Chapter 1461: The Art of Tianhuan Xian Die Parasitism

Jiang Ding, the moment he saw this butterfly, recalled some past memories.

Back then, in the Upper Realm's Thunder Flame Domain, he encountered a spy from the Tianhuan Xian Die clan, learning that the Tianhuan Xian Die clan was brewing a conspiracy targeting the inherited disciples of the human Xian Zong.

This race was terrifying in illusion Dao, possessing formidable covert influence even within human Xian Zong territories.

Chong Guang Lei Canghai Tianjun, the inherited sword cultivator of the Thunder Yang Sword Realm; Xuan Shui Canghai Tianjun and Zhen Huo Canghai Tianjun, the inherited sword cultivators of the Great Yin-Yang Sword Realm—all had truly arrived at the Thunder Flame Domain, a battlefield meticulously prepared by the Tianhuan Xian Die clan for a long time.

Such coincidence was truly chilling.

The Thunder Flame Domain was the very heartland of the Fallen Xian Gao Jie's human population!

"Tianhuan Xian Die… you truly look like a race begging for total annihilation…"

Jiang Ding whispered coldly.

Past memories stirred once more.

Back then, he had doubts, but when Chong Guang Lei Canghai Tianjun had already arrived and he was preparing for his life-or-death battle, he did not intend to investigate further—clashes and espionage among Upper Realm Jin Xian-level forces had endured countless eons, beyond his comprehension.

Moreover, he believed in his own confidence: his sword soul could suppress all demons and specters, unafraid of any soul illusion arts.

Yet he had never expected to immediately trigger a death crisis!

If this continued unchecked, he would eventually lose himself entirely, becoming a puppet of the Tianhuan Xian Die larva, another captured prodigy beneath its wings, doomed to fight for it until death.

A scene from the past surfaced in Jiang Ding's heart.

As his battle with Chong Guang Lei Canghai Tianjun reached its final stage, about to determine life or death, among the millions of Upper Realm sword cultivators watching, a dreamlike female cultivator of breathtaking beauty watched in silence.

She was so beautiful, so captivating.

Yet all living beings around her ignored her—even the Qi Sect, the Great Yin-Yang Sword Realm, and the Thunder Yang Sword Realm's He Dao Shen Jun!

In everyone's eyes, she was utterly ordinary, like a passerby, drawing not a single extra glance.

Yet her cultivation was Hua Shen Qi!

Only at Hua Shen Qi could one slip through the Upper Realm's boundary without causing any ripples.

Otherwise, even a demonic Tian Ren who dared enter human heartland would die without a chance of escape.

If humans were this weak, they would have been extinct long ago—not still surviving to this day!

She gazed tenderly at the fierce battlefield where human inherited sword cultivators fought.

It was clear her original target had been Xuan Shui Canghai Tianjun, Zhen Huo Canghai Tianjun, or Chong Guang Lei Canghai Tianjun—she had prepared for this day for nearly ten thousand years, gathering intelligence and expending immense Tianhuan Xian Die clan power.

Even so, the chance of ultimate success

was only ninety percent.

—That remaining ten percent came not from the inherited sword cultivators themselves, but from the watchful eyes of their sect's Tian Ren elders, even Jin Xian-level masters.

If the soul fusion was not perfect, detection remained possible.

This was why lineage mattered to cultivators—lineage was part of a cultivator's own strength, true for all.

This was the inevitable risk when targeting human Xian Zong inherited disciples.

Yet a new situation appeared before her!

A human inherited sword cultivator with no Xian Zong background—a wild one!

And one drawing near to becoming a true Xian Zong sword heir!

The Tianhuan Xian Die larva's heart stirred.

In an instant, she felt a strange premonition.

This might be the great opportunity for her future Dao attainment, surpassing all her peers, the foundation for her future immortality.

So, when the final victor among the human inherited sword cultivators emerged, she unhesitatingly transformed into a dreamlike butterfly, drifting slowly, merging into the victor's soul, embedding herself deep within his soul's essence as he lay gravely wounded and near death, lying dormant.

She accompanied him back to his homeland, endured many events, and finally ascended with him to Lian Xu.

At this moment, the Tianhuan Xian Die larva's power surged violently!

The Tianhuan Xian Die clan's innate secret technique granted her the terrifying ability to replace the Heart Demon Heavenly Tribulation, fusing with it so that after a cultivator passed the tribulation, he would remain trapped within the Heart Demon Heavenly Tribulation for hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of years—always at risk of sudden Heart Demon outbursts, losing himself completely!

The Tianhuan Xian Die larva was extremely patient.

She changed slowly, gradually, even planning to spend tens of thousands of years to fully complete this transformation into immortality—her patience with him surpassed all her previous puppets.

Unexpectedly, an accident occurred from the very beginning.

This puppet instinctively sensed something wrong from the start, desperately searching within himself, exhausting every means—his unique sword soul was far too sensitive, far beyond any human inherited cultivator.

If this had happened within a human Xian Zong, she would have been exposed immediately.

Once reported to Tian Ren elders—or even Jin Xian-level elders—under the crushing pressure of their realms, all her concealment and schemes would be laughably futile, utterly useless.

Fortunately, this puppet had no such elders.

Once, twice, three times.

After three times, all anomalies would vanish; the Xian Die seed would fuse completely with him, indistinguishable—future tens of thousands of years would be a process of puppet crafting, not transformation; everything was destined.

Yet…

"Jiang Ding."

"Where… is this?"

A ethereal voice sounded.

Deep within Jiang Ding's soul, a dreamlike butterfly flapped its wings, transforming into a beautiful, pure-faced woman amid hazy light.

Her features were celestial, with a deep blue pattern on her brow, a dreamlike starry winged cloak behind her, and silk ribbons swirling around her slender waist—a celestial maiden descending to the mortal realm.

"How have I never heard of this place?"

The Xian Die Zi gazed at the green-robed boy before her, softly asking.

She asked as if gazing upon her beloved.

In that instant, layer upon layer of images surfaced in Jiang Ding's mind.

In his childhood, in Fulin Community, next door lived a family whose parents were teachers—they had a daughter named Xian Die Zi, who attended kindergarten with him;

In elementary school, when Jiang Ding was bullied by Liu Qiang—the tallest and heaviest kid in their class—it was she who went to the teacher and had Liu Qiang disciplined.

In middle school, in high school, she studied alongside him, attended class together, encouraged each other, cultivated together, and went together to the Rongcheng Steel Plant for their internship.

At Clear Wind University, in the Northern Plains, in the Fire Spirit Realm, in every place, in every battle, her figure was always there…

She had always been there—her light unassuming, silently supporting him…

Layer upon layer of images appeared within Jiang Ding's sea of consciousness, instantly fusing with his original memories; there was nothing unreasonable about them, everything was so real.