Cultivation starts with picking up attributes
Chapter 88: Ch-88: I’ll train you from now on

Chapter 88: Ch-88: I’ll train you from now on

Mist lingered in the early air as Tian Shen stood by the outer sect’s travel platform, his robe half-wrinkled and his eyes half-closed, despite the overly perky sun insisting that today was going to be important.

Somehow, that made it worse.

Little Mei, now in her beast form, was practically bouncing in place, her tail sweeping back and forth like a banner declaring chaos.

Feng Yin, graceful as ever, stood with a calm dignity that made Tian Shen feel underdressed by sheer proximity.

Drowsy, of course, had commandeered his shoulder—now wearing a tiny red scarf Feng Yin had stitched last night that barely covered her divine presence, claiming "all great adventurers wear accessories."

"Are you sure you’re awake?"

Feng Yin asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No," Tian Shen replied bluntly.

Behind them, the disciple from yesterday, now painfully formal, stood at a respectful distance with a scroll in hand.

"I’ve arranged a teleportation talisman for you three," she explained, her voice professional but cautious—probably traumatized by the 3E (earlier embarrassing episode).

"The sword was last reported near an abandoned shrine in the southern branch of Broken Moon Forest."

Tian Shen squinted.

"Probably it screams when someone tries to steal it," Little Mei babbled.

"Or maybe it clucks," he muttered.

The disciple tried to ignored their nonsensial talk. She just handed over the talsimans.

"This talisman will take you to the destination upon activation. It’s linked to the coordinates of the shrine, but it will only be used 2 times each, within twenty-four hours from activation. Please return before then. Or... well, don’t die."

Tian Shen muttered.

"Such confidence in our survival."

Feng Yin gracefully accepted the talismans.

"We’ll be back before dinner."

"I want sushi," Little Mei added, beaming.

The disciple made a polite, dignified escape.

...

*WHOOSH*

The world spun in a swirl of qi threads and spatial distortion. Tian Shen landed on his feet—barely—stumbling forward with Drowsy still clinging to his collar.

They were surrounded by ancient pines and weird mist. The Broken Moon Forest was a haunting place, eerie even in daylight.

The trees creaked with secrets, and spiritual pressure hung thick in the air like cobwebs.

Feng Yin stepped beside him, her gaze sweeping the surroundings.

"I feel traces of spiritual Qi. The shrine may be warded."

Little Mei sniffed the air.

"There’s fox repellent somewhere around here."

"...What?"

Tian Shen blinked.

She looked offended.

"I can smell it. It’s faint, but someone definitely didn’t like foxes."

"That’s speciesist," he muttered.

"Tell me about it," she pouted. "First the chicken, now even foxes."

He moved to a broken pillar half-sunken into moss.

Carved runes lined its surface—symbols old enough that even Feng Yin narrowed her eyes.

"Ancient seals," she murmured.

"Possibly part of a boundary formation."

Tian Shen approached carefully, and suddenly—a wave of golden mist billowed out from his side.

"...Drowsy!"

He shouted.

The chick, glowing brighter than usual, flapped into the air and zoomed straight toward a narrow gap between two trees.

"Drowsy, no! Don’t—!"

Too late.

A burst of wind. Then silence.

Tian Shen and the others hurried after her. What they found beyond the trees stunned them.

A shrine stood atop a raised stone platform, half-consumed by vines and centuries of decay. Despite its worn state, the structure radiated immense spiritual energy. At its center stood a pedestal.

And atop the pedestal, embedded in a slab of jade...

Was a sword.

The blade was sleek, ancient, with a hilt that shimmered in hues of gold and crimson. Intricate carvings ran along its fuller—symbols that pulsed gently in time.

A loud cluck echoed from the blade, but it sounded more like a bird chirping.

Tian Shen groaned.

"You’ve got to be kidding me."

"Oh my heavens," Feng Yin whispered, lips twitching.

Little Mei fell over laughing.

"IT’S REALLY A CHICKEN SWORD!"

The sword vibrated, golden mist leaking from its edge like steam. Drowsy perched on the pedestal now, staring at the sword like it owed her rent.

Then, it did. Anyhow.

The sword now hovered in front of Tian Shen, glowing warmly. He reached out. The blade drifted into his hand.

It didn’t cluck.

Yet.

But Tian Shen could feel the spiritual Qi it was radiating.

Little Mei leaned in.

"You gonna name it?"

"I have to?"

Feng Yin smiled.

"Not really, you have to give it to Elder Su after this."

Tian Shen sighed.

"Let’s it Drowsy 2.0, temperorily."

There was a pause.

Then—

CLUUUUUCK.

Golden mist burst from the blade in disapproval.

