Chapter 505: Mystic Ice Turtle

After Lv Qingzhu returned into the cave, only the lonely figure of Duan Rong remained in the empty valley.

After strolling around the valley once, he sat down on a stone, his gaze sweeping over the scenery throughout the valley from time to time.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to him.

He stood up, paced a few circles, then narrowed his eyes and walked slowly toward the entrance of Lv Qingzhu's cave.

Duan Rong did not dare to stand directly at the cave entrance; he feared that if Lv Qingzhu were to thrust her Sword out from the dark cave, he would be unable to dodge in time.

Standing a few paces away from the entrance, he called out toward the dark interior: "Miss Lv!"

After Duan Rong called out once and saw no reaction from within, he shouted two more times in succession.

This time, after a burst of footsteps, Lv Qingzhu stood at the cave entrance, holding a Long Sword, looking at Duan Rong with an unfriendly expression, and said coldly: "What is it?"

Duan Rong noticed that Lv Qingzhu was clutching the Long Sword, and blood droplets were dripping from it; clearly, she had just been processing the carcass of an Origin Beast inside the cave.

Duan Rong smiled slightly and said: "Oh, sorry to disturb you while you were processing the Origin Beast."

Lv Qingzhu's delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she said impatiently: "Speak if you have something to say!"

Duan Rong said: "Miss Lv, the last time we met by chance in the Dark Forest and obtained the Black Fire Lotus together..."

While it was called a chance meeting, in truth, their encounter there was not accidental; both had cultivated the Womb Treasury Sutra to the twelfth layer, so they naturally needed the assistance of the Black Fire Lotus, and that time just happened to be the ripening season for the Black Fire Lotus.

Hearing Duan Rong bring up the Black Fire Lotus again, Lv Qingzhu turned to leave. Just as she turned, Duan Rong immediately called out: "Miss Lv, don't be in such a hurry; I wanted to speak about the Mystic Ice Turtle."

Upon hearing the three words "Mystic Ice Turtle," Lv Qingzhu's figure indeed faltered. She turned back, looked at Duan Rong, and asked with a curious expression: "You have news of the Mystic Ice Turtle?"

Duan Rong knew that as soon as he mentioned the Mystic Ice Turtle, Lv Qingzhu would certainly be interested, because the shell of the Mystic Ice Turtle was an auxiliary medicine for cultivating the Thirteenth Layer of Womb Treasury Sutra.

Duan Rong smiled slightly and said: "Naturally, I have news. It is just that an adult Mystic Ice Turtle is a Mid-Tier Beast, and taking it down will likely require some effort. If you had not achieved the Vital Energy Cyclone Realm, I would never have mentioned this. Now that you have advanced to the Vital Energy Cyclone Realm, if you and I join forces, plus the assistance of Yinghuo, we should be able to take down that Mystic Ice Turtle. I just don't know if you are willing to join forces with me, Miss Lv?"

After finishing, Duan Rong wore a faint smile, patiently waiting for Lv Qingzhu's reply.

The news of the Mystic Ice Turtle was indeed marked on that Topographical Map of Wu Shidao's, but it was a Mid-Tier Beast, and its location was quite deep within the Dark Forest.

Although Duan Rong had achieved the Qi Cyclone Realm, it was still somewhat dangerous to venture into the depths of the Dark Forest alone.

If he hadn't suddenly encountered Lv Qingzhu in this deep valley, he truly hadn't planned on setting his sights on that Mystic Ice Turtle right now.

But since he had met Lv Qingzhu, and she had achieved the Qi Cyclone Realm, he couldn't help but be moved by this idea. Because both he and Lv Qingzhu needed the shell of the Mystic Ice Turtle to cultivate the Thirteenth Layer of Womb Treasury Sutra.

In fact, Duan Rong already had a plan in his heart: he would rather take a risk to find a way to rescue Xiao Yu from the Tower Forest as soon as possible. If Zhu He hadn't suddenly brought him to see the Ancestor, he might have already started arranging this matter.

Even though he was currently in the deep valley, as long as he passed this hurdle with the Ancestor, he would immediately go to work on rescuing Xiao Yu.

Regarding the rescue of Xiao Yu, his own cultivation realm and strength were actually quite important; after all, the four positions guarding the Tower Forest were held by four experts at the First Layer of the Qi Cyclone Realm.

