Chapter 1: Fa Xiaolan
"Ah, for heaven's sake." I couldn't help but curse upon finding myself in such a dark, damp, and uncomfortable place. Whatever it was that imprisoned me was way too foolish.
As if these walls could hold me for long.
I couldn't feel Qi in my body, so they must have put some sort of Qi-sealing formation in the area. Even so, they must have been very stupid, as even if I couldn't use my Nirvanic Flames, my physical body was tougher and stronger than that of the Jade Emperor's Azure Dragon.
Upon mentioning that name, a light headache crossed through me, but it faded away rather quickly.
Did my mind weaken after being imprisoned? Damned bastards, whoever dared do this will pay!
I felt around for the wall— which was rather close to me— and kicked. A solid hit connected with the slippery walls, then again, as a satisfying crack landed in my ears.
Once I get out, I'll make sure you pay the price, grr...
Another kick and the first piece fell off; cracks spread all around its surface, and I basked in the sunlight kissing my body. The warmth gave me a sense of comfort, as the natural energy of heaven and earth seeped into me. Feeling my strength return, I prepared to give my captors a good thrashing.
"You'll regret ever trying to imprison me, Fa Xiaolan! Your ashes will serve as fertilizer for my spiritual garden; you damned green hat-wearing dimwits!" My screams echoed against the faltering walls, each hit getting closer to a breaking point.
Something felt weird, though, and I couldn't quite place my finger on what.
One last kick, and the dark grey material of the prison walls collapsed. A larger piece fell off, and I met it soon enough; it shattered under my weight but attenuated my fall.
"Ouch," An involuntary grunt left my body as I fell face-first on the ground, a light layer of dust covering my… feathers? I almost couldn't believe my eyes. Looking down at my body, it immediately became clear that I was a bird of sorts.
Light yellow and orange feathers decorated my round body, though calling them feathers would be an exaggeration. They were more like the sturdy fluff that would become feathers.
"A hanging prison and a strange illusion technique? Whoever captured me isn't ordinary, that much is for sure."
Looking down at my body, I felt somewhat weird. It sure was strange to be a bird. My feet had turned into talons, the upper thighs covered in a thick layer of puff as well, which made me doubt my agility.
That surprised me.
Why was it surprising? What could surprise me, the great Fa Xiaolan? A simple illusion spell or formation would not be anywhere near enough to entrap me.
I took a deep breath, feeling the air and the surrounding Qi. There had to be some sort of hint as to what had happened to me.
However—
Where is this? This doesn't feel like one of the Greater Realms…
Yet, as those thoughts crossed my mind, a skull-splitting headache fell upon me. I instinctively gripped my head, somewhat fearing that it would explode from the pressure. My heart raced, thumping against my chest as blood rushed through my veins.
I stumbled backward, searching for something to lean on, my balance wavering with each passing second. The world around me spun as if I were drunk. Luckily for me, that didn't last too long, and as the pain began fading away, something else made me think that I was hallucinating.
[Complete Soul Integration Failed…]
[Host is too weak.]
Huh? You dare? Who's too weak?!
My eyes widened as a string of words appeared in my field of view, following me everywhere I looked with perfect accuracy. Strange-looking characters, glowing with an ethereal light.
I had never seen them before in my life, yet somehow, I understood them. I tried touching them with the little stumps I now called hands, but my feathers passed right through them.
What sort of curse is this?
To my dismay, I didn't have any time to study it more, as a sudden, muffled thump followed by a crunch landed in my ears. I turned with caution, my heart racing and a pit forming in my stomach. The sight that greeted me made my fluff stand on end. A creature at least dozens of times larger and stronger than me, glared from above.
Why would such a puny beast be stronger than me? What gives? A bug like this is stronger than me, Fa Xiaolan? Whoever created this array must be insane. Just wait until I get my hands on you; when I'm done, not even your mother will recognize you.
I cursed inwardly, completely ignoring the fact that I had somehow been captured and placed inside the array. Revenge would come later though. I didn't know what the creature before me wanted, and I didn't know what would happen if I died by accident.
Its jet-black feathers contrasted against the green foliage and dirty rocks, though it mixed well with the shadowy forest I found myself in. White stripes covered its back and face, and its sharp eyes locked onto my small body. It had a neck about twice the length of its body, at the end of which was a sharp beak drooling with hunger.
Its large talons stepped upon what I had assumed to be my prison, crunching it under its weight. Now it was clear that it was an egg. It stood in a small, almost artificial dent in the terrain. The white shell was dirtied with mud, leaves, and other stains I couldn't describe. On top of that, scratches and impact marks littered the outer shell.
Behind the beast was a dark, flattened, and raised patch of grass, almost like a nest. The sight of that made anger course through my veins and it took everything I had not to lose my sh— feathers.
Were you waiting for me to come out?
Its back feathers were thick and long, also covered in white stripes, lacking any sort of elegance. Compared to my own, it looked like a beggar that didn't belong to the Beggar Sect— at least they had some style.
I didn't have much time to think about it, as its terrific screech shook the air, showcasing its hundreds of small, razor-sharp teeth.
My legs took off by themselves before I even registered the danger. However, I tripped as soon as I began, completely unused to my new set of limbs. I hurried to get up, the creature's wings flapping like a windstorm behind me.
Gotta run, gotta run! I picked myself up and hurried into the depths of the forest.
The sound of muffled cracking told me that it had somehow gotten stuck in a branch or a bush, but I didn't dare waste even a second.
