Chapter 447: Human Pet

The commotion caused by a Yuan Ying Cultivator's duel was no small matter, especially now that a large number of cultivators had gathered within the Ice Immortal Pavilion.

However, after sensing the commotion, few dared to approach.

Only Zhang Ding Tian, who came to oppose the Five Elements Heavenly Thunder Sword, and the many Yuan Ying Cultivators who harbored misgivings toward Yunhe.

Upon seeing the ice-bound Vast Sea Spirit Turtle and Wan Hai Lin, everyone couldn't help but gasp.

It was hardly surprising that Wan Hai Lin could not defeat Yunhe.

Yet what astonished everyone was that they didn't even feel Yunhe exerting much effort before he easily subdued Wan Hai Lin and the Vast Sea Spirit Turtle.

Moreover, this happened while he was obstructed by Zhang Ding Tian, the "Binding Tiger Daoist," who was also a mid-stage Yuan Ying Cultivator.

This moment.

Many cultivators who had doubted Yunhe's reputation as "the foremost cultivator below late-stage Yuan Ying great cultivators" realized the meaning of "fame without empty reputation."

At the same time, these cultivators developed a deep sense of apprehension toward Yunhe.

Ming—

With such a blow, the Vast Sea Spirit Turtle might still survive, but Wan Hai Lin, merely a late Jie Dan Stage cultivator, had no chance of survival.

This Chi Tiger even made him feel a certain pressure.

For a moment.

Boom!!!

Countless ice crystals silently vanished.

In Zhang Ding Tian's view, Yunhe's action was nothing more than a show of force.

Zhang Ding Tian's spiritual power instantly condensed into terrifying lightning.

His flying sword left his body, and suddenly a surge of Five Elements magical power arose; amidst the misty five-colored radiance, a phantom of a Five-Colored Phoenix condensed, its wings fluttering, bathed in five-colored light, and descended straight down.

Shushushu—

Soon, from Yunhe's body erupted an extremely sharp aura, as if an invisible great flying sword shot straight into the heavens, forming a direct confrontation with the ferocious and terrifying aura of that Chi Tiger.

Yet the many Yuan Ying Cultivators soon discovered in astonishment that the Vast Sea Spirit Turtle and Wan Hai Lin were completely unharmed!

Only because a faint blue light shield surrounded them, flowing with strange power.

Lightning and sword qi intertwined, even destabilizing the surrounding space.

But Yunhe merely glanced at the Chi Tiger, released his aura to slightly intimidate it, then turned his attention back to the ice-bound Wan Hai Lin and Vast Sea Spirit Turtle.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

White lightning seemed to appear out of nowhere in the sky above, flickering incessantly.

If Yunhe could deal with Wan Hai Lin out of personal spite, would he also deal with them?

Yet now, just looking at the sword intent emanating from him, one could say he was a genuine sword cultivator, and few would doubt it.

However.

This was unacceptable to Zhang Ding Tian.

The Five-Colored Phoenix cried out again and crashed down violently.

In fact, the one feeling the greatest shock and anger at this moment was Zhang Ding Tian.

Yunhe's eyes flashed with cold light; he no longer held back, and with a flick of his wrist, he shot out a Five Elements Heavenly Thunder Sword.

His divine sense "saw" the light shield; the originally anger-fallen Thunder Chi Tiger's movement stalled abruptly, then quickly dissolved into lightning and vanished.

"Roar!!!"

Afterwards, Zhang Ding Tian solemnly flicked his fingers; a talisman flew toward the thunder tiger, instantly expanding and enveloping the sky above in its terrifying form.

The Chi Tiger leapt into midair.

Indeed, a show of force.

"What strong sword qi and sword intent!"

But in the future, he, Zhang Ding Tian, will surely become the backdrop against which Yunhe's fame is forged.

Seeing this, Cold Sword True Lord widened his eyes and couldn't help but sigh.