If he hadn't also advanced to the Qi Cyclone Realm, there wouldn't even be a glimmer of hope for this matter.

But even though he had advanced to the Qi Cyclone Realm, taking on four people at once to snatch Xiao Yu out, and then ensuring Xiao Yu wasn't snatched back, was by no means an easy task; it required careful planning!

If he could rapidly increase his own strength, his chances of success in rescuing Xiao Yu from the Tower Forest would be much greater.

However, his dantian had suffered a hidden injury, and it would take more than a month for it to fully heal; this meant that within this month, it was impossible for his cultivation realm to have any major improvement.

Otherwise, if the dantian were repeatedly put under pressure, the hidden injury would keep tearing, leading to endless future troubles.

Although his cultivation realm could not be improved, Duan Rong still had one method to rapidly increase his strength: achieving the Thirteenth Layer of Womb Treasury Sutra.

Because after achieving the Thirteenth Layer of Womb Treasury Sutra, he could devour a Spirit Tool containing a higher Artistic Conception.

Although his cultivation realm could not be improved in the short term, if he devoured and digested a higher Artistic Conception, the power of his Blade Radiance would be further increased.

This would allow him to have a not-insignificant increase in overall strength in a very short time.

After all, once he obtained the shell of the Mystic Ice Turtle, achieving the Thirteenth Layer of Womb Treasury Sutra would be a matter of minutes.

Then, by going to the place where weapons were selected and devouring a wave of Spirit Tools, his strength would immediately climb.

Lv Qingzhu looked at Duan Rong for a while, seemingly in thought, then suddenly asked: "When are we going?"

Duan Rong was not surprised by Lv Qingzhu's question; he had long calculated that she would inevitably agree. Just as he was about to reply, he suddenly saw Zhu He walking in through the valley entrance again.

Duan Rong stood at the entrance of Lv Qingzhu's cave, and the master and disciple exchanged a glance, but Zhu He ignored Duan Rong and walked straight past.

Seeing Zhu He walk past, Duan Rong looked at Lv Qingzhu and said: "Wait until I finish handling the matter at hand. Wait for my news."

"Good!" Lv Qingzhu said, then turned and returned into the cave.

Seeing Lv Qingzhu's figure disappear into the dark cave, Duan Rong also walked away and came near the entrance of Lv Yinlin's cave; he had just seen Zhu He walk into Lv Yinlin's cave.

Deep inside the cave, Lv Yinlin sat before a Stone Table, listening expressionlessly as Zhu He finished stating his deductions, then took two sips of water without saying a word.

Duan Rong was standing not far from the cave entrance, bored, kicking a pebble on the ground, when suddenly a voice rang in his ear without warning.

"Come in!"

Duan Rong gave a start. The voice was quite imposing and solemn; it was precisely Lv Yinlin's voice.

Duan Rong turned and walked into the cave with quick steps.

In the depths of the cave illuminated by fluorescent light, Lv Yinlin sat before the Stone Table, and Zhu He stood not far in front of him. As soon as Duan Rong entered, both their gazes turned toward him.

Duan Rong immediately crawled and knelt toward Lv Yinlin.

Lv Yinlin said: "Get up."

Duan Rong stood up and glanced at Zhu He; Zhu He's expression was somewhat complex at this moment.

Lv Yinlin asked straightforwardly: "Duan Rong, have you achieved the twelfth layer of the Womb Treasury Sutra?"

Duan Rong's expression did not move, and he said: "Yes."

"Where did you get the cultivation technique?!"

The four words "where did you get" from Lv Yinlin were spoken in a very light tone, yet they carried a hidden pressure that congealed in the air.

Duan Rong knelt down again and said bluntly: "This disciple is guilty!"

Immediately, Duan Rong recounted the entire Xu Ruhu Case from beginning to end, without holding anything back.

Standing to the side, Zhu He heard Duan Rong lay everything out, and his originally complex and anxious expression finally eased; he stood to the side, looking at Duan Rong with a satisfied gaze.

If Duan Rong had hidden the truth or tried to deflect and make up excuses at this moment, that would truly have been foolish.

After Duan Rong finished his account, he crawled and knelt again, saying: "This disciple privately stole the Sect's cultivation technique; I ask the Ancestor to punish me!"

