Chapter 201: Hell Butterfly

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"The Underworld!"

Upon hearing this term, Zhang Nuo's eyes were filled with shock and suspicion. The large book he had obtained from the Dark Swamp was also written in ancient Underworld Script, and to this day, he had been unable to decipher it. Let alone him, even Chunyangzi was at a complete loss!

"The Immortal World and the Underworld exist in two different spatial planes. As the name implies, the Underworld is the place where the dead should go. After the souls of the deceased are collected into the Underworld, they lead a different kind of existence!"

Zhang Nuo had been listening intently, but the moment he thought of the souls of the dead going to the Underworld, he thought of his own parents. The Blood Sacrifice that had occurred in his village back then had caused the entire village to meet a tragic end. According to what Chunyangzi said, his parents' souls should also have reached the Underworld.

"There are also cultivators in the Underworld. They are different from us; we rely on Spiritual Qi to cultivate, while the cultivators of the Underworld rely on Yin Qi. And this black butterfly is a 'Hell Butterfly' from the Underworld!"

This was the first time Zhang Nuo had heard the name "Hell Butterfly." He couldn't help but glance into the Stone Chamber. He saw the black butterfly quietly frozen inside a square crystal, showing nothing particularly special at all.

"I have seen 'Hell Butterflies' a few times before, but this one is completely different from them. Looking at the patterns on its body, it should be the most ancient kind!"

Speaking up to this point, Chunyangzi's voice became agitated. He stared fixedly at Zhang Nuo, which made him feel very unnatural, and even stirred up fear in his heart!

"What is the 'Hell Butterfly' used for?"

Hurriedly changing the subject, Zhang Nuo felt very uncomfortable under Chunyangzi's gaze.

"It is a type of information carrier in the Underworld. It is extremely rare there and only possessed by people with status like the Ten Kings of the Underworld. However, the 'Hell Butterfly' also has a process of evolution; as it evolves generation after generation, the 'Hell Butterfly' of today is vastly different from those of the past."

Hearing this, Zhang Nuo was still a bit confused and did not quite understand what Chunyangzi meant.

"Let's put it this way! The 'Hell Butterfly' is like the Jade Slips we often use, but the only difference from a Jade Slip is that it is a living creature, while a Jade Slip is an inanimate object!"

This final sentence finally made Zhang Nuo understand a little.

"Senior, you said this 'Hell Butterfly' is the most ancient one; what does that mean?"

"Hehe! The more ancient the 'Hell Butterfly,' the more distant the information recorded within it will be. The Underworld Book you obtained from the Dark Swamp back then is written entirely in ancient Underworld Script; perhaps by using this 'Hell Butterfly,' you can decipher what it means! You might even obtain useful information from it!"

After saying this, even Chunyangzi's eyes began to glow. Zhang Nuo was equally curious; he reached out and took the large book from his Storage Bag, seeing that the pitch-black book was still emitting an eerie aura.

He casually opened a page, and the characters recorded inside looked somewhat bizarre, yet they also exuded a sense of mystery.

"What method can we use to make the 'Hell Butterfly' help us read the text in the book?"

Chunyangzi did not answer immediately this time. He lowered his head and pondered for a long time before slowly saying:

"The owner of this Cave Abode likely froze the 'Hell Butterfly' because they were unable to utilize it."

With that one sentence, the small flame of hope that had just risen in Zhang Nuo was extinguished. However, Chunyangzi's subsequent words made him ignite a glimmer of hope once more.

"Perhaps it is just that they did not know how to use it!"

"Do you know, Senior?"

Chunyangzi was a powerful cultivator from the Immortal World; he might understand the method of using the "Hell Butterfly" better than the owner of the Cave Abode.

"I do know some things, but Zhang, my boy, there is something I must tell you first: the method of using the 'Hell Butterfly' is somewhat dangerous. If things go wrong, you could perish in an instant."

Seeing Chunyangzi's expression, it was clear he was not trying to scare him. Zhang Nuo's face also became solemn, but facing the temptation of this Underworld Ancient Book, he still asked:

"What is the specific method?"

"Since we are not people of the Underworld, the only way to communicate with the 'Hell Butterfly' is through a connection of the mind and spirit. That is to say, you must make the 'Hell Butterfly' recognize you as its master, just as you did with the Mysterious Heaven Spirit Insect!"

On the surface, this method did not seem too dangerous. When Zhang Nuo had the Mysterious Heaven Gold-Devouring Insect recognize him as its master, nothing major had happened; it had merely planted the insect cocoon inside his body.

"The 'Hell Butterfly' survives on Yin Qi. If it stays in our current environment for a long time, it might die in a few years. The only way is to continuously nourish it with Yin Qi."

"Where are we going to get Yin Qi?"

The matter of Yin Qi gave Zhang Nuo a massive headache. Righteous cultivators need Spiritual Qi to cultivate, and Demon Sect cultivators need Demonic Qi to cultivate; likewise, the 'Hell Butterfly' needs Yin Qi to survive.

