The Mirror Master

"You’re a clever one."

Yu Daoxuan smiled faintly as she looked at the Big Rooster bowing its head to her.

"Yes, he is."

Yun Luo chimed in, "Hiding among a flock of poultry like this, who would ever guess there was an Exotic Beast among them? No wonder it lived on Zhongming Mountain with its low Cultivation and no one ever managed to capture it."

An Exotic Beast like this is a priceless treasure in both the Martial Arts Countries and the Cultivation World, an object of pursuit for all major powers.

They are either captured and raised as Spirit Pets or subdued to serve as a Sect Guardian Divine Beast.

As an Exotic Beast ages, its strength gradually increases.

Throughout the ages, there have been tales of Exotic Beasts saving their Sects from the brink of destruction, performing legendary feats when all seemed lost.

Some Sects, after declining over time, even managed to stage a revival thanks to their Sect’s Exotic Beast.

She had heard her fellow disciples at the Four Seas Pavilion talk about such things.

No matter who came across this Chongming Bird, they would never have noticed anything amiss.

It really did look no different from any other rooster and was a far cry from the images of Chongming Birds passed down through history.

"It has only awakened two of its luminaries so far, giving it a red crest and a golden beak. Its Cultivation is equivalent to the Foundation Establishment Stage."

Yu Daoxuan said, "If it awakens a few more, it won’t be able to hide from those with a discerning eye."

The Chongming Bird could clearly understand human speech. Hearing this, it actually nodded its head obediently and clucked twice at Yu Daoxuan.

"Auntie, does it want to cultivate with you?"

Yun Luo’s eyes lit up.

Yu Daoxuan had seen the Chongming Bird’s intentions from the start.

Her earlier praise for the bird’s cleverness was mainly for this reason.

Generally, Exotic Beasts stay far away from Martial Artists and Cultivators.

They look down on those weaker than themselves.

And they fear that those stronger than them will kill them and use their bodies as materials for Artifact Refining or Alchemy.

Unless... someone is so absurdly powerful that they wouldn’t even bother killing them.

To meet such a person, and have the chance to follow them, would be a great stroke of fortune.

Yu Daoxuan said, "I won’t be staying here for long. Following me would be pointless."

Hearing this, the Chongming Bird seemed a little dejected. It lay down in front of Yu Daoxuan, tilted its head, and blinked.

Yu Daoxuan said softly, "I can, however, point you toward a place to go. Following him might be your great fortune."

"CLUCK CLUCK."

The Chongming Bird’s spirits lifted. It stood up and clucked twice, as if asking a question.

"You’ve met this person."

Yu Daoxuan said, "The one who helped you when you fought the Tiger Demon."

A hint of disappointment appeared in the Chongming Bird’s eyes.

’Of course, I remember him.’

’He seemed like a decent guy.’

’He cremated the bodies of the Niu Family Village villagers.’

’He had courage, too, daring to help me deal with the Tiger Demon and the Mountain Demon.’

’But his Cultivation is so low. What kind of fortune could I possibly find by following him?’

"I have pointed you to a place. The choice is yours."

After speaking, Yu Daoxuan took Yun Luo’s small hand, her figure flickered, and she vanished from the spot.

The Chongming Bird tilted its head and thought for a moment.

’I’ll go find him then.’

’At least he has something tasty on him. I smelled it last time, but it was hidden pretty well...’

The Chongming Bird ruffled its feathers, having made its decision.

It spread its wings, and with its short little legs, it dashed towards Bluestone City at an astonishing speed!

-----------------

Lu Bai had collected a good number of silver notes from the bodies of the Demon-slaying Bureau group.

Added to the 1,700 taels he already had, his total now exceeded 10,000 taels of silver. It was a significant haul.

Of course, the biggest prize from this trip was probably the Mountain Demon Hat.

’But there’s still an element of uncertainty there.’

’I already handed the item over.’

If those two disappeared, Lu Bai would have no way of finding them.

But beyond that, there were now four new motes of Soul Light in the Ancient Mirror!

With these four motes of Soul Light, he could completely restore the *Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist* and comprehend it directly.

’This isn’t a place to linger. I should head back to the city first.’

Lu Bai descended Zhongming Mountain and made his way toward Bluestone City.

