Hatching Purple-Patterned Geese

Chen Nianzhi's eyes widened slightly as he recalled the name of this demonic beast.

Purple-Patterned Geese were Tier 1 demonic birds. Like Azure Spirit Fish, they were exceedingly rare and comparatively docile demonic birds.

Because they were mild-tempered and weak in combat, they were easily hunted by other demonic beasts. They could be considered a rare species in the cultivation world.

He had not expected to encounter such a demonic bird here today.

But on further thought, Spirit Lake Isle possessed a Spirit Vein, and the Chen Clan had thoroughly exterminated the ferocious demonic beasts in the lake. The environment was also perfectly suited to aquatic demonic birds, so it was only natural that Purple-Patterned Geese would migrate here.

"I finally caught you."

Chen Nianzhi suppressed his urge to attack and quietly waited for the best opportunity.

Purple-Patterned Geese resembled untamed wild ducks. They were timid and vigilant by nature, and at the slightest disturbance, they would flee without a trace.

Although this Purple-Patterned Goose was only Tier 1 Mid-grade, it was a flying demonic beast. If he could not strike it down in one blow, he would likely lose his chance to kill it.

This Purple-Patterned Goose was exceedingly cautious. It lurked around the Spirit Fish school in the lake for a long time.

The Spirit Fish King noticed it as well and charged forward aggressively. This was precisely what the Purple-Patterned Goose wanted. It swam swiftly into the distance, luring the Spirit Fish King farther and farther away.

Gradually, the young fish in the school could no longer keep up. The goose immediately spread its wings and flew up, diving toward the straggling young fish.

"Now."

The instant the demonic bird entered the water, Chen Nianzhi burst from the lake and sent the Green Leaf Sword soaring through the air to slash at it.

The Purple-Patterned Goose reacted quickly. It immediately summoned a spiritual energy shield before beating its wings and fleeing skyward, but how could it possibly outrun a flying sword?

Chen Nianzhi controlled the Green Leaf Sword as easily as an arm within thirty zhang. It became a streak of green sword light, caught up to the Purple-Patterned Goose, and with a clang, pierced its spiritual energy shield and nailed it dead in midair.

"Good!"

Having slain the Purple-Patterned Goose in a single move, Chen Nianzhi could not help revealing a delighted expression.

Not only was Purple-Patterned Goose meat delicious, but consuming it could also improve one's cultivation. This goose was worth at least thirty Spirit Stones, equivalent to six adult Azure Spirit Fish.

However, ordinary adult Azure Spirit Fish were merely Tier 1 Low-grade, whereas this Purple-Patterned Goose was Tier 1 Mid-grade. Such a difference in value was only to be expected.

Killing this Purple-Patterned Goose not only made up for the loss of four Spirit Fish, but even earned him a small profit. Chen Nianzhi felt much more at ease.

His only regret was that he had never learned any binding spells and possessed no binding artifacts. Otherwise, he might have considered capturing the Purple-Patterned Goose alive.

Like Azure Spirit Fish, such docile demonic beasts had a slight chance of being tamed into spirit beasts. Once tamed, the spirit eggs they laid would bring in no small profit.

"If I'd known, I should have bought a binding artifact."

He felt somewhat pained. Practicing binding spells would delay his cultivation progress, but a Tier 1 Low-grade binding artifact cost only a few dozen Spirit Stones. If it could be used to capture Purple-Patterned Geese and have them lay spirit eggs, that would be an absolute steal.

"Right, spirit eggs."

Chen Nianzhi's eyes suddenly lit up. He stored the Purple-Patterned Goose away and headed directly toward the reed beds from which it had emerged.

After searching for half a shichen, he unexpectedly discovered another Purple-Patterned Goose deep within the reeds.

Contrary to his expectations, the goose did not flee. Instead, it cast spells and fought Chen Nianzhi. But it was no match for him and was slain among the reeds within only a few moves.

