White Dragon Gu

"There's no need for a banquet," Cao Jinxing's voice came from far away. "Business comes first."

At his first sentence, he was still far down the mountain. By the last word of his second, everyone's vision blurred, and Cao Jinxing was already standing before them.

"Greetings, sir."

Pei Yangchun cupped his fists in salute.

The other disciples froze. They knew nothing of Pei Yangchun's plan, nor even that a Millennium Fire Tortoise was hidden in the Black Tortoise Cave.

Aside from Pei Yangchun, only Xia Zheng knew about this. Seeing his master's respectful greeting, he realized the visitor had come from the capital and immediately followed suit.

The others had no idea what was happening, but since their master and senior brother were saluting, they did the same.

"No need for such formalities, Sect Master Pei."

Cao Jinxing extended a hand, gesturing for him to rise. "I have a general understanding of the situation. This is an important matter, so I'd like to secure the item first, before any further complications arise."

The Millennium Fire Tortoise was only a little over a foot long and easy to carry. Cao Jinxing had no intention of dragging this out.

"Yes. Please follow me, sir."

A few people might know about the Millennium Fire Tortoise, but only his eldest disciple, Xia Zheng, knew that he intended to offer it to the emperor in exchange for protection.

Even if someone dared impersonate an Embroidered Uniform Guard, they could not possibly know that connection. Thus, Pei Yangchun never doubted Cao Jinxing's identity.

"Zheng, take the others and guard the entrance."

"Yes, Master."

Pei Yangchun stepped aside with an inviting gesture, then led the way into the Black Tortoise Cave. With his hand resting on his Embroidered Spring Saber, Cao Jinxing followed.

The Black Tortoise Cave was a large, naturally formed limestone cavern, over two hundred meters deep and more than thirty meters high at its tallest point.

A cool breeze flowed through it. It was warm in winter and cool in summer.

Everywhere they looked, strange rock formations rose in an astonishing array. Some resembled pillars or towers, others birds or beasts, all varied and remarkably lifelike.

A large river also flowed through the cave, with many small tortoises sporting pitch-black shells crawling along its banks.

These were black tortoises.

Black tortoises were not exotic beasts, but they had powerful yin-nourishing and yang-replenishing properties, rivaling century-old wild ginseng. Eating them regularly could increase internal energy and strengthen the muscles and bones.

Cao Jinxing nodded slightly. "No wonder the Ten-Thousand Snakes Cave covets such a spiritually rich place."

Pei Yangchun said, "The Black Tortoise Cave is suitable for breeding venomous snakes, and black tortoise flesh and blood can accelerate their growth. Of course those fiends couldn't resist. May I ask your name, sir?"

"Cao Jinxing."

"Sir Cao, the others in the Ten-Thousand Snakes Cave are nothing to worry about, but there is one man we must guard against."

"You mean the one putting on that ridiculous performance just now?"

Cao Jinxing smiled. "I could hear his posturing from the foot of the mountain." Had he not been unsure of the man's background and worried about what unusual poisons he might possess, Cao Jinxing would have dealt with him already!

"...Yes."

Pei Yangchun smiled bitterly. "His name is Yang Wanli, son of Yang Qiancheng, the leader of the Ten-Thousand Snakes Cave. Years ago, he became a disciple of the Five Poisons Cult. Two months ago, he returned with snake-controlling methods and a full repertoire of poison arts. They say he once entered the Black Dragon Pool."

"Impossible."

Cao Jinxing said flatly, "The Black Dragon Pool is sacred ground for the Five Poisons Cult. Only true inheritors may enter. If he'd really been there, he couldn't possibly be this weak. Judging by his voice, he's at least thirty, yet he's only at early-stage Xiantian. That hardly sounds like someone who's entered it."

"I thought the same at first."

Pei Yangchun nodded, then changed tack. "But he really does possess a gu creature from the Black Dragon Pool-a huge white snake that can float in the air, as thick as a bucket and over fifty feet long! I saw it myself!"

"A huge snake?"

Cao Jinxing stopped in his tracks and asked in surprise, "Are you serious?"

Pei Yangchun nodded solemnly. "Absolutely!"

"How is that possible..."

Cao Jinxing's expression grew grave. "The Five Poisons Cult, a huge white snake, capable of flight, fifty feet long and as thick as a bucket-that's no ordinary gu..."

The records he had read in the archives flashed through his mind. "Could it be the White Dragon Gu? But isn't that the Spirit Snake Envoy's gu creature of the Five Poisons Cult? How could a latecomer like Yang Wanli control it?"

Cao Jinxing frowned deeply.

The gu creatures of the Miao lands were truly extraordinary.

The Myriad Poisons True Manual opened with gu refinement methods: "...On the fifth day of the fifth month, gather a hundred creatures in a jar, from snakes at the largest to lice at the smallest. Let them devour one another, keeping the sole survivor. If it is a snake, call it snake gu; if a louse, call it louse gu. Refine it with secret medicines and blood essence, then employ it to kill."

Gu came in many varieties, each with wondrous abilities.

Gu creatures were not particularly difficult to refine, but making them grow was exceedingly hard. Every transformation consumed countless resources.

For that very reason, powerful gu creatures were handed down through the generations. The Five Poisons Cult's five strongest gu creatures were controlled by successive generations of Five Poisons Holy Envoys.

Only the Spirit Snake Envoy's White Dragon Gu matched that description. Though it looked like a snake, it was actually a great gu formed when three thousand snake gu occupied the body of an exotic beast, the Heavenly Flood Dragon. It could appear or vanish, grow or shrink, and its scales were so tough that blades could scarcely harm it!

