Please, Just Be Human

Truth be told, when it heard Xiao Tian's words, a humanlike gleam rippled through the Heaven-Splitting Demon Butterfly's sparkling compound eyes. It was tempted.

The human youth before it was formidable. If it took him as a servant, they could one day reach the pinnacle of the Venerable Realm together and pursue the path to godhood. Whether his cooking tasted good was beside the point.

The Heaven-Splitting Demon Butterfly had a pair of luminous compound eyes made up of tens of thousands of tiny eyes. Each was a hexagonal wedge, broad at the top and pointed below, with its sides fitted snugly against the others. This gave it a full three-hundred-and-sixty-degree field of vision without a single blind spot. It could see very far, too, unlike ordinary, shortsighted butterflies.

After all, this was a Heaven-Splitting Demon Butterfly, an ancient fierce insect comparable to a Pure-Blooded Fierce Beast cub.

Along the way, Xiao Tian witnessed countless battles. He traveled through twenty-one regions with the Heaven-Splitting Demon Butterfly, rescuing quite a few people in passing and collecting plenty of fees for his help. One thousand-year spirit medicine per life was hardly too steep a price. It was practically premium lifesaving at bargain prices.

Of course, he and the Heaven-Splitting Demon Butterfly also pulled off a few big heists, getting chased for a hundred thousand li by fierce birds and beasts of the Inscription Realm.

All they had done was steal a few Dragon Hawk eggs and, while they were at it, pluck a stalk of grass beside its nest that was blocking the light.

He borrowed a flower from outside the Three-Tailed Dragon-Horned Tiger's home. Then, while the tiger went out to chase the Heaven-Splitting Demon Butterfly, he doubled back and took some of the Primordial Treasure Bones and treasures it had collected in its lair.

He had to admit, his haul was impressive. Those at the Inscription Realm really were wealthy.

Being hunted the whole way was a thoroughly miserable experience.

Luckily, the Heaven-Splitting Demon Butterfly possessed a spatial Treasure Art and could flee outrageously fast. Otherwise, its little life would have ended early, long before the day it could turn the tables and become the master.

Ten days later!

The Heaven-Splitting Demon Butterfly hugged half a golden eggshell larger than itself and enjoyed its meal. It stuck out its tongue whenever it ate anything. Curious, Xiao Tian grabbed its tongue for a closer look, provoking furious protests. It refused to speak to him for three days.

"That mountain eagle definitely had Golden-Winged Great Peng Eagle blood. Delicious.

"I really want to taste an egg from a Golden-Winged Great Peng Eagle. Its meat would be even better."

Xiao Tian held a spoon and ate steamed egg custard as he spoke casually.

"Among the Primordial Remnants that came in, there's a Golden-Winged Great Peng."

The Heaven-Splitting Demon Butterfly spoke.

The mention of the Golden-Winged Great Peng excited the Heaven-Splitting Demon Butterfly. Eating the flesh of such a powerful fierce bird would benefit it enormously. Perhaps it really would have a chance to cultivate the legendary ten heavenly grottoes.

It was a natural enemy of avian fierce beasts. Whether the other creature ate it or it ate the other creature, the benefits would be tremendous, potentially even triggering ancestral reversion in their bloodline, mutation, and greater strength.

Two more days passed!

By the time they reached the region containing their destination's teleportation passage, even the earth seemed stained red with blood. It was not just fresh blood, either. Since ancient times, every opening of the Hundred Broken Mountains Range had claimed countless lives here. The dark-red ground lay barren, lacking the vitality it should have possessed and utterly failing to live up to the rich natural essence in the area.

Angry shouts and the sounds of fighting rang out without pause. Too many geniuses from the various races had gathered here. Once intelligent beings crowded together, conflicts were inevitable.

As they drew closer, they could see the center of the region from afar. Clouds billowed amid radiant mists, white fog curled through the air, and wisps of divine radiance obscured everything within.

