Ash awoke to scratching.
Not from his body.
Not from a demon.
But from a chicken.
Pecking at his door.
Again.
He opened the creaky wooden flap that served as his front door and stared blankly.
There it was. Feathered. Fierce. Unbothered by his glare.
"…Morning," he muttered.
The chicken clucked like a general inspecting his troops.
And then strutted past him.
"Not invited," Ash pointed out.
The chicken didn't care. It walked inside, looked around, and sat squarely on his folded meditation mat.
Ash blinked.
> [New Presence Detected: "Unnamed Chicken (Low-Grade Farm Beast)"]
[Mood: Disrespectful]
[Combat Potential: Mildly aggressive]
[Peck Damage: 1 (annoying)]
"…Okay."
---
Experiments in Stillness
That afternoon, Ash sat on a rock outside with the chicken beside him.
It had claimed him.
There was no escape.
But he had more pressing goals.
His muscles still ached from yesterday's hoe training. His soup experiment had scorched his stomach lining (it was healing—probably). He needed something simpler.
He stared into the distance.
Stillness.
What if strength didn't always have to come from motion?
Could you cultivate through resisting movement?
A breeze rolled across the field.
The chicken perched on his lap.
Then, wind.
Stronger now.
Ash focused.
He grounded his weight, feet shoulder-width apart, back straight, eyes half-lidded.
The wind pushed. The grass bent. His hair fluttered.
But he didn't move.
> [Skill Formation Detected]
[Skill Created: "Unshakable Stance (Seed Grade)"]
– Root yourself like a mountain.
– Effect: Slight increase in balance, stability, and resistance to external force.
– Evolvable through stronger resistance scenarios.
– Bonus: Can reduce intimidation from small animals.
The chicken blinked at him. It fluffed its feathers, impressed.
He grinned faintly.
"…Does that count as peer review?"
---
Soup Theory, Round 2
That evening, Ash returned to the fire.
This time, he was smarter. No spicy radish.
Instead, he diced a root—an odd one. Found growing near the shaded back of his compost pile. Slightly glowing. Just a little.
He poked it with a stick first. It didn't bite.
Good enough.
In the pot it went.
He added caution.
Intention.
And then the fire.
> [Attempting Skill Infusion: "Body Fortification through Ingestion"]
[Insufficient Foundation.]
[Suggestion: Create base-tier digestion skill before attempting compound food enhancements.]
Ash frowned.
"Too early, huh."
He leaned back, sipping the glowing root soup cautiously.
…Tasted like moss and regret.
But it didn't kill him.
> [Small improvement to Gut Tolerance.]
[Fiery Tempered Gut: 0% → 2%]
Progress.
Very, very slow progress.
But it was his.
---
A Visitor (Sort of)
Just as he was finishing his soup (and the chicken was stealing his last bread bun), Ash heard hooves.
From the distance.
He ducked behind the doorframe.
A cart was rolling by—led by a pale brown ox. Atop it sat a tall man in orange robes, his sleeves too wide, his hair too perfect. A cultivator from the outer sect.
Ash didn't recognize the man.
But he recognized the feeling.
Power.
The cart wasn't fast. Just steady. But it hummed with restrained energy. As if the wooden wheels remembered thunder.
Ash squinted from the shadows.
> [Inspection Unavailable.]
[Requirement: Perception-Type Skill.]
[Tip: "Don't judge a book by its glow."]
Still, something tickled at Ash's spine.
Curiosity.
Envy?
Maybe just a reminder.
Others walked the heavens.
He was walking in chicken poop.
---
Night Thoughts
Later, Ash opened his panel again.
---
Skill Orchard – User: Ash
Soil State: Stirred
Skill Seeds Planted:
Stubborn Hoe Strike (1%)
Enduring Labor (4%)
Fiery Tempered Gut (2%)
Unshakable Stance (1%)
Rarity Recognition: Disabled
Insight Panel: Locked
> "Comparison is illusion. Growth is truth."
---
Ash scratched his head.
Then looked down at the chicken, who had curled up beside his bedroll like a loyal beast companion.
"…Didn't plan on company."
It clucked softly in response.
He smiled.
Not every day had to be legendary.
Some could be ordinary, with just a touch of the absurd.
And those days?
Felt kinda perfect.
---
End of Chapter 3