“ cān jiàn shī zǔ 。”
“参见师祖。”
"Pay respects to the senior ancestor."
yī wèi nián qīng xiù měi de shào nǚ yíng yíng yī fú ， jùn xiù shuò qiào liǎn shàng mǎn shì gōng jìng zhī sè 。
一位年轻秀美的少女盈盈一福，俊秀妁俏脸上满是恭敬之色。
A graceful and beautiful young girl bowed deeply, her handsome face filled with respect.
“ mí lái le 。”
“弥来了。”
"Mi has arrived."
lín xuān mù guāng zài shào nǚ shēn shàng sǎo guò ， méi tóu bù jīng yì yī zhòu ， bǎi nián qián zài jìng yuè dǎo chū jiàn cǐ nǚ ， tā dà yuē shì líng dòng zhōng qī ， rú jīn bǎi nián guò qù ， yě bù guò zhù jī chū qī de dǐng fēng ér yǐ 。
林轩目光在少女身上扫过，眉头不经意一皱，百年前在静月岛初见此女，她大约是灵动中期，如今百年过去，也不过筑基初期的顶峰而已。
Lin Xuan's gaze swept over the girl. His brows inadvertently furrowed as he recalled their first meeting a hundred years ago on Jingyue Island. At that time, she was likely in the Flexible Spirit Period, but now, after a century had passed, her cultivation level remained at the Foundation Establishment stage.
zhè yàng de zī zhì suī shuō bù shàng chà ， dàn zài tiān yá hǎi gé ， yě méi yǒu fēn háo chū qí 。
这样的资质虽说不上差，但在天涯海阁，也没有分毫出奇。
Though not outstanding, such talent wasn't particularly rare within the Heavenly Sea Pavilion.
lǐ zhī lán de liǎn shàng tóng yàng mǎn shì tǎn tè ， tā zhī suǒ yǐ néng gòu jiā rù tiān yá hǎi gé ， nǎi shì yǔ zhè wèi lín shī zǔ yǒu mò dà guān xì 。
李芝兰的脸上同样满是忐忑，她之所以能够加入天涯海阁，乃是与这位林师祖有莫大关系。
Li Zhilan's face was also filled with nervousness. She could only join the Heavenly Sea Pavilion due to Lin Xuan's influence. However, their statuses were worlds apart, and she had no idea if this sudden summons would bring fortune or misfortune.
rán ér liǎng rén cóng shēn fèn lái shuō ， shí yǒu tiān yuān zhī bié ， tā tū rán zhào huàn zì jǐ ， bù zhī shì fú shì huò 。
然而两人从身份来说，实有天渊之别，他突然召唤自己，不知是福是祸。
Nonetheless, on the surface, she showed no signs of discomfort, lowering her head in respectful submission as she spoke.
dāng rán ， biǎo miàn shàng ， cǐ nǚ què bù gǎn lù chū fēn háo yì sè ， dī chuí zhēn shǒu ， yī liǎn de gōng jìng zhī sè 。
当然，表面上，此女却不敢露出分毫异色，低垂臻首，一脸的恭敬之色。
"Girl, you needn't be afraid. I summoned you today to ask a few questions. If your answers please me, I won't fail to reward you."
“ yā tou ， mí bù yòng hài pà shén me ， běn zuò jīn tiān zhào huàn nǐ ， jǐn jǐn shì xiǎng qǐng jiào jǐ gè wèn tí ， mí de huí dá ruò néng lìng wǒ mǎn yì ， běn zuò bú huì kuī dài mí 。”
“丫头，弥不用害怕什么，本座今天召唤你，仅仅是想请教几个问题，弥的回答若能令我满意，本座不会亏待弥。”
"Senior ancestor, speak freely. Your disciple is listening attentively."
“ shī zǔ qǐng shuō ， dì zǐ zài yòng xīn tīng zhe 。”
“师祖请说，弟子在用心听着。”
"Hmm, did Jun'er go missing around here?" A voice with a hint of malevolence echoed as the yellow-robed female cultivator spoke.
