Jiu'er squatted in front of the egg, his eyes wide and his small face filled with tension.
"My Lord, is it coming out?"
Chen Zhou nodded, narrowing his eyes slightly.
He could feel a surge of life force within the egg. It wasn't particularly strong, but it was pure, carrying a familiar spiritual resonance, as if something that had been slumbering for many years was finally waking up at this moment.
Crack.
A crack split open on the eggshell.
The tiny fissure extended from the top all the way to the bottom. Golden light poured out from the crack, flowing over the surface of the shell like molten lava.
Crack, crack, crack.
The cracks multiplied and intensified until the entire egg resembled a piece of shredded paper. Shards peeled away one by one, revealing a tiny, curled-up figure inside.
It was a bird.
It was very small, soaking wet with its feathers not yet dry, clinging tightly to its body. It looked like a drowned chick.
The feathers were a messy mix of red, yellow, blue, green, and purple. The jumble of colors didn't look particularly beautiful; in fact, it looked a bit dirty.
However, a small tuft of feathers on its head was golden, standing upright like a tiny crown and sparkling in the light.
Its eyes hadn't opened yet. Its tiny body shivered slightly amidst the shell fragments, its beak opening and closing as it let out a weak cry.
"Cheep."
The sound was tiny, like the buzz of a mosquito.
Jiu'er held his breath and carefully reached out, his fingertip gently touching the little bird's feathers.
The bird's body trembled, and then it instinctively nudged against Jiu'er's palm, seeking warmth.
Jiu'er looked back at Chen Zhou, his eyes sparkling.
"My Lord, it's so cute."
Chen Zhou stared at the little bird for a few moments, his brow furrowing slightly.
Although this bird's feathers weren't fully grown and its bloodline seemed mixed, he felt as if he had seen it somewhere before.
It seemed to be from those blurred images in his previous divination.
Above the city of the Ancient Kingdom of Southern Tang, a massive five-colored bird had soared through the sky. Its wingspan reached ten zhang, and its long tail feathers trailed behind it, scattering five-colored specks of light with every flap of its wings.
That great bird's feathers were also five-colored, exactly the same as this little bird's, though they were more vibrant, more spirited, and more full of life.
This little bird looked like a faded imitation, with a more diluted bloodline and a weaker aura, far from the divine wonder of that great bird.
However, the aura the young bird emitted was quite powerful, roughly at the level of the sixth-stage.
Born at the first transformation of Eerification?
Chen Zhou raised an eyebrow.
【Hatching Probabilities: ninth-stage ancient beast 0.1%, eighth-stage ancient beast 0.5%, seventh-stage ancient beast 1%, sixth-stage ancient beast 5%, fifth-stage ancient beast 10%, fourth-stage ancient beast 15%, third-stage ancient beast 20%, second-stage ancient beast 30%, first-stage ancient beast 50%】
An ancient beast egg with its life extinguished had only a 5% chance for a sixth-stage result, and Jiu'er actually won the lottery?
As expected of an Auspicious Noble; even a single pull could result in a miracle. Hitting gold in one pull from the trashiest pool.
He glanced at Jiu'er, who was squatting on the ground, carefully using a handkerchief to wipe the mucus off the bird. His movements were incredibly light and gentle, for fear of hurting it.
The little bird gradually warmed up in his palm, and its feathers began to fluff up bit by bit, their colors becoming much brighter than before.
After a moment of thought, Chen Zhou knelt down and reached out to stroke the little bird's head.
The bird opened one eye.
The eyeball was golden with a vertical slit pupil, looking like a gemstone embedded in the socket. It was clear and translucent, reflecting Chen Zhou's face.
It glanced at Chen Zhou, then closed its eye again and continued to nudge into Jiu'er's palm.
Jiu'er's eyes curved into crescent moons as he smiled.
"My Lord, does it have a name?"
Chen Zhou shook his head.
"You give it one."
Jiu'er tilted his head and thought for a moment before saying seriously.
"It looks like a colorful cloud, so let's call it Caiyun."
The corner of Chen Zhou's mouth twitched slightly.
"As you wish."
...
The news spread quickly.
It was unclear who discovered it first, but in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the entrance to the Gathering Fortune Pavilion was crowded with people.
When Plague Rat rushed in, he was still clutching his fishing rod, the line not even reeled in. He jumped onto the platform where the egg had been and stood on his tiptoes to peer into Jiu'er's palm.
"This is what hatched from the egg Jianmu gave the Lord? It's only this big?"
Caiyun was startled by Plague Rat's voice and pulled back its neck, burrowing into Jiu'er's embrace.
Plague Rat tsked.
"So timid. So this is what an ancient beast looks like."
Poison-Wing also squeezed in through the door, his head almost getting stuck in the frame because it was so large. He finally managed to get inside and took a look, frowning.
"This bird is really ugly."
As soon as he said that, Caiyun suddenly poked its head out from Jiu'er's arms and looked in Poison-Wing's direction.
