Chapter 7 : A Rare Goose and a Patient Hunter

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with a moment of recognition as he recalled the name of this particular demonic beast.

The Violet-Striped Goose was a first-rank demonic avian, and like the Azure Verdant Spirit Fish, it was an exceedingly rare creature known for its relatively docile temperament.

Because of its gentle nature and low combat prowess, this type of beast was easily preyed upon by other demonic creatures, making it a rare species within the cultivation world.

He never imagined he would encounter such a demonic avian here today.

Upon further reflection, however, it made sense. Spirit Lake Isle possessed a Spiritual Vein [a natural conduit of concentrated spiritual energy]. The ferocious aquatic beasts in the lake had long been cleansed by the Chen Clan, and the environment was perfectly suited for such water-dwelling demonic avians. It was only logical that it would attract migrating Violet-Striped Goose.

"Finally caught up with you," he murmured inwardly.

Eldrin Chen suppressed his urge to strike, waiting patiently for the perfect moment to act.

The Violet-Striped Goose, much like an untamed wild duck, was inherently timid and wary. The slightest rustle of grass would send it fleeing.

Although the goose before him was only mid-grade first-rank, it was a flying demonic beast. If he failed to strike true with a single blow, he would likely miss his chance to slay it.

This particular Violet-Striped Goose was exceedingly cautious, skulking around the school of Spirit Fish [fish imbued with spiritual energy] in the lake for a long, wary while. For more chapters, visit audio - novel . com for the complete novel.

The Spirit Fish King [a powerful aquatic demon beast] also spotted it and charged forward with menacing intent. This was exactly what the Violet-Striped Goose [a large, predatory waterfowl] had hoped for. It swam away with extreme speed, luring the Spirit Fish King farther and farther into the distance.

Gradually, the younger fish in the school could no longer keep up. Seizing the moment, the goose beat its wings, took flight, and dove straight toward the straggling juveniles.

"Now!"

The moment the demonic bird plunged into the water, Eldrin Chen erupted from the depths. He channeled his spiritual energy, and the Verdant Leaf Sword [his personal flying sword] shot into the air, cleaving toward his target.

The Violet-Striped Goose reacted swiftly. It instantly conjured a shield of spiritual energy and frantically beat its wings to take flight and escape. Yet, how could its speed possibly match that of a flying sword?

Eldrin Chen willed the Verdant Leaf Sword onward. Within a range of thirty Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters], he controlled it as if it were an extension of his own arm. The sword transformed into a streak of verdant light that pursued the Violet-Striped Goose. With a sharp *clang*, it pierced through the spiritual energy shield and impaled the creature mid-air.

"Excellent."

Having slain the Violet-Striped Goose with a single strike, Eldrin Chen could not help but reveal a look of delight.

The Violet-Striped Goose was not only delicious but also aided cultivation when consumed. This single goose was worth at least thirty Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], equivalent to six fully grown Azure Verdant Spirit Fish [a type of spirit-nourishing fish].

However, an ordinary adult Azure Verdant Spirit Fish was only a lower first-rank demon beast, while this Violet-Striped Goose was a mid first-rank. Such a disparity in value was only to be expected.

Slaying this Violet-Striped Goose not only recouped the loss of the four Spirit Fish, but also yielded a modest profit, lifting Eldrin Chen's spirits considerably.

The sole regret was his lack of training in binding spells and the absence of a binding-type magical treasure [an enchanted artifact designed to restrain or capture]. Otherwise, he would have considered capturing the Violet-Striped Goose alive.

Like the Azure Verdant Spirit Fish, this docile type of spirit beast [a creature infused with spiritual energy, often tamed by cultivators] held a sliver of potential to be tamed into a Spirit Beast. Once domesticated, the spiritual eggs it laid would represent a significant source of income.

"I should have purchased a binding artifact," he lamented.

A pang of regret struck him. Learning a binding spell would have delayed his cultivation progress, but a low-grade, first-tier binding artifact cost only a few dozen Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. If it could have been used to capture the Violet-Striped Goose and secure a steady supply of spiritual eggs, the return would have been immense.

"Right, the eggs!"

Eldrin Chen's eyes suddenly lit up. He stored the slain goose and immediately headed towards the Reed Marsh [a vast wetland area densely populated with reeds] from which the Violet-Striped Goose had emerged.

After searching for half a Shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours], he discovered another Violet-Striped Goose deep within the Reed Marsh.

Contrary to expectations, the goose did not flee. Instead, it channeled its spiritual energy to engage Eldrin Chen in combat. Yet, it was no match for him. Within a few exchanges, Eldrin felled it amidst the reeds.

