Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 815: Metamorphosis

Three days later.

Qin Sang flew out of Quheng Island.

Weighing the jade token in his hand, he smiled faintly.

After receiving the spirit stones, the young cultivator led him to meet that so-called senior.

That senior turned out to be nothing more than an early-stage Core Formation cultivator, unable to see through his disguise.

The man’s eyes lit up at the sight of the spirit stones and he immediately agreed to Qin Sang’s request.

The position of steward was nothing like the young cultivator had made it sound. They were those who could intervene directly only managed a few weak and impoverished islands or thankless tasks such as patrolling.

The senior brought out several locations for him to choose from, and Qin Sang’s eyes immediately fell on a small island called Nandu Island.

The island had only one mortal city, with a single mountain suitable for building a cave dwelling, but its advantage was its close proximity to Liangqiu Island.

***

"Here we are!"

Arriving at Nandu Island, Qin Sang probed his surroundings and confirmed that the spiritual qi here was indeed thin, though still better than that of barren islands. In the vicinity of Quheng Island, any island with a spirit vein had long since been claimed.

Before long, he hovered above the sole city on the island. Looking past it to the mountain behind, his figure flickered as he entered the mountain.

A defensive spiritual array had been set up within the mountain. When activated, it could shield the entire city from storms.

The array covered only the mountain peak, which was wreathed in light mist. Sweeping it with his spiritual consciousness, Qin Sang sensed the presence of cultivators within. He poured his true essence into the jade token.

Buzz!

The token vibrated, the defensive array responded, and the cultivators inside, having noticed the disturbance, flew out of their cave dwellings to gather at the entrance of the array.

Only one of them was a middle-stage Foundation Building cultivator; the rest were at the Qi Refining Realm.

Seeing through them at a glance, Qin Sang handed over a jade slip and took the initiative to speak. "Greetings, fellow Daoists. My Dharma name is Ming Yue. I have been ordered to take up a position on Nandu Island. As this is my first time here, I hope you will look after me. Which of you is Daoist Master Ma Yu?"

The middle-stage Foundation Building cultivator, a square-faced middle-aged man, frowned at his words. His face dark, he took the jade slip, read it, and said stiffly, "I am Ma Yu. Since you were ordered here, what instructions do you have for us?"

Sensing unprovoked hostility, Qin Sang only smiled and replied with composure, "You overstate it, Daoist. I merely sought a quiet place to cultivate, but was sent here against my wishes. I have little say in the matter. I will leave the island’s affairs in your capable hands, and will cooperate fully should you require anything."

Hearing this, Ma Yu regarded him closely, his expression softening slightly. "In truth, there’s little business on the island. There happens to be an empty cave dwelling. Come with me."

Once Qin Sang made it clear he wished only to focus on cultivation, Ma Yu’s attitude warmed. Dismissing the others, they spoke as they walked.

"As I’m new here, are there any cultivators of extraordinary background nearby whom I should avoid offending?" Qin Sang asked in a probing tone.

Ma Yu pointed toward the southeast and lowered his voice. "The nearby islands are all inhabited by rogue cultivators like us, nothing to worry about, except for one place. About a hundred li from here is Liangqiu Island. It may be small, but it possesses a high-quality spirit vein, claimed by a senior surnamed Luo. This Senior Luo is both powerful and mysterious. Best not to disturb him, or you may invite disaster."

Qin Sang gazed into the distance, feigning surprise, and questioned Ma Yu further about the rumors.

Ma Yu assigned him a cave dwelling on the rear mountain.

After moving in, Qin Sang first took out some spirit stones and set up a spirit-gathering array, then summoned the Sky-Eyed Butterfly.

By now, the Sky-Eyed Butterfly was the size of his palm. The Sky Eyes on its wings looked more vivid, as if the eyes were about to open.

When it beat its wings, faint arcs of lightning flickered, showing signs of its lightning-controlling ability.

The lightning made its wings appear harder, almost metallic.

Earlier on the road, Qin Sang had sensed its unusual activity. Seeing it now, he confirmed it had reached the peak of its second metamorphosis and was ready to undergo metamorphosis.

If not for the five-year slumber brought on by its mutation, it would have metamorphosed before they entered Seven-Kill Hall.

Joy lit Qin Sang’s face. After playing with it for a while, he took out a jade bottle and poured a few drops of Crimson Fire Gilded Gold.

The Sky-Eyed Butterfly circled his palm excitedly, feasting on the treasure.

After feeding, it clung to his finger, drowsy but showing no sign of metamorphosis.

Knowing it could not advance as easily as the fat silkworm, Qin Sang, who had more than half a bottle remaining, was in no rush and fed it gradually.

He then settled into life on Nandu Island.

At night, he unfailingly drew down the cosmic orbit’s star power to temper his body. By day, he often went out to mingle with cultivators on nearby islands, quietly gathering information about Luo Daotong.

Every ten days, he fed the Sky-Eyed Butterfly again.

Unknowingly, half a year passed.

With constant feeding of the Crimson Fire Gilded Gold, the Sky-Eyed Butterfly finally showed signs of metamorphosis, and Qin Sang’s supply was nearly gone.

That day, after drinking the spiritual liquid, the Sky-Eyed Butterfly’s wings suddenly flared with dazzling lightning.

Quick to react, Qin Sang set up a screen.

The butterfly darted and spun in the air, arcs of lightning growing denser. The patterns on its wings began to writhe, and the "eyes" slowly cracked open.

Swish!

It returned to Qin Sang’s palm, trembling violently and letting out faint cries of pain.

The lightning was pounding against the eyes on its wings. The mutation had given it the benefit of lightning control, but also burdened it with this unforeseen danger at the moment of advancement.

Qin Sang realized this was the final step of its mutation. The earlier changes were only superficial; only by merging its innate supernatural ability with the lightning-control power could it truly become a lightning butterfly.

If it failed, it would likely perish, destroying decades of his effort.

Feeling its pain, Qin Sang grew anxious. Sitting cross-legged, he linked his mind to the butterfly’s, calming it while helping it through the ordeal. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Fortunately, as his life-bound gu, it survived the most perilous stage with his unreserved expenditure of true essence and blood. Its condition gradually stabilized.

With its wings folded, the Sky-Eyed Butterfly sank into sleep.

At last, the eyes opened fully, like true Sky Eyes capable of peering into one’s heart. The lightning arcs vanished, fusing entirely into the eyes, whose pupils turned silver, radiating even greater majesty.

Qin Sang could not guess what its final supernatural ability would be, but he was certain it would only grow stronger.

Sensing its aura, he found it had grown more affectionate toward him in the process.

It was an intimacy from the heart, not born of contractual binding.

The metamorphosis would complete in slumber, which would take some time.

Qin Sang returned it to his dantian and went about his affairs.