CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: SPIRITUAL BIRD

"Who?!"

A deep voice emerged from within the island, followed by the black mist parting to reveal a narrow, deep path.

A tall man, draped in rotting hemp robes, slowly stepped out from within.

His body was tall, but covered with festering wounds, making him look quite eerie.

He was alive, yet emitted a strong sense of death.

Though he had only taken a few steps, he was suddenly on the shore.

The long-bearded man on the flying boat stroked his beard and smiled, "In every trade, there are rules. As for who wants this Rot Bone Flower... naturally, that’s something that can’t be disclosed."

"Hmm."

The man in hemp robes nodded, neither causing trouble nor daring to.

"How did you find out?"

The long-bearded man said directly, "He wants to buy four plants, old ghoul, do you sell or not?"

The man in hemp robes, referred to as the old ghoul, pondered for a moment, then said, "No Spirit Stone transaction, it’s a barter. Arrange a meeting between me and him, that’s within the rules, right?"

"That’s naturally not a problem." The long-bearded man laughed, "But whether the other party is willing to meet you, I cannot say."

"No worries, you can ask first... anyone who knows about the Rot Bone Flower would surely want to meet."

"When the time comes, make sure he meets at this place."

The old ghoul casually threw out a slip of paper.

The long-bearded man caught it with one hand, glanced at it, then folded his hands and said, "Alright, farewell."

With that, the flying boat swiftly cut across the water’s surface, and the long-bearded man disappeared into the vast Cloud Rain Marsh, while the island was once again shrouded in black mist, and the old ghoul’s figure also vanished.

...

"Brother Chicken, has the Red-crowned Chicken I ordered last time arrived?"

That day, Ji Yuan arrived in front of the familiar poultry cultivator shop.

Since the Chicken Cage had been upgraded to level 2, which allowed him to temporarily control first-tier Spiritual Birds, Ji Yuan naturally could not let this opportunity slip by, so he had come early to purchase here.

Unexpectedly, they only sold semi-Spirit Chickens here, similar to Blue-yellow Chickens.

Ji Yuan required genuine Spiritual Birds, which had to be pre-ordered.

Having visited a few times already, he was told it had not arrived yet, so he came once more today.

"It’s here, it’s here, just waiting for you, Brother Chicken." The poultry cultivator nodded repeatedly.

Ji Yuan felt around his waist, "Oh, it seems like I didn’t bring any Spirit Stones. I’ll go back and look for them."

Seeing this, the poultry cultivator hurriedly pleaded, "Brother Yuan, my mistake, my mistake."

Ji Yuan called him Brother Chicken because he sold chickens, and in defiance, he called Ji Yuan "Brother Ji." After calling him a few times, Brother Ji naturally became "Brother Chicken;" this was all in good humor until it came time to fork out money today, which naturally could not continue.

"Bring it out for me to see."

While heading to the inner room, the poultry cultivator said, "Brother Yuan, I’m really sorry. The Red-crowned Hens you asked for are very scarce. Over at Jing’an Square, they’ve been trying to catch them for a long time but only managed to catch a rooster."

"A rooster?"

Ji Yuan frowned slightly. Since he had the Chicken Cage’s effect, naturally it would be best to buy hens. That way, he could get Spirit Eggs laid by first-tier Spiritual Birds daily, which surely was better than Blue-yellow Chickens.

"Yes, but Brother Yuan, think of it this way, a rooster should be good too. Every ten days you can get a small bottle of Red Crown Blood, which is a bane to Yin creatures, and it sells for a high price."

With that, the poultry cultivator had already brought out a talisman-sealed iron cage, within which stood a four-foot-tall rooster.

The most striking feature of this Red-crowned Chicken was its blood-red crest, like solidified amber, with serrated fleshy spines along the edges.

Its entire body was covered with scale-shaped hard feathers and bore three dark iron-colored tail feathers.

Even though it was captured, it stood within the iron cage as if it were a victorious general.

Even if it was just a rooster, at a single glance, Ji Yuan felt somewhat delighted. Indeed, this Spiritual Bird that had reached a tier was notably stronger than those half-spiritual Blue-yellow Chickens.

"Alright then."

