Chapter 86: You Are No Longer an Ordinary Chicken Keeper

A glint of cold light arrived first. Mo Shougui's eyes burned with frenzied obsession. Ever since he had his arm severed before the Celestial Palace of Wolong Ridge, in full view of the public, his heart had already twisted beyond recognition.

Once a graceful young nobleman, Mo Shougui was reduced to a hunted wretch, fleeing for his life in utter disgrace. Not only had he lost an arm, but in his terror, he had cast aside every shred of dignity and pride, begging for salvation from the Grand Elder. Dragged away like a dead dog by the Mo Clan's mechanical talon, he narrowly escaped death.

These humiliations were something his pride could never accept.

After losing his arm, he felt the world's gaze upon him shift—every glance laced with veiled sympathy. But he needed no pity. Even maimed, he remained the finest wanderer of the Mo Clan!

He would claim the head of the descendant of the Art of War, march into Yuan Chicheng, and lead this war between the Great Zhou and the Northern Prefecture. With his own hands, he would orchestrate the rise and fall of dynasties.

He would prove—he was still the best!

His sword cleaved the air as if to shatter the sky itself.

Suddenly, a pillar of spiritual energy descended from the heavens like a white beam, illuminating Mo Shougui and casting itself over the panicked Bai Qingniao.

"Cluck… cluck-cluck!"

A sharp crow, like a blade rending the heavens, echoed through Mo Shougui's ears.

A chicken's cry.

Yes—undeniably the crow of a chicken.

As the spiritual beam poured down, Mo Shougui finally noticed a small chick hidden within Bai Qingniao's arms.

"This is…" Bai Qingniao was struck dumb with disbelief.

The killing intent emanating from Mo Shougui's sword made her tremble with fear, her body frozen.

But then, as that little chick—Xiao Fengyi—let out its resonant cry, the suffocating murderous aura melted like spring snow, replaced by a warmth like morning sunlight washing over her skin.

A sudden image surged into Bai Qingniao's mind—The Nine Phoenix Transformations.

A mystical cultivation technique passed down by a celestial immortal, said to awaken the power hidden within fledgling chicks.

Her heart stirred. She began to circulate the technique, drawing forth the spiritual energy dormant within her, weaving it into threads of power that enveloped Xiao Fengyi.

In that moment, their minds became one—she could sense the chick's thoughts, its will, its burning desire.

Boom!

The spiritual pillar surged endlessly, its power wrapping around and flooding into Xiao Fengyi.

The chick's yellow fluff began to change, shifting from pale gold to blazing crimson. Upon its head, three fiery feathers erupted, burning like little torches.

Under the baptism of spiritual light, Xiao Fengyi's body grew, transforming from a downy chick into the size of a full-grown rooster.

Bai Qingniao's chest could no longer contain it—Xiao Fengyi soared free, radiant like a sun bursting into flame.

Ding!

The sword came down.

Xiao Fengyi's crimson eyes blazed.

It let out a thunderous crow, lunged forward, and pecked at the sword with sudden ferocity.

A massive force exploded upon contact, sending tremors down Mo Shougui's arm—his grip nearly failed.

"What in the world is this abomination?!"

His pupils constricted, and his empty sleeve fluttered as he staggered back a step.

Bai Qingniao's hair whipped in the wind, and her rustic peasant garb now shimmered with the fiery hues of battle.

She felt dazed.

Had Xiao Fengyi… evolved?

According to the Nine Phoenix Transformations, this was the first stage—the Hatchling Phoenix.

Feathers like flames, eyes like molten ruby, Xiao Fengyi now resembled a fierce and valiant war-chicken ready for battle.

Bai Qingniao's fear gave way to elation.

Xiao Fengyi's transformation had not only saved her from death—it had become her shield against doom.

And yet… her heart carried a trace of sorrow.

Why did it seem like the immortal's blessing had been bestowed upon the chick—not her?

"An immortal…"

"That chicken… received the immortal's favor?!"

Mo Shougui's temples throbbed with jealousy. Such a spectacle could only be wrought by an immortal!

But why?

Why should a mere chicken be chosen by the heavens, while he, Mo Shougui—so brilliant, so valiant—lost an arm for nothing in Wolong Ridge?