Two enormous stone mountains stood side by side, forming a doorway. Beyond them lay a vast expanse where white mist turned black, dancing like ribbons and shrouding the ruins within. Treasures occasionally flew up with sharp whistles through the air. It was like a demonic enchantress dancing lightly in a flowing black gown with wide sleeves, her smile beguiling, her charms endless, revealing glimpses of snow-white skin from time to time-a pure land that any man would want to explore more deeply.

Yet, with only that final step remaining, the many geniuses gathered beside the gateway were unwilling to be the first to pass through and steal a kiss.

"Golden-Winged Great Peng."

Xiao Tian immediately spotted the great golden bird standing at the very front of the standoff.

Facing it were a Suanni, a Pixiu, a Golden Howl, a Chi Dragon, an Earth-Traveling Dragon, and even a Silver Ant leading eleven Bronze Ants.

Of course, quite a few experts from the Human Race's leading powers had also arrived, including the Fire Kingdom group that Huo Ling'er belonged to.

Right, Xiao Tian suddenly remembered that he represented the Deer-Chasing Academy's group. Lately, the Seven Deer-Chasing Sons had been cultivating in seclusion inside his sleeve, occasionally coming out to freeload a meal. Their lives were filled with boundless joy.

Just then, another group arrived in the distance. Thud, thud, thud. The sound alone made it clear that someone enormous was coming.

Sure enough, the Silver-Blood Giant arrived, standing a full twenty meters tall. Xiao Tian's Da Wa Body sat on his shoulder.

There was also a Nine-Headed Lion. Its other eight heads had mostly recovered, restoring some of the imposing presence it had possessed when it first entered.

Then came the big red bird and the Tree Person, along with a Purple Marten acting as their guide. Mainly because it was small and had little meat on it, it had become the group's guide.

Just then, Xiao Tian's Seventh Brother's Clone stepped forward, setting his sights on a plant creature.

It had also only just arrived. In flight, it resembled a streak of sunset, shimmering with flowing colors as radiant mist scattered in every direction.

It was a large tree shaped like a dandelion, five meters tall and shorter than most trees in the Hundred Broken Mountains. Its branches resembled jadeite, so vividly green they seemed ready to drip. Its leaves were long and sharp like saw teeth, suffused with tender green halos. Most notably, at the center of its crown-or what could be called its head-grew a snow-white, furry sphere that emitted a crystalline glow, like a luminous jellyfish. The rosy lights drifting around it resembled tiny parachutes, or little white umbrellas. As it moved, some would occasionally break away and float in all directions like dancing snowflakes.

"Pu Demon Tree!"

Someone cried out in utter horror. Everyone hurried away, also dodging the crystalline white snowflakes fluttering through the air.

The drifting white fluff was like the Pu Demon Tree's offshoot clones, each one effectively a tiny Pu Demon Tree. Those who did not understand them called them cursed demon tendrils. Legend held that once they landed on any living being or lifeless object, they would immediately take root, absorb its essence, and grow rapidly until their host crumbled to ash.

In other words, this thing was almost impossible to kill. The fluff it shed as it passed would slowly grow into its true body after the original died. As its cultivation and strength recovered, its original memories would gradually awaken as well.

But just then, Xiao Tian's Seventh Brother's Clone stepped forward. He raised a gourd that looked carved from purple jade, pulled out the stopper, aimed it at the Pu Demon Tree, and shouted, "Absorb!"

In an instant, the gourd's mouth seemed to become a cosmic black hole, devouring all things. Wisps of purple qi transformed into chains of order that swept toward the Pu Demon Tree and the tiny tufts spreading around it.

Whoosh!

In a single instant, the vast white expanse of Pu Demon Tree fluff was sucked into the gourd and refined into divine essence.

The Pu Demon Tree paled in alarm. Its roots had been walking like feet, but the moment Xiao Tian's Seventh Brother's Clone attacked, they sank into the ground, drawing on the earth's essence to resist the gourd's devouring force.

The Pu Demon Tree unleashed its might. A brilliant sacred glow enveloped its entire body, as though an ancient Divine Spirit were awakening, striking awe into every heart.

