Wang Mountain? Tribulation Cultivators?
Tribulation Cultivators came again?
When Qi Ping heard Old Man Zhou's words, his eyebrows furrowed involuntarily.
This wasn't the first time Tribulation Cultivators appeared.
In recent years, Tribulation Cultivators had periodically rampaged, specifically targeting Loose Cultivators.
Even more unusual was that the cultivators of the Cyan Origin Sect seemed blind, only occasionally sending people to suppress them when the Tribulation Cultivators became aggressive.
This was something unimaginable in the past!
A few years ago, in the Qingtian Realm, under the governance of the Cyan Origin Sect, the agriculture and animal husbandry of the entire Qingtian Realm were quite developed, and commerce was also thriving.
As a jurisdictional area of the Qingtian Realm, Qingshi County was a typical representative of the local industry with its Black Little Bees, Golden Feather Chickens, Spirit-Storage Fruits...
The Cyan Origin Sect also relied on the prosperous agricultural and commercial trade to gain substantial Spirit Stones through taxation.
When Qi Ping first arrived in the Immortal Cultivation Realm, he was amazed by the Qingtian Realm under Cyan Origin Sect's governance.
Prosperous industry, orderly public security!
It was drastically different from the Immortal Cultivation Realm depicted in many novels!
Though life wasn't easy for the lower-level cultivators, they managed to get by, making decent livelihoods through beekeeping, fruit farming, and such.
Old Man Zhou had spent most of his life like this, avoiding many life-and-death struggles, living quite a flavorful life.
Except for occasional illnesses or beast disasters.
When faced with such calamities, the initial investments of ordinary cultivators would not only be wasted, but they would also have to shell out several years' rent, though these situations weren't frequent.
Overall, they still managed to get by; during harvest seasons, they could even earn a little extra.
However, starting two or three years ago, everything seemed to change!
Tribulation Cultivators appeared!
Upon appearing, they began to plunder the wealth of grassroots Loose Cultivators.
The hard-earned wealth of diligent Loose Cultivators was seized overnight, not to mention that sometimes they lost their lives!
Initially, despite concerns, everyone wasn't too worried when Tribulation Cultivators first emerged.
Everyone believed that the Cyan Origin Sect would capture and kill these Tribulation Cultivators, restoring order in the Qingtian Realm.
No one believed that the Cyan Origin Sect would allow Tribulation Cultivators to rampage in their backyard.
Initially, the Cyan Origin Sect indeed acted accordingly, dispatching disciples to patrol intensively, ordering to ensure the public security environment of the Qingtian Realm.
At that time, everyone sighed in relief.
But before the sigh ended, the Cyan Origin Sect withdrew the disciples responsible for security patrol!
And this situation persisted for two or three years up until now!
Without the Cyan Origin Sect's protection, Tribulation Cultivators gradually became unscrupulous, appearing occasionally to plunder.
Yet, the rent and taxes everyone annually paid to the Cyan Origin Sect did not decrease; instead, they increased!
The resentment boiled over, but there was little effect.
No one knew why the Cyan Origin Sect acted this way, was it due to internal issues? Or external pressures?
This was something people had no way to understand, and as grassroots Loose Cultivators, they could only accept a situation where they were at the mercy of others.
When the Cyan Origin Sect was willing to maintain public security and develop industries, Loose Cultivators could benefit along; when they did not, while dissatisfied, everyone dared not utter a word.
Low-powered Loose Cultivators, what could dissatisfaction achieve?
Life still had to go on.
At least compared to a massive base of Loose Cultivators, those who were plundered were eventually only a small part, and gradually everyone got used to it.
Life just became more vigilant.
They also started to gradually organize their own Loose Cultivator Alliances to collectively address potential dangers.
Like Wang Mountain mentioned by Old Man Zhou, it included Old Man Zhou, Qi Ping, who were part of a Loose Cultivator Alliance called Fusheng Association.
The Fusheng Association wasn't large, with only over ten people, and was established decades ago.
This alliance was formed by several Loose Cultivators in the vicinity, helping and supporting each other, warming together.
The name Fusheng Association symbolized deep fortune and thriving livestock, representing the usual Loose Cultivators' expectations for life.
Within the Fusheng Association, most were friendly and familiar with one another, helping each other when needed.
Once, Qi Ping's Black Little Bees escaped, he couldn't find them after a lengthy search; it was with the collective search effort from Fusheng Association members that he finally located them.
Wang Mountain was a mature and steady older brother in the Fusheng Association, a master hand at raising Tier One Golden Feather Chickens, breeding dozens of them.
Qi Ping had the impression of him as meticulous and friendly in dealing, very amiable; many internal matters of the Fusheng Association were led by him.
...
"Rest assured, Old Man Zhou, don't you already know me? I wouldn't reveal it to anyone but you..."
Facing Old Man Zhou's urging, Qi Ping patted his chest, promising not to tell anyone else to ease Old Man Zhou's worry.
"Hmm, you handle matters diligently and meticulously, so I'm usually not concerned. But with more Tribulation Cultivators recently, we must be extra cautious!"
"As for an old fellow like me with just a ten-year lifespan left, it's not a big deal, but young lad Qi, you're still young. Live well and expand your beekeeping ventures..."
As he spoke, Old Man Zhou's tone gradually lightened.
"Just relax! Your wine will be plentiful in the future, and I've yet to marry a wife..." Qi Ping grinned.
"You youngsters only have these thoughts! Do what you want, I'm off to sleep; don't come bothering old me randomly..."
After speaking, Old Man Zhou stretched lazily, returning to his easygoing nature.
He turned and leisurely walked back into the yard.
The Golden Marrow Bees, which previously caused the Black Little Bees to become agitated, had been successfully contracted by Qi Ping, and the agitation naturally could be resolved.
How to specifically handle it was up to Qi Ping to decide, and Old Man Zhou was too lazy to worry too much.
Moreover, Qi Ping now contracted the fiercely powerful Golden Marrow Bees, essentially ensuring his safety.
If he encountered enemies that even the Golden Marrow Bee swarm couldn't defeat, this old pile of bones wouldn't contribute much either.
In Old Man Zhou's memory, Qi Ping handled matters meticulously without need for excessive worry from him, and worrying seemed ineffective anyway.
Thus, after understanding these things, Old Man Zhou returned to his carefree mindset.
Let Tribulation Cultivators be Tribulation Cultivators; life and death were destined, living a bit longer just meant enjoying more, having less was nothing.
After eating some fresh fruits on the table, Old Man Zhou laid back on the Purple Bamboo Lounge Chair.
Soon, a quiet snoring began to echo.
Nothing disturbed the heart!
...
Qi Ping looked at Old Man Zhou's gradually departing leisurely back, also finding it somewhat amusing.
Moments ago his jaw almost dropped in shock; yet now he had returned to a serene and content state.
Living such an open-minded life was quite decent.
"But I haven't reached the point of letting go yet!"
Recently awakened as a Druid and contracted the Golden Marrow Bees, his spirits were high; how could Qi Ping slack off?
"First, inform the Black Little Bee swarm that the Golden Marrow Bee issue is resolved so they needn't fear anymore; next, start refining Golden Marrow Honey, quickly boosting cultivation strength…!"