Chapter 504: Lai Fu’s Happy Ranch
Within the Little Thousand Pure Land, Earth’s Veins and Zhou Tong stared intently at the peacock egg, lost in thought for a long time.
“Will this thing lay eggs?” Zhou Tong asked innocently.
“Isn’t that obvious? Otherwise, how would they reproduce?” Earth’s Veins retorted disdainfully.
“Wait, aren’t peacocks just a mix of phoenixes? Like mules, I thought they couldn’t reproduce,” Zhou Tong replied.
Upon hearing this, Earth’s Veins became momentarily stunned. Zhou Tong had a point. Logically, phoenixes should give birth to phoenixes, yet they produced peacocks and the Great Peng, which must have involved interbreeding with other species. Typically, such hybrids cannot produce viable offspring, much like mules, which are naturally sterile.
“Forget it, let’s give it a try!”
With a loud crack, the gigantic peacock egg was dropped into a cauldron, followed by Earth’s Veins showcasing his incredible culinary skills, while Zhou Tong stoked the fire and Lai Fu joyfully jumped around, causing the peacock to tremble in fear.
After a short while, the peacock egg soup was freshly made.
The moment the lid of the cauldron was lifted, radiant light flew up, and fragrant aromas filled the air, intoxicating and delightful.
“Let’s eat!”
Zhou Tong’s eyes sparkled, and before he could finish speaking, Earth’s Veins had already grabbed the chopsticks, which was quite rude.
It was a silent feast; within moments, Zhou Tong, Earth’s Veins, and Lai Fu had consumed a third of the egg soup, still wanting more.
“Stop! Everyone, stop!”
Suddenly, Zhou Tong shielded the food, pushing the two hungry eaters away.
“You really don’t know how to behave. I still want to save some for my wife and elders. Can’t you show a little awareness?”
“Burp… I’m still not full… Burp…” Earth’s Veins patted his stomach, eyeing the peacock again.
“Two for one, how about we also slaughter this thing for a taste?”
Peacock: “You dare!”
“No way, no way! I absolutely won’t do something as foolish as exhausting the source. If I slaughter the peacock, where else will I get peacock eggs?”
Zhou Tong felt a warm sensation throughout his body; this was truly a nourishing delicacy! After drinking it, he was energized with the potential to open up a million small worlds and almost help him break through to Sage!
Such a treasure could not be easily given up; thus, the peacock had to be kept.
“I know what you’re thinking, but you have to understand that this divine beast’s breeding cycle is very long. The next egg-laying might not be for another century.”
“Hmm?!”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Tong stood up abruptly. He couldn’t wait that long.
“Hiss…”
He inhaled sharply, turning his gaze on the peacock, making it feel perilously uneasy.
“Cluck cluck!”
As if on cue to slap Earth’s Veins in the face, the peacock gritted its teeth and with determination, rolled out another egg, leaving both Zhou Tong and Earth’s Veins dumbstruck.
“I almost believed your old nonsense!”
Zhou Tong wiped the cold sweat from his brow, glaring at the peacock.
“Lai Fu!”
“Woof!”
“Listen carefully! Starting today, the peacock must lay two eggs for me every day, or else it gets slaughtered!”
“Woof woof!”
Lai Fu excitedly bounced up and down, then stomped his foot, causing tough vines to sprout from the earth, intertwining to form a cage that trapped the peacock inside.
Seeing this scene, Zhou Tong’s eyes sparkled. What an exhilarating sight!
“If only I could set up a divine beast breeding farm!”
He muttered to himself, envisioning meals of dragon eggs for breakfast, phoenix liver for lunch, and Great Peng barbecue for dinner.
“Woof woof!”
Lai Fu seemed to sense his master’s thoughts and barked a few times in agreement, suggesting Zhou Tong seek out more divine beasts, implying he was quite skilled at taming these creatures.
“Truly remarkable beings.”
Earth’s Veins gazed at Lai Fu, expressing complex sentiments about his ignorance despite his vast knowledge.
Even Zhou Tong had to acknowledge that the peculiar tree was indeed extraordinary.
And this was only the first fruit; conservatively estimating, it could yield at least six more fruits. What kind of scene would that yield?
“What exactly brings you here?”
Zhou Tong withdrew his gaze and focused on Earth’s Veins again. “You’re not just here to mooch off food, are you?”
“Of course not!”
Earth’s Veins shook his head and said, “Do you remember why we first met?”
“Of course, I do.”
Zhou Tong blurted out.
Initially, he discovered that Earth’s Veins had a pact with the Demonic Race. Concerned that the Demonic Race might have ulterior motives, he went against the heavens and forcibly severed the pact.
It was only because of that that he formed a pact with Earth’s Veins. Now that the pact was established, they should have no more ties. Yet, Earth’s Veins seemed determined to visit often, leaving Zhou Tong puzzled.
“I’m here to tell you an interesting piece of news about the contents of the pact I signed with the Demonic Race. There’s no need to keep it a secret anymore; just listen.”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Tong was taken aback again.
This was blatant favoritism! One must understand that Earth nurtures all beings; whether humans, Divine Race, Demon Race, or Demonic Race, there should be no distinction in his eyes.
“Now that you mention it, I’m genuinely interested.”
Zhou Tong smiled, eager to learn about the content of the pact from back then.
“The content is quite simple but not very friendly to your Human Race.”
Hearing this, Zhou Tong immediately suppressed his smile.
Then Earth’s Veins slowly elaborated, “The Demonic Race bet with me, claiming they would wipe out thirty-six small clans on Human lands before the Hundred Sects Convention, and control a top force in each of the eastern, southern, western, and northern continents!”
“Perhaps that’s a bit difficult for them, don’t you think?”
Zhou Tong shook his head, as the Heavenly Dao Seal had not yet been lifted, meaning the obstacles they would face in launching an assault from the Demonic territories to the Human territories would be unimaginable.
Not to mention the numerous top forces in the four continents; at least, each would have to reach the level of Sacred Grounds, boasting ten Sages guarding them, which was not something the current Demonic Race could touch.
As for the thirty-six small clans, Zhou Tong didn’t even know where many of them were. How could the Demonic Race find them?
Seemingly seeing through his thoughts, Earth’s Veins smiled and handed Zhou Tong a list.
Just a glance at the list changed Zhou Tong’s complexion drastically.
To his shock, the five continents in the east, south, west, and north were indeed overrun by top forces controlled by the Demonic Race.
In the east was the Grand Clarity Sect, in the central continent was the Heavenly Fire Sacred Ground, and in the west… was the Great Thunder Sound Temple!!
As for the small clans, there were around sixty to seventy listed, with thirty-five marked with a red X, and half of the Heavenly Gu Clan crossed out as well, indicating they were in imminent danger!
Upon seeing this, even Zhou Tong felt a chill run down his spine.
He never expected that the Demonic Race was just one step away from fulfilling their bet.
If he hadn’t forcibly interrupted the pact back then and happened to save Zhong Ningxue, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
“What are the stakes for both sides?”
Zhou Tong pressed down the list in his hand, his expression calm as he inquired.
