Cultivation: Starting from a Fighting Cock

Chapter 104 The Demons Exposed
Ji Cheng is a good example of someone who practices martial arts to improve his health.

There's nothing wrong with his suggestion.

Although Master Zhao felt there was something amiss, he would fully support Zhao Kun if he was willing.

Zhao Kun coughed twice and said, "I've been coughing a bit these past few days and I'm not feeling well. Practicing martial arts isn't really suitable for me."

Master Zhao agreed repeatedly, saying that it was already quite good that Kun'er practiced a few moves in the courtyard every morning.

When his plan failed, Ji Cheng was neither disappointed nor discouraged, simply taking it as something he had mentioned casually.

That night, Da Huang ran away from the Zhao residence again.

Now that Zhao Kun knows its identity as a demon beast, it no longer needs to pretend. Since it is a demon beast, it is normal for it to go out at night to get some food, right?
However, it remained vigilant, wary of Zhao Kun following it and thus exposing the tracks of other demonic beasts.

Fortunately, Zhao Kun had no interest in what it was doing outside and only cared about his own cultivation.

The demons gathered once again at Python Mountain.

For Dahuang, happy days are back.

A few days later, it was still Mangshan.

Ji Cheng said to the demons, "These past few days I've learned through some channels that the spiritual fruit on the front mountain is called the Blood-Veined Snake-Eye Fruit. Besides increasing cultivation, it also enhances the purity of bloodlines. Ordinary beasts that consume it have a certain probability of mutating and acquiring the bloodline of a demon beast. I suppose Old Bai must have watered this spiritual fruit with his own demon blood, right?"

Two days ago, Ji Cheng deliberately displayed his mid-stage Qi and Blood cultivation strength in front of Master Niu, and took the opportunity to ask Master Niu some questions about cultivation.

At the same time, because of Ah Niu, Ji Cheng gained the trust of the owner of the bookstore, thus having the opportunity to browse through the books in the owner's collection.

He saw the Blood-Veined Snake-Eye Fruit in a book of rare and precious herbs, and all its characteristics matched the spiritual fruit in front of the mountain.

Previously, the demons only knew that the spiritual fruit was a good thing, but they didn't know what its wonders were.

In this world, rare and precious materials that can cause bloodline mutations are hard to find.

Ji Cheng vaguely sensed that if he wanted his 100% pure Golden Rooster bloodline to evolve, a treasure like the Blood-Patterned Snake Eye Fruit would be indispensable.

"Fizz!"

The python demon nodded; it had indeed used its own demon blood to water the spiritual fruit, with the aim of ripening it.

The Azure Flame Rabbit squeaked excitedly.

Whether it is a demon beast or a spirit beast, bloodline is the foundation of cultivation, and spiritual fruits that can increase the purity of bloodline are quite precious.

Su Qing is currently doing her best to compete with Zhou Mu for the ownership of the spirit fruit, all for the sake of her spirit beast.

"Ouch!"

Suddenly, without warning, Big Yellow barked loudly in one direction.

Ji Cheng reacted quickly, immediately throwing out a feather blade. The blade pierced through the branches and leaves, and a crow flapped its wings to avoid the blade at the fork of a large tree.

Immediately afterwards, the crow darted through the woods and disappeared in a few dodges.

Ji Cheng flapped his wings and chased after it. Although he was fast, the many trees and leaves in the forest blocked his view, and he did not know where the crow had escaped to.

He returned to the group of demons and said, "That crow was raised by the blind Taoist priest. Our hiding place has been exposed."

There was no way around it; these past few days, the demons had been gathering, eating, drinking, laughing, and making quite a commotion, so it was normal for them to be discovered.

"Fortunately, we all used transformation magic and did not expose our identities."

Out of caution, Ji Cheng always appeared as a peregrine falcon, Da Huang also transformed into a wolf demon, and the little rabbit transformed into a mottled hare.

It doesn't matter whether his identity as a chicken demon is exposed or not, but the identities of Big Yellow and the Azure Flame Rabbit cannot be exposed.

Previously, Dahuang thought that Brother Chicken was being overly cautious, but now it felt a chill run down its spine. If its identity as a demon beast were exposed, it would definitely implicate the Zhao family.

After discussing it with his friends, Ji Cheng said, "Let's not go out for a while. Lao Bai, you should find another place to stay."

This place is no longer safe to stay; it's too dangerous.

The python demon nodded. It was very familiar with the surrounding mountains and forests. Once it left Python Mountain, there were many places where it could hide.

The other monsters nodded in agreement. Big Yellow barked, but unfortunately, it failed to shoot the crow down.

In the following days, the nocturnal activities of the monsters were cancelled, and they took a break for a while.

……

Green Bamboo Gang.

Several days have passed since the demons of Crow Mountain were discovered, and the Blind Taoist and Zhou Mu have already spoken.

That day, Zhou Mu led his men to the Green Bamboo Gang to discuss the dispute over the ownership of the Blood-Patterned Snake Eye Fruit with Su Qing and Kong Shen.

After arguing for a long time, the two sides reached an agreement to use three martial arts competitions to determine which side would get the Blood-Patterned Serpent Eye Fruit.

These three matches were contested by martial artists of the same skill level from both sides.

The stages are Qi and Blood Perfection, Early Stage of Internal Strength, and Mid Stage of Internal Strength. It is a best-of-three series, and an agreement is signed, with no one allowed to go back on their word.

These three levels were reached through multiple rounds of negotiations between the two sides, with both sides generally believing that they had a greater chance of winning.

After both parties signed and sealed the document, Zhou Mu said, "Su Qing, before we fight over the Blood-Veined Serpent Eye Fruit, we have another important matter to attend to. Do you know that a group of demonic beasts are also coveting this spiritual fruit?"

