Who Says I'm Not the Number One Prodigy?

Ming Zhao, the youngest sword wielder of the Qingluan Sect and the top prodigy in the cultivation world, had a bright future ahead of him. But after failing his tribulation, he unexpectedly formed a soul pact with a demon.

The demon was a round, chubby little bird, pure white except for a tuft of red feathers on its head. The moment they met, it chased after him, chirping, lively as it burrowed into his robes.

Ming Zhao: ...It looks a little familiar.

The soul pact bound their spirits together. The little bird was only at the Qi Refining stage, making Ming Zhao's cultivation sluggish and leaving him unlikely to make any further progress.

His sect sighed and advised him to use an ancient secret method to refine the demon, roasting its soul for forty-nine days. That might be enough to undo the pact.

Ming Zhao lowered his eyes. The fluffy little bird hopped over to him, warmed his icy hand with its downy feathers, and nestled quietly against him.

"I will not harm a young spirit. That is not my way," Ming Zhao said calmly. "Even if I lose all my cultivation, I can forge my own path again."

The Qingluan Sect's sword wielder then withdrew from the world. Everyone in the cultivation world thought he would fall into the lower realms. But years later, when demons slaughtered the Qingluan Sect, a young cultivator appeared with a long sword, passed through the Heaven's Gate, and drove the demons back three thousand li with a single strike.

To everyone's astonishment, this peerless cultivator was none other than the former top prodigy. After enduring countless trials, he had returned, looking down over the cultivation world. He was still the greatest on this path.

A little vermilion bird with splendid tail feathers nestled on his shoulder, affectionately pecking at his hair and keeping him safe beneath its wings.

There was only one vermilion bird in the world: the long-missing Demon Venerable of the demon realm.

Sheng Zhoucheng, the new ruler of the demon realm, was cold and cruel, and had once unleashed countless bloody storms before disappearing during a heavenly tribulation.

The demon realm feared this Demon Venerable, but few knew that many years ago, Ming Zhao, the Qingluan Sect's senior disciple, had brought home a little junior brother.

Back then, the young Sheng Zhoucheng would hold Ming Zhao's sleeve, his eyes curving into a smile as he obediently called him "Senior Brother."

Now, a round, chubby little bird hopped into Ming Zhao's arms, shook its feathers, and gently rubbed against his collarbone.

"Chirp!"

One day, Ming Zhao received a splendid tail feather.

Vermilion birds are born unable to shed their feathers. Plucking a tail feather is a declaration of love to one's beloved.

Ming Zhao remained calm. "Perfect. I can use it as a feather duster."

Sheng Zhoucheng: "..."

The Demon Venerable let out a very undignified cry. "Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp!"

1. The top prodigy, a shou whose talent and cultivation are peerless across all ages and whom everyone in the cultivation world wants as their junior brother x a clingy little bird Demon Venerable gong who insists that his big brother belongs to him alone, snarls at everyone else but is adorable with his big brother

2. Younger gong, happy ending

Theme: As Heaven's movement is ever vigorous, so a gentleman should strive unceasingly to strengthen himself.