“Chirp! Master, what is this? I hate it!”
White Feathered Demoness’s big, round eyes stared intently at the “Insect Scripture”, expressing her aversion in a delicate voice.
Hearing this, Li Mu came back to his senses, somewhat surprised.
White Feathered Demoness was a sixth-rank Gu Spirit, and even after surviving the Transformation Lightning Tribulation, she still hadn't revealed her human form and didn't speak much normally. However, today, because of the “Insect Scripture”, a Dao Rank Inheritance, she showed clear signs of aversion, which made Li Mu curious.
Recalling the scene where his Divine Sense suffered from the residual spirit of the “Insect Scripture” and the myriad insects devouring his Soul when he first read it, Li Mu immediately understood a few things.
Li Mu gently stroked White Feathered Demoness’s small head, trying to comfort her: “White Feathered Demoness, I was careless. Although this “Insect Scripture” is a Dao Rank Inheritance, containing endless insect Dao mysteries and power, it also contains the residual spirit of its previous owner due to its ancient age,…”
“No! It’s not because it hurt Master; it’s because this thing devoured billions of insect Souls. I naturally hate it. Destroy it quickly.”
White Feathered Demoness’s big, round eyes stared at Li Mu, her voice filled with an unprecedented determination, and her eyes flashed with deep hatred for the “Insect Scripture”, making her Divine Soul tremble.
Li Mu looked at White Feathered Demoness in surprise. She, who was usually fearless, was now so nervous, and her aversion to the “Insect Scripture” was so strong that she even demanded its destruction.
“This “Insect Scripture” is related to whether you can pass the True Spirit Thunder Tribulation. I need to find a way to help you from it,” Li Mu frowned slightly, patiently explaining, trying to guide White Feathered Demoness to see the other side of things.
Hearing this, a hint of hesitation flashed in White Feathered Demoness’s eyes. She was not unaware of the priorities, but that Innate aversion made it difficult for her to let go.
Seeing this, Li Mu first put away the “Insect Scripture”. To inherit this incomplete scripture, there should be prerequisites, which are to first understand the language of insect Souls, and then the Divine Soul protection method to avoid being counterattacked by the Soul Power of myriad insects.
If White Feathered Demoness was willing to assist him in learning this “Insect Scripture” Legacy, it would be an excellent choice. With her Innate ability to restrain Soul bodies and her understanding of insect language, she was undoubtedly the best choice. However, White Feathered Demoness’s Heart-Nature was simple, and her hatred was clear, so persuading her was truly not easy.
After putting away the “Insect Scripture”, White Feathered Demoness’s mood immediately improved. She retracted her hostility and lay on Li Mu’s shoulder, returning to her quiet state.
Seeing this, Li Mu smiled bitterly, reaching out to gently caress White Feathered Demoness’s soft body, secretly pondering how to persuade her in the most suitable way. Direct coercion was definitely not a good strategy. Only by using emotion and understanding as a bridge could he help White Feathered Demoness overcome the hurdle in her heart.
“White Feathered Demoness, I know you have a natural repulsion towards that “Insect Scripture”, but that is not only an insect Dao Legacy but also the key to helping you resist the True Spirit Thunder Tribulation. Our destinies may be closely linked in this one line,” Li Mu’s voice was gentle and firm, trying to make his words as persuasive as possible, while also not forgetting to consider White Feathered Demoness’s feelings.
“Master, don’t learn it, absolutely don’t learn it!” White Feathered Demoness stubbornly retorted.
White Feathered Demoness’s words carried a hint of urgency and worry, and her eyes flashed with complex emotions, trying hard to convey more information beyond her words, to tell Li Mu about some disadvantages. However, since it involved the secrets of Dao Rank Inheritance, she didn't understand it well.
Seeing this, Li Mu was slightly startled, not understanding why White Feathered Demoness was so resistant to this insect Dao Cultivation Technique.
“White Feathered Demoness, you seem to know something about the secret of this “Insect Scripture”, right? Tell me, why are you so against it?” Li Mu’s voice became even softer, trying to soothe White Feathered Demoness’s emotions, and at the same time hoping to get more clues from her.
“Woo, woo, I don’t know! It’s very dangerous, don’t learn it!” White Feathered Demoness’s eyes reddened with anxiety, but she could only make intermittent whimpers. She shook her head desperately, as if trying to use this method to stop Li Mu’s decision.
Seeing White Feathered Demoness’s emotions so intense again, Li Mu sighed and gave up the idea of cultivating this “Insect Scripture” through White Feathered Demoness.
“Okay, okay, White Feathered Demoness, I won’t learn it,” Li Mu comforted softly, gently picking White Feathered Demoness up from his shoulder and letting her sit on his lap, so he could communicate better with her. “Although you don’t know the specific danger, your intuition tells me that this “Insect Scripture” is indeed not simple, and I won’t take risks easily.”
Hearing this, White Feathered Demoness’s tense body relaxed, and she actively rubbed Li Mu’s palm, showing intimacy.
