"There really is an Integration Stage being who can refine eighth-grade Resentful Tea?" The bald Golden Crow was struck with awe!
As the Golden Crow with the strongest mutated bloodline in the history of the Forest Sea Demon Realm, it had been famous throughout the demon realm even back when it was only at the seventh grade. Yet, even then, it hadn't possessed the qualifications to consume Resentful Tea.
It still clearly remembered a Kunpeng genius from its era whose physical body and divine abilities were so powerful they drove other birds to despair. That Kunpeng had swept through the entire era without a single opponent.
Yet, even such an existence had completely lost control at the very moment it was about to succeed in refining the Resentful Tea. It had transformed into a murderous madman perpetually immersed in agony, and even now, it remained suppressed and sealed within the Demon Prison.
That Kunpeng was indeed formidable; even while suppressed, it had managed to break through to the Great Vehicle Stage. The War Hell intent bestowed by the Resentful Tea had become even more terrifying upon its breakthrough. Unfortunately, this only increased its level of instability. Otherwise, the Forest Sea Demon Realm would have surely gained a monstrously powerful eighth-grade being.
Since that incident, the final two portions of Resentful Tea in the entire Forest Sea Demon Realm had been sealed away.
"I truly didn't expect that old turtle would give his portion of Resentful Tea to you—and that you actually succeeded in refining it!" The muscular bald man didn't hide his surprise, his eyes brimming with intense curiosity and shock.
"This is all thanks to Senior Mysterious Armor's generosity!"
"That old turtle is no saint. While Resentful Tea is a treasure—a bizarre supreme rarity that has a slight chance of forming only on a supreme battlefield—only an Integration Stage being can truly unleash its full effect. However, for an Integration Stage being to consume it is basically seeking death. That dead Kunpeng, who even I feared back then, is still insane... So, that old turtle giving that thing to you—he wasn't afraid you'd die!"
The bald Golden Crow shook its head, exposing the Mysterious Armored Old Turtle's true colors.
Qi Ping's eyelids twitched at these words. He didn't dare chime in on this criticism of a Great Vehicle old monster. However, he caught another important point.
"Only an Integration Stage being can truly unleash the tea's effects?"
"Correct. It acts like a seed. It only truly sprouts during the process of breaking through to the Great Vehicle Stage. As for how much it can grow, that depends on the individual. The fact that you survived its assault proves your achievements in the realm of soul and intent must be extraordinary!"
At this, the bald Golden Crow's eyes once again revealed a flash of shock, along with a hint of envy. This undisguised emotion was also captured by Qi Ping.
'Is this Resentful Tea really that difficult to survive? To the point of driving an existence like a Kunpeng mad?' Qi Ping wondered.
While the process of enduring it had indeed put him under great pressure, it was still a far cry from causing him to lose control and collapse. He had to face similar levels of intent-based mental pressure whenever he pushed his Earth Immortal Druid and Imperial Druid powers to their limits, though it wasn't quite as intense.
Furthermore, when he used his Druid powers to learn from Heaven and Earth, he almost inevitably had to face intense and chaotic mental pressure.
'Could it be that my true talent lies in the realm of soul and intent?'
At this thought, Qi Ping's heart stirred.
'If that's the case, could the effects of the Resentful Tea become the catalyst for me to awaken my next Druid class?'
Qi Ping had been continuously researching the power of the soul and intent, especially regarding soul-splitting for life-preservation, but the Star Sea World lacked any supreme inheritance in this field.
Following this, Qi Ping began to chat with the bald Golden Crow. He discovered that although the Golden Crow was blunt and unfiltered, its straightforward nature made it quite easy to get along with. It answered all of Qi Ping's questions without holding back.
Soon, the two of them set aside their initial awkwardness and sat directly on the white bones, drinking their respective collections of fine wine and discussing the sights and interesting events of their respective worlds.
As the sun set, the human and the Golden Crow toasted each other amidst the rosy clouds. Since reaching the pinnacle of the Star Sea World, Qi Ping hadn't had a conversation like this in a long time.
The bald Golden Crow seemed much the same, equally enjoying this casual talk free of conflicting interests.
"Brother Qi, the aura on your body seems a bit familiar..." The bald Golden Crow sniffed lightly, as if discovering something.
"Oh? How so, Big Brother Jin?" Qi Ping was equally confused; he shouldn't have had any prior interaction with this Golden Crow.
"I remember now. It's an aura that appeared on a little fellow in our tribe. If I hadn't seen you, I wouldn't have noticed anything was amiss."
Hearing this, Qi Ping's heart leaped. 'Could it be Yaya?'
This change in Qi Ping's expression naturally didn't escape the Golden Crow's eyes.
"What is its name?" Qi Ping asked.
"Heitian!" (TN: Literally meaning Black Heaven.)
As expected! That was indeed the name Yaya had chosen! Memories came flooding back to Qi Ping like a rushing tide.
Since becoming his animal companion, that fellow Yaya had spent every day either cultivating or staring at the sky, squawking about reaching the peak. One day, Qi Ping had glanced at the jet-black Yaya and said, "Why don't you just change your name to Heitian?"
Yaya had happily agreed, and from then on, besides "Little Black," Yaya had another name.
"What is its relationship with you?" the Golden Crow asked.
"A companion! We have established an equality contract. How is it doing now?" Qi Ping didn't hide the truth.
"That little fellow is quite remarkable. It recently obtained an opportunity no weaker than the Resentful Tea... I remember it seemed quite eager to break through to the Great Vehicle Stage because the old turtle doesn't allow anyone below that realm to leave this place. I suppose that was because of you?"
"It likely was..."
Qi Ping didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He hadn't expected the Forest Sea Demon Realm to have such a rule. However, Yaya probably didn't know that Great Vehicle Stage existences currently couldn't enter the Star Sea World at all.
"Since you share a good bond, I have high hopes for that little guy. It has a significant chance of breaking the bloodline shackles and curses of our Golden Crow tribe. I won't go into specifics; it will be a better surprise if you see it yourself later. For now, come with me to see the thing the old turtle wanted to give you..."
The previously straightforward bald Golden Crow suddenly became mysterious, transforming back into a Golden Crow and taking flight.
This left Qi Ping feeling curious and expectant, but knowing Yaya was doing well eased his worries. Specifically, the Golden Crow had mentioned a recent opportunity no weaker than the Resentful Tea. Qi Ping had already learned of the tea's extreme rarity during their conversation; an opportunity on par with it was likely a rare treasure that even the entire Forest Sea Demon Realm would struggle to produce more than a few of.
Qi Ping didn't overthink it and immediately followed behind the Golden Crow. Now that he knew Yaya was safe and thriving, there was no rush.
What he was more curious about now was the opportunity the Mysterious Armored Old Turtle had left for him—something for which even the sun-like Golden Crow before him was merely the key to unlock.