Chapter Twenty-Five: Grilled Chicken Wings Are My Favorite

Chou Guangqi watched helplessly as the youth across from him ignited the end of a branch with his own fireball. The youth then leapt backward and set fire to the freshly stacked pile of wood in a clearing nearby. From the thicket emerged a girl clad in green, carrying a plucked and skewered wild chicken, which she handed to the youth. He placed the bird over the flames and began to roast it, turning it with practiced ease.

“You!” Chou Guangqi roared, “You dare use my spiritual fire to roast a chicken?!”

Shi Qi spread his hands. “What else could I do? I’d have liked to roast something else, but there’s nothing left to cook.”

Chou Guangqi’s fury mounted; he was at a loss for words. Next to him, the green-clad girl stared wide-eyed, drooling as she sang a tune.

“Roasted chicken wings~ They’re my favorite~” Su Xiaomu fixated on the roasting bird, humming her little song.

Shi Qi drew oil and various seasonings from his storage pouch and brushed them over the chicken. Soon, an irresistible aroma wafted through the air.

As Shi Qi turned the bird, he muttered, “No wonder they call it spiritual fire—it’s got real strength.”

Shi Qi glanced at Chou Guangqi and his companions, who stood frozen in place. Scratching his head, he called out, “Why are you just standing there? Fight! No need to wait until we’re done roasting!”

Chou Guangqi was beside himself with rage. He opened his mouth wide and spat out a whirlwind of fire toward Shi Qi.

Shi Qi, unhurried, drew forth the Azure Cloud Umbrella from his back and opened it. The flames struck the umbrella’s surface and rebounded in all directions, dissipating harmlessly into the air.

Closing the umbrella, Shi Qi smiled at Chou Guangqi. “Don’t scorch my chicken.”

Su Xiaomu chimed in, “Exactly!”

Chou Guangqi frowned. That Shi Qi had so easily countered his spell gave him pause; perhaps Shi Qi’s cultivation surpassed his own.

With this thought, Chou Guangqi brushed aside his crimson robe and bowed to Shi Qi. “May I ask, friend, which sect are you from?”

Shi Qi didn’t look up, continuing to roast the chicken as he spoke. “Just a wandering cultivator.”

Chou Guangqi smiled faintly, thinking to himself that a wanderer would be easier to deal with.

“Why do you interfere in our conflict, friend?” he asked.

Shi Qi still did not look up. “When did I interfere? I’m just roasting my chicken. You go ahead and fight.”

Chou Guangqi stood dumbfounded. Indeed, this fellow had not participated in the battle at all—though he was certainly aggravating.

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On the other side, Leng Lingmeng and Liao Hongda were locked in combat. After three more exchanges, Liao Hongda failed to gain any advantage, instead suffering numerous injuries at the hands of Leng Lingmeng’s varied spells and the mysterious power within them.

Liao Hongda felt aggrieved. Though these wounds were minor and didn’t hinder him, he prided himself on being undefeated since his debut. Days ago, Shi Qi had toyed with him using unique spells; today, he met Leng Lingmeng, whose techniques were both plentiful and genuinely harmful.

Leng Lingmeng also frowned. Liao Hongda was like a tortoise—unyielding and tough as nails, yet his attacks were ferocious. She had to stay vigilant, dodging his assaults and using every trick at her disposal to restrain him. Her vaunted formless power could only inflict negligible harm against his body-forging arts.

Liao Hongda retreated to Chou Guangqi’s side, while Leng Lingmeng returned to Snow Dance and her companions. Both teams ended their first clash without gaining the upper hand.

As the tension lingered, Liao Hongda sniffed the air, catching the scent of roasted meat.

Turning, he saw Shi Qi pulling a drumstick from the fire and handing it to Su Xiaomu.

“You again!” Liao Hongda shouted. What a day—his two greatest sources of frustration had somehow joined forces.

Shi Qi looked over. “Tired from fighting? Come have a bite. Though, the drumsticks and wings are ours. How about the tail?”

Liao Hongda looked at Shi Qi, then at the group from Xuan Yue Palace. He knew he could not best them, and since he was here to seek treasure, with nothing yet found, there was no reason to drag out the fight. With a cold snort, he mounted his mechanical eagle and flew toward another peak to search for fortune.

Seeing Liao Hongda depart, Chou Guangqi hastily pulled his two fellow disciples from the Fiery Sect. “Let’s go!” he barked, and the three soared away on waves of fire.

Now, only Leng Lingmeng, Snow Dance, and their companions remained atop the peak, along with Shi Qi and Su Xiaomu. The other sect disciples and wandering cultivators, having seen Xuan Yue Palace and the Fiery Sect at odds, had already left for other peaks to search for treasures.

Shi Qi muttered, “Well, no more show to watch. Time for chicken.”

Leng Lingmeng frowned and pondered for a moment, then led her group over.

“Thank you for your assistance,” Snow Dance said with a bow, having noticed Shi Qi’s water shield blocking Chou Guangqi’s fireball.

“Don’t mention it,” Shi Qi waved his hand. “I didn’t help anyone. I’m just here to roast chicken. If you’d like some, help yourselves.”

Snow Dance shook her head. “We’ve all abstained from food. You enjoy your meal. Farewell.”

With that, the four girls of Xuan Yue Palace took to the wind and departed.

Snow Dance said, “Leng junior, let’s search for fortune on another peak.”

Leng Lingmeng replied, “No need, senior. Let’s return. The treasure has already been claimed.”

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Snow Dance protested, “In such a short time, how could—”

Leng Lingmeng explained, “That blue-robed youth just now—his aura matches that of the treasure indicated by the sect leader’s compass. He must have claimed it. There’s no need to linger at Mount Jiuhua; let’s return to Xuan Yue Palace.”

Snow Dance nodded. “Very well, let’s depart.”

At the summit of Mount Jiuhua, Su Xiaomu gnawed hungrily on a chicken wing, her rosy lips glistening with oil.

Shi Qi mused: The youth rankings—top is Leng Lingmeng from Xuan Yue Palace, whom I’ve now met. Third is the Fiery Sect’s Liao the Tortoise, whom I’ve also encountered. I don’t know who the others are. With my current cultivation, I can avoid defeat, but victory is difficult. I’ll need to find time to train.

Shi Qi was one to follow his whims. He lacked the patience for days-long meditative cultivation—unless he brought snacks and storybooks to pass the time, though that wouldn’t count as training. Well, whenever he felt like it, he’d settle down.

Seeing Su Xiaomu finish her meal, Shi Qi summoned a stream of water to wash her face and hands.

“Big brother, where will we go next?” Su Xiaomu shook the water from her face and asked.

Shi Qi replied, “You really want to follow me?”

Su Xiaomu answered, “Of course! Following big brother means we get to eat chicken.”

Shi Qi took out his flask, laughing as he drank. “Then why should I let you tag along?”

Su Xiaomu rolled her eyes, thinking for a moment. “How about I become your wife?”

“Pfft!” Shi Qi sprayed water everywhere.

Su Xiaomu asked, “What’s wrong?”

Shi Qi replied, “Do you know what a wife does?”

Su Xiaomu said, “No, but I heard only girls can be wives.”

Shi Qi wiped his brow. “Forget it. I’m heading to East Sea City. Come or don’t, it’s up to you.”

Shi Qi summoned a stream of water to extinguish the fire, lest Mount Jiuhua be set ablaze. Then he rose and flew down the mountain, with Su Xiaomu following close behind.