The egg radiated a terrifying heat, like the blazing sun. If not for Jiang Ke’er’s soul being protected by the Succession of Houtu, she would have been melted by that scorching energy.
Jiang Ke’er hurriedly moved the egg out of her soul.
Within that ten-thousand-foot golden brilliance, a small yet powerful life slowly took form.
It grew a golden-yellow, sharp beak, and its sturdy legs gripped tightly onto a crack in the rock.
Night turned instantly as bright as day, the light illuminating the entire sky above the Great Sima Nation.
Officials and commoners ran about sharing the news, shouting—Heaven-sent auspicious omen! The Human Clan shall prosper!
Of course, the demons were shouting similar things too.
No doubt, before long, both sides would be arguing again over whether it was the Human Clan or the Demon Race who was destined to thrive.
And right before Jiang Ke’er, as the golden light faded, its true form gradually emerged.
Jiang Ke’er held her breath, watching the stone platform with both nervousness and reverence.
But when she saw its figure clearly, she was instantly struck dumb with shock.
No… as expected of the Big Sun Golden Crow!
Its body was as smooth and flat as if carved by supernatural hands, the outer edge a white, glossy, wheel-shaped frame, and within, a perfectly golden, ripened core.
Two bird legs and a sharp beak stretched out from the outer rim, while a pair of eyes grew, one on each side of the central core.
Its skin was soft and bouncy to the touch, like a piece of jelly.
The newborn Golden Crow expert struggled to stand up.
A breeze blew past, hitting its flat body, and with a splat, it flopped right over, making a sound like a pancake flipping in a pan.
Jiang Ke’er: “…”
Heavens above! The fried egg has gained a spirit!
Jiang Ke’er’s face filled with terror as she stared at the fried egg with two legs and eyes on its yolk.
The Fried Egg Spirit looked at Jiang Ke’er with delight and affection, opened its mouth, and called out sweetly, “Mama~”
I’m not your mother! Don’t call me that!
Emperor Taizong of Tang, who rushed over in a hurry, witnessed the scene with his own eyes, his face equally horrified as he stared wide-eyed at Jiang Ke’er: “…Did you fry your own daughter?”
“I didn’t fry her! Wait… that’s not my daughter at all! Does your fox lay eggs or something?” Jiang Ke’er snapped in anger.
Emperor Taizong of Tang blinked in confusion. “Don’t foxes lay eggs?”
“Why don’t you lay an egg yourself then!” Jiang Ke’er trembled with rage.
Qiao Xiaoxian came out at this moment, just as the Fried Egg Spirit resolutely climbed to its feet and wobbled toward Jiang Ke’er, calling out as it walked, “Mama~ Mama~”
Stay away from me, ahhhh!
Jiang Ke’er was roaring in her heart.
She couldn’t believe that after all her painstaking effort, she ended up hatching a fried egg from the Golden Crow Egg.
If she’d known, she might as well have fried it in the first place—wouldn’t that have been less trouble?
“It seems like it’s not fully developed yet,” Qiao Xiaoxian picked up the Fried Egg Spirit and placed it in her palm.
The Fried Egg Spirit sizzled happily in her hand, which made Jiang Ke’er think of the scene of making Dim Sum of Brokenheartedness.
“Because the eggshell broke, it was forced to be born the moment its spirit formed. In fact, it skipped the development process within the shell. It’s a poor premature baby…” Qiao Xiaoxian said.
“I know, I know,” Jiang Ke’er sighed, “I broke it, I’ll take responsibility.”
“Also, it seems that during the reincarnation process, the consciousness of Lord Golden Crow was extinguished, leaving only the Fire Seed and Inheritance… So you’ll need to give little Golden Crow proper guidance and education, help her establish a correct worldview and values.” Qiao Xiaoxian frowned, feeling a wave of concern.
“Lord Golden Crow really got done in this time…”
“What do you mean by that?” Jiang Ke’er huffed as she snatched back the Fried Egg Spirit.
