Chapter 1278: The Mantis Catches a Cicada
One’s reputation was very important and even though the Puppet Masters disappeared from the Luniverse 18 years ago, the rural areas would have heard of this frightening t.i.tle.
Those who reared rebirth b.u.t.terflies were called b.u.t.terfly fanatics. This meant that they were free and unfettered by the outside world. They only cared about rearing b.u.t.terflies.
Rebirth b.u.t.terflies took 100 years to break out of their coc.o.o.n. But this did not mean that they did not need to take care of the b.u.t.terflies. The coc.o.o.n was as large as a palm and attached itself to a tree branch. Firstly, the tree could not die within these 100 years in order for the b.u.t.terfly to survive.
Furthermore, the rebirth b.u.t.terfly had many natural enemies. When it turned into a coc.o.o.n, many creatures who fed on insects would easily be able to break open the coc.o.o.n and eat it.
Some said that this was the reason why the rebirth b.u.t.terfly was willing to suck the blood of masters and serve humans. This was a symbiotic relations.h.i.+p. It needed humans to survive and provide blood to continue the family line.
It was natural for all creatures to multiply. Some creatures were even androgynous in order to continue their species. To a majority of creatures, producing descendants was their natural mission. Father toads carried their eggs on their backs. The eggs obtained nutrients from the father’s back.
Female mantises would eat male mantises. Baby mantises would eat their mothers.
Everything was done for continuity. It seemed very mysterious, but this was the order of nature.
Only humans were very strange. They would undergo ligation in order to stop reproducing…
There were also many methods to prevent reproduction…
Some people even abandoned their children…
Humans felt that other creatures were very strange, but on the flip side, if other creatures knew that humans did these things, they would think that it was very strange as well…
The b.u.t.terfly fanatic had lived in the mountains for the latter half of his life. Very few people knew that he was here. But he was not free from worries at least, Cloud Yi had found the son that he had placed outside many years ago.
His son was currently a soldier in the north. He had just returned to the palace to partic.i.p.ate in the Sword Hut selections. He had obtained the letter of recommendation from his army.
To Cloud Yi, the son of the b.u.t.terfly fanatic was not naturally talented or intelligent. He did not have a good background either. To outsiders, he was an ordinary child who had been raised by his mother, but had many resources which origins were unknown.
If it was said that the b.u.t.terfly fanatic did not take care of his son, Cloud Yi would not believe it.
Thus, when she spoke, the b.u.t.terfly fanatic panicked. This was his critical weakness. Since Cloud Yi was a Puppet Master, from their complex struggle in the Luniverse, she was not speaking nonsense without any evidence.
Cloud Yi smiled and said, “You don’t have to worry. I am not here to threaten you. I want both of us to benefit. The rebirth b.u.t.terfly has not appeared among humans for over 100 years. I believe that they can be used now. If you give me the rebirth b.u.t.terfly, I will give your son three magical weapons to protect himself. Even if he fights in the Sword Hut selections, no one will be able to injure him.”
The b.u.t.terfly fanatic slowly calmed down. He suddenly said, “That is not enough!”
Cloud Yi laughed. She said to Tiger Zhi, “He is truly free and unfettered after becoming a b.u.t.terfly fanatic, but he is just a businessman.”
Tiger Zhi smiled. “We will let the Sword Hut know that as long as your son pa.s.ses the first round, he will enter the Sword Hut. Other than the senior disciple of the Sword Hut, no one will know that we have anything to do with him.”
The b.u.t.terfly fanatic was overjoyed. This was what he wanted!
Although he knew that the Puppet Masters were wanted fugitives after being chased away by the new king, the b.u.t.terfly fanatic did not care. All he wanted was for his son to become a disciple of the Sword Hut!
But at this moment, someone suddenly emerged from a void and appeared behind the b.u.t.terfly fanatic. The person was about to press their palm on the back of the b.u.t.terfly fanatic!
Cloud Yi and Tiger Zhi had always been on the alert against this person. They knew that someone was already here, but did not see anyone in the courtyard.
Thus, while they were discussing the deal, Cloud Yi and Tiger Zhi did not let their guard down.
But when they were about to help the b.u.t.terfly fanatic, two more people appeared from the void and attacked. This shocked Cloud Yi and Tiger Zhi as this time, three people had come. Furthermore, they recognized these people. They were the three people who had tried to chase and kill them!
The mastermind had predicted that they would be unable to find the older brother of the Puppet Masters and would eventually come here. They also knew the Puppet Masters would use the rebirth b.u.t.terfly to try and find him. Thus, they had come here as well.
But he was far more ambitious. He wanted to kill both Tiger Zhi and Cloud Yi!
In this chaos, Cloud Yi’s expression remained calm, but she was not worried about herself. She was worried about the b.u.t.terfly fanatic.
They had obtained the rebirth b.u.t.terfly but they might not be able to save the b.u.t.terfly fanatic!
But in a flash, a bright sword appeared from behind the b.u.t.terfly fanatic. The light from the sword was like a sudden snowstorm. It was splendid and cold!
At this moment, Cloud Yi could only see the two words on the sword. Xin Ting!
The mantis catches a cicada, but a finch lurks behind. Who exactly was the mantis and the finch? They did not know!
The uninvited guest Cloud Yi and the rest had sensed was probably these three spirits. But everyone did not expect Cao Qingci to be hiding here as well. They did not even know when Cao Qingci had been hiding here, or how long she had been waiting for, just to deliver this decisive blow.
Cloud Yi definitely knew that Nie Ting had given Cao Qingci the Xin Ting sword. Back then, she was still on Earth. But she did not know why Cao Qingci would appear here.
Suddenly, Cloud Yi thought of a possibility. She grew excited!
Cao Qingci had completed the heavenly punishment and had stepped into the master realm.
The attack with the Xin Ting sword took everyone by surprise. It was as if the heavenly punishment had appeared, slas.h.i.+ng the unprepared spirit into half! She had waited for many days and saved up this attack for now. Even if she was a master, she did not intend on returning alive.
Cao Qingci had learned this from Nie Ting. This was the reason why Cao Qingci wanted Nie Ting as her teacher. She felt that Nie Ting had many outstanding characteristics.
People often felt that Cao Qingci was very lucky to inherit knowledge from Nie Ting. But they did not know that not everybody could become Cao Qingci’s teacher.
Cao Qingci had learned from a natural a.s.sa.s.sin. She had come to kill people. She had come to kill countless people!
The spirit disappeared from the world like black smoke. Cloud Yi and Tiger Zhi could finally heave a sigh of relief. They had to obtain the rebirth b.u.t.terfly. The b.u.t.terfly fanatic would not keep the fully grown rebirth b.u.t.terflies with him, other than to protect himself.
Two iron-clad puppets suddenly appeared in front of them. They crashed into the spirits in front of them.
But at that moment, Cloud Yi suddenly realized that the spirit in front of her had taken on the appearance of Older Brother. But when Cloud Yi saw this, she was furious. “What a scam.”
Tiger Zhi then realized that the two spirits before him had taken on the appearance of Older Brother. The spirits wanted to deliberately play with them and changed their appearance. If they killed the spirits, it would be like killing Older Brother with their own hands.
But Cloud Yi and Tiger Zhi were not weak people. The mastermind had underestimated their strength!