“ ń ， shuò kě jì de ， bǎi nián qián wǒ men jìng yuè dǎo xiāng yù ， běn zuò céng zài mí shǒu zhōng mǎi le yī xiē dōng xī ？”
“嗯，烁可记得，百年前我们静月岛相遇，本座曾在弥手中买了一些东西？”
Her face was still pretty, but a birthmark marred her cheek, adding an eerie look to her appearance.
“ dì zǐ zì rán jì de 。”
“弟子自然记得。”
"Yes, Mother, Lord once left a message saying he would venture out in this area to hunt monsters for their essence. I wonder if that's where he met danger."
lǐ zhī lán diǎn le diǎn tóu ， ruò bú shì lín xuān de yuán gù ， zì jǐ gēn běn bù néng jiā rù tiān yá hǎi gé ， liǎng rén chū shí de yí mù mù ， tā zǎo yǐ lào yìn zài nǎo hǎi shēn chù ， xiǎng wàng yě shì wàng bù diào de 。
李芝兰点了点头，若不是林轩的缘故，自己根本不能加入天涯海阁，两人初识的一幕幕，她早已烙印在脑海深处，想忘也是忘不掉的。
"Ridiculous," the male cultivator with three long strands of hair interjected. "This sea is vast, but it only has some third-stage monsters. Jun'er may be mid-Condensation Core stage, but with the treasures Mother and I bestowed upon him, even if he faces a formidable enemy, escaping should not be an issue."
“ ń ， nà xiē zǐ sè de mǐ lì ， jù chēng suǒ shuō ， nǎi shì fù mǔ de yí wù ， nà mí kě jì de ， mí fù qīn mǔ qīn ， shì zài hé chù dé dào zhè xiē dōng xī de ？” lín xuān huǎn huǎn de kāi kǒu 。
“嗯，那些紫色的米粒，据称所说，乃是父母的遗物，那弥可记得，弥父亲母亲，是在何处得到这些东西的？”林轩缓缓的开口。
Before his words could finish, a strange sound suddenly reached their ears.
“ shī zǔ wèn zhè ge ， nà shí hòu zhī lán hái xiǎo ， bù guò dà tǐ fāng wèi ， dào hái shì yǒu yìn xiàng de 。” lǐ zhī lán sōng le kǒu qì ， zuǐ shàng shuō chū jǐn shèn de yán yǔ 。
“师祖问这个，那时候芝兰还小，不过大体方位，倒还是有印象的。”李芝兰松了口气，嘴上说出谨慎的言语。
It sounded like ethereal music, yet it also had a haunting quality akin to ghostly wails. Despite its eerie nature, it sent shivers down their spines.
“ ó ， nà mí jiāng fāng wèi biāo chū ， běn zuò zì rán huì gěi chēng hǎo chù 。”
“哦，那弥将方位标出，本座自然会给称好处。”
Was there a monster attack?
lín xuān xiù páo yī fú ， yī mǐ huáng sè de yù tǒng fēi lüè ér chū ， xuán fú zài cǐ nǚ de shēn cè ， lǐ miàn zhuāng yǒu yún zhōu wài hǎi de hǎi tú 。
林轩袖袍一拂，一米黄色的玉筒飞掠而出，悬浮在此女的身侧，里面装有云州外海的海图。
The two high-ranking cultivators exchanged glances, their faces showing surprise and uncertainty.
“ shì ， shī zǔ 。”
“是，师祖。”
They tapped their waists, summoning their respective treasures. The other Condensation Core stage cultivators were equally cautious.
lǐ zhī lán shēn chū qiàn shǒu ， jiāng yù tǒng wò zhù ， rán hòu shén shí chén rù 。
李芝兰伸出纤手，将玉筒握住，然后神识沉入。
However, no monsters were in sight.
guò le dà yuē yī zhǎn chá de gōng fu ， tā tái qǐ tóu ：“ shī zǔ ， hǎo le 。”
过了大约一盏茶的功夫，她抬起头：“师祖，好了。”
Yet the sense of dread only grew stronger.
