As for that egg, it at least contained a trace of Phoenix Bloodline. Its potential should be quite good.
Eating it was out of the question.
Just then, a maiden came skipping over along the bluestone path.
She wore a pale blue dress, its gauze skirt inlaid with green-and-gold patterns. Her skin was snow-white, and her nose was small and delicate.
Her round, bright eyes made her look pure and adorable.
She noticed the handsome youth standing beneath a willow tree by the roadside, grinning foolishly.
She hurried over, lightly patted Zhang Xuanchen on the shoulder, and said,
"Seventh Brother, what are you standing here grinning stupidly about? I came right up to you, and you still didn't notice me.
"Tell me honestly, did you set your eyes on some fairy maiden?"
She raised her head and cocked a brow at Zhang Xuanchen, her voice crisp and pleasant.
Her words pulled the youth back from his thoughts.
"Ahem, Ninth Sister, it's you. You know me—I have no interest in women."
Zhang Xuanchen gave two dry coughs as he looked at the maiden before him, answering with complete seriousness.
Then, sensing her cultivation, he smiled and encouraged her,
"Oh? Qi Refining Fourth Layer already. Not bad, not bad. Keep working hard—the future of the Lineage rests on you all."
The maiden was named Zhang Xuanli. She possessed a Water-Wood-Earth Triple Spirit Root, was fourteen years old, and ranked ninth among the Xuan Generation.
She was at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer and was a First-grade Mid-tier Spirit Planter.
The Zhang Clan placed great importance on education. They understood only too well the harm a single black sheep could bring to the Lineage.
Thus, from the very founding of the clan, they had established a school.
After their Spiritual Roots were tested at age seven, all children had to enter the school for three years to learn the history of the clan's development, as well as all manner of common cultivation knowledge.
They would be taught cultivation techniques during that time, but studying remained the priority. No one was allowed to skip class during study hours.
Otherwise, the ruler would be waiting.
Only after turning ten did they truly set foot upon the path of cultivation.
The clansmen were also extremely familiar with one another.
"Seventh Brother, don't even think about fooling me. I noticed it back at Horizon Restaurant in Yunhua Immortal City.
"You like them big-chested with perky butts, don't you?"
Zhang Xuanli revealed a sly look, as though saying, You can't fool me.
Zhang Xuanchen raised his hand.
Thump!
A crisp sound rang out.
The maiden clutched her head, her face full of grievance.
Zhang Xuanchen ignored her and snorted. "Don't spout nonsense! Otherwise, I won't take you out to play next time."
"No, no, no, I was wrong, I was wrong. Seventh Brother is wholly devoted to the Dao. No matter how beautiful a fairy maiden may be, to Seventh Brother, she is nothing more than a pink skeleton."
Hearing that, Zhang Xuanchen nodded in satisfaction, feeling immensely pleased.
"Mm, to recognize one's mistake and correct it—there is no virtue greater than that. Cultivate properly. There will be plenty of chances to go out in the future.
"You're heading to the spirit fields to find Eighth Grandfather, right? Go on, then. Don't keep the old man waiting too anxiously."
Eighth Grandfather, Zhang Guangyao, was at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. He was the Lineage's Second Elder, a Second-tier Top-grade Spirit Planter, and the undisputed number one farmer in the clan.
Zhang Xuanli's Spiritual Root made her highly suited to taking up Spirit Planting as a secondary profession, so Zhang Guangyao valued her greatly.
"Oh."
Zhang Xuanli covered her head and fled as though escaping for her life, afraid of getting hit again.
"Did that hurt that much? I didn't even use any force."
Watching the maiden's retreating figure, Zhang Xuanchen looked at his right hand and muttered.
Then he headed toward his small courtyard.
He did not immediately enter seclusion.
After all, he still needed to verify the piece of Immortal Fate Information that had surfaced in his mind.
So, he took a deep-blue alchemy furnace inlaid with platinum Golden Patterns from his Storage Bag and began refining Essence Condensing Pills.
Zhang Xuanchen possessed a Wind Fire Dual Spiritual Root and cultivated alchemy as a secondary art.
He was now already a First-grade Top-tier alchemist.
Essence Condensing Pills were First-grade Top-tier Pills. They could accelerate the condensation and refinement of spiritual energy, increasing the cultivation speed of late-stage Qi Refining cultivators.