Lv Yinlin looked at the prostrate and kneeling Duan Rong, paused for a moment, and then said: "The person who stole the cultivation technique was Xu Ruhu. As for you, you can be considered to have eliminated a pest for our Sect, so your merits and faults shall cancel each other out."

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong felt a surge of joy in his heart. He raised his head, but with a sincere expression, he looked at Lv Yinlin and said: "Thank you, Ancestor, for your magnanimity!"

Lv Yinlin stared at Duan Rong, his gaze flashing with gravity as he said: "Duan Rong, I shall ask you this! Even with the technique, how were you able to achieve all twelve levels of the Womb Treasury Sutra in such a short time?"

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong's face suddenly showed a flash of astonishment. But this astonishment was merely something he had feigned. He had long anticipated that Lv Yinlin would surely ask this.

Duan Rong pretended to be hesitant and said: "When this disciple first practiced the Womb Treasury Sutra, I discovered that within my Spirit Sea of clarity, there was a patch of dim light. Once this disciple followed the cultivation method of the Womb Treasury Sutra to circulate..."

Duan Rong then recounted the scene of his practice of the Womb Treasury Sutra to Lv Yinlin and Zhu He, down to the smallest detail.

He spoke very meticulously, because everything he said was the truth.

Zhu He listened, feeling fascinated, his face full of disbelief.

Lv Yinlin, however, had a deep, contemplative look in his eyes, and he interrupted Duan Rong several times to ask him a few questions.

Every time Lv Yinlin asked something, Duan Rong answered truthfully, without holding anything back.

After hearing Duan Rong's account of the entire cultivation process, Lv Yinlin looked at Duan Rong and said: "In other words, the first time you practiced the Womb Treasury Sutra and entered your own Spirit Sea of clarity, that sea of dim light was already there."

Duan Rong said: "Yes!"

"And you do not know where they came from?"

Duan Rong said: "This disciple does not know."

"After each cultivation session consumes them, can that sea of dim light repair and replenish itself, returning to its original state?"

Duan Rong said: "Correct! That is how it is."

In truth, what Lv Yinlin wanted to know most was the origin of that sea of dim light. But now it seemed that the sea of dim light was something that inherently existed within Duan Rong's Divine Soul, like some kind of Divine Soul imprint passed down through many lifetimes.

Lv Yinlin pondered for a long time, then suddenly raised his head to look at Duan Rong, saying: "In your repeated practice, have you noticed why those seas of dim light take the shape of trees?"

Duan Rong's face looked bewildered, and he said: "Regarding this point, this disciple is also truly puzzled."

Of course he knew, because those were all the Tree Spirits he had devoured one by one.

Lv Yinlin sighed and said: "You can trigger the Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi Tide; there must be something extraordinary about you. That sea of dim light is of great benefit to your cultivation; you must grasp this well."

Duan Rong said: "Many thanks for the Ancestor's instruction."

Lv Yinlin said: "Duan Rong, I shall ask you this. I intend to keep you by my side for twenty years to personally guide your cultivation; are you willing?!"

"Ah!"

Duan Rong felt a shock in his heart; the development of events had clearly far exceeded his expectations.

He had originally planned to save Xiao Yu from the Tower Forest, but now, not only had he not saved Xiao Yu, he himself was going to be trapped in this deep valley.

Duan Rong did not know how to answer for a moment, but turned his head to look at Zhu He beside him.

Zhu He said: "Why are you looking at me? The Ancestor is a great expert of the Nascent Soul Realm who is willing to personally guide your cultivation. Why don't you hurry up and thank him!"

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong remained kneeling there without moving. He looked at Lv Yinlin and asked: "May I ask the Ancestor, if this disciple stays by your side, does it mean I cannot leave the valley for these twenty years?"

Lv Yinlin laughed heartily and said: "I am letting you cultivate, not putting you in prison. On the fifth and tenth days of every month, I will guide your cultivation; you may arrange the other days as you wish. You are also free to enter and leave this valley."

Duan Rong breathed a secret sigh of relief. So that was how it was. He immediately knelt down and called out: "In that case, this disciple is willing!"

Lv Yinlin reached into his sleeve, took out a ruler-shaped object, and with a clatter, threw it to Duan Rong's side.

