Chapter 60: The glowing father and the chicken nemesis
The courtyard was silent. The air shimmered. Even the cabbage stopped rolling.
A tall figure stepped out from the golden light, robe fluttering, aura glowing like someone accidentally turned on the "Heavenly Filter."
Li Ming blinked twice. "...Wait a sec. Dad?!"
Grandpa Li squinted. "Oh no. Not the glowing entrance again."
Sure enough, Li Da stood there—back straight, arms folded, face as serious as a man trying to calculate why his son was arguing with a chicken.
Behind him, Li Mei peeked from his side, waving cheerfully. "Big bro! Guess who’s back!"
Li Ming froze. "Why are you two glowing?"
Madam Li stepped out behind them, holding a fan and sighing deeply. "Because your father refuses to walk normally. He said it ruins the aesthetic."
Li Da coughed dramatically. "Ahem. Family! Behold your father’s return! I have broken through—Core Formation, Fourth Stage!"
The family gasped.
Grandpa Li nodded. "Impressive."
Madam Li clapped. "Good job, dear."
Li Mei tilted her head. "You took three months just to glow brighter?"
Li Da twitched. "It’s called ’cultivation,’ young lady!"
Meanwhile, Li Ming stood there, still stunned. "Dad... not that I’m not happy, but uh... we kinda have a problem."
Li Da looked around, finally noticing Bai Guo, the smug chicken standing like he owned the courtyard.
Li Da frowned. "...Son. Why is there a poultry cultivator in our home?"
Bai Guo puffed his chest proudly. "Name’s Bai Guo. I’m the one who defeated your son in glorious combat."
Madam Li gasped. "You WHAT?!"
Li Mei burst into laughter. "HAHA! Big bro lost to a chicken again?!"
"AGAIN?!" Li Ming yelled. "It was ONE TIME—okay, maybe twice—but it’s complicated!"
Li Da rubbed his temples. "Son... do you realize our ancestors are probably watching right now, shaking their heads?"
Li Ming groaned. "Oh great, now even my ancestors are judging me."
Grandpa Li patted his shoulder. "They’ve been judging you since Chapter 1."
Li Ming facepalmed. "Thanks for the support, grandpa."
Bai Guo tilted his head. "For what it’s worth, you put up a decent fight. You didn’t cry this time."
"WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT OUT LOUD?!"
Madam Li sighed. "Honestly, this house is chaos. I leave for one trip and suddenly there’s a talking chicken."
Li Mei circled Bai Guo curiously. "Can we keep him as a pet?"
Bai Guo flapped his wings. "Excuse you. I am not a pet. I’m a future Supreme Sky Rooster!"
Li Mei grinned. "So... fancy pet?"
"NO!"
Li Ming stepped in quickly. "Alright, enough chicken talk! Dad, Mom, why are you back? Don’t tell me you came just to roast me in front of guests."
Li Da folded his arms, his expression turning serious again. "We’re back because the Clan Council sent a summons."
Li Ming froze. "...Oh no. Please don’t say it’s another tournament."
Li Da shook his head. "Worse."
Li Ming’s eyes widened. "Worse than getting chased by cabbage demons?!"
Madam Li sighed dramatically. "You’ve been invited to the Ancestor Appraisal Ceremony."
Li Ming blinked. "The... what?"
Li Da nodded gravely. "A test where our ancestors appear and judge the worth of their descendants."
Li Ming gasped. "Wait wait wait, actual ghosts?!"
Li Mei giggled. "Ooo~ big bro’s gonna get roasted by ghost grandpas!"
"Hey!"
Bai Guo stepped back. "I don’t do ghosts. I’m out."
Li Ming pointed. "You’re coming with me."
"Nope!"
"Yes!"
Madam Li sighed again. "Honestly, Li Ming, how do you manage to get into these things? Do you have a magnet for chaos?"
Grandpa Li nodded. "He inherited it from me."
Li Da ignored the commentary. "Son, the Council is expecting you at dawn. If you pass, you’ll gain the ancestors’ blessing. If you fail..."
Li Ming gulped. "If I fail...?"
Li Da’s tone turned dark. "You’ll be cursed."
Li Ming froze. "C-Cursed?! Like, lose my cultivation cursed or turn-into-cabbage cursed?!"
Grandpa Li stroked his beard. "Both sound fun."
Li Ming glared. "You’re not helping!"
Li Mei snickered. "You can finally be Cabbage Brother! Perfect for your brand!"
"I’M NOT MAKING THAT A BRAND!"
Li Da placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. "Don’t worry, my son. Believe in yourself."
"Really?"
"And if that fails," Li Da added calmly, "run."
Madam Li nodded. "Fast."
Li Ming groaned. "Thanks for the confidence, guys."
Bai Guo leaned in. "Hey, look on the bright side. Maybe your ancestors will mistake me for a phoenix and worship me instead."
Li Ming glared. "Don’t. You. Dare."
Bai Guo grinned. "No promises."
The family erupted into laughter while Li Ming sighed dramatically. Somehow, his life kept getting stranger—talking chickens, glowing dads, and now ghost ancestors with trust issues.
He looked at the sky, muttering, "Why can’t I just have one normal day?"
The heavens, of course, offered no answer.