Of course, such a large bird cannot maneuver through the forest with the dexterity of a small animal. Thank the celestial stars I'm small enough to slip through… or curse them, if I end up easier to squash.
Despite my chubby body, the speed I could achieve surprised me, yet I knew I wasn't fast enough to run away from an adult Spirit Beast. But I had to try and take advantage of my size and its clumsiness.
My eyes flew from one corner to the next as I ran, hoping to find a spot that might protect me from the Spirit Beast's attacks. A hollow trunk, a boulder, or a cave, something, anything!
Luckily, the place I was in was a forest, with trees whose crowns all but blocked most of the sunlight.
There must be a hollow trunk somewhere!
I hoped, at the very least, and eyed some bushes not too far away. If the array creator wanted to play, I would play. At least until I found a way to escape his trap and get my revenge. Like a shadow, I took advantage of my size and hid within the dense foliage.
The tall grass and bushes wouldn't provide me with a lot of protection, but I suspected it would be enough for a quick repositioning. I tried sneaking through, slowing down to avoid detection, hoping that the beast would lose interest.
Just as that thought crossed my mind, the small layer of protection I had was ripped apart, the shadow of the beast looming high above me.
Oh, for heaven's sake!
I cursed, dodging the creature's large talon by ducking and jumping with a surprising amount of force, then took off in another sprint. The bizarre string of text appeared in front of me once again, but I couldn't pay any attention to it or its message.
[Skill: Evasion(Novice) has been acquired.]
The tips of my feathers burned with fury and I wanted to do nothing more than turn around and turn it into raven food. Anger coursed through my veins at the thought of such a pathetic animal chasing me.
Running for my life while trying to escape a large predator in such a small body was exhausting though, and I could feel my energy reserves depleting. Yet, despite its attempts at grabbing me, I managed to avoid its attacks by a hair's breadth.
However, how long would that last?
I need to find a place to hide and get my bearings, or I'll become bird food!
That sparked even more anger in me, combined with a side of humiliation and a tinge of defiance.
It seemed that luck was on my side, as I used my keen senses and spotted a large tree with a small hole inside its trunk. I wasn't sure if I could reach it, but at that moment, it was my best chance of survival.
As I approached, the sudden rustling of branches and grass made me halt in my footsteps as the beast swooped at me once again. I crouched, making it miss me, if only by a little.
But it now stood between me and the hiding place.
The Spirit Beast glared at me, its tiny eyes shining with hunger and greed.
I stared back, my feathers standing on their ends as I yelled in anger. "You're courting death!"
The beast screeched, then launched off its talons and spun toward me with its tail, now sharp as a blade, threatening to cut off my neck.
I wasn't sure I could evade it that time. I stared at it, the world moving in slow motion as its large feathers almost severed my head.
Just as it was about to, I instinctively moved with a familiar dexterity. I snuck below the tail and through its talons as their sharp edges scraped off a little bit of my fluff.
"I'll make you die a dog's death!" I screamed, channeling Qi through my wings, trying to summon my Nirvanic Flames. I felt some resistance, but pushed more, and my muscles contracting until I finally managed to send out a flaming projectile.
They weren't my Nirvanic Flames though. In comparison to them, what I'd just conjured was a tiny spark compared to a dragon's breath. However, that didn't mean it wouldn't burn, and the Spirit Beast dodged my attack, creating some distance between us.
It didn't look at me with only hunger and greed, but now also apprehension.
I took advantage of its confusion and turned toward the tree.
My small, yet sharp talons gripped onto the trunk as I jumped, climbing vertically for a few steps before jumping into the hole. The small entrance made it so my body fit through, though barely. Compared to its opening, it was deep and hollow.
Nuts, worms, fleshy remains of small animals, and other disgusting things filled the hollow trunk. I gave the worm another glance, my stomach growling slightly.
No! Don't you dare think about it!
I wasn't sure what sort of creature made its nest inside, but I was grateful it wasn't home.
Even if it were, I would have burned it to a crisp.
An anguished, sharp screech echoed through the cramped walls, alongside a violent thud that shook the entire tree. Scratching and grappling entered my ears, alongside the flapping of wings, and the little sunlight sneaking through the entrance got blocked off by the beast.
Its stinky breath filled the small space, enough that it would have made me choke were it not for anger and adrenaline coursing through my veins.
As I had guessed, it couldn't reach inside. Its talons and beak were far too big. I could see part of its talons penetrating inside, scraping away at the rotten wood. It couldn't do much except stare inside and scratch at the hole to make it big enough.
My idea of hiding would only last a couple of minutes; however, those few minutes gave me ample time to plan and figure something out. Starting with the strange text.
If it can't make the hole big enough, I'm sure it will try to knock the tree down. Hopefully dying in the process…
Of course, such thoughts were mere dreams, as what sort of Spirit Beast that lived long enough to grow to maturity would be dumb enough to do that. No, I wasn't betting on that.
I was betting on three things. One, given that I was a small bird, whoever was my parent would come and rescue me. However, the chance of that happening was low, if not zero, as if somebody had indeed trapped me, I doubted they would give me any sort of help.
The second thing I bet on was another predator sensing the commotion and fighting the Spirit Beast.
The chance of that happening was much larger, but the thing I was betting on the most was…
Nirvanic Flames.
I thought, raising my wing. I felt them still fueling me. Something told me that no matter what body I inhabited, the flames would follow me through eternity.
However, when nothing happened, I began to doubt my senses.
This can't be! My… My flames!
My wings trembled, and my puff stood on end as shock coursed through me. Even though I could remember very little, I knew for a fact that such a thing shouldn't be possible. It was then that the strange text surprised me again.
