Longevity through Upgrading Buildings Chapter 752 - 318: The Strange Insect "Immortal Elixir"! [2-in-1 for Monthly Ticket]

Now... naturally, it’s time to benefit me!

Ji Yuan suddenly raised his hand, and the water-blue spiritual light tore through the array, causing the insect egg supported by the jade plate to be ripped apart from the inside out at a visible speed.

Meanwhile, Ji Yuan kept sealing with both hands while chanting words.

Seeing that this insect egg was about to be completely torn open, Ji Yuan brought his right index finger and middle finger together and pointed toward the insect egg from afar.

Immediately, runes appeared beneath the insect egg, and the egg ceased its movement.

A drop of fresh blood flew out of Ji Yuan’s hand, fell above the runes, and was drawn by the runes to transform into strands of blood qi, merging into the insect egg.

Ji Yuan could then feel a slight connection between him and the insect egg.

To be precise, it was with the larva inside the insect egg.

"Crack—"

A slender white larva, only as thick as a chopstick, crawled out and bent its back, moving around the jade plate.

After circling a few times, it returned to the side of the insect egg and began gnawing at the remnants of the shell.

With each bite, its aura grew slightly stronger.

Once it finished the remnants, it hopped lightly onto Ji Yuan’s shoulder.

...Well, Ji Yuan was still somewhat uncomfortable.

If this were truly a dream butterfly resting on his shoulder, he would feel it as a kind of enjoyment.

But this dream butterfly larva, um, was just somewhat ugly.

"Fortunately, the cultivation method for the dream butterfly was detailedly recorded by the Hundred Insects Old Immortal, and he left plenty of nurturing resources. Given time, it can transform into a butterfly, and once born, it would be a great help in battle."

Subsequently, Ji Yuan prepared some "feed" for the dream butterfly, allowing it to slowly consume, and he turned to another cave.

Inside this cave were several soil mounds, and the moment Ji Yuan entered, numerous shadows crawled into these mounds.

Some slower ones hadn’t entered yet.

These were black ants the size of fingertips, with a few possessing wings, and sporadic fiery patterns flickered on their bodies.

The famous mystical insect of the Hundred Insects Old Immortal—the Fiery Marching Ants.

The ones he had recognized as his master all died with him, and the remaining ones hadn’t grown up yet.

Ji Yuan hesitated about whether to accept these Fiery Marching Ants.

Truthfully, accepting them would add another tactic... but it seemed somewhat dispensable.

For in the previous battle, the marching ants were no match for the Spirit-Devouring Bees, and nurturing them would consume a lot of effort and resources.

Even among the rankings of mystical insects.

The Spirit-Devouring Bee is ranked 48th, while the Fiery Marching Ants are ranked 59th.

Not very useful.

After some thought, Ji Yuan decided to give them up.

Because the mystical insects left by the Hundred Insects Old Immortal still had a more dominant one, which he hadn’t managed to nurture.

After emerging from the cave, Ji Yuan arrived at the entrance of another cave deep within.

This cave was previously isolated by a small array, and Hu Li’s description stated that the Hundred Insects Old Immortal never allowed him to approach this cave.

Once, when he accidentally approached, he almost got killed.

Ji Yuan was naturally curious, so he broke the array on the spot, went in for a look, then retreated and reinforced the array, warning Hu Li not to approach or he would be killed as well.

Poor Hu Li, what could he say?

He could only say, "Yes, senior."

Now, Ji Yuan stood in front of the cave again, broke the array, and entered.

The interior of the cave was very simple, featuring merely a square stone table placed in the center.

On top of the table lay a specially crafted blood-colored coffin, not large, approximately the length of a person’s forearm.

And lying inside the coffin was that mystical insect.

At first glance, Ji Yuan could hardly believe it.

Yet later, when he found similar items and records in the Hundred Insects Old Immortal’s storage bag, he confirmed that lying inside the coffin was this shriveled mystical insect resembling a mayfly.

It was ranked fourth in the mystical insect rankings, known as the "Elixir of Immortality"—the Winter Insect.

What is a "Winter Insect."

Born and died in winter, unseen in spring nor summer, called the Winter Insect.

Of course, that’s the longstanding explanation within the cultivation realm.

As for why it’s called the "Elixir of Immortality," it’s because this mystical insect has the simplest function.

Seize lifespan to eternal life, live anew.

If a cultivator reaches their life limit and consumes this Winter Insect, they’d rejuvenate to their childhood, carrying all their memories to live anew.

Although they would be without spiritual power cultivation, they retained all the experience, cultivation techniques, and more from their prior existence.

Starting life anew, they were certainly capable of reaching greater heights and venturing further.

Even if they couldn't achieve extraordinary feats, the mere prospect of a second chance at life held an allure surpassing ordinary opportunities.

However, as indicated by the mystical insect rankings, the Winter Insect could, at most, grant a Void Refining cultivator a new lease on life.

Should a cultivator reach the Body Integration Realm, where they would comprehend the power of heaven and earth and master divine abilities, even the consumption of a 'Winter Insect' would yield no miraculous outcome.

Nevertheless, even if its benefit was restricted to Void Refining cultivators, it was substantial enough to astound innumerable cultivators.

The stages of cultivation are: Qi Cultivation, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divinity Transformation, leading up to Void Refining.

Void Refining cultivators could attain a lifespan of five thousand years.

Ingesting a single Winter Insect was akin to adding five thousand years to one's lifespan; who could resist such a temptation?

Ji Yuan found himself increasingly drawn to this possibility.