lín xuān diǎn diǎn tóu ， yě bú jiàn tā yǒu duō yú de dòng zuò ， nà yù tǒng jiù diào tóu fēi huí lái le 。
林轩点点头，也不见他有多余的动作，那玉筒就掉头飞回来了。
Even sea creatures seemed uneasy, fish darted away.
lín xuān shén shí zài lǐ miàn sǎo guò ， liǎn shàng lù chū mǎn yì zhī sè ， suí hòu shēn shǒu zài yāo jiān yī pāi ， liǎng gè yù píng cóng lǐ miàn fēi lüè chū lái 。
林轩神识在里面扫过，脸上露出满意之色，随后伸手在腰间一拍，两个玉瓶从里面飞掠出来。
"Brother Wu, this..."
“ lín mǒu cóng bù xū yán ， zhè lǐ miàn de líng dān duì mí dà yǒu hǎo chù ， mí jì rán jiā rù tiān yá hǎi gé ， nà xiū liàn jiù yí dìng yào kè kǔ 。”
“林某从不虚言，这里面的灵丹对弥大有好处，弥既然加入天涯海阁，那修炼就一定要刻苦。”
Before the female cultivator could finish, the strange sound became clearer. Despite their efforts to detect it with their minds, nothing was found until a swarm of butterflies appeared before them.
“ shì ， duō xiè shī zǔ 。”
“是，多谢师祖。”
What kind of demon insect could evade mind detection?
lǐ zhī lán máng yíng yíng yī fú ， suí hòu cái shēn shǒu jiāng yù píng qǔ chū ， bá kāi píng sāi ， fāng xiāng mǎn yì ， zhí piāo rù bí duān lǐ 。
李芝兰忙盈盈一福，随后才伸手将玉瓶取出，拔开瓶塞，芳香满溢，直飘入鼻端里。
Could only physical sight reveal them?
“ zhōng pǐn dān ？”
“中品丹？”
Shock and disbelief filled their faces as these butterflies numbered in the hundreds, far more beautiful than ordinary ones. Their wings were adorned with intricate and ancient patterns.
lǐ zhī lán de qiào liǎn shàng mǎn shì jīng yà zhī sè ， suī rán zhī dào shī zǔ shēn wèi lí hé qī xiū xiān zhě ， chū shǒu kěn dìng yǒu bù fán zhī chù ， dàn yě méi xiǎng dào huì dà fāng dào zhè ge chéng dù 。
李芝兰的俏脸上满是惊讶之色，虽然知道师祖身为离合期修仙者，出手肯定有不凡之处，但也没想到会大方到这个程度。
"What are these spiritual insects?"
jīng xǐ zhī yú ， yòu gōng gōng jìng jìng de xiàng lín xuān guì le xià qù ， kē le sān gè tóu ， rán hòu zi zhuǎn shēn lí qù 。
惊喜之余，又恭恭敬敬的像林轩跪了下去，磕了三个头，然后子转身离去。
The couple, though high-ranking cultivators themselves, looked utterly shocked.
wàng zhe cǐ nǚ de bèi yǐng qīng shī ， lín xuān yōu yōu tàn le kǒu qì ， tā yě shì cóng dī jiē xiū shì yí bù yí bù zǒu guò lái dì ， dāng rán zhī dào qí zhōng bù yì ， dàn yuàn cǐ nǚ bú yào gū fù le zì jǐ de yī fān hǎo yì 。
望着此女的背影清失，林轩幽幽叹了口气，他也是从低阶修士一步一步走过来地，当然知道其中不易，但愿此女不要辜负了自己的一番好意。
But one thing was certain: these demon insects would be hard to deal with. Whether they were wild or controlled by someone remained unknown.
“ shào yé ， nǐ zhǔn bèi qù xún zhǎo nà zǐ sè de mǐ lì ？” qīng cuì de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， yǒu rú huáng péng chū gǔ ， xiāng fēng yì rán ， bù zhī hé shí yuè ér yǐ lái dào le shēn páng 。
“少爷，你准备去寻找那紫色的米粒？”清脆的声音传入耳朵，有如黄鹏出谷，香风亦然，不知何时月儿已来到了身旁。
However, such thoughts were meaningless now; first, they needed to break free from the swarm.
