The Butterfly of Decay

“Controlling Gu requires a powerful divine sense. You possess two souls, which makes you perfectly suited for it,” the old man produced a worn scroll and handed it to Lin Tian.

“This is a cultivation technique to strengthen your divine sense. It has six layers, enough to serve you until you reach the Soul Transformation stage.”

Frenzied Soul Art… Lin Tian gazed at the three ancient, inky characters on the scroll. A strange sensation washed over him, as if an unseen force was trying to pull him in, making his head throb.

Noticing his state, the old man gently brushed him with spiritual energy, instantly bringing him back to his senses.

“Your soul is damaged; you must recuperate before you can begin cultivating.”

Having been possessed earlier, his soul indeed carried some damage. Lin Tian put away the scroll, hesitant to look at it again.

“This book is truly peculiar. Just three characters were enough to make me lose myself.”

“This scroll was left behind by a mighty cultivator who ascended to the Upper Realm. I’ve only managed to comprehend the first three layers, and it’s of no further use to me, so I’m giving it to you.”

Lin Tian quickly expressed his gratitude. “Such a profound gift. This junior will surely repay your kindness in the future.”

The old man smiled contentedly. “Consider it a return favor for saving my disciple.”

“Young man, you must remember, the stronger your divine sense, the more robust your physical body must be. You have two souls; if you don’t cultivate your physique, it simply won’t be able to withstand the strain.”

“This junior understands,” Lin Tian humbly replied.

“Good. Now, let’s look at the Gu worms. Since you’re just starting, it’s best not to control too many. Choose a few that catch your eye and begin nurturing them.”

****

The old man produced a stone and handed it to Lin Tian. “Probe it with your divine sense.”

Clutching the stone, his divine sense brushed against it, and immediately, a flood of information poured into his mind. Detailed descriptions of over a thousand types of Gu worms, causing his head to throb faintly.

Gu worms also had rankings. The top-ranked one was utterly unexpected: a butterfly. The description was even more exaggerated; this butterfly was named the Butterfly of Destruction. Anything it touched would shatter into countless pieces, turning directly into ash! Legend had it that with a gentle flap of its wings, the scattered powder could utterly annihilate a large city!

“Is this Butterfly of Destruction available?” Lin Tian inquired.

“If only! This is a relic from ancient times. No one has seen it since.”

“Alright…” Excluding the unavailable Gu worms, seven remained among those ranked above one thousand.

The nineteenth-ranked Harmful Gu created illusions, unearthing a person’s deepest fears. Its survival conditions were harsh, making it exceedingly difficult to nurture. The thirty-seventh-ranked Bewildering Gu was renowned for its boundless lethality. Tiny and invisible to the naked eye, it could even block divine sense detection at higher stages, burrowing into an enemy’s skin to slowly inflict damage. While promising, it was still extremely challenging to cultivate, demanding a high degree of divine sense control.

There was the three hundred and twentieth-ranked Moth Gu…

The six hundredth-ranked Golden Silkworm Gu…

****

After a while, Lin Tian remained largely unsatisfied. The last one, ranked nine hundred and ninety-seven, was also a butterfly, but not as domineering as the Butterfly of Destruction. It primarily fed on spirit herbs, absorbing the essence from their branches and leaves, and could even consume the blood of demonic beasts or humans. Its distinguishing feature was its potent destructiveness. If it landed on an arm, the flesh and blood would be sucked dry in the blink of an eye!

“I’ll choose this one, the Butterfly of Decay.”

“Oh? Good insight. Although its ranking is lower, the Butterfly of Decay, once nurtured, is not necessarily inferior to those higher up. I happen to have a pair here, obtained by chance. Finding a third might require venturing into the Upper Realm.”

The old man gestured, and two butterflies settled on the table. Their wings were blue, adorned with white spots, and they fluttered gently.

“The Butterfly of Decay has a rather unique breeding method. It continuously produces offspring by feeding, and to break through, they must mutually devour each other. This kind of reproductive Gu worm is not uncommon; they will eventually become one.”

