Nine-headed bird

The nine-headed bird (九頭鳥), also called the "Nine Phoenix" (九鳳), is one of the earliest forms of the fenghuang, worshipped by ancient natives in Hubei Province, which during the Warring States period was part of the kingdom of Chu (楚).

As the son-in-law of the Wansheng Dragon King, he wields a monk's spade and conspires with his father-in-law to steal the śarīra from the pagoda.

Additionally, in a novel of the Southern Liang writer Yin Yun, it is recorded: "When the Duke of Zhou lived in the east, he despised the cry of this bird and ordered Tingshi to shoot it.

"[5] In Records of Doubtful Matters, Lu Changyuan noted that the bird was an evil omen, stating, "During the cold food period in the second and third months of spring, on a night of light rain and gloomy skies, a harsh, grating bird call was heard.

As it passed over the courtyard, the family grew increasingly terrified, crying out that it was the nine-headed bird carrying ghosts.