“ bù xìng ， yù luó fēng nǎi shàng gǔ qí chóng ， rú guǒ néng gòu péi yù chéng shú ， wēi lì jué duì fēi tóng xiǎo 、 kě ， zhǐ shì xī men jìn jiē de tiáo jiàn shí zài tài nán le ， nà zǐ sè de mǐ lì jì yǒu xiào guǒ ， wǒ yòu zěn me néng bù qù tàn cè yī fān ne 。” lín xuān zhuǎn guò tóu ， rú cǐ zhè bān de kāi kǒu 。
“不姓，玉罗蜂乃上古奇虫，如果能够培育成熟，威力绝对非同小、可，只是牺们进阶的条件实在太难了，那紫色的米粒既有效果，我又怎么能不去探测一番呢。”林轩转过头，如此这般的开口。
The two high-ranking cultivators roared loudly, and their disciples didn't need further instructions. Some drove their treasures while others used Five Elements secret techniques to kill the terrifying butterflies.
“ nà shào yé zhǔn bèi shén me shí hòu lí kāi tiān yá hǎi gé ？”
“那少爷准备什么时候离开天涯海阁？”
A dozen high-ranking cultivators attacked with great force, but an unbelievable scene unfolded.
“ shì bù yí chí ， míng rì jiù zǒu ， chú le yù luó fēng ， wǒ hái yào huí yī tàng bài xuān gé ， yě bù zhī dào yíng ér tā men zěn me yàng le ， bì jìng yǔ tiān yá hǎi gé jié méng de shì qíng ， yóu wǒ qīn zì qù shuō ， jiào wéi wěn tuǒ 。”
“事不宜迟，明日就走，除了玉罗蜂，我还要回一趟拜轩阁，也不知道盈儿她们怎么样了，毕竟与天涯海阁结盟的事情，由我亲自去说，较为稳妥。”
Their divine swords slid off the butterfly wings, and other Five Elements spells failed as well. Ordinary butterflies were fragile, but these spiritual insects defied that notion.
ér diǎn le diǎn tóu ， duì yú lín bēn de jué dìng ， xiǎo yā tou xiàng lái bú huì fǎn bó 。
儿点了点头，对于林奔的决定，小丫头向来不会反驳。
They weren't afraid of fire or lightning; even weapons like swords and spears couldn't harm them as they dodged with ease.
dì èr tiān ， yī dào jīng hóng huà pò cāng qióng ， lí kāi le yíng zhōu dǎo 。
第二天，一道惊虹划破苍穹，离开了瀛洲岛。
Not only did their attacks on the dozen Condensation Core stage cultivators fail, but the two high-ranking cultivators also faced similar embarrassment. Even if a butterfly was hit, its body was incredibly hard, almost impenetrable by conventional means.
duì yú lín xuān de lí kāi ， mèng rú jiū jì bù yì wài ， yě méi yǒu chū yán zǔ lán 。
对于林轩的离开，梦如鸠既不意外，也没有出言阻拦。
What kind of demon insect were these?
zuò wèi yí gè mén pài de tài shàng zhǎng lǎo ， bìng bú shì shuō ， jiù yí dìng yào liú zài zōng mén zhī zhōng 。
做为一个门派的太上长老，并不是说，就一定要留在宗门之中。
All cultivators' faces showed shock as the butterflies spread out, surrounding them tightly. One opened its mouth and released a thick black mist.
yóu qí shì lí hé qī xiū xiān zhě ， jǐn jǐn shì yòng tā de wēi míng zuò yī zhǒng zhèn shè 。
尤其是离合期修仙者，仅仅是用他的威名做一种震慑。
No, that wasn't mist; the temperature dropped sharply around it.
bì jìng shí lì dào le tā men nà yàng de děng jí ， gēn běn jiù bú huì qù dǎ lǐ sú wù ， chú fēi yù jiàn bǎi nián qián nà zhǒng guān hū mén pài shēng sǐ de dà shì ， fǒu zé píng shí gēn běn jiù shì zì zài xiāo yáo de 。
毕竟实力到了他们那样的等级，根本就不会去打理俗务，除非遇见百年前那种关乎门派生死的大事，否则平时根本就是自在逍遥的。
"Ahh!"
