Four Enter Bottle Mountain, Find the Furious Rooster

After Zhong Bai finished speaking, he fixed Partridge Whistle with a blazing gaze.

Partridge Whistle's brows furrowed slightly, then soon relaxed. He said, "Taoist Qianhe has considered matters very thoroughly. If a Six-winged Centipede truly exists within Bottle Mountain's great tomb, then its descendants must number beyond imagination.

The Furious Rooster is an extraordinary beast among chickens. Yin and yang generate and restrain one another. If we can find a Furious Rooster and take it into the mountain, this journey will be several degrees safer."

Having said that, Partridge Whistle fell into deep thought.

"Taoist Qianhe, if a Furious Rooster exists around Bottle Mountain, then the Miao Village near Bottle Mountain is likely the only place where we might find one.

However...

Whether we succeed will depend entirely on fate."

Partridge Whistle did not dare boast. Even though he understood the principle of mutual generation and restraint, he did not dare claim that they would certainly find a Furious Rooster.

"No matter, no matter. It is only a stop along the way to investigate. If we find a Furious Rooster, we will bring it along.

If not, Mount Mao's methods can still handle that Six-winged Centipede—it will only require a bit more effort!"

Zhong Bai's confidence came from his own strength: the fifth level of Qi Refinement, the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art, the Supreme Clarity Body Forging Art close to perfection, and Thunder Escape Technique at major accomplishment. These were not things ordinary people could even imagine.

Two hours later.

In the Miao Village at the foot of Bottle Mountain.

This place was almost entirely cut off from the outside world, so when Taoist Qianhe's group of four entered the village, the villagers stared fixedly at them with strange looks in their eyes.

Had Taoist Qianhe and the others not carried any weapons and appeared harmless to man and beast, a conflict would most likely have erupted already.

"Brother Zhong, you're really amazing!

You cultivated such divine abilities after only five years of apprenticing at Mount Mao. Unlike me—I have practiced martial arts with my senior brothers since childhood, yet I still have achieved nothing."

At Zhong Bai's side, Hua Ling chattered away as she clung to him and talked without pause. Even her form of address had changed from the distant "Taoist Qianhe" to "Brother Zhong."

Zhong Bai did not think there was anything wrong with it. The girl was still young.

She had only become so clingy because she had spent all these years following her two senior brothers and had never interacted with others.

Once she grew older, it would get better.

Heaven and earth could bear witness—Zhong Bai merely felt the warmth of having a little sister by his side.

Of course, given enough time, even a fool would understand Hua Ling's feelings. It could only be said that Zhong Bai had underestimated Hua Ling at this stage.

Just as the two were chatting animatedly, Partridge Whistle suddenly stopped.

Zhong Bai understood at once.

Ever since arriving at the village, he had sensed a faint trace of demonic aura in the air. It was extremely weak and lacked that fishy stench.

Zhong Bai guessed that it most likely belonged to the Furious Rooster.

As if to confirm Zhong Bai's guess, the instant Partridge Whistle stopped, a crow like the cry of a phoenix rang out.

From that cry alone, Zhong Bai could hear its extraordinary nature.

Exchanging a glance with Partridge Whistle, Zhong Bai smiled. The two hurried toward the source of the crowing.

"Old friend, as the saying goes, a dog lives no more than eight years, and a chicken no more than six.

You have been with me since I was young and have already lived for more than ten years. Though this old man is merely from a branch of the Taoist lineage and studied only minerals and medicine, I still understand that if I continue to let you be, you will inevitably become a demon.

So... resign yourself to your fate!"

As he spoke, the old man tightly gripped a sharpened kitchen cleaver in his right hand. Just as he was about to open the chicken coop, he heard someone shout.

"Old sir, stop at once!"

Partridge Whistle had arrived in the nick of time, as though it had all been arranged by fate.

Hearing someone call out to stop him, the old man froze for a moment. He turned to examine the newcomer, and his brow immediately furrowed.

"May I ask where you have come from, and why you told me to stop?"

Zhong Bai had no interest in involving himself in the exchange between Partridge Whistle and the old man. He merely stood at a distance with Hua Ling, chatting and joking to pass the time.

Upon hearing this, a smile slowly appeared on Partridge Whistle's face, but he did not answer directly.

"Old sir, I presume you know the rule that a dog lives no more than eight years, and a chicken no more than six.

You have likely raised this Furious Rooster for over ten years. It has now developed spiritual intelligence. Killing it now would truly be a pity."

Seeing that the newcomer knew his trade, the old man sighed regretfully.