Looking at White Feathered Demoness’s appearance, Li Mu became even more curious. What kind of terror did that “Insect Scripture” contain that made White Feathered Demoness so flustered? However, with White Feathered Demoness’s reaction, Li Mu also gave up the idea of continuing to study the “Insect Scripture”.
He decided to first collect some ancient books about cultivating the ‘insect Dao’ and study the Legacy Cultivation Technique before proceeding.
Li Mu took out a soul gathering bottle containing the refined Soul of a sixth-rank Yao Beast from his nine storage spiritual pearl, preparing to feed White Feathered Demoness.
Seeing the soul gathering bottle, White Feathered Demoness’s eyes lit up, and her body floated in the air, obviously full of anticipation for the coming delicacy. Her clear eyes were filled with joy and gratitude.
Li Mu smiled slightly, casually opened the soul gathering bottle, and a wisp of black Yao Soul quickly flew out of the bottle, emitting a gloomy Qi.
A White Feathered Demoness flew over, her small mouth blocking the bottle opening, and with a strong inhale, the black Yao Soul, as if pulled by an invisible hand, was quickly sucked into her tiny mouth.
White Feathered Demoness closed her eyes tightly, her body slightly bulging, seemingly fully digesting the powerful Yao Soul Power. A powerful Soul Power emanated from her body, forming a strange scene.
Seeing this, a hint of approval flashed in Li Mu’s eyes. White Feathered Demoness looked tender and cute on the outside, but in reality, she possessed extraordinary swallowing and digestive abilities. This was the terrifying aspect of a sixth-rank Gu Spirit.
“White Feathered Demoness, how do you feel?” Li Mu smiled slightly, asking with concern.
White Feathered Demoness looked back at Li Mu, her eyes full of excitement and satisfaction. She nodded gently, then her body trembled slightly, and a more solidified Soul Power fluctuation emanated from her body. It was clear that this consumption had further improved her strength.
The next moment, White Feathered Demoness opened her small mouth slightly and yawned.
Li Mu smiled, waved his hand, and put her into the spirit control treasure bracelet, letting her rest well, and began to inventory other High Grade spiritual items.
… …
Time flew by, half a month passed, and Li Mu finished his seclusion. He came out of the Cultivation room and immediately went to the Spiritual Field to inspect the two sixth-rank Spiritual Plants.
Sunlight filtered through the sparse clouds, scattering onto the vibrant Spiritual Field in the back mountain of the Sect. The golden light and emerald green leaves intertwined, appearing exceptionally dazzling.
Li Mu appeared by the Spiritual Field, and the Six-Armed Ape guarding the Spiritual Field immediately revealed its transformed body and bowed forward: “Greetings, Master!”
“Rise!” Li Mu glanced at it, his gaze falling on the two Spiritual Fields, checking the growth of the Yan Yuan Spirit Grass and Mou Xing Spirit Grass.
Li Mu walked slowly along the path between the Spiritual Fields, carefully observing each Spiritual Plant, ensuring there were no pests or abnormalities.
The Yan Yuan Spirit Grass swayed gently in the breeze, its leaf veins seemingly containing the mysteries of life, emitting a faint fragrance that refreshed the mind. The Mou Xing Spirit Grass was even more dazzling, its fruit surface shimmering with starlight, as if absorbing the essence of the night sky, each one containing immense Spiritual Qi.
A satisfied smile curled on Li Mu’s lips as he confirmed their healthy growth, feeling a little relieved.
“It seems you’ve taken good care of them during this time,” Li Mu praised the Six-Armed Ape, his tone revealing a hint of satisfaction and trust.
Hearing this, the Six-Armed Ape’s honest face broke into a smile, and he responded faithfully: “Thank you for your praise, Master. This is what I should do.”
Li Mu smiled, waved his hand, and summoned a spiritual rain to water the Spiritual Field.
The spiritual rain fell finely and gently on the Spiritual Field. Every drop contained rich Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, nourishing this vibrant Superior Spiritual Field. The Yan Yuan Spirit Grass and Mou Xing Spirit Grass, under the nourishment of the spiritual rain, exuded even more vitality, their leaves becoming even greener, and the starlight on their fruits even more dazzling.
Li Mu stood aside, quietly watching this scene, his eyes sparkling with deep light, as if thinking about something.
Now that the Treasure Mansion had expanded successfully, Li Mu hesitated whether to transplant them into the Treasure Mansion Space to avoid accidents.
The Xuantian Sword Sect was not peaceful now, and many Sect forces were targeting him. Li Mu weighed the pros and cons in his heart. Looking at the Spiritual Field that was even more lush after being bathed in spiritual rain, transplanting these two precious sixth-rank Spiritual Plants into the Treasure Mansion Space, while maximizing their protection from external disturbances, also meant giving up this carefully cultivated Superior Spiritual Field and the natural growth advantages it brought.
“Although the Treasure Mansion Space is good, it’s not a long-term solution,” Li Mu thought to himself: “The growth of Spiritual Plants cannot be separated from the nourishment of Heaven and Earth. If they rely solely on the power of the space, it might affect their quality and potential.”
