Chapter 1122: The Butterfly

A dilapidated pool, encircled by gray adamantine rocks, was no more than five feet in diameter—small, yet exuding an aura of timeworn antiquity.

This was not merely a pool; it was a witness to history, a tangible fragment of time itself.

The adamantine rocks were already cracked and weathered, yet under the nourishment of spiritual energy and wisps of immortal qi, they stubbornly refused to collapse.

The four supreme experts were locked in a covert battle, striking and ambushing one another, the occasional muffled grunt echoing through the darkness. Though their main target was Feng Xing Tian, none truly trusted the others, each maintaining wary vigilance.

Then, they all made the same choice—to rush toward that ancient pool. None dared to lag behind, fearing they might miss the greatest opportunity of all.

For anything that emitted even the faintest trace of immortal qi was undoubtedly priceless, beyond measure.

They believed that within the pool lay a supreme treasure, likely a shattered immortal artifact left behind from the ancient battlefield. Once unearthed, it would surely shake the Nine Heavens.

Such an artifact, like the Nine Phoenix Furnace, was an unparalleled divine tool left behind by an immortal—something scarcely found in the mortal realm.

It must be known that even in ancient times, not every immortal possessed such treasures, for the materials required were too rare.

If the artifact within the pool was not too badly damaged, it would become a peerless weapon of destruction. And if it was in better condition than the Nine Phoenix Furnace, it would undoubtedly become the foremost divine tool of Boundless Heaven.

*Whoosh!*

Xuan Kun struck, gritting his teeth as he clashed fiercely with Shi Hao. Initially, they had been side by side, but Shi Hao quickly overtook him, nearing the ancient, decrepit pool.

Though they had been allies moments ago, when faced with an ancient supreme treasure, their alliance proved fragile as paper.

Xuan Kun was ordinarily a force to be reckoned with. Were it not for his severe injuries and damaged foundation, none would dare underestimate him—not even Feng Xing Tian would risk an assassination attempt.

Dao wounds were the most terrifying injuries. An ordinary cultivator would perish instantly, and even sect masters would struggle to survive. But Xuan Kun, with his three strands of immortal qi, managed to cling to life.

Yet, his combat prowess was undeniably diminished. After this exchange, his face turned deathly pale.

*Boom!*

Shi Hao unleashed another punch, the power of Six Paths Reincarnation surging forth, manifesting as six black tides erupting from six swirling black holes. The force sent Xuan Kun staggering, blood gushing from his mouth.

Elsewhere, the underground palace was bathed in soft moonlight. Yao Yue Gongzhu, true to her name, was enveloped in its glow, standing apart from the chaos.

At this moment, she and Feng Xing Tian clashed violently, lightning, dark winds, and moonlight intertwining in a tempest of blazing bone runes.

Faced with an ancient immortal pool, none could remain calm. All fought with reckless abandon, desperate to claim its treasures.

*Boom!*

Another deafening explosion erupted. The four were too close, and though they had momentarily split into two pairs, their runic energies still converged, triggering a cataclysmic detonation.

This was no ordinary destruction—it split the heavens themselves!

Above the abyss, the onlookers were stunned, struggling to comprehend the battle raging below. Four beams of runic light shot into the sky, illuminating the dark night and tearing the firmament asunder.

A chill ran down their spines. If such power were directed at them, how could they possibly survive?

One could only imagine—struck by such force, nothing would remain. They would perish, their Dao extinguished.

*Is this the might of those who have cultivated three strands of immortal qi?* The thought was terrifying. Such beings stood far above them, as if from another world entirely, impossible to oppose.

“Before, those with three strands of immortal qi were not this despairing to face. But once they begin to form the buds of the Great Dao, it’s as if an insurmountable chasm opens between us,” someone lamented, voicing a bitter truth.

Within the underground palace, the ancient structures bearing the marks of bygone eras remained intact despite the tremendous forces at play.

There was a reason they had endured through the ages—many were imbued with the patterns of the Great Dao, preserving them from ruin.

After their violent collision, Shi Hao, Yao Yue, Xuan Kun, and Feng Xing Tian rushed toward the ancient pool, each reaching into the mist-shrouded waters.