After killing the second Purple-Patterned Goose, Chen Nianzhi searched the surrounding area and, sure enough, found a nest of Purple-Patterned Goose eggs.

"I've struck it rich."

Looking at the Purple-Patterned Goose eggs, his heart surged with excitement.

These spirit eggs were rich in spiritual energy and free of impurities. They were even more precious than Spirit Rice, and each could be sold for one Spirit Stone.

There were twelve spirit eggs in this nest. More importantly, all twelve contained life, and the little spirit goslings inside had already begun to take shape.

"They're already halfway developed."

"Looks like this pair of Purple-Patterned Geese has been on Spirit Lake Isle for quite some time."

Chen Nianzhi looked at the spirit eggs and could not stop smiling.

The truth was close to what he had guessed. This pair of spirit geese had arrived at Spirit Lake Isle a year ago. At the time, their Ninth Layer of Qi Refining granduncle had been dispatched to escort a Foundation Establishment Pill, while Nian Gan and Nian Yuan's cultivation was still shallow, so they rarely left Lakeheart Island and never discovered them.

Seeing that Spirit Isle Lake was safe and free of danger, the pair of Purple-Patterned Geese simply settled down in the lake, building a nest and raising this brood of offspring.

Purple-Patterned Geese were naturally timid and cautious. They had remained wary for an entire year, but in the end, their overly comfortable lives made them lower their guard. They had actually worked up the nerve to set their sights on the Spirit Fish.

Unexpectedly, only two days after making their move, they encountered Chen Nianzhi. The male goose was killed, while the female refused to flee in order to protect her young. In the end, the pair became doomed lovers together.

This nest of Purple-Patterned Goose eggs had already incubated halfway and would likely hatch within a month.

After bringing the nest of Purple-Patterned Goose eggs back to Lakeheart Island, Chen Nianzhi began building an incubation nest for them.

Having grown up in an age of exploding information, Chen Nianzhi had been utterly ordinary in his previous life, but he had at least heard a thing or two about incubating chicken and duck eggs.

Although Purple-Patterned Geese were called geese, they could actually be considered a kind of wild duck—spirit ducks with even greater vitality.

Following the rough knowledge he had from his previous life, he used his magic power to create an incubation nest with a suitable environment. Then, every day, he carefully tended the spirit eggs, taking on the work of a mother goose.

A month passed in this manner, and at last, the spirit ducks were close to breaking out of their shells.

That day, Chen Nianzhi sat before the spirit eggs, watching the Purple-Patterned Goose eggs with eager excitement written all over his face.

"Crack, crack—"

After waiting for half a day, he finally heard cracking sounds. Then he saw a little gray duckling peck through its shell and toddle toward him with its little rear wiggling.

Chen Nianzhi froze for a moment before realizing that geese regarded the first creature they saw after being born as their mother.

So I've become a mother goose?

He did not know whether to laugh or cry, though he also let out a breath of relief.

Demonic beasts and spirit beasts differed by only one word. Spirit beasts were simply demonic beasts that cultivators had tamed, stripping them of their savage wild nature.

Without a unique beast-taming method, it was extremely difficult to tame spirit beasts. The Chen Clan naturally possessed no beast-taming arts. Their so-called rearing of Azure Spirit Fish was also semi-free-range, since the fish could not possibly escape Spirit Isle Lake anyway.

However, Purple-Patterned Geese were demonic birds, and flying demonic birds were exceedingly difficult to rear. Adult Purple-Patterned Geese were innately docile and not particularly aggressive, but without a specialized beast-taming method, a moment of carelessness would see them fly away, never to return.

Fortunately, these goslings had just been born and regarded Chen Nianzhi as their parent, saving him the taming process entirely. As long as he raised them to adulthood, they would directly become spirit birds.

Having understood this, Chen Nianzhi became excited. He simply remained before the incubation nest, waiting for the goslings to break out of their shells one by one.