(GL) The Supporting Female Character Strategy Manual - Chapter 36

“Did you hear? Our Master Ancestor moved a phoenix tree that lived for thousands of years from the Phoenix Clan’s territory just for that ugly bird. She transplanted it straight into Lingjiu Mountain.”

“Why would the Phoenix Clan Chief agree to that?”

“He got beaten up, of course.”

“That’s not all. Master Ancestor even carved out a fire vein in the southern side of Lingjiu Mountain just for that ugly bird’s cultivation. Half the mountain is scorched bare because of it. She destroyed ten thousand stalks of Divine Orchid Grass in the process.”

Divine Orchid Grass was a key ingredient in the Nine Revolutions Bone Cleansing Pill. Losing it meant losing the chance to refine ten thousand pills, which in turn shattered the dreams of over ten thousand cultivators.

It was a complete waste of resources.

Because of that disciple, Master Ancestor had become a prodigal.

Everyone exchanged glances. No one dared to speak ill of Master Ancestor. Not a soul wanted their words to reach her ears and earn a beating.

“Sniffle sniffle, I’m so jealous.”

A long silence was suddenly broken by this heartfelt exclamation. Then the room filled with agreement. Of the tens of thousands who came to Lingshen Sect hoping for the Master Ancestor’s favor, only that ugly bird caught her eye. The attention and care Master Ancestor showed made everyone green with envy.

But standing in contrast to that was Ling Yan. Compared to Qian Wanyu, who seemed to have stumbled into great fortune, Ling Yan’s noble birth was now seen as a misfortune. Wherever she went, people whispered and stared. Their eyes held not admiration but a mixture of sympathy and ridicule.

Jian Tongyao paid no mind to these petty matters. She was determined to transform Lingjiu Mountain into a haven tailored to her Seventh Sister’s comfort. If she could make her never want to leave, that would be even better.

Right now, the fire spirit vein had already become one of Qian Jiujiu’s favorite places. The other was naturally her courtyard, where the transplanted phoenix tree now stood.

Qian Jiujiu wore a specially made seven-colored robe. She lifted her head with pride and determination as she circled the phoenix tree with brisk steps. She looked like a retired official with her imaginary hands clasped behind her back, conducting a serious inspection.

Her little eyes gave the tree a sharp glare.

Hidden in the shadows, Jian Tongyao could barely hold back her laughter. She had never seen her Seventh Sister act so adorably. The sight made her feel like a hopeless voyeur, watching every moment without rest through the twelve-hour cycle.

Then…

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Qian Jiujiu headbutted the phoenix tree. Once wasn’t enough. She crashed into it repeatedly until she was dazed and woozy.

“Jiu jiu jiu, blind tree, how dare you look down on me?”

Jian Tongyao, “???”

After headbutting it to her satisfaction, Qian Jiujiu pulled out her treasured fire spirit orb from her pouch, rolled all over it, and then charged the tree again.

Bang bang bang bang!

This time, she slammed into it until she couldn’t tell north from south and collapsed to the ground, stars twinkling in her eyes. Even then, she stuffed the orb beneath her chin protectively.

Jian Tongyao, “???”

What on earth was going on with her bird? Was this some intense form of tree love?

“Junior Sister.”

“…”

Jian Tongyao almost had a heart attack from the sudden voice beside her. Her senior brother, the Sect Leader, had appeared without warning. She quickly collected herself, stood up calmly, and brushed off her robes as she resumed her cool demeanor.

The Sect Leader cast a glance at the ridiculous sight before him. A bird lay sprawled on the ground, dressed in a garish seven-colored robe, bald and even uglier than the last time he saw it. He could barely stand to look.

“Junior Sister, what are you doing crouched here… secretly cultivating?”

“Cough, Senior Brother, you misunderstand. I was observing my disciple’s cultivation. She may be young, but she’s diligent. Every moment is spent—”

Jian Tongyao saw that he was listening with a forced expression and suddenly didn’t want to continue. Only she truly knew how excellent her Seventh Sister was. How could these common folk understand?

“Senior Brother, what brings you to Lingjiu Mountain today?”

The Sect Leader breathed a sigh of relief. He had no desire to ruin her mood. Still, he had investigated thoroughly. Qian Jiujiu was an exceptionally ordinary bird. At most, she possessed only a sliver of phoenix blood, the faintest trace imaginable. Her chance of ever developing a pure phoenix bloodline was less than ten percent.

But if his Junior Sister liked her, then fine. She could treat her as a pet.

“Actually, I didn’t come to scold you. I just wanted to ask if I could have a few Divine Orchid Grass seeds. We’d like to try growing them elsewhere.”

Jian Tongyao brought him to where the grass had once grown. She pointed at the withered stalks.

“Senior Brother, this herb has hidden flaws. It’s not suitable for use in the Nine Revolutions Bone Cleansing Pill. I’ve created a new recipe and started planting different herbs.”

“???”

The Sect Leader left the mountain bewildered. A disciple soon asked him, “Sect Leader, can Divine Orchid Grass be saved? That plant was one of our sect’s main sources of income.”

Only then did he remember Jian Tongyao’s last words. His expression turned heavy and tense.

“Go find out if those who took the Nine Revolutions Bone Cleansing Pill have all hit a bottleneck at the Golden Core stage.”