Su Qing was slightly taken aback and asked, "Are you referring to that second-tier python demon from before?"

"It's not just that second-tier python demon. You don't know, but that python demon has found a group of helpers from somewhere. There are peregrine falcons, wolf demons, a masked fox, and a rabbit demon. Of course, these first-tier demons are not to be feared. What is worth noting is that there is also a second-tier bull demon among them, which looks no weaker than that second-tier python demon."

Zhou Mu explained everything in detail. The blind Taoist was standing right next to him, so the source of the information was confirmed to be accurate.

These words caused Su Qing to fall silent. The python demon and the bull demon together constituted two second-tier demonic beasts, whose strength should not be underestimated.

On her shoulder, the Azure Flame Rabbit blinked its eyes nervously, trying to put its hands in its pockets.

"Where are those demonic beasts?" Su Qing asked. Soon, Zhou Mu led Su Qing and the others to the back mountain of the Python Demon, where they could see traces of a group of demonic beasts having gathered there to eat, drink, and play.

“This is where those demonic beasts gather. I’ve sent people to keep watch these past few days, but not a single demonic beast has come. They must have moved their location,” Zhou Mu said.

"So you mean I should send people to slay the demon with you?"

Having these demonic beasts coveting the spiritual fruit is indeed a troublesome matter.

Su Qing and Zhou Mu could decide the ownership of the spirit fruit through a gentleman's agreement, but once these demonic beasts got involved, the scene would inevitably become chaotic, and a great battle would be inevitable.

However, exorcising the demon in this vast mountain forest is no easy task.

Zhou Mu shook his head: "No need for such trouble. Let the blind priest set up a special formation around the spirit fruit to target the demon beasts. If those demon beasts dare to step in, they will be trapped like turtles in a jar."

With Su Qing's men watching the vicinity of the spirit fruit, the blind Taoist could not set up the formation without Su Qing's consent.

Upon hearing this, Su Qing sneered, "I'm afraid this formation isn't just targeting the demonic beasts, but also me and Chief Kong, right?"

She's not stupid.

On his shoulder, the Azure Flame Rabbit squeaked, determined not to agree to such a condition.

"How could that be? Fairy Su is overthinking it. This formation can be set up by you."

The blind Taoist priest spoke with utmost sincerity, offering to let Su Qing handle everything from setting up the formation and its purpose to identifying the key element.

"No thanks. I don't even have a smattering of knowledge about formations, how could I compare to the level of blind worship? This matter is too risky, I can't agree to it."

Su Qing was very cautious, fearing that the blind Taoist might change the formation settings, leaving her and Kong Shen trapped.

"Then what do you think we should do?"

Seeing that Su Qing disagreed with his plan, Zhou Mu's tone was displeased.

"I don't know." Su Qing turned and left. "It will be some time before the spirit fruit matures. You guys think of another way."

Staring at Su Qing's graceful and ethereal figure, Zhou Mu's expression gradually turned cold.

After all of Su Qing's men had left, the blind Taoist priest leaned close to Zhou Mu's ear and said, "Young Master Zhou, I have a plan..."

Su Qing then instructed Kong Shen, "Send more people to Python Mountain, and don't let that blind Taoist set up an array around the spiritual fruit."

Kong Shen nodded in agreement.

That evening, the Azure Flame Rabbit met up with Ji Cheng and Da Huang and told them about the conversation between Zhou Mu and Fairy Su that day.

Ji Cheng knew exactly what was going on.

……

In the blink of an eye, more than half a month has passed.

[You watched the bull demon's martial arts demonstration and absorbed a wisp of demonic energy from a fifth-tier great demon!]

After two months of training at the Niu Family Martial Arts School, Ji Cheng finally got to receive personal instruction from Master Niu once again.

In recent days, he has sparred with his senior brother Luo Liang twice, and won both times by a narrow margin.

In addition, he also sparred with two other senior brothers and successfully gained two winning points, which made him very happy.

That evening, back at the Cui family home, he spent the entire night refining the wisp of demonic energy.

[Titles: Heavenly Chicken (21/60), Married Chicken Follows the Chicken, Fire-Shooting Chicken, Wind-Blowing Chicken, Copy Chicken (Not Wearing)]

[Bloodline: Golden Rooster (100%)]

[Realm: First-Tier Demonic Beast Perfection]

[Talent: Observation, Listening, Inquiry, and Palpation]

[Talent: Fighting Spirit]

[Tier 1 Talent: Feather Blade]

Another breakthrough! First-tier demon beast at its peak, just one step away from second-tier demon beast!
"I wonder what kind of talent I'll gain if I break through to the second-tier demon beast level?"

Ji Cheng had already begun to imagine the scene of breaking through to the second-tier demon beast.

The first-tier talent is [Feather Blade], which is mainly for ranged attacks, but also has some defensive capabilities.

He thought that if he could break through to the second-tier demon beast before the Blood-Patterned Serpent Eye Fruit ripened, then he would basically be set.

But he also knew that breaking through a small realm was easy, but breaking through a large realm was much more difficult, and he didn't know how many strands of demonic energy from a fifth-order great demon would be enough.

With a thought, he retrieved Cui Xiangxue's information.

Name: Cui Xiangxue

Age: 17

[Innate Talent: Above Average]

[Realm Level: First Level of Qi Refining]

[Technique: Fourth-Grade Golden Silkworm Technique]

[Spell: Sword Control Thousand Threads]

More than a month later, when I checked Cui Xiangxue's information again, I found that she had mastered a spell.

Ji Cheng began examining the "Sword Control Thousand Threads Technique," and soon his expression turned strange. This spell was no simple matter; the more he looked, the more astonished he became.

This spell includes the "Sword Control Technique" and the "Thousand Threads Technique".

(End of this chapter)