C3 A Sparrow Without Feathers

Ning Xiaofan currently possesses three precious Cultivation Points, which are as vital to him as life itself. With these points, his survival is assured.

In addition to the Cultivation Points, he has ten Skill Points, but his Merit, Cultivation, and Reputation Points all stand at zero.

"Master, your Cultivation Points are not zero. You have one Cultivation Point," the voice corrected.

How did I miss that?

"After consuming two Energy Refining Pills, your Cultivation Points increased by one."

The voice remained as mechanical as ever. When would this entity show a hint of humanity?

The Energy Refining Pill can boost one's Cultivation Points. He'll need to ingest more medicinal pills in the future to accelerate his advancement.

Currently at Level 6 of the Energy Refining Stage, Ning Xiaofan's progress would surely spark envy among the Worker Disciples. The advantages of rebirth were indeed profound.

He glanced at the remaining eight Energy Refining Pills in the pill bottle, calculating that they could yield an additional four Cultivation Points.

Swallowing another two pills, he anticipated the digestion that would grant him yet another Cultivation Point.

To swiftly return to his sect for alchemy training, he must also study the Energy Refining Divine Technique and the Spirit Herb Manual.

The two tomes before him—one a cultivation method, the other an introduction to Immortal Spirit Herbs—along with the task of concocting an Initial Level medicinal pill, were his immediate goals.

In the stillness of night, within the confines of a dry cave, he spoke.

"System, I wish to study the Energy Refining Divine Technique."

"Very well, Master. The Energy Refining Divine Technique is now in your hands."

Ning Xiaofan opened the text and absorbed its wisdom:

Energy Refiners must possess:

A body with a Spiritual Root, governed by the five elements,

A heart as still as water, clear and undisturbed.

A gentle breeze that stirs not the surface,

The power of the five elements, elusive as a dragon in flight.

The five elements as breath, opening the heart's orifices.

Drawing the spirit into the meridians, coursing through the eight channels.

The eight channels converge at the heart, cleaving heaven and earth.

...

The teachings of the Energy Refining Divine Technique seemed to burrow into his mind, guiding the spiritual energy within his body to circulate in the prescribed manner.

A full cycle of the Qi Refining Technique had passed, marking Ning Xiaofan's first successful completion. As he did, oil began to seep from his skin, and a foul odor slowly filled the cave.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master! For completing your first cultivation of the Qi Refining Technique, your reward is doubled, and you've earned 5 Cultivation Points."

"Ding! Congratulations, Master! You've received a Beast Spirit Pill as a reward."

"Ding! Congratulations! Your cultivation progress is on the rise."

Having just mastered the Energy Refining Divine Technique and only practiced it once, Ning Xiaofan was pleasantly surprised to be rewarded with a Beast Spirit Pill. How fortunate!

At Level 6 of the Energy Refining Stage, he could already control the spiritual energy within him. With a simple gesture, a flame materialized in his palm, confirming his identity as a Fire Spiritual Root without a doubt.

The Beast Spirit Pill, a Grade Two spiritual pill, was used to enhance the loyalty of spirit beasts.

Ning Xiaofan stowed the Beast Spirit Pill away and placed the Spirit Herb into his storage space, only to be hit by an offensive stench. "What's that awful smell?"

Exiting the cave, he spotted a nearly dried-up creek not far off. He dashed over and eagerly rinsed off the impurities clinging to his skin.

"Ah!" The water was shockingly cold, like the icy grip of late autumn.

But as he circulated his spiritual energy, warmth spread through him, and he felt considerably more comfortable. The spiritual energy made the chilly water bearable.

A scent wafted through the air—the unmistakable aroma of roasted meat. In the distance, a charred creature resembling a cow caught his attention. The smell was so overpowering that Ning Xiaofan felt nauseous; the air was thick with it.

The fire had been out for two days, yet the scent of roasted meat lingered. Why?

Under the moonlight, he hurried over and discovered a scorched Demonic Beast with a bald little sparrow perched atop it.

The bird looked newly hatched, its beak rimmed with yellow. Could it be a chick?

"Why are you here, little one? Did your mother abandon you?"

The bald sparrow flapped its wings defiantly. "Your mother doesn't want you. I am the proud..."

The conversation halted abruptly, as if a sudden thought had struck.

