'My fire-attribute affinity increased?'
Feeling the more active Wood-Flame energy and the fire-attribute essence in the air, Qi Ping was filled with surprise. He had thought he would need the 100-year Fire Spirit Honey to see a bloodline improvement through his shared talent. He hadn't expected it to happen just from Ya Ya reaching the late stage.
'It was likely just the final push,' he guessed. The crow had been absorbing solar power for a long time, and its bloodline had already been strengthening. Using the honey to recover its strength provided the necessary catalyst for a breakthrough.
The crow's breakthrough didn't take long. After fifteen minutes, it had refined all the honey and reached the late stage of the first tier. A gold-red Li-Fire Flame burned fiercely over its body, radiating a terrifyingly hot and dangerous aura. Qi Ping had no doubt that this fire could turn him to ash. Since the crow had originally been at perfection, its peak strength was even greater than most tenth-level Qi Refinement cultivators. Now that it had reached the late stage again with an improved bloodline, its power far exceeded a typical late-stage Li-Fire Crow.
'However, its life-fire and aura seem slightly unstable. It seems it will be difficult to unleash the true power of the Li-Fire Flame until it fully recovers.'
After waiting a moment, the crow retracted the flames and flew back to Qi Ping. "Caw, caw... (Boss! I've successfully recovered to the late stage!)" It was beaming with excitement. It had worked so hard for this moment!
Qi Ping looked at the crow and noted that the flame mark on its brow had become even more mystical. "Excellent! Did your bloodline improve as well?"
The crow's eyes widened. "Caw, caw... (How did you know, Boss? It did get a bit stronger, but not by much. The true transformation will likely wait until I fully recover.)"
"Well, that will be soon. In about seven days, the 100-year Fire Spirit Honey will be ready. Keep cultivating and be prepared!"
"Caw, caw... (Understood, Boss!)"
The crow immediately returned to its solar meditation. With the crow back at the late stage, Qi Ping felt his anxiety ease. Once it reached perfection with the century-honey, the crow would be a powerhouse. 'A week to stabilize its realm and reach peak condition... then the crow and the swarm together should be enough to stop almost any Qi Refinement cultivator.'
Qi Ping returned to his patch and began a final tally of his resources. The moment the crow reached its peak would be the moment he dug up the secret underground. Everything had to be planned: combat readiness, packing valuables, escape routes, and the spirit stones needed for the B-District rent. He wouldn't leave his life to chance.
'The swarm has reached its target size.'
'1,000 High-speed Ring-cutter Bees, 500 Ink-Armor Bees, 500 Toxic Bees, 500 Balanced Bees, 500 Brewer Pot-bellied Bees, and 1,000 ordinary Golden Marrow Bees.'
Among them, the Ring-cutters were the primary scouts and assault force due to their speed and damage. They were his main force. The Ink-Armor and Toxic Bees were support roles; the former drew fire with their high defense, while the latter provided lethal strikes with their armor-piercing stingers and venom. Because Toxic Bees weren't as fast or durable, they were held in reserve to strike when the enemy was distracted. These three species together created a lethal synergy.
The 500 Brewer Pot-bellied Bees were his logistical core, dedicated to high-grade brewing. The Balanced Bees and ordinary Golden Marrow Bees handled nectar collection and the production of daily rations. Life for the swarm was a bit lean right now, but it was unavoidable. They had reached the ecological limit of Peak No. 7. If he didn't use his skills to supplement their food, the peak's ecology would collapse within three months.
'The little black bees and spirit herbs must all be placed in the Spirit Taming Bag before we dig.' The little black bees were his master's legacy; he wouldn't leave them behind.
'Once the preparations are done, we see what lies beneath. If the danger is too great, we flee immediately.'
Qi Ping settled into his routine, steadying his cultivation and his crops. He was also pleased to see that the crow's minor bloodline advancement had given him a significant experience boost.
[Druid Level Experience +16]!
If a minor breakthrough gave 16 points, the full transformation would be massive. It had been nearly a month since contracting the crow, and his experience had grown by 79 points.
Level: lv3 (33/400) → Level: lv3 (112/400)
He estimated that if the crow's transformation was substantial, he could reach level 4 in another two months. Level 4 Druids unlocked a skill he had been eyeing for a very long time...