[Skill 'Nirvanic Flames' is purchasable]
[Cost: 5 Skill Points]
[Current Skill Points: 5]
[Would you like to purchase the skill 'Nirvanic Flames'?]
The text's soft light didn't light up the surroundings in the slightest; however, I cared little for that at that moment.
Yes!
I yelled inwardly, unsure of what any of that meant; however, I got the gist that I would be able to use my flames once again.
[Purchase Complete]
[Skill Points Remaining: 0]
[Skill: Nirvanic Flames(Novice) has been acquired]
I didn't care to think about what any of that meant. As soon as the text disappeared, I felt the dormant power inside me burn to life once again. It felt like meeting with an old friend, and the anger coursing through my veins at the humiliation brought upon by the beast fully erupted inside me.
You damned pathetic wretch! I'll burn you to cinders!
I jumped up and performed a series of hand signs, instinct and experience driving my every move. They looked weird, seeing as my fingers had turned to feathers, and they didn't even look like hand signs, more like a haptic movement of fluff, but I sensed Qi flowing through nonetheless.
I could tell that the efficiency wasn't even at thirty percent of what it should be. A silent sigh left my body, though, grateful that I still had my old friend. At the peak of my leap, a tiny orange flame flared before me. It pulsed with life as it grew larger, its heat burning off the edges of the hole. It didn't affect me, but I hoped that the Spirit Beast would enjoy its taste.
The thing screeched, and I smirked.
With a sharp thrust, it vanished down the beast's gaping maw before the creature could even recoil, then bloomed. A muffled explosion filled my ears as fire rushed down its throat, licking out from its nostrils.
It fell, hitting the ground with a loud thump as it thrashed in the tall grass. Somehow, I knew that just one flame wouldn't be enough, not at my current power. I wasn't sure if I had any cultivation at all, and the Qi flowing through my body was but a literal drop in what had been formerly a majestic ocean.
I'll find the bastard who did this to me and burn their tongue before torturing them for a thousand years. I'll use their flesh as food for the ravens, their bones as knife sharpeners, and marrow as aphrodisiacs! I'll make sure every nerve of their body remains intact, so they can feel pain even as nothing more than a headless corpse!
The Spirit Beast's yelps awoke me, anger flaring up inside my body as I watched the wretched creature struggle to endure such weak flames. I weaved another set of hand signs, a kindling spark manifested inches away from me.
It was a flickering flame at first, its weak yellow glow looking like a firefly compared to the moon. Yet, the more Qi I fed it, the larger it grew. The yellow hue changed to a violent orange color that lit up the shadowy forest, the flame almost dancing in my palm as it reflected upon my beady eyes.
I hope you suffer even as your soul disappears from the cycle of reincarnation.
[Warning! Qi Dangerously Low!]
The sudden warning startled me; however, after checking my reserves, I was able to confirm that what the text said was true. I turned toward the creature with a disdainful glare, and an intense catharsis filled my body as I sent the living fire toward it.
The air became denser, melting wherever the flame passed, and the grass shriveled up into a string of dried hay before the fire even touched it.
I couldn't feel the heat, as they were my own flames, but I was sure the Spirit Beast would, and the suffering they would cause it would be just as enjoyable as its screams.
A wretched howl blessed my ears as the thing that had chased me right after I gained consciousness burned to a crisp before my very eyes. Its black feathers instantly burned, charring away to nothingness, revealing its red skin, which melted off its bones into a cloud of black smoke.
Blood bubbled into a puddle, wherein its guts and whatever else couldn't instantly burn away boiled into a red meat soup. It howled all the same, though its pathetic screams slowly died down.
It let out one final, unwilling and defiant roar as its throat disintegrated, creating a haunting howl that echoed through the quiet forest.
Its yellow eyes popped within their sockets with a muffled bang, becoming nothing more than two gooey pool that soon turned to ash under the heat.
Serves you right, be thankful for this light punishment. To think anyone would dare chase me, the great—
My monologue was interrupted by the strange text which suddenly appeared in front of me, showing unfamiliar numbers and names. At the same time, I felt a surge of Qi flow through me, replenishing my reserves, and alongside it, I felt my strength augment by a marginal amount.
[You have slain [Striped Black Vulture] Lvl 5]
[XP Acquired]
[You have Leveled Up]
[Phoenix Chick Lvl 1 has become Phoenix Chick Lvl 2.]
[Skill Points Acquired]
[Achievement: First Blood - Unlocked]
Hm? Phoenix, what now?
I questioned, finally deciding that ignoring the weird text was a bad idea.
It can control my Nirvanic Flames, after all.
That mere thought disgusted me, but not as much as I would have guessed.
I still don't know who I am, or where this is… Maybe this thing knows?
"Hey!" I tried saying, however, the only thing escaping my mouth was sharp screeches.
"Hey, can you understand me?" I tried communicating again, though it seemed like the thing had no desire to talk. It understood my thoughts, but that didn't stop me from yelling at it.
"HEY YOU STUPID PIECE OF DOG SHIT, ARE YOU GOING TO TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON HERE OR NOT?!" Of course, they didn't sound like anything more than the wild chirps of a small chick. I guess that's what I was, as that's what it called me. A 'Phoenix Chick'.
I retreated into the small hole I had decided to adopt as a home for the time being, planning to get to the bottom of this. Alright, no more speaking out loud.
The text followed my vision, making it a little hard to see, though there wasn't much to see in the first place. What is XP? I asked, thinking that it would give me information about things it had already told me.
