Su Shi'er gave nothing away, but the heart he had been holding in suspense eased somewhat.
Yet he remained secretly on guard, not relaxing in the slightest.
He continued asking, "Oh? The Black Tortoise Essence Blood, one of the Four Spirits spoken of in the Cultivation World? I never expected you to have such a fortuitous encounter. Then how did you... end up in such a state?"
The Sea Turtle Demonic Beast continued, "Some days ago, I was cultivating in seclusion on an uninhabited island in the sea when I unexpectedly encountered a Golden Pill Cultivator wantonly hunting and killing sea snakes and turtle-type demonic beasts."
"That person was immensely powerful. Knowing I was no match, I could only use the demonic secret art, the Turtle Breath Technique, during the battle and feign death in an attempt to escape this calamity."
"Yet I never imagined that person would secretly bring every demonic beast here, dead or alive."
"What about the other demonic beasts?" Su Shi'er spread out his divine sense, carefully sweeping it over the Sea Turtle Demonic Beast before him.
"They were eaten! Most were devoured and refined by that fellow on the ground. But he had rotten luck—just as he was about to stew me alive, he was ambushed and slain."
"I was fortunate as well. I had not exposed any sign of life beforehand, and when that person appeared, I used the Turtle Breath Technique once more to evade another disaster."
"But... I never expected..."
The Sea Turtle Demonic Beast's tone brimmed with indignation, though its words also carried immense relief.
However, when its gaze fell on Su Shi'er, neither its eyes nor its words could conceal its gloom and resentment.
When it had used the Turtle Breath Technique, it had already been severely injured once.
Had