Translator: AnubisTL
Su Xin's expression instantly became complex, a mixture of icy killing intent and deep conflict.
One of the primary culprits behind the Heavenly River Sect's destruction now stood before her, fueling her murderous rage.
The scenes of that massacre were etched into her memory forever: countless Heavenly River Sect elders slaughtered by the Mountain-Bearing Turtle—a brutal reality she could never forget.
Her dilemma stemmed from the fact that Li Qing had gone to great lengths to obtain this pet beast for her. She didn't know how to feel about the Mountain-Bearing Turtle.
Li Qing quickly realized this.
He hadn't considered these implications earlier, as he knew little about the details of the Heavenly River Sect's downfall.
But now, seeing the conflicted expression on Su Xin's face, he began to understand.
Of course, he thought. When the Shangqing Sect mobilized its entire force, they would have brought their powerful third-tier guardian turtle.
After a long silence, Li Qing sighed.
"I didn't think this through properly," he said. "I'll leave the Mountain-Bearing Turtle's fate entirely in your hands. Kill it, torture it—do whatever brings you satisfaction."
In truth, for a demon beast willing to submit, signing a Master-Servant Spirit Contract would have been the natural conclusion.
Li Qing understood that he had no right to ask Su Xin to forgive the Mountain-Bearing Turtle. The hatred for the sect's destruction was deeply ingrained in her heart.
Therefore, he entrusted the turtle's life entirely to her.
If Su Xin truly wanted to kill it, Li Qing would not object in the slightest.
However, the gravely wounded Mountain-Bearing Turtle was utterly bewildered by this sudden turn of events. It hadn't even grasped the situation yet.
Why is she suddenly trying to kill me? it wondered. Didn't they just say I should acknowledge this human woman as my master?
The turtle was largely unfamiliar with Su Xin. At the time of the Heavenly River Sect's destruction, she had only been a foundation establishment realm cultivator.
The sect had sent her away as their last fire seed, preventing her from participating in the final battle.
A mere foundation establishment cultivator could hardly leave a lasting impression on this ancient turtle with its immense lifespan.
Upon hearing Li Qing's words, Su Xin's delicate features gradually settled into a calm expression. She silently raised her right hand, and a pale blue metal talisman materialized in her palm.
This was a unique talisman that could draw power from the Water Spirit Pearl, unleashing formidable might.
Though it resembled a talisman, its essence was fundamentally different.
Only the spirit pearl's master could wield such power.
The moment the Mountain-Bearing Turtle saw the talisman, it sensed something was wrong and tried to flee.
But with Li Qing present, escape was impossible.
Without a word, Li Qing flicked his hand, and a nine-tiered iron tower descended, crashing onto the turtle's shattered shell.
Boom!
The West Mausoleum Tower, immensely heavy, unleashed its full power under Li Qing's control, even in the deep sea.
Instantly, the Mountain-Bearing Turtle was pinned down, utterly immobilized.
Whoosh!
The pale blue talisman in Su Xin's hand erupted.
Pure water attribute spiritual power surged forth, stirring the surrounding seawater before imprinting itself onto the turtle's head.
The talisman's power erupted, unleashing streams of pitch-black water that frantically corroded the turtle's body.
Heavy Water!
Li Qing narrowed his eyes, quickly recognizing the essence of the black currents.
Already critically wounded, the Mountain-Bearing Turtle was now being devoured by the Heavy Water, rapidly weakening until it was on the verge of death.
But at the critical moment, Su Xin slowly withdrew the reusable water talisman, sparing the turtle's life.
Throughout the entire process, Li Qing remained silent, neither intervening nor offering any words.
Finally, Su Xin accepted Li Qing's grand gift, planting a Master-Servant Spirit Contract within the Sea of Consciousness of the dying Mountain-Bearing Turtle.
The turtle, daring not resist, opened its Sea of Consciousness and silently accepted its fate.
After completing the ritual, Su Xin murmured, "Thank you again for this great gift. You've also obtained the Heaven Origin Flower you sought."
"Heh, it was a trivial matter," Li Qing replied casually. "The Shangqing Sect's core formation ancestor and most of its elders and disciples have perished. We can set aside our sect's grudges for now."
At this, Su Xin smiled radiantly, a hint of tenderness flickering in her eyes.
"What are your plans now?"
Li Qing grinned. "Naturally, I'll return to the Azure Ridge Domain. Whether you choose to remain with the Lingyun Sect or rebuild the Heavenly River Sect, I'll offer my full support."