Ji Yuan appeared quite regretful on the surface, even with a hint of reluctance, "About the price then..."

The poultry cultivator panicked upon hearing this, "The price cannot be lowered. I’ve already invested quite a bit, and Brother Yuan, if you cut it any more, this deal truly won’t be feasible."

"I intended to buy a hen for its eggs. Although the rooster can give Red Crown Blood, which is a good thing, but how can we get it alive? This Red-crowned Chicken is a living creature, not a dead thing, and besides, collecting Red Crown Blood is mostly a one-time affair, there needs to be some price off."

"Seventeen Spirit Stones, how about it? At this price, Brother Yuan, if it’s not feasible, then let’s drop the deal."

"Alright... fine."

Originally priced at nineteen Spirit Stones, he managed to cut it down by two, which was quite good.

Ji Yuan paid the Spirit Stones.

This Red-crowned Chicken was merely a preliminary first-tier Spiritual Bird, and Ji Yuan needed it alive, which raised the price a bit.

Afterward, carrying the Red-crowned Chicken through the market drew quite a bit of attention.

After all, cultivators buying live Demon Beasts were still a minority.

Ji Yuan was not intimidated; mainly, he couldn’t put living things into the Storage Bag, hence this display.

After a while, when he returned home, he went straight to the backyard, first summoning the Dragon Armor Shield to protect himself, then the Black Gold Saber to hover above the Red-crowned Chicken’s head, while the Fatal Needle lingered right in front of the rooster’s eyes.

Only then did Ji Yuan feel assured enough to open the chicken cage and release it.

Under the threat of three Magical Artifacts, even now freed from its confines, the Red-crowned Chicken did not dare resist. Only then did Ji Yuan reach out, grab it, and toss it into the Chicken Cage.

In that instant, Ji Yuan realized the Red-crowned Chicken had calmed down, and between them formed a certain mysterious connection.

Moreover, every Blue-yellow Chicken in the backyard raised its head, seemingly in some kind of intimidation or threat, not daring to move at all.

Until the Red-crowned Chicken strutted out of the Chicken Cage defiantly, crowing loudly.

"Cock-a-doodle-doo!"

All the Blue-yellow Chickens trembled, crouching on the ground.

Thus, Ji Yuan, who witnessed the entire process, felt within... the fowl king had emerged!

Among the numerous Blue-yellow Chickens in the Chicken Cage, this newly arrived Spiritual Bird, a big rooster, unquestionably became the king of the fowls, or perhaps, the head of this flock of hens...

A single rooster with thirty hens—it certainly was lucky.

At the moment the Red-crowned Chicken crowed, in the neighboring Wen household, next door to Ji Yuan’s house.

Zhao Yuechan awoke from her cultivation, looking bewildered at Wen Lin who was equally curious beside her.

"Brother Wen, is that... a Red-crowned Chicken?"

"Hmm."

Wen Lin turned to look towards the neighboring yard, a hint of curiosity in his eyes, "It seems our neighbor here has quite a few secrets."

"Then should we...?"

"Let’s just interact normally for now; outsiders, they are not to be trusted."

"Alright."

After the couple finished discussing, they paid it no more mind.

Ji Yuan, on the other hand, looked at the cock’s crest, dripping bright red, knowing it was time for blood extraction.

While extracting Cock’s Crown Blood might be troublesome for others, for Ji Yuan... with a mere thought, he instantly controlled the Red-crowned Chicken.

He made it obediently approach, while the Black Gold Saber turned into a black gleam, slicing across the Red-crowned Chicken’s crest.

Moments later, as Ji Yuan held the small bottle filled with vital, Yang energy Blood of the Cock’s Crown, he was quite pleased.

This thing was a real treasure; Ji Yuan didn’t intend to sell it. Next time, if he encountered any ghostly apparitions or the like, this would be a lifesaver.

Looking at the now utterly lethargic Red-crowned Chicken, Ji Yuan felt a hint of pity.

The next blood extraction could only occur ten days from now.

How wonderful if a bottle could be collected daily...

As the sun rolled through the day, when Ji Yuan was about to take the third bottle of the Cock’s Crown Blood, the date finally reached December 3rd.