Chapter 11: Roast Chicken

The next day, Lin Lingshu had already changed into a plain-colored Dao robe. The robe stained with wine and oil from yesterday had long been discarded at the inn. Although she was low on spirit stones now, the price of a single Dao robe was still affordable.

Lin Lingshu rose from the bed and stretched lazily, her slender waist drawing a graceful arc in the air. She opened the door and saw the steward in the main hall, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. The steward carefully took out a Qi-Concentrating Pill and placed it on the table.

“Gather everyone,” Lin Lingshu said.

The steward respectfully approached Lin Lingshu, carefully placed the Qi-Concentrating Pill into his bosom, then went to call the others.

Qi-Concentrating Pills were specifically used during the Qi Refinement stage, boosting the rate of energy absorption from the environment. However, now that Lin Lingshu had reached Qi Refinement Ninth Layer, the next step was Foundation Establishment. Thus, Qi-Concentrating Pills were of little use to her.

After waiting for a while in the hall, the steward returned and reported to her, “Senior Sister, everyone is gathered.”

“Hm,” Lin Lingshu responded indifferently.

Exiting the hall, she saw the group—especially that disaster-prone aura.

“Junior brothers and sisters, this trial is about slaying demon beasts. Each of you must kill at least ten.”

Her words were followed by a low murmur among the group.

“Slay demon beasts? I thought it would be killing some demonic cultivators.”
“Come on, we’re barely trained enough to handle demon beasts.”

Hearing such chatter, Lin Lingshu frowned. Sure enough, a group of novices.

“Silence!” The next moment, Lin Lingshu sharply scolded them, simultaneously pressing down her Spirit Pressure as Qi Refinement Ninth Layer toward the crowd. A suffocating sensation overwhelmed them. Then, it gradually dissipated.

Once silence was restored, Lin Lingshu took out a compass and imbued it with spiritual energy. The compass immediately emitted a column of light, enveloping the group.

As if the heavens and earth rotated, when they came to their senses again, they found themselves on a mountainside.

Lin Lingshu stood at the midpoint of the mountain, observing layer upon layer of peaks, endlessly overlapping, unable not to marvel at nature’s craftsmanship. The Ten-Thousand Demon Mountain—the last gathering place of the demon clans.

According to the original novel, demons had been nearly eradicated by humans, only a few Nascent Soul-level remained. The rest of the demon clans were directly confined, used to supply materials and training grounds for sects.

Thus, the world’s plot revolved around the righteous vs. demonic path, rather than human vs. demon debate.

Glancing back at the group, Lin Lingshu said, “Follow me.” Then she led them deeper into the mountain.

The group followed one after another, gradually getting absorbed into the wilderness. Green trees and lush vines intertwined, irregularly spreading in every direction.

Lin Lingshu leaned against an ancient tree, embracing Han Li. She silently watched several others jointly slay a dog-like demon beast.

That was the fifteenth. Lin Lingshu led this team of ten—four men and six women. Each required to kill ten demon beasts, totaling one hundred kills. At first, several disciples struggled, but after slaying a few beasts, they gradually adapted.

Demon beasts were not demons. Demons were sentient beings with intelligence no different from humans. However, demon beasts of Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment only had basic spiritual awareness, without true sentience.

Lin Lingshu glanced toward Wang Shuheng. After slaying several beasts, he showed no discomfort. He turned his head and saw Lin Lingshu staring at him, nodding in response.

Lin Lingshu silently turned away. She glanced at the twilight sky and said to Wang Shuheng and the others, “That’s enough for today. Rest here.”

Several of them immediately plopped onto the ground. Slaying demon beasts was mentally and physically exhausting. Some were injured and began applying herbs to their wounds.

Lin Lingshu said nothing. Trials were trials; blood had to be shed. Moreover, her role was simply to ensure their survival, helping them only when death was imminent. If they couldn’t endure this bit of hardship, how would they stand against the demonic path in the future?

Though demonic disciples couldn’t rival the righteous in secondary professions, their combat experience was immensely rich. Their sects didn’t forbid internal killing; instead, they encouraged it. Though lacking in logistics, they fought by blood-for-blood, injury-for-injury.

The four demonic sects were: Blood Demon Palace, Ten Thousand Bone Hall, Heaven Demon Sect, Ancient Soul Gate. Three of them had Nascent Soul-level leaders. The Blood Demon Palace only had a few Nascent Soul disciples, considered lower tier, but the future big bad villain would emerge from this sect.

In the original novel, the main villain was the Blood Demon Ancestor—a legendary Blood Dao expert from ten thousand years ago, who left behind a resurrection method to attain Grand Success True Immortality. His Blood Seed Technique significantly lowered the talent threshold, mass-producing Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment disciples.

While the group rested, Wang Shuheng cut down an ancient tree with his blade, splitting it into chunks of firewood. He stacked them carefully. Using Fire Spiritual Energy, he ignited the pile. Soon, a bonfire was roaring.

Everyone watched as he retrieved a featherless, blood-dried chicken from his storage bag, skewered it with a long blade, and began roasting it over the flames.

Although the storage bag could preserve items, it offered no refrigeration. This indicated the chicken had been purchased in town.

Wang Shuheng paid no mind to others’ gazes, focusing solely on roasting his chicken. The flames licked the meat’s surface, turning it glossy reddish-brown, not greasy or gamey, crispy outside, tender inside, juicy and flavorful, dripping oil down in glistening beads.

Lin Lingshu watched his movements, quietly turned away, glancing at the Qi Fasting Pills in her hand. They suddenly seemed flavorless. Though Qi Fasting Pills had no taste anyway, seeing Wang Shuheng’s roasted chicken was aggravating.

When the trial was over, she’d go back to that inn for a proper meal. Ten whole roast chickens, she thought, silently comforting herself.

Behind her, several female disciples eyed Wang Shuheng’s chicken, some daringly attempting to get a taste.

Wang Shuheng looked at the finished roast chicken, then walked toward Lin Lingshu, who was still lost in thoughts of her future feast.

Suddenly, she felt a hand pat her shoulder. She turned and saw the male lead’s grin, as if presenting a treasure.

Wang Shuheng raised the roast chicken in his hand and said, “Sister, want some?”

Lin Lingshu originally intended to refuse, but upon seeing that chicken, words failed her.

Wang Shuheng noticed the desire and conflict in her eyes. A playful smile flickered.

“Thank you for your help last time, Lin Senior Sister,” he said, then stuffed the roast chicken into her hands.

Without waiting for refusal (Lin Lingshu thought: too fragrant, I can’t refuse), he walked back to the bonfire.

Behind them, the others quietly averted their gazes. The roast chicken wasn’t for them, but somehow… they seemed to understand why.

Lin Lingshu shifted slightly, watching the roast chicken in her hand. She formed a layer of energy around it, to prevent oil and grease from staining her hands.

Why not do the same for her Dao robe? Because… she had been too carried away by the deliciousness.

She tore off a drumstick and took a bite. The meat was tender yet with some chewiness, numbing but not dull, spicy but not harsh, a fragrance lingering in the mouth. The rich aroma alone was enough to make one salivate.

The first bite was salty with a faint sweetness. Then it gradually became spicy and numbing. Each bite was more flavorful than the last, each more addictive, until there was none left.

Lin Lingshu couldn’t help but silently praise. Indeed, the male lead’s culinary skills deserved full marks.