I, a cultivator, have ended up in the world of tomb raiding.

This old man was originally a disciple of a branch of the Jin family's Thunder Altar.

The Hu and Jin altars in western Hunan are quite famous in the Taoist community.

His disciples mostly made a living by driving corpses, exorcising curses, and drawing talismans. Although they possessed some magical skills, they were mostly just means to fool the mountain people.

Therefore, when the old herbalist heard Li Yue say this, he thought it was just a charlatan's nonsense and immediately sneered, thinking to himself that he was just showing off his limited skills in front of an expert.

Red Girl, standing to the side, looked at the angry-eyed rooster in the cage with a strange expression, and whispered to Li Yue:

"You mean...ask about the chicken?"

Partridge Whistle frowned slightly. Although he had doubts, he guessed that Li Yue might have a backup plan, so he kept quiet and waited to see what would happen.

The old herbalist was already furious after being repeatedly prevented from killing the chicken, but seeing Li Yue's extraordinary demeanor, he didn't dare to lash out easily.

"You young lad, you're spouting nonsense! Do you even know what a chicken is saying?"

He then sneered, "Since we've come this far, I'll take your bet."

If you can get this chicken to willingly follow you, I'll be completely convinced and give it to you for free.

If not, leave the salt behind and you may leave on your own; I won't see you off!

"It's a deal." Li Yue smiled slightly and immediately agreed.

Everyone retreated to the back, and the old herbalist opened the chicken coop as instructed.

The chicken coop door was wide open, allowing the angry-looking chickens to come and go as they pleased.

Upon seeing the cage door open, the Angry-Eyed Chicken inside shook its wings, raised its head, and strode out, exuding an imposing aura without being angry.

It had just narrowly escaped death, yet whether due to innate intelligence or extraordinary courage, it showed no sign of panic. Head held high, eyes wide, and a dignified expression, it possessed the composure of a general.

The rooster stepped out of the bamboo cage with great pomp and circumference, its large, bright red comb trembling like a ball of fire with the slightest movement of its head and neck.

Its plumage is multicolored, and its beak and claws gleam golden in the midday sun. It is more than twice the size of an ordinary rooster, truly a magnificent and extraordinary bird.

All eyes turned to Li Yue, eager to see how he would "ask the chicken."

Li Yue squatted down, looking directly at the divine rooster, and spread his palms out.

Holding two juicy, bright red mountain fruits in her palm, she handed them directly to the Angry-Eyed Rooster.

Who among those present didn't recognize this wild fruit?

They grow everywhere in the mountains, but they taste sour and not sweet, so they're not exactly delicious.

Even if chickens don't like it, if you're going to use food to lure them, you should find some grains and insects as bait. There's no reason to fool them with this sour fruit.

Upon seeing his methods, everyone felt the pent-up frustration they had been holding back surge up again.

The old herbalist immediately burst out laughing.

His simple-minded son couldn't understand the adults' calculations, but when he saw someone feeding the chickens wild fruit, he also chuckled foolishly.

"My chickens only eat Ganoderma lucidum and meat; they won't touch anything else!"

Upon hearing this, Partridge Whistle's heart sank even further.

As expected of a rare and precious bird, even its diet is extraordinary. How could it possibly look down on such sour wild fruits?

Li Yue's move was far too hasty.

Hong Gu Niang also frowned secretly.

Looking at those few ordinary wild fruits, she felt a sense of helplessness, thinking that Li Yue's actions were far too presumptuous.

But then I thought about it again. Since we met, this person has always been calm and composed, and has never done anything to curry favor. Could there be something else going on with his current confidence?

She couldn't figure it out for a moment, so she could only suppress her thoughts and wait and see how he would handle the situation.

Li Yue, however, felt no embarrassment whatsoever, and calmly said to the man:

"All spirit birds favor plants that contain vital energy, and my fruit is no ordinary thing. Even a hundred-year-old Ganoderma lucidum cannot compare. How could it not recognize it?"

To onlookers, this sounded like utter nonsense.

