Chapter 350: Vermilion Bird

This tree resembled an old dragon lying dormant, with its every branch and leaf subtly pulsing, as though breathing a mysterious, rhythmic cadence. Shi Hao had no time to dwell on these sensations—he pressed upwards, swiftly approaching a golden nest built from peculiar, radiant branches. His eyes nearly popped from his sockets. This was no ordinary nest but a true treasure; each wooden strand gleamed with crystalline clarity and exuded a fragrant aroma.

What began as a mere bird’s nest had transformed into a discovery of immense value. Shi Hao decided then and there to take the whole nest. He couldn’t identify the wood’s origin, only that it was a rare treasure. “Could this be a branch of some sacred tree?” The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

At the summit of the ancient tree, Shi Hao gazed at the radiant golden nest. It was enclosed, like a magpie’s nest, with only a small aperture for entry. Shaped like a golden sphere, it glowed brilliantly from within through a fist-sized opening. Shi Hao chuckled gleefully—seeing no magical defenses, he felt no hesitation. Yet as he peeked through the hole, his eyes flared with pain. Blinding crimson light, sharp as needles, pierced his vision, bringing instant tears and an overwhelming sensation of powerful life force.

Inside, lay an egg. Vibrant red and exquisitely translucent, it gleamed with dazzling radiance, brighter than the sun. About the size of a clenched fist, it resembled a flawless ruby carved by divine hands, its surface crawling with intricate, arcane glyphs—complex and profound. The true terror lay in its fluctuating aura. Though the life force remained sealed within, what little escaped radiated an incomprehensibly mighty presence, shaking even the soul.

In an instant, Shi Hao recognized its rarity. This was no ordinary bird egg—it surpassed every avian egg he had ever seen. A priceless marvel! He’d entered this ancestral ground simply for exploration, never expecting to stumble upon such a wonder.

Yet more bewildering was the lack of any enchantments or protective formations. “Truly a gift from the Heavens!” he exclaimed, his eyes burning with desire. Setting aside everything else, the egg alone was a divine treasure. He speculated it might belong to a mythical divine beast—should it hatch, its inheritance might yield a primordial skill, an ancestral technique lost to time.

Glancing left and right, ensuring no one watched, Shi Hao reached into the nest and retrieved the egg. In that instant, it felt as though he had been struck by a bolt of thunder—he nearly flung it away. The sheer power surging through him at that first contact was terrifying.

“Is this thing possessed?” He couldn’t understand. The egg hadn’t even hatched, yet the life within was already this potent? It defied reason. He had slain and devoured true Azure-Scaled Eagles far larger than this, without any such reaction. To feel such immense power from an unhatched embryo was beyond comprehension. Was this, then, an egg of the Vermilion Bird?

Despite the overwhelming energy, the egg was also intensely hot—so hot that only Shi Hao’s body, hardened by the Immortal Diamond Body cultivation of the Western Church and further tempered by the Body of Indestructible Gold of the Heaven-Mending Cultivation, prevented his flesh from melting. Upon touching it, a magical artifact he held melted immediately into a puddle of molten metal.

“What’s going on!” he muttered, scratching his head. Like a scalding chestnut, it was too dangerous to hold, yet unthinkable to discard.

He placed the egg into a magical vessel known as the Sky-Dissolving Bowl. “Whatever hatches from this will be an extraordinary being—one that defies all laws, possibly even the offspring of a Celestial King, far beyond the ordinary pure-blooded divine beasts!”

He drooled slightly, musing, “This egg contains fragments of the Dao and radiates boundless vitality. Consuming it might trigger a grand transformation in my body.” He debated: should he eat it for power, or wait for it to hatch and obtain its ancient inheritance?

Knocking on the bowl contemplatively, he muttered, “Let me lend you a hand and help you hatch sooner.”

Pouring his spiritual essence and glyphs into the egg, he began the process of refining it—an attempt to coax forth the creature inside. Whether it emerged alive or not, he could always consume it later.

But the moment his glyphs touched the shell, chaos erupted. The egg unleashed a colossal force, like an infinite galaxy of stars collapsing. Shi Hao nearly fell from the tree.

“Damn it, that’s intense!” The force struck like a thousand-ton hammer, drawing blood from his lips. Only by activating his Ten Great Spirit Caverns, his Flesh Cave, and channeling the true power of the Kun Peng did he barely survive the onslaught.

Thankfully, the terrifying surge faded quickly. But Shi Hao sensed danger. This creature, though unborn, was beyond his control. Was it truly a divine being by nature?

Suddenly, the egg cracked—glyphs blazed like miniature suns, and the life within was ready to be born.