Jealousy burned. Madness surged.

Was he truly beneath a chicken?

"Die!"

Mo Shougui attacked. His three-foot sword sang through the air, sharp enough to slice the wind itself.

Bai Qingniao flinched, retreating a step, fear flickering in her eyes.

But then, she grew angry.

"You want to use me to threaten Uncle Jiang?!"

"Xiao Fengyi… hit him!" she cried, her voice trembling with rage.

Xiao Fengyi spread its wings. Heat shimmered as the fiery plumes on its head blazed.

It launched into the air, utterly fearless against the incoming blade, its claws slashing downward.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The blows of chicken talons against steel rang like clashing swords.

"I, Mo Shougui… am I truly losing to a chicken?!" he growled.

His blood surged, spiritual energy surged into his blade—he struck like a storm.

And yet…

To his horror, he found he truly couldn't defeat this chicken.

Empowered as if by divine will, its beak was as sharp as a spear, its talons like daggers.

Spiritual energy enveloped it so densely, Mo Shougui could only watch in envious fury.

He was forced into retreat. His prized blade was now full of dents—ravaged by a chicken's beak.

The sudden turn of battle left Chi Lian, wounded and crumpled on the ground, utterly stunned.

Her gown pooled around her, blood seeping from a gash on her pale leg like a blooming rose.

Yet her gaze was fixed on Bai Qingniao—who now stood with hands on hips, commanding a divine chicken that was driving Mo Shougui into utter retreat.

For a moment… she could hardly recognize her.

Was this really the same Bai Qingniao she knew?

When… had she been granted an immortal's favor?

Bai Qingniao, flushed with excitement, felt as though she had finally reclaimed her pride—like savoring a chilled watermelon on a blazing summer day.

Trying to use her to threaten Uncle Jiang? Ridiculous!

"Xiao Fengyi! Peck him!"

One hand on her waist, the other waving a tiny fist, she shouted with glowing cheeks.

Xiao Fengyi cried with even greater fervor, its fiery feathers dancing in the air.

Mo Shougui lost all desire to fight.

This chicken was unnatural.

He had to retreat.

To be pecked to death by a chicken would destroy what little remained of his honor.

"Qingniao… stop him!"

"Don't let him escape!"

"Kill him!"

Just as Mo Shougui prepared to flee, Chi Lian's voice rang out, urgent and cold.

Bai Qingniao froze, stunned by the word.

Kill?

Even though Mo Shougui had tried to kill her, she was still a simple village girl who raised chickens—she had never taken a life.

Her mind went blank.

Mo Shougui retreated rapidly, readying his lightness technique to escape.

Then—

A gentle breeze.

A graceful figure soared through the air, skirts fluttering, revealing curved legs that bent mid-air.

Her knee struck Mo Shougui's waist, slamming him into the ground.

"Mo Shougui… of the Mo Clan."

Chi Lian's gaze was cold as frost.

Her pale thigh, revealed from the slit in her gown, pinned him firmly to the earth.

Mo Shougui opened his mouth. "Wait—"

But Chi Lian had no patience for delay.

He knew that hesitation meant defeat—and so did she.

With a swift, merciless movement, she drew a dagger from the hem of her dress, its blade gleaming under the sun—

And plunged it deep into his neck.

Blood sprayed like a fountain.

Splattered across her stunning face.

Bai Qingniao's legs gave way—she collapsed to the ground.

Xiao Fengyi's radiance faded.

It reverted into a downy chick once more, falling like a fluffball onto the earth.

Chi Lian, swaying from blood loss, rose with difficulty, dragging Mo Shougui's lifeless body behind her.

Blood from her wounded leg flowed ever more brilliantly red.

She stopped before Bai Qingniao and dropped the corpse at her feet.

Towering above, she said calmly,

"From the moment you were touched by the immortal's grace… you ceased to be an ordinary chicken girl."

"The world of cultivation is far crueler than you can imagine."

"The elder wished for you to live a peaceful life, but fate has other plans."

"This is your first lesson."

"To kill."

The rustic courtyard fell into deathly silence.

Only the wind remained, stirring the dust upon the ground.

The sun cast Chi Lian's silhouette long behind her, and in Bai Qingniao's eyes… her face became a blur.