At the same time, he formed hand seals, countless lightning gathered in his palms, coalescing into a lifelike Chi Tiger.

When he first met Yunhe, the latter used only a flying sword, let alone sword intent or sword qi—he didn't even have sword techniques, yet he once exchanged a set of sword techniques with Yunhe.

Obviously.

This ice seal is not enough to completely suppress the Vast Sea Spirit Turtle; it is still resisting.

Merely saying a word about Yunhe's maid would provoke him to pursue responsibility to this extent; one can imagine that anyone wishing to act against those he protects must first consider whether they can withstand Yunhe's wrath.

"Spirit Treasure!"

It seemed as if a huge air wave shot straight into the heavens, and the clouds above the Ice Snow Pavilion suddenly dispersed.

Upon seeing this Thunder Chi Tiger, Yunhe's expression also grew somewhat solemn.

In his long whistle, accompanied by rolling thunder that shook the heavens.

The enormous Thunder Chi Tiger hovered above, looking down as if scorning all things.

Yunhe, right before his eyes, seized Wan Hai Lin without the slightest courtesy—this not only established his prestige by using Wan Hai Lin, but also stepped on his name to establish prestige.

I don't know who cried out in surprise.

"Sea Clan."

Zhang Ding Tian's pupils contracted even more as he muttered.

The light shield surrounding the Vast Sea Spirit Turtle and Wan Hai Lin is undoubtedly a Sea Clan body-protection treasure; the aura flowing within it is saturated with Sea Clan cultivator aura, something no Yuan Ying Cultivator's divine sense could miss.

Then why does Wan Hai Lin possess a Sea Clan treasure?

Moreover, it is a Sea Clan treasure capable of blocking Yunhe's strike—clearly this is no ordinary mid-stage Fourth Level treasure.

This moment.

Zhang Ding Tian and the Yuan Ying Cultivators present seemed to only then realize that Yunhe was giving everyone an answer, not saying he was seeking personal vengeance, but everyone had conflated the matter and subconsciously thought so.

But now seeing Wan Hailin forced by Yunhe to use a Sea Clan treasure to save his life, this immediately explains many issues.

Wan Hailin is extremely likely to be the cultivator who colluded with the Sea Clan!

This not only startled many people, but also gave rise to a chilling feeling.

You should know, Wan Hailin is the person responsible for the intelligence of the Yuan State and Wu State; if he is a human cultivator who has defected to the Sea Clan, can his information still be trusted?

At the same time, it also explains why, during the previous Sea Clan incursion, Sea Clan cultivators could silently infiltrate their rear.

And the reason Wan Hailin was not suspected.

It is also because the Yuan State fell, and the Myriad Beasts Sect where he is located suffered heavy losses as well, even greater than the losses of the Nine Dragon Sect where Elder Fudong resides.

No one would have thought Wan Hailin would be a traitor.

"Trash!"

Within the light barrier, the Vast Sea Spirit Turtle, its eyes dark and gloomy, glared at Wan Hailin and shouted angrily, showing no trace of its former obedient demeanor as a spirit pet.

And Wan Hailin, facing the Vast Sea Spirit Turtle's rebuke, seemed to have lost his composure as the beast master, keeping a stern face but daring not to speak.

The roles of human and spirit beast seemed to have been reversed.

This caused Zhang Ding Tian and the Yuan Ying Cultivators to raise their eyebrows.

It was somewhat unexpected.

However, Yunhe seemed to have known this all along, looking down on them and chuckling lightly as he said:

"It is common knowledge for cultivators to tame spirit beasts. But if the spirit beast's strength is too great and it refuses to meekly serve as a spirit pet, there is still a chance for their roles to reverse. You'd agree, Fellow Daoist Wan?"

Facing Yunhe's undisguised mockery and even ridicule, Wan Hailin's face darkened further, yet he merely gritted his teeth and remained silent.