Yet, in the next instant, a bone-chilling sensation gripped them, as if a deadly blade had been pressed to their throats. Goosebumps erupted across their skin.

With no other choice, all four retreated swiftly, their faces drained of color.

Even Yao Yue Gongzhu, naturally radiant with skin like flawless jade, was no exception. Her body prickled with unease, marring her usual grace.

The sensation was overwhelming—like stepping into the Netherworld itself, their souls nearly frozen in place.

*What is that thing?* The question burned in all their minds. It did not feel like an immortal artifact, but rather… as if some creature lay dormant within.

The realization sent a shiver down their spines, a foreboding chill settling in their hearts.

After a brief silence, they cautiously stepped forward again, activating their Heavenly Eyes to peer into the depths.

Despite their unease, they knew—this might very well be an opportunity of a lifetime, one they could not afford to miss.

Though wary of one another, none acted rashly. As they drew near, all four fixed their gazes upon the ancient pool, straining to discern its contents.

The vision was hazy, even with their Heavenly Eyes. Faintly, they could make out traces of divine spring water, though little remained.

Mists of spiritual light and colorful vapors rose like steam from boiling water in a frozen wasteland.

The obscurity came from the object being wrapped in threads of chaotic mist, rendering it indistinct.

“Is that… a butterfly?” Yao Yue Gongzhu murmured in surprise. The shape and silhouette resembled that of an ancient butterfly, over three feet in length.

Shi Hao frowned, sensing an anomaly within one of the cauldrons inside his body.

The Imperial Butterfly!

It was awakening.

For some time now, the Imperial Butterfly had lain dormant within a bone cauldron, showing no signs of activity. Yet now, in this place, it stirred to life.

Shi Hao’s heart raced. He was certain—within the pool lay a divine butterfly, slumbering in wait. And there was a high chance it was connected to the Imperial Butterfly within him.

Perhaps they were of the same lineage.

Imperial Butterflies were exceedingly rare. Since ancient times, they were seldom seen in pairs. Some speculated that from the Primordial Era to the present, there had only ever been one, continuously undergoing rebirth.

*Hum!*

Within Shi Hao’s body, the cauldron emitted a radiant mist as the Imperial Butterfly fully awakened, sensing the aura of the outside world—as if it had discerned something profound.

At that moment, the mist within the pool began to disperse slightly, the chaotic haze at the bottom thinning.

“It really is an ancient butterfly!” Yao Yue gasped.

The other three stared in stunned silence, momentarily refraining from action.

The butterfly was three feet long, its wings and body exuding an indescribable elegance, like the most exquisite work of art in existence.

Yet, it seemed to have been cursed by the heavens. Upon closer inspection, one could see that it had long perished. Its once-vibrant wings were now largely dulled, its body partially decayed.

Only a few golden and multicolored patterns remained, uneroded by time.

One could imagine how breathtakingly beautiful it must have been in its prime. Even now, amidst the scent of decay, strands of immortal light occasionally rose from its form.

The wisps of immortal qi seeped from its rotting body.

All four were astonished. The so-called “immortal artifact” within the ancient pool was merely a butterfly—long dead, submerged in spiritual liquid.

“This… was once an immortal, a supreme being!” they realized with awe.

For only a creature that had attained immortality could emit immortal qi and radiant light even in death.

Yet, such a mighty being had fallen in the distant past, clearly slain in battle, its body ravaged by unimaginable wounds—likely during the Immortal Ancient Era.

Within its body lingered a terrifying, corrosive force left by its enemy. That it had endured for so many eons was nothing short of miraculous.

“An immortal!”

Whether it was Xuan Kun, Feng Xing Tian, or Yao Yue, their eyes burned with fervor, each eager to seize it immediately.

For this was an undying immortal from antiquity, a supreme existence no longer seen in the present world. Even in decay, it was an invaluable treasure.

Perhaps within the butterfly’s body lay some relic!

Beings of this caliber were rare even in the Immortal Ancient Era, belonging to the ranks of the most fearsome rulers of heaven and earth. Any remnant of theirs was beyond imagination.

If a Dao scripture or weapon were discovered within its form, the shockwaves would reverberate across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Within Shi Hao’s body, faint glimmers of light flickered as the Imperial Butterfly stirred lazily, attempting to crawl out of the bone cauldron.