Farming Games are All About Grinding

While Little Shui was eating, the Little Prince wasn't idle either. It rubbed its bear paws and sauntered toward the back of the side room.

The Little Prince's reasoning was simple: dig a random hole and exchange it for delicious honey—where else could you find such a sweet deal?

If only the owner had mentioned this earlier.

If I had known, I could've hollowed out the whole ground under the house by now!

Watching the diligent Little Prince hard at work digging a cellar, Han Qiwu suddenly realized the potential issue and quickly reminded it, "Little Prince, just dig within this section, okay? Don't dig past the boundary. I'd rather not fall into a pit while I'm asleep."

"Roar!"

The Little Prince clapped its chest in slight disappointment. So much for earning honey indefinitely.

Just as it returned to its digging spot, the chicken roosting on the tree suddenly perked up and called out twice to the Little Prince. After luring it over, the chicken whispered, "I know you want more honey. Since the owner won't let you dig sideways, just dig vertically! After finishing one layer, start on the second. Keep digging downward—eventually, you'll hit honey reserves for life!"

The Little Prince suddenly saw the light.

Of course!

No wonder the owner brought the chicken over to act as a strategist.

Brilliant, brilliant!

"What are you two chatting about?" Han Qiwu noticed their little exchange and walked over to ask.

"Roar!"

The Little Prince waved its hand dismissively, indicating it was nothing, then darted off to dig behind the side room.

"Cluck, cluck, cluck!"

The chicken obediently hopped on the spot a couple of times.

"Stop bouncing around me. If you don't meet the goal tonight, I'll bring a rooster home tomorrow." Han Qiwu spoke with a cheerful squint.

"Cluck!"

The chicken stiffened with anxiety, immediately standing to attention.

I promise to meet the goal!

Han Qiwu paid it no more mind and walked over to the phoenix tree's incubation room, peering inside through the window.

A small shadow of a bird wreathed in blue fire was already visible atop the incubator.

"This blue flame is stunning—just like the blue flame from a natural gas stove," Han Qiwu chuckled and walked over to open the incubator.

As soon as it was opened, the tiny bird wreathed in blue fire shot out in a flash, fluttering in a small circle before hopping onto the ground, tilting its head as it stared at Han Qiwu.

"It can even fly? What're you looking at? Hungry?" Han Qiwu crouched down, extending a hand as he asked.

"Whoosh! Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

The little bird obediently darted toward him and opened its beak, spitting out seven or eight small blue flames in quick succession at Han Qiwu's hand.

Startled, Han Qiwu quickly pulled his hand back, but the blue flames were so fast that two still brushed against his hand.

"Oh no, doesn't blue fire usually have a super high temperature?"

Thankfully, the sensation in the next moment allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief.

When the blue flames touched his hand, it felt like warm water—soft and quite pleasant.

Realizing the blue flames couldn't hurt him, Han Qiwu relaxed and asked, "Why'd you suddenly spit fire at me right after we met?"

On the other side, the little bird seemed just as flustered after spitting flames. It turned in place anxiously, shook its head, and opened its beak to explain—only to accidentally shoot out several more puffs of blue fire.

"Wait, are you unable to control these little blue flames? For now, don't try to talk," Han Qiwu guessed, extending a hand to catch the blue flames.

This won't do. Both the phoenix tree and Phoenix Tree No. 2 are full of dry hay. If this little guy goes in, the coop will turn into an oven.

The little bird nodded eagerly upon hearing this, shutting its beak with a pitiful expression.

I really can't control it!

Finally having a moment to take a good look, Han Qiwu noticed the tiny strands of blue-and-red interwoven fluff covering the little bird's body. Whenever it moved, the fluff would sway with the wind, giving the illusion of blazing fire. Its head resembled a peacock's, while its body looked more like a chicken's. Overall, it was quite beautiful.

[Blue Flame Bird]

[Gender: Female]

[Juvenile Stage]

[Feed Requirement: 0.8 portions of feed]

[Adult Sale Price: 3000 gold]

[Special Effect - Blue Flame: Consuming eggs from the Blue Flame Bird enhances flame-related abilities]

[Animal Product: Blue Flame Eggs]

[Note: Blue Flame Birds cannot control their involuntary flame outbursts during the Juvenile Stage]

Blue Flame Bird?

Now this is interesting.

Its adult sale price was much higher than the big chickens', though its appetite was also larger.

Its product, Blue Flame Eggs.

"Once my combat level reaches five and I unlock a profession, the special effect of these blue flame eggs will really come in handy," Han Qiwu nodded with satisfaction.

For now, the issue to tackle was the Blue Flame Bird's inability to control its uncontrollable flames.

It's still a bird, after all. It couldn't just stay silent forever.

"Ah, right. Could the Fire-Containing Crystal I obtained earlier be of use?" After thinking for a moment, Han Qiwu had an idea and ran to the storage box outside to retrieve the Fire-Containing Crystal.

Returning to the incubation room, Han Qiwu picked up the Fire-Containing Crystal and held it towards the Blue Flame Bird's beak: "Say something into this."

"Whoosh, whoosh!"

The Blue Flame Bird's response was yet more little blue fire popping out like a Gatling gun.

The tiny flames floated toward the Fire-Containing Crystal, which suddenly emitted a strong suction force, absorbing the blue flames one by one.

Once the flames were absorbed, a small blue flame insignia appeared in the center of the Fire-Containing Crystal.

"Keep going."

The Blue Flame Bird obediently continued, spitting more than twenty puffs of blue fire.

As more and more blue flames were stored, the insignia on the Fire-Containing Crystal grew more vivid, and its properties began to change.

After five minutes of non-stop spitting, the Blue Flame Bird finally ran out of flames. Realizing this, it excitedly fluttered onto Han Qiwu's shoulder, chirping incessantly.

Han Qiwu handed it a bag of feed, lowering his head to inspect the Fire-Containing Crystal's updated attributes.

[Fire-Containing Crystal (Silver Star Quality)]

[Use: Stores flames]

[Remaining Flame Storage Types: 1]

[Stored Flame: Blue Flame (Releasable)]

[Remaining Blue Flame Storage Capacity: 114 units]

[Note: Storage capacity will reset after flames are released]

"So the flames can even be released?" Intrigued, Han Qiwu carried the Blue Flame Bird to the bank of the Hospital River, placing a piece of wood on the riverbank.

Han Qiwu aimed the Fire-Containing Crystal at the wood and silently commanded, "Release flame."

"Poof, poof!"

One blue flame after another shot out from the Fire-Containing Crystal, igniting the wood instantly upon contact.

Moments later, the wood was engulfed in fierce flames, burning into a pile of ash within seconds.

"So powerful?" Han Qiwu grinned with delight. Although the Blue Flame Bird couldn't accompany him into the mine for combat, its flames could be carried in the Fire-Containing Crystal!

As expected, blue flames were extraordinary!

Storing the Fire-Containing Crystal, Han Qiwu placed the Blue Flame Bird into Phoenix Tree No. 2 and instructed, "Little Blue, you've spat out so much fire today. Rest well for now. When I come back tonight, you can spit some more. Make sure to eat a lot and rest up—once you grow up, you'll be able to control your flames."

The Blue Flame Bird nodded obediently and snuggled into a nest to sleep.