The situation instantly became clear: Wan Hailin, who relied on the Fourth‑Level spirit beast Vast Sea Spirit Turtle to wander among the Yuan Ying Cultivators, was actually the spirit beast's human pet!

"Hmph!" the Vast Sea Spirit Turtle snorted coldly, glaring at Yunhe and snarled: "Since human cultivators can bind spirit pets, why can't I, a spirit beast, bind a human pet?"

This Vast Sea Spirit Turtle is a spirit beast raised by the Myriad Beasts Sect, without a doubt.

It is actually no different from Yunhe's Gold‑Eating Armored Beast.

Even Yunhe's Gold‑Eating Armored Beast, despite its gentle nature, had unhesitatingly said it wanted freedom when the Flame‑Stepping Red Jackal asked if it desired liberty; how much more so for this Vast Sea Spirit Turtle, which appears far more aggressive than the Gold‑Eating Armored Beast?

Moreover, according to Yunhe's understanding, the time this Vast Sea Spirit Turtle has "served" the Myriad Beasts Sect is longer than that of the Gold‑Eating Armored Beast, and by a considerable margin.

Actually, when the Vast Sea Spirit Turtle first broke through to the Fourth Level, it had no thought of rebellion, because at that time the leader of the Myriad Beasts Sect was also a Yuan Ying Cultivator.

But as time passed, when the Myriad Beasts Sect's inheritance ran into trouble and not every leader was a Yuan Ying Cultivator, it inevitably began to have ideas.

Why should I submit to a cultivator far weaker than me and let him command me?

It was from the birth of this thought that the Vast Sea Spirit Turtle began to conceive of turning the tables.

And after the last Yuan Ying Cultivator of the Myriad Beasts Sect passed away, it took control of the sect's authority.

The Myriad Beasts Sect has not produced a Yuan Ying Cultivator in all these years, and that is also its intention.

However, the Myriad Beasts Sect's spirit beasts losing control is actually not a major issue.

But the problem lies in the fact that it not only lost control, but also made contact with the Monster Clan and even the Sea Clan, which makes the problem serious.

As a major sect of the coastal Yuan State, the Vast Sea Spirit Turtle wanting to secretly contact the Sea Clan would go unnoticed by anyone.

"I am curious." The Vast Sea Spirit Turtle stared at Yunhe and asked: "How did you know it was I who contacted the Sea Clan, and how did you know I am the master?"

It no longer concealed anything and directly admitted to its collusion with the Sea Clan.

If Wan Hailin colluded with the Sea Clan, he is a traitor.

But the Vast Sea Spirit Turtle colluding with the Sea Clan cannot truly be called a traitor.

Yunhe's answer was simple, only four words.

"Flame‑Stepping Red Jackal."

Upon hearing this, the Vast Sea Spirit Turtle's pupils shrank and it exclaimed: "You searched its soul?!"

It is not unaware that Yunhe slew the Flame‑Stepping Red Jackal and the Wind‑Swallowing Beast; today, when Wan Hailin spoke of the Sea Clan female cultivator, it was also influenced by it.

But winning a fight is one thing, killing is another, and soul searching is yet another.

Even if they are both mid‑stage Yuan Ying Cultivators, one would not dare to casually search the soul of a mid‑stage Yuan Ying Cultivator or a mid‑stage Fourth‑Level spirit beast.

Because soul searching carries great risk; at best it fails, and the searched entity's soul and spirit scatter.

At worst, the searcher is affected by the searched, causing a drastic change in temperament.

But it did not know that Yunhe, even at the early Yuan Ying stage, already possessed divine sense comparable to a late‑stage Yuan Ying Cultivator, and with the aid of the Beast Soul Banner treasure, the difficulty of soul searching was far simpler than the Vast Sea Spirit Turtle's understanding.

It was also in the Flame‑Stepping Red Jackal's memories that Yunhe learned that it had previously come into contact with the Myriad Beasts Sect's Vast Sea Spirit Turtle.

