Wait a minute, where is my master?

"Hmm, it should work. I've used this thing to refine oil before,"

Yu Yaoer tilted her head in thought for a moment after hearing Little White's question before answering softly.

The husky's eyes lit up at her words!

"Little White, if you mess around, you're not allowed to eat anything on this trip into the small world,"

Jin Xu, who had keenly sensed the husky's inner thoughts, preemptively interjected to stop him.

"Oh, I understand, temple master,"

The light in Little White's eyes faded as he let go of the ancient lamp in his grasp and trudged down the stairs into the darkness with a dejected hang of his head.

After stopping the husky, the young Taoist shook his head with a helpless smile.

He continued his descent as well.

As he traveled, he couldn't help but look around curiously.

A thought involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

"The human touch in this place is too pronounced; it doesn't seem like it was built by the Age Chicken tribe?"

This was not an unfounded thought for the young Taoist.

The best proof of that thought was the fact that,

he had noticed the lamps around Little Hong did not light up as she descended the steps,

Instead, the ancient lamps filled with ten-thousand-year-old whale fat had abruptly started burning only after they themselves had descended.

As for the reason,

The Taoist had casually swept the area with his Spiritual Sense and easily found a clue.

It seemed that there was some kind of sensor array within the passage.

And the trigger height for the array was at one meter twenty.

In plain terms, the Age Chickens were too short to reach the height of the array's sensor, which was why the lamps hadn't lit up.

"If this place was really built by the Age Chicken tribe, the height of this passageway is too tall. Also, the position of the array sensor is wrong.

"It can't be that the Age Chicken that set up the formation were all giant chickens over one meter twenty..."

With this question in mind,

the young Taoist and his companions had already arrived in front of a moss-covered stone wall, where the whale fat lamps had burned all the way down.

Little Hong, who had come down first, was now waiting for them at the bottom of the stone wall.

"Gululuda!"

Seeing the group arrive, Age Chicken let out a couple of happy and surprised clucks, then turned around and started pecking methodically at the stone wall.

"Little White, what did he say?"

"Temple master, Little Hong is asking for my help in a moment. He's calling at the door now.

"Also, he said he didn't expect the lamps on the surrounding walls to actually light up; he always thought they were broken."

This response further cemented Jin Xu's suspicion that the structure was definitely not built by the Age Chicken tribe.

"...\\-------\\--------\\------...…"

After a series of pecking sounds, varying in length,

a small square opening suddenly appeared on the mossy wall in front of them.

Next, an extremely cautious chicken head poked out.

The moment that chicken head appeared, it saw the motionless Taoist and others. It let out an instinctive shriek and then tried to pull its head back.

But fortunately,

It seemed that Little Hong, who was below the stone wall, had anticipated this reaction from his tribesman, so he had asked Little White for help in advance.

Just as the chicken head tried to retreat, the husky, like a white whirlwind, dashed to the vicinity of the square hole.

He swiftly caught the neck of the Age Chicken that had come to investigate.

After that, Little Hong began to communicate with the other party at a leisurely pace.

"Cluck-cluck-cluck!"

"Cluck-cluck-cluck?"

"Cluck-cluck-cluck!!!"

The two Age Chickens engaged in an intense, yet brief, heated debate.

According to Little White's translation, the Age Chicken that came out to check the situation seemed to believe that Little Hong had deliberately led them here to save his own life.

Little Hong was fervently arguing that he hadn't betrayed his tribe but had used the coordinates of the small world and his own "innocence" to ultimately trade for his freedom.

"Temple Master, this Age Chicken doesn't believe it. He says that in this small world, there's no poultry that can match the flavor of their Age Chicken clan.

Their Age Chicken clan is known for their delicious taste,

"With meat so tender and smooth... glug~"

As the Husky translated, he couldn't help but involuntarily swallow.

Then, with a mournful face, he said to Jin Xu, "Temple Master, his descriptions are too vivid (*꒦ິ⌓꒦ີ)"

"..."

The little Taoist felt as though a transparent crow had flown over his head.

He pondered for a moment, then addressed the increasingly agitated Little Hong.

"Little Hong, after all, our original agreement was to bring you home, and since you led us to the small world, that agreement has been fulfilled. Given the special circumstances of your clan, perhaps we wouldn't visit your tribal lands after all.

"By the way, if it's convenient for you, could you possibly bring us a copy of the Age Chicken clan's 'Death Note' after you go back..."

Before he could finish, Little Hong gave a shrill call in Jin Xu's direction.

"Temple Master, Little Hong says not to bother, he insists on taking us there today, or else... or else... glug~ he'll stew himself."

As Little White the translator spoke, he grimaced and swallowed his saliva.

"Hiss, I never realized before, but this chicken is actually quite hot-tempered."

Hearing this response, the little Taoist couldn't help but smack his lips, his expression a mix of helplessness.

How could he know that, from Little Hong's perspective, other than the initial scare when they caught him, the subsequent treatment he received was unprecedentedly luxurious for an Age Chicken?

He could drink Spiritual Liquid that was a higher grade than Spirit Stones, be let out to stretch his wings regularly, and eat meals prepared by the top chefs of the Nine Provinces Realm.

Not to mention that they had transported him miles away to his home, even when he accidentally cultivated the Taoist's Divine Ability as a reward, the other party didn't get mad.

Today, Little Hong was determined to take them for a visit to the clan lands, no matter who objected—he, Little Hong, had said so!

Of course, apart from thoroughly trusting the integrity of the little Taoist and others, Age Chicken Little Hong also had his own ulterior motive.

Their Age Chicken clan's territory was vast, and internally they were even self-sufficient.

However, ever since he could remember, he had heard legends of a cursed land within their extensive territory—a land that, historically, emitted screams from anyone who entered, followed by an undoubted disappearance without a trace.

In the not so lengthy history of the Age Chicken clan, there had been brave chickens that ventured to unveil the mystery of this cursed land, but the outcomes were all the same.

All had gone and not returned.

Because of their clan's fragrant properties, it was difficult to seek outside help.

So now, encountering a cultivator who was immune to their fragrance, powerful in strength, and of guaranteed good character, Little Hong would do anything to invite him to their clan to see if the curse could be completely eradicated.

"Cluck-cluck-cluck!"

After a cry from Little Hong, the Age Chicken that was being held by the neck suddenly fell silent.

Then, its small eyes showed a look of disbelief as it began to caw continuously.

"Temple Master, Little Hong says it's very likely that we have the strength to help them solve the issue of the cursed land."

As Little White translated, a hint of doubt crept into his voice.