Chapter 202: A Life Hanging by a Thread

Sitting quietly on the Putan, Zhang Nuo held the thick, heavy book in his hands. He desperately wanted to know what was recorded inside, and whether what he was risking his life to do was worth it!

His thoughts turned incessantly, his gaze never leaving the large book. Zhang Nuo's heart churned over and over. Time slipped by, and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed.

On this day, while Zhang Nuo was still considering the matter of the "Hell Butterfly," the figure of Chunyangzi slowly walked over, a look of some excitement on his face.

"Lad Zhang, I have thought of an Array that can allow you to merge with the 'Hell Butterfly' more safely?"

Upon hearing this, a look of wild joy appeared on Zhang Nuo's face. At such a critical time, every advantage he gained could give him one more shred of confidence.

"How much can it increase the success rate?"

Chunyangzi gave a wry smile, his excited expression dimming significantly. He lowered his head and pondered for a long time before saying:

"Twenty percent!"

"Twenty percent?"

Zhang Nuo was overjoyed. Do not underestimate this small twenty percent chance; for him, it was already quite good. Merging with the "Hell Butterfly" was inherently extremely dangerous, and increasing the odds by even ten percent was not easy. However, he did not know why Chunyangzi was somewhat hesitant.

"Don't get too happy yet. Even with the Array, this fusion will still carry great risks. Have you really thought it through?"

At this point, Chunyangzi was still worried that Zhang Nuo might go back on his word.

"Rest assured! Once I have made a decision, I will not change it easily! Senior just needs to help me make more preparations!"

Nodding slightly, Chunyangzi walked away silently. He did not know if he was right or wrong this time. If it succeeded, the help to Zhang Nuo would be immense, but what if it failed? If Zhang Nuo perished, who would help him find a physical body? Such a talent was not easy to find. He had slept in the Sword Box for thousands of years and did not want to miss this chance to see the light of day again.

A few days later, when Zhang Nuo appeared in the Stone Chamber where the "Hell Butterfly" was kept, he saw that the walls of the entire Stone Chamber were decorated with many Array flags. Beneath his feet was a circular Dharma Array, with Fowen slowly rotating on its surface. The constantly flashing ripples emitted a blinding white light.

"This great Array is something I made specifically for you. However, during the setup process, I discovered that its power is not as great as I had imagined!"

"Senior! This is already good enough!"

Listening to Chunyangzi's explanation, Zhang Nuo looked around at the changes, inwardly marveling at the profoundness of this great Array. Although he was a layman when it came to the way of Arrays, it was enough for him to see that this was a fusion of several different Dharma Arrays, each borrowing the other's abilities to produce such an effect.

Under the grandeur of the Array's light, the entire Stone Chamber appeared filled with Yang energy, yet it was also accompanied by vibrant vitality. In Chunyangzi's words, this was to protect the safety of both Zhang Nuo and the "Hell Butterfly."

The "Hell Butterfly," having been frozen for so long, would easily lose all its Yin energy and die once it broke free from the seal. Likewise, when Zhang Nuo merged with it, if his soul power were too heavily enveloped by the "Hell Butterfly's" Yin energy, he would also be devoured.

This great Array served to both restrain and protect both Zhang Nuo and the "Hell Butterfly." It seemed Chunyangzi had truly put a lot of thought into this.

"Senior, let's begin!"

Looking solemnly at Chunyangzi, Zhang Nuo took a deep breath before speaking.

"Very well!"

Things having reached this point, Chunyangzi knew that it was impossible for Zhang Nuo to back down, so he did not say anything more. He closed the door to the Stone Chamber and stood outside. At the same time, he flipped his palm, and an Array Disk half a foot in size appeared in his hand. As a wave of red light recoiled, the Array Disk emitted a faint glow.

With one hand, he cast a Dharma technique into the Array Disk. Immediately, the white Dharma Array on the floor of the Stone Chamber where Zhang Nuo was located began to rotate rapidly, starting up with a series of humming sounds.

Zhang Nuo narrowed his eyes and formed a strange hand seal. Feeling the changes in the surrounding Dharma Array, he suddenly let out a soft whistle. His hands changed, and two clusters of white Spiritual Qi, as scorching as fire, burned fiercely on his hands.

His gaze slanted toward the white crystal in the center of the Stone Chamber. He waved his hands, and the white Spiritual Qi shot out like two white rainbows, enveloping the white crystal in a flash.

Inside the crystal, the "Hell Butterfly" trembled slightly, and a pair of Butterfly Wings actually began to flap. Zhang Nuo's eyes lit up; he had not expected that just by breaking the balance of the external ice seal, the Black Butterfly inside would react. It seemed that years of sealing had not affected it.

As time passed, after the duration of a cup of tea, a crack suddenly appeared on the white crystal. The crack was not large, but it quickly spread across the entire surface of the crystal.

"Crack!"

Although the sound of the crystal breaking was very soft, to Zhang Nuo's ears, it sounded like a mountain collapsing or a rock splitting. His brows furrowed tightly, and the relaxed look on his face was swept away.

Once the "Hell Butterfly" broke out of the ice seal, he had to seize the time to merge with it; otherwise, Zhang Nuo would not have the ability to seal it again. In other words, there was only this one chance. If this opportunity were missed, the "Hell Butterfly" would die! By that time, even if he wanted to merge, it would be impossible.