Duan Rong, who had been kneeling there, heard the sound and raised his head. He saw that on the ground beside his leg was a copper Ruler, its surface engraved with ancient and profound symbols, mottled with verdigris.

Lv Yinlin said: "This is the Array Ruler for the Symbol Array at the valley entrance; keep it safe. Later, have Little Chu teach you how to use it."

Upon hearing the words "Little Chu," Duan Rong blinked his eyes, and his expression shifted.

He remembered that the old farmer who had brought them into the valley was always called Mr. Chu by Zhu He. The "Little Chu" in Lv Yinlin's mouth was clearly this person.

However, looking only at his appearance, that man was already an old man with gray hair. Seeing how much respect Zhu He showed him, it was estimated that this person's cultivation level was not low; he might even be several hundred years old.

Lv Yinlin actually called him "Little Chu." However, thinking about it carefully, he wasn't wrong; Lv Yinlin was already over a thousand years old. Calling that old farmer "Little Chu," while strange, was also reasonable.

Duan Rong picked up the Array Ruler.

Lv Yinlin said: "Go back and pack your things, then come over. There are many Cave Abodes in the valley; you may choose one to live in yourself."

"Yes, Ancestor."

Lv Yinlin glanced at Zhu He and said: "Zhu He, you go with Duan Rong. I am a bit tired."

Zhu He immediately knelt and bowed to Lv Yinlin, saying: "Take care, Ancestor!"

Lv Yinlin nodded, and only then did Zhu He stand up and lead Duan Rong out of the cave.

The two walked slowly through the valley.

Zhu He said: "You must cultivate well in the valley. If you achieve success in your cultivation, your master will also have glory!"

Duan Rong said: "Rest assured, Master, this disciple will."

Zhu He nodded and said: "If you have time, come back to Yunfu Peak to see your master. Don't let our master-disciple relationship fade just because you are staying by the Ancestor's side."

Duan Rong said: "A teacher for a day is a father for life. How could this disciple be so rebellious?"

Zhu He smiled and said: "Those are nice words. Duan Rong, I hope that we, master and disciple, can live up to each other. In this world, I have seen many chaotic and contentious things. It is not easy to have a perfect beginning and a perfect end!"

A sense of worldly desolation surged in Zhu He's words.

Duan Rong smiled and said: "Master, you are too sentimental."

Zhu He said: "Your master is old, so it is inevitable to have a few more reflections. Also, do not take the Ancestor's investigation of you to heart. This matter is, in a way, a heartache for the Ancestor. He originally had a beloved disciple named Fu Yi, who was also gifted with extraordinary talent. The Ancestor loved him dearly and cultivated him with great care, guiding his practice without holding anything back. But who would have thought that this person was a born traitor with a rebellious nature. Not only did he betray the Taiyi Sect, but he also founded the Filthy Blood Sect, opposing the Sect at every turn. Since the incident with Fu Yi, the Ancestor's temperament has become increasingly reclusive. This thorough investigation of you is also because Fu Yi's betrayal truly broke the old man's heart."

Duan Rong said: "Rest assured, Master. This disciple will not harbor any resentment over this matter."

"That is good!"

Duan Rong could not help but secretly rejoice in his heart; fortunately, he had sensed something was wrong during the Yougu test that year and held back a hand, otherwise he would have come to Lv Yinlin's side back then.

Because he had later learned about the Sect's system.

Once the platform-stepping was successful, one could receive personal guidance from the Ancestor. Chu Qiushan, one hundred and eighty years ago, had succeeded in platform-stepping and stayed by the Ancestor's side for twenty years.

If he had come before Lv Yinlin at that time, his Spirit Sea would still have contained the origin blood light of the Filthy Blood Divine Art. If Lv Yinlin had discovered it, his fate would be imaginable. Because he could not tell Lv Yinlin that he had obtained the origin blood light of the Filthy Blood Divine Art out of curiosity by devouring a Spirit Tool.

In Lv Yinlin's view, such a powerful origin blood light could only be cultivated through long-term practice of the Filthy Blood Divine Art.

And the reverse scale in the heart of Lv Yinlin is the Filthy Blood Sect and Fu Yi. As the saying goes, the deeper the love, the sharper the hate! In a fit of rage, it is not impossible that he might even kill Duan Rong directly!

(End of this chapter)