“Thank you for your guidance, Senior. How do I control them?” Lin Tian asked.

The old man took a sip of tea. “You, boy, are quite direct. I guarantee you won’t find a third Butterfly of Decay in this world. In exchange, how about these three bags of spirit insects for me?”

Lin Tian felt a slight embarrassment. “Senior, please take them. They are of no use to me.”

With a wave of his hand, he collected the spirit insect bags, then continued, “They currently have no master. Two drops of blood will suffice for recognition. After a period of nurturing, they will completely obey your commands. If you wish to transfer them to another, your true blood must first be cleansed from them.”

Lin Tian bit his finger, dripping two drops of blood onto the butterflies’ heads. The old man formed hand seals, and a surge of spiritual energy flowed into the butterflies, aiding him in their recognition.

His divine sense connected with the two butterflies, as if two new threads had formed in his heart. With a thought, the butterflies soared gracefully according to his will.

Having nurtured two Gu worms, Lin Tian felt a maternal… no, a paternal sensation. He promptly took out two spirit herbs and placed them on the table. The butterflies landed on the spirit herbs, merely touching them like dragonflies skimming water. Instantly, the two medicinal plants withered! They wouldn’t consume ordinary weeds, only spirit-infused immortal herbs.

“Thank you, Senior. I have urgent matters to attend to, so I won’t linger if there’s nothing else.” Lin Tian rose to take his leave.

“Go then. Take this Soul-Nurturing Jade; it will help you recover your soul more effectively.”

Lin Tian bowed once more, then turned to depart. The old man called out from the doorway, “Come visit this old man often when you have time, do some exercises, and such…”

“Mm, I definitely… won’t.”

****

The stout young man and Qian Yuling were chatting idly in the pavilion. They seemed to be getting along well, with the stout young man boasting, causing Qian Yuling to giggle incessantly.

“Seniors, I have urgent matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Eh—Sister Yingkong, won’t you stay a while? Or did that lecherous old man do something to you?” The stout young man called out, trying to persuade her, and Qian Yuling chimed in: “Exactly. The spiritual energy here is so good; why rush off? Don’t push yourself too hard. An occasional leisurely stroll is beneficial for cultivation.”

Lin Tian, a workaholic, turned and left without a backward glance. Seeing this, Qian Yuling quickly jogged to catch up, leaving the stout young man alone in the pavilion.

****

“Fellow Daoist Luo, my poisonous Gu has been resolved. Would you like to explore the secret realm I discovered?” Qian Yuling walked beside him, in high spirits, though her rear still ached slightly. She didn’t need to look to know there was a handprint there.

“Perhaps next time. I’ll also be attending the Autumn Leaf Valley gathering. For now, I must return to the Imperial Manor.”

Lin Tian intended to refine as much uranium as possible before the gathering. Otherwise, once he found a sect, opportunities for refinement would be scarce.

“The Autumn Leaf Valley gathering? Excellent! We’ll meet there then. I also need to return to my sect.”

****

The two parted ways. Lin Tian’s journey alone was much faster. With a Thousand-Mile Talisman affixed to his leg and Cloud-Treading Steps performed in his magical shoes, his speed was like the wind!

Two blue butterflies rested on either side of his head, clinging tightly to his hair, forming genuine butterfly hair clips!

He had given the three spirit insect bags to the old man. He should have asked for one when he left; he couldn’t possibly let them stay with Jiaofeng.

He traveled without stopping. A journey that would normally take nearly a week, he completed in a single day, with no unexpected incidents along the way.

The capital city of Wu State—

People bustled about, so numerous that one could literally step on someone’s feet while walking. The two butterflies on his head were quite conspicuous, so much so that girls even ran up to ask where he had bought them.

Feeling the gazes around him, Lin Tian developed a massive headache, and he hurried towards the Imperial Manor at a quick pace.