----
The next day:
Morning came way too fast.
Li Ming barely opened his eyes when Li Da kicked open his door.
"Up! The ancestors won’t wait!"
Li Ming groaned, "Can’t they judge me after breakfast?"
Madam Li tossed him a bun. "Here, breakfast."
He blinked at it. "This is a stress snack, not breakfast."
"Then cultivate your appetite," Li Mei said, giggling.
Bai Guo strutted in, wearing a tiny scarf he clearly made himself. "I’m ready. Do I get a seat or a perch?"
Li Ming facepalmed. "Please don’t embarrass me in front of my ghost relatives."
Bai Guo puffed up. "Relax. I’m the most respectable chicken here."
Li Ming muttered, "You’re also the only chicken here..."
---
The family made their way to the Ancestor Hall, an ancient stone building filled with glowing lanterns and spooky mist.
Grandpa Li whispered, "Ah, I remember my ceremony. They roasted me so hard, I almost quit cultivation and became a chef."
"Comforting," Li Ming muttered.
As soon as they stepped inside, the temperature dropped. A giant statue in the center began glowing, and whoosh! — several ghostly figures appeared in the air.
Li Ming froze. "...So they really are ghosts."
One of them — an old man with a beard longer than Li Ming’s patience — stepped forward. "Descendant! State your name and realm!"
Li Ming bowed nervously. "L-Li Ming, Qi Gathering, Third Level!"
The ancestor raised an eyebrow. "Qi Gathering? Still?!"
Another ancestor sighed. "In my day, we reached Core Formation before puberty!"
Li Ming muttered, "In your day, spiritual energy probably grew on trees."
"WHAT WAS THAT, BOY?"
"Nothing, great-great-great-grandpa!"
Bai Guo stepped up proudly. "And I am Bai Guo, the one who defeated him!"
The ancestors turned in unison.
"...A chicken?"
Bai Guo nodded solemnly. "A legendary chicken."
An ancestor rubbed his ghostly eyes. "By the heavens, what has our bloodline become..."
Li Da cleared his throat. "Esteemed ancestors, my son has shown great perseverance. He even split a sacred rock with his head!"
Madam Li added, "...Accidentally."
Li Ming smiled weakly. "Still counts, right?"
One ancestor floated closer, studying Li Ming. "Hmm. Clumsy aura... chaotic destiny... comedic potential. Yes, he is definitely one of ours."
Li Ming blinked. "...Thanks?"
The bearded ancestor raised his ghostly hand. "Then let the Appraisal begin!"
The ground rumbled, and glowing spirit flames circled around Li Ming.
First flame: Courage.
A spectral voice boomed, "Will you face danger head-on?"
Li Ming nodded. "Yes!"
A giant cabbage monster appeared.
He screamed, "NOPE!" and ran behind Bai Guo.
Bai Guo flapped. "Don’t hide behind me! I’m just a chicken!"
The ancestors sighed. "Courage... questionable."
Second flame: Wisdom.
A scroll appeared with glowing words. "Answer this: What walks on four legs in the morning—"
Li Ming raised his hand. "A baby!"
"—flies at noon—"
"Uh, a cultivator on a sword?"
"—and clucks at night?"
He paused. "...Bai Guo?"
"Correct!"
Bai Guo blinked. "Wait, what?!"
The ancestors murmured, "Surprisingly clever."
Li Ming puffed up his chest. "See? I’ve grown."
Third flame: Heart.
A small illusion formed — his family cheering, his friends laughing, and a younger Li Ming chasing dreams.
The voice asked softly, "Do you know what you fight for?"
Li Ming smiled. "Yeah. My family. My friends. And definitely not chickens."
Bai Guo pouted. "Rude."
The flames shimmered, forming a golden light that wrapped around Li Ming.
The bearded ancestor stroked his beard. "Hmm. Despite the... poultry influences, you show promise."
Another ancestor nodded. "He is chaotic, yes, but pure of heart."
Bai Guo muttered, "And pure of bad luck."
"Silence, feathered one!"
Li Ming stood tall as the light sank into his body. His aura flared — calm, strong, different.
Grandpa Li clapped. "Ha! He passed!"
Madam Li smiled proudly. "That’s my boy."
Li Da nodded. "Told you he had potential."
Li Ming exhaled in relief. "I did it..."
But before he could relax, the ground shook again. The main statue’s eyes opened.
A deeper, ancient voice thundered,
> "Descendant Li Ming... you have passed the trial... but your destiny... is tangled with a greater chaos..."
Li Ming gulped. "Uh... greater chaos?"
The ancestor’s eyes flashed. "Indeed. A test remains... one only you can face."
Suddenly, a massive door rose from the floor — carved with glowing symbols and a single line of text:
> "Trial of the Cursed Feather."
Everyone froze.
Li Ming slowly turned to Bai Guo. "...You wouldn’t happen to know what that is, would you?"
Bai Guo gulped. "...So... funny story—"
The door burst open. A blinding light swallowed them both.
"NOT AGAIN!" Li Ming yelled as he vanished.
"BWAAAAAK!" Bai Guo screamed as he was dragged in too.
The ancestors stared silently.
Li Da sighed. "Yup. That’s my boy."
To be continued...