After dispatching the second goose, Eldrin Chen scoured the nearby area. His search was rewarded with a nest containing several Violet-Striped Goose eggs.

"We've struck gold."

Gazing at the Violet-Striped Goose eggs, his heart surged with excitement.

These spiritual eggs were rich in spiritual energy [the vital force that cultivators absorb and refine] and free of impurities, making them even more valuable than Spirit Rice. Each one could fetch a single Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

Before him was a clutch of twelve such eggs. More importantly, all twelve pulsed with nascent life, the young Spirit Goose within already partially formed.

"They're already halfway to hatching."

"It seems this pair of Violet-Striped Goose has been on Spirit Lake Isle for quite some time." Dive deeper into the Dao at audio . novel . com.

Eldrin Chen looked at the eggs, unable to suppress a broad, delighted smile.

The reality matched his speculation closely. The pair of Spirit Goose had arrived at Spirit Lake Isle a year prior. Coincidentally, during that period, his granduncle at the Vital Essence Refinement 9th Tier [the ninth and final stage of refining one's foundational life energy] had been reassigned to escort a shipment of Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious pill that aids in the critical breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm]. Remembrance Heaven's cultivation was still shallow, and he seldom ventured far from Lake Heart Island, so he had completely failed to notice the new arrivals.

Finding the Spiritual Lake safe and secure, the Violet-Striped Goose pair had settled in, making it their home, building a nest, and nurturing this clutch of offspring.

Though inherently timid and cautious, the Violet-Striped Goose had grown complacent after a full year of undisturbed peace. Their vigilance had waned, emboldening them to foolishly set their sights on the Spirit Fish.

Little did he expect that merely two days after beginning his hunt, he would encounter Eldrin Chen. The male goose was slain, and the female, driven by maternal instinct to protect her brood, refused to flee, resulting in the pair becoming doomed lovers in death.

The clutch of Violet-Striped Goose eggs left behind were already halfway through incubation and were estimated to hatch within a month.

After bringing the clutch of Violet-Striped Goose eggs back to Lake Heart Island, Eldrin Chen immediately set about constructing a suitable nesting area for their hatching.

Having grown up in an era of information explosion, his previous life, though unremarkable, had left him with some passing knowledge about hatching poultry eggs.

Although termed a goose, the Violet-Striped Goose was essentially a type of wild duck, or more accurately, a spiritual duck with even greater vitality.

Drawing upon the general principles he recalled from his past life, he used his spiritual power [the vital energy cultivated by practitioners] to fashion an incubation nest with ideal environmental conditions. He then devoted himself daily to tending the spiritual eggs, taking on the role of the mother goose.

Thus, a month passed, finally bringing them to the eve of the spiritual ducklings' emergence.

On that day, Eldrin Chen kept vigil before the spiritual eggs, his heart stirred with anticipation as he gazed at the Violet-Striped Goose eggs, his face etched with anxious impatience.

"*Crack-crack—*"

He waited for half a day before finally hearing the cracking sounds. Then, he saw a dusty gray duckling peck its way out of the shell and come waddling unsteadily straight towards him.

Eldrin Chen paused for a moment before understanding dawned. Creatures like geese imprint upon the first living being they see upon hatching, considering it their parent.

"So, I've become the mother goose?"

He felt a mix of amusement and exasperation, but a wave of relief washed over him nonetheless.

There is but a single character's difference between a Demonic Beast [a wild, untamed beast with demonic energy] and a Spirit Beast. The latter has been tamed by cultivators, its fierce wildness subdued.

Without a unique Beast Taming method [a specialized cultivation art for subduing and bonding with beasts], it is exceedingly difficult to tame a Spirit Beast. The Chen Clan naturally possessed no such Beast Taming method. Their so-called "domestication" of the Azure Verdant Spirit Fish was more akin to semi-wild husbandry; after all, those Spirit Fish could not escape the confines of Spirit Isle Lake.

However, the Violet-Striped Goose was a Demonic Beast avian. Flying demonic birds are notoriously difficult to domesticate. While adult Violet-Striped Goose possess an Innate [the foundational first stage of cultivation] nature that is relatively docile and not highly aggressive, without a proprietary Beast Taming method, a single misstep could see them take flight, never to return.

Fortunately, the newly hatched goslings, having imprinted on Eldrin Chen as their parent, bypassed the need for the taming process entirely. By simply raising them to maturity, they would directly become Spirit Beast avians.

Grasping this, Eldrin Chen grew excited. He decided to remain by the nesting site, waiting for each gosling to emerge from its shell. This chapter is part of a larger work available at site: audio-novel.com.