With the completion of the final pill-collection technique, five crimson pills wafting bursts of pill fragrance appeared in Zhang Xuanchen's hand.
"Sigh, one batch exploded. The second batch yielded five pills—four Inferior Grade and one Standard Grade.
"Even dogs wouldn't eat pills of this quality!"
Pills were divided into three grades: Inferior Grade, Standard Grade, and fine grade.
Nearly all pills circulating on the market were Inferior Grade. Standard Grade pills were scarce and cost thirty percent more than Inferior Grade pills of the same rank.
As for fine grade pills, they almost never appeared on the market. The same held true even for First-grade Pills.
The lower a pill's quality, the more mixed and impure its medicinal power. Taking too many would affect the quality of one's spiritual power and damage one's foundation.
Thus, when it came to pills, if fine grade pills were unavailable, one should avoid taking them unless absolutely necessary.
Since Zhang Xuanchen began cultivating, he had only taken a single fine grade Spirit Gathering Pill of the First-grade Mid-tier.
"I'll take them to the market and sell them to those Rogue Cultivators."
Rogue Cultivators were unlike disciples of clans and sects. They drifted through life, and most were poor enough to rattle when they walked. Having pills to take at all was already a blessing.
How could they care about so much?
Zhang Xuanchen put away the pills, rose to his feet, stretched lazily, and walked outside.
A bright moon hung high in the sky. Its pure moonlight spilled across the ground like a layer of shattered silver, crystalline and gleaming.
Zhang Xuanchen activated the Breath Concealment Technique, rode his sword through the air, transformed into a streak of long rainbow, and shot down the mountain.
Naturally, he knew of the village called Qingniu Town. As for where Wang Yumei's home was, couldn't he simply ask?
The instant he left, an icy-blue streak flashed through the high sky.
His face was like polished jade, his brows like swords. Cold as frost, he seemed like an immortal banished to the mortal realm.
It was none other than Zhang Xuanbing.
His younger brother had gone out without permission. As the elder brother, he naturally had to protect him in secret!
Meanwhile, Zhang Xuanchen had a clear goal and went straight to the Qingniu Town chief's residence.
He knocked on the door, but received no response.
To ensure that nothing went wrong with that piece of Immortal Fate Information, Zhang Xuanchen no longer cared about manners. With a sweep of his Spiritual Sense, he located the town chief and went directly to the door of his bedroom.
"Madam, your Moon-cut Gauze Skirt is far too tight! Forget it, no need to take it off—just lift it up!"
"Ah~ Husband~ why are you in such a hurry? If I don't take it off, it'll get dirty in a moment~
"Ah~ don't let your hands wander."
"Hehe, if it gets dirty, we'll just wash it. Come here.
"I have a feeling that this time, we'll definitely have a child with a Spiritual Root..."
"Husband~"
Listening to the sounds inside, Zhang Xuanchen froze where he stood.
Holy crap!
They were still making children this late at night!
Were they really working that hard?
They were playing so wildly that they did not even take off the skirt.
They were at a critical moment right now. Better wait.
If they really made an Immortal Seedling, that would be a huge profit.
With that thought, Zhang Xuanchen flipped onto the roof tiles, concealed his presence, and stood with his hands behind his back.
Zhang Xuanbing, hidden not far away, noticed this scene. A trace of surprise appeared on his face, cold as an icy glacier.
But when he considered Brother Chen's age, he understood.
Fifteen was not young anymore.
A quarter of an hour later, following Town Chief Zhang's roar, the bedroom returned to silence, leaving only heavy panting.
Just as he was about to rest, a voice rang out in his mind.
"Town Chief Zhang, meet me in the garden."
Hearing that voice, Town Chief Zhang abruptly sat up, startling the beautiful woman beside him as she wiped down her body.
"Husband~ what are you doing~? Do you want another round?"
But Town Chief Zhang had no time to answer her. He quickly put on his clothes.
"Stay here obediently. An immortal has arrived. I'm going out."
As the town chief, though he was a mortal, he was no stranger to immortals.
After all, Qingniu Town had an immortal at the third layer of Qi Refining stationed there to protect their safety.
An immortal visiting in the dead of night must have important matters to arrange. He naturally could not afford to be careless!
Before you continue