Chapter 350: Divine Silkworm Nine Transformations
"Senior, do you know what it is?" an old man beside him asked, his expression very respectful.
From this, one could see how transcendent the status of the guardian of the Ji Family Stone Garden was—even some old fogies regarded themselves as juniors.
He was tall, with a majestic and imposing bearing, silver hair cascading like a waterfall, and skin as white and smooth as jade. It was clear at a glance that he had cultivated some extraordinary technique.
"This little golden creature..." He furrowed his brow, seeming somewhat uncertain.
Everyone listened intently. Surprisingly, even the little golden spirit was listening, tilting its head, paying close attention.
The silver-haired old man observed carefully, then nodded, saying, "It should be a kind of ancient divine silkworm."
As soon as these words were spoken, jaws dropped all around. How could it be a silkworm? It clearly looked like a true dragon, yet he called it a worm.
The little golden creature blinked its big eyes, looking very confused, not acknowledging the old man's words.
Everyone was baffled, full of questions. However, they all knew that this old man's status was transcendent; he wouldn't speak carelessly.
"It looks just like a young dragon, with no relation to a silkworm at all..." someone muttered quietly.
The silver-haired old man said, "Actually, it could also be called a beast. But a former Origin Heavenly Master referred to this creature as a divine silkworm, and that name has been passed down."
"Why is that?" The crowd was even more puzzled, and someone asked.
"According to the Origin Heavenly Master, its first form is a divine silkworm. The reason the word 'divine' is added before 'silkworm' is because it is too extraordinary—it can be called a divine insect."
The silver-haired old man spoke slowly. No one interrupted; they all listened carefully. The little golden spirit behaved itself, also listening earnestly.
This creature was extremely peculiar. It could continuously evolve. Its first form was indeed a silkworm, its entire body golden and crystalline, feeding on Source, with an unknown lifespan.
Legend had it that after its first transformation, it would leave the category of silkworm and become a golden little snake.
Throughout its life, it could undergo up to nine transformations. Each transformation was a rebirth, equivalent to a nirvana, and its strength would skyrocket accordingly.
However, under normal circumstances, it was already good if this creature could transform once or twice, because each transformation required extremely harsh conditions.
"What kind of existence would a Divine Silkworm Nine Transformations become?" someone asked.
The silver-haired old man said, "It would become an unimaginably powerful creature. Even in the ancient era, it would be enough to dominate heaven and earth."
"A divine insect can transform to that level?!" Many people found it hard to believe.
"It indeed can." The silver-haired old man nodded.
These secret records came from a former Origin Heavenly Master. He had traveled through mountains and ancient veins, excavated countless large mines, and his understanding of ancient creatures was the most authoritative.
However, the silver-haired old man had only learned part of it and couldn't explain in detail. After all, the years were too distant; dust had buried history, and the truth was gradually fading, hard to uncover.
"Under normal circumstances, this divine insect can only transform once or twice. If it truly completes nine transformations, could it become a true dragon?"
Hearing this inference, everyone showed surprised expressions, looking at the little spirit on the White-Robed Little Nun's shoulder.
Its entire body shimmered with golden radiance. It really did look like a young dragon, its big eyes full of an innocent expression, as if saying, "Don't look at me."
The silver-haired old man shook his head, saying, "What it can ultimately transform into, no one can say for sure."
In ancient times, an Origin Heavenly Master once said that the Divine Silkworm Nine Transformations were completely unpredictable. What kind of creature it would become was hard to determine.
He had speculated that some of the humanoid kings among ancient creatures might very well be transformations of this creature.
Of course, there was no evidence; it was all conjecture.
However, the Origin Heavenly Master had the most say about ancient races because they had too much contact with them, discovering many secrets from the earth and ancient mines that ordinary people couldn't know.
After understanding all this, many cultivators were astonished. They stared at the little golden creature, all showing strange expressions. If this little thing could undergo nine transformations, it would become a supreme existence!
"How many transformations has it undergone?" someone finally brought up this question.
"It should only be two transformations," the silver-haired old man said.
But the crowd was still puzzled, because this little spirit looked very confused, seemingly not understanding any of this, not acknowledging what the old man had said.
"It's like a blank slate, still very innocent, as if it doesn't know its own identity."
"Yeah, it looks like a little airhead, knowing nothing."
The silver-haired old man shook his head, saying, "Each transformation is a rebirth. Not only does its body change, but its memory is also erased, starting anew."
"That's so extreme! Divine Silkworm Nine Transformations, wouldn't that be equivalent to experiencing nine lifetimes?!" Even some old fogies were shocked.
"Otherwise, how could it become a creature that dominates heaven and earth?" the silver-haired old man said.
Someone pondered, saying, "This reminds me of an ancient scripture long lost in the Eastern Wasteland, very similar to the Divine Silkworm Nine Transformations."
"In the past, there was the Indestructible Heavenly Art, which would give birth to a divine fetus within a dying old body, breaking down and then rebuilding."
Today, Ye Fan had cut out such a creature. The appearance of a living ancient creature was astonishing. Many people were both envious and jealous.
"Although it's an ancient creature, it's not necessarily more valuable than Brother Tuoba's divine source!" Wu Ziming suddenly spoke.
"That's right, it can hardly transform. Under normal circumstances, one or two evolutions are its limit. How can it compare to a divine object worth five hundred thousand catties of pure Source?" Li Chongtian echoed.
They were afraid of losing and didn't want to admit defeat, unwilling to hand over tens of thousands of catties of Source to Ye Fan.
"Leaving aside whether it can undergo Divine Silkworm Nine Transformations, just its ability to produce spirit alone surpasses divine source," the silver-haired old man said.
