"The next stop is Butterfly Valley."
Qin Sang took out his topographical map and got his bearings.
Butterfly Valley was not very far from this toxic marsh; flying on his sword, he could arrive in about two days.
True to its name, Butterfly Valley was a beautiful valley teeming with countless butterflies.
Anyone who had visited Butterfly Valley described it with a single word—beautiful!
Tens of thousands of butterflies fluttered and danced amid the lush blossoms of the valley. Through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, the stunning vista never ceased.
These were all ordinary mortal butterflies, not spirit insects. The valley itself was completely ordinary as well, devoid of restrictions or spirit herbs.
Initially, the cultivators who discovered Butterfly Valley suspected that some hidden treasure was drawing so many butterflies and making them linger, unwilling to leave.
They turned the valley upside down, only to confirm that it truly was an unremarkable place. It was just that, due to its topography, the spiritual energy was slightly denser than elsewhere, sheltered from cold winds and bathed in perpetual spring.
According to rumor, the valley harbored a spirit insect known as the Heavenly Eye Butterfly.
Qin Sang had come specifically for the Heavenly Eye Butterfly, yet he still harbored reservations about whether to make it his natal insect gu.
The Witch Clan considered the Heavenly Eye Butterfly the least suitable candidate for a natal insect gu. Meanwhile, the records concerning it in the Yuling Sect were fragmented and incomplete, originating from a battered ancient scroll.
According to the records of the Yuling Sect, the true form of the Heavenly Eye Butterfly was similar in size to a common butterfly, with light wings and a graceful silhouette. Its most prominent feature was the sheer splendor of its wings.
Under the light, its wings took on a faint sky-blue hue. As the butterfly fluttered, they resembled ocean waves cresting across an azure sea, occasionally shimmering with the brilliant colors of a rainbow.
When it spread its wings, waves and neon radiance seemed to dance around it, beautiful as a dream.
Moreover, eye-like patterns were emblazoned across its wings.
Hence the name Heavenly Eye Butterfly.
In truth, the eyes on its wings were not merely pretty markings. After its third metamorphosis, the patterns would transform into genuine heavenly eyes, the true wellspring of its innate talents.
During its second metamorphosis, the Heavenly Eye Butterfly already possessed the innate talents of concealment and transformation.
If it disguised itself as an ordinary butterfly, not the slightest flaw could be detected. Once concealed, it was said to be capable of eluding even the spiritual sense search of a Core Formation stage cultivator.
Yet such formidable survival talents could only ever be used for survival.
Beyond that, the Heavenly Eye Butterfly possessed no other abilities. It was as fragile as an ordinary butterfly; a fierce gust of wind could snuff out its life, making premature death all too easy.
It relied entirely on its keen perception of danger and its gifts of transformation and concealment to survive in the perilous wilderness.
If a cultivator chose the Heavenly Eye Butterfly as a natal insect gu, it would offer not the slightest assistance in battle, at least until it underwent its third metamorphosis.
The fragility of its physical body would not undergo any earth-shaking change even through the third metamorphosis, but the heavenly eyes upon its wings would evolve divine abilities.
As for what divine abilities it possessed, the Yuling Sect's records were equally vague, mentioning only that one of its abilities was immunity to delusion—the power to see through illusions and barriers.
How potent it truly was remained unrecorded.
It was certain beyond doubt that the Heavenly Eye Butterfly had the potential for at least a fourth metamorphosis. However, records regarding anything beyond the fourth metamorphosis were even sparser, consisting of just a single line: *Legend has it that the heavenly eyes of the Heavenly Eye Butterfly will continue to evolve.*
This was precisely why Qin Sang hesitated.
Qin Sang cultivated a natal insect gu primarily for two reasons: first, to resolve the trouble posed by the restriction talisman fragments inside his body; second, in the hope that it would aid him during Nascent Soul formation, assisting him in breaking through the boundary.
He already possessed a life spirit sword, so he did not place combat prowess as the highest priority for his natal insect gu.
To do so would be putting the cart before the horse.
Even so, it could not be too weak. If it offered no help whatsoever, occupying the precious slot of a natal insect gu while demanding vast amounts of energy and resources to raise, it would be a pure waste.
