Chapter 88: Chapter 88: The Egg Thief—Qian 7
The instance, a mystical existence.
For so long, humans have yet to figure out where it truly came from, or why it can refresh with new demons.
But it has undoubtedly changed the way humans live in this world.
New energy, new technology, superpower, guardian beasts, these are what make humans always full of curiosity and eager to become stronger, longing for the instance, even with all the dangers and challenges, they want to seize the opportunity to enter the instance and experience a different life.
[So, is this your reason for entering the instance to steal bird eggs?]
The system panel looked at Qian Qi with an indescribable expression.
On the ground, Qian Qi ran wildly with three giant bird eggs, and behind her was a Quasi-E-level Fire Qilin Mother Eagle, screeching and cursing the egg thief Qian Qi in the most vicious bird language.
"I just wanted to taste the difference between magic beast bird eggs and ordinary bird eggs! I have no malicious intent!"
ChuaChua, running, Qian Qi protested, "It should feel fortunate! I didn’t even get curious about the difference between roasted magic beast eagle and roasted ordinary eagle!"
System: ...As if you’ve eaten ordinary eagle!
"Oh my gosh--"
The Fire Qilin Eagle egg was too big, blocking Qian Qi’s view, she accidentally stumbled over a stone and rolled twice on the ground. If the eggshell hadn’t been hard enough, she might have become ’fallen egg soup Qian Qi’ by now.
Seeing this, the Fire Qilin Mother Eagle screeched and rushed toward the bird eggs that had rolled out of Qian Qi’s arms, wanting to retrieve its yet-to-be-born, oh no, yet-to-form child.
It didn’t attack Qian Qi, probably because it had developed a psychological shadow from being rubbed against the ground by her earlier.
Qian Qi scrambled up, baring her teeth and claws to fight the Fire Qilin Mother Eagle for the eggs, "Don’t snatch it from me! Haven’t I left two eggs for you? Be content as a bird!"
The Fire Qilin Mother Eagle was so furious it was about to burst into flames, it extended its sharp beak to jab at Qian Qi, but as soon as Qian Qi raised a punch, the Fire Qilin Mother Eagle cowardly retreated three steps, even its neck shrank.
"Never seen such a cowardly bird..." Qian Qi was at a loss for words, she picked up the three eggs and returned to her makeshift cabin──
A pot of boiling water.
"I’m starving." Qian Qi put down the eggs, seeing the water was almost ready, she breathed on her fist and mercilessly cracked open one of the eggs.
The Fire Qilin Mother Eagle curled up on the side shivered twice, its eyes mournfully watching its yet-to-form child being stirred into soup by Qian Qi and poured into the boiling water.
Qian Qi couldn’t drink too much, the remaining egg liquid was pushed in front of the Fire Qilin Mother Eagle, "Here, drink it."
The Fire Qilin Mother Eagle lowered its head, looking at the nutrient-rich egg liquid, silently swallowed, it insisted for a while but eventually drank the egg liquid with tears.
Sob sob sob, it’s really delicious...
[Devil...] The system couldn’t help but sigh again.
"It would starve if it didn’t drink it."
Qian Qi blew on the steaming egg soup in her bowl, added some salt, then gently sipped a mouthful, couldn’t help but satisfyingly say "ah", "This instance is too pitiful, there are too few safe edible magic plants, most magic beasts are alone, not even able to produce offspring."
Those that can reproduce would be eaten along with their young during their most vulnerable period by the hungry magic beasts, if she hadn’t stolen the bird eggs just now, the Fire Qilin Mother Eagle, together with 5 bird eggs, would have died in the mouth of a Black Wind Leopard that had been eyeing them for a long time.
As for why she chose to help the Fire Qilin Mother Eagle instead of the Black Wind Leopard in this struggle of nature’s law of survival of the fittest...
Of course, it was because of the eggs!
Moreover, having tamed the Fire Qilin Mother Eagle, it can take her to the skies and find the hidden instance boss!
Speaking of the instance boss, Qian Qi couldn’t help but get angry.
She has been in this instance for 9 days now, the previous times when she killed the instance boss, the Three-headed Demon Electric Lion, she was fine, but strangely, on the 7th day when a new Demon Electric Lion refreshed, it started playing ’hide and seek’ with her.
She struggled to find it, only for it to run faster than a rabbit when it saw her, disappearing in an instant.
This was quite odd, after a boss respawn, usually, it would go to the nest left by the previous boss, either looking for something useful or settling down directly.
So every time she killed a boss, she went straight to the nest entrance to call them out, then killed them to gain strength buff.
Generally speaking, these new Demon Electric Lions haven’t seen her, but the one that refreshed on the 7th day seemed to know her, saw her without any fighting spirit, and just ran away.
Although she had the system to guide her, Qian Qi’s short legs simply couldn’t catch up with the Demon Electric Lion, unknowingly spending 3 days.
And this resulted in Qian Qi being trapped in the instance, forcing herself to find food.
"Next time I should bring some carrot sprouts, plant them in the field outside, to prevent starving to death in the instance someday."
Qian Qi drank the hot soup, doused the burning firewood with water, and stomped out the remaining embers, "It’s truly bizarre, I look so weak, without making a move you wouldn’t know I have D-level power, why does it run away as soon as it sees me?"
Could it be she has the souls of previous Demon Electric Lions hovering around her, giving it a warning?
Qian Qi couldn’t help but grasp the air in vain a few times.
System: [What are you doing?]
Qian Qi: "I’m wondering if there are Demon Electric Lion ghosts around me."
System: [...(｡ŏ_ŏ)]
Qian Qi, displeased: "What kind of look is that?"
System: [A look for idiots.]
Qian Qi: ???
Qian Qi stomped the system into the fire ash.
The system flew up, filthy but not angry: [Oh~ my dear Qian Qi, with such sunny weather, yet you’re so irritable~ how about we spend some money to relax?]
Qian Qi gave it a strange look.
[Aren’t you curious why the Demon Electric Lion boss runs as soon as it sees you? Just pay 300 bucks, and you can get the answer~]
Qian Qi rubbed her chin.
bucks is such a cheap price, meaning the answer is also simple, but what kind of simple answer could explain why the Demon Electric Lion avoids her for no reason?
No no no, beyond that...
Qian Qi sinisterly looked at the system, "Since you know the answer? Why didn’t you tell me 3 days ago?"
Could it be... deliberately delaying to extort her?
"100 bucks!" Qian Qi extended a finger, "I’ll give you 100, otherwise I’ll ride the Fire Qilin Eagle and take it down directly!"
She doesn’t believe it, when a new Heart Demon Electric Lion refreshes, it too will see her and flee?
System: [Then ride the Fire Qilin Eagle to find it. ＾＿＾]
Seeing the system didn’t accept her bargain, Qian Qi suspiciously glanced at it.
Could she have guessed wrong?
But no matter how hard she thinks, she couldn’t figure out why, after much consideration, she decides to ride the Fire Qilin Eagle first and go find the hidden Demon Electric Lion.