14: Chapter 14 Eat one, use one

"It's mine."

Two sixty-year-old Vermilion Fruits, plus the junk from the Old Fox Demon's Immortal Cave—this trip was not a loss.

Wu Li extended his right claw and plucked the two Vermilion Fruits from the branch. He held one in his beak and clutched the other in his claw.

Then, Wu Li spread his wings and flew back the way he came.

Behind him.

On the clearing, only the corpse of the Green Fox and a pool of blood remained, shimmering with a dark red light under the sunlight.

By the time Wu Li flew back to Desolate Ridge, the sun was already setting.

Golden sunlight spilled over Desolate Ridge, gilding the bare, withered trees with a faint golden edge.

Looking from afar, the entire withered forest looked as if it had been scorched by fire, desolate and dilapidated.

Wu Li landed on the top of the highest withered tree, folded his wings, and looked down at his territory from a high vantage point.

On Desolate Ridge.

It was packed densely with crows.

Black ones, gray ones, big ones, small ones—at a glance, there were at least a hundred of them.

But they were just standing there foolishly.

Not a single one was Cultivating, not a single one was breathing in Qi, and they hadn't even fully awakened their intelligence.

They were just living by instinct; when hungry, they looked for food; when tired, they slept; and when they encountered danger, they ran.

Wu Li frowned.

In the entire Desolate Ridge, besides him, there wasn't even a single crow in the Qi Ling Realm.

"A bunch of trash."

Wu Li cursed in a low voice. It wasn't loud, but Desolate Ridge was so quiet that every single crow heard it.

The crows all raised their heads in unison, looking at their new king. There was awe and fear in their eyes, but mostly confusion.

Wu Li squatted on the treetop, tilting his head as he looked at this mob, his thoughts racing.

He needed subordinates.

Not this kind of trash that just stood there waiting to die, but members of the Yao Race who could actually do things, fight, and guard his home for him.

But these crows hadn't even awakened their intelligence; counting on them to Cultivate was like waiting for a sow to climb a tree.

However...

A glint appeared in Wu Li's eyes.

The Thousand Fox Den should be in a mess right now.

The Green Fox was dead, the Gray Fox was seriously injured, and he had cleaned out the Old Fox Demon's Immortal Cave. The foxes there were dead, injured, or had fled, leaving flesh and blood all over the ground, including the corpses of foxes that had reached the Qi Ling Realm.

For crows, that flesh and blood was a great tonic.

Wu Li leaped from the treetop and landed on a lower withered branch, facing the flock of crows.

"You."

The crow's raspy voice wasn't loud, but it carried the pressure of the First Stage Mid-level, clearly reaching the ears of every single crow.

The bodies of the flock trembled in unison. Some lowered their heads, some tucked in their necks; not a single one dared to meet Wu Li's gaze.

"Go to the Thousand Fox Den."

Wu Li raised his right claw, pointing toward the east.

"There is a lot of fox flesh and blood over there, including the corpses of foxes in the Qi Ling Realm. Eating it will be of great benefit to you."

The eyes of the flock lit up.

Although they hadn't awakened their intelligence, they understood the word "eat."

The flock became restless. Some began to flap their wings, and some made low "caw" sounds, eager to try.

Wu Li tilted his head, his gaze turning cold.

"Why aren't you going yet?"

As if granted amnesty, the flock immediately erupted.

"Caw! Caw! Caw!!"

Amidst the clamorous cawing, over a hundred crows took flight simultaneously, a black mass like a dark cloud, blocking out the setting sun.

In the blink of an eye.

Wu Li was the only one left on Desolate Ridge.

It was empty and quiet, somewhat desolate.

Wu Li watched the departing crows, a complex emotion flashing in his bean-sized black pupils.

In his previous life, he was a solitary evil cultivator who never trusted anyone and didn't need any subordinates. But this life was different; he was a crow. In the world of the Yao Race, having some influence made getting things done easier.

"Take it slow."

Wu Li withdrew his gaze, spread his wings, and flew toward his nest.

The nest was still that same nest, made of withered branches and lined with hay and a few feathers from some unknown Yao Beast. It couldn't have been simpler, but this was the first place in this world that truly belonged to him.

Wu Li landed on the edge of the nest and placed the two Vermilion Fruits from his claw onto the hay.

The two fruits lay side by side, shimmering with a faint spiritual aura in the afterglow of the sunset.

The one on the left was larger, deep red in color, crystal clear, and so rich in Spiritual Qi that it seemed like it was about to drip water. It was sixty years old and much better than the one he had eaten before.

The one on the right was a size smaller, lighter in color, and its spiritual aura was also fainter.

It was thirty to forty years old, about the same as the one he had eaten before.

Wu Li tilted his head and stared at the two Vermilion Fruits for a long time.

The sixty-year-old Vermilion Fruit contained far more Spiritual Qi than the previous one. If he swallowed it directly, it might allow him to advance further and touch the threshold of the First Stage Late Stage.

"Hmm."

"Eat one, use one."

Wu Li's talent was clear. The three divination messages provided by the Vermilion Fruit last time had benefited Wu Li immensely; that fleeceflower root alone was definitely worth it.

Wu Li squatted on the edge of the nest, extended his right claw, and picked up the smaller Vermilion Fruit from the hay.

Thirty to forty years old, about the same as the one he had eaten before.

It was perfect for sacrificing to his talent.

"Seek good fortune and avoid calamity, peer into causes and explore results."

Wu Li closed his eyes, and his Demon Power surged into the Vermilion Fruit in his claw.

A layer of pale red light appeared on the surface of the Vermilion Fruit. The red light wrapped around the entire fruit and then devoured it.

At the same time, three pieces of information appeared in Wu Li's mind.

[First: Minor Calamity]

Thirty miles east of Desolate Ridge, Ape Cave.

The White Ape Demon had its fleeceflower root stolen by you and had the Old Fox Demon killed. It is currently in a rage. It has already caught your scent and is searching everywhere for your tracks. Within three days, it will definitely come to Desolate Ridge for revenge.

[Second: Minor Calamity]

Three days later, the time has come. Because the Vulture Demon cannot spare a Clone, it will send its subordinates to come.

[Third: Great Calamity]

Deep in the Wanhui Mountain Range, the Earth Lizard Ancestor has less than half a month of Lifespan remaining.

It is frantically devouring flesh and blood, attempting a final struggle. The Three Great Demon Generals are driving living creatures day and night for it to consume. Dozens of Essence Spirits that had awakened their intelligence have already died in the cave. Before the Earth Lizard Ancestor dies, there will definitely be a riot; by then, everything within a hundred miles will become a slaughterhouse.

Wu Li frowned.

Three pieces of information.

Not a single one is auspicious?

Wu Li was a bit annoyed; this information wasn't even as good as eating the Vermilion Fruit himself.

But soon...

The annoyed Wu Li's brain turned rapidly.

Ape Demon, three days.

The person sent by the Vulture Demon... is also three days...

"Eh..."

Wu Li's eyes rolled.

The Ape Demon comes for revenge in three days, and the person sent by the Vulture Demon also arrives in three days.

Two troubles, on the same day.

Then this trouble... might not be trouble after all...

The corners of Wu Li's mouth lifted slightly, revealing a smile unique to a crow.

"I can manipulate this."

Wu Li quickly had a plan in mind, but he didn't think about it anymore and looked down at the remaining Vermilion Fruit in the nest.

Sixty years old.

Large size, deep color, rich in Spiritual Qi as if it were about to drip water.