The Spirited Little Turtle

Before the Book Repository.

The sun shone bright.

Chu He sat in a chair, holding a book in one hand as he flipped through it, while the other pinched Little Turtle's head and kept tugging at it.

Little Turtle's mung-bean-sized eyes glanced sideways at Chu He, its white eyeballs rolling upward again and again.

It was annoyed!

"Little Chu Brother, why do I feel like Little Green is becoming more and more intelligent? Could something be wrong?"

Zhao Yuling, who had finished cultivating and come over to rest, copied Chu He's movements, pinching Little Turtle's head and teasing it for a while.

Seeing Little Turtle glare fiercely at her with its tiny eyes, even baring its mouth as if it would bite her if she touched it again, Zhao Yuling could not help speaking up.

She had given this turtle to Chu He a year ago.

Over that year, it had changed drastically, looking different every so often.

At first, Little Turtle had been terribly afraid of people. When its head was pinched, it would struggle to pull back into its shell, with no other reaction.

Later, it gradually began to show emotions. When its head was pinched, it started glaring and baring its mouth, like a little dog ready to snap.

By now, it even reacted differently depending on who was touching it!

No matter how Chu He played with it, Little Turtle would only roll its eyes without any excessive reaction. Most of the time, it would even stick its head out on its own.

But when it came to Zhao Yuling, Little Turtle's reactions were extraordinary!

A light touch on its head was enough to make it bristle, and its response was intense.

Such behavior was very much like it was about to develop spiritual intelligence. Once that happened, it could no longer be called a beast; it would have to be classified among the foreign races.

"Near vermilion, one turns red; near ink, one turns black. This Little Turtle has spent so long beside a man as learned and talented as me that it has absorbed a little scholarly air and awakened a bit of spiritual intelligence. That is perfectly normal—nothing strange about it! There will not be any problems."

"What it has absorbed is scholarly air, not killing intent."

Chu He shook his head and smiled unconcernedly.

Little Turtle had followed him for a year and received quite a bit of good fortune.

He had far too many treasures on hand, and many of them were things he could no longer use!

Every now and then, feeding Little Turtle a little to clear out his stockpile was enough to benefit it endlessly.

After a year, it was no longer an ordinary little turtle!

Its spiritual intelligence had already begun to awaken, and its shell had become incredibly hard. Even ordinary Houtian fourth- or fifth-level martial artists would struggle to break it.

More importantly, it could now be completely dehydrated! It was fine basking in the sun every day.

"Really? But it is becoming less and less cute now!"

Zhao Yuling pouted.

Little Turtle's four claws flailed in the air as it struggled with all its might, and it was surprisingly strong. Even with her current Houtian ninth-level strength, she could feel a bit of weight.

Little Green had not been like this at first. No matter how she played with it, it had always looked timid. Its soft little head only wanted to retreat into its shell.

But now, it had started resisting!

It was becoming more and more disobedient!

Chu He laughed.

"Little girl, I think you have accumulated enough foundation in the Houtian realm. Make your preparations. Tonight, I will stand guard for you while you break through to Xiantian!"

Chu He looked at Zhao Yuling, who was still locked in a struggle with Little Turtle, smiled and shook his head, then spoke.

Zhao Yuling's talent was quite good, at least a little better than Lin Xueling's.

She had reached Houtian ninth level half a year ago, but Chu He had kept her cultivation suppressed.

Now, Chu He felt the time was ripe. There was no need to suppress it any longer!

She could break through.

"Xiantian!"

Zhao Yuling froze abruptly.

Xiantian martial artists already counted as masters in the martial world!

In ordinary clans and sects, they could be considered forces capable of holding down an entire clan. Even in the Tianshan Sword Sect she belonged to and the Lin Family her mother belonged to, such experts were the backbone.

Zhao Yuling could not help counting on her fingers.

"One, two, three... twelve!"

You did not realize it until you counted; once she did, the result was startling.

She was only twelve this year.

A twelve-year-old Xiantian.

What kind of concept was that?

At that age, children from ordinary families were still nourishing their bodies and laying the foundations for martial arts training.

Even disciples from great clans and major sects like hers, who had special Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures used to nurture them while they were still in the womb, had only trained in martial arts for two or three years.

And two or three years was far too short!

Those geniuses rose one level a year.

They would only be at Houtian third level.

Even monstrous Heavenly Talents, rising two levels a year, could reach at most sixth level.

Such Heavenly Talents were already figures watched by the entire Xia Clan!

They could make it onto the Heavenly Talent Ranking!

They were future Half-step Kings, the foundation supporting the Xia Clan.

But—

What did those people amount to before her?

She... Zhao Yuling!

Twelve years old!

Tonight, she would attempt to break through to Xiantian.

If she succeeded, what a sensation it would cause.

The entire Xia Clan would probably boil over.

Even if she failed, revealing her current realm would still shatter people's worldview.

She had been cultivating all these years and had not felt much about it.

Step by step, naturally and gradually.

But today, she had suddenly been told that she could attempt to break through to Xiantian!

Only then did she abruptly realize.

So she was already this formidable!

What genius!

What Heavenly Talent!

Before her, none of them were worth mentioning!

At the same age, she could suppress her entire generation.

Among her peers, no one would be able to withstand even a single exchange with her.

Zhao Yuling felt her little heart pounding rapidly, her small face flushed red with excitement!

She was far too amazing!

"Ow!"

Suddenly, just as Zhao Yuling was immersed in congratulating herself, Little Turtle escaped her demonic grasp, seized its chance, and took a suck on her fingertip. After taking revenge, it hurriedly swung its four short legs and burrowed into Chu He's trouser leg.

It took revenge and ran—quite clever indeed.

"Hmph!"

Zhao Yuling, whose excitement had been interrupted, widened her beautiful eyes. She reached out, dragged out Little Turtle, which still had half its body exposed, and amid its silent, struggling protests, gave its neck a vigorous tugging.

There was no helping it. Of all Little Turtle's body, its neck was the only part she could play with!

And it felt especially good.