Chapter 12: The Butterfly Emperor’s Birthday Banquet and the Fifth Prince’s Birthday Tribute
Year 60 of the Butterfly Era.
The entire Butterfly Valley had transformed into the royal capital, and Cangwu had become the Cangwu Butterfly Palace.
This place seemed like a mythical realm, with seas of flowers covering the mountains and fields, all inhabited by fluttering butterfly citizens.
Many of these citizens had already reached the first stage of psychic energy lifeforms.
Today was the centennial birthday of the Phoenix Emperor, and a grand banquet was to be held atop the Cangwu Tree.
In this era, beneath the Phoenix Emperor, there were five feudal lords.
They were the surviving meritorious subjects who once followed Liu Jun and the Amber Phoenix Butterfly, having tilled the earth, dug fish ponds, spun beneath trees, and hung on walls through harsh winters... enduring those difficult times together.
As for the prophet who had enlightened the entire era alongside the Phoenix Emperor, he remained in a cocoon, still asleep.
Now, with the development of psychic energy, these five feudal lords had advanced to the second stage.
Moreover, with the aid of three founding treasures acquired by the Phoenix Emperor through trials, they expanded their territories in five directions, achieving great feats and establishing immortal military merits.
“I wonder what delicious food there will be at this banquet.”
Outside the palace, Fourth Princess Die Chiyin sat quietly inside a butterfly-cage sedan chair, which was adorned with numerous bone-spike needles—sharp weapons meant for piercing enemies.
She sat inside the sedan, ascending along the tall, verdant Cangwu Tree, all the while snacking nonstop.
At that moment, the sound of flapping wings came from behind. Die Chiyin turned to see a procession of carriages flying upwards.
“Big brother, big sister!”
Upon seeing the two inside the carriage, Die Chiyin happily transmitted her thoughts: “It’s been three years, hasn’t it? I have some tasty treats here—want some?”
Her elder brother, Die Lvxiang, and second sister, Die Lvxin, were still a devoted couple, having met during the days when they were hung under willow branches, spinning around.
Die Lvxiang was also the current crown prince of the Butterfly Kingdom.
After all, the Phoenix Emperor had remained unchanged, known only for eating, leaving most affairs to the elder brother over the years.
Die Lvxiang’s kind and benevolent nature earned him the love of his siblings, assisting him in governing the kingdom.
Fourth sister Die Chiyin chuckled, “Are you coming to eat or not?”
“Always thinking about food,” Die Lvxin replied briskly with a smile. “Fourth sister, how is your territory developing this year?”
The fourth sister looked a bit sheepish, “None of your business.”
After some chatting, they entered the palace at the top of the Cangwu Tree. The birthday banquet was about to begin.
Upon entering, they saw a familiar figure seated on a chair that brightened their eyes:
The Prophet!
The prophet, who had been asleep in a cocoon for decades, had awakened.
Compared to the Phoenix Emperor, it was the prophet who had pushed them into the civilized age and whom they respected most deeply.
High above, on a throne blooming with flowers,
“Ah Feng, go play yourself,”
Liu Jun sat on the floral throne, brushing away the chattering Amber Phoenix Butterfly.
His original intent was to hone the realm he had just broken through.
Not a born sage, he naturally needed a third-stage intelligence brain to aid in cultivating psychic energy, hence his presence here.
He also took the opportunity to observe any changes in the mushroom broth.
It still felt like a fairy tale, a beautifully poetic story.
Everything was so small, too small. For these psychic energy butterflies, life was still among flowers, fresh branch gardens, the Cangwu sacred tree, pasture grass, bone fish wells, and valley kingdoms...
And that Amber Phoenix Butterfly was cause for both laughter and tears.
The world said that over the past century she had been wise and benevolent, passing divine trials to obtain three treasures, crowned as the supreme sage emperor among butterflies.
Yet the citizens did not know she was a simpleton.
She absorbed talents of the same attribute and greedily stole new wisdom mushrooms, but the “medium intelligence” and “low intelligence” talents were incompatible, allowing her to switch intelligence states at will.
Yet she mostly remained in “low intelligence.”
According to her own words: when she’s smart, her mind gets messy, so she preferred to keep things simple.
“If I have a brain and don’t use it, I’m just playing…”
Yet inside her body, the “medium intelligence” still radiated wisdom outward, enlightening other butterflies and raising them to the “medium intelligence” level, akin to normal human intelligence.
At this moment, she was truly a mascot sitting on the throne, opening spiritual wisdom to the people.
Her combat power was fierce enough.
Liu Jun watched as she greedily sucked on bamboo flower stalk drinks and thought, “Could it be that when I forced her to memorize endlessly during the winter cave days, she developed post-traumatic stress and now hates studying... ‘I’m brain-damaged, I’m brain-damaged, I’m brain-damaged’?”
“Oh no, I haven’t spoiled this child...” After some thought, Liu Jun tried to look on the bright side: “No, perhaps this is the subtle wisdom of the god of intelligence—slacking off might just be the highest form of wisdom.”
Sometimes being too smart isn’t good.
Neglecting one’s own studies and cultivation was better than switching to a “pure Taoist heart” state.
Managing a kingdom requires brains?
Aren’t the enlightened ministers below already wise?
“No wonder she is the god of wisdom,” Liu Jun mused, glancing at the five feudal lords below and sighing quietly that only these few little ones remained from those days of digging soil, clipping wings, and enduring winters together.
With everyone assembled, the banquet began.
Only the Amber Phoenix Emperor exchanged secret winks with the equally food-loving Fourth Princess Die Chiyin.
The fourth sister responded in kind with a wink.
Those two simpletons!
Liu Jun was speechless.
It was hard to imagine two butterflies making such vivid expressions.
