Mountain-Subduing Spirit Turtle
As the morning sun shone through the dense canopy of the Sunset Forest, casting dappled shadows, the three rested briefly by the Poison Dragon Pool. Dugu Yan was still getting used to her newly acquired Soul Spirit Little Jade Green, Xiao Cui, while Yan Zu had already taken out the [Gazetteer of Mountains and Rivers] and begun searching for a suitable Fifth Soul Ring.
"Soul Beast aged between 50,000 and 60,000 years—" Yan Zu's spiritual power flowed between the pages of the book, filtering the conditions, "Their attributes must be compatible with the Qilin Martial Soul, and their location must be within the Sunset Forest area—"
Ultimately, Yan Zu set his sights on one target --
"The Mountain-Subduing Spirit Turtle, with 55,000 years of cultivation." Yan Zu read the text description softly.
Dugu Bo leaned closer for a look, a hint of surprise flashing in his dark golden eyes. "The Mountain-Subduing Spirit Turtle? Yan Zu, your Qilin Martial Soul is compatible with its attributes. If you could obtain its Soul Ring, it would greatly enhance your defense and protective abilities. Do you plan to sign Soul Spirit Contract with it as well?"
Yan Zu shook his head and said, "Grandpa Dugu, I've already made a decision about my contracted Soul Spirit. Let's just do a normal Soul Hunting this time. Also, Grandpa Dugu, I'd like to try communicating with it first. If it's willing to sacrifice itself, it'll be good for both of us. If it's not—then I'll ask you to intervene."
Although Yan Zu did not want to kill such a Soul Beast, he also realized that only when he became strong could he talk about making changes; mercy without strength is cheap.
Dugu Bo stroked his beard and nodded slightly. "Soul Beast that's over 50,000 years old has considerable intelligence; it might not refuse. There's no harm in giving it a try."
If it doesn't know its place, my poison will teach it a lesson about what it means to wish it were dead.
The three of them immediately set off, heading towards Mountain-Subduing Lake.
Mountain-Subduing Lake is located in a secluded valley deep in the Sunset Forest. The lake water is crystal clear, reflecting the surrounding verdant mountains. In the center of the lake is a huge rocky platform, which is always bathed in sunlight and is the favorite habitat of the Mountain-Subduing Spirit Turtle.
As the three approached the lake, Yan Zu raised his hand, signaling Dugu Yan to stop.
"Sister Yanyan, wait outside and be careful."
Dugu Yan nodded, retreated behind an ancient tree, and concealed her presence.
Yan Zu, Dugu Bo, and Little Jade continued forward. Dugu Bo unabashedly released the pressure of Titled Douluo, and the aura of the Jade Phosphorous Poison Dragon Emperor spread out as if it were a tangible thing. Wherever he passed, the grass and trees wilted slightly, and insects and ants all gave way.
The Mountain-Subduing Spirit Turtle had sensed them the moment they stepped into the valley. It was a gigantic turtle with a massive body and a shell as thick as a mountain.
The tortoise shell is jet black, covered with ancient golden patterns, as if bearing the weight of the earth. Its head resembles a dragon but is not, and its eyes gleam with a gentle and wise light.
It opened its eyes, which were like ancient topaz, and its gaze passed over the young man in front of it, landing on the silver-haired, blue-eyed old man behind it. Titled Douluo, and Titled Douluo who used poison at that. The strength of that aura made even its 55,000 years of cultivation feel a chill.
Escape? Too late. Its speed was already at a disadvantage, let alone that its opponent was Titled Douluo.
War? Even less likely. The Mountain-Subduing Spirit Turtle is not afraid of Power Attack System or Agility Attack System, but it is afraid of this kind of Control System, especially the old man's poison, which is enough to corrode it completely before it can get close.
The Mountain-Subduing Spirit Turtle felt its heart sink to the bottom. Its massive body trembled slightly, and the golden patterns on its shell lit up, a sign that it was preparing to fight back to the death. At this moment, it released its 55,000 years of cultivation without reservation, causing the lake water to surge and churn.
