Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 4 - 4 4: Spirit Chicken!_1
Previously on Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant...
The servants at last brought the chicken feed and the discarded spirit insects.
Old Sun, though, stayed rather puzzled.
Why did it lay an egg out of nowhere? Maybe I got it mixed up?
Wang Ba, who stood beside him, didn't dare to speak up. He simply trailed after Old Sun, dumping the arrived chicken feed into the big barrel to let it ferment.
Even though it was merely chicken feed, it held a trace of spiritual energy.
Simply breathing in a small amount of the feed made Wang Ba's sense of frailty lessen.
Once this chicken feed fermented properly, the spiritual energy's quality would rise even higher.
The Precious Chickens that consume this kind of feed would simply become healthier, with their spiritual energy growing richer.
Of course, the discarded spirit insects served an essential purpose too.
Don't use your hand!
Old Sun stopped Wang Ba, who was about to seize the spirit insects with his bare hand.
He quickly grabbed an iron spoon, scooped the wriggling spirit insects, and scattered them for the eager Precious Chickens.
These discarded spirit insects are mostly venomous. The Precious Chickens remain unharmed, but if we handle them, we'll either perish or suffer grave wounds!
For some unexplained reason, Old Sun, who had been quite unfriendly toward Wang Ba the day before, proved unusually chatty today.
He kept sharing useful advice from time to time.
Upon hearing the caution, Wang Ba pulled his hand back right away.
Noticing this, Old Sun didn't scorn him.
Any person would feel rattled after narrowly escaping death.
They only require feeding once daily. No need to fret about hunger. The spiritual energy from the chicken feed and spirit insects suffices for them to process over a full day and night.
Old Sun set down the iron spoon, offering more instructions.
Wang Ba nodded, taking in every bit of this fresh knowledge.
He had certainly picked up something novel; the chickens from his previous life needed to forage constantly throughout the day.
After all, chickens are creatures that digest swiftly, eating right after voiding and breaking down food at a remarkable speed.
Maybe because Wang Ba appeared receptive, courteous, and modest,
Old Sun's demeanor warmed considerably from yesterday, and he didn't mind adding a few more remarks:
See that one? Once it eats, it stops quickly. And that one—these Precious Chickens have incredibly finicky appetites. At times, they must be deprived of food a little to train them, and that one there, wait—what's this?
Wang Ba followed Old Sun's line of sight and spotted a sturdy, plump hen that seemed vaguely familiar. It was shoving its fellow chickens aside with its hefty frame.
At the same time, its beak darted wildly, as if it had gone without food for ages and aimed to recover all at once.
The chicken feed before it vanished at a pace the eye could follow.
It devoured more than all the other hens put together.
Wang Ba's heart skipped a beat.
This chicken acted far too boldly!
Old Sun, observing the sight, knitted his brows tightly.
It's this chicken once more...
How odd!
Old Sun limped closer and, with a swift motion, stretched out to seize it!
Yet, to the surprise of both Old Sun and Wang Ba,
The hen hopped lightly and evaded his grab!
Wang Ba felt especially stunned!
For he had seen Old Sun's hand speed both the previous night and this morning...
One could say his actions were sharp and direct!
Whichever he aimed to catch, he caught!
At this, Old Sun felt delight surge rather than shock.
He reached for the hen again.
This time, Wang Ba couldn't even spot the moment he struck.
There was merely a blur in his vision.
Cluck! Cluck!
The chubby, round hen was already in Old Sun's hold.
He expertly folded the chicken's wings behind its back, then began probing up and down with his hands...
As he checked, Old Sun's eyes gleamed.
Good heavens! It's nearly a Spirit Chicken!
Spirit Chicken?
Wang Ba inquired, puzzled.
Having found a gem, Old Sun was cheerful and held nothing back.
Though Precious Chickens hold value, and even the Sect's Qi refining immortals eat them, ultimately, they remain ordinary fowl, possessing at best a touch of spiritual awareness!
But a Spirit Chicken—that's a genuine Immortal Bird beyond the ordinary!
Naturally, this one isn't a full Spirit Chicken yet, but it's awfully near. Even so, this counts as a major success!
With proper care in the days ahead, it's sure to evolve into a Spirit Chicken.
Old Sun explained with enthusiasm.
As he inspected the hen in his grip from every side, his happiness showed plainly.