Then its eyes lit up. It stood up in Jiu'er's palm, shook its wings, and stumbled toward Poison-Wing.
Its wings weren't fully grown and its feathers weren't dry, so it couldn't fly. It could only flap and hop forward, falling over with every step and cheeping as it went.
Yet it still desperately hopped toward Poison-Wing.
Poison-Wing was stunned.
"What is it doing?"
Jiu'er was also confused.
"Caiyun, where are you going?"
Caiyun ignored her and kept hopping. Eventually, it couldn't even hop anymore and just rolled across the ground until it reached Poison-Wing's feet. It rubbed its head against Poison-Wing's talons, then looked up at him and let out a tiny cry.
"Cheep!"
Everyone fell silent.
Plague Rat marveled, "Huh, is this little guy taking you for one of its own, or as its mother?"
Poison-Wing's face turned iron-blue.
"What mother? Bullshit, I'm male!"
Plague Rat laughed even louder.
Poison-Wing looked down at the little colorful bird desperately rubbing against his talons. His mouth twitched several times before he extended a claw, trying to push Caiyun away.
Caiyun was knocked over, but it rolled back onto its feet and returned to rub against him again.
Pushed again, flipped again, crawled back again, and continued rubbing.
Poison-Wing: "..."
Su Xue arrived as well. She knelt down and reached out to touch Caiyun, but the bird dodged her hand and continued to nudge against Poison-Wing.
"It really seems to have taken Poison-Wing as its mother."
"Perhaps it's because Poison-Wing carries the bloodline of the ancient Zhen bird, which is similar to its own, so it instinctively feels close to him."
Poison-Wing's face grew even darker.
"I am not its mother!"
Plague Rat got up from the ground, brushed the dust off himself, and said with a grin.
"Stop struggling and just accept your fate. Look at how pitiful it is; its wings aren't even grown and it's already set on you. If you don't take it in, what will it do?"
Poison-Wing opened his mouth to say something, but seeing Caiyun's sparkling golden eyes, the words died in his throat.
He huffed and picked Caiyun up from the ground with his beak, placing it on his back.
Caiyun lay on Poison-Wing's back, closing its eyes comfortably and letting out a satisfied cry.
"Cheep~"
Plague Rat laughed again.
"See? It's so happy."
Poison-Wing glared at him. More and more people were gathering—Shitou, Hong Ling, Song Zi'an, Duke Wu, and Duke Wen had all arrived. Even the Heavenly Chef, who had been busy in the Dingnai Hall, ran out to join the excitement.
The crowd surrounded Caiyun, marveling at it. Some said it was an auspicious sign, some said it was a divine bird, and others said that although it was ugly, it had an extraordinary aura.
Despite being surrounded by so many people, Caiyun didn't feel stage fright at all. It stood tall and proud on Poison-Wing's back like a little rooster, chirping occasionally. Though its voice was small, it was full of confidence.
The Golden Dragon of Merit woke up within Chen Zhou's body at some point.
"My Lord, this seems to be a mixed-blood Colorful Phoenix."
"A Colorful Phoenix?"
"Yes. The Dragon bore nine sons, and the Phoenix bore nine fledglings, each with their own divine powers."
"The Colorful Phoenix is the third fledgling of the Phoenix. It governs auspiciousness and the five colors, and it can ward off evil and avert calamity. Wherever it goes, a hundred birds pay homage and ten thousand spirits bow."
Chen Zhou raised an eyebrow. "So this bird is a descendant of your old friend, the Primal Phoenix?"
The Golden Dragon sighed with emotion. "Not exactly a descendant, more like a distant relative with mixed blood."
"A true Colorful Phoenix is at the ninth-stage from birth, with full plumage and five rotating colors. A single flap of its wings can cover a thousand li, and a single cry can be heard across the Nine Provinces."
"In ancient times, when the God Emperor traveled, he often used a Colorful Phoenix as his carriage, followed by a hundred birds in a grand display."
"This one, however, was born with deficiencies and a mixed bloodline. To have successfully hatched from an egg whose life was extinguished is already a stroke of immense fortune."
"Being only at the sixth-stage at birth, with wings not yet grown and unable to fly—in ancient times, it would have been cast out of the Phoenix race."
"However, My Lord, you need not worry too much about it."
"Its fate should have ended ten thousand years ago. Through a twist of fate, it has gained a new life ten thousand years later. This aligns with the Phoenix race's path of nirvana; perhaps it is not a bad thing."
Having finished, the Golden Dragon fell silent once more.
Chen Zhou scanned the crowd of onlookers, and his gaze landed on two people at the edge of the crowd.
Lian and Xiaoyun were standing in a corner holding hands, watching the bustling crowd and whispering to each other.
Xiaoyun said something, and Lian gave a faint smile. It was a slight smile, but it was genuine.
Since leaving the Western Region, Lian had changed a lot.
