The old man himself was taken aback by the Scab Chicken.

A chicken that had lived for over thirty thousand years... forgetting everything else, its lifespan alone was enough to leave the vast majority of Immortals in the dust, feeling utterly inadequate.

’I thought this wretched chicken had returned to dust long ago. I can’t believe it’s still alive.’

The old man slowly regained his composure from his initial shock. He stared at the Scab Chicken, his expression turning sour, clearly reminded of some unbearable memories.

In the dense forest, as Mo Qi and the Pig Emperor drew closer, the Scab Chicken found it increasingly difficult to suppress its excitement and elation.

’This damn Array has trapped me for over thirty thousand years! Lacking the tempering of the outside world’s Laws of Heaven and Earth, my transformations have failed time and time again. Now, I can finally get out! I’m about to ascend to the heavens in a single step!’

The Scab Chicken flapped its bald, fleshy wings vigorously, frantically urging them on in its mind. ’Hurry up, get over here! I’ve already set everything up over the years. All it needs is a little push from outside the Array, and it will break!’

However, when Mo Qi and the Pig Emperor ignored the Array’s barrier and walked right through it as if it were nothing, arriving in front of the Scab Chicken, the chicken was dumbfounded.

"This... You... That..."

The Scab Chicken became incoherent.

It reached out a wing to tap on the still-existing Array barrier, then looked at the very real Mo Qi and Pig Emperor. It was petrified on the spot, wanting to cry but having no tears.

Its heart plummeted from the heavens to the depths of the earth.

No!

’This makes no sense!’

’Why weren’t this human and pig stopped by the Array?’

’Wait!’

The Scab Chicken suddenly thought of something, and its dead spirits revived at full health.

’Since this human and pig can pass through the Array freely, does that mean they can also take me with them when they pass back out?’

’If that’s the case, then whether or not the Array is broken doesn’t seem to matter.’

Thinking of this, the Scab Chicken hurriedly said, "You dimwitted boy, and you, stupid pig! How about I offer you a fortuitous opportunity in exchange for a deal?"

Mo Qi and the Pig Emperor acted as if they hadn’t heard the Scab Chicken, cornering it between them.

"Pig Emperor, how about some charcoal-grilled, smart-mouthed old chicken for dinner tonight?" Mo Qi cracked his knuckles, eager to get started.

"This Emperor has no objection. You’re in charge when it comes to food," the Pig Emperor said with a grin, drool dripping from its mouth as it smiled at the Scab Chicken.

The Scab Chicken’s expression froze. ’This isn’t going the way I expected.’

’This human and pig... they don’t actually want to eat me, do they?!’

At that thought, the Scab Chicken shuddered, a chill running down its spine.

Thirty thousand years of solitary life had almost made it forget its own status.

"What are you doing?" The Scab Chicken swallowed hard and sidestepped away. "Don’t you want the fortuitous opportunity?"

As if they hadn’t heard a thing, Mo Qi and the Pig Emperor continued to close in.

"I’m warning you! I’m the sworn brother of Elder Ku Mu! If you dare disrespect me, you’re disrespecting him, and he won’t forgive you!"

Mo Qi and the Pig Emperor paused for a moment. "Elder Ku Mu?"

"Do you know him?"

"Never heard of him."

"He’s probably making it up."

"Let’s get him!"

Mo Qi and the Pig Emperor lunged at the Scab Chicken at the same time.

"Holy shit! You actually dare to attack me! I’m telling you, you’re dead!" The Scab Chicken’s figure flickered, vanishing from its spot and reappearing above Mo Qi and the Pig Emperor’s heads.

Mo Qi’s pounce hit nothing but air, but he wasn’t annoyed. Instead, a mysterious smile played on his lips.

"Hmph! You two think you can harm me? Even that old coot Ku Mu couldn’t manage to eat me back in the day!"

The Scab Chicken shook the shriveled comb on its head, its face full of pride. "Back then, I secretly took a shit in his rice bowl! Hahaha!"

