Ever since Zhang Xiaohu appeared outside the volcano, the Xuanyang Sparrow had been standing on the rim, quietly observing the utterly weak human and three Flamingos locked in a desperate struggle.
As the supreme being in the entire Demon Spirit Realm, the Xuanyang Sparrow's thoughts operated on a different level than other demonic beasts.
Those beasts, upon seeing humans, only thought of devouring them.
But the Xuanyang Sparrow knew that from the moment Chu Yang appeared in this world, the fate of them demonic beasts was sealed – they would serve as proving grounds for these humans.
No matter how they resisted, as long as they couldn't overcome the insurmountable obstacle that was Chu Yang, their ultimate end was death.
The Xuanyang Sparrow did not want to die. There were two ways to survive: one was to kill all the humans who came for trials and Chu Yang, who would later seek trouble.
Having clashed with Chu Yang once, it realized this method was highly unlikely to succeed.
The second way was to leave the [Demon Spirit Realm].
This small world was too confined for it. Although it was where it grew up, it was also a prison.
It had long desired to leave this world but had never found a way. Chu Yang's appearance signified a new master for this world and simultaneously presented the Xuanyang Sparrow with an opportunity to depart.
Zhang Xiaohu felt as if a ball of scorching fire was burning in his chest, making it incredibly difficult to breathe, as if something was being forcibly shoved down his throat.
Then, his entire body felt hot and restless, his breathing rapid, and he kept rolling around.
After fighting and killing three Flamingos with all his might, Zhang Xiaohu was almost unconscious, yet he knew he wasn't dead.
Thus, amidst pain and torment, he suddenly opened his eyes and sat up.
"I can't die..."
As if waking from a nightmare, Zhang Xiaohu was drenched in sweat. He looked around at his surroundings.
"Where is this..."
His gaze was vacant, as the environment was utterly unfamiliar – all scorched black rock walls, with faint traces of fire seeping through.
At that moment, a clear, cool voice came from behind him: "Human, you are awake?"
Zhang Xiaohu abruptly turned, seeing the beautiful Xuanyang Sparrow, akin to a phoenix. His face instantly turned pale. He reached out to find his broken axe, only to remember he had likely abandoned it at the battlefield with the three Flamingos.
"You wish to attack me? Is this how humans treat their saviors?"
Zhang Xiaohu froze. He looked at the Xuanyang Sparrow before him, swallowed, and asked in a hoarse voice, "You saved me?"
"If no one saved you, do you think you would still be alive?"
Zhang Xiaohu then noticed that all his injuries had vanished.
Though it was hard to believe, it seemed the Xuanyang Sparrow had indeed saved him.
"Wait!" Zhang Xiaohu's eyes widened, and he retreated a few steps. "How can you talk?"
The Xuanyang Sparrow stared at Zhang Xiaohu with disdain and said calmly, "Is your reaction time really that slow? Demonic beasts at Tier 3 possess intelligence comparable to humans, at Tier 5 they can overcome their beastly instincts, at Tier 6 they can speak human language, and at Tier 7 they can transform into human form. Don't you know these common facts?"
Zhang Xiaohu said awkwardly, "I've... only just started cultivating..."
"But why did you save me? I'm just a cultivator at the early Qi Refining stage with very poor talent and strength. If you need help with anything, I'm afraid I won't be able to assist."
The Xuanyang Sparrow stared at Zhang Xiaohu and said, "We can make a deal."
"What deal?"
"Take me out of the Demon Spirit Realm."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaohu's face changed drastically. He quickly waved his hands in refusal, "No, no, no! My world is a peaceful era. Releasing you would cause immense disaster!"
This was a Tier 6 demonic beast. Zhang Xiaohu knew his own limitations. If the Xuanyang Sparrow went out and did anything bad, he would absolutely not be able to control it!
"Don't be so quick to refuse. Putting aside that I saved your life, you also need something from me."
"I don't!"
"No, you do! I can see it – when you battled those three Flamingos, your eyes held persistence and longing for something!"
The Xuanyang Sparrow's gaze burned with intense fire as it fixed on Zhang Xiaohu, as if it had seen right through him.
It gradually approached Zhang Xiaohu and said, "Perhaps your reaction time is a bit slow, but you haven't realized you've already reached the middle Qi Refining stage."
Zhang Xiaohu checked his cultivation, and good heavens, he had indeed leveled up!
"What did you do to my body?"
The Xuanyang Sparrow said dismissively, "To me, you are as weak as an ant. Seeing you, I don't even have an appetite. Do you see that vine on the wall?"
Zhang Xiaohu followed the Xuanyang Sparrow's gaze. On the volcanic wall was a red vine, its leaves seeming to flow with magma, bearing over a dozen golden-red fruits resembling molten rock.
"This is..."
"Magma Vine Fruit. It's a fruit that has a chance to be born under the nourishment of the earth's fire. It contains elemental power from molten earth fire, greatly benefiting those who cultivate fire-elemental techniques. While you were unconscious, I fed you three, which is why you advanced to the middle Qi Refining stage."
This was mainly because Zhang Xiaohu's talent was too poor, so poor that the Xuanyang Sparrow was speechless.
His absorption rate of the Magma Vine Fruit was very low. If Meng Zibin were to absorb it, one fruit would be enough to advance him from the early to the middle Qi Refining stage.
Of course, while good, consuming too much would also lead to drug resistance.
Furthermore, it was useless to the Xuanyang Sparrow. The effect of the Magma Vine Fruit was not even useful for Tier 3 demonic beasts, let alone itself, which was already at Tier 6.
Zhang Xiaohu wasn't foolish. The effect of one top-grade spirit stone could basically allow someone to advance from early to middle Qi Refining. Did this Magma Vine Fruit not