CHAPTER 1605: CHAPTER 1605: RED-SHELL STAR-SPOTTED TURTLE

"Splash!"

A soft sound, water droplets splashed everywhere.

Qingzhu Venerable leapt into the lake, intending to pick the Heart-Shaped Leaf Grass growing at the bottom, intending to give it to Fang Bai as a token of gratitude for promising to help him forge a Royal Grade Spiritual Artifact.

Fang Bai knew that once someone as powerful as Qingzhu Venerable had made up his mind, it was hard to change it, so he didn’t stop him and sat cross-legged by the lake, waiting quietly.

Inside the seventh layer of the Linglong Tower, because very few Martial Artists could reach this level, it appeared extremely calm, with only occasional echoes of tigers roaring and apes crying from the distant mountains.

The small lake before him remained calm for several moments after Qingzhu Venerable plunged in, with the surface smoothing out like a mirror.

Yet Fang Bai could sense the spiritual energy beginning to gather beneath the serene lake, signaling the onset of a great battle.

Suddenly, with a loud "boom," it seemed as if a giant stone had fallen from the sky and struck the lake’s center, arousing a towering wave.

"Rare Spiritual Medicine is often guarded by powerful Spirit Beasts. The Heart-Shaped Leaf Grass is a King Grade superior Spiritual Medicine, so the Spirit Beast that guards it should possess strength akin to Qingzhu Venerable. Furthermore, beneath the water’s surface, the Spirit Beast might even hold some advantage. Qingzhu Venerable aiming to pick that Heart-Shaped Leaf Grass might not be easy!"

Fang Bai watched the lake surface continuously stirred by booming sounds and each ensuing wave, growing concerned for Qingzhu Venerable.

The Spirit Beast guarding the Heart-Shaped Leaf Grass was the Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle, a creature with innate water and fire attributes, massive in size, spanning more than several meters, with a crimson shell adorned with star-like spots.

The Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle appeared clumsy but was incredibly agile in combat, and its red shell provided astounding defensive capabilities, far exceeding those of spirit beasts and martial artists of the same level, making it difficult to injure through conventional means.

In a short while, the battle between one man and one beast moved from the lake bottom to the lake surface. Each clash of spiritual energy created a powerful shockwave, capable of generating enormous waves.

In the water, Qingzhu Venerable appeared at a slight disadvantage, so he flew up from the lake surface, floating in the air, launching attacks down on the Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle from above.

The Green Bamboo Fan in Qingzhu Venerable’s hand was powerful; with each swing, it stirred a fierce gale, sweeping up nearly half the lake’s water into the air, raining down like a torrent of arrows.

However, in the area where the Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle resided, the water within a radius of tens of meters was subdued by its released spiritual energy, remaining still and unmoving.

The Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle focused on defense, its shell incredibly hard. Despite repeated attacks by Qingzhu Venerable, it remained unharmed, wasting significant spiritual energy.

Occasionally, the Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle would open its mouth and spew fire columns, fiercer than volcano eruptions, with terrifying power. The area touched by the fire columns sizzled in the void.

Qingzhu Venerable hovered in mid-air, with the Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle swimming across the lake surface; thus, man and beast faced off, unable to subdue each other in the short term.

However, Fang Bai knew that if they continued mutual attacks, Qingzhu Venerable would undoubtedly suffer.

Qingzhu Venerable continuously launched attacks while airborne, depleting spiritual energy rapidly.

On the other hand, the Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle merely waited, preparing to strike fiercely at the least expected time, making it challenging for Qingzhu Venerable to resist.

"Senior Qingzhu, this Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle’s defenses are too strong and difficult to kill; how about we join forces?"

After observing the battle by the lake for a while, Fang Bai knew it was unlikely for Qingzhu Venerable to kill the Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle alone, so he spoke up.

"Kid, are you confident in killing it?"

Qingzhu Venerable asked back.

Fang Bai said, "I am eighty percent confident."

Qingzhu Venerable’s eyes lit up, and he said, "Good, I will hold this beast at bay, and you seize the chance to strike, aiming for a one-hit kill! In that case, both this beast and the Heart-Shaped Leaf Grass at the lake bottom will be yours!"

The carcass of a Soul Severing Realm Spirit Beast, along with a King Grade superior Spiritual Medicine, these cultivation resources could drive any Soul Severing Realm powerhouse mad, but Qingzhu Venerable, without hesitation, offered it all to Fang Bai, showcasing his tremendous generosity.

Fang Bai thought for a moment, respectfully nodding towards Qingzhu Venerable, and said, "In that case, thank you, senior! However, the Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle’s shell is quite defensively advantageous and could be used to enhance senior’s Green Bamboo Fan somewhat. Although the Green Bamboo Fan after enhancement won’t reach the power of a Royal Grade Spiritual Artifact, its attack and defense capabilities could at least increase by thirty percent."

Enhancing attack and defense capabilities by thirty percent is a significant deal for a High Rank Soul Severing Realm expert, Qingzhu Venerable was overjoyed upon hearing this, nodding, "That’s great!"

Qingzhu Venerable then attacked the Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle with full force, striving to prevent it from diving into the lake depths, providing Fang Bai with an opportunity to attack.

Fang Bai quickly rushed into the air, circling behind the Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle, gripping the knife handle tightly with both hands, raising it high, and circulating the "Nine Revolutions True Fire Art" cultivation technique. The fire spiritual energy within his Qi Sea surged, a fusion of the Red Silkworm Spirit Fire and the Nether Spirit Fire, and this pure fire spiritual energy began to pour madly into the Blood-Drinking Mad Blade’s body.

In an instant, the Blood-Drinking Mad Blade shone brilliantly, the blood fiend qi and scorching high heat emanating from the blade instantly enveloped the entire small lake.

How high was the temperature of the fire spiritual energy that fused two kinds of spirit fire, and how powerful was its force?

The lake water bubbled and boiled, emitting streams of white steam, and in just a few seconds, more than half the lake water evaporated under the intense heat, faintly revealing the lake bottom.

The few remaining fish in the lake were all roasted by the high temperature, with their bellies turned up, floating on the surface, and one could smell the aroma of cooked fish.

Even though the Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle had high cultivation and strong defensive capabilities, it could not withstand such high-temperature roasting, becoming restless and anxious, with no intention to continue intense fighting with Qingzhu Venerable, looking to dive into the lake bottom to hide.

However, the usual lake depths it guarded the Heart-Shaped Leaf Grass in were now unsuitable hiding spots due to the water depth and temperature.

Moreover, how could Qingzhu Venerable allow it to flee easily? The Green Bamboo Fan in his hand swung continuously, raising fierce winds and enormous waves, making it impossible for the turtle to dive into the deep water temporarily.

"I don’t know what kind of fire-based cultivation technique this kid practiced, but his fire spiritual energy is so powerful that even I can’t withstand it. I underestimated him before!"

Although Qingzhu Venerable stood a hundred meters away from Fang Bai, the intense heat released by Fang Bai’s Blood-Drinking Mad Blade still compelled him to exert full strength, forming a defense Qi shield to protect himself.

Comparatively, the blood fiend qi of the Blood-Drinking Mad Blade was formidable, but given Qingzhu Venerable’s cultivation level and strong will, it posed no threat to him temporarily.