Yan Zu forward, neither releasing his Martial Soul nor showing any hostility. He bowed slightly and used the spiritual communication method recorded in the Soul Spirit Contract Secret Art to clearly transmit his thoughts to the Mountain-Subduing Spirit Turtle.
"Please calm down, senior. I meant no harm."
"No malicious intent?" The voice of the Mountain-Subduing Spirit Turtle was full of sarcasm. "Bringing Titled Douluo here, and calling yourself 'no malicious intent'? Although I am old, I am not so confused that I cannot distinguish between good and bad!"
"I brought my crown down as a precaution," Yan Zu said calmly. "If we can reach an agreement, Your Majesty will not intervene. If not—"
He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.
The Mountain-Subduing Spirit Turtle remained silent for a moment, Lengleng asked, "What do you want me to do?"
Yan Zu took a deep breath and got straight to the point. "This junior needs Fifth Soul Ring. This junior hopes that senior will be willing to sacrifice himself."
"A sacrifice?" The Mountain-Subduing Spirit Turtle almost thought it had misheard. "You want me to willingly go to my death?"
"Yes." Yan Zu did not avoid its gaze. "This junior knows what this request means to you, senior. Fifty-five thousand years of cultivation, vanished in an instant—no one can accept that."
He paused, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "I know that you are a spirit beast and dislike killing."
However, the cultivation system in the Douluo Continent is such that Soul Master must hunt Soul Beast to obtain Soul Ring in order to become stronger. This junior is currently powerless to change this rule; what can be done?"
The Mountain-Subduing Spirit Turtle fell silent. Having lived for over fifty thousand years, how could it not know that this was an intractable deadlock between humans and Soul Beast?
What the boy said was true.
Yan Zu continued, "This junior is eleven years old this year, a level fifty Soul King. In terms of talent, this junior believes he is second to none on the continent. In terms of potential, this junior's future has never been that of Titled Douluo, but of a god."
god.
This word resounded like a thunderclap in the heart of the Mountain-Subduing Spirit Turtle.
It stared at the boy before it. Eleven years old, level fifty. Such talent was unheard of in its fifty thousand years of life. If this person could truly reach that level—
"This junior hereby promises," Yan Zu knelt on one knee, his right hand on his chest, "If one day I achieve godhood, I will surely resurrect you, senior. At that time, you can reshape your physical body, descend to the Divine Realm, become a divine messenger, and ascend to heaven in one step. This is my promise, sworn by my Martial Soul."
Little Jade stepped forward, raised her head, and let out a clear, long cry.
An auspicious aura, like a gentle tide, enveloped the Mountain-Subduing Spirit Turtle. Within that aura lay not only peace and tranquility, but also a mysterious power, seemingly capable of touching the very threads of destiny.
The Mountain-Subduing Spirit Turtle closed its eyes, sensing that aura.
It's not that it's not afraid of death. It's precisely because it fears death that it understands all too well that if it doesn't agree today, it will die in vain. If it agrees, at least there's still a glimmer of hope.
The boy's eyes didn't seem to be lying.
Most importantly, his Martial Soul makes him feel a sense of peace and trust without his noticing.
After a long while, it opened its eyes. In those eyes, which were like ancient topaz, the anger and despair gradually faded, replaced by a weary sense of relief.
"Do I... even have a choice?"
Yan Zu did not answer. This question did not need an answer.
The Mountain-Subduing Spirit Turtle slowly lowered its head.
Fifty-five thousand years is enough.
"Okay. I promise you."
A soft golden light began to emerge from its massive body. The light was not dazzling, but rather like the surface of a lake under the setting sun, warm and tranquil. At this moment, it actively released its 55,000 years of cultivation, no longer imprisoned within its body, but transformed into countless golden specks of light, like fireflies in the sky, drifting towards Yan Zu.