The Scab Chicken laughed as it spoke, its fat body jiggling so hard it looked ridiculous.

It was completely unaware that a large black cauldron had suddenly appeared above its head, and it certainly didn’t know that a certain old man hiding in the shadows now had a face green with rage.

’This wretched chicken is as despicable as ever! Hmph. In that case, don’t blame this old man for not cherishing our past friendship.’

Mo Qi had known all along that while the Scab Chicken’s Combat Power was weak, its escape speed was incredibly fast. That’s why he had hidden the Obsidian Cauldron nearby beforehand, waiting for this very opportunity.

With a single thought, the massive black cauldron smashed down on the Scab Chicken’s head.

Huh?

The Scab Chicken sensed something and, without a second thought, tried to dodge away.

But it suddenly found itself unable to move, as if some force had frozen it in place.

"What’s happening?!"

The Scab Chicken was horrified. Before it had time to think, CLANG!

A huge metallic crash echoed through the dense forest.

The Scab Chicken felt a sharp pain, the world started spinning, its eyes rolled back in its head, and it fell stiffly from mid-air.

It ended up in Mo Qi’s grasp, held up by the neck.

"You beast! You dare launch a sneak attack on me!"

The Scab Chicken, which had been dizzy and disoriented a second ago, was already conscious again, glaring fiercely at Mo Qi.

"If you have any guts, let me go and we’ll have a fair fight!"

Mo Qi didn’t say a word. He beckoned, and the Obsidian Cauldron flew back into his hand.

CLANG!

He lifted the cauldron and brought it down hard on the Scab Chicken’s head.

"HOLY SHIT, that hurts! You damn brat, just you wait! I’m going to rip out your tendons and peel your skin!"

CLANG!

Another blow from the bottom of the cauldron landed.

"Ow, ow, ow! If you dare try that again, I’m gonna fight back!"

CLANG!

The only response the Scab Chicken got was the bottom of the cauldron.

"I’m really about to lose it!"

CLANG!

"Damn it, you’re really getting into this, aren’t you?"

CLANG!

"What the fu—"

CLANG!

Scab Chicken: "..."

CLANG!

"Hey, hey, hey, that’s going too far! I didn’t even say anything that time!"

CLANG!

Scab Chicken: "..."

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Mo Qi completely ignored whatever the foul-mouthed chicken was saying, simply greeting it with the bottom of the cauldron again and again.

But with every swing of the cauldron, Mo Qi grew more and more astonished.

He knew better than anyone how strong he was. Forget a chicken; even a Cultivator at the Peak of Vajra Realm couldn’t have taken two hits from his cauldron.

But this Scab Chicken had already been hit no less than thirty times. Aside from a swollen lump on the back of its head, it showed no signs of serious injury. On the contrary, it was full of vigor, its shrieks piercingly loud.

’It really can’t be beaten to death.’

The Chaos Scripture said that this chicken’s Life Force was tenacious, making it nearly Undying.

Thinking of this, Mo Qi put away the black cauldron and took out a kitchen knife.

He wanted to see if he could kill the Scab Chicken with a single slash.

Seeing this, the Scab Chicken’s face changed drastically.

"Spare my life, great hero!"

THUD!

The Scab Chicken suddenly dropped to its knees on Mo Qi’s shoes, hugging his hands.

"I have old parents to support and young children to raise! And in between, a wife as beautiful as a flower! Please don’t kill me!"

Mo Qi: "..."

’Isn’t this change of heart a little too fast?’

He had just hit it so many times without it begging for mercy; Mo Qi had thought this chicken would rather die than submit.

"I can choose not to kill you, but what use would I have for you?" Mo Qi asked.

The Scab Chicken heard this and knew it had a chance!

It immediately said, "I’m useful, of course I’m useful!"

"That old fogey Ku Mu hid a lot of good stuff here! I know where it all is! I can take you to it!"