Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Phoenix Sings

There’s no way to win against so many monsters! So why hesitate? Time to run!

“Fleetfoot Technique!” Feng Ke’er spotted a gap on the right, gathered her energy, and dashed away.

But unexpectedly, the nearest chicken consort seemed to read her mind. It spread its wings with a loud flap, not only blocking the gap but also sending her tumbling heavily back to the center of the circle.

“Cluck-cluck!” The other chicken consorts beat their wings, cheering in delight.

Oh mama, these monsters hit people!

Her wooden stick and dagger were swatted away, and Feng Ke’er saw stars as she struggled to get up, shaking her head hard, and looked up at the nearly one-meter-tall wild chicken king. She grinned, baring her teeth, “It’s a misunderstanding, truly a misunderstanding. I was just passing by, just passing by! I swear on my honor, I…”

Unfortunately, the chicken king clearly didn’t understand her language, and seemed to have a short temper. Before she could finish, it tilted its head and suddenly let out a sharp “cluck-cluck,” flapping its wings rapidly.

As if receiving a battle order, the chicken consorts frantically flapped their wings as well.

Instantly, a fierce wind rose, roots and leaves whirled wildly, forming an invisible net that trapped Feng Ke’er at the center, leaving her no way out!

Her short blue robe billowed loudly in the wind like an overstuffed bun. Apparently, these creatures were preparing for a man-made—or rather, chicken-made—tornado!

She squinted, waving her hands to call for a halt, “Wait, wait, let me explain, I truly mean no harm…”

However, the chicken king, leading its consorts, only flapped its wings faster and harder, running in circles, causing chaos and joy.

The gale howled.

Sand and stones flew.

The world darkened.

Feng Ke’er couldn’t open her eyes against the wind and sand; instinctively, she hugged her head and curled into a ball.

In the storm, she spun like a top, whirled round and round by the fierce wind.

It’s over, today she’s doomed… Despair flooded her, fear and sorrow surging with a wave of stomach acid—she couldn’t even cry!

At last, the wild chicken king, finding the moment right, jumped out of the circle, raised its head, and let out a powerful, resonant cry.

The chicken consorts all jumped outward and stopped.

The wind and sand subsided.

They looked at Feng Ke’er sprawled on the stone slab, beating their wings, clucking in triumph.

She came to, opened her eyes, and half propped herself up, vomiting violently.

Her stomach felt flipped inside out, unable to tolerate even a morsel. Everything she ate at noon came up, and when there was nothing left, she even vomited brownish bile… but she kept retching.

Tears and snot mixed with stomach acid, wrenching her guts, her face pale as paper soaked in bleach.

Yet not a single wild chicken king pitied her.

These wild chicken kings had all advanced from the white rank, their cultivation equivalent to a cultivator in the Qi Refining stage, their intelligence like ten-year-old children, possessing basic human emotions.

From the pile of vomit, they smelled the scent of their kin.

This human had eaten their kind! The undigested meat chunks were irrefutable evidence!

The mother chicken kings clucked in outrage.

The wild chicken king’s neck feathers bristled. It opened its mouth and, without hesitation, hurled a furious fireball at the culprit.

The fireball, the size of a baseball, fast as lightning, shot through the air.

Though she glimpsed the fire in the corner of her eye, Feng Ke’er was helpless—she was so dizzy from vomiting she couldn’t tell east from west, let alone stand, much less dodge.

Yet, a miracle occurred!

“Ding!” A clear female voice sounded in her mind: “Defense shield activated!” At the same instant, a streak of white light flashed from her crown to the soles of her feet.

At the crucial moment, her beloved compendium worked its magic!

The fireball struck an invisible shield, exploding half a fist’s distance from her body. Sparks flew everywhere, but not a single one touched her!

Wow, the compendium is mighty! She was overjoyed, and her nausea stopped.

The wild chicken king was stunned, then spat two more fireballs at different spots.

“Bang bang!” Both fireballs failed to touch her!

Enraged, the wild chicken king flapped its wings, summoning its wives to attack together.

Feng Ke’er hadn’t even finished smiling before fireballs rained all around her.

“Bang bang bang,” she became the center of a fireworks display, dazzled by the light.

Who knew how long the compendium could hold out? She couldn’t escape, so she shut her eyes, anxious and worried.

Just then, a clear, long cry echoed from the sky: “Chirp—”

The fireballs vanished instantly.

The world fell silent.

Could it be an even fiercer monster? Feng Ke’er cautiously opened one eye and scanned her surroundings.

All the wild chicken kings, including the furious male, drooped their heads, huddled together, trembling like newly hatched chicks.

“What are you doing? Being reduced to this state by a few first-rank demon beasts, aren’t you ashamed enough?” The voice was high and childlike, yet its aura was as lofty as its position.

“Thunk!” One mother chicken king collapsed, its claws twitching violently—dead!

The other chicken kings trembled even more, as if seized by collective epilepsy.

Oh my, wild chickens with epilepsy… this world is crazy!

Feng Ke’er gulped hard, raised her head, and looked up toward the source of the voice—oh yes, the meat bird! So formidable!

She swore to pamper this precious thing well from now on!

But in the blue sky, only a few white clouds drifted… meat bird, where are you, dear?

