This time, Dian Dian didn't need to explain much. Yun Xi instantly realized it was all a trap. What surprised her, though, was that this Flying Mist Butterfly was a third-rank beast, equivalent to a human Golden Core cultivator. How had it ended up in the outer valley?
That thought prompted her to ask directly:
"Dian Dian, how did it end up in the outer valley? It couldn't even put up a fight?"
In Yun Xi's understanding, spirit beasts in the cultivation world were notoriously territorial. They rarely gave up their lairs so easily.
Dian Dian twitched his little whiskers and replied,
"The Flying Mist Butterfly did resist. But those bad people used something filthy to taint its wings. It nearly got caught. It had no choice but to abandon its eggs and flee the inner valley, hiding among the other butterflies to wait for a chance."
"And that chance… was me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"It says you can restrain those bad people."
Yun Xi gave a knowing smile. With her thunder spiritual root, she was a natural bane to evil cultivators. She hadn't expected this little creature to be so perceptive.
She continued asking,
"What do I get in return for helping it?"
Dian Dian turned back and communicated with the butterfly for a moment before answering,
"Master, it says as long as you can drive the bad people away, it will give you ten of its eggs as a thank-you gift."
"Ten? That's too few. I want twenty."
Yun Xi bargained without hesitation.
After a round of friendly negotiation, they settled on fifteen third-rank Flying Mist Butterfly eggs. As for the lower-rank ones, Yun Xi could take as many as she liked—there would be no restrictions.
Once the deal was made, both sides formed a Heaven and Earth Contract. Only then did Yun Xi withdraw her Mystic Frost Needles. The third-rank Flying Mist Butterfly then perched on her hair bun, posing as a multicolored hair ornament. It blended in perfectly.
With guidance from the butterfly, its former territory's rightful owner, Yun Xi entered the inner valley smoothly. Along the way, she also harvested some third-rank Die Lian Hua, a flower beloved by Flying Mist Butterflies.
She sealed the blooming flowers in a jade box and pretended to cautiously explore further in. But with her divine sense fully extended, she had already sidestepped two groups of cultivators attempting to stage a "coincidental encounter." This made those hiding in the shadows increasingly anxious.
The Flying Mist Butterfly was growing impatient too, constantly urging Dian Dian, who served dutifully as a messenger while also trying to soothe the butterfly's restlessness.
Truthfully, Yun Xi didn't hold much hope for recovering the eggs. After all, once evil cultivators had laid eyes on them, it wasn't hard to imagine how they would exploit the butterflies.
Even though she had signed the Heaven and Earth Contract, her true goal had always been the third-rank Flying Mist Butterfly itself. If there was a better option, why should she personally hatch the eggs?
Once Yun Xi had nearly exhausted the resources in the inner valley, she no longer bothered avoiding the "chance encounters."
The group that approached consisted of three people: two men and one woman. They looked disheveled. The only female cultivator was carrying an unconscious, injured man on her back, while the other man stayed close, protecting the two as they hurried in Yun Xi's direction.
Their divine senses brushed past one another, then swiftly retreated. Both sides had become aware of the other's presence.
Yun Xi stretched out her hand and summoned the Seven Stars Soul-Shattering Staff. The other side gripped their sword tightly. The man spoke first,
"Daoyou, we're just trying to leave the valley. Please don't block our path."
Yun Xi gave the three a quick glance before responding,
"Daoyou, I don't intend to stop you. I only want to ask—are there any third-rank Flying Mist Butterfly eggs in this valley?"
Upon confirming Yun Xi was alone, the man clearly relaxed. He didn't hide anything and replied,
"There are indeed butterfly eggs in the valley. We managed to snatch three from the jaws of death. But as we left the canyon, another group ambushed us.
They had the numbers and strength to steal our eggs and tried to silence us too. We fought back desperately. One of my companions was gravely wounded so we could escape. We had no choice but to withdraw from the inner valley."
Yun Xi frowned slightly and asked,
"How many of them? What level are they?"
The man responded right away,
"There are four. Three are at mid-Foundation Establishment, one at late-Foundation Establishment. It was that one who injured my companion."
Yun Xi didn't ask further, but the female cultivator suddenly spoke,
"Daoyou, if you go into that canyon alone, you're not coming back. Don't be reckless."
"I understand. But I doubt they're the only ones in the inner valley. I can try to find a few more people to form a team. After all, everyone's goal is the same."
The man and woman exchanged glances, then the woman said,
"Daoyou, if you're willing, we'd like to team up with you. Besides recovering the butterfly eggs, we also want to seek justice for our friend."
Yun Xi looked at the trio with clear disdain and said,
"If it's four against four, that's workable. But one of you is seriously injured. How do you expect to form a team? Don't tell me you want me to be the cannon fodder?"
The female cultivator kept her expression calm and replied,
"We've been in the inner valley for a few days and found a safe place where we can rest and heal. Once my companion recovers, we can go together to the place where the butterfly eggs are.
You look like you've just entered the inner valley. The eggs are in a hidden spot. If you team up with us, you'll save a lot of time. We can even promise to let you have an extra egg when we divide the spoils."
Yun Xi pretended to think it over, then said,
"Fine. Since you're so sincere, I'll join you for now. Lead the way. In any case, we'll have to wait until your companion recovers before we act."
"Alright. Follow me."
With that, Yun Xi followed behind the three toward their so-called safe location.
Only then did Dian Dian speak through voice transmission,
"Master, they carry that same foul scent. You still want to team up with them?"
"Of course. They're the ones who came begging. I have to play along if I want to get paid."
"They faked those injuries just to lure you in."
Dian Dian caught on quickly.
"Exactly. If it had just been me against three, I would've kept my distance. I wouldn't have teamed up with them."
"Don't worry, Master. The Flying Mist Butterfly said it will keep an eye on them. If anything happens, you'll be warned in time. I'll be watching too."
"Good. Let's see what they're really up to."
Half an hour later, the trio stopped before a cliff wall. The male cultivator formed a hand seal, and an entrance appeared in the stone.
"This is the place."
He took the lead and stepped inside.
After Yun Xi entered, she gave the area a quick scan. It was a man-made cave. Embedded in the walls were three fist-sized luminous pearls, likely placed in advance for convenience.
The previously unconscious man had now woken up. After taking a healing pill, he began meditating to recover. The other two each took a pill to replenish their spiritual energy.
Yun Xi sat near the entrance, signaling her wariness toward the group.
The female cultivator was the first to open her eyes from meditation. She gave Yun Xi a faint smile and said,
"Daoyou, may I ask how I should address you?"
"My surname is Wei."
Just as Yun Xi spoke, the female cultivator crushed a pill and swept the resulting powder toward her with a flick of her sleeve.