Chapter 38: Eighteen Different Poses

In the short term, the impact brought by Ning Peach Blossom was not particularly dire. Yet it could not be underestimated, for Ye Chen lacked the means to counter it—this was the heart of the problem. Ye Chen would never dare entrust his life and death to the goodwill of others. A thought might turn one into a god or a demon; who could guarantee the mind of another? Moreover, if interests clashed, matters would become even more unpredictable.

He saw countless spirit butterflies dancing gracefully, glimpsed the illusions of time, the ebb and flow of oceans, the rise and fall of ancient realms. The grand chronicles of history became sand slipping through his fingers, impossible to grasp; bygone years spun the myriad wonders of the world, while the spirit butterflies turned to ash, scattered across heaven and earth.

Yet among that vast swarm, there were always a few anomalies. Most would not escape their fate, but some spirit butterflies rose above the mortal realm, surging against the tide of chaos. One such butterfly stirred the sea, summoning an indescribable and terrifying storm, causing a turbulence that swept across space and time.

In that instant, the heavens and oceans were thrown into turmoil, the years past and present rampaged wildly. Suddenly, the spirit butterfly soared across the sky, unsettling the world. It carried a crystalline stream of light, piercing the barriers of space and time, its gaze falling directly upon Ye Chen—delighted at the hunt, it rushed toward him.

Two spirit butterflies danced in the air—not in joyful recognition, but with murderous intent unleashed within the streaming light. The other attacked, Ye Chen defended. It seemed he was caught off guard; the spirit butterfly transformed into lightning, like a flying arrow, striking in a flash. Time itself fractured, years paused in place.

A terrifying scene—all things frozen. In the virtual realm, Ye Chen held the advantage; even if the enemy was powerful, he was not without ways to withstand. Yet in the next moment, the void erupted, the entire virtual realm trembled, shaken to its core.

The skies collapsed, phenomena shifted, the four poles reversed, heaven and earth overturned, the earth split and mountains cracked, howling winds swept across land and sea as if gods hurled their whips, severing lakes and oceans.

Meanwhile, a white lotus swayed elegantly, seemingly traversing endless time. Ye Chen borrowed a thread of light from the lotus, an unimaginable surge of energy coursed around him, spreading outward, quieting all corners of the world.

The tumult faded; the spirit butterfly’s body shattered, its streaming light all seized by Ye Chen.

“Despicable wretch.”

A voice of furious indignation rang out, as if it wanted to curse further, but Ye Chen gave it no chance. He knew well this was merely an attempt to stall; villains always died for talking too much, and Ye Chen was keenly aware of this.

The power of the white lotus was not something one could borrow at will—it was a matter of luck.

The white lotus rested amid the sea of laws; only because Ye Chen forged a new path did he gain this opportunity. To obtain the inheritance of the Great Dream Immortal Butterfly, he had to pass this trial first.

Within it, perhaps lingered the grievances and resentment of the previous generation of Great Dream Immortal Butterflies. Hatred toward the living, sorrow for the passing of their era—all condensed into murderous intent, seeking to erase Ye Chen completely.

Ye Chen dared not be careless. The other sought to possess his body and return to life, but that was pure fantasy.

The white lotus radiated sparkling and resplendent light, unimaginable power bursting forth. Compared to the lush forests of the law sea, the lotus seemed so tiny—if its power was drawn too often, it might trigger chain reactions, destabilizing the new path, and that would be a grave loss.

Under such circumstances, Ye Chen would not dare to linger. If the spirit butterfly unleashed a final move, Ye Chen’s own demise would be an unjust fate.

Ye Chen struck with all his strength, quickly smashing the spirit butterfly. Though it struggled, it soon breathed its last.

“What danger have you encountered?”

Ning Peach Blossom’s eyes brimmed with suspicion; Ye Chen had caused such a commotion, it was impossible for her not to notice. Ye Chen paused, then replied coolly, “I just slaughtered a purple serpent, to prevent any hidden tricks—eliminate evil thoroughly.”

Ning Peach Blossom was stunned. The purple serpent had died without leaving a trace—what further tricks could there be? Yet Ye Chen’s caution left her with nothing more to say.

She suspected there was more behind it, but unfortunately, she had no proof.

Ning Peach Blossom said awkwardly, “You’re being excessively cautious, perhaps unnecessarily so.”

Yet her words carried little weight; Ye Chen using artillery against a mosquito was far better than losing his head through carelessness.

Moreover, Ning Peach Blossom had no grounds to criticize Ye Chen.

“That purple bamboo is quite rare.”

She could see the purple bamboo, though Ye Chen had devoured it whole and cleanly.

His bite was ruthless indeed.

It was the sweet dew essence within the purple bamboo that allowed Ye Chen to advance yet further.

The virtual realm was quiet. Ye Chen diligently absorbed the fortune left by the spirit butterfly.

If another were here, they might only watch helplessly, unable to benefit, but Ye Chen and the spirit butterfly shared the same root—utterly different.

It was a Great Dream Immortal Butterfly, in essence far superior to Ye Chen, so this was like a snake swallowing an elephant—Ye Chen was about to reap a fortune.

This was not merely a step forward on the divine path; if he could transform into a Great Dream Immortal Butterfly, his strength would increase by leaps and bounds.

Ye Chen felt a vast and terrifying power surging through every inch of his flesh, transforming with each passing moment.

After extinguishing the resentment of the Great Dream Immortal Butterfly, Ye Chen’s entire being underwent metamorphosis toward a higher plane.

“Don’t get complacent. You’ve won this time, but you may stumble in the future.”

Suddenly, a venomous voice echoed in Ye Chen’s mind.

“If not for your weak cultivation, as a test for you, I could not wield power beyond your current realm. Otherwise, how could I have been defeated so easily? Absurd. This is your luck, but luck cannot always favor you.”

Ye Chen was moved—it was the voice of the Great Dream Immortal Butterfly. Before he could ponder further, a burst of spiritual light swept across the palm-sized butterfly’s body, luminous as water; in the next instant, Ye Chen broke through the unseen barrier and ascended.

“How can this be? You’ve become a Great Dream Immortal Butterfly?”

Ning Peach Blossom saw the transformation in Ye Chen—he had advanced further. If not a Great Dream Immortal Butterfly, what else could it be?

She was not unwilling to accept Ye Chen’s metamorphosis, but the inexplicable manner of its occurrence left her baffled and unable to accept it.

Her greatest fear was for strange changes to occur within Ye Chen, things she could not understand, which might later place her at a disadvantage.

Ning Peach Blossom truly didn’t mind being meek before Ye Chen, enduring a little grievance for now—that was acceptable.

But that was when she held the initiative. If Ye Chen could reverse everything so easily, then to manipulate Ning Peach Blossom into any shape he pleased would be effortless.

She wanted to ask what had happened to Ye Chen, knowing the purple bamboo was extraordinary, but how could it lead to such a transformation?

The Great Dream Immortal Butterfly was exceptionally rare. Right now, Ye Chen’s strength was still weak, but he might slowly accumulate hidden cards.

Ning Peach Blossom was anxious, yet helpless.