Chapter 387: Little Phoenix Listens to the Tung Tree, Old Cheng Returns

"Crack…"

"Crack-crack…"

The small creature covered in fiery red down closed its eyes and pushed hard with its large feet against the outside of its eggshell.

The cracks on the eggshell multiplied.

Finally, with a sharp crack, it shattered into pieces on the ground.

A red, fluffy creature, its body and head nearly the same size, resembling a gourd, stood upright in the void.

It was only two feet tall, plump and round.

It had not yet grown feathers; its entire body was covered in soft, downy fur.

Its round, black eyes spun rapidly, then locked onto He Pingsheng.

Is this a phoenix?

He Pingsheng grinned in surprise: it looked just like the chick of a snow goose that lived on the ice plains.

So adorable.

Round head, round belly, covered in soft, downy fur all over.

The little creature even lifted its wings to wave at He Pingsheng.

Unfortunately, its wings had no feathers yet—short, stubby, like two little wooden blocks, all covered in fiery red down.

The fluffy little creature stood atop the molten lava and fire, its down fluffed out, yet utterly unharmed by the flames.

After a few breaths, the little thing lowered its head, crunched a few times, and swallowed the shed shell whole.

"You must be hungry!" He Pingsheng chuckled, then extended two fingers and poked the fluffy creature's belly twice.

So soft!

Very comfortable.

"Hehehe…" He Pingsheng couldn't help laughing.

But the little creature unexpectedly spoke in clear human words: "Master, I'm not hungry—it's just that the shell contains fire-elemental rules, so I ate it!"

The voice was soft and sweet, like a three- or four-year-old girl.

"Hey!" He Pingsheng was stunned: "You can talk?"

He became interested.

"I was born with a Golden Core—I naturally can speak!" The creature looked at He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng's heart jolted: Born with a Golden Core!

Impressive!

His spiritual sense swept over the little creature and discovered it wasn't just born with a Golden Core—its cultivation base had already reached the peak of the twelfth layer of Golden Core.

Just one step away from breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm.

Hisssss…

So strong.

"What's your name?" He Pingsheng asked.

The creature said: "My lord, I am of true-blood phoenix lineage, possessing three-tenths phoenix blood, but I have no name yet!"

"Please, my lord, grant me a name!"

He Pingsheng thought for a moment: "Well… you're all red down—how about you're called Little Red?"

He immediately received a look of disdain from the little creature.

Fine!

Apparently, it didn't like that name.

"Little Phoenix?"

"Little Huang!"

"Little Phoenix?"

Fine!

Seeing the creature's unwavering look of disdain, He Pingsheng said: "Alright, let me think… I'll give you a proper name!"

"What should I call you?"

He Pingsheng frowned, deep in thought.

"I've heard the tale of the phoenix perching on the tung tree—how about… wait—are you male or female?"

The little creature replied in a muffled voice: "I'm a girl, you dummy!"

"Oh!"

He Pingsheng rubbed his forehead: "Then… I'll name you Tingtong!"

The creature was delighted—she jumped up happily: "Yes! Yes! Tingtong is perfect! Master, from now on I'm Tingtong!"

He Pingsheng nodded contentedly: "From now on, don't call me Master—it sounds awkward. Call me Young Master."

"Yes, Young Master!"

He Pingsheng extended his hand.

The cute, chubby chick leapt and landed in his palm.

He Pingsheng reached out and stroked its head.

Tens of thousands of fine downy hairs flowed like water, smoothing against its skin.

It felt soft and fluffy—adorable!

Like a plush toy.

"Your wings are so small!" He Pingsheng patted its wings again: "You look just like a snow goose—could you be a deformed phoenix?"

"No!" Tingtong said: "I'm still growing, Young Master! Don't say that about me!"

"Hmm!"

He Pingsheng nodded, then waved his hand—the Eight Treasures Boat unfolded.

He tossed Tingtong onto the deck, dismantled the several arrays in the area, and set off in the Eight Treasures Boat toward Jibei City.

He Pingsheng sat cross-legged on the deck of the Eight Treasures Boat.

The fluffy little creature sat to his left, imitating him by crossing its legs.

Unfortunately, its legs were too short to cross properly.

It simply plopped its bottom on the deck, stretched out its two stubby legs, which were hidden beneath the red down, leaving only its feet exposed.

He Pingsheng glanced sideways and noticed the creature's golden feet were webbed.

Heh…

What kind of phoenix is this?

More like a snow goose!

Indeed, unless someone had seen a phoenix—especially a phoenix chick—repeatedly, they'd never recognize this as a true-blood phoenix.

Upon reaching Jibei City, He Pingsheng picked her up by her little legs and tossed her into the Great Freedom Pearl.

Even if few could recognize her, better to be cautious.

In Jibei City, he boarded a fairy ship and departed.

Four or five days later, he returned to Hongshi City.

To He Pingsheng's delight, Lao Cheng, whom he had sent years ago to search for his Master, had returned.

"Lao Cheng?" He Pingsheng took a deep breath and hurried over: "You're back… come, come…"

"Tell me about Dingxiang County!"

He Pingsheng pulled Cheng Daocai into the small courtyard, and the two sat beneath the pavilion.

"Well? Did you find my Master?" He Pingsheng asked.

Lao Cheng shook his head: "Young Master, this old man is useless—I couldn't find anyone…"

"Couldn't find him?" He Pingsheng frowned: "What happened? Tell me about Dingxiang County!"

"Alright!"

Cheng Daocai said: "As you instructed, I went to Dingxiang County in the Qi Kingdom and found the territory of the Cultivation Alliance. I set up a stall for years at the marketplace on Mount Matou, inquiring about information!"

"The Grand Void Gate you mentioned was indeed destroyed decades ago by the Beast Taming Immortal Sect—most of its disciples surrendered."

"A few escaped and vanished without a trace."

"Among those who fled were the True Persons Yuning, Yuxuan, Zhao Linger, Xu Kunlun, and Tian Xiaoqing!"

"About forty years ago, the Qi royal family went to the Beast Taming Immortal Sect and killed one of its two Nascent Soul experts—now the sect has only one Nascent Soul left."

He Pingsheng smiled upon hearing this news.

Back then, when he pretended to be Shi Yuan and Li Mei of the Beast Taming Immortal Sect and took the divine spear, the Qi royal family must have gone after the spear—that's why they killed the Nascent Soul, right?

But it doesn't matter!