Su Xin nodded slightly. "The people of Cloud Luo Island have treated me well. If not for the Island Lord, I might have perished in the jaws of a sea beast long ago."
"Before we leave, I want to bid farewell to the islanders."
Li Qing had no objections.
Having secured everything they needed and with no pressing matters remaining, they could begin refining the Spirit Nourishing Pill upon returning to their sect.
Having made their decision, the two humans and the turtle swiftly flew toward the island.
At first, many cultivators and mortals on the island were startled by the Mountain-Bearing Turtle. However, upon seeing Su Xin standing atop its back, they quickly calmed down.
The spirit pearl envoy has subdued a powerful late third-tier sea beast!
Immediately, the cultivators and islanders alike were filled with fervent zeal and devout reverence.
Seeing this, Su Xin immediately flew to the central spiritual vein of Cloud Luo Island, preparing to bid farewell to the Island Lord.
Li Qing naturally remained by Su Xin's side, vigilant against any unforeseen circumstances.
To his surprise, the Island Lord of Cloud Luo Island proved remarkably understanding, showing no unusual emotion beyond a hint of reluctance as he saw Su Xin off.
The entire process went smoother than could be imagined!
However, Dao Lord Bai Ling soon clarified Li Qing's lingering doubts:
"The five elements spirit pearls are sacred artifacts that form the foundational laws of this world. Even in their fragmented state, they retain immense value."
"For the cultivators of the Spirit Pearl Sect, their lifelong mission is to collect all the spirit pearls, a task they would pursue even at the cost of their lives."
"Just now, your little girlfriend mentioned sensing the location of another Water Spirit Pearl fragment. She's planning to set out to complete the Water Spirit Pearl."
So that's why the Island Lord didn't try to stop Su Xin from leaving.
"Heh, you brat! Where did you cultivate such fortuitous destiny? First, the heavenly spirit fire, then the True Spirit Inheritance, and now you've even managed to snatch away that little girl who can merge with the spirit pearl!" Dao Lord Bai Ling chuckled as he transmitted his thoughts to Li Qing.
Li Qing paid little attention to this, instead frowning slightly.
Indeed, his luck was becoming increasingly extraordinary.
Aside from what Senior Bai Ling had mentioned, consider his two greatest secrets: his ability to increase his lifespan through artifact refinement and his freedom to travel to the World of Eternal Night.
When you added it all up, it was clear that something extraordinary was at play.
Cultivators didn't believe in fate or luck, but they acknowledged the existence of unseen karma.
This was precisely why the great heart demon oath held such immense power over cultivators.
Is this the gift of destiny?
I wonder what price I'll have to pay for it.
Li Qing murmured to himself, burying these thoughts deep within his heart.
For the next several months, Li Qing and Su Xin drifted across the boundless sea, riding the Mountain-Bearing Turtle back toward the Azure Ridge Domain.
The Mountain-Bearing Turtle was intimately familiar with the sea's currents and easily identified safe routes back to the Azure Ridge Domain.
However, even while navigating these secure paths, they still encountered several turbulent events and unexpected dangers.
For instance, during their journey, they stumbled upon a Primal Whale undergoing its transformation tribulation. Terrifying thunder filled the sky, nearly engulfing the entire horizon.
Dense bolts of lightning rained down indiscriminately, sweeping Li Qing and his companions into the chaos.
Fortunately, Li Qing reacted swiftly, using the Black Furnace as a shield to escape the storm amidst the deafening thunder and blinding flashes.
In addition to this, several formidable sea beasts were drawn to their presence, but Li Qing's imposing aura deterred any major incidents.
The most perilous encounter occurred when they spotted a transformation-stage demon king on a remote island, absorbing moonlight and starlight!
Fortunately, the demon king, focused solely on its cultivation, paid no attention to their presence, allowing them to escape unscathed. Otherwise, Li Qing would have immediately activated the Wind-Thunder Silver Wings with Su Xin.
And so, after a series of close calls, Li Qing and Su Xin finally returned to the eastern sea of the Azure Ridge Domain, where they could already glimpse the ethereal spirit peaks and structures of the Lingyun Sect.
As for the Mountain-Bearing Turtle, it was temporarily stationed in the sea, resuming its role as the sect's Sacred Beast guardian, just as it had done for the Shangqing Sect before.