"It can produce spirit?" The crowd showed doubtful expressions and asked again.
"Because it can transform into divine source," the silver-haired old man explained.
Ten thousand years ago, an Origin Heavenly Master once said that even without considering whether it could transform into a supreme existence, the value of a divine silkworm was at least over six hundred thousand catties of Source.
This creature fed on Source and could spit out divine silk, forming a divine silkworm cocoon, which was the purest divine source.
"Heavens, no way?"
Everyone was shocked. This little spirit could transform into divine source, truly leaving people dumbfounded.
At once, a group of old fogies and countless others had fiery eyes, all fixed on the little spirit that resembled a true dragon.
It blinked its big eyes, still looking innocent. One of its little golden claws clutched a lock of the White-Robed Little Nun's hair, pressing tightly against her shoulder.
"Brother Gu Feng, name your price. I must have this little spirit!"
"I'll pay any price, I must buy it!"
...
A crowd surrounded Ye Fan. He couldn't even get a word in; everyone was extremely eager.
"Senior, how much Source does it need to eat before it can spit out a divine silkworm cocoon?" Ye Fan asked the silver-haired old man, using this to divert the attention of many cultivators.
"A lot. It's not worth the cost..."
If it was a creature that had only undergone one transformation, even if it ate a million catties of pure Source, it would be lucky to spit out a divine silkworm cocoon worth ten thousand catties of pure Source.
"This... what a waste!" The crowd was stunned.
"For a divine silkworm that has undergone more than two transformations, the conversion rate would be much higher."
Many people backed out. This little thing couldn't be raised; it was practically a little glutton.
Of course, this was only for ordinary sects. The people of the Holy Lands were tempted. Divine source had special significance and value, and the top-tier major powers desperately desired it.
If possible, at certain times, they were willing to squander endless pure Source to convert it into divine source, despite the extreme waste.
The silver-haired old man said, "Ten thousand years ago, the Yao Chi Holy Land had a divine silkworm, a gift from an Origin Heavenly Master. Everything I know comes from what I learned at Yao Chi."
Many people showed strange expressions. Ten thousand years ago, that extraordinary man came to the Divine City and gambled until the Holy Lands' faces turned green, yet they had no way to deal with him.
All methods were connected. When Source Art reached its peak, approaching the Dao, one could also gain the ability to penetrate heaven and earth. That extraordinary man's strength was unfathomable.
"Did the divine silkworm at Yao Chi eventually transform into a supreme creature?"
The silver-haired old man shook his head, saying, "Almost impossible. Each transformation requires extremely harsh conditions. Even in the ancient era, it was very difficult to succeed, let alone now."
"Little thing, I rescued you. Come here, I'll give you some Source to eat." Ye Fan smiled, taking out a large piece of pure Source and waving at the little golden creature.
The little spirit, resembling a true dragon, immediately puffed up angrily, turning its head away, ignoring him.
"You have quite the temper. Just now, you ate my divine source, worth a hundred thousand catties," Ye Fan said with a laugh.
"You snatched Little Guai's divine source, so of course it's sulking. That belonged to it," the White-Robed Little Nun muttered softly.
In that short time, she had already named the little golden creature "Little Guai," and the little thing seemed to have accepted it. It extended a little claw, palm up, as if asking for that piece of divine source, glaring at Ye Fan.
Ye Fan tried to scare it, saying, "Little one, I rescued you. From now on, you have to follow me. What divine source do you want? If you don't behave, I'll sell you."
"Great! I want to buy Little Guai," the White-Robed Little Nun said happily.
The little golden spirit clenched a tiny fist, silently shaking it at Ye Fan, then looked at the Great Xia Princess, its big eyes blinking, sparkling.
Ye Fan had a headache. How was he supposed to deal with this little thing?
It seemed he couldn't keep it. Many major powers, including the people of the Holy Lands, were sending him messages, wanting to buy this little golden creature.
He couldn't afford to offend any of these major powers. Moreover, this little thing was clearly a spendthrift—a piece of divine source half the size of a human head wasn't enough for it to bite.
"Should I really sell it? But what if it undergoes Divine Silkworm Nine Transformations in the future..."
Ye Fan shook his head, not making a decision, and walked toward Tuoba Chang. It was time to collect the results.
Wu Ziming and Li Chongtian stood to the side. When they saw Ye Fan approaching, their faces turned pale. They had lost another tens of thousands of catties of Source.
Beside them, the Supreme Elder of the Illusionary Extinction Sect, Li Yishui, felt dizzy. Not long ago, he had jumped into a big pit, and now he had to hand over eighty thousand catties of Source. He really wanted to vomit blood.
Ye Fan ignored them. The most important thing now was to collect that piece of divine source the size of a human head. It hung quietly in the air, though hidden within stone skin, dozens of divine rays still shot out, exceptionally brilliant.
Tuoba Chang was extremely unwilling but had no choice. He could only watch as Ye Fan held the divine source in his palm.
"Little one, I still have such a big piece of divine source here. Do you want it?" Ye Fan tempted the little golden creature not far away.
"Swoosh"
Sure enough, a golden beam shot over, extremely fast. No one present reacted in time. Fortunately, Ye Fan was prepared. He quickly put away the divine source, then turned his hand to grab at it.
"Swoosh"
A flash of golden light vanished. The little golden creature returned to the shoulder of the White-Robed Little Nun loli, puffing angrily at Ye Fan.
"Divine Silkworm Nine Transformations, an ancient legend. Could it really come true?" At some point, Red Dragon Daoist had appeared in the stone garden, his pupils contracting as he stared at the little golden creature.
At the same time, Li Heishui sent a message to Ye Fan, saying he suspected that some strange stones had shifted positions.