Take him!
Absolutely take him!
What? Did you say I hold grudges?
Pfft, not at all!
It's been so long, maybe I remembered wrong. It could've been the Bi family, not the Hua family.
Jiang Ling's expression changed in the blink of an eye. The indifferent, deadpan look from moments ago vanished without a trace, replaced by the gratified smile of a master spotting a promising talent.
He shot to his feet, his face wreathed in warm grins. He took a few quick steps toward Hua Fugui, his eyes involuntarily darting to the pile of spirit stones more than a few times.
"Oh my goodness, Master Hua, you're far too polite! Your son has a noble forehead and clear bone structure—truly a prodigy born for cultivation! Solid foundations, a future full of promise!"
Jiang Ling's voice brimmed with enthusiasm, as if he'd just uncovered a rare piece of uncarved jade.
He turned to the teenage boy who'd been watching coldly, trying to soften his smile into something more fatherly.
"You must be Hua Yuntian? Excellent! What a wonderful name—clouds part to reveal the sun, heaven rewards the diligent! From this day onward, you enter the gates of Primordial Beginning Sect as this humble Taoist's second disciple! I shall personally guide you, helping you tread the immortal path!"
Hua Yuntian stared at the ragged-clad man before him, whose smile looked more than a little sleazy and whose aura was utterly unremarkable. A tiny, almost imperceptible frown creased his brows, and a flash of deep disappointment and disdain flickered in his eyes.
Primordial Beginning Sect?
Just as the rumors said—utterly dilapidated.
Even the sect master was a mortal, weaker than the martial arts instructors in town.
Father must've lost his mind, fooled by that nonsense about slaying a Nascent Soul Demon King, sending me to such a place.
He, Hua Yuntian, the reincarnation of a Great Accomplishment Tribulation Transcending powerhouse—reduced to bowing to a man like this.
It was an unmitigated humiliation!
A cold laugh echoed in his mind, but he maintained his outward courtesy. He bowed slightly, his voice flat and emotionless. "Disciple Hua Yuntian, greets Master."
The words "Master" were forced out through gritted teeth.
[Ding! Detected host has successfully recruited ten disciples! Race: Human. Conditions met!]
[Grand Opening Ceremony Quest Completed!]
[Quest Rewards Disbursed: 1000 Points, 1 Sect Main Hall, 1 Jade Platform, 10 Low-Grade Qi Concentrating Pills. All stored in system inventory!]
Yes! Rewards secured!
"Good, good disciple."
Jiang Ling was too busy reveling in his gains to notice the boy's reluctance. He pulled out a bottle of Qi Concentrating Pills and the Basic Qi Circulation Art at random, cleared his throat, and spoke with perfect sincerity—as if bestowing a peerless immortal treasure.
"Disciple Yuntian, this is our sect's foundational cultivation manual—the Basic Qi Circulation Art. Though it bears the word 'basic,' it is the cornerstone of all great achievements, containing the profound mysteries of breathing in heaven and earth's essence to channel qi into the body! Practice diligently, and you shall surely attain greatness!"
"This pill is the Qi Concentrating Pill! Forged by this master using peerless alchemical secrets—drawn from the purple qi of dawn, blended with the essence of morning dew! Taking it will help you focus your mind and gather qi, doubling your cultivation speed! I bestow it upon you today—cherish it well, train without cease, and do not betray my high hopes!"
Jiang Ling spoke with fiery passion, spittle flying as if he'd just handed over an immortal-grade technique and Nine-Revolution Immortal Elixirs.
The Primordial Beginning Sect did have cultivation manuals of its own, but they were even worse than the system rewards—low-tier Yellow Rank at best. He was too embarrassed to take them out.
"Basic Qi Circulation Art?"
Hua Yuntian's face darkened instantly, as if he'd been gravely insulted.