The men from the Unloading Ridge Mountain who were traveling with him found it all absurd and kept muttering to themselves:

This fruit was clearly picked by you on the way. Do you think we didn't see it?

But secretly, he still walked up to the mountain father and son, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally.

If they lose the bet later, they will try to rob the victim.

They were originally bandits, so how could they take a few verbal bets to heart?

Red Girl glared at Li Yue with her bright eyes, looking at him with a "let's see how you smooth things over" expression.

But seeing Li Yue's composed expression, I couldn't help but feel a little expectant. I lowered my voice and bent down to ask:

"Are you sure... you'll eat this chicken?"

Before Li Yue could speak, the old herbalist waved his hand:

"Even a hundred-year-old Ganoderma lucidum in my Baoji will be picky, let alone such a sour fruit."

"If it really eats these two fruits, I'll give you all the thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum in my house."

The old herbalist dared to be so arrogant and fearless because he was confident of victory.

This chicken is a precious chicken that has been raised for six years. It has just begun to develop intelligence and can already recognize people.

Normally, only he and his son are allowed to get close. If anyone else approaches, it will peck and scratch them. Not to mention whether the sour fruit is pleasing to the eye, it is difficult for it to even get close.

The old herbalist was secretly delighted.

These young men, full of youthful arrogance, relied on their petty cleverness and thought that the affairs of the martial world were nothing more than this.

Today's events are a good opportunity to dampen the arrogance of these young peddlers.

When the time comes, we'll have a dozen kilograms of salt in hand, and we won't need to kill Baoji; we can keep it.

By any measure, he's made a huge profit!

At this moment, the Angry-Eyed Rooster had already paced around the yard a couple of times, flapped its wings, and...

Suddenly, as if sensing something, the chicken head started pausing and looking around.

"It not only eats," Li Yue answered the question from the girl in red earlier, "but it also wants more after it's finished eating."

This sounds even more outrageous.

The girl was intrigued by his certainty and wondered if he was going to use some kind of trick to lure the divine rooster.

Upon hearing this, the old herbalist shook his head repeatedly.

"Young man, don't force yourself. Leave the salt behind and you can go on your own. I won't make things difficult for you."

But halfway through shaking his head, he suddenly stopped, his eyes widening in shock—

Li Yue's rooster walked straight toward the wild fruit in his hand, its pace quickening until it reached him in a moment.

The Angry Rooster first looked at Li Yue, then stared at the red fruit in his palm, its eyes seemingly filled with doubt.

Knowing that this spirit bird lived in a remote mountain village and had never seen a fruit containing qi, Li Yue slightly raised his hand and said softly, "You can eat it."

The angry-eyed rooster seemed to understand human speech. It closed its upper eyelids, lowered its head, pecked off a red fruit, and swallowed it in two gulps.

The next moment, as if it had tasted an unparalleled delicacy, it shook the feathers on its neck and immediately pecked up the remaining one.

After finishing its meal, it paced back and forth, its expression showing a hint of joy.

Others found it strange, but the old herbalist who had raised it for six years stood there in astonishment.

He knew best that Baoji would only show such a joyful expression when it ate lingzhi mushrooms that were over a hundred years old.

Two wild mountain fruits today have such a miraculous effect?

The Angry Rooster circled Li Yue twice before stopping in front of him and tilting its head slightly.

Li Yue lightly tapped the rooster's head with his fingers, using a wisp of energy to stir the spirit bird's mind, allowing them to subtly understand each other's intentions. He softly asked, "Want to eat more?"

The Angry Rooster crowed twice and nuzzled its sharp beak straight into his arms.

Li Yue pulled its head out and chuckled, "It's gone."

Those round, bright eyes instantly dimmed a bit.

"However, if you are willing to come with me, you will still have food to eat in the future."

Li Yue spoke slowly, as if enticing an ignorant child.

"Not only this fruit, but also many other spiritual things you have never tasted before."

Upon hearing this, the Angry Rooster's comb twitched violently. After a moment of silence, it let out a soft clucking.

"Have you thought it through?" Li Yue asked again, "Are you sure you want to come with me?"