[XP is the numerical value necessary for leveling up. It can be gained via doing a variety of tasks, the most popular of which is killing other beings.]
Great, I thought. Killing is easy enough, but what do levels do?
My question didn't go unanswered, thankfully, as the strange string of text changed once again.
[Levels dictate how strong someone is. They can be used as a general gauge of power and to decide what sort of skills are purchasable or not. Your stats are directly influenced by levels, amongst other factors.]
Stats?
As soon as I finished my thought, the text disappeared, replaced instead by a series of strange, transparent, flat, orange, box-like images that floated in front of me.
Details
[Name: Fa Xiaolan]
[Race: Phoenix]
[Class: Phoenix Chick]
[Level: 2]
[Hit Points: 250]
[Equipped Titles: None]
[Bloodlines: Phoenix]
[Qi: 30]
Stats
[Strength: 22]
[Dexterity: 10]
[Perception: 18]
[Charisma: 60]
[Intelligence: 20]
[Skill Points: 5]
What the hell? It was the only thing that came to mind. Suddenly, I felt naked. No, more than naked. This was inconceivable!
How can anyone measure someone with such accurate detail? This is beyond belief… If only I had this back then. Maybe whoever trapped me here is worth soul-searching after all.
Shock coursed through some part of me, and another part of me felt like gloating after noticing just how high the 'Charisma' stat was. However, that died down fast after realizing how useless it would be in real combat. What am I going to do? Charm my enemies to death like those fucking foxes?! Screw that!
However, I didn't have much time to think about what the boxes were saying, as the tree shuddered violently, sending me hurtling, scraping against the rough inner bark.
What the hell?!
Before I could have another thought, a sharp crack split the air, followed by another series of snaps that came in one after the other. A sickening, terrifying groan rolled through the wood as the tree split apart beneath me, sending me hurling through the open air.
I couldn't even gasp before another shadow engulfed me once more, and this time, its large claws wrapped around my small body like the sharp blade of a sword.
A screech sounded through the air, followed by an indistinct language, and something shuddered around me. Ripples spread a few inches away from me, shaking in an uneven pattern.
I could tell what it was from the first glance— a barrier. But why? Why would a beast that's captured me use a barrier to protect me?
Then I turned my head and saw them.
Cultivators.
Chapter 2: Mother
The Spirit Beast that captured me turned as well, its loud screech sending a shiver through my body. The humans stopped, shock and wonder on their faces.
They all wore a different uniform, each with a different symbol plastered on their right chest. A belt strapped over their waist showcased a different number in the center, and the colors differed, albeit only slightly.
They didn't look strong, though all of them floated, or rather, flew in the air, as well as the thing that captured me.
Their eyes shone with greed more intense than the vulture's, and my senses told me that their strength far surpassed it as well.
However, as the one that grabbed me rose in the air, the smiles on their faces disappeared altogether, and their eyes widened with fear. Before I could register what happened, a powerful stream of fire descended upon them.
They tried to run away, but something impeded them from teleporting, and the fire far outsped them. The sound of shattering glass echoed through the air, as necklaces and jewelry on their body disappeared into nothingness one after another.
However, when they had nothing left, their flesh began to melt, and their clothes turned to ash.
At that moment, the unmistakable smell of death surrounded me. Such a thing was hard to fake, and even if someone managed to recreate it, there would be differences from the real thing. I'd killed my fair share of humans, beasts, demons, and gods, so I was very familiar with death aura.
I'd realised then that this wasn't a mere illusion, but reality.
One of them, a man dressed in black and white, didn't sustain any injuries in his final moments; instead the air rippled and he disappeared into nothingness, much like the other objects.
Did he use a secret technique to teleport? An artifact? I wonder what their level of cultivation was.
Those thoughts distracted me from the fact that I was still trapped by the giant Spirit Beast that had grabbed me, and though its attacks were scary, I couldn't just sit still and become its prey.
"HEY, PUT ME DOWN YOU STUPID THING! DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHO I AM?!" I yelled, hoping to get through to it.
I wasn't even sure we spoke the same language, but it was worth a try. The ground disappeared beneath me, the lush green forest becoming nothing more than a small patch of color covered in fog as we passed over the clouds.
The creature's sharp talons gripped around my small body, almost like a cage. I couldn't move at all, as even turning my head proved to be a challenge, though it didn't hurt so much as it inconvenienced me.
"Hey! I said pu—" However, whatever cry I wanted to leave my body got cut short. The strong wind took away my view, making it so I couldn't even squint my eyes, remaining unable to see where we were going or what grabbed me.
Their wings generated a great amount of wind as well, a clear sign that they weren't part of any ordinary-sized beast. My best guess was that it was a bird or dragon of sorts, and the fact that it didn't kill me on the spot meant that it most likely had babies to feed.
Great… just what I needed…
I thought, reflecting on how I could escape once it put me down. Burning down the nest with my Nirvanic Flames would be difficult, given that they aren't strong. Even if I did manage to do that, I doubted that the parent would let me go without putting up a fight.
I need to find a way to escape before I become food. Again.
However, any and all plans that I could come up with ended with me dead. Even as a Phoenix, I doubted that I could survive a fall from so high up. It was quite clear I couldn't fly just yet, as any sort of feathers I had were shorter than my previous pinky fingers had been.
The creature's flapping began to cease as we descended into a glide, and so I was finally able to see. Though there wasn't much to see in the sky besides multi-colored clouds. The sunlight scattered upon them, creating a purplish orange painting that stretched way beyond the horizon.