The only difference was that the sect it now guarded was the Lingyun Sect. Having already been bound by a Master-Servant Spirit Contract, the Mountain-Bearing Turtle naturally harbored no resistance.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two streaks of spiritual light streaked across the sky as Li Qing and Su Xin flew in tandem, rapidly approaching the Lingyun Sect's mountain gate.
They made no attempt to conceal their auras, and the sect's supreme elders quickly sensed their approach.
Ancestor Ziqing and Wu Chong were the first to react, immediately soaring from their spirit peaks. But upon recognizing Li Qing, they breathed a collective sigh of relief.
"Hahaha, Li Qing, you're finally back! Thank goodness your travels didn't last decades this time, or the sect would have fallen into chaos!" Wu Chong roared with laughter.
Ancestor Ziqing, however, wore a troubled expression. "Ah, Junior Brother Li, the sect has accumulated a mountain of urgent matters during your absence. You'd better get to them right away!"
The moment they met, the two elders dumped a pile of trivial tasks on Li Qing, causing his face to darken instantly.
He had expected a warm welcome, but it seemed he had overestimated the core formation true lords of the sect.
Soon, Wu Chong and Ancestor Ziqing noticed Su Xin standing beside Li Qing.
"Hmm? It's you, Fellow Daoist Su Xin of the Heavenly River Sect!"
"The Water Spirit Pearl fragment you lent me to fend off the demonic race is still in my possession. Now's the perfect time to return it to its rightful owner!"
Ancestor Ziqing recognized Su Xin immediately, without needing any introduction from Li Qing.
During the demonic calamity that struck Lingyun Sect, Su Xin had even lent out a fragment of the Water Spirit Pearl from within her own body.
However, due to the urgent circumstances, Ancestor Ziqing's incarnation had been overwhelmed, and Su Xin had been sent away from the Azure Ridge Domain by Ancestor Devourer of Heaven. This prevented the Water Spirit Pearl fragment from being returned to Su Xin at the time.
It was precisely for this reason that Su Xin fainted during her escape. She only regained consciousness when she sensed the aura of other Water Spirit Pearls near the sea.
As Ancestor Ziqing spoke, he retrieved the small Water Spirit Pearl fragment and returned it directly to Su Xin.
"Regardless, we must thank you for your assistance when the Lingyun Sect faced such a grave crisis!" Ancestor Ziqing said with utmost sincerity.
Su Xin nodded slightly. "I understand the principle that no egg remains unbroken when the nest is overturned. Facing the threat of the ancient demonic race, this was simply what I ought to have done."
After exchanging pleasantries, Wu Chong and Ancestor Ziqing returned to their respective spirit peak cave abodes.
Li Qing, meanwhile, led Su Xin on a leisurely tour of the sect, carefully introducing her to its various areas and structures.
Though he had only been away for less than a year, returning to the sect and witnessing its harmonious and tranquil scenery gave Li Qing a strange sense of being in another world.
"Heh, there are still several vacant spirit peaks within the sect. You're welcome to settle in directly."
"Of course, if you wish to rebuild the Heavenly River Sect, I've preserved the Spirit Vein Land of the original Heavenly River Sect for you. It can be vacated at any time."
Rebuild the Heavenly River Sect.
Hearing these words, Su Xin fell silent, her spirit finally broken.
Once, she had been an elder of the Heavenly River Sect, surrounded by disciples. Now, she was the sole survivor. What use was rebuilding such a sect?
"Let's discuss this later," Su Xin said, shaking her head. "I'm the only one left. Even if the Heavenly River Sect were rebuilt, what good would it do?"
Li Qing considered telling her that Liu Hanyue was still alive, but the latter had already become the holy maiden of the Moonchase Palace in the Great Wilderness Domain. She likely had no interest in rebuilding the Heavenly River Sect.
"Indeed, there's no rush," Li Qing replied. "You can stay here from now on. It's good to have someone to watch over things."
With Li Qing's arrangements, Su Xin settled into the Lingyun Sect.
The number of core formation true lords in the Lingyun Sect had now increased from five to six!
The sect's guardian demon beasts had also gained a powerful addition: the Mountain-Bearing Turtle!
This was an undeniably formidable force. Even the demonic path sects of the Great Wilderness Domain might struggle to match such core formation realm power.
The Lingyun Sect's current weakness lay in its lack of a nascent soul realm cultivator!
Only a nascent soul realm cultivator could truly anchor the sect's authority. Without one, all this power remained fragile, vulnerable to being swallowed by the southern Great Wilderness Domain's ravenous tigers at any moment.
(End of the Chapter)
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