Tian Shen buried his face in his hands.

"I hate everything."

Feng Yin laughed softly.

"No you don’t."

Little Mei giggled.

"We all love the chicken sword."

...

As they began their trek back to the sect, Drowsy 2.0 sheathed at his side, Drowsy 1.0 nestled atop his head like a tiny crown of absurdity, Tian Shen sighed for the hundredth time that day.

He was not a normal cultivator.

He was a poultry farmer now.

And somehow, that felt exactly on brand.

...

The teleportation talisman shimmered as Tian Shen pressed his fingers to the embedded qi node.

Golden light flared around him, Little Mei, and Feng Yin, whisking them away from the misty depths of Broken Moon Forest.

WHOOSH.

With a pop like uncorking an overly excited wine bottle, the trio reappeared in the sect’s designated return plaza—disoriented, dusty, and slightly smoky.

Tian Shen stumbled forward, nearly tripping over his own boots as Drowsy fluttered up from his head with a sleepy chirp.

The divine chick did a lazy somersault midair before settling back into her usual spot—crowned atop Tian Shen’s hair like a living ornament.

Little Mei landed like a gymnast, raising both hands in triumph.

"Perfect landing!"

She grinned.

Feng Yin barely rippled the air, her robes untouched by the dust, hair flowing as if the laws of physics simply decided she was above them.

"You look like you fell down a spiritual laundry chute," she commented, eyeing Tian Shen’s slightly singed sleeve.

"I feel like I live in one," he muttered, brushing himself off.

They didn’t have long to gather themselves before the ever-so-official disciple from earlier reappeared—again dressed too formally for anyone that regularly dealt with these three.

"You’ve returned."

Her tone was neutral, but her gaze slid immediately toward the chicken cuddled in soft scarf sitting atop Tian Shen’s head.

Tian Shen angled his head slightly, trying to block the view.

"Yes. We’re back. The sword’s with me."

Feng Yin playfully added.

"It clucks. Sometimes."

"...Let’s go meet Elder Su then," the disciple replied after a long pause, wisely choosing not to ask any more.

She turned and led them toward the Elder’s Hall, her footsteps unnaturally stiff. Probably out of trauma prevention.

...

Elder Su was waiting, seated on a floating jade meditation cushion with all the serenity of a mountain lake... except her eyes had the sharp gleam of a woman who knew things and liked causing trouble with that knowledge.

Tian Shen bowed respectfully, the sword already unstrapped from his back and held out before him.

"We retrieved the artifact."

The sword shimmered. Just once.

Elder Su did not rise. She floated closer, long white robes flowing behind her, her hair twisted into an elaborate bun ornamented with a phoenix pin.

Her eyes narrowed—not at the blade—but at the tiny red scarf that peeked out from Tian Shen’s hairline.

"...Is that a... chick?"

Tian Shen didn’t blink. Knowing it’s better to reveal her outright (disguised) now that the suspense was gone, albeit only on the surface.

"Yes. She’s mine. A new beast companion."

"Companion?"

The Elder raised a single eyebrow, the movement somehow echoing tension.

Tian Shen replied cautiously.

"But tamed. Entirely tamed."

Feng Yin made a sound that could have been a cough or a stifled laugh.

Drowsy, sensing attention, poked her head out fully, tilted sideways, and chirped.

Elder Su’s eyes narrowed further, subconsciously linking this ’thing’ with the mess that took place.

"Of what nature?"

Tian Shen stood tall.

"Not confirmed."

Elder Su floated closer, so close her aura began to press down on the space between them. Not violent. Just... surgical.

"She has golden Qi."

The Elder said slowly.

"That’s rare. Very rare."

"She eats porridge and occasionally glows."

Tian Shen said very cautiously.

"Nothing special. Probably."

Elder Su smiled faintly.

"Good. Because if she is... you’d have to turn her over to the Sect’s Beast Division."

Tian Shen’s back stiffened instinctively. Drowsy fluffed down and disappeared down the back of his robe like a biscuit diving into gravy.

"...Good thing she’s not."

He added quickly.

A pause.

Then Elder Su leaned back slightly and floated to her full regal height.

"Well. I see you’ve returned the sword successfully. You’ve done well."

He relaxed slightly. A mistake.

"Which is why," Elder Su continued, voice now smooth and dangerous, "I’ve decided to personally oversee your next stage of training."

Tian Shen blinked.

"Wait, what?"

Feng Yin visibly winced.

Little Mei gasped.

Tian Shen took a step back. "Respectfully, Elder Su, I—uh—I don’t think I need more training right now. I... i already have much on my plate."

Elder Su’s smile widened just slightly. Like a sword being unsheathed in reverse.

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