It fought with all its strength against the innate divine ability of Xiao Tian's Seventh Brother's Clone. Its branches and leaves looked as though they had been cast from immortal tear green gold, vividly green and imbued with an innate resonance of the Dao. Its snow-white sphere radiated pure, holy light, like a full moon descending into the mortal world. Wisps of snowflake-like fluff danced wildly, forming a vast white blizzard that swept toward Xiao Tian's Seventh Brother's Clone.

Yet none of it could get close. The Seventh Brother's Clone and the Purple Gourd were naturally one, as though branded into the void. No matter how much fluff approached, it was ruthlessly devoured.

The Seventh Brother's Clone consumed the divine essence, growing stronger as he fought. A purple Dao pattern appeared between his brows. The next moment, a beam of purple divine light blasted the Pu Demon Tree's fluffy head, sending even more tufts flying, which he swept into the Purple Crystal Treasure Gourd.

Hum!

The Pu Demon Tree began fighting for its life. Bone text appeared across every part of its body, radiant light swayed throughout its crown, and brilliant, mysterious symbols formed a star that enveloped it.

Divine seeds filling the sky shone, branding themselves into the void and combining with various symbols to form a terrifying Demon Formation that resisted Xiao Tian's divine ability.

Its branches, leaves, and even roots glowed. Its entire body became as clear and crystalline as glass. Its leaves trembled with a rustling clatter, green light surged, and luminous mist rose into the sky. Its roots resembled hundreds upon hundreds of arms as they launched an attack on Xiao Tian.

At the same time, a charred black staff emerged among the Pu Demon Tree's branches, surrounded by the aura of the sun, moon, and stars. A gentle wave brought forth countless phantom images: a headless golden giant dripping blood, a Golden-Winged Great Peng with broken wings, and a human Divine Spirit with a hole through his chest, his body infested with countless Pu Demon Seeds and divine flame burning behind his head. Blurred visions surfaced one after another, along with a deathly silent land where the blood of all living beings had run dry and wronged souls wailed. Countless great tribes had been slaughtered, ancient kingdoms destroyed and reduced to dead lands in the Desolate Region. A demonic tree reaching into the heavens flickered in and out of view.

"My son, Pu Demon, I've come to help you!"

But just then, Xiao Tian's Da Wa Body struck. With a loud shout, he hurled his kitchen knife, cleaving the charred staff in two. Every strange vision vanished without a trace.

"Absorb!"

Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Tian's Seventh Brother's Clone raised the gourd high, utterly dismissive of the Pu Demon Tree's dying struggles. With his shout, the entire gourd unleashed boundless purple radiance, shining like a great purple Great Sun. The devouring force at its mouth surged. Whoosh, whoosh-clang, clang! It sounded like chains of order rattling.

The next moment, endless purple divine chains wrapped the Pu Demon Tree and the two halves of its charred staff into a tightly bound bundle. It struggled violently. "I... grass..." Its final words were dragged straight into the Treasure Gourd.

Whether or not it had left seeds on other people or animals, this body of its was doomed.

With that done, the Seventh Brother's Clone left at once. He needed somewhere to cultivate in seclusion. Refining the Pu Demon Tree would surely be worth three to five Pure-Blooded Fierce Beast cubs.

"Thanks, brother.

"Next time we meet, I'll repay this favor."

The Seventh Brother's Clone spoke as he left.

If they were putting on an act, they had to see it through.

"You're welcome. Anyone has the right to slay a Pu Demon Tree brat. It's a scourge that must be eliminated as early as possible."

Xiao Tian's Da Wa Body spoke calmly from the Silver-Blood Giant's shoulder.

From the whispers around him, he had already learned that a Pu Demon Tree had appeared once in ancient times. Many people had died before it was finally slain. No one had expected it to come back to life.

Xiao Tian, however, knew perfectly well that the one from the Immortal Ancient era had been even more terrifying. That had been an Immortal King.

(End of chapter)