“Silly girl, where are you looking? I’m on the stone cliff.” The voice was even more commanding.

“Thunk! Thunk!” Two more mother chicken kings died.

Their kin fared no better. Even the most imposing male chicken king was nearly prone on the ground.

Ah, just thinking about how this fellow tormented her just now made Feng Ke’er angry. Dammit, you had numbers, I couldn’t win, I accept it. If you want to kill, then kill. But why must you, a wild chicken, act so twisted, engaging in cruel slaughter? Even an uncle could tolerate it, but an aunt couldn’t!

She took a deep breath, got up, walked over, bent down with a sinister smile, and whispered, “Chicken king, today I’ll teach you a truth: a warrior can be killed, but not humiliated!” With that, she gritted her teeth and twisted its neck, snapping it clean!

A surge of scorching energy rushed into her abdomen, spreading through her veins at lightning speed. It felt like a warm hand gently caressing her organs. Instantly, all discomfort vanished. She felt more invigorated than if she’d taken a stimulant.

“Huh, no level-up notification?” Feng Ke’er was surprised, looking herself over—last time, just by killing a mother chicken king, she easily advanced to Qi Refining Initial Stage.

From Old Master Chen’s lecture, she knew the Qi Refining stage was divided into initial, middle, and late levels, while Foundation Building and above were divided into nine layers and a great perfection, ten ranks in all, each harder to advance than the last. She just hadn’t expected it to be this difficult.

But her hesitation cost her the chance: the chicken king’s sudden death was the last straw for the mother chicken kings—they were all terrified to death.

Feng Ke’er didn’t receive even a wisp of “hot energy,” and she slapped her head in frustration, muttering “what a pity.”

Suddenly, she remembered there was still one below; maybe killing it would let her advance! She quickly leapt down from the stone slab.

That mother chicken king lay in its nest, head buried tightly under a wing, its body shaking like a sieve.

But hearing her approach, it suddenly raised its head, trembling as it spread its wings wide, guarding its eggs.

Its small eyes held both fear and determination.

Feng Ke’er was shaken by that look, losing her nerve.

“In truth, leveling up is a complicated matter. I’ve only taken the first step in a long journey. There’s plenty of time ahead; missing one won’t matter!” She scratched her head, telling herself.

With that, she decisively jumped back onto the stone slab, found her stick and dagger in the grass, and deftly retrieved the demon crystals from the chicken kings’ heads.

Ha, she’d struck gold. Feng Ke’er weighed the dozen or so peach-colored demon crystals in her hand—they were heavy and substantial, putting her in a great mood.

She carefully stored them all in her belt, then untied the blue cloth from her leg and strung the chicken kings’ corpses together, heading back—meow, if she let the meat bird live here, that mother chicken would be frightened to death sooner or later. So she had to change plans and dig a cave up the cliff.

Passing the creek, Feng Ke’er washed her face, quickly tidied herself, and climbed the cliff.

She seemed much nimbler than when she descended. Carrying the string of chicken king corpses, she felt lighter than before.

Feng Jiu lounged in the shade of the stone cliff, humming, “Why did you leave one alive?”

Feng Ke’er tossed her haul aside and replied without thinking, “It’s brooding its eggs.”

Tch, just a first-rank demon beast, an ant-like existence—what’s there to pity? Feng Jiu frowned, about to scold her.

Feng Ke’er turned, grinning, “I call this sustainable development and utilization of animal resources. One shouldn’t be too greedy; gotta leave something for future generations.”

‘Pulling up the roots doesn’t apply to animals; it’s for people.’ She didn’t believe those eggs would hatch, and the chicks would grow up with a vendetta against her!

Alright, she admitted this was all an excuse. Honestly, she was cowed by the mother chicken’s look. Now she finally understood why that chicken mother only tried to drive her away in the courtyard that night, not attacking with fire.

Feng Jiu pondered her words, lost in thought.

“And thank you!” Feng Ke’er walked over, patted his head, and tilted her head with a smile, “Meat bird, you were amazing just now. As soon as you spoke…” This guy had plenty of reason to be proud; she had to coax him well!

Unexpectedly, while she was distracted, Feng Jiu flew into a rage, flapped his wings, and hopped a yard away: “Don’t touch my head!” No respect, no manners—this brat was always unruly.

Feng Ke’er quickly raised her hands, apologizing profusely, her face full of smiles, coaxing, “I won’t touch your head again, really, never again, I promise.” Apparently, proud little kids hated being treated like children…

Feng Jiu shot her a glare, turned away, and said grumpily, “I want their demon crystals.”

Was that his condition for reconciliation? All the demon crystals? Little brat, must you be so greedy? She was truly penniless now. Holding her belt protectively, she feigned ignorance, “Demon crystals? What demon crystals?”

Uh, it’s not that this mountain is against wild chickens, but according to the setting, there are no other monsters in the outer gate, only these wild chickens. Spoiler alert: the chicken slope storyline is almost done. Don’t worry, more monsters will appear later. Also, the author begs for votes, reviews, clicks, and subscriptions… Recommendation votes are free, get a thousand and there’ll be extra chapters; leave a paw print in the comments—let’s all be happy together… cough cough, crawling off.

Celestial Compendium 29_Chapter Twenty-Nine: Phoenix Song updated!