lín xuān de lí kāi ， bìng bú huì duì tiān yá hǎi gé de lì yì zào chéng rèn hé sǔn hài ， rù zōng dà diǎn yǐ jīng jǔ xíng ， xiāo xī yě chuán biàn le shí èr zhōu fǔ ， tiān yá hǎi gé yī jiù kě yǐ kuài sù kuò zhāng xià qù de 。
林轩的离开，并不会对天涯海阁的利益造成任何损害，入宗大典已经举行，消息也传遍了十二州府，天涯海阁依旧可以快速扩张下去的。
A nearby cultivator failed to dodge in time. His right hand was hit, turning into an ice pillar under his horrified gaze.
sān tiān hòu ， yún zhōu wài hǎi shēn chù ， yī duì xiū shì zhèng zài tiān kōng zhōng fēi dùn zhe ， dà yuē yǒu shí jǐ rén zhī duō ， xiū wèi cēn cī bù qǐ ， dà duō shì níng dān qī ， dàn wéi shǒu de yī nán yī nǚ ， què shì yuán yīng qī de gāo jiē xiū shì 。
三天后，云州外海深处，一队修士正在天空中飞遁着，大约有十几人之多，修为参差不起，大多是凝丹期，但为首的一男一女，却是元婴期的高阶修士。
The black ice glinted with eerie light, seeming to come from the underworld.
yǔ yún zhōu nèi lù xiāng bǐ ， zhè wài hǎi xiū xiān jiè de shuǐ zhǔn yào lüè xùn yī xiē ， chú le tiān yá hǎi gé ， yuán yīng xiū shì shù liàng bìng bù duō 。
与云州内陆相比，这外海修仙界的水准要略逊一些，除了天涯海阁，元婴修士数量并不多。
He screamed in agony as his right hand became useless. This was only the beginning; other butterflies also released cold mists.
ér yǎn qián de xiū shì kàn fú shì zhuāng shù ， yīng gāi shì lái zì tóng yī zōng mén jiā zú ， yǒu liǎng míng yuán yīng qī xiū xiān zhě ， guī mó yīng gāi hěn dà le 。
而眼前的修士看服饰装束，应该是来自同一宗门家族，有两名元婴期修仙者，规模应该很大了。
Black icy mists.
“ yùn qiū ， mí shuō jùn ér jiù shì zài zhè yī dài shī zōng de ？” yī lüè hán shā qì de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， shuō huà de shì nà míng shēn chuān huáng yī de nǚ xiū xiān zhě 。
“韵秋，弥说俊儿就是在这一带失踪的？”一略含煞气的声音传入耳朵，说话的是那名身穿黄衣的女修仙者。
With hundreds attacking together, a dozen cultivators soon perished in this unknown sea, frozen by black ice that trapped their essence.
cǐ nǚ róng yán hái suàn xiù lì ， piān piān liǎn jiá shàng què duō chū le yī kuài tāi jì ， nòng shàng qù píng kōng tiān jiā le jǐ fēn zhēng níng zhī yì 。
此女容颜还算秀丽，偏偏脸颊上却多出了一块胎记，弄上去凭空添加了几分狰狞之意。
The slaughter wasn't limited to one place.
“ shì de ， shī mǔ ， shào yé céng jīng liú yán ， shuō tā huì dào zhè yī dài mào xiǎn ， liè shā yāo shòu qǔ dān ， bù zhī dào shì bú shì yīn cǐ yù jiàn le wēi xiǎn 。
“是的，师母，少爷曾经留言，说他会到这一带冒险，猎杀妖兽取丹，不知道是不是因此遇见了危险。
Southwest of here, about a hundred miles away, fierce gales and waves rose skyward. A massive roar echoed like thunder. On the surface was a giant green snake, over a hundred feet long with horns two feet tall on its head.
