172: Chapter 172 There's something wrong with this chicken!

In the detached courtyard, a spiritual spring gurgled, and ancient pines stood verdant.

Zhou Yuan and Qin Mo had been busy in the kitchen for nearly half an hour when a rich, fragrant aroma drifted out from the backyard.

The aroma was mellow and rich, carrying the unique deliciousness of Spirit Beast meat, mixed with the medicinal fragrance of Spiritual Plants, blending together to be exceptionally enticing.

"So fragrant!" Elder Ancestor Shen Haocang's nose twitched violently, and a sharp light flashed in his cloudy old eyes.

Zhou Yuan walked out of the kitchen carrying a huge white jade tray, which held a whole golden roasted chicken; its skin was crispy and glistening with oil, with a faint spiritual light flowing over it.

Qin Mo followed behind, carrying several small dishes and a pot of spirit wine in his hands.

The two placed the items on the stone table and stood respectfully to the side.

"Senior, please enjoy." Zhou Yuan wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face filled with a hint of anticipation.

Shen Qingyuan did not stand on ceremony, reaching out to tear off a chicken leg and taking a bite.

The crispy skin shattered between his teeth, and the tender meat instantly burst with flavor in his mouth; the rich meaty aroma mixed with the sweetness of honey sauce, and a trace of elusive Phoenix Qi lingered on the tip of his tongue, bringing an indescribably wonderful taste.

"Not bad." Shen Qingyuan nodded slightly, a trace of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

Luo Qingyue knelt to the side, her white clothes like snow, eating in small bites, a rare hint of satisfaction appearing in her cool, cold eyes.

Elder Ancestor Shen Haocang ate with abandon, his chopsticks dancing rapidly as he stuffed piece after piece into his mouth, his lips glistening with oil and the wrinkles on his face blooming with joy.

"Delicious! Delicious!" He praised indistinctly, then gulped down another mouthful of spirit wine and smacked his lips, "This chicken meat is tender and juicy, melting in the mouth, and carries an indescribable fragrance. I, this old man, have lived for over seven hundred years, and this is the first time I've eaten such delicious chicken!"

He paused, picked up another piece, stuffed it into his mouth, chewed a few times, and suddenly frowned.

"Hmm?"

He stopped his chopsticks, a trace of doubt flashing in his eyes.

"However, this taste... why is it somewhat familiar?"

He picked up his wine cup and took a sip, carefully savoring it, when he suddenly slapped his thigh!

"Right! I remember now! Last time at your place, the chicken you had Qingyue make had this exact taste!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhou Yuan and Qin Mo were stunned simultaneously.

The Heaven-Swallowing Brocade-Plumed Chicken was unique to their Yinxian Village!

In the entire Southern Region, only their Yinxian Village had it!

Outsiders could not possibly obtain it, let alone eat it!

Yet this Senior actually said he had eaten it?!

Zhou Yuan nodded and swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

"This is the treasure of our Yinxian Village, containing a trace of thin Phoenix Bloodline; only our Yinxian Village has it in the entire Southern Region."

He paused, looking cautiously at Elder Ancestor Shen Haocang, "Senior, the one you ate... was the taste truly the same?"

Elder Ancestor Shen Haocang turned his head to look at Shen Qingyuan, realizing it at this moment.

This chicken had a problem!

The chicken last time might have been brought from Yinxian Village; he was certain that with Little Nine's methods, he could definitely do it.

He believed even more that with Little Nine's personality, he would definitely do it.

Thinking of this, he laughed sheepishly and brushed it off: "It is indeed similar, but thinking about it carefully, it is also somewhat different."

Zhou Yuan wanted to speak again, but was glared back by a sharp look from Great Elder Yun Zhongzi.

"Why does a kid like you have so much to say today?" Great Elder Yun Zhongzi said with a straight face and a serious tone.

Zhou Yuan shrank his neck, not daring to say more, but in his heart, he was even more certain of his guess.

The Grand Elder's reaction clearly showed he was also aware of this matter.

It seems that the few chickens the Grand Elder lost were all taken by the Senior.

Although Qin Mo's expression remained cold and stern, a hint of realization flashed in his eyes.

So the chicken thief the Grand Elder had been thinking about all these years was right before them.

Great Elder Yun Zhongzi did not pay attention to their reactions; he turned to look at Shen Qingyuan and asked with a smile, "Is Senior's trip also for the God-Sealing Celebration?"

