Cultivation: Starting from a Fighting Cock

Chapter 115 Spirit Fruit Exchanged for Golden Silkworm

Ji Cheng thought he was offering well-intentioned advice, but Zhao Yan glared at him coldly and said:
"Ergou, you shouldn't have killed all the demons with your staff. Are there no good demons in this world?"

She was somewhat unhappy. In her opinion, the fighting rooster that had once stayed in the Zhao family mansion was a good demon beast that had never harmed anyone in the Zhao family mansion.

“Of course there are good monsters in this world, and that’s me,” Ji Cheng said with a smile. “What I mean is, if I were a monster, I might be the good monster you’re talking about because I have humanity. But obviously, other monsters don’t have humanity. If you trust them too much, I’m afraid you’ll end up like a lamb to the slaughter.”

He didn't want his presence as a fighting rooster to affect Zhao Yan's understanding of demonic beasts.

Generally speaking, most demonic beasts are of low intelligence, ferocious and bloodthirsty. In the end, he was still worried about Zhao Yan.

"Hmph, do you think I'm a three-year-old? You think I can't tell good from bad?"

Zhao Yan raised an eyebrow, realizing that Ji Cheng might think she wasn't very bright.

"Yes, you can tell the difference between a good demon and a bad demon; you have discerning eyes."

Ji Cheng smiled and did not argue with her.

Zhao Yan persisted, saying, "Er Gou, you're too superficial. You're prejudiced against demonic beasts!"

Ji Cheng was both amused and exasperated. "Fine, fine, I'm biased against myself, aren't I?"

However, Zhao Yan quickly realized that Er Gou's grandfather was killed by a tiger demon, so it was normal for him to hate demons. She pursed her lips, feeling a little apologetic, and did not continue the topic.

The two began practicing their boxing.

……

Over the next five days, the landscape of Wuzhen changed.

The Su family sent a martial artist at the Qi Opening Realm to take over the Green Bamboo Gang.

The Snake Gang was taken over by a martial artist from the Chang family who had reached the Opening Meridian Realm.

After the death of the Zhou family patriarch, the Zhou family's status plummeted to the very bottom of the four major families in Zishui City, and a large number of their assets were seized by the other three families, the Su family, the Chang family, and the Sun family.

The Zhou family's gang and cockfighting business in Wuzhen were taken over by the Chang family.

The Chang and Su families had a good relationship. After their martial artists at the Opening Meridian Realm arrived in Wuzhen, they first visited Master Niu, then drew a line and agreed to keep to themselves.

For hundreds of years, Wuzhen has maintained this pattern—after each major battle, it would usher in a period of peace and tranquility.

This is good news for the people of Wuzhen, who warmly welcome the new leaders of the two major factions.

As for Tian Chong, who killed Zhou Mu, he left Wuzhen overnight on the same day he killed Zhou Mu, fearing retaliation from the Zhou family.

I heard he's going to join a martial arts sect to get a glimpse of the outside world.

The changes in Wuzhen were a great relief to the Zhao family, who no longer had to worry about the pressure from the Zhou family of Zishui City.

The Zhou family has suffered a severe blow and is being suppressed by the other three major families. It will be very difficult for them to turn things around in the future.

If it weren't for the fact that even though the ship was wrecked, there were still three pounds of nails left, and that the young and strong members of the Zhou family still possessed considerable fighting power, the Zhou family would probably have been devoured long ago and withdrawn from the ranks of the four great families.

Now that Zhao Qian is working for the Su family, which has risen to become the top of the four major families in Zishui City, with such a powerful backer, generally no one will dare to provoke the Zhao family.

However, the Zhao family's medicinal herb business was still stalled. The county constables seemed to be targeting the Zhao family and were not allowing them to leave Wuzhen.

This caused Master Zhao a great deal of worry.

The Cui family's old house.

Ji Cheng was soaking in a medicinal bath while cultivating when suddenly his blood and qi surged.

