Chapter 1024

The boundless, verdant primeval forest was like an unchanging green labyrinth from ancient times. Massive ancient tree roots twisted together, forming natural bulwarks and traps on the ground. The dense canopy blocked sky and sun; only sporadic specks of light pierced through, casting shifting shadows on the ground carpeted with thick humus. The air was so damp it could wring water, mixed with soil, plants, and a strange fragrance of unknown blossoms and fruits; the rich vital aura almost became tangible.

Han Wuxian's figure struggled to move between the huge trunks and hanging vines. Each step he took was extraordinarily careful; the wet, slippery moss and gnarled tree roots underfoot could cause a fall at any moment.

Although his arms were coated with the juice of the purple vine, temporarily stabilizing the bone fractures and dulling the pain, the damage to his internal meridians and the fragility of the newly forming bone meant he could exert no strength at all, relying only on his waist, abdomen, and legs to keep his balance.

His perception had been heightened to the extreme. His spiritual sense spread like an invisible web, cautiously extending in all directions. This seemingly vibrant forest hid deadly danger everywhere.

Hiss—

On a gorgeous vine entwined around a huge tree on the left, a small jade-green snake camouflaged to match the vine's color shot out like lightning, its fangs aimed at his neck! Its speed was astonishing!

Han Wuxian's pupils constricted; at the critical instant he instinctively leaned back! At the same time, his remaining spiritual power surged into his legs, executing the exquisite footwork of the 'Crane Treading on Moving Clouds'—his toe tapped the slick ground, his body swayed like a willow fluff in the wind, narrowly dodging the snake's strike.

The snake's strike missed, landing on the rotting leaves; its triangular head rose warily, emitting a threatening hiss.

Han Wuxian's eyes were icy, without hesitation. He pushed off with his feet, his form drifting several zhang away, quickly leaving the snake's attack range. In such a place, any unnecessary battle could summon a more terrifying existence.

He pressed on, relying on the faint, compass-like sensation of the Star Chart imprint of the Qinghe Immortal Maiden within him, heading toward where spiritual energy was denser. The imprint's resonance waxed and waned, as if guiding him yet also being disturbed by the continent's own powerful life field.

As he went deeper, the forest's creatures grew ever stranger. He saw giant birds with wingspans of several zhang, their feathers flashing metallic luster, gliding between the treetops; he saw beasts resembling wild boars but with sabre-like tusks and thick stone-like armor plating, wallowing in mud pits; even in a forest clearing, he caught sight of a flock of creatures only fist-sized yet entirely crystalline and transparent like crystal carvings—hummingbirds—fluttering around a few huge flowers radiating seven-colored light; each wingbeat scattered fine glitter, breathtakingly beautiful yet also emitting a palpitation-inducing energy ripple.

Han Wuxian became even more cautious, trying to avoid all living things, using terrain and shadows to move stealthily.

After traveling about half a day, he crossed a low ridge overgrown with strange ferns, and the view ahead suddenly opened up.

A huge lake lay before him.

The lake water showed an almost magical azure hue, clear to the bottom, reflecting the sky and the silhouettes of the surrounding giant trees, tranquil as a sapphire set in the earth. A light white mist hovered over the surface, refracting into a rainbow halo in the sunlight. Thick water-attribute spiritual energy, almost tangible, washed over him, lifting Han Wuxian's spirits; his injuries seemed to ease a little under its nourishment.

What shocked Han Wuxian even more was that, the moment he neared the lake, the Star Chart imprint within him suddenly resonated with crystal clarity and intensity! A warm, familiar pulse of stellar power faintly emanated from the lake's depths!

"In the lake?!" Han Wuxian shot a sharp gaze at the calm surface. The imprint's guidance was unmistakable; the clues left by the Qinghe Immortal Maiden, or perhaps a secret tied to the Star Sea Chart, very likely lay deep in the lake's heart!

But how could such a place of abundant spiritual energy lack a powerful guardian?

Han Wuxian did not rashly approach the shore. He hid behind a massive ancient tree whose roots were exposed at the lakeside, his spiritual sense scanning the lake surface and depths like the most precise radar.

Still, unnervingly still. Apart from the tiny ripples stirred by a breeze, not even a waterbird's shadow could be seen. Around the shore, even the hardy grasses and trees seemed to keep a distance from the water, intentionally or not.

This stillness, however, exuded an unsettling eeriness.

Han Wuxian waited patiently, observing. Time slipped by, the sun slanted westward, and the iridescent mist over the lake grew thicker.

Just as the sunset was about to dip below the horizon, dyeing the sky orange-red, a sudden change occurred!

Boom—

The water surface at the lake's center exploded without warning! A thick water column several zhang in diameter shot up into the sky! Spray flew everywhere, like a downpour!

Accompanying the rising water column was a deafening roar filled with ferocity and hunger!

"Roar!!!"

The sound wave struck like a tangible shockwave, instantly sweeping across the lake surface, causing the branches and leaves of the lakeside giant trees to tremble wildly!

As the water column fell, a massive, suffocatingly terrifying figure appeared at the lake's center!

It was none other than a colossal turtle!

But far from an ordinary turtle! Just the portion of its carapace breaking the surface was as large as a small hill, its shell a deep, somber green, covered in ferocious bone spurs and dark-red patterns like flowing lava, exuding an ancient, vicious aura. An enormous head protruded from the front of the shell, crocodile-like, clad in thick black-brown scales, with a pair of wheel-sized eyes flashing a cruel, bloodthirsty dark gold.

Its huge mouth gaped open, revealing interlocking, scythe-like ivory fangs, saliva mixed with lake water dripping constantly.

This turtle's aura had reached the peak of early Nascent Soul, even brushing the threshold of mid Nascent Soul! Its savage, ancient pressure, as if stepped out of the primordial era, made Han Wuxian, hidden behind the tree, feel instantly suffocated; every hair on his body stood on end.

"An Azure Water Black Armor Crocodile Turtle?!" Han Wuxian sucked in a breath of cold air, recognizing this dreadful beast recorded only in the Ancient Bestiary of Strange Beasts! Possessing boundless strength, peerless defense, a violent temperament, and an extremely strong territorial instinct—no wonder the lakeside was so 'clean'; it was its domain!

The turtle seemed to have just finished a hunt, a half-eaten limb of some large aquatic creature still dangling from the edge of its massive crocodilian jaws. Its dark-gold giant eyes swept the lake surface; finally, that icy, violent gaze, brimming with endless greed, like two searchlights, locked onto the area where Han Wuxian hid!

It seemed to have caught the scent of unfamiliar, pure-spiritual-energy 'food'!

"Roar!" Another bellow full of threat and greed! The Azure Water Black Armor Crocodile Turtle's massive body churned the lake, raising towering waves, and, astonishingly fast for its size, surged toward where Han Wuxian concealed himself!

The lake water split apart before its massive form, forming two towering walls of water! Its terrifying pressure, like a tangible tsunami, instantly engulfed Han Wuxian!

Flee!

This was the only thought in Han Wuxian's mind! Against such a primordial ferocious beast, hard resistance meant only a dead end!