Chapter 58: Catherine


    At this moment, Han Ming''s mind was filled with countless questions. Firstly, he hadn''t expected Catherine to still be by his side. Secondly, what exactly was the "Destruction Butterfly" that Catherine mentioned, and why was it so terrifying? However, he didn''t press for answers. Since Catherine had chosen to reveal herself, it meant she would eventually explain everything. So, he patiently waited for her to continue.


    "The Destruction Butterfly is an extremely rare creature from the demon realm. Even within the demon realm, it is considered one of the most terrifying beings. It survives solely by feeding on the life force of other creatures. Without sufficient life force, it cannot evolve. The fully matured form of the Destruction Butterfly is a seven-colored butterfly. As for the true power of its fully matured form, no one has ever witnessed it. The one you saw was merely a three-colored larva."


    Catherine began by explaining the origin and nature of the Destruction Butterfly.


    Her words left Han Ming utterly shocked. If the larva alone possessed such terrifying power, how monstrous would the fully matured form be? Han Ming hadn''t directly encountered the Destruction Butterfly, but he knew with absolute certainty that, given his current strength, if the butterfly were to touch him, the outcome would be simple: death. When the butterfly appeared before him, an overwhelming sense of fear gripped him, and he felt completely powerless to resist. His instincts screamed at him to flee, or else he would die.


    "Even so, the three-colored Destruction Butterfly you saw today didn''t even exert half of its usual strength. I believe you noticed and guessed that it is currently severely injured. It is now frantically consuming the life force of others, likely because it is preparing to lay eggs prematurely. Once the Destruction Butterfly lays its eggs, it will die immediately."


    "Lay eggs!?" Han Ming''s heart raced with excitement as he listened to Catherine''s explanation. A thought began to form in his mind, one that thrilled him. If he could obtain the eggs of the Destruction Butterfly and successfully hatch them, perhaps...


    Catherine gave Han Ming a deep look and said, "I know what you''re thinking, but the survival rate of Destruction Butterfly eggs is extremely low. I''ve never heard of anyone successfully hatching them, as it requires an enormous amount of life force to sustain them. Typically, after a female Destruction Butterfly lays her eggs and dies, the task of incubating the eggs falls to the male. The male absorbs vast amounts of life force and injects it into the eggs to facilitate their hatching. However, firstly, Destruction Butterflies are incredibly rare, and it''s difficult for a pair to come together. The one we saw today was clearly alone, which is why you''re still alive. Secondly, even if you somehow managed to hatch the eggs, there''s no guarantee you could tame them."


    Han Ming felt a pang of disappointment upon hearing Catherine''s explanation. He had no ability to absorb the life force of others, let alone inject it into the eggs.


    By now, Blackstone City was in an uproar. Even from such a distance, Han Ming could see the flames lighting up the sky and hear the cacophony of voices. People were fleeing their homes in droves, desperately trying to escape the city. Some, unaware of the truth, curiously headed toward the commotion, eager to see what was happening.


    Even some powerful experts, believing that a high-level magical beast had appeared, were intent on hunting down the Destruction Butterfly.


    Having witnessed the butterfly''s terror up close, Han Ming couldn''t help but feel pity for those naive individuals. They were doomed to perish.


    More and more people in Blackstone City were waking up to the chaos, and now nearly half the city was engulfed in panic and disorder, as if the world were ending.


    Catherine glanced into the distance and continued, "Regardless of whether you can successfully hatch the Destruction Butterfly''s eggs, it''s worth a try. It won''t harm you. As for the ice-attribute beast you''re seeking, I''ve already investigated. It''s an adult Profound Sky Ice Silkworm, and it''s currently on the brink of death. Its body likely contains what you need." Catherine didn''t hide the fact that she knew Han Ming''s intentions and laid them bare.


    Her words reignited a spark of hope in Han Ming, and he eagerly asked, "Can I tame the Profound Sky Ice Silkworm?"


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    Catherine shook her head and sighed, "Even though it''s severely injured by the Destruction Butterfly, with your current strength, there''s no way you can tame it. Regardless of how badly it''s injured, even if it were dead, you couldn''t touch its body without being frozen into a crystalline statue. Moreover, while the Profound Sky Ice Silkworm is heavily injured, it''s not fatal. In a few years, it will likely recover fully."


    "So, I can only watch as my prey slips away, unable to do anything?" Han Ming was furious. He couldn''t hatch the Destruction Butterfly''s eggs, and he couldn''t touch the heavily injured Profound Sky Ice Silkworm. It felt like watching a cooked duck fly away right before his eyes.