…

To figure out why Qian Jiujiu was headbutting the phoenix tree, Jian Tongyao went to the Phoenix Clan’s territory for answers. Apparently, a small phoenix who had only cultivated for a century was still a fledgling. These fledglings were extremely vulnerable during their journey toward immortality.

They were often eaten, hunted, or killed in revenge by other tribes.

Deaths caused by accident or malice were often ignored due to the fledgling’s low status. Pure bloodlines determined a phoenix’s place in the hierarchy.

Clearly, her Qian Jiujiu held no real status among birds. She was lowly, practically invisible. Yet in that oppression, Qian Jiujiu had developed an unbreakable spirit.

As for the reason behind her tree-smashing behavior? A member of the bird clan had declared, “Only a dumb bird would do that.”

He got beaten up for it.

Jian Tongyao stormed back to Lingjiu Mountain and sealed off the entire mountain with a barrier. She also sent a message to the Sect Leader.

She was entering seclusion.

Qian Jiujiu opened her eyes to find her breathtakingly beautiful Master standing before her. Her Master possessed the beauty of a cold mountain flower, captivating from a distance yet impossible to approach. Even catching a glimpse each day was a blessing.

“Master jiu.”

“Jiu, starting today, it’s time to cultivate.”

Qian Jiujiu tilted her head in confusion, only to be scooped up and tossed into a steaming wooden tub filled with fiery red flowers.

They were beautiful, but she had no desire to admire them. She struggled frantically but was ruthlessly suppressed.

To keep the little one from escaping, Jian Tongyao placed a barrier around the tub. She watched as Qian Jiujiu rammed against it again and again until the barrier bent out of shape. Eventually, she collapsed in exhaustion and had no choice but to accept this bizarre cleansing ritual.

The results were obvious. After a few baths, Qian Jiujiu, frustrated from repeatedly smashing into the phoenix tree, accidentally let out a puff of something.

Smoke.

She was smoking!

Jian Tongyao was delighted by this sign of progress. She didn’t expect Qian Jiujiu to suddenly jump into the river. Under her coercion, the water-hating little phoenix was forced to bathe.

Splash splash.

After waiting for her stubborn, timid little phoenix to climb back out, Jian Tongyao pretended to walk by casually. She dried Qian Jiujiu’s feathers with a wave, sparing her from looking like a drowned chick.

“Jiu, if you absorb that fire spirit orb, you’ll be able to spit fire like other phoenixes.”

Qian Jiujiu had drooped in defeat, but her Master’s words lit her up like a lantern. Joy danced in her eyes. She ran off to train harder. The next day, when smoke puffed out again, she handled it with new calm. Her face, now covered in fine down, was serious and focused.

Bang bang bang.

As usual, she knocked her head against the phoenix tree. It remained unmoved. She glared at it like it was her nemesis. Her tiny chest rose and fell with intensity.

Jian Tongyao, watching from the side, was tense. It felt like attending a parent-teacher conference where her child had to perform a death-defying stunt, but the hammer never came down.

Poof.

A tiny flame shot out. It didn’t even reach the leaves before vanishing.

Jiu jiu jiu!

Qian Jiujiu squealed like a mad little bird, running in circles around the tree. The tufts of new down on her head fluttered in the wind.

Jian Tongyao let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding.

After ten laps, Qian Jiujiu leapt into the air, flapping onto the stone table, then the eaves, flying around in joy. But she never landed on the phoenix tree. Her head turned back and forth before she flew toward Jian Tongyao’s secluded cave.

“Master jiu.”

“…”

Jian Tongyao wished she could appear instantly, but she had set a barrier to maintain her reclusive image. Sure enough, Qian Jiujiu crashed into the barrier. Just once. Then she didn’t try again. She turned and flew away without hesitation.

That cold little back made Jian Tongyao regret everything.

Qian Jiujiu flew to the area near the fire vein. There, she picked a few fiery red flowers and carefully brought them back. She placed them gently outside the cave.

Jian Tongyao’s heart melted. If only the little one had awakened her intelligence, she would have scooped her up and kissed her.

Ah, Qian Jiujiu was such a clever chick.

To keep her from being disappointed again, Jian Tongyao removed the cave’s barrier the next time she came with flowers. They collided head-on.

“Master jiu!”

“Xiao Jiu, your cultivation is progressing well.”

Suppressing her joy, Jian Tongyao held her in her palm and gently petted her. The new down felt soft and smooth against her skin, and the colors were no longer dull.

“Xiao Jiu is surely the most beautiful and radiant phoenix.”

Qian Jiujiu buried her head in her palm, her body warm to the touch. She rubbed against her hand affectionately. Jian Tongyao’s heart almost boiled over.

But this peaceful moment didn’t last.

Those sharp, clever black eyes of Qian Jiujiu spotted the small golden snake wrapped around Jian Tongyao’s wrist. In a flash, she pecked it.

Ouch!

Jiu jiu jiu!!!

In an instant, she transformed into a battle bird. She yanked the clingy little golden snake from Jian Tongyao’s wrist and smashed it to the ground.

Again.

And again.

And again!

The little golden dragon lay there stunned, playing dead.

Dingding, “Ugh…”