Although it cannot be certain whether the Vast Sea Spirit Turtle and Wan Hailin are the ones colluding with the Sea Clan, for Yunhe knowing this alone is enough.

Even if they did not collude with the Sea Clan, they likely colluded with the Monster Clan and the Monster Alliance.

Moreover, the Gold‑Eating Armored Beast's former Fan Clan was annihilated, yet the Myriad Beasts Sect where the Vast Sea Spirit Turtle resides was not destroyed, which is a major problem.

You should know, what the Flame‑Stepping Red Jackal and the Wind‑Swallowing Beast dislike most is human cultivators who command spirit beasts; yet they did not destroy the Myriad Beasts Sect, indicating there is a deeper reason.

As for evidence?

The cultivation world does not need evidence.

Especially when there is an imbalance of power.

Furthermore.

In order to protect themselves, did the Vast Sea Spirit Turtle and Wan Hailin not expose themselves voluntarily?

Regarding Yunhe's exchange with the Vast Sea Spirit Turtle, Zhang Ding Tian and the Yuan Ying Cultivators were puzzled, but the process no longer matters; what matters is that we have now found the cultivator who colluded with the Sea Clan.

In an instant, everyone showed anger.

Especially Elder Fudong of the Nine Dragon Sect.

Although the Vast Sea Spirit Turtle and Wan Hailin's collusion with the Sea Clan caused heavy losses to the Myriad Beasts Sect, which he does not care about, he and the Nine Dragon Sect have suffered an undeserved disaster—not only was their mountain gate destroyed and occupied, but their disciples also suffered heavy losses.

It can be said that, among everyone present, Fu Long Senior was the one who held the deepest grudge against the traitor.

He gritted his teeth and let out a loud shout:

"Come die!"

He immediately flicked his sleeve, and the fire-red sash coiled around his waist shot out like a fire snake, instantly transforming into a sun-blocking Fire Python that ferociously lunged to bite Wan Hai Lin and the Hanhai Spirit Turtle.

Boom!!

The flames and water currents collided head-on, instantly erupting with a deep roar and a large amount of rising water vapor and mist.

But when the steam quickly dissipated, they found that the Fire Python summoned by Fu Long Senior had only wrapped and bound them, failing to shatter the misty azure light shield.

This caused Fu Long Senior's expression to stiffen slightly.

The Hanhai Spirit Turtle inside the shield couldn't help but let out a sneering laugh.

"This treasure is called the 'Dragon Fish Deep Water Shield.' Although it is only a mid-grade Fourth Level magic item, it was forged by incorporating part of the divine power of the 'Dragon Fish Hanhai Grand Formation,' and further infused with over half the mana of a Fourth Level late-stage sea clan elder—how could it be broken by a mere Yuan Ying early-stage cultivator like you?"

Having said that, the Hanhai Spirit Turtle turned its gaze to Yunhe, its eyes narrowing as it spoke coldly:

"Old Devil Yunhe, did you think the news that Wan Xiaozhi reported about discovering sea clan cultivators within the Wu Kingdom was false? You don't realize the sea clan is already approaching."

Upon hearing this, the group of Yuan Ying Cultivators, including Zhang Ding Tian, all changed expression dramatically.

The sea clan is approaching?!

Last time, the gathered strength of the human cultivators was even greater than now, and even a late-stage Yuan Ying grandmaster, Wu Xiang Sword Lord, was stationed there, yet they were ambushed by the sea clan, suffering heavy losses.

This time, although there are many Yuan Ying Cultivators gathered in the Ice Immortal Pavilion, the strongest are only these two mid-stage Yuan Ying Cultivators, Yunhe and Zhang Ding Tian.

If they are ambushed again by the sea clan,

Seeing everyone's expressions, the Hanhai Spirit Turtle gave a disdainful smile and said softly: "I wonder if you. can withstand a Fourth Level late-stage sea clan elder."

(End of Chapter)