Crow Immortal
Chapter 4: Immortal Child

"Old Taoist."

Han Yu stood nervously before the elderly Taoist, his heart pounding.

The old Taoist had an ugly, elongated donkey-like face and eyed Han Yu suspiciously: "I didn't give you any blood offerings, yet I had you feed my raven. How come your vital energy remains so abundant?"

Han Yu remained silent, simply staring at the old Taoist.

The old man placed a hand on Han Yu's pulse point to sense his vital energy, then his eyebrows shot up in surprise.

How could this child's vital energy be as robust as a grown man's?

"Boy, show me how you've been cultivating!"

Upon hearing this, Han Yu sat cross-legged on the ground and demonstrated his cultivation method.

The old Taoist observed carefully but couldn't discern anything unusual, stroking his short goat-like beard in puzzlement.

The Blood Refinement Technique was a pseudo-immortal cultivation method he'd painstakingly obtained from an escaped blood slave of a demonic sect. The three accompanying techniques - Blood Droplets, Spirit Nurturing, and Bloodthirsty Art - were "immortal arts" that surpassed ordinary martial skills. There was no reason why an experienced cultivator like himself needed daily blood supplements while this boy thrived without them.

What was going on here?

Was I cultivating incorrectly, or was the boy doing it wrong?

The old Taoist tugged at his beard but couldn't find an answer.

After all, he'd never formally studied immortal cultivation. Being able to follow the method step-by-step was already fortunate - analyzing the finer details of the technique was beyond his capability.

"Forget it!"

The old Taoist finally decided to give up. In just a few more days, he would enter Wangu Valley and begin proper immortal cultivation. This pseudo-immortal Blood Refinement Technique wasn't worth worrying about.

"Who knows whether your cultivation state is good or bad? You're on your own now."

"If you die from cultivation mishaps, even Wan'er's spirit in heaven couldn't blame me."

With that, the old Taoist said no more.

Han Yu sighed inwardly with relief. Returning to his room, he fed the large raven, then extracted and duplicated his essence blood to continue cultivating, further increasing his vital energy reserves.

The next day, the old Taoist urged his donkey eastward again, with Han Yu and the large raven following behind.

The raven, receiving ample blood energy from Han Yu daily, had grown noticeably closer to him. It now circled above Han Yu more frequently throughout the day, no longer showing that eager-to-make-a-meal-of-him expression.

Two more days passed, and the road grew crowded. Ornate sedan chairs, horse-drawn carriages often followed by maids, servants, and guards appeared frequently. There were also martial artists - burly men wielding weapons - traveling alone or in small groups, all heading east toward a common destination.

"Old Taoist, are they all going to Wangu Valley too?"

"Yes, they're all heading to Wangu Valley," the old Taoist replied hoarsely, his cracked lips curling in slight smugness. "They all seek immortality and longevity. But whether noble or powerful, before the immortal gates, they're all equal."

"Whether one can cultivate immortality isn't for them to decide!"

Before reaching Wangu Valley that day, they first arrived at a bustling small town about half a day's journey away.

This town called "Immortal-Seeking Town" served as a stopping point for those annually seeking entry into Wangu Valley's proper immortal path, as well as a resting place for many visitors to the valley.

The streets teemed with people. Martial arts masters and wealthy nobles rarely seen in other cities or villages were as common as mushrooms in the forest here - clusters visible every few steps.

Some wore luxurious furs and hats, others carried precious swords or jade pendants, presenting a novel spectacle to the shabbily-dressed Han Yu.

"Boy!"

Seeing Han Yu's awestruck expression, the old Taoist couldn't help stroking his beard and shaking his head, his voice still grating: "If you cultivate the skills I taught you for a few years, you could become an honored guest of these nobles and officials, enjoying a lifetime of wealth and luxury!"

"When the time comes, being known as a descendant of the Three Friends of Quanlin will bring glory to your grandmother and me!"

Han Yu thought to himself: I'm the descendant of my grandmother and grandfather. How could I be considered the descendant of you and my grandmother?

Stopping the donkey, the old Taoist randomly selected an inn and instructed the waiter: "Two rooms, one meat and one vegetable dish per meal. You can keep this donkey as payment."

"Also, bring four live chickens."

The waiter glanced at the donkey and beamed: "How many nights will you be staying, Taoist Master?"

"Just tonight," the old Taoist replied hoarsely but firmly.

A day's lodging and three meals in exchange for a donkey?

The waiter hurried to inform the manager, who was overjoyed: "Quickly, prepare our best rooms and private dining area!"

The waiter escorted the old Taoist and young Han Yu to their premium rooms, then obsequiously invited them to the second-floor private dining area.

The large raven descended from the sky, perched on Han Yu's shoulder, and followed them upstairs under the waiter's astonished gaze.

In the private dining area by the street-facing window, a richly-dressed young master was embracing a maid, the two feeding each other wine mouth-to-mouth, with two attendants standing behind them.

Hearing the newcomers, the young master turned his displeased face toward the ugly old Taoist and ragged Han Yu, pushing the maid away: "Who gave you permission to disturb my—"

The maid whispered: "Young master, look at that bird!"

The young master immediately became interested: "Indeed! Is that large black bird a hawk? Quite majestic! Wang San, fetch that bird for me!"

At his command, one of the burly attendants stepped forward without greeting the old Taoist or Han Yu, reaching directly for the raven.

Han Yu looked to the old Taoist.

The old Taoist gave a hoarse, strange laugh: "Why look at me? Haven't I already taught you skills?"

Han Yu then looked at the raven.

Should he let them take the bird?

As the attendant Wang San approached, the raven took flight from Han Yu's shoulder, its sharp talons slashing deep wounds into Wang San's reaching arm.

Wang San cried out in pain and fear, cursing "Damned beast!" as he reached for his waist sword.

At that moment, Han Yu had already condensed a drop of essence blood before him, aiming at the man as he warned: "Don't you—"

But Wang San had already drawn his blade. Without hesitation, Han Yu launched the essence blood.

With a "pfft," it pierced through Wang San's shoulder, continued unimpeded through the wooden table, leaving a clean hole.

The sword clattered to the floor as Wang San stared in terror at the ragged child before him.

"M-magic?"

He trembled.

The entire second floor fell silent, all eyes on Han Yu.

The young master shakily rose to his feet, then knelt with a "thud": "So it's an Immortal Child before us! This lowly one is Wei Baoyu, fourth son of the Southern Li Kingdom's Prime Minister! Please forgive this offense, Immortal Masters!"

The maid and attendants also knelt: "We beg the Immortal Child and Master's forgiveness!"

Seeing this, Han Yu turned uncertainly to the old Taoist: "Old Taoist..."

The old Taoist also looked at Han Yu with some surprise—the boy could still stand after releasing essence blood without showing signs of exhaustion. His vital energy was indeed strangely abundant.

"Since you handled this, it's none of my concern. Deal with it as you wish."

Han Yu hesitated, then said: "Then all of you can get up now. Just don't try to take our things again."

Hearing this, Wei Baoyu and Wang San thought he was being sarcastic, pointing out their crime of attempted theft. How dare they rise?

They kept their heads bowed, crying: "Immortal Child, forgive us! Immortal Child, forgive us!"

"We'd never dare be so blind as to covet the Immortal Child's divine bird!"

Wei Baoyu added: "I wish to offer my humble resources to make amends to the Immortal Child!"

Though Han Yu told them to rise, they refused, insisting on making amends.

After some thought and receiving no guidance from the old Taoist, Han Yu finally had an idea when he noticed the raven—might as well ask for some blood offerings.

"Do you have many live animals with you?"