Without a horse, he had to rely on his own two feet.

With his explosive strength, his speed wasn’t slow.

But if he knew some Lightweight Body Technique, he would surely be faster and more relaxed.

’There’s still so much to learn.’

Lu Bai ran along the main road.

"CLUCK CLUCK CLUCK CLUCK!"

After running for a while, he suddenly heard a series of clucks from behind him.

Lu Bai subconsciously turned his head and saw a Big Rooster with a red crest and a golden beak trotting along behind him, its expression blank.

"This is..."

Lu Bai froze, not quite sure.

’If that’s the Chongming Bird, why would it suddenly come looking for me?’

Seeing Lu Bai’s doubtful expression, the Big Rooster blinked, and for a moment, its Heavy Pupils appeared.

"It really is!"

Lu Bai was shocked.

The Chongming Bird blinked again to prove its identity, and the Heavy Pupils vanished.

’This Exotic Beast came back... It’s not here to crack my skull open, is it?’

The image of this Chongming Bird cracking bones and sucking out the marrow at the cave entrance had left far too deep an impression on him.

Lu Bai subconsciously picked up his pace, his long legs taking huge strides, moving like a shooting star.

The Chongming Bird also sped up.

Its short little legs moved so fast they became a blur, easily keeping pace beside him.

Lu Bai kept up the sprint for a while but couldn’t maintain it and gradually slowed down.

The Chongming Bird also slowed down, still keeping to his side.

Finally, Lu Bai just stopped walking altogether.

The Chongming Bird also stopped abruptly, tilting its head to look at him, perfectly still—frozen like a wooden chicken.

"How strange, how strange."

Lu Bai murmured softly.

’Was I born with a constitution that attracts Exotic Beasts?’

"Do you want to come back to the city with me?"

Lu Bai asked bluntly.

"CLUCK CLUCK!"

The Chongming Bird clucked twice.

"Alright."

Lu Bai thought for a moment and said, "I have a dog at home. You two better not fight.

"Also, you need to be careful and not give yourself away. Don’t let people see through your identity as an Exotic Beast..."

Lu Bai began to lecture.

"CLUCK CLUCK CLUCK CLUCK CLUCK!"

The Chongming Bird, growing impatient, let out a series of clucks.

’As if I need you to teach me that!’

’I’ve stayed in the mountains for so long without ever being discovered.’

"What should I call you? You need a name, but it can’t be too conspicuous, or it’ll attract attention."

Lu Bai added, "How about Ah Ji?"

The moment the Chongming Bird heard this name, the feathers on its neck bristled. It spread its wings, looking ready for a fight.

’I’m pretending to be a Big Rooster, I’m not actually a rooster!’

’If I succeed in my Cultivation and become famous throughout the world in the future, wouldn’t I become the laughingstock of all beasts and demons with a name like Ah Ji?’

Lu Bai saw the Chongming Bird’s displeasure and chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah, that’s a bit disrespectful, huh... Well then... how about I call you Brother Chicken?"

"CLUCK CLUCK CLUCK CLUCK!"

Hearing that, the Chongming Bird jumped high into the air, fuming with rage. It had an impulse to crack this man’s skull open.

"I’m just kidding."

Lu Bai waved his hand. "I heard people also call you Nine Luminaries Celestial Cry. My dog at home is called Ah Mo, so how about I call you Ah Ming?"

’The Black Dog doesn’t like to make noise.’

’Now I’ve got one that loves to.’

’Ah Ming, that sounds acceptable.’

The Chongming Bird quieted down, tilting its head in thought.

Lu Bai said, "In the future, if you two cultivate and attain the Dao, and can take human form, you can take my surname if you don’t mind. You’ll be Lu Mo and Lu Ming."

’That’s not bad.’

The Chongming Bird clucked twice, quite satisfied.

"From now on, you and Ah Mo get along well. You can form a duo called ’When the Chicken and Dog Ascend to Heaven’."

Lu Bai puffed out his chest and started making grand promises. "The day I attain the Dao, I’ll take you guys flying with me!"

The Chongming Bird glanced sideways at Lu Bai, thinking to itself, ’I haven’t seen any other skills from this guy yet, but he’s definitely a master of bullshitting...’

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