”
Sister Nan’s back turned cold with sweat.
No wonder I felt such dread earlier. Against this horde, even most late-stage Qi Refinent cultivators would be torn apart!
“Xiao Qi, are you hurt?” she asked anxiously.
“Just so bee losses—acceptable, considering. Honestly, without your Demonic Insect Breeding Manual, my Golden Marrow Bees wouldn’t have stood a chance.”
He deliberately steered the conversation toward [Spirit Beast Breeding: Demonic Insects].
“You developed a stronger bee strain?”
Sister Nan imdiately understood.
Of course. Low-tier, mid-rank Golden Marrow Bees could never defeat high-tier demonic insects alone.
Qi Ping nodded. Even if he didn’t admit it, the evidence spoke for itself.
“Xiao Qi, you’re incredible. That manual was useless in my hands, but you turned it into sothing so powerful!”
“Just luck. But really, Sister Nan, I owe you. Here—take this.”
He handed her the Dark Cicada, a weapon lethal even to mid-stage Qi Refinent cultivators.
Now that his bee Wildshape was faster than activating the cicada—and his Black-Armored Bee form could tank its attacks—it made more sense to gift it to her.
“Xiao Qi, you should keep it until—”
“Sister Nan,” he interrupted firmly, “mid-stage cultivators can’t kill anymore. The cicada is more useful in your hands. Trust .”
Under his resolute gaze—and the mountain of demonic insect corpses—Sister Nan finally accepted it.
This act also dissolved her last hesitation about revealing the manual’s origins.
If I can’t trust Qi Ping after this, who can I trust?
“Then I’ll accept it gratefully.”
With the Dark Cicada, her self-defense would improve significantly.
“It was our agreent, Sister Nan. No need for thanks.”
Just as Qi Ping was about to ask about the manual’s origins, Sister Nan spoke first:
“Xiao Qi… do you want to know where the Demonic Insect Breeding Manual ca from? I think it could be extrely valuable to you.”
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