He broke through to the late stage of Qi and Blood.

"I should ask Master Niu about this blood transfusion tomorrow."

Having practiced martial arts recently, Ji Cheng has gained many insights and has become increasingly familiar with his own body.

However, it was precisely because he was constantly exploring his own power that he felt more and more that the human body held many mysteries, as if it had endless potential waiting to be developed.

He had heard of blood transfusions, but he only knew that this thing would not increase one's cultivation level, but it could increase combat power several times over.

This thing seems to represent potential. There's a saying that if you can't successfully undergo a blood transfusion, then even if you train hard your whole life, you can only reach the third level of martial arts.

For specifics, I'll have to consult Master Niu. Ji Cheng feels he's almost at the stage where he needs a blood transfusion.

These past few days, his demonic body's injuries have not yet fully healed, and it will take some time before he can copy the first spiritual fruit.

He tried, but found his demonic power insufficient when copying the spirit fruit. He planned to try again when he was back to his peak condition.

His title, "Copycat Chicken," means he can copy rare and precious materials, secret manuals, and even ordinary objects.

The consumption of body-tempering herbs and silver is not large when copying them, but when copying items with spiritual power, it consumes almost the same amount of demonic power.

If Ji Cheng were to copy a spirit stone, he would consume a large amount of demonic power. However, by absorbing the copied spirit stone, he could replenish the demonic power he had consumed.

It implies that energy conservation has been achieved.

Of course, Ji Cheng had never copied spirit stones before; this was merely a pattern he had discovered through the process of copying various items.

As for Xuanbing and magic weapons, they are completely unreplicable; otherwise, he would have liked to copy a black hammer and give it to A Niu.

at night.

As usual, Ji Cheng first transformed into a peregrine falcon and surveyed the skies above Wuzhen. He then discovered that the Azure Flame Rabbit had appeared alone by the river.

This means that he is being summoned.

Ji Cheng glided down and landed on a rock by the river. He asked, "Little rabbit, what's wrong?" "Squeak squeak squeak squeak..."

The Azure Flame Rabbit was getting anxious and kept gesturing.

Ji Cheng understood and asked, "You mean, in three days, Fairy Su will take you away from Wuzhen?"

Kuku the little rabbit nodded.

With this matter settled, Su Qing was returning to her sect, and the Azure Flame Spirit Rabbit naturally had to leave with her as well; there was no reason for it to stay behind alone.

Therefore, the little rabbit was naturally anxious, since the other party hadn't received the spirit fruit yet!

“It will take me some time to replicate the spirit fruit,” Ji Cheng said. “I happen to be missing something. So, little rabbit, could you introduce me to Fairy Su?”

"Squeak?" The Azure Flame Rabbit asked, puzzled.

"I want to negotiate with Fairy Su and exchange a spirit fruit for something I want. Of course, don't worry, whether Fairy Su agrees or not, I will eventually give you a spirit fruit."

Ji Cheng revealed his plan: he wanted to take the opportunity to ask Fairy Su for a golden silkworm.

Of course, his behavior was indeed a bit unfair and unethical—he promised to give the Azure Flame Spirit Rabbit a spirit fruit, but added a condition.

However, he didn't have any other good methods. Apart from Fairy Su, he couldn't think of any other way to obtain a golden silkworm.

Moreover, his condition was designed to trick Fairy Su, not the Azure Flame Spirit Rabbit. Even if Fairy Su did not agree, he would still give the little rabbit a spirit fruit.

Why not give it a try? Whether you succeed or fail, you won't lose anything.

"Squeak!"

The Azure Flame Rabbit narrowed its eyes into slits and glanced at Ji Cheng with an overwhelming sense of contempt.

It just can't speak, otherwise it would definitely give Ji Cheng a good scolding.

Ji Cheng was amused by its expression and chuckled for a while.

After laughing, Ji Cheng said coaxingly, "Little rabbit, don't misunderstand. Actually, I wanted to test whether Fairy Su was really good to you."

