At first glance, the sparrow looked just like any other Rank-Zero spirit bird. But the gleam in its eyes and the sheen of its bronze-colored feathers made Lin Chen frown. There was something off about it.
Its plumage shimmered like polished bronze, and it was several times larger than an ordinary sparrow.
Lin Chen stared for a long moment, his heartbeat steady but heavy. Did I see that right? Or is this really a different species?
He tried to inspect the bird but found no clues. Unconsciously, he summoned his personal panel.
Ding!
A familiar notification chimed, followed by the appearance of an information window.
[Item: Bronze Sparrow]
Description: A Rank-One spirit sparrow. Often a pest to farmers. Its meat is edible and contains a small amount of blood energy.
Lin Chen's eyes lit up as he read the panel. This time, the window hadn't appeared automatically—he had called it himself. Even so, his excitement didn't fade. The information before him was astonishing.
"Heh, looks like I've got some unexpected luck today," he muttered with a broad grin.
When his excitement settled, curiosity returned.
"Where did this Rank-One sparrow come from?"
He searched around but found nothing unusual. The only thing he could confirm was that the bronze sparrow was one of the birds he'd bought earlier, together with the other Rank-Zero sparrows.
I don't remember there being anything strange about them before...
Could this one have already been on the verge of breaking through before I bought it—and I'm just reaping the results? he wondered, amused and intrigued.
"Or maybe there's something special here that I don't know about?"
Unable to find an answer, Lin Chen decided to drop the matter. "Never mind. Let the mystery wait. My stomach needs answers more than my head does," he said with a soft laugh and headed for the kitchen.
He got to work. His hands moved deftly as he plucked the feathers, the fishy scent of raw bird mixing with the warm midday air that filled the small kitchen. When he finished, he hesitated over how to cook it. With no better idea, he made a simple soup—just like the homemade chicken soup recipe he remembered.
When the cooking was done, he cleaned up the mess and gathered the leftover scraps to feed his chickens.
As Lin Chen returned after feeding them, the savory aroma of the soup reached his nose. He couldn't help but swallow greedily. Back in the kitchen, he lifted the pot's lid and a plume of steam billowed out. The scent of the boiled sparrow had grown even richer and more intoxicating.
He didn't wait long. He scooped some into a bowl and took a bite. The moment the broth touched his tongue, a wave of delicate umami burst in his mouth. Lin Chen froze, his eyes widening.
"This... is incredible!"
He devoured the rest eagerly, savoring every bite with growing satisfaction.
"I had no idea how to handle this bird at first, and just boiling it like soup turned out this good!" he exclaimed between mouthfuls.
A warm surge of blood energy spread from his stomach through his body, melting away fatigue and hunger. "They were right—good ingredients only need simple cooking to shine!"
He ate until only a third of the soup remained, then set aside a portion to give to a kind neighbor. After all, that's how people should live—by giving and receiving so they never grow distant, he thought.
...
The next day, Lin Chen went about his usual routine: tending his chickens, then training.
At first, he practiced spell recitations. Flames, metal shards, and other elements flickered before him a few times, but he soon stopped—he simply wasn't talented in that area.
His spiritual root was rare—a Five-Root Affinity—but its power was spread evenly across all elements, making progress slow and difficult. It was roughly equal to a low-grade Four-Root constitution, and the results were unsatisfying.
So Lin Chen changed focus to physical training. Gripping his axe tightly, he swung harder than ever before. His persistence paid off—he managed to train far longer than usual that day.
"No wonder people risk their lives for resources," he murmured mid-swing. "Even with just that little sparrow meat, I can extend my training time and improve my progress."
"An extra hour today might not seem like much... but if this keeps up, the difference will grow."
He sighed, realizing just how vital spiritual food was for a cultivator's growth.
Suddenly, a sparrow darted across his path. Annoyed, Lin Chen swung instinctively.
Swoosh!
The bird fell instantly. At first, he didn't care—planning to cook it later. Even a Rank-Zero bird helps when you're hungry,he thought.
But when he took a closer look, he froze. "Wait... why is this one Rank-One too?"
He examined it carefully and confirmed it—it was another Bronze Sparrow, identical to the one from the night before. Scanning the rest of the birds, he found nothing unusual.
Lin Chen made up his mind. He packed up the bronze sparrow and began cleaning it. This time, instead of making soup, he decided to preserve it by smoking.
"Good thing I still have that Rank-Zero cage to use as fuel—otherwise, I'd be in trouble," he muttered.
Items imbued with spiritual energy needed to be processed with materials that also contained spiritual energy; otherwise, their rank could drop or the result could be contaminated. Luckily, the broken birdcage he'd gotten from the seller earlier still came in handy.
A spirit stone lay nearby, but Lin Chen ignored it—he'd let it absorb energy for now. He was in a hurry and didn't want to waste time.
After finishing the smoking, he fed his chickens, then went to buy a new cage from Xing Que. The man looked puzzled at Lin Chen's sudden visit but sold it to him without question.