"Though that is true, I cannot keep it any longer. If it truly becomes a demon and grows into a threat, the people of this village may never know another peaceful day.

What I am doing is truly an act born of helplessness."

Partridge Whistle smiled faintly. "So that is the case. If that is what worries you, would you be willing to sell this Furious Rooster to us? That way, you need no longer remain conflicted."

Partridge Whistle had thought that, after saying this, the other man would agree. Who would have expected the old man to frown first, then scrutinize Partridge Whistle?

"Sell it to you?

My apologies. Though your blood and qi are abundant, you are likely no more than a martial artist. This Furious Rooster may be a great tonic for you, but this old man will never allow it to end up in another man's belly!"

Besides, you are merely a martial artist—what ability do you have to suppress the Furious Rooster after it transforms into a demon?

So go back where you came from. It would be best for you to give up on the Furious Rooster right here."

Partridge Whistle's mouth twitched. So the other man looked down on him and did not trust him.

With that thought, Partridge Whistle looked at Zhong Bai, who was chatting with his junior sister in the distance.

His eyes rolled, and a plan immediately sprang to mind.

"Ha ha ha, old sir, your considerations are thorough. I admire you. But perhaps you have misunderstood—the Furious Rooster is not for me.

That Taoist priest needs the Furious Rooster's help to go to Bottle Mountain and slay a Six-winged Centipede!

That is him!"

As he spoke, Partridge Whistle pointed at Zhong Bai.

"Though this Taoist priest is young, he is a true disciple of Mount Mao!

Do you think, old sir, that the Furious Rooster can be entrusted to Taoist Qianhe?"

It did not matter if they looked down on him. Who did not know how to wave a big banner?

Upon hearing Partridge Whistle mention a true disciple of Mount Mao and the Six-winged Centipede, the old man's expression immediately turned solemn.

His previous disdain and disgust vanished without a trace.

He hurried toward Zhong Bai in the distance.

"To pay respects to a mountain, one comes to Beiji Mountain; atop Beiji Mountain, purple qi abounds. Of the seventy-two famed mountains under heaven, only this mountain shines with golden light!

This old man is Zhao Qing, inheritor of the Golden Residence Thunder Altar Beiji Mountain lineage of the Taoist Sects. I pay respects to Taoist Qianhe of Mount Mao!"

What was prestige? What was the hierarchy among sects? What were the ranks of high, middle, and low?

At this moment, they were displayed in full.

Not to mention Beiji Mountain—even the Golden Residence Thunder Altar was merely a small sect branch among the Taoist Sects, an offshoot of Gezhao Mountain.

Upon encountering a direct disciple from Mount Mao, the old man did not dare be careless and treated him with the utmost reverence!

Seeing this, Zhong Bai, who had been chatting and laughing with Hua Ling, could only stop. He did not even need to think to know that Partridge Whistle had pulled out Mount Mao's banner in his name.

"So you are a fellow Taoist of Beiji Mountain. This humble Taoist is Zhong Bai, Taoist name Qianhe. My master is True Immortal Qianyuan, chief elder of Mount Mao's Law Enforcement Hall!

Fellow Taoist, a pleasure to meet you!"

The moment Zhong Bai said this, not only was the old man dumbfounded—even Partridge Whistle, the one who had been waving the banner, was stunned.

Come on, man—Partridge Whistle had originally thought Zhong Bai was only the direct disciple of some Mount Mao elder.

But although Partridge Whistle was young, he had heard of True Immortal Qianyuan, the chief elder of Mount Mao's Law Enforcement Hall. He was a titan of the Taoist Sects!

That was right. To people like them, someone at the Foundation Establishment Peak was already a titan. In truth, it was much the same—so long as no Golden Core True Lord appeared, True Immortal Qianyuan was practically invincible in the mortal world.

The old man gulped down mouthful after mouthful of saliva. Though stunned, he quickly recovered.

"Direct Disciple Zhong, your friend just said that you wish to take the Furious Rooster away?"

At this moment, arrogance and contempt had been replaced by fawning smiles. The gap between people was simply that obvious, was it not?

At least Partridge Whistle beside them had already gone black as charcoal, gritting his teeth in fury...

Hehe, well, I am not trying to suppress Taoist Qianhe or anything. It really would be a little unreasonable—after all, you cannot have a small horse pulling a big cart. That is why strengthening the physical body is so important.

And now, I continue to hope for all you dear readers' monthly votes, investments, follow-ups, and rewards. Every reader's support is my greatest source of motivation! Thank you, thank you!