Spirit Fowl

"Spirit land..."

Fang Yuan stared ahead, his expression burning with excitement.

Even the lowest-grade spirit land was a vast treasure trove. Of course, it also harbored great danger.

For one thing, spirit flowers and spirit herbs were plentiful, and there would be no shortage of the fierce spirit beasts and savage beasts that lived alongside them. Even a single Poison Dragon Grass was guarded by a Mutated Pearl-tailed Snake, let alone a true spirit plant.

"Let's risk it. How can you get the tiger's cub without entering the tiger's den?"

Fang Yuan gritted his teeth, a trace of ruthlessness crossing his face. "Flower Fox Ferret, lead the way. We're going to find Spirit Fertilizer!"

The Flower Fox Ferret often traveled this route. Since nothing had happened on its previous trips, as long as Fang Yuan was careful and didn't let the strange fog affect him, there shouldn't be much of a problem.

"Gek, gek!"

The Flower Fox Ferret was highly intelligent. It led the way while Fang Yuan crept along behind it, keeping low to the ground. He gathered his Internal Breath in his ears, staying alert to every sound around him.

It was strange.

Ever since he had recalled his master's teachings and used the Sitting-Forgetting Tea Ceremony to calm his mind, the strange fog had stopped having the peculiar influence it once did.

After they walked a little farther, the mountain fog gradually dispersed, revealing the landscape beyond.

"That's..."

As Fang Yuan stared at the scene, his pupils widened slightly.

Within his field of vision stood a small, delicate green peak, surrounded by a ring of white fog that formed a barrier like a Sky Curtain. Beyond it, the sky was as red as blood, and the beautiful sight of the sun setting was clearly visible.

"A wall of fog is enclosing this entire mountain?"

Fang Yuan was a little surprised. Without the Flower Fox Ferret to guide him, he would have charged straight inside and probably missed this place, which looked suspiciously like a spirit land.

In that respect, this place was even more hidden than Hidden Valley.

"Phew..."

"Wait a moment!"

Fang Yuan let out a long breath, then noticed something else.

"Even the air here seems fresher, and full of spiritual energy... An ordinary person could live here and prolong their life. Even a martial artist would greatly benefit from training here!"

His eyes lit up. "With all these wonders, this place has to be a spirit land!"

In an instant, Fang Yuan felt as if he had won the grand prize.

Yet the more momentous the occasion, the calmer he became. He followed the Flower Fox Ferret toward one side of the green peak.

There was a somewhat barren, sheer cliff on that side of the peak. Countless dark shapes flickered across it, difficult to make out as dusk settled.

The Flower Fox Ferret grew even more cautious when they reached the cliff. It beckoned with a tiny paw without making a sound.

Fang Yuan took a deep breath and followed it to the foot of the cliff.

"Eh? What's this..."

A small lake lay beneath the sheer cliff. Its water was as green as jade, and a ring of white sand surrounded it.

Once he reached the spot, Fang Yuan caught the distinctive, gamey fragrance of Spirit Fertilizer. He looked at the beach before him and was momentarily speechless.

"This entire 'beach'... is made of Spirit Fertilizer. So much... so much Spirit Fertilizer!"

He murmured, his face lighting up with delight.

He was already familiar with Spirit Fertilizer's appearance: translucent granules. They were everywhere on this beach. Several depressions had clearly been dug out by an animal's claws; the granules grew more transparent the deeper they went, while the uppermost layer was pure white.

"The more transparent the Spirit Fertilizer, the better it seems to be... I don't know how this beach formed, but I've struck it rich! I've struck it rich!"

Fang Yuan's eyes shone. He took off his bamboo basket, rolled up his sleeves, and prepared to gather as much as he could.

"Chirp, chirp!"

Just then, a fist-sized bird with pure white feathers, red eyes, and a fierce look called out from a green tree nearby.

Its cry startled a larger bird beside it, nearly ten times its size. It looked like a small eagle, its fierce bearing plain to see, and swooped toward Fang Yuan.

"Hmm? Another unusual spirit bird. This place really does nurture Spiritual Objects!"

Fang Yuan wasn't the least bit afraid. He curled the five fingers of his right hand into a claw and struck as swiftly as lightning and fire. "Eagle Claw Hand!"

Crunch!

Amid a shrill cry, a flurry of white feathers scattered through the air.

The big bird was no more than an unusual species, a half-spirit bird. It still fell short of a true spirit beast. How could it possibly be Fang Yuan's match?

One strike of his Eagle Claw Hand snapped its neck.

"Haha... Flower Fox Ferret, we've got an extra dish tonight!"

Fang Yuan tossed the spirit bird into his basket and smiled at the Flower Fox Ferret.

But the Flower Fox Ferret suddenly sprang forward, seized Fang Yuan's trouser leg, and bolted as if its life depended on it.

"What...?"

From its behavior, it had clearly sensed some tremendous danger. Its fur stood on end, bristling straight as swords.

Fang Yuan was decisive, too. He immediately forgot about the Spirit Fertilizer, grabbed his bamboo basket, and shot off like a gust of wind.

"Chirp, chirp!"

Behind him, the little white bird's cries grew more and more shrill.

"Chirp, chirp!"

"Chirp, chirp!"

Then, as if answering its call, more and more birds began crying out from the cliff. One black speck after another spread its wings and swooped down. They were all Red-eyed White Birds, just like the first one.

