Chapter 400: Young and Naive Changhe Daojun

The butterfly extended its senses toward the two projections.

They did not resist.

Instead, a silent exchange followed.

Yu Xuan felt it.

Not the content.

But the fact of it.

And his expression darkened.

They were responding.

To this distant "uncle."

Betrayal was too strong a word, but the feeling was unpleasant.

He had guarded them.

Died for them.

Refused under pressure.

And now they were calmly communicating with another.

After several long moments, the butterfly withdrew its senses.

If its expression could be read, it would have been complex.

Because what it had sensed.

Was not reassuring.

Within those two, it felt the unmistakable mark of someone it knew extremely well.

And someone far more terrifying.

The butterflies were not brought here against their will, rather they were permitted.

Bound to Yu Xuan’s soul.

By that being’s will.

And if that being desired, the connection could be severed instantly.

Even erased.

The butterfly’s thoughts sharpened.

’But why?’

There was no logical reason for that existence to take interest in this human.

Yu Xuan was talented, yes.

But not worthy of that level of interference.

No matter his background.

No matter his origins.

’Am I missing something?’

It scanned him again and found nothing new.

Only a foreign [Origin]

But nothing that justified that protection.

In truth, those two chrysalis should not even be here.

This arrangement.

This sealed land.

Was designed for a single challenger.

Yet they had entered alongside him.

Because they were soul-bound.

Perhaps the arrangement interpreted them as extensions of him.

Or perhaps, it had mistaken the three as a single fragmented entity.

The butterfly dismissed the speculation for now.

Its first priority now was that, they needed to hatch.

It had to confirm what they truly were.

Without warning, it subtly manipulated its authority over metamorphosis and growth.

In short, the butterfly accelerated their development.

Yu Xuan suddenly felt it.

A cool current swept through his entire being.

Not painful.

Not invasive.

But elevating.

As if a subtle layer had been peeled away.

As if something within him had advanced a stage.

A wave of euphoria followed – fleeting, but undeniable.

Then it passed.

The butterfly lifted from his head.

Its wings beat once.

The pressure vanished.

"Let us go," it said calmly.

"The matter I wished to confirm is resolved and the preparations for your Future Blessing Ceremony should now be completed." It turned slightly toward the deeper regions of the realm, towards Hundun.

Yu Xuan narrowed his eyes.

He did not fully trust this "uncle."

But he also understood something.

Some games here were far beyond his level.

So he just need to follow the rules, for now.

So, Yu Xuan followed the butterfly who, once again took him to where the Leader was.

***

Within the Pagoda.

Inside the uppermost chamber of the ancient pagoda, the atmosphere was filled with tension.

Seated within were beings whose mere names could tilt eras.

Hundun sat at the center, formless yet oppressive, the embodiment of primordial chaos.

To one side stood Grand Controller.

Beside them was a squid-like existence, its surface shimmering with void-like ink, tentacles fading in and out of thin air.

Changhe Daojun leaned back, his emerald eyes reflecting irritation rather than calm.

Several other ancient existences were also present.

"...Is this ceremony truly necessary?" Changhe Daojun asked again, for what must have been the tenth time.

"You all know the consequences when we perform it."

Though thick-skinned by nature, he was still the youngest among many present.

Hundun, however, was born thick-skinned.

Verbal pressure meant little to it.

"We have fewer than five attempts before this arrangement collapses," the squid-like being said.

"Previously we agreed the Future Blessing Ceremony would only be used when the odds were promising. But now? We entrust it to a boy carrying a foreign [Origin]?"

Changhe Daojun sneered openly.

"I would trust him before I trust you."

That was unlike him.

Normally he was composed and mostly playful.

The squid’s surface darkened. Thick black ink bled briefly into the air before being reabsorbed.

"Brat! Be grateful for your master otherwise I would have swallowed you whole... or at least left your face permanently stained."

"Now, now," the Grand Controller interjected smoothly.

"We are here for a peaceful discussion."

No one present was ignorant of the tension between those two.

Long ago, when the young and naive Changhe Daojun had attempted to stabilize a collapsing timeline, the squid harboring old resentment toward Changhe’s master, had intervened and quietly stolen the fruit of his achievement.

That day, Changhe learned what true loss felt like.

Since then, his dislike had never softened.

The squid, meanwhile, was infamous for stretching its influence across timelines whenever opportunity presented itself, earning the ire of multiple transcendent factions and even those beings.

"But Lord Hundun," another presence spoke, "how confident are you truly? We all know where this place lies and we all know why it is isolated from the Heavens."

Silence settled briefly.

"If you ask pure confidence I would say... five percent." Hundun answered.

The chamber stilled.

"And after the ceremony?" someone pressed.

"I do not know."

It was not pessimism.

It was calculation.

This place carried the concept of Fixed Causality.

Outcomes were largely predetermined.

But increasing probability.

Even slightly, could tilt inevitability.

"Has the boy arrived?" a voice asked.

"The butterfly is bringing him."

A ripple of interest passed through the chamber.

"But why is that one interested?" another murmured.

"Oh? You don’t know?"

Quiet murmurs spread.

Outside the pagoda.

The black-orange butterfly descended lightly.

Yu Xuan stood beside the butterfly, trying to maintain a composed expression.

"So... they’ll hatch soon?" he asked, unable to completely suppress the anticipation in his voice.

No matter how much he tried to act indifferent, excitement leaked through.

The two tiny caterpillars he had been raising, were finally about to gain wings.

If his system had not been deliberately keeping quiet in this place, it would almost certainly have flashed a notification across his vision for fun.

[Achievement Unlocked: My Bonded Beast Is Not a Devastatingly Beautiful Girl]

[Achievement Unlocked: Caterpillar Farmer]

***

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