    Today, Catherine seemed preoccupied, her expression heavy with worry, and she was speaking more than usual.


    "The Profound Sky Ice Silkworm was probably driven out of the Frozen Wasteland by the Destruction Butterfly, which is why it ended up at the edge of the Primordial Forest. Judging by its current direction, it''s likely heading back to the Frozen Wasteland. However, you don''t need to worry too much. When I examined it, I secretly cast a wood-attribute tracking spell on it. For a typical high-level magical beast, this tracking mark would last about ten years. But the Profound Sky Ice Silkworm''s innate cold energy is too powerful, so the mark will probably only last a year before dissipating. Later, I''ll teach you how to use the tracking mark to locate it. For now, you don''t need to worry, and you don''t have to fear it being captured by someone else, as no one on this continent has the strength to do so."


    Han Ming hung his head dejectedly and sighed, "Even if I can track it, what good will it do? If I can''t handle it in its current weakened state, I''ll have even less hope once it recovers in a year. What''s the point of finding its hiding place?"


    Catherine hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a slightly yellowed piece of parchment and handed it to Han Ming.


    Han Ming took it, puzzled, but as soon as he looked at it, his eyes lit up with excitement, and his heart nearly leaped out of his chest.


    "A method to hunt the Profound Sky Ice Silkworm!"


    Catherine nodded slightly and then tossed Han Ming a small, black object.


    Han Ming quickly caught it and examined it. It was a small wooden ring. The ring exuded an ancient, weathered aura, and its surface was carved with intricate patterns that Han Ming couldn''t recognize. Despite its unassuming appearance, the ring felt heavy in his hand.


    "This is a Dwelling Ring. Only we elves possess such an item. It''s crafted from the bark of a mature World Tree. Even among our kind, there are very few left. Since the World Tree vanished from this world, the method of forging these rings has been lost. It doesn''t possess any formidable offensive or defensive capabilities, but it allows a high-level wood-attribute mage to reside within it. For the next period of time, I will be entering this ring, and you must keep it safe. If I emerge from the ring and find that it''s not with you, I will hunt you to the ends of the earth and tear you to pieces."


    Catherine''s expression darkened as she spoke.


    "Uh..." Han Ming was momentarily stunned, his curiosity piqued. What was Catherine playing at? First, she gave him a method to hunt the Profound Sky Ice Silkworm, and now she was threatening him.


    "But why do you need to enter the ring? And why must I wear it?"


    Catherine''s face remained stern as she explained, "My injuries haven''t fully healed, but recently I''ve sensed that I''m on the verge of a breakthrough. This will be a very long process—perhaps a year, perhaps ten. Only then will I emerge from the ring. Moreover, the ring must be worn by someone. If it''s separated from a living body, the person residing within will be expelled. Right now, I don''t have any other suitable candidates. Do you understand?"


    Han Ming slowly nodded, finally understanding why Catherine had suddenly become so generous, revealing secrets about the Profound Sky Ice Silkworm and the Destruction Butterfly, and even giving him a method to hunt the silkworm. It turned out she needed his help. No wonder...


    But... a breakthrough? What level was Catherine at now? And what level would she reach after her breakthrough? Han Ming was intensely curious, but he wasn''t foolish enough to ask. Catherine had always been tight-lipped about her strength, and Han Ming had never dared to pry. In his eyes, Catherine was somewhat unpredictable—sometimes gentle, sometimes icy. He had no desire to provoke her, lest she suddenly snap and end him. That would be a loss he couldn''t afford.


    Since she had given him benefits, he would comply. It was only fair to help someone who had helped him.


    By now, Blackstone City was in complete chaos. Countless bursts of magical energy and combat aura shot into the sky as people desperately fought back, unwilling to die. But Han Ming knew better. The Destruction Butterfly was elusive, constantly teleporting. Who could possibly hit it? And even if someone did, it was unlikely to cause any real damage.


    The Destruction Butterfly seemed to be entering the final stages of laying its eggs. Its speed in hunting humans had reached an unbelievable level. Although most of the city''s inhabitants had fled, tens of thousands remained, and now nearly all of them were dead.


    Han Ming, however, wasn''t worried. He was on the opposite side of Blackstone City, facing the western edge of the Primordial Forest—the direction leading deeper into the forest. Those fleeing the city wouldn''t head deeper into the forest, so even if the Destruction Butterfly ran out of prey in the city, it would chase the larger group of escapees. He was safe.


    After about an hour, Blackstone City finally fell silent. Hundreds of thousands had fled the city, escaping into the Primordial Forest, while tens of thousands had perished at the hands of the Destruction Butterfly. The scene was nothing short of horrifying.