Crow Immortal
Chapter 3: Feeding the Crow

"Here are two techniques—go practice them in your room!" That same day, the old Taoist handed Han Yu two techniques before impatiently shooing him out.

True to his word, the old man wouldn't provide further guidance or purchase blood nourishment to replenish Han Yu's vitality—how much he could learn depended entirely on his own aptitude. Were it not for Han Yu being "Wan'er's" grandson, the old Taoist would have long fed him to the giant crow.

The first technique was called Blood Droplets—condensing one's vital blood into droplets that could be expelled from the body and launched at targets. Though each droplet was only the size of a raindrop, they could pierce through wood and stone, lethal enough to kill ordinary people who stood no chance against them.

The second technique was Spirit Nurturing—the method the old Taoist used to feed his own vitality to crows, allowing them to grow into three-foot-long giant ravens. Once an animal accepted its master's vitality through this technique, it would naturally become obedient like a domesticated dog, following its master's commands.

Returning to his room, Han Yu attempted to condense his vital blood to test the Blood Droplets technique. Immediately, he felt something was wrong—as the blood gathered into raindrop-sized spheres and left his body, his limbs turned icy while his ears rang violently. It felt just like that night when he'd nearly frozen and starved to death.

The discomfort and weakness were overwhelming! Was this how it felt to lose vital blood? If this technique missed its target, he wouldn't even have strength left to flee, leaving him completely at his enemy's mercy.

If only he had a bit more vital blood...

As this thought crossed Han Yu's mind, that familiar warm sensation—hot as charcoal yet pleasantly cool to touch—reappeared in his palm. Another drop of translucent crimson vital blood materialized before him.

Battling his weakness, Han Yu blinked in confusion. Just like with Wangu Valley's token, his vital blood had duplicated from one portion into two?

Examining the extra droplet, Han Yu realized: "Does this mean each Blood Droplets attack could be fired twice now?"

Could the vital blood be retrieved? The thought proved irresistible. His body's weakness and thirst for blood nourishment made him feel like a parched man seeing a bowl of clean water after days without drink.

As the blood touched his skin, his Blood Refinement Technique instinctively activated, absorbing it back. Warmth flooded his body, bringing immense relief. When Han Yu regained his senses, the extra portion had been fully refined, restoring about seventy percent of his condition—no longer critically weakened.

Suddenly, he understood—even when retrieved promptly, some vital blood would inevitably be lost, like water poured onto fields that could never be fully recovered.

Refining the second portion, Han Yu felt another wave of heat coursing through his limbs, soothing his muscles and clearing his mind. His dry throat vanished, his limbs grew stronger than before, the aches from walking all day disappeared completely, and his vitality surged beyond its original level.

"Now I won't need to buy blood nourishment... not that I could afford it anyway," Han Yu thought cheerfully.

The next morning, hearing movement next door, Han Yu hurriedly got up. The old Taoist was slowly mounting his donkey to depart, and Han Yu followed.

The old man glanced back: "Little brat, I've taught you everything. Why still following?"

Han Yu frowned: "Aren't you going to Wangu Valley, Elder Taoist?"

"My trip to Wangu Valley has nothing to do with you," the old man said, lifting his long, ugly face. "I've fulfilled my promise—taught you techniques and gotten what I wanted. I won't drag a burden like you along."

Finally understanding the old man considered their agreement complete, Han Yu insisted: "Elder Taoist, I want to go to Wangu Valley too."

The old Taoist scoffed: "Wangu Valley? With your skills?" Without another word, he urged his donkey forward.

Han Yu silently trailed behind the donkey for several miles until the old man finally turned: "You're really set on following me, brat?"

"Elder Taoist, I want to go to Wangu Valley."

"Really that determined?"

"Yes."

"Given your Han family—" The old man's cold gaze lingered on Han Yu's eyes and brows before relenting. "Fine. If you insist on following, I'll give you one chance—use your vitality to feed my crow."

With a wave, a three-foot-long black raven descended from the sky. "This brat—" The old man pointed at Han Yu, and immediately the raven's beady eyes locked onto him with undisguised hunger, wings spreading as if to swoop down and peck at him.

"Stupid bird, always thinking with your stomach!" the old Taoist scolded. "This boy isn't food—he'll give you daily vitality rations from now on. No more from me."

"Caw?" The raven tilted its head.

"Quiet!" the old man rasped. "Keep squawking and you'll get nothing from him either."

Angrily flapping its wings, the raven let out a series of indignant caws, clearly unhappy about the arrangement. Moments later, it abruptly landed on Han Yu's shoulder with surprising weight.

"Caw!"

Han Yu smiled—the big black bird reminded him of a child storming off after parental scolding but having nowhere else to go. He'd never experienced parental care himself, but had seen village children run off in anger after beatings only to return tearfully later.

"I'll feed you from now on."

"Caw!" The raven eyed him before flying off again.

Another day's eastward travel brought them to a small inn at dusk. The old Taoist ordered two live chickens to his room as blood nourishment.

The raven tried sneaking in but got thrown out. "None for you today—go bother the boy!"

Forced to Han Yu's room, the raven opened its beak expectantly. Han Yu channeled his vitality through Spirit Nurturing technique to feed it. The raven calmed immediately, closing its eyes in contentment.

After a short while, Han Yu stopped—he'd lost some vitality but didn't feel overly weakened. The raven opened its eyes and withdrew on its own with a final "caw," marking the end of that day's feeding.

Relieved the cost wasn't too high, Han Yu waited until the raven left before condensing another drop of vital blood, duplicating it, then refining both portions. Soon after, he felt reassured—not only had feeding the raven not weakened him, but his total vitality had actually increased again.

Next morning, the old Taoist didn't wait for Han Yu, simply riding his donkey eastward. Han Yu hurried after him, repeating the evening feeding and blood refinement routine.

Through these two days of experimentation, Han Yu gradually understood his duplication ability's limits—he could only duplicate vital blood once per day, while replicating precious items like Wangu Valley's token required accumulating energy over multiple days.

After another day, the old Taoist grew suspicious. Why was his raven increasingly circling around Han Yu? Had the boy been overfeeding it? Moreover, without blood nourishment, how was Han Yu not showing signs of depletion but instead looking more vigorous than ever?

"Come here, boy. Let me examine you."