Wang Ba's feelings, however, mixed a little.
After all, it was natural for the chicken to transform after its lifespan extension.
Still, he posed the key question:
Old Sun, what reward can I earn from presenting such a Spirit Chicken?
Old Sun gently returned the hen and answered Wang Ba's query simultaneously:
It waives the yearly offering.
Exemption from just one year's offering?
Wang Ba felt a touch let down right away.
He had hoped for some Cultivation Methods from the Sect as prizes, though he wouldn't use them.
Hah! Don't undervalue what an exemption means.
Old Sun, in high spirits, grew more talkative:
The Sect enforces strict rules.
You may handle the leftover chickens in the villa however you like, as long as you maintain them well and don't disrupt the monthly tributes. Failing that brings dire results.
Consider: skipping offerings for a year gives you extra 48 Precious Chickens and 2400 Precious Chicken eggs to market!
By market rates, a male Precious Chicken fetches two-point Spirit Stone, a female four-point; that's fourteen lower-grade Spirit Stones from them alone!
Precious Chicken eggs aren't pricey, but 2400 fetch two or three Spirit Stones.
Add it up—that's seventeen or eighteen lower-grade Spirit Stones!
With seventeen or eighteen Spirit Stones, you could snag a grand estate in the mortal town and acquire a few wives!
Wang Ba's pulse quickened!
He hadn't imagined Precious Chickens were worth so much!
He also hadn't realized a Spirit Chicken's worth could be that substantial!
In truth, the prize likely values less than the tribute saved. The Sect offers generously since they gain even more.
Yet, after pondering, he sensed an issue.
Old Sun, our current stock of chickens doesn't seem sufficient for the tributes.
Even with a one-year exemption, we'll need to reserve some for breeding and future tributes; ultimately, we might sell only about eleven males and two females.
With the eggs included, it totals roughly three to four lower-grade Spirit Stones.
Old Sun appeared mildly surprised by Wang Ba's observation.
You're sharp-minded!
After a brief pause, he glanced about and murmured:
The Sect wouldn't be that lenient; they tally things more precisely than you! These Precious Chickens resemble Spirit Chickens most closely, but breeding them is incredibly tough. The Sect's overseers understand this; merely meeting monthly tribute quotas at each manor is already impressive. Surpluses exist, but they're slim.
As for our manor, an outbreak several years back caused massive losses. We've only lately recovered a bit.
And on your point about shortages... heh, the Sect overlooks that! If short, you'll figure out how to cover it. Even purchasing from markets to fill gaps is required. Think that's why they pay our wages?
Ah, so that's the case.
Wang Ba comprehended suddenly.
He had wondered why a Spirit Chicken's reward seemed so grand; it was essentially an open-ended promise.
This cleared up his questions about the uneven numbers of Precious Chickens at the villa.
Fine, since I'm departing soon, I figured I'd warn you to remember it. It'll help you out.
Old Sun tugged at his beard and said.
What? You're heading down the mountain?
Wang Ba was startled by the statement.
Life calls for it!
Old Sun sighed, fingering his beard:
In my youth, I fixated on immortality's path. I poured my entire wealth into entering the Sect, grasping at any chance.
Once inside, I practiced the Body Strengthening Scripture diligently for fifty years. I've hit Stage IX now, just a step from birthing a Spiritual Root at Stage X...
Alas, such a shame—a profound regret!
So close, yet the distance feels vast as the heavens!
Wang, time flies; grasp it while you can, don't delay regrets till my years.
This is the sole counsel I, as a senior, offer you.
Wang Ba stayed quiet.
Old Sun's tale, at first listen, mirrored his own almost eerily.
It nearly tricked him into thinking it was his history.
Unlike Wang Ba, Old Sun boasted superior aptitude.
At least he advanced the Body Strengthening Scripture to Stage IX in only fifty years.
Had he remained among mortals, he'd likely shine as a martial prodigy.
He might roam the lands on steed, embracing an epic existence.
But here in this immortal Sect, he's merely an obscure elder tending chickens.
His days filled with remorse and unrest.
Without his golden finger, Wang Ba's path would mirror this too.
Yet with this chance to change fate, he won't allow it to escape!
Still, patience is key; he must bide his time!
Gazing at the Precious Chickens milling about, Wang Ba gripped his fists in secret.