At this moment, the "Hell Butterfly" inside the crystal was becoming increasingly active. Its black wings seemed to be struggling back and forth within the white crystal as if trying to break free from the ice seal.

His pupils suddenly constricted. Zhang Nuo stared fixedly at the changes in the white crystal. "Whoosh!" Countless cracks appeared on the crystal, finally causing it to shatter. The black butterfly wings flapped, breaking free from the long-standing Restriction. Slowly flapping its wings, the "Hell Butterfly" hovered quietly in mid-air.

"The chance has come!"

He whispered in a voice almost too low to hear. Zhang Nuo slammed his eyes shut and sat cross-legged on the ground. His hands formed a hand seal, and a milky white light flashed between his brows.

This white light was his Divine Sense. However, he dared not let his Divine Sense leave his physical body, so it could only move on the surface of his body. With his eyes closed, relying only on his Divine Sense to sense the presence of the "Hell Butterfly," Zhang Nuo reached out a hand and grabbed at the Black Butterfly that had just awakened in mid-air.

At the same time, an invisible, immense force emerged from around the "Hell Butterfly," rapidly pulling it toward the center of Zhang Nuo's brows.

Having just broken free from the shackles of the ice seal, only to feel a new force trying to bind it, the "Hell Butterfly" was greatly alarmed. Its black wings flapped incessantly, trying to escape Zhang Nuo's power.

However, having just awakened, its strength had not yet fully recovered. In the midst of its struggle, the "Hell Butterfly" reached the center of Zhang Nuo's brows.

As his Divine Sense constantly sensed the position of the "Hell Butterfly," the expression on Zhang Nuo's face became increasingly solemn. As the Black Butterfly approached, an aura of death pressed in. The soul power at his brows seemed terrified of the "Hell Butterfly," and as the white light churned, it showed faint signs of retreating.

However, Zhang Nuo's powerful mental consciousness kept forcing the soul power to surge outward. At this moment, a cluster of white light the size of a fist had already formed at his brows. This cluster of white light was like an Epiphyllum flower, extremely beautiful, and the streams of life essence within it were like a vast river, surging endlessly.

The moment the "Hell Butterfly" approached the soul power, eight things like octopus tentacles extended from the white light, grabbing the "Hell Butterfly" firmly in one sweep.

The instant the soul power touched the body of the "Hell Butterfly," Zhang Nuo's body jolted violently, as if struck by lightning, and cold sweat streamed down his forehead. The direct contact between the soul power and the body of the "Hell Butterfly" felt as if his entire being were being hollowed out, and there were even signs of his soul detaching from his body.

Alarmed, Zhang Nuo used his consciousness to forcibly hold onto his soul power. At this moment, the black "Hell Butterfly" realized that the thing grabbing it was soul power and suddenly became extremely excited. As its pair of black wings fluttered continuously, Yin energy radiated from its body.

This Yin energy clung to Zhang Nuo's soul power like maggots on a bone, refusing to let go. The two engaged in a life-and-death struggle at his brows.

Zhang Nuo's eyes were tightly shut, his breathing rapid. As his soul power was torn and bitten, the pain reached deep into his soul. An indescribable, immense pain caused his consciousness to begin to fade.

Only until this moment did he truly understand what Chunyangzi had said. His cultivation was of no use at all now; he could only rely on his willpower to persist.

His soul power gripped the "Hell Butterfly" tightly, refusing to relax even a bit. The Black Butterfly seemed to enjoy this very much, constantly devouring Zhang Nuo's soul power. In the blink of an eye, one of the tentacles formed by his soul power had already been devoured by it!

Zhang Nuo sat on the ground, his whole body limp like mud. The intertwining of the "Hell Butterfly" and his soul power in front of his brows was like a tragic, fierce battle, yet he could not help; he could only keep himself conscious and continue to drive his soul power.

Outside the Stone Chamber, Chunyangzi watched everything inside through the Array Disk, his face looking terrible to the extreme. Zhang Nuo had fallen into a disadvantageous position the moment they clashed. If this continued, Zhang Nuo's soul power would be completely devoured by the "Hell Butterfly" in less than half a stick of incense. This was something he did not want to see.

"Lad! This time, this old man really cannot help you! Everything must depend on yourself!"

Muttering to himself, Chunyangzi's heart was in his throat!

Inside the Stone Chamber, the Array light flowed. Zhang Nuo tried hard to form hand seals with his hands, his trembling fingers indicating that he could not hold on much longer. The scattered soul power between his brows was slowly fading.

Gritting his teeth, Zhang Nuo used all his strength. With a roll of his throat, he let out a muffled groan, and another surge of soul power gushed out from his brows. At the same time, the white light formed an invisible, large net, wrapping the "Hell Butterfly" completely!

A sharp cry rang out in the Stone Chamber. The "Hell Butterfly" felt itself being enveloped and immediately resisted with all its might. As the Yin energy on its body surged, it broke through the blockade of the soul power.

However, the very next moment, the soul power erupted again, blocking the Yin energy back. The two thus clashed and sealed, remaining in a stalemate for a moment longer.

Zhang Nuo's soul power was gradually being exhausted. His dazed consciousness could not even feel his own body; the only thing he knew was the battle unfolding between his brows against the "Hell Butterfly."