Qi Ping watched Old Man Zhou return, then specifically left twenty Golden Marrow Bees around the courtyard, having them hide in various corners as guardians for Old Man Zhou.
Given Old Man Zhou's current level of alertness, a Tribulation Cultivator could boldly stroll in, and Old Man Zhou probably wouldn't notice.
Therefore, for Old Man Zhou's safety, Qi Ping thought it best to arrange for some Golden Marrow Bees to keep watch.
Previously, Qi Ping had no choice but to rely on Old Man Zhou's shelter to keep bees and earn Spirit Stones. Now that Qi Ping had some strength, he naturally wanted to do what he could.
With these twenty Golden Marrow Bees, they could not only warn Old Man Zhou and Qi Ping of danger in advance but also assist Old Man Zhou in fighting.
After leaving the twenty Golden Marrow Bees, Qi Ping hurried back to the flourishing ancient pine.
...
At the beehive under the ancient pine, the Black Bees were still flying chaotically, and their agitation was more intense than before.
Qi Ping guessed this might be because they had just caught the scent of the Golden Marrow Bees.
"Buzz buzz... (danger... danger!)"
"Buzz buzz... (golden... big bee smell!)"
"Buzz buzz... (afraid!)"
...
A strong sense of unease spread among the Black Bee swarm.
When they saw Qi Ping, they all cast curious and pleading looks at him.
They remembered Qi Ping had just gone to see those big bees!
"Buzz buzz... (friendly... two-footed beast!)"
The two Black Bees that had taken Qi Ping into the depths of the forest flew out from the swarm and landed on Qi Ping's shoulder.
However, they quickly jumped up in fright as soon as they landed.
"Buzz buzz... (golden... big bee smell!)"
"Buzz buzz... (afraid!)"
Looking at these two agitated bees, Qi Ping found them quite amusing, yet at the same time, he was somewhat helpless.
He quickly explained the situation to this group of Black Bees, lest they continue to worry and stop collecting nectar!
He still needed the Black Bees' honey to make money!
The Blood Ginseng and Golden Marrow Bees were too conspicuous for now; Qi Ping wouldn't let them enter the market in the short term, as the risk would be too high.
"You don't need to worry, the Golden Marrow Bees are now my partners, and they won't harm you!"
After repeating this several times, Qi Ping finally got the Black Bee swarm to understand his meaning.
"Buzz buzz... (really? Wow!)"
"Buzz buzz... (two-footed beast, you're amazing!)"
...
Having learned that the Golden Marrow Bees had become Qi Ping's partners, the Black Bees were no longer afraid.
They had a mysterious trust in what Qi Ping said.
If Qi Ping said it, it must be true!
Qi Ping didn't expect that the Black Bees would believe him after such a simple explanation; he thought he would need to talk more persuasively.
"Seems like the Beast King Druid's influence is rising!"
In dealing with bees, such simple insects, the Beast King Druid had really excelled!
Afterward, Qi Ping summoned the Golden Marrow Bees from his body for a brief introduction, and then they all became acquainted.
Initially, the Black Bees were instinctively afraid when they saw the Golden Marrow Bees, an inherent response from their lineage.
But seeing Qi Ping beside them, they gradually adapted, and soon they got used to the presence of the Golden Marrow Bees.
Especially the two courageous Black Bees, who, after getting permission from Qi Ping and the Golden Marrow Bees, boldly approached to sniff them before quickly retreating like lightning.
This scene of cowardly curiosity left Qi Ping both amused and helpless.
Suddenly inspired, Qi Ping poured a few drops of Golden Marrow Honey, sharing it between the two courageous bees.
For the Black Bees, this was a rare treat!
Upon receiving Qi Ping's gift, the two courageous bees trembled with excitement just by sniffing it.
However, to Qi Ping's surprise, the two courageous bees, instead of consuming it themselves, cheerfully presented the Golden Marrow Honey to the Black Bee Queen.
Initially surprised, Qi Ping soon understood.
For bees, the propagation and growth of the community are paramount, and the highest honor for an individual bee is to greatly contribute to the swarm.
For the two courageous bees, presenting the precious Golden Marrow Honey to the queen was likely the most meaningful and happiest event for them.
Qi Ping did not interfere with their actions but chose to respect their decision.
Every creature has its choices.
Giving the Golden Marrow Honey to the two courageous bees was Qi Ping's choice.
The decision of these two bees to present the honey to the queen was theirs.
This was a win-win outcome.
Reflecting for a moment, Qi Ping poured out a few more drops of Golden Marrow Honey for the queen of the Black Bees.
This amount of Golden Marrow Honey wasn't significant for him or the Golden Marrow Bees but could strengthen the bloodline of the Black Bee Queen and future generations.
This would be highly beneficial for improving the quality of Black Bee Honey in the future.
"The agitation of the Black Bees is finally completely resolved!"
Having resolved one trouble, Qi Ping felt quite pleased.
"With the Plant Growth Skill and sufficient supply of Blood Ginseng, the quality and yield of Golden Marrow Honey will greatly improve, and it should be more than enough for my cultivation."
"I should also prepare some for Old Man Zhou later; perhaps it could help him break through again and extend his lifespan..."
Having settled the agitation of the Black Bees, Qi Ping once again ventured into the depths of the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.
Amidst the forested mountains of the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, Qi Ping could cultivate under the blessing of the Jungle Druid, benefiting from the insight of Wood Spirit Qi and Wood Attribute Techniques.
Refining Golden Marrow Honey in the forest was a multi-beneficial endeavor for Qi Ping.
...
Deep in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, on a particularly large ancient cedar, Qi Ping sat cross-legged on one of its branches.
Beside Qi Ping, about a hundred Golden Marrow Bees were hidden and guarding the area around him.
Qi Ping chose this place for cultivation not only due to its confirmed safety but also because he sensed richer Wood Attribute Energy from this ancient cedar.
Cultivating here would help Qi Ping absorb spiritual energy and comprehend the "Wood Shield Technique."
The Wood Shield Technique was a Wood Attribute Technique that Old Man Zhou had accidentally acquired during his adventurous youth. Its spiritual power fortified by this technique had extremely high defensive capability, making it a defense-focused cultivation method.
Qi Ping liked this technique's concept quite a bit, but it was difficult to cultivate, and he had spent a long time only barely reaching the introductory stage, not even proficient yet.
"I hope to make progress in comprehending the technique this time..."
"Let's begin!"
With everything ready, Qi Ping swallowed a mouthful of Golden Marrow Honey.
In an instant, a rich and sweet fragrance filled Qi Ping's mouth, sweet but not overpowering, with a moderate aroma, many times better than the honey of Black Bees.
Perhaps because the main ingredient of this honey was Blood Ginseng, the unique aroma of Blood Ginseng was retained.
This made Qi Ping even more reluctant to easily sell the Golden Marrow Honey, as those familiar with honey would surely deduce the presence of Blood Ginseng from its flavor.
As the Golden Marrow Honey entered his stomach, an extremely rich spiritual energy and blood essence erupted instantly.