"Hiss..."

Fang Yuan glanced back, his soul nearly leaving his body. Then he poured Internal Breath into his legs without hesitation and ran for his life.

He had no choice but to run!

The Red-eyed White Birds behind him blotted out the sky, a black mass darkening the whole world!

With numbers like these, even if they were only half-spirit birds, together they could make even a true spirit beast think twice before challenging them!

The Flower Fox Ferret beside him was running just as fast, tail tucked between its legs.

"Now I know why the Flower Fox Ferret never wanted to bring me here!"

As he sprinted, Fang Yuan's thoughts raced. "If an ordinary person came here, they'd be caught after only a few steps and pecked to death!"

"To the fog wall!"

Fang Yuan was a decisive man. He immediately raced toward the fog wall.

The birds had the high ground. Even though he had started running first and had Internal Breath to help him, they could easily catch up. His only hope was to hide in the forest or the fog and make them lose track of him.

Whoosh!

The Flower Fox Ferret hadn't led Fang Yuan astray after all.

At his current speed, he plunged into the fog wall just as the Red-eyed White Birds gathered and began their pursuit. His entire figure vanished from sight.

"Chirp, chirp!"

With Fang Yuan, the ruthless killer of their companion, gone from view, the enormous flock could only circle Qingling Mountain, crying mournfully... The entire spirit land seemed to tremble beneath their cries.

After venting their fury, the huge flock of unusual birds returned to their nests on the cliff and gradually quieted down.

"Phew..."

Seeing this, Fang Yuan finally let out a long sigh of relief. He didn't dare provoke the flock again, instead slowly making his way out of the area.

Outside.

After feeling the spiritual energy inside the spirit land, Fang Yuan found the air outside almost unbearable. It felt as if the whole world had become filthy.

In truth, the scenery across Qingling Mountain was quite beautiful. He only felt this way because of the contrast.

"Spirit land!"

Fang Yuan gazed at the distant fog-shrouded mountain, excitement surfacing on his face. "This spirit land is mine!"

He had every reason to feel that way!

A natural spirit land was a vast treasure trove. Who knew how many rare flowers and herbs were hidden on that green peak? And never mind the rest—even the Spirit Fertilizer alone was enough to make Fang Yuan drool.

"And spirit birds... A flock of unusual birds that big must have a bird king at the spirit beast level, maybe even one stronger than the Flower Fox Ferret!"

Fang Yuan's greatest wish was to claim the entire Qingshan Mountain as his base, then transplant all his spirit tea, Spirit Rice, and everything else there.

With this spirit land, what would the foundation he had built in Hidden Valley matter?

"Alas... I'm not strong enough..."

Fang Yuan frowned. "With so many unusual birds, I'm afraid only a Martial Ancestor could stand against them head-on."

At that thought, he looked down at his bamboo basket.

Inside, besides a thin layer of Spirit Fertilizer, was another prize from the fight!

"Haha... Flower Fox Ferret, weren't you complaining that you hadn't had enough beggar's chicken? Tonight, you'll get another treat!"

Fang Yuan carefully examined the spirit bird in his hands.

Its feathers were pure white all over, but its eyes were bright red. Its sharp claws gleamed like fine steel, and together with its pointed beak, it looked just like a little eagle.

After fighting the spirit bird himself, Fang Yuan knew it was no weakling.

It might not have lasted a single move against him, but he was already at the fifth stage of martial arts. In the outside world, he would be a capable sect steward!

If it ran into an ordinary person, the Red-eyed White Bird's speed would let it swoop in, peck, and hook with its sharp claws. With bad luck, it could even pluck out their eyes!

"What kind of unusual bird is this? I've never heard of it before. What should I call it? Red-eyed Falcon? White-feathered Crow? Red-eyed White Bird?"

Fang Yuan suddenly felt like coming up with a name. In the end, he decided, "Hmm... Red-eyed White Bird is still the best. Haha... I really am a naming genius..."

The White Sable, saddled with the name Flower Fox Ferret, heard him and rolled its eyes in exasperation.

Of course, its resentment lasted only a little while.

When Fang Yuan prepared the Red-eyed White Bird the same way and cooked it into a meal of beggar's bird, the Flower Fox Ferret immediately forgot all about its pride and exasperation. It circled Fang Yuan's legs, its fluffy white tail wagging nonstop like an eager puppy.

"Good grief, you're a ferret, not a dog. Have some ferret dignity!"

Fang Yuan watched it, torn between laughter and tears. He tore the beggar's bird in half and tossed one half to the Flower Fox Ferret.

"Gek, gek!"

The Flower Fox Ferret snatched it up and dug in, giving contented little grunts between bites.

For the Flower Fox Ferret, what did a little dignity matter in the face of good food?

"Hmm? Does it taste that good?"

Seeing the Flower Fox Ferret's reaction, Fang Yuan took a bite of the bird meat himself. His expression changed at once.

"This bird meat is even more tender than chicken, crisp and fragrant without being greasy. Delicious! Delicious!"

He polished off the meat in a flash, then rubbed his satisfied belly. As he felt waves of warmth rising inside him, his expression changed again. "This boost is almost as good as a meal of Red Jade Rice, isn't it? No wonder it's a half-spirit bird!"