The third elder's heart sank.
While male illusion butterflies were harmless, the females were incredibly destructive.
These were fourth-tier spirit insects. The males had two pairs of large, black wings with striking sapphire blue bioluminescence, quite beautiful. From their larval stage, they fed on nectar.
However, the larvae of female butterflies were parasitic, often infesting the bodies of cultivators and certain demonic or spiritual beasts, feeding on their potent energy-rich blood. Once hatched, if their survival environment wasn't suitable, they would emerge from the ear canal, seeking nearby suitable hosts for re-parasitization.
Otherwise, lacking sufficient energy, they would perish quickly.
Once a female insect fully matured, it would secrete a paralyzing fluid and, seizing an opportune moment, break free from its host's body, forming a cocoon and transforming into a butterfly.
Whether cultivator or demonic beast, anyone tainted by this special secretion would suffer from gradual memory loss at best, and at worst, hallucinations leading to madness, before its eventual emergence.
Su Luo couldn't determine whether the insect eggs inside Jun Mu Bai were male or female for the time being.
But they absolutely could not be allowed to remain in his body.
“Third Grandpa, do you have a deworming prescription?” she asked urgently. “The eggs will hatch in three to five days at most.小白 needs to take deworming medicine immediately.”
“Those from the Demonic Sect are truly detestable, to prey on children!”
The third elder’s beard bristled with anger. After a while, he calmed down and said, “There should be. Let Grandpa think… These illusion butterflies aren't of high rank, and I know several deworming methods. Let’s try them on小白 first.”
Su Luo immediately returned to the third elder’s residence with him. She watched him prepare prescriptions and search for spiritual herbs. After several hours of busy work, he finally produced three deworming medicines.
She helped boil the medicine. Once ready, she brought it to Jun Mu Bai to drink.
Although Su Luo and the third elder said nothing explicitly, the intelligent Jun Mu Bai seemed to sense something. He didn’t ask why he had to drink so much medicine and obediently downed the dark, viscous liquid.
Each dose of medicine required time to take effect.
Su Luo stayed at Ping An Ju, waiting until Jun Mu Bai finished the last dose. After another hour, as dusk was settling, she checked him again. Finally, a joyous exclamation escaped her: “It’s done! You’re all right,小白!”
The Divine Eye Mirror showed no residual insect eggs within him. They had been completely dissolved by the deworming medicine.
Jun Mu Bai patted his belly, which was round like he had swallowed a small watermelon. “Fortunately, Senior Sister Luo Luo, if I drank any more, my stomach wouldn’t hold it. I don’t even need dinner tonight.”
The third elder breathed a sigh of relief. “小白, you only think about eating. It’s a great joy that you’re well again.”
Su Luo pinched Jun Mu Bai’s plump, soft cheek before telling him, “Since you’re okay, it’s fine to tell you now.小白, the Poison Toad King put illusion butterfly eggs inside you…”
After hearing Su Luo’s explanation, Jun Mu Bai finally understood.
“So that’s how it was. No wonder Sister Luo Luo made me drink so much medicine.”
He smiled sweetly. “Thank you, Senior Sister Luo Luo.”
Su Luo pinched Jun Mu Bai’s cheek again. “As long as you’re fine, I’m relieved.”
The third elder seemed to recall something and said sternly, “Indeed, this matter wasn’t as simple as it seemed. We overlooked it earlier and didn’t examine小白 thoroughly. This suggests that it’s not just小白; the other children who were abducted might also have had eggs planted within them.”
Su Luo nodded. “Yes, and Princess Rou’er…”
She had to go to the palace again to confirm if Princess Rou’er had any insect eggs inside her.
Su Luo hurried to find Chu Tian Shu and informed him of the situation. Chu Tian Shu was also greatly alarmed and took her to the palace that very night.
However, after a thorough examination, Princess Rou’er showed no signs of insect eggs.
“What’s going on?”
Both Su Luo and Chu Tian Shu were perplexed. Could the insect eggs have nothing to do with the Poison Toad King?
Since Princess Rou’er had no eggs, it meant that the other children might not necessarily have them either…
“I understand. This is all the Poison Toad King’s doing.”
Su Luo realized after a moment’s thought. “He planted eggs in some children and not in others. That way, even if we discovered it, we wouldn’t be able to ascertain the truth. If we warned others, and no eggs were found, those people wouldn’t believe us and would instead think we were meddling…”
This was the cunning stratagem of the Demonic Sect, a mix of truth and falsehood, making it impossible to guard against.
Furthermore, the third elder had examined小白 initially and found no illusion butterfly eggs. Others would be even less likely to discover them and wouldn’t believe them at all.
Su Luo and Chu Tian Shu returned to Qing Xu Tian and reported their findings and suspicions.
Li Tian Jue and the elders all agreed with their conjectures.
The Demonic Sect had always been devious. Although this incident had caused quite a stir, everything was within controllable limits. The Demonic Sect gained nothing; instead, they lost many of their personnel, especially with the death of the Poison Toad King, one of the Eight Envoys.
What was their true objective?
Could it be that even the Poison Toad King was manipulated, used as a pawn at the cost of his life?
“Forget it, why should we bother?”
Lu Ji Xing said irritably, “Thinking about the expressions on those people’s faces makes me sick. They shamelessly wanted to exchange the lives of our Senior Brother for the lives of their children. Since they are heartless, we don’t need to concern ourselves with them.”
The Grand Elder sighed. “Alas, it’s those children who are pitiable…”
At this moment, Su Luo said seriously, “Grandpa, there’s no need to worry about those children. Even if they have illusion butterfly eggs inside them, once they hatch, they won’t be the most endangered. Don’t forget, what do the larvae rely on to grow?”
The third elder slapped his thigh, suddenly realizing. “That’s right! The children’s blood certainly doesn’t contain as much energy as their elders’ blood. Even if they parasitize spirit pets, it’s better than staying inside young children…”
The others also understood.
Therefore, once the eggs hatched, they would definitely leave the children.
Either as male insects, to feed on nectar, or as female insects, to find new hosts, parasitizing their elders or nearby spirit pets…
Chu Tian Shu laughed heartily. “Excellent! Then we have even less to worry about. If someone suffers misfortune, it’s their just deserts.”
Perhaps in a short time, news would spread of some important figure losing their memory or going mad.
Serves them right!
Qing Xu Tian had no obligation to help further.
…
Finally, this matter was resolved. The only regret was that the truth behind Bai Qi’s poisoning years ago remained unclarified.
Qing Xu Tian gradually returned to its peaceful state.
With no shortage of resources for the time being, Su Luo and everyone else settled down and focused on their cultivation, as the four-year Tian Jiao Competition was fast approaching.
For the generous rewards for the top ten, and more importantly, for the reputation of Qing Xu Tian, everyone was striving diligently.
A month later, the Second Elder successfully refined a piece of equipment that could ward off petrification. It was a magical artifact shaped like an umbrella.
Due to the giants’ size, the Second Elder crafted the umbrella artifact to be exceptionally large, almost like a pavilion when opened. Its effective range was three zhang in all directions. As long as it was held overhead, it could block the petrification seal effect and could also be used as a weapon for offense.
When Su Luo, carrying the giant umbrella, blew the golden horn, she was instantly transported back to the Giant King’s Court.
“Quack! We’re back!” the little prince shouted.
Moments later, the Giant King’s Court resounded with cheers like the crashing of waves.
“Ura…”
“Yakso!”
“Walla xidi, yo ho!”
The Giant King, along with all the giants, stood in the plaza, giving Su Luo a unified welcome, cheering and looking forward expectantly.
Dear friend, you have finally returned!