After calling out a greeting and not waiting for Green Snake to respond, he flicked a finger, sending a shield floating out. The shield grew with the wind, transforming into a small boat. It darted beneath the white tiger's body, scooped up the tiger, and flew upward.
Green Snake flicked her tongue with a rasp. Su He slapped the water and leapt up, tore off a huge mouthful of tiger meat, then fell back into the lake.
A gentleman could be deceived by propriety. Those two looked quite easy to bully.
The two men atop the sword light froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. Once they had laughed enough, however, they admired the turtle's courage.
This turtle was surely taking the path of an exotic beast. Exotic beasts cultivated as well, and cultivation was like rowing a boat against the current: one had to be this calculating and bold enough to act recklessly.
"Senior Brother, no matter how the white tiger died, Green Snake cannot escape involvement. If Senior Brother Lu gets out, he will probably come looking for trouble with Green Snake, won't he?"
Perhaps Green Snake and this turtle had been deliberately lured here to destroy the evidence.
"No matter!" Fat Senior Brother shook his head. "Our sect's elders placed restrictions in Snake Valley long ago. Senior Brother Lu cannot enter." Ordinary disciples did not know this; even he himself had only learned of it recently.
The restrictions could not stop beasts and would not affect their fight over the Demon Transformation Fruit, yet they barred humans, lest anyone interfere with the contest for the fruit.
Though he did not understand the significance of this—if the Demonic Race was of great benefit to the sect, then shouldn't they control the Demon Transformation Fruit and let the beast pets raised by the sect consume it? At the very least, they should protect every beast that had swallowed a Demon Transformation Fruit. Why let wild beasts fight over it without obstruction? Why even encourage such struggles in disguise?
The two departed by Sword Control. Beneath the water, Su He's entire body relaxed with relief.
For the moment, he was safe. Snake Valley was protected; it was safe.
His body's reserves had reached their limit three days ago, and he could no longer resist sleepiness. Now that he had also stuffed himself full of tiger meat, his eyelids felt as heavy as if Myriad Force Talismans had been pasted onto them.
He would go to Snake Valley and have a true deep sleep.
This should be his last sleep before hibernation. Perhaps this sleep would even connect directly to hibernation, and he would sleep until spring next year? After all, hibernation was only a month and a half away. In previous years, this was already the time to begin preparing for a great hunt, stockpiling energy for the winter.
Su He tore and bit apart two chunks of the tiger meat he had snatched back, but truly could not eat any more. He simply flung his head and tossed them to Green Snake.
He swung his head and tail as he swam toward Snake Valley.
Snake Valley, safe! (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
Damn it, the more I think about it, the angrier I get! Why does Green Snake's Snake Valley have protection while I have nothing?
Who says I didn't eat a Demon Transformation Fruit too?
Why the unequal treatment?
Green Snake languidly followed behind Su He, swimming extremely slowly. More than half her body was filled with tiger meat, and she could barely move. Fortunately, the inheritance she had newly acquired, Stirring Wind and Making Waves, had reached a beginner's grasp, allowing the waves to push her along.
Snake Valley was highly suitable for hibernation. There was no wind inside the valley, and the shores of the small lake were covered in Sand Ground. Su He dug a hole beside the lake and buried his entire turtle body inside, leaving only his nostrils exposed for air. His body was half wet and half dry, utterly comfortable.
Green Snake laboriously crawled into a cave in the cliff wall. That was her snake nest, and it looked warmer, but its entrance was only as thick as a water vat, so Su He could not enter.
Before Su He fell asleep, he had already heard Green Snake's breathing grow long and faint. She had fallen asleep as well.
Now Green Snake could sleep soundly beside Su He. That was absolute trust.
Bright Moon, willow trees, autumn dew condensing. Snake Valley fell into silence, with only the rustling of venomous snakes.
Night had deepened. It was precisely the time for venomous snakes to hunt.
Azure Origin Sect, Law Enforcement Hall.
The head of the Law Enforcement Hall looked grimly at the two turtle shells, while everyone below the hall barely dared to breathe.
This incident was utterly vile! Azure Origin Sect had never forbidden disciples from competing, but such competition should be healthy. How could they permit petty villains to stir up demons and make mischief? At first, he had thought it was merely a coincidence, merely disciples being mischievous.
Now it seemed that everything, from Feng Ya Ya causing havoc in Beast Taming Valley to Lu Ming being placed in confinement, had been arranged by someone. All for the sake of targeting Lu Ming's Lifebound Beast!
Or rather, for the sake of targeting Lu Ming, Beast Taming Valley's First True Disciple!