“ hú shuō ， zhè hǎi yù fāng yuán wàn lǐ ， yě zhǐ yǒu yī xiē sān jiē yāo shòu ér yǐ ， jùn ér suī rán jǐn jǐn níng dān zhōng qī ， dàn yǒu wǒ yǔ mí shī mǔ cì xià de bǎo wù ， jiù suàn yù jiàn le qiáng dí ， dàn táo mìng jué duì méi yǒu wèn tí 。” shuō huà de shì nà yuán yīng qī de nán zi ， sān lǚ zhǎng xū ， róng mào qīng shòu yǐ jí ， kàn shàng qù dà yuē sān shí yú suì nián jì 。
“胡说，这海域方圆万里，也只有一些三阶妖兽而已，俊儿虽然仅仅凝丹中期，但有我与弥师母赐下的宝物，就算遇见了强敌，但逃命绝对没有问题。”说话的是那元婴期的男子，三缕长须，容貌清瘦以极，看上去大约三十余岁年纪。
Its aura was different from that of monsters.
huà yīn wèi luò ， tū rán yī zhèn gǔ guài de shēng yīn chuán Ａ ěr duǒ 。
话音未落，突然一阵古怪的声音传Ａ耳朵。
Ancient beast!
piāo piāo miǎo miǎo de ， tīng shàng yǎo yǒu jǐ fēn xiàng xiān lè ， yòu yǒu jǐ fēn xiàng guǐ kū 。
缥缥缈缈的，听上杳有几分像仙乐，又有几分像鬼哭。
It had lived for millions of years and was in the process of transforming into a dragon.
rán ér bù zhī wèi hé ， què ràng rén yǒu yī zhǒng bù hán ér lì de gǎn jué 。
然而不知为何，却让人有一种不寒而栗的感觉。
Once successful, it would greatly enhance its power, rivaling Separation Realm cultivators. It might even ascend to the Spirit Realm.
nán dào shì yāo shòu lái xí me ？
难道是妖兽来袭么？
But as fate would have it, just when the ancient beast was crucially changing form, it encountered thousands of strange butterflies. This number far exceeded that of the human cultivators earlier.
liǎng míng yuán yīng xiū shì duì shì yī yǎn ， liǎn shàng jiē lù chū jīng yí bù dìng zhī sè 。
两名元婴修士对视一眼，脸上皆露出惊疑不定之色。
The butterflies numbered in the thousands, spewing terrifying cold mists.
shēn shǒu zài yāo jiān yī pāi ， jiāng zuì * hǎo shū gè zì de fǎ bǎo jì le qǐ lái ， zhì yú qí tā de níng dān qī xiū xiān zhě ， gèng jiā de bù gǎn yǒu sī háo dài màn 。
伸手在腰间一拍，将最*好书各自的法宝祭了起来，至于其他的凝丹期修仙者，更加的不敢有丝毫怠慢。
The giant snake wouldn't surrender easily. Though it hadn't transformed into a dragon yet, its strength was formidable. However, after half an hour, it was completely frozen. When the ice melted, only bones remained.
rán ér suǒ wèi de yāo shòu bìng wèi yìng rù yǎn lián 。
然而所谓的妖兽并未映入眼帘。
Postscript: This chapter is crucial and not just filler content.
"Pay respects to the senior ancestor."
A graceful and beautiful young girl bowed deeply, her handsome face filled with respect.
"Mi has arrived."
Lin Xuan's gaze swept over the girl. His brows inadvertently furrowed as he recalled their first meeting a hundred years ago on Jingyue Island. At that time, she was likely in the Flexible Spirit Period, but now, after a century had passed, her cultivation level remained at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Though not outstanding, such talent wasn't particularly rare within the Heavenly Sea Pavilion.
Li Zhilan's face was also filled with nervousness. She could only join the Heavenly Sea Pavilion due to Lin Xuan's influence. However, their statuses were worlds apart, and she had no idea if this sudden summons would bring fortune or misfortune.
Nonetheless, on the surface, she showed no signs of discomfort, lowering her head in respectful submission as she spoke.
"Girl, you needn't be afraid. I summoned you today to ask a few questions. If your answers please me, I won't fail to reward you."
"Senior ancestor, speak freely. Your disciple is listening attentively."
