At nine in the morning, the sky was filled with clouds, while the sun bathed all of Yu Village in golden tones. Behind it lay a place full of green hills and vast forests of towering trees.
On a flat trail, Yu Xuan walked slowly, observing everything with a new perspective, scanning each hill with curious eyes. "Was this place once a plain? Why on earth did the Death Qi destroy everything?"
He had doubts; it was all a mystery. One he could hardly solve now, since he had no foundation. "If I want to uncover this, I can either wait for Old Xuan to reveal it through his experiences, or become strong enough to discover these ancient secrets myself."
Yu Xuan was sensible about his own place in the world, considering himself no more than an ant—something easily crushed underfoot. A pitiful, weak existence, without even the strength to kill a sheep.
"That's reality." He let out a deep sigh. To overcome that weakness, he focused solely on what was important.
Opening his eyes wide, Yu Xuan began searching for mulberry trees—the main habitat of silkworms. He knew that much from his studies.
Yu Village's main means of survival was nature and trade. It had a mandatory ten-year school where children studied nature from the ages of five to fifteen. Of course, this applied only to ordinary animals. In this remote region of the Desolate Frontier, beasts that surpassed human comprehension rarely appeared.
Yu Xuan continued his search like a predator, but after hours of wandering, he had found nothing. "Keep going!" He refused to give up.
At noon, with the sun blazing at its peak, Yu Xuan was drenched in sweat, soaking his dark blue robe. His eyes were hollow, filled with exhaustion and despair.
Yu Xuan wanted to retreat. "No! No! I can't! My will isn't that weak! Today, I'll spend the whole day searching. The sooner I find the silkworm, the better!"
To become stronger, giving up was not an option.
Beating his chest firmly, Yu Xuan refocused his mind.
By five in the afternoon, as the sun disappeared beyond the horizon, fading its light and making way for the night, Yu Xuan—after walking ten kilometers—finally saw a mountain full of mulberry trees. At that instant, emotion flooded every part of him. He was moved to tears, weeping with joy.
"Finally! I found it!" Yu Xuan shouted hoarsely, his voice trembling with indescribable happiness, accompanied by the growling of his stomach and a dry throat.
He looked pitiful and frail, like a dying man. The only thing keeping him sane was his goal.
With unsteady steps, Yu Xuan climbed the mountain, his legs trembling. Each step on the slanted ground made his stomach twist. His vision blurred until he could see only shadows.
Moving while starving was no joke. Exercising without nourishment could be fatal. A single day might be bearable for mortals, but staying that way too long could cause severe problems—stomach shrinkage or swelling, as the body's microorganisms tried to defend themselves.
"I won't do this again, just for today." Yu Xuan knew he had been reckless fasting all day. "Old Xuan was right."
He laughed at himself, forcing his weary body to keep moving. Soon, in his vision, he saw several small shadows among the trees. They came in various colors, including a golden one that shone like a tiny sun.
"Beautiful…" Yu Xuan never imagined a silkworm could be so stunning. It awakened in him the desire to capture it. Stretching out his hand toward the leaves, he gently caught the creature, which did not resist.
In his palm, a wave of warmth spread, clearing Yu Xuan's mind and restoring his vision through a subtle shock of energy.
"This creature is interesting… Could it be a rare silkworm? Hahaha! Looks like, for the first time in my life, I've been lucky. No! This isn't luck—it's my persistence in not giving up! Diligence is rewarded!"
Yu Xuan hummed happily, heading home with the creature resting in his palm, which he held carefully—yet securely enough to prevent escape.
By nine at night, the world was enveloped in darkness. The only lights visible were the stars scattered across the sky and the beautiful moon at the center, bathing the scene in silvery-blue light.
In a house with part of its roof broken, a young man devoured a piece of roasted beef. With every bite, he gulped down a jar of water, forcing the meat down his throat.
Yu Xuan ate without stopping, replenishing the energy he had lost throughout the day. He didn't savor the food—he simply swallowed it down. He was far too weak to enjoy a meal peacefully.
After eating, he looked at an upside-down glass jar. Its surface was pierced with tiny holes to let air through. Inside, a golden-furred silkworm rested, watching Yu Xuan cautiously.
"I won't hurt you, little one, but I'll help you evolve into a new species—one that will become a creature beyond comprehension." Yu Xuan made a promise to the small being.
He was certain it could be done. After all, a butterfly that was drawn to the Life Qi of the spring was anything but ordinary. Surely, it would undergo an evolution that made it more attuned to heaven and earth.
"The world truly is limitless." Yu Xuan smiled faintly.
The golden silkworm, after hearing Yu Xuan's words, looked at him with eyes full of doubt.
"You understand me?" Yu Xuan blinked, confused. 'Was that supposed to happen? Well, this little thing is rare… maybe it has special abilities.'
He reasoned to himself, his smile widening. "My promise still stands, little one. I'll make you the most beautiful of your kind."
The silkworm's eyes showed even more doubt, but it soon nodded, accepting the proposal. Even if it wanted to refuse… would the human really let it go?
Closing its eyes, the small creature began to drift off to sleep.
"…" Yu Xuan was speechless—the golden silkworm was far too calm. It even slept peacefully in the territory of an enemy.
"Hmm… I've completed the first step. Now, all I need is to find the Green Butterfly…" Yu Xuan had a general idea of that creature, also known as the Butterfly of Nature.
It was an insect with green wings, capable of camouflaging perfectly among trees. Its green pollen was used as a tonic in the creation of healing potions.
"Butterfly of Nature + Silkworm + Sun + Darkness… it really is a unique combination. And it makes sense, considering the properties of each."