Before Shen Qingyuan could respond, Elder Ancestor Shen Haocang on the side smiled and answered, "That's right, things like Undergoing the Saint Tribulation haven't appeared in the Southern Region for many years; this is a rare opportunity."

He ate the chicken meat and continued, "The Saint Tribulation is a hurdle; before becoming a Saint, one naturally needs to observe it carefully and accumulate some experience."

Great Elder Yun Zhongzi's hand holding the wine cup froze in mid-air, the expression on his face incredibly colorful.

He widened his eyes, staring fixedly at Elder Ancestor Shen Haocang, his mouth opening and closing, opening and closing again, unable to utter a single word.

Becoming a Saint.

These two words, in the Southern Region, what kind of weight did they carry?

In the entire Southern Region, among hundreds of millions of Cultivators, those who could become Saints were few and far between.

Why could the Three Great Holy Lands tower above the Seven Great Sects?

It was because they had Saint-realm Old Ancestors sitting in town!

Why could the Tiangang Sect attract forces from all over the Southern Region to come and offer congratulations?

It was because they were about to give birth to a Saint!

And now, Elder Ancestor Shen Haocang was telling him—that he was here to observe the Saint Tribulation and accumulate experience?

Doesn't this mean that Elder Ancestor Shen Haocang also had plans to become a Saint? And had already reached that step?

"Dao, Dao Brother..." Great Elder Yun Zhongzi's voice was trembling, he swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and finally managed to squeeze out a complete sentence, "Are... are you going to become a Saint?"

Elder Ancestor Shen Haocang was gnawing on a chicken leg, his mouth glistening with oil; hearing this, he waved his hands repeatedly and said indistinctly, "Become what Saint? I, this old man, am only at the ninth level of the Primal Chaos Realm; I am still far from becoming a Saint!"

Ninth level of the Primal Chaos Realm.

Great Elder Yun Zhongzi breathed a sigh of relief, picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and calmed his nerves.

Luckily, luckily, he wasn't going to become a Saint.

But thinking about it, he felt something was wrong—the ninth level of the Primal Chaos Realm was still some distance from the Asking Dao Realm, let alone becoming a Saint.

Then why did Elder Ancestor Shen Haocang come to observe the Saint Tribulation?

"Dao Brother, with your cultivation... isn't it a bit early to observe the Saint Tribulation?" Great Elder Yun Zhongzi weighed his words and asked cautiously.

Elder Ancestor Shen Haocang put down the chicken leg, wiped his mouth, and chuckled, "It is a bit early. But Little Nine said, let me come take a look first, accumulate some experience, so I can be prepared for the future."

Little Nine.

Great Elder Yun Zhongzi turned to look at Shen Qingyuan, a hint of realization appearing in his eyes.

No wonder Elder Ancestor Shen Haocang, despite his low cultivation, dared to come and observe the Saint Tribulation; it turned out he had this Senior's guidance.

"Senior is right." Great Elder Yun Zhongzi nodded, his tone carrying a hint of emotion, "The Saint Tribulation is no small matter; being able to observe it with one's own eyes is indeed of great benefit for future Undergoing Tribulation. Dao Brother, having Senior's guidance, you truly have deep fortune."

Elder Ancestor Shen Haocang grinned, glanced at Shen Qingyuan, his face full of pride: "That's right! Our Little Nine is the Qilin of the Shen Family! With him here, my becoming a Saint is not a difficult matter at all!"

Great Elder Yun Zhongzi's mouth twitched.

Becoming a Saint is not a difficult matter?

I'm afraid only people from the Shen Family would dare to say such words.

However, thinking of Shen Qingyuan's unfathomable strength, he felt that these words actually made some sense.

With this Senior's guidance and this Senior's provision of resources, becoming a Saint... perhaps it really wasn't a difficult matter.

Great Elder Yun Zhongzi took a deep breath, suppressed the emotion in his heart, picked up his wine cup, and raised it toward Elder Ancestor Shen Haocang.

"Dao Brother, if you become a Saint in the future, don't forget to help out my Yinxian Village."

Elder Ancestor Shen Haocang waved his hand and laughed: "Easy to say, easy to say! When that time comes, I'll treat you to chicken!"

Great Elder Yun Zhongzi: "..."

Treat to chicken?

Their Yinxian Village's Heaven-Swallowing Brocade-Plumed Chicken was almost eaten up by your Shen Family!