“What the hell? Just one touch and it hatches?!” Shi Hao gaped.

A strange aura spread across the ancient tree. In a heartbeat, red fire surged and the entire tree erupted into a sea of flames. The tree itself expanded like a towering monolith, piercing the heavens amidst swirling clouds, outsoaring even the tallest mountains.

“What’s going on?!” Shi Hao stood stunned.

The tree bark, now gleaming like dragon scales, radiated holy light. The leaves shimmered with divine radiance, rustling like celestial whispers of the Dao. The tree had changed—awakened.

From within the Sky-Dissolving Bowl, more cracking sounds echoed. The shell was breaking, but this time it did not release overwhelming power; instead, it began drawing in energy from all directions.

A faint popping sound, and then—a tiny red bird emerged. Smaller than a clenched fist, it had onyx-black eyes and a body covered in vibrant crimson feathers glowing with runes. It radiated divine light, truly an extraordinary being. As it broke free, the shattered eggshell turned to nectar, which it drank entirely, becoming even more radiant.

Shi Hao, bowl in hand, stared in disbelief. Why did this red bird seem so familiar?

The little bird blinked, its wide eyes filled with confusion, studying Shi Hao with equal suspicion.

“I’m your mom,” Shi Hao said with a crooked grin, hoping to trick the newborn into thinking of him as its most beloved caretaker. After all, what could it possibly know?

“You’re male,” the baby bird retorted.

“Huh?!” Shi Hao was taken aback. A newborn with consciousness?

“Okay… I’m your dad, then.”

“Don’t even think of pulling that stunt! I’ll pound you into paste!” The baby bird’s voice was fierce, shocking Shi Hao into stunned silence.

“Look who’s talking! I’m your family!” Shi Hao tried again.

The red bird tilted its head, gazing at him with a look that clearly said “Are you an idiot?”

“Hey! Are you trying to rebel?! Don’t you recognize me?” Shi Hao tried to feign familiarity.

The little bird remained quiet, then narrowed its eyes. “Why did you put me in this stupid bowl? Are you trying to cook me and eat me?”

Shi Hao knew he was in trouble. This wasn’t just any newborn—it was sharp, shrewd, and definitely not naive.

“I feel like I’ve seen you before…” the bird murmured.

“I feel the same! But you were just born, right?” Shi Hao tried to play it smooth.

The bird perked its feathers. “You’re that little brat from Stone Village!”

Shi Hao nearly dropped the bowl. “Are you… Little Red?!”

But something didn’t add up. The original Little Red was the size of a hand and capable of devouring Heaven-Devouring Sparrows. This one was the size of a fist. Though both were crimson, wasn’t it normal for birds of the same kind to look alike?

At the name “Little Red,” the bird flared with fury. Its feathers stood on end like a glowing punch. Its eyes burned with rage, as if biting without teeth, as if it could chew reality itself.

Then—*BOOM!*—It shot from the bowl, grabbed Shi Hao, and hurled him in. Now it held the bowl, peering down at him.

“You dare call me Little Red? Look at you—barely the size of a bean!”

“Now I’m certain it’s you!”

“Still smarting off? Let me teach you a lesson!”

Then came the screams. Despite Shi Hao’s prodigious talent, he stood no chance against Little Red. Enveloped in flames, he was nearly roasted alive.

“Little Red, you ingrate! The Willow God healed you!” he cried out.

He never imagined he’d find Little Red this way—inside an egg. And worse, he’d just tried to pass off as its mother. The realization felt like swallowing poison.

He was tormented for a full hour before Little Red dropped him.

“You were only this tall back then—I let it go. Now, you disrupt my cultivation, try to take advantage, and fake being my parent? What nerve!”

Its voice was clear and sweet, but its tone was sharp and unforgiving.

“I’ve cursed myself for eight lifetimes,” Shi Hao groaned.

“How did you even end up here?” the red bird asked.

“I was about to ask you the same!” Shi Hao retorted.

“I’m the Fire Nation’s revered spirit. Of course, I’m supposed to be here,” Little Red said proudly, shooting Shi Hao a haughty glance.

“You? A revered spirit?!” Shi Hao sat up, skeptical. This bird didn’t seem that old.

“Disrespectful! Want another beating?” Little Red squawked.

“No, no! I just didn’t expect you to be an ancient god worshipped since antiquity!” Shi Hao asked, awestruck.

“Not me. That’s my grandmother.” Little Red looked slightly embarrassed, then declared, “But *I* am the current revered spirit!”

“Word is that the golden monkey fell into Stone Village’s hands, and the Mountain Treasure is with him. Have you seen it?” The red bird’s question shocked Shi Hao deeply.