Therein lay the problem with the Heavenly Eye Butterfly: its frail body could not aid in combat the way a Dark Stinkbug could, and Qin Sang could not be sure how powerful its divine abilities were, as they could only be verified after it completed its third metamorphosis.
If its abilities turned out to be no better than common eye-related Daoist arts, it would be too late for regrets.
Like other exotic insects on the Exotic Insect Registry, raising the Heavenly Eye Butterfly was extraordinarily difficult. It required special feeding methods to accelerate its growth, which would inevitably consume a massive amount of resources, demanding Qin Sang's time and energy to gather them.
Nevertheless, after weighing his options, Qin Sang ultimately included the Heavenly Eye Butterfly among his candidates.
For it to rank on the Exotic Insect Registry, its potential was beyond question.
Those exotic insects with detailed records were difficult to raise and metamorphose, but the return was formidable innate talents. The Heavenly Eye Butterfly should not fall far behind; it was worth taking a gamble.
An ability to pierce through illusions, if powerful enough, would have miraculous effects in many situations, especially when exploring secrets and venturing into the unknown. What was more, that might not even be the full extent of its abilities.
If there were no better exotic insect, Qin Sang would choose the Heavenly Eye Butterfly.
Provided, of course, that he could catch one.
Two days later, Qin Sang arrived at the mountain range where Butterfly Valley lay. As he drew near the valley, his brow suddenly furrowed. Landing atop a mountain peak, he glanced down at the insect basket at his waist.
A faint rustling sound emanated from inside, quiet yet extremely sharp.
The fat silkworm was gnawing on the basket again!
Qin Sang felt a headache coming on. Over the past two days, the fat silkworm had done nothing but eat and sleep. Whenever it woke up and found no food, it relentlessly gnawed on the basket to beg Qin Sang for sustenance.
Worst of all, it refused to eat anything else—it only ate Scarlet Fire Flowing Gold!
Qin Sang had tested all kinds of miraculous spirit pills and even poisons on it, but the fat silkworm refused every single one without deigning to spare them a glance. It even spat and rolled its eyes at him, looking as though it felt insulted.
If not for Qin Sang's sharp eyesight, he would not even have noticed it had eyes.
A spirit insect like this was one Qin Sang dared not use as a natal insect gu—it was simply impossible to raise.
Yet this creature did not seem entirely stupid either. Knowing that only Qin Sang possessed Scarlet Fire Flowing Gold, it refused to leave even when driven away. When Qin Sang deliberately tossed it aside, it immediately scurried back.
Once it wheedled a mouthful, it would fall into a blissful, deep slumber.
Yet it refused to acknowledge him as its master!
Aside from the insect-controlling arts of the Yuling Sect and the natal insect gu of the Witch Clan, there existed an extremely rare way for cultivators to command spirit insects: the spirit insect voluntarily recognizing a master.
It was said that when a spirit insect did so voluntarily, not only would the minds of cultivator and insect achieve an extraordinary resonance, but there would also be unexpected benefits.
Such an opportunity could only be stumbled upon by chance, never sought, and followed no rules.
Spirit insects possessed low intelligence, making their whims impossible for cultivators to predict.
Some had tried using tricks intended to win human hearts on spirit insects—staging fake ambushes and swooping in from the sky to save the creature's life, bestowing grace upon it.
As it turned out, that was completely useless and won not a shred of gratitude from the insect.
Qin Sang had exercised patience and fed it for two days. Seeing that the fat silkworm only cared about gorging itself without showing the slightest gratitude, he decided not to indulge it any longer and teach it a lesson.
Though its appetite was not huge, it was unbearable to let it keep eating like this.
"Scarlet Fire Flowing Gold is so precious, and I only have a single fruit. I need to save it for my natal insect gu's metamorphosis. How could I let a foolish silkworm like you treat it as daily rations?"
With a cold snort, Qin Sang brought out the Ten Directions Yanluo Banner, drew a wisp of Nine Nether Demonic Fire, condensed it into a fine needle, and opened the insect basket.
Chapter 646