Chapter 464: What a Mess
This little creature had saved him from danger countless times.
A vague sense of dread had always lingered in his heart, warning him not to let it eat too many items that contained a lot of spiritual energy. Yet, no matter what, this little foodie remained his most dependable trump card in times of trouble.
Just moments before his escape, Chu Liang had snatched up the little golden butterfly that had gnawed its way through the barrier, ensuring it wouldn't be left behind in Southern Bastion Mountain. But in the span of a heartbeat, when he took it out again, the tiny creature was already wrapped in a golden cocoon.
It had become a golden cocoon, roughly the size of a fist.
This wasn't the first time it had wrapped itself in a cocoon. Every time it emerged from a cocoon, it transformed into something new. What might it become next?
As Jiang Yuebai previously mentioned, the Heaven-Devouring Bug's power increased with every transformation, with each transformation equating to an increase of one realm. By the seventh realm, it would be exceptionally hard to control, and at the ninth realm, it would be like the legendary Demon God.
It started out as a little maggot, evolving into a silkworm and then into a radiant golden butterfly... Should it undergo another change, it would likely reach the fourth realm of the Heaven-Devouring Bug.
The most terrifying trait of this creature was that it could devour endlessly, advancing without understanding the Great Dao. All it had to do was eat.
While the amount of spiritual energy needed to advance to the next realm would increase, it would eventually reach that realm through slow, steady consumption.
It was still quite dangerous.
However, this little creature had saved him countless times and had never displayed any signs of defiance. Chu Liang couldn't bear to kill it just like that. Had it not been there, he would have met his doom on numerous occasions.
After much contemplation, he decided to wait and see.
He would wait until the little golden butterfly completed its transformation, observe what it became, and then determine its fate. For now, with the White Pagoda in his possession, he could still keep it under control.
Having placed the golden cocoon inside the White Pagoda, he finally looked up to look around, ready to make his way back to Mount Shu.
He seemed to be deep within a dense forest, tucked away in a valley and nestled against the mountainside. The Southern Regions were rugged and mountainous, with terrain like this all around, making it hard to pinpoint his exact location.
Just as he was about to step out, he heard the cheerful sound of laughter coming from outside, as if men and women were frolicking nearby.
With a swift extension of his divine sense, Chu Liang investigated, but what he found made him hesitant to step outside.
...
It turned out that a man and a woman were locked in an embrace outside. The man wore a snug purple outfit and looked to be middle-aged, while the woman, slightly younger, had a seductive figure and fair skin. They had engaged in playful banter all the way here, which resulted in their clothing being disheveled.
He decided to keep himself hidden for now, planning to wait until they were gone before stepping out.
While they were cultivators, their auras indicated they had only reached the third realm. Additionally, it was clear they had practiced various cultivation methods. Compared to Chu Liang's current strength, they were much weaker, which meant they naturally wouldn't be able to detect him.
To his surprise, the two suddenly stopped moving forward. Chu Liang could hear their breaths growing heavier.
"You're so naughty," the woman said coquettishly. "Out here in the wilderness, what do you intend to do?"
"With the sky as our blanket and the earth as our bed, wouldn't we be enjoying the same pleasures that the ancients did, embracing nature?" the man laughed heartily.
I really don't recommend doing that... Chu Liang silently frowned.
Great... Even after being teleported to a random location, I've stumbled upon this thrilling scene. Unbelievable.
"Don't mess around; I'm already pregnant," the woman said softly.
"Huh?" The man looked taken aback.
"Relax, it's not yours," she replied with a snort.
"Well..." His surprise quickly turned into laughter. "I was just shocked! If it were mine, I'd be thrilled! After all, the child would be the future leader of our Red River Sect."
With a loud shout, he hurled something, gritting his teeth as he yelled, "Die!"
"Ah!" the man in purple cried, "A Scarlet Demon Spider! You dared to bring poisonous creatures out of the Demon Spider Forest! The sect leader will not forgive you if he finds out!"
"I'll kill you both today and claim my reward. Why would the sect leader blame me?" Elder Bai retorted.
"Old Bai! The child I'm carrying is yours!" the woman cried out, her voice filled with despair.
"What?" Elder Bai's voice trembled, and the flow of his foundational qi halted abruptly.
But almost immediately, he cried out in pain, "Ah! You wicked woman, you dared to attack me with the Five Poison Sword! You..."
"The child is yours, yes, but you just tried to kill me. Do you expect me to show you mercy?" the woman replied coldly.
"Even if I die, I'll take you both down with me!" Elder Bai roared furiously.
"Run!" the man in purple's voice echoed from several hundred zhang away. "He took a Fiery Heart Pill! He plans to drag us down with him before he dies!"
"Trying to escape?!"
A whooshing sound followed, and the group seemed to chase one another, vanishing from sight in an instant.
...
After waiting for a while and confirming that they wouldn't return, Chu Liang finally stepped out.
It wasn't that he was afraid of these third-realm cultivators; it was mainly too awkward. If he ran into them, what would he even say? May this family of yours soon be blessed with a noble child. Harmony brings wealth?
In just a few moments, it felt like he had watched a drama unfold over dozens of episodes.
All the words that could describe what he had just seen could be summed up in a single sentence: What a mess!
Chu Liang stepped out and was about to leave when he suddenly sensed a faint demonic aura on the ground.
Looking around, he spotted palm-sized red spiders with black markings scuttling quickly through the fallen leaves. They appeared fierce and terrifying.
There were about four or five of them.
As they sensed the presence of a living person, they moved toward him. However, when they got closer and detected his powerful aura, they hesitated and stopped.
These were likely the "Scarlet Demon Spiders" the man had mentioned earlier. In their frantic chase and escape, they had left these creatures behind.
They really have no sense of responsibility, Chu Liang thought.
Although Chu Liang didn't know much about these creatures, he knew these were dangerous and venomous creatures from the Myriad Poison Mountain. And so, he decided to eliminate them to ensure the safety of others.
He didn't even reach for his sword; instead, he raised a finger and made a gentle pointing motion.
Puff!
A burst of Geng Metal Sword Qi shot out from his fingertip, instantly obliterating several of the Scarlet Demon Spiders.
Even if these Scarlet Demon Spiders had cultivated a bit, they were merely second-realm creatures. Their venom was their greatest threat, but they were no match for Chu Liang.
However, when their bodies burst open, black blood oozed into the soil, instantly turning a patch of earth black. The leaves in the vicinity immediately withered and corroded, leaving only hollow spots.
It was clear that their venom was highly potent.
Since no one else was around, Chu Liang casually refined their imprints. As his divine sense entered the White Pagoda, a red glow shimmered, and a slender strand of light emerged.
[Scarlet Venom Silk: Silk infused with Scarlet Demon Venom. Upon contact with human skin, they emit toxins that cause paralysis and loss of consciousness. The venom is so strong that it can't be blocked by clothing.]