This gu was immensely powerful, a supreme treasure of the Five Poisons Cult. How could it have fallen into the hands of some small fry?

Even if they gave it to him, he should not have been able to use it!

"What's going on..."

Cao Jinxing's brow furrowed further. "Could he have had some extraordinary encounter?"

Pei Yangchun called softly, "Sir?"

Cao Jinxing came back to himself. "It's nothing. If it's truly as you describe, we'll need a more careful approach and kill the gu's master separately."

Pei Yangchun breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, I thought you were getting cold feet.

"If he has a weapon like that, why didn't he use it just now? All he needed was for the white snake to hold you off. The remaining snakes could have dealt with everyone else without the Ten-Thousand Snakes Cave lifting a finger."

Cao Jinxing had noticed Pei Yangchun's disciples... Well, he would not call them weak, but they certainly could not withstand a tide of snakes.

"It seems to be shedding its skin..."

Pei Yangchun said hesitantly, "Half a month ago, there were repeated disturbances in the Coiled Snake Cave. I went to investigate myself and happened to see people from the Ten-Thousand Snakes Cave feeding that huge snake. It had already shed half its skin. Perhaps its size made shedding difficult; it was thrashing and rolling inside the cave, shaking the entire mountain. Two people were whipped straight into pulp by its tail. It was a horrific sight. Someone there estimated when it would finish shedding. It should be within the next day or two."

If not for its condition, the Taiyi Gate would probably have ceased to exist long ago!

"Hmm..."

Cao Jinxing nodded and gathered his thoughts. "A head-on fight won't work. We'd better act quickly and cripple Yang Wanli first!"

Pei Yangchun bowed deeply. "Thank you."

"No need."

Cao Jinxing said, "This is a transaction. Naturally, I'll do my best."

Before long, the two reached the depths of the Black Tortoise Cave.

At its innermost point lay a deep pool.

Mist hung over it, like a hot spring.

"The Fire Tortoise is a black tortoise variant. The last one was discovered a hundred and fifty years ago. For another to appear during this great crisis, and a thousand-year-old one at that-Heaven is helping the Taiyi Gate."

A raised stone platform stood in the center of the pool, with the Fire Tortoise resting atop it.

Pei Yangchun stepped aside.

Cao Jinxing saw the Fire Tortoise.

It truly was a rare marvel.

Only a little over a foot long, it was fiery red all over and radiated intense heat, steaming the pool water into vapor. Even from far away, he could feel the heat washing over his face.

Cao Jinxing nodded repeatedly. "An excellent find. You're a lucky man, Sect Master Pei."

Pei Yangchun said, "It was originally dormant inside the mountain. I lured it out with smoking wax and forced it here. Fire Tortoises fear water, so the pool surrounding it makes the perfect prison. I leave it to you now, sir."

"Mm."

Cao Jinxing had come fully prepared. Worried that there would be nothing suitable here for capturing the Fire Tortoise, he had specifically bought a cold jade box to hold it.

With his current internal energy, he could turn water into ice, but keeping it frozen would consume a great deal of energy. Buying a box was far less trouble.

I'll get Liu Zhenyuan to reimburse me when I return.

Cao Jinxing flashed onto the stone platform and took the cold jade box from behind his waist.

Sensing someone nearby, the Fire Tortoise immediately opened its mouth to spit, flames gathering in its throat!

"Still trying to resist?"

Cao Jinxing jabbed a finger at it. "Behave!" The sword energy of his Heavenly Sword-Linked Finger was bone-chillingly cold. Before the Fire Tortoise could spew its flames, it struck the creature's head!

As though a basin of icy water had been poured over its head, the Fire Tortoise shuddered. The flames in its mouth went out, and it hurriedly withdrew into its shell to play dead.

Tortoises were nowhere near as clever or agile as spirit cats. Even a thousand-year-old one with a little extra spiritual awareness posed no real threat.

Cao Jinxing activated the Cold Toad Art, gathering icy true qi in his hands, then picked up the Fire Tortoise and tossed it into the box!

"Hiss! That's hot!"

Cao Jinxing quickly sealed the box and put it away. The entire process went surprisingly smoothly.

Watching his nearly translucent, ice-like hands, Pei Yangchun was inwardly stunned. Such pure internal energy!

Then a thought flashed through his mind. Could it be... was he the one who resonated with Snow Soul?

Just as the thought occurred to him, Cao Jinxing asked, "Sect Master Pei, are you keeping any other exotic beasts in this pool?"

"Other exotic beasts?"

Pei Yangchun was bewildered.

Splash...

Cao Jinxing's ears twitched. Listening closely, he heard a strange rush of water from the bottom of the deep pool, as though something was swimming rapidly toward them!

"Something's wrong!"

The sound grew louder and louder!

Cao Jinxing's expression shifted. Without another word, he struck the water with his palm, instantly freezing the entire surface of the cold pool!

"Get out!"

Without pausing, Cao Jinxing darted toward the exit.

Only then did Pei Yangchun hear the strange sounds beneath the pool, followed immediately by the crack of the ice shattering!

He looked back and saw a white dragon burst through the ice!

"Roar!"

It was that enormous white snake, fifty feet long and as thick as a bucket. It floated in midair like a coiled true dragon, its entire body snow-white, its scales slightly raised and its eyes wide open. Its hissing roar shook heaven and earth!