A Spirit Beast Bag contained a specialized space where a contracted beast could live and cultivate. The higher the quality of the bag, the larger the interior space. Even the smallest, most basic Spirit Beast Bag could easily accommodate a swarm of Golden Marrow Bees.
Naturally, the price of a Spirit Beast Bag capable of housing living creatures was far higher than that of a standard Storage Bag. Unless Qi Ping sold his Blood Ginseng or his Golden Marrow Honey, he had no hope of affording even the most ordinary one.
'I certainly can't get my hands on a Spirit Beast Bag right now. That will have to wait,' he mused. 'But then, how should I carry the Golden Marrow Bees?'
The world outside was far too dangerous. Without the Golden Marrow Bees by his side, Qi Ping wouldn't feel the slightest shred of security. He was determined to bring them along. After racking his brains, he finally devised a relatively feasible plan.
'I can quietly arrange for a portion of the swarm to follow me along the roadside from a distance. Especially on the more secluded paths, as those are the places where marauders are most likely to lurk. Once I reach the Qingshi Market, I'll have them wait outside. There are many cultivators at the late stages of Qi Condensation there, and even Foundation Establishment experts. The risk of the bees being exposed is too high, but generally, security within the market itself is guaranteed.'
The Qingshi Market was jointly managed by several cultivation clans of Qingshi County and the Qingyuan Sect. Although it was a mystery why the Qingyuan Sect allowed marauder cultivators to roam the Great Sky Domain, these markets were vital properties of the sect and the clans. They were a primary source of income, and under normal circumstances, they would never permit marauders to interfere with business.
'As for my person... I should still keep about a hundred Golden Marrow Bees on me.'
Qi Ping's own strength was too meager. If he encountered a sudden threat, the bees trailing him from a distance might not arrive in time to save him.
'Though there is still a risk of discovery, I can have them feign a moribund state. With a bit of disguise to make them look poisoned, any cultivator who notices them will simply assume they are trophies I've captured. As long as they don't perform a meticulous inspection, they won't find anything amiss.'
This level of deception was not difficult for Qi Ping. Over the years, to preserve his own life, he had accumulated various types of poisons, even if he rarely ventured out. He didn't have many lethal toxins, but he possessed a surplus of common ones.
After a bit of tinkering, a hundred Golden Marrow Bees appeared as though they were at death's door from poisoning. Qi Ping then carefully placed them into a sturdy, breathable pouch.
'Before heading to the market, I should meet up with the others at the society's courtyard. I can exchange news and see if anyone else is heading to the market. Safety in numbers is always better; the chances of being targeted by marauders are lower that way.'
Old Man Zhou sat nearby, sipping his wine and casually offering advice as Qi Ping came to say his farewells. His wrinkled face was flushed from the alcohol, and he looked somewhat dazed. In his hand was a tattered ancient text titled "The Record of Wonders from Mountains and Seas," which he read with great relish, though it was hard to tell if he was actually focusing.
Qi Ping didn't mind. This was simply how Old Man Zhou always was. After a brief acknowledgement, Qi Ping departed for the Fusheng Society's courtyard.
The society's base was an ordinary courtyard at the foot of the Cloud-Mist Mountains, built years ago by Old Man Zhou and several others. They had chosen a location that was relatively central and convenient for all the members. Since the Fusheng Society was composed of individuals from Area D and the nearby spirit fields, there was a baseline of trust between them.
They held a grand gathering once a year, an event everyone attended unless there was an emergency. At other times, they met once a month. Those who wanted to seek information, ask for help, or travel together to the Qingshi Market would come here; those with no business could choose to stay away.
When Qi Ping arrived early at the familiar courtyard, two people were already waiting at the stone table. One was Wang Shan, the man Old Man Zhou had mentioned before—a mature, steady, and warm-hearted middle-aged brother.
Possessing a cultivation at the fourth level of Qi Condensation, Wang Shan looked like a kind, typical middle-aged man with a slight potbelly. He raised dozens of First-Order Golden-Feathered Chickens in the Cloud-Mist Mountains, along with a large flock of unranked Blue-Feathered Chickens—likely numbering around one or two hundred.
Every holiday or festival, Wang Shan would gift a plump Blue-Feathered Chicken to every member of the society. Because of this, everyone had a good impression of him. Combined with his helpful nature and lack of pretension, he had become a trusted figure within the group. Qi Ping had tasted those chickens four or five times himself; they were delicious whether steamed, roasted, or baked.
The other person was someone everyone called Sister Nan. Unlike many female cultivators who appeared ethereal or exceptionally pretty, Sister Nan dressed like a simple village woman. Her face was even dusted with freckles that looked like smudges of dirt.
But one would be a fool to look down on her. Her cultivation was said to be nearing the fifth level of Qi Condensation, and her combat strength surpassed Wang Shan's. Old Man Zhou had once told Qi Ping that Sister Nan was a very clever woman who used to be quite beautiful, though for some unknown reason, she had gradually adopted her current appearance.
She grew a grove of First-Order Low-Grade Spirit-Condensing Fruit on Peak 005, separated from Qi Ping's Peak 007 by only a single mountain. She possessed a secret recipe for Spirit Fertilizer and would buy the raw materials to make it herself, allowing her to maintain the trees' spiritual energy needs at a low cost.
In Qi Ping's memory, Sister Nan was a mysterious woman—intelligent and strong. Among the common loose cultivators, she was considered a formidable existence.
"Brother Shan, Sister Nan! Long time no see!"
Upon entering the modest courtyard, Qi Ping greeted them warmly. Since joining the Fusheng Society under Old Man Zhou's introduction, these two had looked after him quite well. Last time, when his bees had swarmed and escaped, these two had been the most diligent in helping him search. Qi Ping remembered their kindness well.
"Little Qi! You haven't shown your face for nearly half a year. You shouldn't just bury yourself in cultivation; come out and stretch your legs more often. Whenever you're free, come over to my place to eat some chicken!"
Wang Shan was genuinely happy to see Qi Ping. His words weren't mere polite small talk. When Old Man Zhou had first brought the young lad here five years ago, many in the society had taken a liking to the sincere and sensible boy.
Qi Ping could feel that many members of the Fusheng Society were genuinely kind. This small group followed a principle of mutual aid, devoid of the petty bickering often found between neighbors. This was likely because the founders had high standards for the character of new members, which was also the reason why the society had never grown very large.
Qi Ping liked this atmosphere. For loose cultivators at the bottom, huddling together for warmth was the only way to survive in the dangerous world of cultivation.
Sister Nan wasn't as exuberant as Wang Shan; she simply nodded in acknowledgement. Qi Ping knew her personality—cold on the outside but warm on the inside. She might not seem friendly, but if something actually happened, she would never stand by and do nothing if it was within her power to help.
After chatting with Wang Shan about their recent lives, Qi Ping steered the conversation toward serious matters.
"Brother Shan, I heard from Old Man Zhou that marauders have appeared in our Qingshi County again. What is the situation like now?"
This question concerned his personal safety and was Qi Ping's primary concern. Upon hearing this, the expressions of Wang Shan and Sister Nan suddenly turned grave.