A Lifebound Beast and its master shared weal and woe. Ambushing the Lifebound Beast was an attack on its master; this was common knowledge.
"Fufeng, go interrogate Feng Ya Ya. Find out why she released the beasts of Beast Taming Valley!"
"Zhao Lie, take the turtle shells to Beast Taming Valley and ask Elder An to identify whose hand created these spirit talismans! The Determinative Rune within these talismans carries the white tiger's aura. For these talismans to be activated upon encountering the white tiger, the culprit must be someone near Junior Brother Lu. You must seize that person!"
He had several suspects in his heart, but law enforcement demanded evidence. When dealing with vile people, one had to act openly and honorably, crushing them beneath an overwhelming force that could not be refuted.
"The two of you, go again to Listening Sea Lake and find that turtle. I will use a method to extract its memories and see who has been sneaking about in the shadows behind this!"
The fat and thin senior brothers simultaneously cupped their fists in salute. "Yes."
After hesitating, Fat Daoist added, "Martial Uncle, that turtle has been taken in by Green Snake. If we directly bring the turtle back and extract its memories, Green Snake may harbor resentment in the future..."
The head of the Law Enforcement Hall glanced at him and said calmly, "No need to concern yourself with that. Simply capture it and bring it here."
The Demonic Race could certainly attain the Demon Transformation Realm and naturally deserved preferential treatment. Yet whether thunder or rain and dew, they also had to understand the sect's rules. This was a fine opportunity to give Green Snake a warning and plant a thought in her still-ignorant mind: the sect's rules were not to be touched!
The two accepted the order and left. Yet not even half an hour later, they returned with ashamed expressions. "Martial Uncle, that turtle and Green Snake are very close. This time, it is already asleep in Snake Valley. With the restrictions there, we cannot enter."
The Law Enforcement Hall head knitted his silkworm eyebrows together.
Just then, Zhao Lie returned with a strange look on his face. As he returned the turtle shells, he also presented the investigation record. He seemed to want to say something, but opened his mouth without making a sound.
The head's frown deepened. "Speak if you have something to say. Why are you hesitating?"
Zhao Lie cupped his fists in salute. "Reporting to Hall Head, Elder An said these two spirit talismans were made by Junior Brother Lu himself."
Heart, liver, spleen, stomach, kidneys...
In his dream, a turtle anatomy diagram slowly unfolded in front of Su He.
Flesh, bones, sinews... everything was visible with perfect clarity. His heart thudded as it beat, sending a surge of blood throughout his body with every pulse.
This is inside my body. Su He immediately confirmed it. His intestines and stomach were wriggling. There was no food left in his stomach; he had no idea how long he had slept, but all the tiger meat he had eaten had been fully digested. Yet his stored energy was too abundant, and he did not feel hungry at all.
Did this sleep awaken the ability to see within myself?
Su He carefully examined himself from start to finish. His bones were hard, his internal organs robust, his little brother magnificent—he was very healthy! As he inspected himself inch by inch, he found a hazy, profound yellow space at the center of his heart. Within it, a little turtle slept quietly.
That turtle was tiny, yet its presence was awe-inspiring. Its shell was black as ink and gleamed with light. Its limbs bore scales, magnificent dragon horns grew from its turtle head, and sharp teeth were intertwined in his mouth.
Dragon Turtle? Baxia? Mystic Turtle? In any case, not a Black Tortoise. A Black Tortoise is one snake and one turtle.
What is this thing inside my heart? Su He was shocked. Just as he was about to look more closely, a wave of drowsiness struck him, and he sank back into sleep.
The sun and moon chased each other, and the valley was desolate.
This sleep was exceptionally peaceful. He did not need to worry about his stomach, nor fear being attacked by wild beasts. This was the best sleep he had had since reincarnating as a turtle.
After an unknown amount of time, he slowly awoke. The sky was dim; it was night.
Yet Su He could see clearly.
This time, his eyes had evolved during sleep. Night was like day. The sky was gloomy, and a light rain was falling. Its pitter-patter carried a trace of bleakness.
The sand covering his body had long since fallen away. He had grown again, and the hole he had dug had become too small.
Judging by the familiar things around him, Su He estimated that his shell alone was now at least the size of a double bed. Adding his turtle head and limbs, he was even more of a colossal creature.
Against the Green Giant Crocodile from before, Su He could fight three at once! Su He looked around. The willow trees in Snake Valley had withered yellow, and fallen leaves covered the pool. He had slept for at least a month; it was already late autumn.
A Verdant Giant Python lay lazily at the entrance of the hole. Seeing Su He look over, she said softly, "You're awake!"
Her voice was mature, yet carried a seductive charm.
She was speaking human language.
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