She was no longer constantly fearful, no longer kneeling at every turn, and no longer so self-deprecating and timid that she felt she was an inauspicious object who dared not approach others.
She had begun to smile, to initiate conversations, and had become friends with Jiu'er and the other children. She often held hands with Xiaoyun and shared secrets.
Although she was still somewhat reserved and spent most of her time alone, she had at least become much more cheerful.
Chen Zhou walked over to Lian.
Seeing him, Lian instinctively started to bow, but Chen Zhou held her back.
"My Lord," Lian whispered.
Chen Zhou nodded and spoke directly.
"Lian, in a few days, I am going to Qingzhou. You will come with me."
Lian was taken aback, then she nodded.
"Yes."
She didn't ask why, nor did she hesitate. Her agreement was immediate.
Chen Zhou knew why she agreed so readily.
It was because he had saved her life, he had given her her name, and her withered heart had long since been cut out and offered to the god she believed in.
When the god spoke, the believer had no reason to refuse.
Chen Zhou remained silent for a moment before speaking again.
"However, there is something I must tell you beforehand."
"Qingzhou is not quite like Tianchi. There may be deep connections there to your previous life."
Lian's expression shifted.
It was a subtle change, but Chen Zhou noticed it.
Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, the curve of her lips stiffened for a second, and she even tightened her grip on Xiaoyun's hand.
But she quickly regained her composure and said in a low voice.
"My Lord, Lian's previous life is over."
Chen Zhou shook his head.
"I'm having you go to Qingzhou not just because your combat power is strong enough."
He looked into Lian's eyes, his tone serious.
"I hope you can unravel some of the mysteries surrounding your death."
"I have a strong premonition that Qingzhou is not simple."
"That place is the former site of the Ancient Kingdom of Southern Tang, your homeland."
"There, you might be able to reclaim some of the power and memories you had as the Emperor's Daughter."
Lian fell silent.
She lowered her head, staring at her toes without speaking.
After a long while, she spoke softly.
"My Lord, actually... life is very good as it is now."
"Lian likes her current life very much."
"Shopping with Xiaoyun every day, reading, chatting, and occasionally helping Sister Su Xue manage the Myriad Herbs Life-Death Realm."
"Everyone in the City of the Wrongfully Dead is very kind. No one is afraid of Lian, no one avoids Lian, and no one treats Lian like a monster."
"Lian feels very satisfied."
"So... it's just... finding the past isn't that important... I think right now is perfect. Lian doesn't want to become the Emperor's Daughter again."
"She is her... and I am me..."
After she finished, she looked at Chen Zhou anxiously, as if she had said something treasonous.
Chen Zhou was silent for a few breaths. He roughly understood what Lian was afraid of.
Chen Zhou smiled and said, "I never said I wanted you to change back."
Lian looked up at him, somewhat dazed.
Chen Zhou continued.
"If you truly can reclaim your former divine power and memories, and find your living soil, you can still be yourself."
"You don't have to be Nüba."
"You can continue to be Lian in the City of the Wrongfully Dead."
"But because of that, you will have stronger power, and you will be better able to protect those you cherish, like Xiaoyun and Tuoba Feng."
"So, don't be too afraid."
Having said that, he didn't wait for a response from Lian and instead walked toward Jian Huaishuang. He took something out from his robe.
It was a blank godhead.
This was one of the rewards he had obtained in Tianchi Province, and he had kept it without using it.
Sensing someone's arrival, Jian Huaishuang looked up at Chen Zhou.
"My Lord."
Chen Zhou handed over the blank godhead.
"Take this."
Jian Huaishuang was stunned. He looked at the godhead, then at Chen Zhou.
"My Lord, this is..."
"I'm giving you a special boost."
Chen Zhou said.
Plague Rat had his Jade Grass, and Purity and Filth was instructing him daily on how to refine the Heart of Myriad Filths.
Wu Gou was in the Great Emperor's Palace receiving Xuandu's inheritance.
As for this trip to Qingzhou, Lian would have the legacy of her past life.
Among the four Saints, the only core combatant who hadn't received a significant boost was Jian Huaishuang.
Jian Huaishuang remained silent for a moment, then he took the godhead with both hands and bowed deeply.
"This subordinate will not fail your expectations, My Lord."
Chen Zhou patted his shoulder.
...
Several days later, before dawn, Chen Zhou stood in the open square of the City of the Wrongfully Dead, followed by Plague Rat, Jian Huaishuang, and Lian.
Plague Rat looked like he hadn't fully woken up, yawning as he clutched a bag of jerky Song Zi'an had stuffed into his hand, chewing loudly.
Jian Huaishuang was expressionless, his giant sword wrapped in white cloth on his back. His aura was restrained, making him look like an emotionless stone.
Lian stood slightly further back. Today, she had changed into clean clothes and her hair was neatly combed. She looked much more spirited, though a hint of nervousness still lingered in her eyes.
Chen Zhou glanced at the system panel.
The sacrifice cooldown was ready.
Rate on N.U.
