Of course, calling him a fat turtle was still a bit much. Standing upright, the little animal was only about five feet tall. Mysterious patterns that had formed naturally covered his sturdy shell, which supported a very round body. A thick mane had grown around his neck, making him look as if he were wearing a black lion's mane.
The dragonlike features of his head had grown more pronounced, giving him an almost divine majesty. Yet his round eyes were still clear, glossy, and gentle, like the finest gems, with a childlike innocence that made him adorable.
Who else could this little one be but the young Black Tortoise who stayed by Lan Jiufeng's side?
Nearly a year had passed since they'd last met, but the young divine beast hadn't grown at all. That wasn't surprising, though. His kind lived for thousands of years. A mere year might have been no more than a nap to him, so it was only natural that his size hadn't changed. As for the mane around his neck and the horns sprouting from his forehead, they were probably the equivalent of hair.
Still, Yu Lian could tell that his abilities had improved considerably.
His aura concealment, mystic rank, stealth, and ability to use techniques without being noticed were all at least an order of magnitude better than before. In fact, Yu Lian hadn't realized he was there until he'd appeared in the bedroom.
...That wasn't a good sign. The Black Tortoise was a friendly member of the Spirit Research Society, and, technically speaking, Yu Lian ought to call him Senior Brother. But what if next time it was an Imperial Starrealm Knight or an Inquisitor who jumped in?
This fortress was, after all, the heart of the entire Far Shore Theater's defenses. The enemy