"You know, if Fairy Su treats you well, knowing how important this spiritual fruit is to you, right? She would definitely try every means to get a golden silkworm to exchange for the spiritual fruit for you. But if she doesn't treat you well..."

"Squeak!"

Ji Cheng had only spoken halfway when the little rabbit understood. It squeaked, indicating that Fairy Su would definitely use the golden silkworm to exchange for the spirit fruit, absolutely!
Ji Cheng smiled slightly. This little rabbit is so easy to fool. To put it simply, the little rabbit is quite concerned about Fairy Su exchanging the golden silkworm for the spirit fruit.

Afterwards, Ji Cheng made an appointment with the little rabbit to bring Fairy Su here again the next night.

The little rabbit nodded, indicating that there was no problem.

To test whether Fairy Su was good enough to him, it actively wanted to make this happen.

Time quickly came to the second night.

Fairy Su followed the Azure Flame Rabbit to the riverbank, full of doubts.

A few minutes later, a peregrine falcon landed on the rock in front of her. As soon as the falcon spoke, she recognized it as the chicken demon in disguise.

"Xiao Qing?"

She was very surprised. She looked at the Azure Flame Rabbit and never expected that her spirit pet would bring her to see that chicken demon.

Ji Cheng took out the Blood-Veined Serpent Eye Fruit and said, "Fairy Su, don't be nervous. I don't mean anything by it. I just want to make a deal with you. Do you see this Blood-Veined Serpent Eye Fruit? I know that this spiritual fruit is very important to your spirit rabbit. I can give it to you, but I also hope that you can give me something in return."

At this moment, facing each other head-on, Fairy Su was shocked. She couldn't believe that this was really a demon beast.

She felt as if she were having a conversation with a normal human being, and the other person's intelligence was not much lower than her own.

"what do you want?"

As Su Xianzi’s beautiful voice rang out, she suddenly felt it was somewhat absurd. Who would believe that she was actually negotiating with a chicken demon?
"I want a golden silkworm."

"Golden silkworm? What do you need that for?"

"Don't ask me that, Fairy Su. Can you get your hands on a golden silkworm?"

"It's difficult."

To be honest, Fairy Su didn't really want to facilitate this transaction. While the Blood-Veined Serpent Eye Fruit was rare, the Golden Silkworm was a spirit insect, which was equally rare.

"Squeak!"

Seeing this, the Azure Flame Rabbit became anxious. It tugged at Fairy Su's dress and squeaked, looking pitiful with its big eyes brimming with tears, as if it might burst into tears at any moment.

It looked as if it was saying, "Waaah, if you don't like it, then just give me to this chicken demon as a golden silkworm!"
Ji Cheng chuckled to himself. Well, this little rabbit is quite the actor; she truly understands the saying, "The squeaky wheel gets the grease."

After the little rabbit's antics, Fairy Su's attitude softened, and Ji Cheng seized the opportunity to say, "It's good that it's challenging. It means that the things we're exchanging are of similar value. If you bring something that's common and readily available, I wouldn't be willing to exchange with you."

Fairy Su glanced at Ji Cheng, then at the Azure Flame Spirit Rabbit, sighed, and said, "Alright, Little Qing, I'll exchange a Golden Silkworm for the spirit fruit. Stop fooling around."

The Azure Flame Rabbit immediately stopped crying and started laughing, rubbing its head vigorously against Fairy Su's jade-like, smooth neck.

It even winked at Ji Cheng secretly, with a hint of smugness in its eyes.

"Please keep this spiritual fruit safe. I will return to Wuzhen as soon as I get the Golden Silkworm," Fairy Su said to Ji Cheng.

Ji Cheng readily agreed, and the two sides made the agreement.

Just as Ji Cheng was about to flap his wings and leave, Fairy Su suddenly asked, "I have seen many demonic beasts, but I have never seen one as special as you. How can you be so intelligent?"

(End of this chapter)