May 1st morning.
Hu Yao carefully checked all her savings and went out early, scooping a handful of water from a nearby stream to drink.
"Today is the gathering, and I don't know when that mysterious senior will arrive."
"It would be such a pity if I missed it."
She looked around and saw no one nearby.
Finding a secluded path, she hurried towards the depths of the forest.
In the depths of the dense woods, she found a large tree, climbed up, and chased the squirrels out of the hollow, grabbing their stored pine cones and dried fruits to eat.
Feeling full, she lay deep in the tree hollow, donning the bronze ghost mask.
When her consciousness appeared on the Cloud Platform, the strong scholar was already leisurely fanning himself with a folding fan opposite her.
Murong Lang, upon seeing Hu Yao appear, said before she could even ask, "I have been waiting here since last night."
Hu Yao asked, "Has your Thunder Butterfly also successfully transformed?"
Murong Lang nodded.
"Just by feeding it for ten days, my Thunder Butterfly successfully molted and upgraded to the Fourth Transformation."
"Looking at you, your Power Bug must have transformed into a butterfly."
Hu Yao spread her hand, revealing a red moth, bright as flames, gently emerging and stretching its wings between her fingers.
After Hu Yao's Power Bug transformed, it looked more like a moth.
Hu Yao nervously asked, "Is everything that Senior Taichu said true?"
Murong Lang pondered for a moment and replied, "Able to see through the existence of Bug so clearly, he would not deceive us on such trifles."
"Just like a soaring eagle in the sky has no need to deceive an ant."
Hu Yao exclaimed, "Who exactly is that senior?"
Murong Lang shook his head, "I don't know. I've looked through many records, and there's no mention of the name Taichu."
"What I can be certain of, is that he must be from a distant era, an existence almost at Dao, or even an Immortal."
"I advise you not to inquire about this senior's identity."
"It is very likely that a new game has already started."
Hu Yao's body trembled, a game?
A game of chess played by the Immortals in the high heavens with all beings as chess pieces?
Murong Lang continued, "You should understand, by reappearing here, we have already become part of this place."
"You have already made your choice."
Hu Yao nodded slowly, the guidance that could directly promote and transform Bugs was a gift she could not refuse.
Even if it meant being a pawn of Taichu.
The two fell silent for a moment, and after a while, Hu Yao said, "I wonder what Senior Taichu is doing, and when he will arrive."
Murong Lang was not very concerned, sitting quietly, "I can wait here for a day."
...
Meanwhile, Chen Qing was busily flipping eggs, turning one over to start frying the other side.
"Breakfast should definitely include an egg for full nutrition."
Beside the frying egg, Chen Qing placed two strips of bacon, sizzling and fragrantly appealing.
With two steamed buns and a half of raw cabbage, Chen Qing ate his fill before heading out to work.
As the sun was setting, Chen Qing collected eight low-grade Spirit Stones and returned to his cave dwelling, casually eating some food, then picking up the "Bug Promotion Hundred Solutions" to browse through.
As night fell, the chirping crickets outside ceased abruptly with a croak of a frog.
Chen Qing dug out the buried bronze ghost mask, unfolded a black cloth, set it up beside his bed, and prepared to put on the bronze ghost mask.
Wearing the bronze ghost mask, Chen Qing's consciousness appeared once again on a seat on the Cloud Platform, his gaze through the mist on the mask scanning the others. He noticed that the previous two were already sitting in their earlier positions.
Chen Qing's manifestation here was cloaked in a black mantle, raising his right hand to rest on the table, his index finger starting to tap.
"Good evening."
Hu Yao hurriedly responded, "Senior Taichu, good evening."
Murong Lang bowed and saluted, "Respected Senior Taichu, welcome back to the gathering."
Hu Yao glanced awkwardly at Murong Lang, indeed father was right, scholars are adept deceivers!
This guy is actually quite polite!
She carefully looked at Chen Qing and found that there was no change in him, which made her feel relieved.
Murong Lang said, "It's a pity that the seat for the mask is fixed, otherwise you should be sitting at the head of the table."
Chen Qing naturally shook his head, "No need, I quite like this feeling of everyone facing each other, it reminds me of the past."
He did not ask Murong Lang and Hu Yao if their Bugs had been promoted, as if he already knew for sure they would be.
Hu Yao no longer hesitated and displayed her Bug, "I am fortunate to have received guidance from you, my Power Bug has already transformed into a Butterfly."
Chen Qing looked at the red moth:
[Mortal Power Butterfly]
Quality: First Transformation
Life Span: 24/110
Effect: The strength of nine bulls and two tigers
Trait: Tiger-shaped, gains double strength for ten breaths
Growth Requirements: Foundation Establishment from tiger demon teeth
Growth Progress: 0/100 (pending promotion)
Promotion Requirements: Cannot be promoted
It seems that mortal Bugs can only transform once, this is already their ultimate growth.
The ability gained after the Power Bug's transformation is also extraordinary, it actually has an effect of a burst of power.
Combat is not like farming, battles could be determined in a single breath.
These ten breaths could be a matter of life and death.
Murong Lang also displayed his promoted Thunder Butterfly, "Senior, my Thunder Butterfly has also successfully transformed."
[Mortal Thunder Butterfly]
Quality: Fourth Transformation
Life Span: 56/140
Effect: Calls lightning, transforms Spiritual Energy into thunder and lightning. Able to cast Palm Thunder.
[Trait]: Thunder control, partial immunity to lightning, partial control over thunder and lightning
Growth Requirements: Thunder Cloud Mother Qi
Growth Progress: 0/100
Promotion Requirements: Cannot be promoted further
Another ability has been added, capable of casting Palm Thunder.
I wonder what this Palm Thunder is and how it is used.
He sat upright in his own seat, "I've said, it was a gift."
Undoubtedly.
Murong Lang remained silent, not starting any topics, waiting for Hu Yao to ask.
Hu Yao did not disappoint his expectations, "Senior Taichu, I wonder if we could still receive your guidance in the future?"
Chen Qing thought this girl doesn't learn well, just thinking about freeloaders.
"Such causality is not something you can bear now."
Murong Lang seemed somewhat disappointed, "Is it a price we cannot afford?"
Once they received guidance from this senior, they would inevitably be entangled in his causality.
The causality of this senior, even a sliver of it, is probably too much for them to bear.
Indeed, having already received a gift, it was already a fortunate encounter; how is it possible to have such fortune every month, let alone twice?
Chen Qing saw that these two were engrossed in his guidance, yet still clueless, and made a comment to himself, "Everything that flees must have its destination."
Hu Yao said, "Does Senior Taichu mean that by promoting our Bugs like this, we actually skip some processes, but these saved Spirit Stones need a destination?"
Murong Lang said, "I understand, Senior is suggesting that we make an exchange; you guide us, and we provide..."
He did not finish his sentence, what could they possibly offer?
For someone like this senior, coming from ancient or even more ancient times, what could he possibly value from them?
Chen Qing remained silent, watching them talk without saying a word.
Seeing they were still clueless, he continued, "Spirit Stones are a bridge between the immortals and this world."