'No matter the final outcome, since they want to deal with me, they must pay a price!' At that thought, killing intent surged in Qi Ping's eyes.
He only wanted to enter the scripture pavilion normally to learn, yet he had been targeted so relentlessly. It was impossible not to be furious. However, after witnessing the various deeds of the three major factions for the sake of their own paths, he knew he would have to kill these people sooner or later. What made him happy was that he had also seen the "good" side of the sect—those who were willing to let the Qingtian Domain develop and flourish sustainably. Only with them in charge could the domain experience healthy growth under proper management.
'I hope everything goes smoothly!'
Qi Ping hoped that one day, he could use people he trusted to take complete control of the Qingtian Domain. That way, he could treat the entire domain as his "field" and begin his grand agricultural endeavor. The power of a Druid came from nature and the world. As long as this world grew stronger, his power would increase as well!
He had a premonition that once he fully harmonized the natural and cultivation civilizations of the Qingtian Domain, his Druidic power would undergo a massive change. It was very likely to be the catalyst for him to become a Civilization Druid. This was probably the task most consistent with the essence of Druidic power, and the one most likely to result in a leap in his rank.
Simultaneously, Qi Ping increasingly sensed that his Druidic power system was gradually merging with the power system of the cultivation world. As his mastery of knowledge grew and his understanding of the world's essence and power became more profound, his realization of Druidic power would accelerate and deepen!
After successfully realizing the Heavenly Extinction Yin-Yang Array, Qi Ping began using the Yin-Yang spiritual materials he had collected to carve the formation's base. The timing of the Starfall City plot's climax would also coincide with the Little Stone Essence's breakthrough to the Golden Core stage and its Heavenly Tribulation.
Once the battle began, it was likely to result in two Golden Core-level battlefields. These would be the most difficult and important battles Qi Ping had planned since he began his journey, so he intended to fight with everything he had! He would spare no expense, refining all his high-level Five Elements and Yin-Yang spiritual materials into formation bases.
If he won, the Little Stone Essence would reach the Golden Core stage! Qi Ping himself would soar within the Qingyuan Sect, holding the ten-thousand-year accumulation of knowledge in his hands!
Under his focused preparation, time flew by. The realization of the Five Elements Cycle Array proceeded at an incredible speed. One by one, Heavenly Extinction Yin-Yang Array bases were refined and sent to Starfall City. Honey suited for the recovery of the Golden Core-level Old Mountain Sao, as well as honey for spiritual energy and healing, was also being delivered continuously!
Meanwhile, the Wind-Blade Bees were being birthed in waves under the Queen's nurturing. Of course, the price was that Qi Ping's accumulated resources were being consumed at a massive rate.
The spiritual herbs in his territory were fine; they would grow back given time. The real drain was the Yin-Yang and Five Elements spiritual materials. The value of the materials consumed to set up a full-strength Heavenly Extinction array was enough to empty the pockets of a Foundation Establishment cultivator! This was the price of powerful arrays. Although it was said that formations could use anything in heaven and earth as a base, a powerful array required strong materials to channel more of the world's power.
If one were to use three words to describe Qi Ping now, they would be: prepare, prepare, and prepare! Only by winning this war could he use the Qingtian Domain as his field and launch his grand farming project.
As Qi Ping prepared, an inexplicable aura began to pulse within the Qingyuan Sect. After years, many disciples from the three sub-factions of the Radicals, who usually disliked each other, rarely put aside their differences. Their behavior began to change drastically. Those familiar with this atmosphere sensed the metallic tang of slaughter in the air.
Some remembered clearly that the last time such an atmosphere appeared was when the sect's upper echelons had a violent conflict over certain matters. That clash had directly resulted in the death of a Preservationist Golden Core cultivator and many disciples. The Preservationists' decline had accelerated from that point on. Had the Yuan-Soul Supreme Grand Elder not intervened later, even more people might have fallen.
However, even a Yuan-Soul elder found it difficult to erase the conflict single-handedly, as there were several forces within the sect capable of rivaling a Yuan-Soul cultivator. This was the foundation of a ten-thousand-year sect! The Qingyuan Sect's heritage exceeded ten thousand years, after all. Over countless generations, the resources and efforts poured into the sect had accumulated many powers capable of threatening Yuan-Soul or even Transformation Stage cultivators.
This was the terrifying foundation of a great sect. Without power that could utterly crush the Qingyuan Sect, it was impossible to conquer this place. It was for this very reason that some felt a deep sense of unease upon noticing the impending clash. If the violent conflict between factions repeated itself, more than one person would die.
But every anomaly in the sect currently pointed toward that exact outcome. This abnormal situation reached even Han Li and Zhang Da-niu in Starfall City.
"Brother Han, have you heard the news?" Zhang Da-niu asked uneasily, looking at the frowning Han Li.
"I have," Han Li nodded. He had indeed received word.
"What is happening with the sect? Why is there another conflict so soon?"
"It's likely because the resource output has been decreasing over the years. Because of this, the internal contradictions have become very sharp. I'm afraid the matter with Senior Brother Ya has become the fuse for this explosion..."
"The three factions have indeed become more and more excessive. Decades ago, for the sake of the Beast Sect's inheritance, they chose to collaborate with bandits to plunder our own domain's cultivators. Later, they made a pact with the Immortal Alliance for a secret realm... they've truly abandoned all dignity for the sake of resources."
They knew the truth, yet they were powerless to change it. Han Li and Zhang Da-niu were currently struggling to save their own lives. With the madness and aggression of the three factions, this battle was bound to come sooner or later. The Preservationists and Neutralists couldn't keep retreating forever. Everyone knew things were spiraling out of control, yet no one could stop it. They could only watch as the tension in the sect grew ever tighter...
However, while everyone's attention was fixed on the movements of the sect's core personnel, something happened in Starfall City that made everyone's jaws drop!
Lin Ya had purged the city!
"What did you say? Lin Ya carried out a massacre?" Countless disbelieving voices echoed.