In the middle of the painting stood a series of impressive, tall, jagged rocks, each one sharper than the other, except for one.
It was much shorter than the rest, with a much wider tip, on top of which was what I could only assume to be a nest. From the looks of it, the rock got sliced in two, or the top ripped off, so that the parent could build a large nest on top of it.
It seems like the creature dragging me here used one of those peaks as its nest. That's pretty smart.
However, admiring the ingenuity did me no good, as I would soon become food for whatever baby creatures that thing had. How ironic, babies eating babies….
The thought was a little weird, but it was undeniable that I was indeed a baby animal as well. It seemed that my parents didn't care that much about taking care of me, seeing as I hatched in a jungle.
The nest soon became clearer as we approached at startling speeds; however, much to my surprise, there were no babies in sight. Two egg-shaped objects poked out of the nest, though the tops of their shells had holes in them.
As we neared, I noticed faint traces of blood littering the nearby stone, with even more of it painting the golden-brown nest with a crimson color. What happened here? Can it be that something attacked the nest?
I had no answers to my questions, at least not at the moment; however, the closer we got, the more I noticed the aura of cultivators.
Some parts of me already knew what had happened, but that only made me ask even more questions.
Why is it still bringing me here then? Does it want a little grief snack?!
We finally reached the nest, inside of which were small pools of blood that let off an iron-like stench, which lingered in the air. Some human parts littered the area as well.
Heads, arms, legs, some organs… The fight that had taken place there was one hundred percent more brutal than the one I had with the vulture.
I could already tell the corpses were beginning to rot, which meant that the fight had taken place at least one day ago.
It seems that it didn't come out on top, though.
I thought as we floated over the eggs, their large size and thick white shell reminding me of my own.
Could it be…
The creature lowered me to the ground with as much care as it could, its iron-tight grip releasing me onto the dirty, yet soft mixture of hay, clay, and leaves. As I got up, its shadow danced a few circles around me before it began to land.
My head was still spinning from the lack of oxygen and fast movement, creating a certain type of nausea I wished I never had to experience again. That was, if there was another again for me.
Struggling to stand up, I shook my head, a shiver running down my spine, making my fluff stand on end. A loud, yet somewhat calming screech landed in my ears, and as I looked up to gaze at the source, my eyes widened.
Nothing could have prepared me for the majestic being that covered my entire vision. It descended onto the nest, each flap of its wings sending a faint wave of warmth slithering through my fluff.
It was almost like it was the living embodiment of fire, and I could feel its strength even though it held no malice against me.
Its feathers glowed with an incredible brilliance; their amber hue, mixed with some sort of scarlet gold, gave the illusion of a living fire dancing within its plumage.
The purplish gold drew a beautiful, stark contrast with the bird, completing the painting I saw the first time I laid my eyes upon the sky.
Each flap of its wing radiated grace, each and every feather exuding a royal aura that made one want to bow in worship.
However, that aura gave me another feeling, one of closeness, and another of desire; One that I couldn't even remember feeling before.
Its wings tucked close to its body while landing, the entire foundation of the nest shaking as its thin legs sank into the uneven clay.
They were the same talons that had carried me there. Compared to my chicken-like drumsticks, they were much more elegant. Not only that, but its shape, as enormous and majestic as it was, seemed much thinner from up close.
As I looked up at it, our gazes locked mid-air. Its eyes, decorated with a streak of black, almost like makeup, gleamed like molten amber, burning with an incinerating sense of power and ruthlessness.
However, deep within its glittering eyes, I could see a hint of kindness, and perhaps other emotions I couldn't quite get.
It let out another powerful screech, its sharp, elegant voice echoing against the vastness of the sky. I didn't quite understand what it said, but I could feel something linking us, something that was… warm. It eyed the blood puddle and the human remains, sneering at the sight.
It lifted its wing and a spark appeared at the top of its feather. It evolved into a torrent of fire that swept past the impurities within its nest. I watched in awe as everything that wasn't part of it disappeared without a trace, not even the ashes or smell remaining.
Such exquisite control of fire, and what a powerful one at that…. So, this is the majestic Phoenix…
As I recalled its name, another slight headache washed through my mind, though it didn't last for long, and it wasn't as strong as before. At least it wasn't strong enough for me to writhe in pain. Something deep inside of me hated the mere sight of the Phoenix, though.
However, I had a feeling that if I tried to recall why another skull-splitting headache would befall me— that was the last thing I wanted at that moment. I couldn't show weakness.
Somehow, I believed I was much stronger than it in the past. As for how strong exactly I couldn't remember.
The Phoenix's own fire was much weaker in quality than my Nirvanic Flames, but the sheer quantity and strength far outclassed mine. It was like comparing a firefly's light to the moon's shimmering brightness.
For now…
I was already making new plans upon seeing that I wouldn't be food.
If it wanted to eat me, I would already be dead. There are no chicks here either, well… besides me.
That was when it dawned on me. The warm feeling I felt toward it, the kindness within its eyes as it looked at me, and the way it carried me with such care spoke enough of its actual nature.
Could it be…
It had to be— there couldn't be any denying it. The box thing said that my class was 'Phoenix Chick', and before me stood a living Phoenix.
This Phoenix was my mother…
I pulled my gaze away, turning one hundred eighty degrees and looking at the two large eggs I saw when I landed. The way cracks covered their surface looked anything but natural. Countless marks covered their surface, way more than the ones my egg had from that damned vulture. That and the blood told me more than I needed to know.
