Chapter 13: All Beings Are But Worms Among the Myriad Spirits

"Great Dream Immortal Butterfly, existing beyond the bounds of logic, is a spirit whose fate cannot be fathomed. By harnessing your power, I naturally gain a chance to reverse the tides of destiny."

Ye Chen was somewhat astonished. So it was the Great Dream Immortal Butterfly? No, not quite yet—right now, it was only the Dream Butterfly.

"If you become the Great Dream Immortal Butterfly, your fate will be shrouded in uncertainty. But you have not fully transformed; as a Dream Butterfly, you're nothing remarkable. You need to go further."

Seeing Ye Chen's indifferent expression, Ning Peach Blossom knew he lacked motivation. Fortunately she was here to supervise; otherwise, she'd be infuriated.

"Don't be dismissive. This matters greatly not only to me, but to you as well. A fish leaping from the water can no longer return to its original stream. If it cannot soar as a roc and traverse the vast skies, it faces only certain death."

"A Dream Butterfly that breaks through the seven-day limit but fails to transcend and become the Great Dream Immortal Butterfly will end as dust and ash. This is the tribulation on your path of transformation."

Still incredulous, Ye Chen asked, "Is fate really so dull? If all beings become mere fish and shrimp, with fixed destinies, wouldn't that make the world a stagnant pond?"

"It's because this realm once fell into ruin and has only just begun to recover. The devastation was wrought by warring cultivators who tore the world asunder, leaving the laws incomplete."

Ning Peach Blossom sneered, "A lesson learned the hard way. Though Heaven lacks intelligence, it has its means of response."

"Afterwards, the rules became harsher for cultivators. In the mountains and forests, plants and beasts aspiring to become spirits must face their tribulations. All living beings who wish to escape their limits and steal Heaven’s longevity must endure thunderbolts from the sky. If they survive by chance, they can snatch a fragment of fortune and cling to life—for now. But that doesn't mean safety in the future."

"Tribulation accompanies them forever, ending only with death."

Ye Chen was stunned, finally glimpsing the tip of the iceberg of this vast realm. Although he’d gleaned some knowledge from the memories of the tribal people, much remained unknown.

"This realm once basked in dazzling glory, with cultivators roaming the world. But all was destroyed; the world decayed, oceans turned to dust. Now everything begins anew?"

Ye Chen murmured to himself, "It seems this is a wasteland. But it doesn't concern me much."

Recovering, Ye Chen smiled lightly, "That’s too far off for me. When my strength grows, I’ll find my own path. Why worry needlessly now?"

Despite the underlying worries, Ye Chen was not overly concerned. Ning Peach Blossom smiled at his reaction, unsurprised.

Of course—thinking his own power insignificant, he considered some matters too distant to pay attention to.

"Insufficient strength doesn’t mean safety. When Heaven’s wrath descends, big fish die first, but even the small fry have no path to survival."

"Anyone who steps onto the path of cultivation faces tribulation; none are exempt. If you grow careless, I’ll have to seek an escape early, jump ship fast—otherwise, when you die, and I’m left bloodied by your misfortune, it’ll be tragic."

Ye Chen was silent, then forced a smile. "The realm is ruined, and what little vitality has been gathered is hard-won. Born anew from ruin, with many restrictions, cultivators are treated harshly—I can understand that. But with so many beings, surely Heaven can't wipe them all out indiscriminately?"

"Why not wipe them out?" Ning Peach Blossom scoffed. "Are all these beings beneficial to Heaven and Earth? No, they’re parasites, gnawing at the foundations of the realm, seeking ascension to higher worlds. Cultivation consumes resources, then they abandon the mess and flee. If you were in charge, how would you feel?"

Ye Chen paused before answering in a low voice, "Naturally, I’d feel murderous."

"But only the mighty enjoy that privilege. Ascending to higher realms is not something you can do at will. For small fry like me, Heaven shouldn't be so harsh, right?"

Ye Chen still found it hard to believe. Even if targeted, surely it would be people like Ning Peach Blossom, not himself. He’d always been honest; Heaven should at least leave him some path to survive.

"Is it because I’m with Ning Peach Blossom that I’m being maliciously targeted?"

Ye Chen mulled it over—this seemed plausible, but he couldn’t ask directly. It wasn’t realistic to shake off Ning Peach Blossom; once aboard this ship, there was no turning back.

"My advice: grow strong quickly. You can’t avoid being targeted. Only by surpassing the tribulations that await can you survive; otherwise, your fate is sealed."

Some things, Ning Peach Blossom chose not to explain in detail. Ye Chen was still too weak; the more he knew, the greater his despair. This world harbored ill will toward all cultivators, and the pressure would be overwhelming. With his frail arms and legs, Ye Chen might break under the strain and give up entirely.

Ning Peach Blossom cared little for Ye Chen’s survival, but from him, she saw a new path. Though its end remained unseen, this path was unpredictable, the situation shifting constantly. The outcome might not be better, but it wouldn’t be worse than the fate she already knew.

Ye Chen sighed, gazing at the peach tree in the void realm, murmuring to himself, "Ning Peach Blossom’s words are likely true, though somewhat concealed—some things left unsaid."

"The approaching tribulation demands attention; I can’t afford to be careless. But if I find the right moment to pull out the nail Ning Peach Blossom left in the void realm, will my days improve?"

Ye Chen was ruthless enough to drive away the tiger and swallow the wolf, using Ning Peach Blossom to eliminate the hidden threat of the Spirit Bamboo. In the future, it made sense to betray Ning Peach Blossom if the opportunity arose.

It was just a transaction, after all; there was no true friendship. Ye Chen felt no guilt about such thoughts—only a sense of calm.

"Still, I must be cautious. Even if Ning Peach Blossom has been struck by lightning and hasn’t recovered, a dead camel is still bigger than a horse. I must act wisely."

"But that’s for the future; for now, it’s not worth worrying about."

Ye Chen spoke little more to Ning Peach Blossom, instead calming himself and examining the restoration progress of the broken talisman in his Mud Pill Palace.

The talisman, only the size of a thumb, gleamed with golden light, exuding a sacred aura. Unfortunately, it still bore alarming cracks and had not fully recovered.

"Spirit Bamboo is dead, and I’ve gathered all the incense and wishes. I should be able to take another step forward."

Ye Chen could hardly wait. Once the broken talisman was complete and transformed into a divine decree, he would become a deity—far more promising than being a mere totem.

Of course, this deityhood still relied on incense and wishes, and was restricted. If those vanished one day, he would be cast down like any other god. Yet there was good news: in this realm, only Ye Chen truly possessed divine inheritance.

The so-called totems were merely the first shoots of divinity, barely emerging. Thus, Ye Chen held a distinct advantage.