So, Li Mu made a decision to maintain the status quo for now. These sixth-rank Spiritual Plants would continue to grow naturally in this uniquely endowed Spiritual Field. With the rich Spiritual Qi and natural blessings of the Sect’s back mountain, the Yan Yuan Spirit Grass and Mou Xing Spirit Grass would surely thrive.
In the following days, Li Mu’s life became more regular and fulfilling. He delved into ancient books, learned about the insect Dao, Artifact Refining, Alchemy, occasionally tended to the Spiritual Plants, and lived a peaceful and quiet life.
Time flew by, and three years passed in a blink of an eye.
With the reputation of a Saint Artifact Refining Master, Li Mu’s connections became incredibly wide. The Xuantian Sword Sect, from top to bottom, was even more responsive to his requests, knowing that Li Mu liked to study some unorthodox techniques, and now he was even delving into the insect Dao.
Therefore, they actively collected rare classics and secret diagrams related to the insect Dao for Li Mu, and even exchanged rare insect eggs and strange insects from various forces at all costs, just to gain a bit of Li Mu’s friendship, sparing no expense.
With the help of various ancient insect Dao classics and secret scriptures, such as “Myriad Insects Collection”, “Spirit Insect Parasitism Art”, “Insect Array Diagrams”, and so on, Li Mu gradually explored some mysteries related to the insect Dao.
He probably also understood why White Feathered Demoness had so fiercely resisted him cultivating the “Insect Scripture” before.
Li Mu also gradually realized why the path of insect Cultivators was disliked and regarded as a crooked path by many Cultivators. This was because the cultivation of this Dao was extremely difficult, and behind it lay many undeniable disadvantages and potential negative impacts on Cultivators.
Firstly, the cultivation process of insect Cultivators was often accompanied by a huge mental burden. Establishing mental connections with insects, and even symbiosis, required Cultivators to possess extremely high mental control and endurance. Long-term sharing of emotions and thoughts with insects could easily lead to the Cultivator’s mental world being disturbed, causing confusion and fragmentation. If not properly controlled, it could even lead to severe mental problems, such as hallucinations, mania, and even loss of self.
Secondly, insect Cultivators were highly dependent. Once they lost the assistance of insects, the Cultivator’s combat power would be greatly reduced. This over-reliance not only limited the comprehensive development of the Cultivator’s own abilities but also made them particularly vulnerable when facing specific environments or enemies. For example, if insects were largely eliminated or restricted by special means, insect Cultivators might instantly lose their combat power and fall into despair.
Furthermore, insect Cultivation Techniques were often accompanied by certain moral controversies. In order to Cultivate powerful insects, Cultivators might need to collect rare resources and capture other living beings as food or sacrifices. In the long run, this could easily cause internal conflicts and struggles for Cultivators, affecting their Heart-Nature cultivation.
Finally, the path of insect Cultivation was full of unknowns and dangers. The types of insects were diverse, and their habits varied, including many highly toxic and aggressive species. In the process of cultivating and controlling these insects, Cultivators could suffer backlash if they were not careful, resulting in minor injuries or even death. In addition, the growth cycle, reproductive habits, and other natural laws of insects were often unpredictable, bringing many uncertainties to the Cultivator’s cultivation plan.
White Feathered Demoness’s fierce resistance to Li Mu cultivating the “Insect Scripture” before was perhaps due to some understanding of these disadvantages and negative effects. However, it was more likely due to the Materials used to refine the “Insect Scripture” Legacy and its unique spirituality.
If he guessed correctly, the spiritual material used to refine the “Insect Scripture” and its birth and Legacy all revolved around an extremely rare and mysterious spiritual material – the “Soul Spirit Insect Cocoon”.
The Soul Spirit Insect Cocoon, as its name suggests, was a cocoon-like object formed by some ancient insect under specific conditions, containing powerful Soul Power and life essence. This spiritual material was extremely rare and could only be formed after hundreds or even thousands of years of gestation in the purest natural environment. The refining of the “Insect Scripture” was precisely centered on this Soul Spirit Insect Cocoon, supplemented by the essence blood of countless spiritual insects, and formed through complex rituals and Spells to carry the Dao Rank method.
The Soul Spirit Insect Cocoon had extremely strong spirituality. It could not only facilitate the transmission of the method and establish a deep mental connection with the Cultivator, but also subtly influence the Cultivator’s Heart-Nature and will. If the Cultivator’s Heart-Nature was not firm, it was easy to lose oneself in the pursuit of power and be swallowed by the desires and instincts of insects.
Li Mu had already realized that his previous understanding of insect Cultivators was too one-sided, only seeing their powerful strength and potential, but ignoring the risks and costs behind them. Therefore, he decided to temporarily put aside learning this method.
However, after these years of studying the insect Dao, Li Mu became increasingly pessimistic about White Feathered Demoness passing the True Spirit Thunder Tribulation in the future. (End of Chapter)