Humans attacked the nest and forcefully broke open their shells, stealing them. Somehow, I was placed in a safer spot, or I was hit and fell, my landing creating a small dent in the ground. It seems that Phoenix eggs are extremely sturdy, for them not to crack from such a high fall. Yet… somehow these humans did it.
I turned my gaze toward the Phoenix, its features becoming increasingly mother-like. The outline around her eyes made them look much smaller, and stood out at the same time, and the feathers around her tail were longer, circling upward.
A ruby-like shape at the end of the curls shone with a vibrant orange hue, and even the way she bore herself reminded me of some fancy court ladies. I think I hated them, which may also add to the pre-added hatred of the Phoenix I had.
The fact that I couldn't remember why I even hated something bothered me to a great extent, but I was sure that the box thing had all the answers I wanted, and more. I just needed to get to the bottom of it. However, I couldn't trust the Phoenix, even if she was my mother. The origins of the box were still foreign, and if anybody coveted it, I would be in quite the trouble in my current form.
Though I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do. I was stuck in a nest who knows how many miles above the ground.
Trying to cultivate Qi would be the first and best thing I could do. I'm not sure what the difference between Phoenixes and humans is in terms of cultivation, but I refuse to risk being powerless.
Despite my thoughts, it seemed that my mother had other plans. She broke me out of my trance with a light bump on the head, pushing me toward the eggs.
Afterwards she used her legs to break off a few pieces of the shell of my former siblings, broke them into even smaller pieces, then dropped them at my feet.
She looked at me as if waiting for something, continuing to break the shells apart. I could tell that she was hesitant to do it. Losing two children to humans and almost having one killed must not be treating her well
My stomach growled in response to the massive amounts of shell bits piling up before me. As much as the thought of eating eggshells disgusted me, it seemed that I had no choice.
I tried picking a few pieces up with my wings, but that worked about as well as I expected. Even though doing the hand signs worked with a certain degree of success, I had no hands or fingers to speak of. The realization of not being human fully dawned on me at that moment.
What am I supposed to do? I don't want to live as a bird forever…
At that moment, the weird, strange text appeared in front of me once again, just as unprompted as before, except that this time my heart skipped a beat. I turned away, unsure if she could see it, and if she couldn't, I didn't want her to think me crazy.
[Would you like to learn about evolution?]
Chapter 3: Tianxu Continent
Evolution what?
I grumbled, glancing at Mother every so often as I re-read the text. She didn't seem to notice it, not even looking at me while continuing to crush the shells for me to eat. It was clear that she wasn't too thrilled at having to break the eggs she had been working to hatch for so long and only feed them to a single chick.
However, I didn't care much about that at the moment— as cold as that sounded— because what the text said intrigued me more.
Evolutions, does that mean I can evolve? That would be incredible! I refuse to remain stuck in such a small and clumsy body.
Mother had no problem with that, though, as her claws moved faster than an average human's. However, that's not what I wanted. The lack of fingers made my technique lose a large amount of efficiency, and that's not something I can live with.
Yes.
I responded, and the text immediately changed before me, becoming another rectangular box with a weird light.
[Evolutions represent a species' way to rise up the food chain. All sentient and sapient beings undergo evolution.]
[Some evolutions can drastically change the hosts' appearance, while some do not at all.]
[What evolutions you receive are random, though certain factors may influence what you can pick from.]
[Evolutions have different ranks that affect how powerful they are.]
[Evolutions also decide what sort of specialty the host will have. While some evolutions are better than others, with enough hard work, they all lead to the pinnacle of life.]
[Your first evolution is available at level 10.]
The wall of text looked a little intimidating; however, the contents were easy to understand. Although the vagueness and lack of details left me more confused than anything.
How am I supposed to reach level ten when I'm stuck in a nest? I need to find a way to get out!
That thought was simpler said than done, though, as the nest was so high that the oxygen leaving my lungs from the speed may kill me before the inevitable meeting with the ground.
Or I'd fall on one of those jagged rocks and die like skewered meat… Neither of those endings was what I wanted. However, for the moment, there was little I could do.
After shrugging off the boxes again, much to the delight of my stomach— which wouldn't stop growling— I went back to the pile of eggshells and sat down. It was more than twice my size, made out of tiny bite-sized pieces.
Seeing as my wings were no good, I decided to throw away my pride for a moment and eat like any other bird, as humiliating and annoying as that was.
I didn't peck it, though. After picking up a piece in my beak, I held it with my wings and crunched it down into a fine powder before swallowing it.
It was bitter, dry, yet somewhat wet at the same time. I was sure that the remnants of the juices my siblings had left remained stuck on the shells.
That was disgusting, but far better than starving to death. I'm sure my mother had a good reason for making me do this, most likely nutrition and lots of energy.
Although I was under the impression that mother birds fed their young mouth-to-mouth. Phoenixes must be different then.
I was wrong.
Mother's head loomed over me after she'd finished breaking up the eggs into even, easy-to-peck-at pieces. She gave me a look with her eye, then opened her beak.
A disgusting mix of digested liquid food and other bits of animal pieces fell down almost drowning me in the foul stench, were it not for my side-stepping.
I almost threw up— not that I knew whether birds could even throw up or not— at the sight.
Amongst the disgusting food and liquid, something moved— a brown, rather large and thick worm. My stomach growled again, this time with even more fervor.
Some drool fell down from my beak and I couldn't believe I was actually craving it. Under Mother's gaze and my instinctual desire to feed. I pecked down, but unexpected, that thing dodged unexpectedly!
What the-?
