White robes stained with blood. He had shredded the six peak Foundation Establishment cultivators who had besieged him with his own strength!
The image of that unyielding white-clad figure standing atop the ruins became an eternal mark in the hearts of all who witnessed it. Such a magnificent and legendary life-and-death struggle had not been seen in the Qingtian Domain for a millennium. If they had not seen it with their own eyes, they would never have believed such a soul-shaking battle could truly take place.
That blood-stained silhouette and the blooming blue flames became Qi Ping's definitive hallmarks.
The name of Lin Ya of the Qingyuan Sect was destined to echo across the heavens from this moment on. Due to the shocking nature of the battle, the impact might even surpass the infamy of the Bee Daoist. After all, Qi Ping had used nothing but his own spells to achieve this victory!
Simultaneously, the battle was recorded by various intelligence agents using recording stones. These images would undoubtedly be spread far and wide in short order.
With the conclusion of the battle, the once-invincible Huang family of Lingxiao City was reduced to rubble. The raging fires continued to burn, consuming every trace of the family's existence.
"The Huang family is finally gone!"
Witnessing the family's destruction, many cultivators could not suppress their emotions. Only the heavens knew how much they had prayed for the Huang family's death. Their hatred was so deep they wished to grind the family's bones to dust. Unfortunately, they had been weak and lacked background. Seeking help from the Qingyuan Sect had only resulted in retaliation; the Huang family had brought them nothing but despair.
But today, the Huang family was no more!
Since the family was large, many had tried to flee while Qi Ping was occupied with the other cultivators. But as one Foundation Establishment elder after another was forcefully slain by Qi Ping, the remaining family members found themselves blocked by the very people they had once oppressed.
Not a single soul was allowed to escape. All of this was thanks to the white-clad figure on the battlefield: Lin Ya, the Inner Disciple of the Qingyuan Sect.
Standing amidst the burning ruins of the Huang manor, Qi Ping looked at his wounds.
'The Treant clone is still a bit weak, after all. If my main body had fought, I likely wouldn't have taken so much damage.'
He looked at the piercing wound in his abdomen and the various jagged scars on his body and sighed. The battle had proven his current achievements in the path of spells—whether in offense, defense, physical strength, or movement, he had reached a state of near-perfection.
The stacking of his Tri-Color Spirit with the Eyes of Transcendence and Extraordinary Comprehension was terrifyingly potent. However, those six peak Foundation Establishment cultivators were not weaklings either; each had been a powerhouse in their own right, candidates for the Golden Core stage. They had solid foundations, mastery over their spells, and various hidden trump cards. It was no wonder they had managed to wound him.
'Still, fighting to this extent is already quite good. Once I absorb the cultivation manuals and spell knowledge of the Qingyuan Sect, my combat power will surely leap again.'
'For now, I should handle the spoils and leave this place.'
Looking at the two souls in his hands, Qi Ping did not hesitate to cast Soul-Searching. Amidst soul-shaking shrieks, the memories of the Huang Patriarch and a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Celestial Alliance were bared to him. He learned of the secrets involving the demonic sects, the Qingyuan Sect, the Celestial Alliance, and the broader Qingtian Domain.
Normally, searching such extensive memories required a high level of soul control. It was only because Qi Ping possessed powerful soul talents and the terrifying soul-attack talent of the Demon-Eye Illusion Realm that he was able to perform Soul-Searching with such ease.
After reading the memories of these two key figures, the situation in the Qingtian Domain was no longer a mystery to him. Having seen the darkness and reality within these secrets, Qi Ping was now mentally prepared. He was no longer shocked; he simply recognized the reality of the world and gained a clearer understanding of his future path of development and planning.
'One day, the Qingtian Domain will return to normalcy under my control.'
This was the conviction Qi Ping set for himself.
However, the moment he solidified this belief, a thought flickered through his mind. If he could maintain the environment of a cultivation civilization, would he have the chance to find the catalyst to become a 'Civilization Druid'?
Qi Ping had realized that his current Druid profession was not static; it was like a special bloodline. If he gained more insights into the Druidic path and met certain conditions, it was entirely possible to awaken other Druid spells and branches. Among these branches, the existence of a Civilization Druid was undoubtedly unique and powerful.
If he could become a Druid of a cultivation civilization, the potential would be immeasurable. Qi Ping wasn't certain if he could reach that state, but fortunately, the direction was consistent with his goal of cleansing the Qingtian Domain and supporting the growth of this world from the shadows. There was no harm in attempting to gain these insights.
After finishing the Soul-Search, Qi Ping quickly gathered all the storage bags and rings. He followed the memories to locate the Huang family's hidden treasures and then swiftly departed.
Shortly after he left, the news of his legendary battle spread across the region, creating massive waves. Those who saw the recorded images were universally stunned. The strongest reaction naturally came from within the Qingyuan Sect.
Qi Ping had already caused a stir by being evaluated as a 'Mainstay' by the Heart-Questioning Mirror while refusing to join any faction. Most people had expected him to follow in the tragic footsteps of the previous 'Mainstay.' His encounter with danger during this mission was seen as the inevitable proof of that tragedy.
But when the results of the battle—especially the images—returned, almost everyone fell silent. The name of Lin Ya of the Qingyuan Sect was deified in a single battle.
Zhang Da-niu, who had urged Qi Ping not to take risks, was completely dumbfounded.
"When Senior Brother Ya said he had 'confidence' in the mission, he didn't mean he could protect himself... he meant he could flatten every enemy in his way?"
After leaving Lingxiao City and processing the spoils, Qi Ping did not continue to the third mission location in the Black Mountain Range.
'I'll temporarily abandon the demonic insect mission.'
After careful thought, he decided to terminate his mission run. His battle at the Huang manor was too high-profile; it might attract an attack from a Golden Core cultivator. At this point, only by returning to the Qingyuan Sect would those people be hesitant to move against him openly.
If he continued the third mission, he might be forced to reveal too much, which would hinder his growth within the sect. Instead of facing unknown risks, he chose to digest the knowledge he could currently access and master what he already had.
'I'll return to the sect and spend the Contribution Points I've earned. I need to find the knowledge for casting the Yin-Yang foundation and condensing the Yin-Yang Core as quickly as possible. Then, I'll use the black market points from the Celestial Alliance cultivators to buy Yin and Yang spirit trees and comprehend the Yin-Yang Intent.'