A talking sparrow? That defied the laws of nature. Could it be a fairy? The thought was utterly terrifying.

Even if this sparrow was a Demonic Beast, it was a spirit-imbued demon without a single feather! Such defiance of the natural order!

This little creature wasn't a Godly Beast, but a descendant of an ancient demon, destined to be extraordinary as it grew. And so...

"Little one, where's your mother?"

Ning Xiaofan could tell this was no ordinary sparrow and was determined to make it his own.

"Yes, yes, up in the sky."

The sky was clear, the air heavy with the scent of recent wildfires.

"Your mother might be in trouble. Why don't you come with me, and I'll help you look for her?"

"No, I'm waiting for her. She'll be back soon."

Ning Xiaofan understood that a Demonic Beast capable of speech was not of low stature. Deceiving it into his care would be like acquiring a treasure, a significant asset for his future.

"You're so tiny, she might not even spot you! Let me assist you."

"No, I'm going home."

The little one's plump wings fluttered doubtfully as it gazed skyward, its heart sinking.

Its protector had perished in the flames, and there was no word from its mother. Ning Xiaofan's eyes gleamed with cunning, "I've got something good here."

The featherless sparrow's eyes darted about, taking in Ning Xiaofan before it.

"See this? What do you think?"

The sparrow's eyes lit up. "It smells wonderful?"

Ning Xiaofan extended his hand toward the sparrow, which hesitated before hopping onto his palm.

He dangled a medicine pill before the sparrow's eyes, and as it tracked the movement of his hand, he said, "Alright, it's yours."

The pill was quite large for the little bird, but with a forceful peck, the sparrow split the pill in two, then with another effort, into quarters.

The four medicine pills vanished in an instant, all finding their way into the little creature's belly, followed by a very human-like burp of satisfaction.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master! The loyalty of your Colorful Phoenix Sparrow has increased."

"Ding! Congratulations, Master! You've gained 1 Charisma point."

Ning Xiaofan watched the clever little sparrow with amusement, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

"Hello, it seems we've made each other's acquaintance. My name is Xiaofeng."

"Hello, I'm Xiaofan. Our names are quite similar, aren't they? Why don't you join me?"

"Um..." Xiaofeng glanced at Ning Xiaofan, her beak moving as if savoring the memory of the pill's flavor.

"If you're not interested, then I should be on my way."

Ning Xiaofan posed the question tentatively, observing Xiaofeng as she paced back and forth in his palm, tilting her head thoughtfully in a very human-like gesture.

"Alright, here's the deal. Provide me with a pill like this every ten days, and I'll accompany you."

"Why every ten days?"

"Well, it takes me ten days to fully absorb the medicinal power."

A look of difficulty crossed Ning Xiaofan's face. He only had one Beast Spirit Pill. "Little one, I'm sorry. I have just this single pill. If that won't work, then I must go."

He claimed he would leave, yet he didn't budge—an obvious ploy to coax the little bird.

Noticing Xiaofeng's anxious demeanor, Ning Xiaofan couldn't help but feel secretly delighted. "Or perhaps, you'd accept a different kind of medicinal pill?"

This was Xiaofeng's final offer. Without the spiritual pill, she reasoned she might as well forage in the mountains, where the Spirit Herbs she found could be just as potent as the pill.

"How about this pill?"

Ning Xiaofan produced an Energy Refining Pill and held it out in his palm. The little sparrow eyed it and asked with a hint of shyness, "Is this the only one?"

"Yes, it's the most valuable thing I have. I'm down to my last six. If it's acceptable, I'll make more for you when I return home."

Xiaofeng nodded, clearly conflicted. "If you come across a better medicine pill, I won't need this one."

Xiaofeng swallowed the Energy Refining Pill in one swift motion. It wasn't as large as a Beast Spirit Pill, but with a slight movement of her throat, down it went.

"Xiaofeng, let's go."

The bald sparrow hopped onto Ning Xiaofan's shoulder, gripping tightly with its tiny claws, ensuring it wouldn't fall off even as Ning Xiaofan moved briskly.

As dawn broke, the sun began its ascent in the east, and a radiant orb leaped above the horizon, revealing the vast expanse of Phoenix Mountain. Amidst the desolate peaks, the occasional bird darted across the sky.