I pecked again, trying my best to snatch the slippery worm. However, again and again it dodged!
"MOTHERFUC—"
The worm seemed to have had some sort of instinct, perfectly dodging my strikes as if it had learned my attack pattern.
Grrrr...
I decided to use my talons instead; however, the thing seemed to be adept at rolling away from them as well, never mind the fact that I still hadn't gotten used to my bird body.
"If you want to play hard, then we'll play hard!" I squawked, flapping my wings, and finally jumped on top of it.
Now that it was pinned to the nest, with nowhere else to go, I pecked.
"With the wave of my wing, I, Fa Xiaolan, reduced this puny worm to ashes!"
[You have slain [Earth Worm] Lvl 1]
[XP Acquired]
[Skill: Peck(Novice) has been acquired.]
Oh? Well, isn't that interesting. First the Evasionskill, now the Peck skill. Are skills being given out for free? I want more, please!
In my contentment I'd forgotten about my mother, and I must have looked very happy after eating that worm— which tasted like chicken. I don't know if that should be worrying.
She bent down and 'delivered' more worms, accompanied by the sauce. My stomach growled, much to my dismay.
Peck!
Missed!
"MOTHEFUCKERS—"
***
After finishing the entire pile, I felt both satiated and disgusted. The strange aftertaste left a funny feeling on my tongue.
I decided to forget this experience and focus on other things, such as figuring out what the text was. Something told me that wouldn't be as easy as it sounded, and the refusal to answer my questions made it even more obvious.
What are you?
[Information Locked]
Who is your creator?
[Information Locked]
Who am I?
[Information Locked]
What do you know about me?
[Information Locked]
What is this place?
[You are located on the Tianxu Continent]
Finally!
The damned thing finally answered one of my questions, but the answer was as vague as it could get.
Tianxu… the name doesn't ring a damn bell.
None of my memories— locked, lost, or otherwise— told me anything about the continent. That meant it was either so insignificant I didn't bother remembering it or it was outside my range of knowledge.
If I had all my memories I would be able to tell within moments. No, if I had them I would be able to do much better. I know I had an ancient, powerful cultivation technique; the fact that I still remembered my Nirvanic Flames was proof of that. However, the fact that I cannot remember anything else frustrates me to a high degree.
I didn't want to mope around though. After asking another set of fruitless questions to the text, I gave up and discarded it.
It only took a thought to do so, but summoning it wasn't as easy as I thought. Turning toward Mother, I noticed that she hadn't moved much from her previous place. Ever since feeding me the shells, she'd remained motionless, almost lifeless, and even the hue of her feathers had dimmed.
Looking at her, I could almost feel her pain. Mother's expression looked familiar, yet foreign at the same time, and the torment she felt flared up inside me as if it were my own.
Poor thing…
That thought came out of nowhere, and the more I watched her, the more a wretched feeling clenched around my heart. I dragged my chubby legs over to her, looking up. Our eyes met, and she let out a sweet coo, lowering herself and nuzzling me with her head.
I did the same, returning the favor. A small amount of warmth flared up within my chest, the feeling making me jolt for a moment. I hadn't felt such a thing in a long while…
She returned to where she once stood, snuggling against herself, and I decided to leave her alone. Grief was a hard feeling to go through, and losing two children wasn't something that one could just shrug off.
The white-haired burying the black-haired…
I'm sure she's worried about the humans coming back, too. This place isn't safe anymore, unless they think there's nothing else they can gain.
Fighting a Phoenix in an attempt to capture it wouldn't be easy in the slightest. However, it seemed that she picked this spot specifically to nest us. That leaves me wondering how they'd found it in the first place.
She more than likely had the same suspicions as well, even though she couldn't voice them.
Seeing as there wasn't anything else I could do around the nest, I decided to sit down. Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I recalled the feeling of circulating Qi through my body. The little I had seemed to have come from within, and the extra from the level up.
As a Spirit Beast, I should have a relatively good affinity with Qi, unless things have changed. That vulture seemed to be incredibly weak, either that or I am incredibly strong.
The former is much more likely than the latter. The reason I believed that was the class.
Class.
My thought made another box appear before me. It never ceased to amaze me. The strange text and I had a certain connection that made it so it knows what I am thinking about, but also knows what is and what isn't a command.
[Phoenix Chick]
[A newborn baby of the Phoenix, a mythical species with control over Divine Fire. It is said that they live forever, each death signifying a new beginning.]
[You are small and weak, but at least you're cute.]
[-10 Strength; -10 Dexterity; -10 Perception; +40 Charisma; -10 Intelligence]
This damnable class makes it so I am much cuter than I am strong. It seemed natural, of course, as the strength of a baby would still be negligible. However, how many babies have the power to wield Nirvanic Flames?! The thought alone filled me with uncontrollable rage. After all, I, the great Fa Xiaolan, have to suffer through—
Argh
Another skull-splitting headache washed over me, and it disappeared almost as soon as it had appeared.
[Error: Host's body is inadequate for complete soul integration.]
There's that message again! What does it even mean? What is this soul integration you keep talking about?!
[Information Locked]
AAAAARGHGHHHHH! This stupid text is courting death!
I flapped my wings, the anger seeping through them making them literally catch fire. A large wave of flames blew through the entire nest, scorching the ground and setting the parts made out of hay and branches on fire.
Not good!
The entire nest caught fire in less than a breath of time, black smoke rose up to the skies, and the wood crackled with sharp snaps.
I looked around, half embarrassed, but mostly filled with wonder. Those weren't the Nirvanic Flames… they were weaker, somewhat, but still strong.