In his past life, he'd cultivated the Heaven-Rank Nine-Revolution Mystic Origin Art—a technique that could carry him all the way to the Tribulation Transcending Realm. He'd already survived the Ascension Tribulation in his previous life, only needing to convert his mana into immortal essence to ascend to the Immortal Realm.
Even now, reincarnated and starting from scratch, the technique was etched into his soul. He just needed to retrace his steps, focusing on tempering his foundations to perfection this time—no more rushing through realms like before—and he would easily defeat enemies beyond his cultivation level.
What need did he have for such trash?
And these Low-Grade Qi Concentrating Pills—they had more medicinal toxins and impurities than actual beneficial qi! Was taking them cultivation… or suicide?
This so-called master was not only a mortal but also laughably ignorant.
Daring to fool him with such garbage.
It was an insult!
A surge of intense disgust and contempt welled up in his chest.
Hua Yuntian fought to hold back his anger, his voice turning icy. "Disciple already has a cultivation technique. This item should be given to those who need it more."
With that, he casually tossed the brand-new booklet to the side—in full view of everyone!
By some cruel twist of fate, the booklet sailed through a graceful arc, then thwack! It hit the bright red comb of Jincancan, who'd been patrolling its new territory nearby.
"!!!"
Time seemed to stand still.
Jincancan froze mid-step.
Slowly, it turned its head. Its glazed eyes locked onto the ink-scented booklet perched on its comb, then slowly shifted to the stunned Hua Yuntian.
A wave of unbridled rage exploded from Jincancan like a physical force, its Mid Foundation Building Realm aura surging forth without restraint!
Its magnificent golden feathers bristled, the flame-like patterns along the edges seeming to ignite with actual fire.
"CHEEP!!!"
A shrill, eardrum-shattering shriek echoed across the mountain peak.
In the next instant, to everyone's horror, a streak of golden lightning—charged with boundless fury—hurtled straight toward Hua Yuntian's indifferent, handsome face!
"Monster! How dare you!"
Hua Yuntian's face paled in shock.
He'd never dreamed a chicken would dare attack him. He instinctively activated his past-life battle instincts, darting backward while slapping out a palm.
But his meager Third Layer of Qi Refining spiritual power was nothing but a moth to a flame against Jincancan's Mid Foundation Building Realm strength.
SMACK!
A crisp, resounding slap rang out!
Jincancan's wing struck first, carrying immense force as it slammed into Hua Yuntian's cheek.
The impact sent him spinning three full circles on the spot. Half his face swelled up instantly, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"Ah!"
Hua Yuntian let out a cry of pain, overwhelmed by shock and anger.
But this was only the beginning!
"CHEEP-CHEEP-CHEEP!"
How dare you hit this emperor's head?!
Jincancan flew into a complete rage, transforming into a golden cyclone as it chased the floundering Hua Yuntian, unleashing a relentless storm of attacks!
Wings slapping faces!
Claws scratching buttocks!
Beak pecking the back of heads!
"Get away from me, you feathered beast!"
"Ah! My face!"
"Stop! No—stop pecking! Stop scratching!"
"Master! Help me!"
Never in his two lifetimes had Hua Yuntian endured such humiliation.
His dignity as a Tribulation Transcending powerhouse was being trampled into the dirt by a chicken.
He fled in utter disarray—his brocade robe torn, his hair messy, his face, buttocks, and back burning with searing pain!
The scene was utterly chaotic and ridiculous!
Everyone froze, their mouths hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.
"This chicken is terrifyingly fierce!"
"Second Senior Brother is having the worst day ever…"
"Does anyone know where this chicken even came from?"
Jiang Ling gaped in shock, then jumped up and down in a rage. "Mutiny! Open mutiny! Hua Yuntian, that's your Senior Brother! Apologize to him right now! Jincancan! Stop pecking at once! One more peck and his buttocks will be ruined!"
But the enraged Jincancan paid him no heed—if anything, it flapped its wings even faster.
Hua Yuntian felt a surge of suffocating frustration. Apologize to a chicken?
Might as well kill him!