"Hmm, did Jun'er go missing around here?" A voice with a hint of malevolence echoed as the yellow-robed female cultivator spoke.
Her face was still pretty, but a birthmark marred her cheek, adding an eerie look to her appearance.
"Yes, Mother, Lord once left a message saying he would venture out in this area to hunt monsters for their essence. I wonder if that's where he met danger."
"Ridiculous," the male cultivator with three long strands of hair interjected. "This sea is vast, but it only has some third-stage monsters. Jun'er may be mid-Condensation Core stage, but with the treasures Mother and I bestowed upon him, even if he faces a formidable enemy, escaping should not be an issue."
Before his words could finish, a strange sound suddenly reached their ears.
It sounded like ethereal music, yet it also had a haunting quality akin to ghostly wails. Despite its eerie nature, it sent shivers down their spines.
Was there a monster attack?
The two high-ranking cultivators exchanged glances, their faces showing surprise and uncertainty.
They tapped their waists, summoning their respective treasures. The other Condensation Core stage cultivators were equally cautious.
However, no monsters were in sight.
Yet the sense of dread only grew stronger.
Even sea creatures seemed uneasy, fish darted away.
"Brother Wu, this..."
Before the female cultivator could finish, the strange sound became clearer. Despite their efforts to detect it with their minds, nothing was found until a swarm of butterflies appeared before them.
What kind of demon insect could evade mind detection?
Could only physical sight reveal them?
Shock and disbelief filled their faces as these butterflies numbered in the hundreds, far more beautiful than ordinary ones. Their wings were adorned with intricate and ancient patterns.
"What are these spiritual insects?"
The couple, though high-ranking cultivators themselves, looked utterly shocked.
But one thing was certain: these demon insects would be hard to deal with. Whether they were wild or controlled by someone remained unknown.
However, such thoughts were meaningless now; first, they needed to break free from the swarm.
The two high-ranking cultivators roared loudly, and their disciples didn't need further instructions. Some drove their treasures while others used Five Elements secret techniques to kill the terrifying butterflies.
A dozen high-ranking cultivators attacked with great force, but an unbelievable scene unfolded.
Their divine swords slid off the butterfly wings, and other Five Elements spells failed as well. Ordinary butterflies were fragile, but these spiritual insects defied that notion.
They weren't afraid of fire or lightning; even weapons like swords and spears couldn't harm them as they dodged with ease.
Not only did their attacks on the dozen Condensation Core stage cultivators fail, but the two high-ranking cultivators also faced similar embarrassment. Even if a butterfly was hit, its body was incredibly hard, almost impenetrable by conventional means.
What kind of demon insect were these?
All cultivators' faces showed shock as the butterflies spread out, surrounding them tightly. One opened its mouth and released a thick black mist.
No, that wasn't mist; the temperature dropped sharply around it.
"Ahh!"
A nearby cultivator failed to dodge in time. His right hand was hit, turning into an ice pillar under his horrified gaze.
The black ice glinted with eerie light, seeming to come from the underworld.
He screamed in agony as his right hand became useless. This was only the beginning; other butterflies also released cold mists.
Black icy mists.
With hundreds attacking together, a dozen cultivators soon perished in this unknown sea, frozen by black ice that trapped their essence.
The slaughter wasn't limited to one place.
Southwest of here, about a hundred miles away, fierce gales and waves rose skyward. A massive roar echoed like thunder. On the surface was a giant green snake, over a hundred feet long with horns two feet tall on its head.
Its aura was different from that of monsters.
Ancient beast!
It had lived for millions of years and was in the process of transforming into a dragon.
Once successful, it would greatly enhance its power, rivaling Separation Realm cultivators. It might even ascend to the Spirit Realm.
But as fate would have it, just when the ancient beast was crucially changing form, it encountered thousands of strange butterflies. This number far exceeded that of the human cultivators earlier.
The butterflies numbered in the thousands, spewing terrifying cold mists.
The giant snake wouldn't surrender easily. Though it hadn't transformed into a dragon yet, its strength was formidable. However, after half an hour, it was completely frozen. When the ice melted, only bones remained.
Postscript: This chapter is crucial and not just filler content.