Fortunately, the bees followed Qi Ping's instructions, hiding far away and avoiding detection by this group of cultivators.

And when that group of cultivators found nothing after searching and waiting for many days, the bees used a very complex route, passing through many extremely deep tunnels, and then different bees conveyed the message back.

Their cautiousness was naturally due to Qi Ping's instructions.

Specifically to avoid the bees being monitored or tagged with special markings.

Extremely deep and long tunnels can effectively evade tracking and divine sense probing, while using multiple batches of bees to relay the message prevents the initial bees from being unknowingly tracked or marked.

After completing their message delivery task, these bees took their honey rations and completely left Qingshi County.

It was precisely because of this cautiousness that Qi Ping avoided two crises.

One was due to the risk of tracking objects set among the battle loot; if Qi Ping had directly taken these spoils back to his territory, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The second was avoiding the risk of the bees being tracked.

Because when that group of cultivators found Qi Ping's hidden storage bag but didn't discover the enemy, they directly released many tracking substances around the area.

As sect cultivators with outstanding insight, they were naturally vigilant in preventing others from using insect-controlling techniques to oversee them, especially with demonic insects often appearing on the battlefield in Qingshi County.

And Qi Ping's tactic of having the bees burrow underground and using different bees to deliver messages directly cut off these cultivators' ability to track him.

"Damn it! The enemy was too cautious; the tracking failed!"

"But it wasn't without a gain; at least we can be sure now there's someone deeply hidden in Qingshi County. Next, we'll scrutinize and observe closely, and everyone and everything must be periodically covered with tracking marks…"

"I refuse to believe that we won't find any slip-ups! Once he's exposed, it's his end!"

"Even the item the sect is searching for might just be on him! So, open your eyes wide and start looking!"

...

Unfortunately, they were destined never to catch Qi Ping or see him walk into their trap, because Qi Ping intended not to leave the Cloud Mist Mountain Range until he broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage, and he even planned to stop selling honey for now.

Besides, Meng Yan had already left Qingshi County, and Sister Nan had been arranged to hide deep in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, giving Qi Ping no reason to go out or act.

...

"So the battle loot indeed had traps within?"

Upon hearing this news, Qi Ping frowned.

Meng Yan had already checked these spoils several times, and when Meng Yan was recovering, he wasn't around, yet nothing happened for so long, whereas now there was an issue.

"It seems that I need to be more cautious with the battle loot from now on…"

Considering the risks involved, Qi Ping couldn't help but feel a bit of lingering fear, though fortunate enough that he was prudent.

Next, Qi Ping relayed this news and the details of the loot to Meng Yan through a Communication Talisman.

Meng Yan replied that he had already left Qingshi County and hadn't looked for him, and about the issue of how the enemy was tracking them, he would investigate and inform Qi Ping of various common methods.

"As for the loss of about seven thousand Spirit Stones caused by the loot here, though considerable, it's still within an acceptable range; safety is more important!"

Qi Ping originally didn't hold much expectation towards obtaining Spirit Stones through the method of killing for resources; this method was full of risks, and unless forced, Qi Ping would not actively try.

Rather than killing, Qi Ping preferred acquiring Spirit Stones through farming tactics, which was more suitable for a druid.

"Speaking of which, I've mastered the Spirit Gathering Technique and can now contract my first Spirit Tree…"

After analyzing the matter of the loot becoming a trap and ensuring nothing was overlooked, Qi Ping no longer paid attention to it.

Next, no matter how chaotic things got in Qingshi County, as long as it didn't affect him, he would focus on utilizing his current resources to advance to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Regarding the remaining loot, for safety, Qi Ping planned to use it only after he achieved Foundation Establishment, and needed Spirit Stones. Even then, he wouldn't bring it back to his territory for use.

"Yes, in the future, aside from the Spiritual Medicine, all other loot should be left some distance away by the bees; this way, even if there's bait, it won't involve me…"

...

Cloud Mist Mountain Range, within Qi Ping's territory.

Spirit Gathering Technique!

As Qi Ping executed this Daoist technique, the spiritual energy from all directions, from the heavens and the earth, surged continuously, gathering in Qi Ping's palm.

"The effect isn't bad!"

Qi Ping executed it several times continuously, ensuring there were no issues and then approached a small sapling.

It was a tree that looked as translucent as white jade, with a fully semi-transparent milky-white color.

If Qi Ping hadn't watched it grow, he wouldn't have recognized it as a tree.

And this tree, like white jade, was precisely the reason Qi Ping chose the Tree Shepherd profession, the Star Spirit Wood!

Ranked as a Tier Two low-level tree, it has the ability to gather spiritual energy, not only forming a liquid-like spiritual form at its roots but also nourishing the surrounding land, turning it into Spirit Soil enriched with spiritual energy.

"Let's begin the contract! The effectiveness of the Tree Spirit Contract for a Tree Shepherd in the Immortal Cultivation Realm hinges on today's Star Spirit Wood!"

[Tree Spirit Contract: As a Tree Shepherd, you can forge contracts with trees and imprint the Tree Spirit Mark on them. (The number of trees you can contract with is related to your spiritual power; the stronger it is, the more trees you can contract with.)]

[Tree Spirit Mark: You can inscribe a Daoist technique mark compatible with the tree's characteristics onto the Tree Spirit. Trees with this mark will possess this Daoist technique ability…]

Qi Ping then activated the Tree Spirit Contract spell, and a contract mark emitting a faint green light quickly entered the Star Spirit Wood.

Because the Star Spirit Wood had no consciousness and no need to complete talent sharing, contracting it was much simpler.

As the faint green light on the Star Spirit Wood was absorbed and disappeared, the Tree Spirit Contract was successfully completed.

Upon completing the contract, the Star Spirit Wood felt different in Qi Ping's perception than before.

A special connection linked him with the Star Spirit Wood, and besides this, Qi Ping could distinctly sense a soul-like presence emerging on the Star Spirit Wood.

Qi Ping tried to gently touch it with his consciousness, and a peculiar thought emerged in his perception.

[Spiritual energy, spiritual energy, need more spiritual energy! This bit of spiritual energy is completely insufficient!]

[The speed of gathering spiritual energy is too slow, how to gather more spiritual energy faster!]

"Indeed, the Daoist technique that matches the Star Spirit Wood is the Spirit Gathering Technique!"

"Since you want to gather more spiritual energy, there's no spell better suited for you than the Spirit Gathering Technique!"

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