[Species: Subterranean Golden Marrow Bee]
[Bloodline: Mid-Tier First-Order]
[Talents: Brewing Artisan, Toxic Tail-Stinger, Wind Speed]
[Brewing Artisan]: A natural gift for honey-making. They can process not just pollen, but also certain spirit herbs, enhancing their special properties.
[Toxic Tail-Stinger]: Their stingers deliver a powerful toxin.
[Wind Speed]: They are dual-element (Wind and Wood) spirit beasts. They move quickly, especially in areas rich in Wind energy.
[Evaluation: Shy but aggressive. In sufficient numbers, they can threaten a late-layer Qi Refinement cultivator. They reject other bees and any perceived threats. Extremely fast, love brewing honey, and have high standards for nectar.]
Recalling this information, Qi Ping's excitement grew. Golden Marrow Bees were spirit beasts he couldn't afford even if he emptied his pockets. A domesticated colony was worth a fortune! Their temperament made them at least ten times harder to breed than Black Little Bees, and the success rate of taming a wild hive was less than one in ten.
If he could contract a colony, he would truly be hitting the jackpot.
"I hope it's really them. And I hope my skills are strong enough to make it happen!"
With high hopes, Qi Ping began trying to communicate with the Black Little Bees to find the location of the intruders' nest.
"Where are the big bees?"
"Where are the subterranean big bees?"
"Where are the golden bees?"
Because the bees had low intelligence, communication was difficult. He had to repeat his questions patiently. Eventually, a few bees understood him and pointed their legs toward a specific part of the Cloud Mist Mountains.
"Buzz... (There! There!)"
"Buzz... (Dangerous!)"
'Deep in the mountains?'
Just as he was about to ask for a more specific location, something unexpected happened. Two particularly bold bees took flight and began to lead the way.
"Buzz... (Follow me!)"
This surprised him. Normally, Black Little Bees would be terrified of Golden Marrow Bees. Why would they lead him there?
'I guess even among bees, there are those with stubborn heads.'
Just like humans—in a large enough crowd, you'll find all sorts. It was a lucky break for Qi Ping. Finding a subterranean nest was nearly impossible for cultivators, as these bees were sensitive to the slightest movement and were experts at hiding.
Following the two 'bold' bees, Qi Ping gradually ventured into the depths of the Cloud Mist Mountains. The trees here were much larger, and the ground was thick with thorny vines and undergrowth. Even as a Layer 1 cultivator, these spirit-enriched thorns were tougher and more dangerous than normal plants—some were even poisonous.
"I'm lucky to have these two guiding me," Qi Ping thought. He decided that if he found something good, he'd share a bit with these two.
As he went deeper, he noticed that his perception was becoming sharper. He could clearly sense movements far in the distance. Furthermore, he felt his physical stamina and spirit energy increasing slightly, and his recovery speed was faster. These weren't listed in his talent skills.
'It seems the skill descriptions don't cover everything. There are hidden traits I have to discover for myself.'
Like the buff he received for being a Jungle Druid in the forest.
'In the future, I can flee into the woods if I'm in danger. I could even cultivate here, or plant powerful spirit trees around me to speed up my progress...'
The more he understood, the happier he became. This profession was full of surprises. Even if he didn't have the transcendent talent of a sect genius, he could reach their heights if he used these gifts wisely.
However, after about ten miles, he started to feel nervous. At this depth, there were things that could genuinely threaten his life—venomous plants, hidden insects, and fierce beasts. Being a Druid didn't make him invincible, and high-intelligence spirit beasts might not care about his 'Nature Affinity.' This wasn't a game; it was reality.
He carefully pushed aside a poisonous vine, a sense of crisis rising in his chest.
"How much further?" he asked.
The bees buzzed vaguely: "Buzz... (Ahead, ahead. Soon, soon!)"
Qi Ping steeled himself and pressed on. If not for his new classes, he would never have dared to come this far. Fortunately, after a while, the bees stopped.
"Buzz... (Reached! Reached!)"
"Buzz... (Dangerous!)"
They refused to go any further. Their little bodies were trembling—a primal fear of a higher-blooded creature.
"You two head back. Be careful!" Qi Ping urged.
They had been brave enough to bring him this far. The two bees buzzed a few times, circled him, and then flew back toward the hive. Qi Ping made sure to remember their unique appearances. As a Beast King Druid, he could distinguish between identical-looking bees with ease. Though their lives were short, he would make sure they ate well as a reward.
Taking a deep breath, Qi Ping gripped the handle of a long saber hanging at his waist—a low-grade magical tool given to him by Old Man Zhou. Coming here alone was a gamble, but for a chance to contract Golden Marrow Bees, it was a risk he was willing to take.