Numerous wild animals had flocked to Phoenix Mountain, drawn by the abundance of carcasses.

Ning Xiaofan glanced at Xiaofeng on his shoulder, now shimmering with a mystical glow. Feathers had sprouted on her.

The feathers were short, but the hints of red and green were unmistakable.

A Seven-colored Phoenix? If she weren't a sparrow, she'd surely pass for a parrot.

"Xiaofan, I want meat. I want to eat meat," Xiaofeng chirped.

"Oh, I'm feeling hungry too."

Their provisions had run out the previous night. He had hoped to find some Spirit Fruit to stave off hunger, but not a single tree had been spared in this mountain range.

"Come on, there's an orchard not too far from here. There's no meat, but the fruit is delicious."

Upon hearing it was just fruit, Xiaofeng seemed to pout. "Hmph, you're not listening to Xiaofeng. Xiaofeng is going to be mad."

"Okay, okay. If we come across any meat, I'll roast it for you."

"Good, let's go!"

With the little one fussing by his ear, Ning Xiaofan quickened his pace toward a lush green forest. In two days, they would reach his sect.

This forest wasn't part of Phoenix Mountain. The sect members referred to it as the Hundred Thousand Mountains, a name derived from legends claiming the presence of over a hundred thousand peaks within the range.

Bypassing the trees ahead, Ning Xiaofan caught sight of a pink-hued world in the distance.

It defied logic. While winter was encroaching on the surrounding lands, here the trees remained verdant, and the flowers bloomed invitingly.

A beam of sunlight pierced through the forest canopy, casting a glow on the peach trees that twinkled like stars, scattering down from the heavens. Dewdrops glistened, reflecting a spectrum of colors in the light.

The scent of peaches drifted on the breeze. A babbling brook meandered through the woods, its waters nurturing the peach grove into a verdant oasis.

"Come on, let's go have some peaches."

Xiaofeng's lips were puckered up to the sky, clearly reluctant to turn her back on Ning Xiaofan.

"Master, Xiaofan, I crave meat."

Meat again? Especially the scent of roasted meat—it made Ning Xiaofan nauseous just to think about it, after days on end of that same aroma.

Most of the wild game was spoiled, and what wasn't had been picked over by predators. Ning Xiaofan wouldn't dare eat it himself, nor would he risk letting the little one try it.

"Alright, alright. Just wait a bit. Let me eat my fill, then I'll find you some meat."

"Fine, but I want the flesh of a Demonic Beast, not some common wild animal."

"Ah, Demonic Beast meat? Where am I supposed to find that for you?"

"Nope, I want Demonic Beast meat, and that's what I'm going to have."

Xiaofeng looked so pitiful, on the verge of tears. Her fur had grown in thicker over time, probably thanks to the effects of the medicine pill.

She was starting to resemble a spiritual beast now, rather than a plucked chicken.

Ning Xiaofan moved swiftly, harvesting over twenty plump, crimson peaches and stowing them away in his storage space. Now, one space was dedicated to spiritual herbs, the other to peaches.

Satisfied after just two peaches, he also offered some to Xiaofeng. Despite her initial protests, she ended up eating a few bites obediently.

To her surprise, the peaches were incredibly tasty. The little creature devoured nearly half a peach, becoming so stuffed she couldn't even perch on his shoulder. Ning Xiaofan had to tuck her into his pocket, allowing her head to poke out so she wouldn't suffocate.

A man and his bird swiftly navigated through the mountain woods. Ning Xiaofan could feel his body undergoing constant changes. The sallow complexion of his face had improved significantly, and muscles were beginning to form on his frame.

While running, Ning Xiaofan made a conscious effort to refrain from using his spiritual energy, allowing his muscles to get a proper workout. He breathed in the steady rhythm of a long-distance runner, which would steadily fortify his body.

"Xiaofan, I want meat," pleaded the bird.

By the third day, Ning Xiaofan was once again bombarded by the incessant chirping. Xiaofeng had grown tired of peaches, even those imbued with spiritual energy.

"Okay, once we come across a Demonic Beast, you'll get to feast on its meat first," he promised.

Internally, Ning Xiaofan scoffed at the idea. A Demonic Beast? His current skills were so lacking that if he encountered one, he had only one strategy: run for his life! The thought of hunting one for its meat? He wasn't ready to throw his life away just yet!

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