Longing for the Past (Asking for Recommendation Votes)

So.

This terrifyingly condensed human was not here specifically for it?

He had come to find the turtle?

So the real culprit was that damned turtle?

The giant beast suddenly felt its breath catch!

If the human had come specifically for it, aside from fear, it would have felt nothing else.

But now that it knew this disaster had been brought upon it because of this turtle, it felt that even if it died, it would never rest in peace.

So infuriating!

It was all that damned turtle's fault. No, Black Snake was the main culprit.

It had been told to bring back some Blood Food, yet it had brought back something so tough.

And the key was that it was not wild—it had an owner!

And its owner was terrifying.

A true big shot.

Bastard!

If it had known earlier, it would have swallowed it alive in one bite and vented the hatred in its heart ahead of time.

Black Snake also sensed the thick resentment emanating from its king.

But it had no mind to care about that now.

It, too, was trembling.

Its forked tongue hung outside, too stiff to pull back in!

Heavens!

It had only brought back one stupid turtle.

How had that attracted an expert capable of subduing its king in a single move?!

Stupid turtle, if you had such a powerful master, you should have said so earlier!

I would have truly become brothers with you!

How could I possibly have plotted against you?

Back then, we would have been brothers who bared our hearts to each other!

Our bond would have been harder than gold, lasting until the seas ran dry and the rocks crumbled!

Black Snake regretted it deeply.

"Little Green, you've accumulated enough foundation. Break through today!"

"These two portions of Blood Food will be just right to nourish you first!"

Chu He spoke.

This time, he had come to find the turtle precisely because he wanted it to break through.

With a movement of his palm, the giant hand formed by the Dharma Aspect Golden Body grew even larger, as if it could cover the heavens. It grabbed the entire body of the mountain-sized giant beast, along with Black Snake beside it.

With a puff, force qi swirled within his golden palm, transforming into blazing golden flames that surged upward.

Roar!

Roar!

The giant beast found that it could move again. It darted about wildly, trying to escape.

But it discovered in despair that no matter what it did, it could not escape the flames ignited by the giant hand.

As time passed, it found that its body, even its soul, was growing scorching hot, as though it had been cast into an inferno.

Its body was being condensed. Its enormous frame twisted violently, shrinking smaller and smaller without end.

Amid sizzling sounds, the evil qi and poisonous qi within its body were rapidly refined away.

The dross was removed, leaving only the essence.

It was going to be condensed into essence.

The giant beast was unwilling. It did not want to be condensed, and it kept throwing back its head and letting out earth-shaking howls.

It charged wildly within the golden giant hand, using all its strength in an attempt to escape.

It had seen Black Snake's fate.

It had been refined to death alive, melted into a fist-sized pellet, and tossed into Great Turtle's mouth.

It refused!

It could not accept this!

The giant beast wanted to erupt in desperate resistance, but it discovered hopelessly that its strength was declining too quickly. It could not even burn its talent for a final outburst anymore.

"Even if I die, I cannot fall into a turtle's mouth."

This was the giant beast's final stubbornness.

The turtle had failed to eat it, yet it was the one being eaten instead.

With such an outcome, it could not rest in peace even in death.

It stopped struggling and grew still. The little evil qi remaining within it began to gather madly.

"Self-destruct? You're overthinking it!"

Chu He raised his eyes and glanced at the giant beast.

Then he glared at it, and a terrifying pressure swept over.

Puff!

The giant beast's body stiffened. The evil qi it had painstakingly gathered scattered instantly, then was forced out by the golden force-qi flames and burned away.

In the end, the giant beast was still completely refined in despair and entered Great Turtle's belly.

"Begin your breakthrough!"

Chu He spoke.

Then he slapped Great Turtle's head, guiding it into its breakthrough.

At the same time, several Golden Body Sculpting Pills melted in the palm of Chu He's other hand and were driven into the turtle shell.

Great Turtle withdrew all four limbs, its tail, and its head into its shell.

Wisps of mist rose from its body.

Its turtle shell began to crack with sharp cracking sounds.

A glimmer of golden light flickered from the cracks.

Destroy, then rebuild.

Great Turtle began its transformation.

Time slowly passed. The golden light grew increasingly brilliant, making the underwater space dazzling enough to hurt the eyes, as though a peerless treasure was about to emerge.

At last, with a pop.

A small golden turtle burst forth like a butterfly breaking out of its cocoon, shooting out from the shattered green turtle shell.

With Chu He there.

Its breakthrough could not possibly fail.

"M-Master!"

A stammering voice rang out. The little turtle that had become Little Gold shot into Chu He's arms with a whoosh.

It had finally become small again!

The little turtle was incredibly excited. When Chu He tugged its head, it actually revealed an expression of blissful comfort.

How nostalgic!

Its youth had returned!

It was still the same feeling.

Still the same taste.

Chu He returned to the Book Repository with the little turtle, now golden.

The moment it landed, it excitedly began searching everywhere for a rag.

In a corner of the Book Repository, it found that green rag that had been sealed away for ages. Its tiny nose gently sniffed it, and it revealed an intoxicated expression.

A familiar scent.

Carrying the mellow fragrance of time.

With a flick of its claws, it pulled the rag over its head and began cleaning.

It was energetic, diligent.

Again and again.

The already spotless Book Repository had a layer practically wiped off by it.

Fortunately, the rag on its head was a treasure Chu He had obtained through sign-in.

It had once been the personal possession of a Great Emperor.

Blades could not harm it, nor could water or fire affect it.

Even after being put through such abuse, it remained silky smooth, without the slightest fading or damage.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The little turtle darted through every corner of the Book Repository like a golden mouse.

It even wiped down all the books on the shelves once.

Chu He was rendered speechless by the sight.

This turtle!

After roaming the vast world outside for so long, why did it seem more like it had been cooped up until it went stir-crazy?

When Zhao Yuling returned from the White-robed Emperor Palace.

This time, the little turtle took the initiative to greet her. It stretched out its turtle head and placed it in Zhao Yuling's bewildered palm.

Pet me!

Pet me hard.

Today, I'll let you pet me to your heart's content.

The little turtle blinked its tiny eyes and gave Zhao Yuling an encouraging look.

This was the first time it had taken the initiative.

"Little Chu Brother, you raised another turtle? This one seems a little different!"

Zhao Yuling disdainfully brushed its turtle head aside.

A turtle reeking of flirtatiousness was not cute at all.

Little Green was still more fun.

The little turtle froze!

No.

Wasn't my head your favorite?

Why were you disgusted with it after not seeing me for so long?

It had been so enthusiastic.

Yet it received such a cold response.

What a crushing disappointment!

After bustling about for half the day, the little turtle drooped its head, walked outside, found a comfortable spot, and went to sunbathe.

"That's Little Green. Its cultivation broke through, so its color changed. Call it Little Gold from now on!"

Chu He raised his head as he spoke, a smile at the corner of his lips.

P.S. Smash me to death with votes!

P.S. Thanks to big shot Ta Ming Tianzun for the generous reward of one hundred.

Thanks to big shot Ci Xi for the generous reward of five hundred.

Thanks to big shot Low-key Migrant Worker for another generous reward of one hundred.