"Hehe! All spirits in heaven and earth are transformed from Yin and Yang Qi. Yin and Yang Qi are equivalent to the ancestors of all things. Whether it is Spiritual Qi, Demonic Qi, or Yin Qi, all three are transformed from Yin and Yang Qi. Yin Qi also exists in the Human Realm; it is just that because of the cultivation techniques we practice, we automatically filter out the Qi we do not need when sensing our surroundings!"

Zhang Nuo nodded slightly. According to what Chunyangzi said, as long as one practices the corresponding technique, one will absorb the corresponding Qi. However, Yin Qi in the Human Realm is thin and not as ubiquitous as Spiritual Qi, so collecting it is not an easy task.

Seeing Zhang Nuo's concerns, Chunyangzi smiled lightly:

"You don't need to worry about that. As long as there is a little Yin Qi, it will be enough for the 'Hell Butterfly' to survive! The only difficult thing now is how to make it recognize you as its master!"

"This 'Hell Butterfly' has been frozen for so long; is there any possibility it is still alive?"

Tapping his fingers lightly on the Underworld Ancient Book in his hand, Zhang Nuo asked tentatively.

"It should be alive; the owner of the Cave Abode would not have let it die!"

With a faint smile, Chunyangzi said with great confidence. The 'Hell Butterfly' was a very precious item, and the owner of the Cave Abode had hidden it very well; from this point, it was not hard to judge whether it was alive or dead.

"Senior, just tell me, what must I do?"

Slapping his palm heavily onto the Underworld Book, Zhang Nuo gritted his teeth and made up his mind. This book had been hidden in the Trial Ground, so he believed it was definitely not an ordinary object; the content recorded within might be something that did not exist in the Human Realm.

"First, you must merge the 'Hell Butterfly' with yourself! This is the initial process, and also the most dangerous one. Once the butterfly's resistance is too strong and your soul cannot control it, you will be devoured by it instead! After all, it is a thing of the Underworld; its perception of the soul is far more powerful than ours!"

Frowning, Chunyangzi's expression was extremely grim. Even he had not dared to merge with a 'Hell Butterfly' back then. There were reasons for this—he did not need a 'Hell Butterfly,' so there was no need to take the risk. But Zhang Nuo's situation was different from his; it was clear that the ancient characters on the Underworld Ancient Book likely recorded something important.

The two remained silent for a long time, neither speaking. Zhang Nuo knew the stakes involved. Soul power basically had no relation to one's cultivation level; even if one reached the Golden Core stage, the soul would not be much stronger than it was now. Therefore, the timing of merging with the 'Hell Butterfly' made no difference.

If the content recorded in the Underworld Ancient Book was useful, then this risky fusion would be worth it. But what if the things recorded in the book were useless to Zhang Nuo? Would it not be a pity to throw his life away for nothing?

Repeatedly looking at the 'Hell Butterfly' and the Underworld Ancient Book, Zhang Nuo found it very difficult to choose. Chunyangzi just watched him at this moment. He knew that this young man before him would not do things without a seventy percent chance of success. At this moment, let alone seventy percent, there wasn't even a thirty percent chance; would he still do it?

For a moment, the air seemed to congeal. Zhang Nuo could clearly hear the sound of his heart beating. His mind was racing with thoughts, yet his body was unconsciously walking step by step toward the Stone Chamber.

In the center of the Stone Chamber, the 'Hell Butterfly' was frozen inside. It did not move, yet it possessed an endless demonic power that made Zhang Nuo unable to stop himself!

With a soft 'pop,' Zhang Nuo's palm slapped onto the ancient book. Then, with a single hand, he beckoned toward the frozen 'Hell Butterfly,' and the square crystal immediately fell into his hand.

Looking at the book in his hand, then looking at the 'Hell Butterfly,' an unprecedented impulse quickly occupied his heart!

"I will merge with it!"

He turned back and said loudly to Chunyangzi, who was outside the stone door.

Hearing this, even Chunyangzi could hardly believe it. He had not expected Zhang Nuo to agree to do this; if it were him, he might have chosen to give up!

After all, soul power has little to do with cultivation level; soul power is innate and cannot be compensated for later!

"Have you really thought it through?"

Fearing that Zhang Nuo might make a wrong decision in a moment of desperation, Chunyangzi specifically asked again.

"I have thought it through! Among those powerful figures, who hasn't had a life-or-death moment? If I remain timid and fearful, perhaps I will never have a day of success! Some people don't even have the chance to fight once, and now that the opportunity is right before me, how can I let it pass?"

His tone was extremely calm, Zhang Nuo said indifferently, and then he walked out of the Stone Chamber, his face filled with a resolute expression as he looked toward Chunyangzi.

"Since that is the case! I will go and think about the details again, you go and cultivate first! Once I have finished thinking everything through, I will go and notify you!"

Nodding slightly, Zhang Nuo took the ancient book and slowly returned to the main hall of the Cave Abode; watching his retreating back, Chunyangzi suddenly felt that his back was very tall and sturdy, and vaguely, there was even a sense of dominance!

Just like soul power, that was something innate, and it could not be faked at all!

"Kid! Just for this bit of courage of yours! Your future achievements will not be small!"

Saying this in a voice almost too low to be heard, Chunyangzi could not help but smile bitterly again! Ever since he had come to know Zhang Nuo, many miracles had occurred on him; would a miracle happen again this time?