Chapter 221: with translation of chapter title

Jiang Xia lightly waved the cloak behind him, slowly walking toward Shen Dai Jian; the rumbling collapse sound continued, yet everything suddenly fell silent, as if all in the world had been seized, the noisy insect chirrs vanished abruptly, all sounds stilled.

Dust kicked up by the collapsing rubble continued to spread outward, the booming sounds rising and falling.

This deafening sound had no effect on Shen Dai Jian now; the countless Alien Insects turned to flying ash, which was a black snow.

Black snow drifted down from the sky, scattering piece by piece over the filthy ground, like the embers left after a grand fireworks display.

The Sword Scorpion's blade was bound by an invisible force, its tip tracing a perfect semicircle in the air; purple armor covered the shadow resembling a blood-red bat, as if a Knight donned battle armor.

Jiang Xia looked at the sword in his hand, and with a soft 'click', he undid the Sword Scorpion's transformation—the last one, collection complete.

"Who are you?" Shen Dai Jian exclaimed, stunned, never expecting this to happen.

He quickly felt a tearing sensation throughout his body, he pressed hard against his chest, eyes wide, staring fixedly at the strange man before him.

Because the man's right hand unleashed a blood-red impact that pierced straight through his body.

Feeling the intense pain in his chest, Shen Dai Jian slowly collapsed, only able to glare resentfully at Jiang Xia before him.

After Shen Dai Jian fell, Jiang Xia silently stepped back a few paces, as if waiting for something.

The already unconscious Shen Dai Jian suddenly let out an anguished cry; his body began to twist unnaturally, becoming covered inside and out with a silvery-white insect carapace, and finally a ferocious face halfway between human and scorpion replaced Shen Dai Jian's appearance.

An Alien Insect far stronger than Gongjian Lina—the Poison Scorpion Mutant Insect.

It was this creature that killed the true Shen Dai Jian and his sister; despite its immense power, Shen Dai Jian's strong will possessed it.

The Poison Scorpion Mutant Insect's strength could even replace the revived Time-Stopping Insect; ordinary Knights could hardly harm it.

"Roar!"

The Poison Scorpion Mutant Insect opened its ferocious maw, brandishing a blade capable of slicing steel plates as it slashed at Jiang Xia.

When Shen Dai Jian's will fell asleep, the killing instinct inherent in this Alien Insect awoke, becoming the Insect King standing at the pinnacle of Earth.

Watching the Poison Scorpion Mutant Insect swing its great blade, Jiang Xia merely shifted slightly, his Crimson Dragon Wings unfurling like a razor to cut through the silvery-white carapace.

Amidst scattering sparks, the Poison Scorpion Mutant Insect's body tumbled through the air, smashing through a steel-reinforced concrete wall.

Even if the Poison Scorpion Mutant Insect's armor defense were as high as possible, it could not surpass Jiang Xia, now fused with Dark Kiva.

Jiang Xia walked along the broken wall; the Poison Scorpion Mutant Insect's authority to command Alien Insects could not exceed that of the Alien Insect Queen, yet its own power remained extremely formidable.

The Poison Scorpion Mutant Insect's body faintly emitted a burnt smell, and on its once indestructible carapace lay a small, black bat-like mark.

Jiang Xia watched the Poison Scorpion Mutant Insect struggle to rise, then took out an exquisite red-jeweled bracelet and gently slipped it onto its wrist.

"Old sir, is there any home tutor coming today?"

Shen Dai Jian, as usual, awoke from the luxurious castle at home, then stood straight under the butler's attire.

Accompanying this was an extraordinary sense of ease, as if some burden had vanished from his body.

He vaguely recalled that yesterday he seemed to have gone to some place, perhaps a ruin where green flames burned around, and he stood in the middle of something, but now he could not remember.

Upon hearing Shen Dai Jian's question, the old sir's movements unchanged, he fastened Shen Dai Jian's buttons with perfect aristocratic standards and etiquette.

"There is no home tutor today, young master may take a day off to experience the life of an ordinary person."

The old sir looked at the revitalized Shen Dai Jian, nodded satisfied—this was the heir of the DiscaBier Family.

"Really? That's great; I've long wanted to experience the life of ordinary folk."

Shen Dai Jian looked at the old sir, extended his hand, "Old sir, come along too; even if I'm experiencing life, I must still stand at the pinnacle as a man."

"Very well, young master." The old sir gave a slight bow, maintaining noble etiquette,

"Old sir, what is this thing on my hand?" Shen Dai Jian asked, examining the exquisite bracelet on his wrist.

"This is something your sister originally prepared to give you, and it's my fault for neglecting to tell you sooner."

The old sir gazed at the exquisite bracelet, a flicker of sorrow crossing his cloudy eyes.

"I see, I will cherish it." Shen Dai Jian said, looking at the bracelet set with a crimson gem.

As for the bracelet's origin, last night when he was about to seek the young master, a person brought back the young master covered in wounds; he still remembered that person's name was Jiang Xia, a rare surname.

"Actually, the true Shen Dai Jian should already be dead." Jiang Xia handed the unconscious Shen Dai Jian to his butler.

The old sir blinked, as if not understanding what Jiang Xia meant, then simply helped Shen Dai Jian up, intending to take him back to his room.

"I saw it; he turned into an Alien Insect in an instant." Jiang Xia said.

Jiang Xia watched the old sir turn his body to face him, dressed in a black suit, white gloves, impeccably attired.

"The young master is the young master, not an Alien Insect." The old sir said.

If this continues, Shen Dai Jian's condition will grow ever more unstable; if not checked, he will not only become an Alien Insect but also harm ordinary people.

Hearing Jiang Xia's words, the old sir gently settled Shen Dai Jian.

He had kept this secret for nearly a year, but today it seemed he could no longer conceal it.

"The young master is indeed an Alien Insect, but I implore you not to spread this news, please."

The old butler looked at the now-unconscious Shen Dai Jian and pleaded with Jiang Xia; he certainly knew the person before him was not the young master, yet he could not bear to watch, to watch…

At this moment the old butler's tears suddenly welled up; his whole life had been with the DiscaBier Family, and if the young master were gone, he might have no meaning left to live.

"This is not a matter of concealment."

Jiang Xia looked at the pleading old butler, "He could turn into an Alien Insect again at any time—perhaps tomorrow, perhaps next month."

Jiang Xia sighed, "Now I have placed on him a special bracelet that can suppress the Alien Insect consciousness; as long as the bracelet stays on, Shen Dai Jian will forever remain your young master."

"Really?" The old butler looked hopefully at the gemstone bracelet on Shen Dai Jian's right wrist.

He had always fantasized about keeping this secret for a lifetime, but he knew that was impossible.

If such a miraculous bracelet truly existed, he wished this were true, and even though he had never met this man, he wanted to believe it.

"Hmm, your young master is no longer an Alien Insect."

"If the young master can continue living as a human, you are the greatest benefactor of the DiscaBier Family."

The old butler moved to kneel, but Jiang Xia, quick-eyed and quick-handed, steadied him, preventing him from actually kneeling.

"The bracelet must never be removed." After saying this, Jiang Xia left the empty castle.

"The next step is the final adjustment."

Jiang Xia looked at the Hundred Insect Sword inside the base, already covered with various insect instruments, and at the Sea Pa Insect Path floating in midair, emitting a green light.

(End of chapter)