Lin Chen separated the sparrows into two groups and placed them safely apart. He wanted to see what would happen next.
...
The following morning, while training, a sparrow suddenly burst from its cage. Reflexively, Lin Chen swung.
Swoosh!
The bird dropped dead on the spot. Lin Chen blinked. "Why is there a sparrow outside? Didn't I cage them all?"
He stepped closer—and his eyes brightened. "I knew it! My guess was right!" he said, voice brimming with excitement.
He hurried to check the other cages and found one broken. His suspicion solidified. He'd had a theory about why the sparrows were advancing in rank but hadn't had proof—until now.
He'd fed one group normal grain and the other with feed from the chicken bowl. The next day, the birds that had eaten from the chicken bowl emitted a faint aura—their feathers thickened and turned bronze, just as he had suspected.
Lin Chen could barely contain his joy.
...
Amid the bustle of the morning market, a young man sat behind a simple wooden table. His stall was humble, but his eyes gleamed with quiet confidence.
It was Lin Chen. He looked livelier and more energetic than he had in days—his experiment had succeeded. The last three sparrows had all evolved into Rank-One spirit beasts within just a few days.
Now, he was selling them in the market. Only one sparrow remained after several had been bought.
Just as he began to worry the last one wouldn't sell, an old man approached. Lin Chen greeted him politely. As they negotiated, another young man walking by stopped, frowning in confusion.
"A sparrow? Since when did this kid start selling sparrows?" Xing Que muttered in surprise.
At first, he didn't care—he was sure Lin Chen's small business couldn't affect his. But when he noticed that the sparrows were Rank-One, his eyes narrowed sharply.
...
"Phew, finally done!" Lin Chen said cheerfully.
He counted his earnings and headed home with a satisfied smile. "Looks like things are finally turning around. Just from those three sparrows, I made seventy-five Spirit Sand! If this keeps up, I could get rich. I won't have to worry about paying back Brother Hu or Sister Liu Ruyan anymore," he thought, relief washing over him.
In his yard, several roosters were locked in fierce combat, fighting with the ferocity of eagles trapped in chicken bodies.
Lin Chen rushed to separate them. Once calm returned, he sighed—though he knew they'd fight again soon.
His chickens had grown exceptionally under the blessing of the chicken bowl. The average one weighed four kilograms—double the size of ordinary farm chickens. He decided to wait a little longer to see if they'd grow even more.
Seeing how chaotic the yard had become, Lin Chen caught half the birds. Mature roosters were notoriously aggressive, but his cultivation strength made it easy to subdue them quickly.
He sold them to Boss Chen and earned twenty spirit stones.
Lin Chen was elated. Before, chickens that heavy had only been possible because his father brought home scraps from hunting. Now, he could achieve it himself—a small miracle indeed.
On his way home, the first thing he did was pay back Sister Liu Ruyan. She was stunned—she'd already resigned herself to a long wait, but Lin Chen had repaid her so soon.
At first, Liu Ruyan refused the payment, worried he might have done something reckless. But when he explained it came from his chicken sales, she accepted it with a gentle smile. Still, she said softly, "If you ever need help again, just come to me."
Lin Chen nodded gratefully and took his leave.
But when he reached home, the last person he wanted to see was waiting for him. The moment their eyes met, the man spoke with a mocking tone.
"Hey, Lin Chen. Not happy to see me?"
Lin Chen quickly lowered his head. "No, Brother Hu. I—I wouldn't dare."
Brother Hu snorted coldly. "Good. Then pay your debt now."
Lin Chen exhaled slowly. A bitter smile crossed his face—the kind worn by someone who knows a storm is coming but has nowhere to hide.
His debt was fifteen spirit stones, but he only had fourteen left after buying supplies and repaying Liu Ruyan.
"Brother Hu, could you give me a little more time? I don't have enough spirit stones at the moment."
Brother Hu's face darkened. Afraid of provoking him, Lin Chen quickly explained that not all his chickens had sold yet, and he would pay as soon as they did.
But Brother Hu didn't believe him. He snatched a chicken from Lin Chen's hands, his eyes narrowing as he inspected it. The cold glint in his gaze shifted to greed as he squeezed the bird's breast and wings.
"Hmm... good chicken," he murmured. "Nearly four kilos. Spirit meat of this quality is rare on the outskirts."
He sneered at Lin Chen. "Fine. You don't need to pay in stones. Give me five chickens like this instead. Consider it interest—and the rest will cover my losses."
Lin Chen stiffened, his jaw tightening. He knew the man was exploiting him—five spirit chickens were worth twenty spirit stones, far more than his fifteen-stone debt.
Just as he was about to speak up, a crushing pressure filled the air. Brother Hu's gaze sharpened like a drawn blade, slicing through the space between them. In an instant, murderous intent weighed on Lin Chen's body like a mountain.
It felt tangible—real—pain flaring through every limb. Cold sweat trickled down his face. His vision tinted red, his heart pounding in terror.
One chilling thought echoed in his mind, If that man even twitches with intent... I'll die.