This fairy-tale world...
Was somewhat strange.
As the butterflies ate and drank, the Fifth Prince Die Mingren stepped forward:
“I bring with me the divine treasure, the God’s Ear, and with my army, I slew the evil dragon in the East Garden, taking its dragon eye as a birthday gift for the Phoenix Emperor!”
With that, psychic energy shimmered as he raised a huge eyeball, bringing it into the hall.
Second-stage psychic butterflies already possessed considerable lethality; with a surprise attack and the talent mushroom that absorbed sound, they naturally had the ability to ambush and kill a small dinosaur!
But this was no small dinosaur.
It was their mortal enemy from years ago—a massive eight-meter-long medium-spined dragon.
The butterfly army had blocked out sound, used acupuncture targeting weak points such as the anus, nostrils, and mouth for internal attacks, spending over ten days to turn the dragon into a swarm of buzzing flies, slowly killing it through disgust.
“Not bad, not bad, looks delicious,” the Amber Phoenix Emperor drooled.
The other feudal lords knew this emperor’s nature and paid no heed, showing great respect to this god of wisdom who had brought enlightenment to their civilization.
“I also have a birthday gift to offer,”
Third Prince Die Hongjun advanced and said,
“A month ago, a rebellion broke out in the South Garden. A mutant caterpillar without wings but capable of psychic flight led the mutiny. It has been captured.”
Liu Jun looked strangely at the captured rebel leader.
It was a flying green caterpillar.
It fluttered midair, with large black eyes, two antennae on its head, and pairs of legs beneath.
Could it be a kin of the Sky Ripper, a torn-wing caterpillar?
Was it leading the rebellion because of harsh wing removal and soil oppression?
“Why this?” Liu Jun suddenly asked.
Third Prince Die Hongjun replied, “Merely a rebel.”
“We used the God’s third treasure, the Divine Magic Carpet, to scan all kin forms, discovering many mutations—enhanced psychic power but physical deformities. Most no longer develop, currently existing in four forms.”
Liu Jun’s curiosity grew.
Butterflies were metamorphic species.
Egg, caterpillar, pupa, butterfly—four stages.
The four developmental stages of butterflies had mutated under the radiation of the Clear Moon Radiance, no longer growing, splitting into four clans?
The principle was somewhat clear.
Radiation indeed promotes psychic growth.
Otherwise, how could Hot River City endure acid rain from medicinal residue?
But the side effects were severe, causing physical mutations and deformities.
Third Prince Die Hongjun proudly declared,
“There are non-developing ‘egg types’ whose abilities remain unknown.”
“There are ‘larva types’ like this green caterpillar, who fly aggressively and rebel against our butterfly clan.”
“There are non-developing ‘pupa types’ who use the pupa as a shell, protruding butterfly legs and heads... extremely lazy, avoiding reality, and seemingly learning from no one.”
The four butterfly clans intrigued Liu Jun.
He looked at this prince, uncertain of the future outcome, unwilling to discourage him, and praised, “A fine birthday gift—our clan’s future holds promise.”
Liu Jun glanced at the five feudal lords below.
Third Prince Die Hongjun, keeper of the third treasure, the Divine Magic Carpet, showed scholarly talent, studying the evolution of the butterfly clans.
Fifth Prince Die Mingren, holder of the God’s Left Ear, led the hunting squads, alert and diligent.
“Prophet! Prophet! I have a birthday gift too!” cried Fourth Princess Die Chiyin.
At these words, the ever-snacking Phoenix Emperor’s eyes lit up with regal dignity and solemnity:
“Only my fourth sister understands me—quickly present it.”
Liu Jun ignored the two food lovers’ antics and fixed his gaze on the eldest brother and sister couple.
Die Lvxiang flew forward solemnly, “Your Majesty, I have a birthday gift that will open a new era for our butterfly clan.”
He handed over a delicate silk scroll made from butterfly cocoon threads.
Liu Jun’s psychic energy flickered as he read the butterfly script, revealing a trace of surprise.
The eldest brother and sister controlled the first treasure, the Divine Light Umbrella.
Over the years, their hard research had led to a method for forcibly merging a divine treasure, like the Phoenix Emperor, to undergo transformation.
Now, all five feudal lords vaguely realized:
The Phoenix Emperor had fused with a divine trial treasure—wisdom.
The prophet, likely the earliest to fuse with a divine trial treasure, had slept in a cocoon all these years, perhaps with powers related to longevity.
How could the other five feudal lords not envy?
They held three great treasures but could not merge with them to become transcendent beings like the prophet and Phoenix Emperor.
Now, painstakingly studying the divine treasures left behind by gods, they had finally made progress.
Liu Jun continuously examined the experimental principles within:
“Excellent, very good. In time, you shall all merge with a treasure and advance our butterfly clan.”
This truly brought him joy.
He had long suspected that the talent mushrooms floating on the magic carpet might be absorbable by some method.
Now, they had a clearer idea.
“But currently, with three treasures and five lords, two will lack treasures. Do you two have grievances?” Liu Jun suddenly asked.
Die Chiyin, happily eating below, quickly responded, “None, none at all. I would be happy to have one.”
Die Lvxin stepped forward, “My husband having a treasure is enough.”
Liu Jun nodded slightly, “A new divine trial arises in heaven and earth; only the devoted may attain it. Is anyone willing to fetch it for our butterfly clan?”
Another treasure?
Die Chiyin glanced at Die Lvxin silently, “You go, I won’t.”
Die Lvxin flew up decisively, “I am willing to retrieve it for our clan.”
Liu Jun was deeply gratified.
Holding the mushroom broth, as its master, he knew he could not be alone.
Building a nation and developing a clan of powerful mushroom warriors was the true path to greatness.