Snow Moon Butterfly Chrysalis
Afterward, Zhang Lingxiao completely ignored the beautiful young woman and returned to the Zhang Family with Zhang Yuyang to report.
Once he had reported to his father, Zhang Lingxiao went back to his courtyard and prepared to continue cultivating.
There were still fifteen days before Qingyun Mountain began recruiting disciples.
Given his current condition, he was in no rush to break through to the next realm. Instead, he decided to focus on refining the sword techniques and movement arts he had obtained from the Nine Netherworld Demon Palace.
As for the Nine Nether Body Tempering Art, its cultivation required rare Heavenly and Earthly Treasures—such opportunities could only be left to fate.
After all, when traveling the martial world, one needed a few trump cards.
A cultivator's realm was not always the deciding factor in battle. Powerful cultivation techniques and martial skills could often determine victory between opponents of the same level.
"Zhang Lingxiao, I didn't expect this. You actually have some principles when it comes to right and wrong. I thought you would seal that girl's memories and control her."
Gu Yue Ningbing's clear, icy voice echoed in his mind, tinged with faint surprise.
The reason she had transmitted the Soul Locking Technique into Zhang Lingxiao's Sea of Consciousness was precisely to test his character.
And the result satisfied her.
At the very least, he was nothing like the despicable man from her previous life—the one who would stop at nothing to possess her.
"Of course, the allure of the Supreme Yin Immortal Body is great," Zhang Lingxiao replied calmly, "but I would rather let her go than rely on such despicable means."
"Besides," he added with a faint smirk, "with this young master's charm, who's to say she won't willingly come to me in the future?"
"In short—what is mine cannot be taken. What is not mine need not be forced."
His tone was indifferent, as though discussing something utterly trivial.
---
The Next Morning
After a night of cultivation, Zhang Lingxiao gained a deeper understanding of the first form of the Nine Nether Sword Art—Heavenly Fiend.
After breakfast, he eagerly stepped into the courtyard to practice.
The sword in his hand was the Tianji Sword gifted to him by Su Qing—not the Heavenly Demon Sword.
The latter was far too powerful, its demonic aura too dense. Using it recklessly would easily attract unwanted attention.
"Swish!"
The Tianji Sword flashed as Zhang Lingxiao executed a clean arc, unleashing a strand of Heavenly Fiend Sword Qi.
Crack!
A gash appeared across the trunk of a large tree in the courtyard—one that had stood there longer than he had been alive.
"Hm?"
Zhang Lingxiao frowned slightly.
Despite using only the Tianji Sword—a Profound Rank spirit weapon—his strike had merely left a shallow wound.
"Am I too weak… or is this tree unusual?"
With that thought, he drew the Heavenly Demon Sword from within the Nine Netherworld Demon Palace.
A surge of dark, oppressive energy filled the air.
"Heavenly Fiend!"
Crack!
A far more domineering Sword Qi slashed into the tree.
Yet… aside from deepening the previous cut, the tree remained standing, seemingly unshaken.
"That's not right."
Zhang Lingxiao sheathed his sword and walked closer.
Only then did he notice something unusual within the split trunk—
A small, exquisite wooden box was embedded deep within the heart of the tree.
Curious, Zhang Lingxiao reached in and pulled it out.
The moment he opened it—
A dazzling, radiant light burst forth.
He instinctively shut his eyes as a fierce gust swept past him. When he opened them again, the box was no longer in his hands.
His father, Zhang Yunfeng, now stood beside him, holding the wooden box.
It had already been closed, and the brilliant light had completely faded.
"Father… what is this?" Zhang Lingxiao asked. "Why was it hidden inside the tree in my courtyard?"
Zhang Yunfeng fell silent.
A trace of nostalgia surfaced in his deep eyes, his expression turning distant.
After a long pause, he spoke slowly:
"This tree… was planted by your mother. And this wooden box—it belongs to her as well."
"As for what's inside… it should be something she left behind for you."
"Mother…"
Zhang Lingxiao murmured softly.
Since childhood, the word "mother" had been absent from his life. Hearing it now felt strangely unfamiliar.
She was a mystery to him.
So what kind of treasure had she left behind?
Even his father regarded it as something extraordinary.
Zhang Lingxiao couldn't help but feel anticipation rise within him.
Taking the wooden box back, his mindset had completely changed.
"Open it," Zhang Yunfeng said gently. "It will be of great benefit to you."
Zhang Lingxiao nodded.
This time, when he opened the box, the radiant light surged out once more—but Zhang Yunfeng immediately cast a spell, suppressing it.
The brilliance faded.
Inside the box…
Lay a cocoon, softly glowing with a pale, moonlike light.
"Father… this is?" Zhang Lingxiao asked.
Zhang Yunfeng's eyes widened slightly.
"This is a Snow Moon Butterfly Chrysalis," he said, unable to hide his surprise. "I didn't expect your mother to leave something like this to you."
"Snow Moon Butterfly…?"
Zhang Lingxiao repeated, unfamiliar with the name.
"Is it powerful? What rank of yao beast is it?"
As he spoke, he gently touched the cocoon.
The moment his finger made contact—
A bone-piercing chill surged through him.
He immediately withdrew his hand, and the cold vanished just as quickly.
"The chrysalis itself has no rank and no cultivation," Zhang Yunfeng explained. "Its extreme cold is merely a natural defense mechanism."
"But once it emerges…"
"It will begin as a Fifth Rank Yao Beast, comparable to a Tianwu Realm cultivator."
"And with sufficient Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, its cultivation will advance rapidly—"
"—until it reaches the Seventh Rank, the level of a Venerable."
Zhang Lingxiao's eyes widened.
"A Seventh Rank Yao Beast… a Venerable?"
"This tiny butterfly… can become a Demon Venerable?"
"That's not all," Zhang Yunfeng continued, his tone turning more serious.
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