“I’m such an honest, peace-loving fox—how could I possibly lead a child astray? What a joke! Come on, let’s go make some money with Mama…”
Qiao Xiaoxian rubbed her forehead, exasperated. “Are your hands getting itchy again?”
“Itchy? The Demon Race has so many mouths to feed, plus the Underworld Province Remnant Clan still can’t make ends meet, and now there’s another to feed… If I don’t go out and work hard to earn a living, are you going to support me?”
“I could…”
“Forget it!” Jiang Ke’er interrupted.
Qiao Xiaoxian raised an eyebrow—she couldn’t help but feel Jiang Ke’er was getting cheekier by the day and needed a good disciplining.
“Mama~ Mama~”
“What? Are you hungry?” Jiang Ke’er thought for a moment, then dashed off to the kitchen.
A moment later, to the shock of Qiao Xiaoxian and Emperor Taizong of Tang, she rushed back out with a whole pot of braised pork knuckle.
Jiang Ke’er gently set the Fried Egg Spirit on top of the pork knuckle. “Go ahead and gnaw.”
Qiao Xiaoxian held her forehead in despair.
“Who feeds a newborn pork knuckle? Do you even know how to take care of a child?”
Jiang Ke’er stubbornly lifted her chin. “What’s wrong with pork knuckle? Are you discriminating against pork knuckle? It’s rich in fat, fat, and more fat—the most nutritious food for underdeveloped newborns! Eat it, and you’ll grow up plump and fair!”
“You…” Qiao Xiaoxian was about to retort, but saw the Fried Egg Spirit happily gnawing on the pork knuckle.
“…”
Maybe the problem wasn’t just Jiang Ke’er. Maybe the Fried Egg Spirit wasn’t right in the head either.
Jiang Ke’er watched contentedly as the Fried Egg Spirit devoured the entire pork knuckle.
She stroked the egg white and praised, “What a good, unfussy child~”
Even after finishing a whole pork knuckle, the Fried Egg Spirit’s size didn’t change at all—must be because it had a powerful other-dimensional stomach.
After wiping off the grease, Jiang Ke’er held the Fried Egg Spirit up to her face, and a string of equations appeared in her mind—
∵Golden Crow = Sun
∴Golden Crow Egg = Sun Egg = Fried Egg
Hmm, from this, it seemed that this form of the Golden Crow was actually pretty normal and very healthy.
“Let’s go. The anomaly caused by the Golden Crow’s birth was too strong; it’s not safe here anymore.” Emperor Taizong of Tang said, “The villagers have already left with their belongings. You two should leave soon as well.”
Jiang Ke’er had wanted to stay a few more days to recover, but it seemed that wasn’t an option.
“Where are you planning to go?” Qiao Xiaoxian asked.
“I’ll wander around the Great Sima Nation,” Jiang Ke’er said. “If possible, I’d like to try entering the Town Arena Tournament…”
“You want to compete in next year’s Sect Tournament?” Qiao Xiaoxian instantly understood her intention.
The biggest cultivator competition each year—the Shenzhou Cup–Sect Alliance Tournament.
To join the Sect Alliance Tournament, there were only two paths: either be a disciple of a great sect and be directly recommended into the semifinals as part of the sect’s team, or enter the Town Arena Tournament and stand out among the rest.
“But that’s just a thought for now,” Jiang Ke’er shrugged.
“It’ll be a while before I can do it. For now… I’ll travel around, doing all the things a notorious troublemaking demon should do.”
Qiao Xiaoxian immediately got nervous. “What are you planning? Seduce men all over the place?”
“Of course!” Jiang Ke’er grinned wickedly.
“Maybe one day, I’ll get the urge to go to the Royal Palace of the Great Sima Nation and become a concubine, cause some chaos as a Fox Spirit, just to see you so angry you grit your teeth, but unable to do a thing…”
Qiao Xiaoxian was momentarily stunned.
She touched the Mission Commission Form inside her Storage Bag, then suddenly smiled.
“That’s good then.”
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