Mother let out an alarmed coo and flapped her wings, the strength of the following winds almost sending me flying. The flames extinguished in less time than it takes one to blink.
She looked at me, and I could only bow my head in apology, though I hadn't expected her to pat me with her talons.
That wasn't… unpleasant.
Seeing as she didn't take issue with my sudden outburst, I turned back to my cultivation thoughts, trying to figure out a way out of this predicament.
Taking deep breaths, I tried to mimic something I vaguely remembered, but it was useless. The ambient Qi didn't even bend to my will, and the Qi inside me wasn't circulating either.
Without a proper technique, this will be incredibly difficult.
I tried to remember some cultivation techniques. I remembered over a thousand, I had to have access to at least one. A technique that worked well with any type of body, any type of talent, and any type of Qi…
The lowest Mortal-Grade technique in the Greater Realms— The Ghost Qi Technique.
It was called that because anyone who used this technique to cultivate their Qi would become as pale as a ghost. Their body would become frigid, akin to someone afflicted with a Yin physique, yet with none of the advantages.
If one cultivated it to the Foundation Establishment realm, their eyes would sink into their sockets until they fell out or dried completely. Yet somehow they would be able to retain their sight.
At the Golden Core realm their bodies would turn less and less opaque until eventually they became an actual ghost-like being at the Nascent Soul realm.
It was said that anyone who reaches the peak of the mortal realms using this technique would break past all of their limitations and achieve godhood far easier than anyone of equal level. However, that was only a myth, as I only remember a story about someone reaching such a level, millennia before I was even born.
However, whether or not I advanced with this technique didn't matter. In the early stage of Qi Condensation, the body would get used to the feeling of Qi, slowly absorbing it in the dantian.
In the middle stage, the cultivator can start exercising Qi inside their bodies, becoming a little bit stronger than the average human, and in the late stage, using Qi outside the body becomes a possibility.
That, and many other advantages, are universal benefits regardless of which technique one uses. Of course, additional benefits can be gained depending on the technique.
I didn't have such options though.
With only the Ghost Qi Technique in my memory, I decided that cultivating it was better than nothing. At worst, I would have to stop before reaching Foundation Establishment and abolish my progress after acquiring a better one.
Re-gaining an already acquired cultivation level was easier than building from scratch, so I didn't worry about that.
Slowly, I began recalling the proper breathing techniques and mantra required to make the technique function.
Cold breath. Still soul. No form. No self.
Exhale the soul. Inhale the self.
The flesh forgets. The chill remains.
I do not reflect. I do not speak.
What sees is not mine. What moves is not me.
I step behind the void. I listen to nothing.
My shadow fades. My name dies.
I am the cold. I am the silence.
I am not. Yet I remain.
The mantra for the Qi Condensation level sent chills down my spine, each verse filling me with a chill colder than the last. I could swear the air around me began to freeze, and the oxygen in my lungs turned icy as I used the associated breathing technique.
When I heard of people cultivating this technique, I had heard of them dying just from trying it. I couldn't fathom why, as I never tried it, but now I understood.
Without proper warmth, anyone who practices this technique would die before finishing all the verses. Luckily, I had the flames of a Phoenix and my own Nirvanic Flames, not to mention the constitution of a Phoenix at my disposal. That meant that whatever chill or cold attempted to kill me would be taken care of quickly.
Whoever invented this technique must have been a truly evil person. I hope King Yama forbids you from entering the Yellow River.
***
I stood in silence and cultivated, each frigid breath bringing the tiniest bit of Qi inside my body. One thing I hadn't realised before was that Spirit Beasts didn't have meridians; therefore, they had no way for Qi to circulate within the body.
That didn't mean all hope— was lost, though, as creating meridians— at least the weakest sort—was easier than one would imagine. Cultivators below the Ascendant realm didn't know about it, of course, and even those above would have a hard time coming across it.
There were different ways of creating meridians, some better than others, as well as other means of artificial talent. Those had always been below me, of course.
Yet for some reason, despite all my lost memories, this technique stuck with me. Almost as if the strange text played a crude joke on me, leaving me with the lowest and most evil technique imaginable, and the most horrid way of creating meridians.
Usually, one is born with both meridians and some form of talent-giving gift. Those changed depending on which Greater Realm one was born into, but the most common types were Spirit Roots, Constitution, Soul Strength, Elemental Affinity with Qi, and Bloodlines. They would either have one or multiple.
I was still unsure of whether or not what I lived through right now was real, but I decided to go with the assumption that it was.
In terms of Bloodlines, I possessed one of the most powerful ones in all the Greater Realms—The Phoenix. When thinking that, some sort of ingrained disgust churned in my stomach, perhaps a forgotten memory, but it wasn't a feeling I liked.
My elemental affinity would obviously be fire, and the constitution of a Phoenix was equal to that of a Dragon. Spiritual Roots were missed altogether, and Soul Strength didn't depend on one's body, and it was something extremely difficult to judge without the proper tools.
Ah, I got off track…
I took a deep breath and used the poor technique of creating the meridians while using the Ghost Qi Technique. First, carve out space within my flesh using the frigid Qi, then freeze into a tubular shape and reinforce it with Qi. Finally, the last step— turning them ethereal.
After that was done, the flesh I carved out healed at a rapid pace, and just like that, my meridians had been formed.
That looked easy, but it would take the average Ascendant hours to do that, even with a higher cultivation base than my current body.
Now, with everything ready to go, I was finally able to start cultivating.