111: The Soul-Searching Demon Turtle Reveals Secrets
Before dawn could tear through the ink-blue sky, Li Muchen had already returned to the Old Guandong Inn. The inn was utterly silent, save for the night watchman dozing behind the counter.
Without disturbing anyone, his figure flickered slightly as he returned to his own room. Chen Feng was still sound asleep next door, his breathing steady. The Calming Restriction Li Muchen had set upon leaving last night was evidently still in effect, shielding him from nightmares.
Li Muchen sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion in the quiet room. With a wave of his hand, he set up a simple Restriction to block sound and probing senses, then flicked his sleeve.
A streak of dark light flashed, and the foot-long black "little fish" landed on the floor. The moment it touched ground, it expanded rapidly. Within a breath, it had restored its massive, ferocious true form—the "Black Water Yuan Lord"! However, its eyes were now tightly shut, its body still tightly bound by layers of pale golden "Spirit-Binding Radiance Curses," like a giant beast trussed up with countless golden threads. Its Demonic Qi was feeble, its life force faint.
Li Muchen did not act immediately. Instead, he first swept his Divine Sense meticulously over the Demon Turtle's entire body, especially its head. This beast had cultivated for centuries; its demonic soul was solidified and its memories vast and chaotic. Forcibly searching its soul could easily trigger a soul self-detonation or cause key information to be missed. He needed to first stabilize its nearly collapsing demonic soul before proceeding cautiously.
He pointed with his fingers, sending several gentle, soothing streams of pale golden True Qi into the Demon Turtle's brow, temporarily protecting its Soul Flame from extinguishing. Simultaneously, he silently recited passages from the *Yellow Court Scripture* meant to pacify the Divine Soul and sort through chaotic thoughts. Strands of intent imbued with the clear sound of the Great Dao, like a spring breeze turning to rain, quietly permeated the softshell turtle's chaotic, terrified, and resentment-filled depths of its Sea of Consciousness.
The Demon Turtle's massive body trembled slightly. Within its tightly shut giant eyes, the look of pain and savagery calmed somewhat, replaced by a vacant, dazed stupor.
The moment had arrived.
Li Muchen slightly closed his eyes, his Divine Sense concentrating into a needle-like point as he cautiously probed into the Demon Turtle's Sea of Consciousness.
Instantly, countless chaotic, distorted fragments of images, sounds, and emotions, reeking of water and blood, surged forth like a burst dam!
It was the long, lonely centuries spent dwelling in the depths of the Black Water River. Catching fish and shrimp, absorbing moon essence, fighting with its own kind, evading natural predators and human Cultivators... Most memories were blurry and monotonous, filled with the most primal instincts of survival and cultivation.
Li Muchen's Divine Sense, like the most skilled weaver, swiftly passed over these meaningless fragments, delving deeper into memory regions that were more recent and marked by intense emotional fluctuations or special imprints.
Soon, he "saw" the scenes he sought.
About sixty or seventy years ago, the figure of a "human" first appeared in the Demon Turtle's memories. Not ordinary fishermen or Cultivators who stumbled in by chance, but several figures dressed similarly to last night's Grey-robed figures, yet with more ancient and complex patterns, their auras deeper and more obscure. They seemed to know some secret method of communicating with aquatic creatures. Using special tributes and promises, they established initial contact with the Demon Turtle, whose cultivation had just taken form at the time.
In the following decades, contact was intermittent. Those "humans" would occasionally come, sometimes bringing tributes, other times asking the softshell turtle to do things—like driving away other Essence Spirits from a certain stretch of water, watching for humans with specific auras (such as those born in yin years, yin months, yin hours, with pure souls) who fell into the water or approached, or even... assisting in "disposing" of some "goods" (humans) brought to the riverbank who had long lost consciousness.
The Demon Turtle didn't fully understand these "humans'" goals, but it could sense the power behind them and the benefits their "tributes" provided for its cultivation. Over time, a "cooperative relationship" based on exchange of benefits formed.
Until about ten years ago, a turning point appeared in the memory scenes.
The visitor was no longer an ordinary Grey-robed attendant, but an old man wearing dark purple robes trimmed with black, whose aura was even more profound and unfathomable. This old man had a gaunt face, sinister eyes, and a deep purple tattoo resembling a vertical eye on his forehead. He not only brought richer "tributes" but also personally inscribed that complex "Spirit-Gathering Miasma-Transforming" compound Formation on the spirit-eye stone in the underwater cavern!
"Black Water Yuan Lord, this Formation is complete. From now on, your cultivation speed can increase by thirty percent. In exchange, you need to cooperate more closely with the 'Alliance's' operations." The old man's mental fluctuations were icy and domineering. "Soon, a batch of important 'spirit materials' will pass through Black Water Ridge. There may be petty thieves coveting them. You must ensure the waterway is clear and, if necessary... eliminate obstacles. This is Elder Purple Fiend's written order. Do well."
Elder Purple Fiend! Li Muchen's heart stirred. This was clearly a title of considerable status within the "Five Immortals Alliance."
From then on, the Demon Turtle's connection with the "Five Immortals Alliance" became closer. It began regularly receiving that "Tongyou Spirit-Guiding Incense" to burn at specific locations along the riverbank, seemingly to maintain contact with a more distant existence or mark some kind of "passage." It also became more involved in the "Alliance's" affairs, such as assisting in guarding "sacrificial offerings" temporarily imprisoned in hidden caves along the riverbank, using its water-control talent to create fog or undercurrents to hinder potential investigators.
Memory fragments flashed by rapidly. Li Muchen saw more details: scenes of Grey-robed figures escorting unconscious humans; crude cages and suppression Talismans in hidden caves along the riverbank; the occasional cold instructions from "Elder Purple Fiend" demanding heightened vigilance or execution of certain tasks; and... fragmented mentions by a few other powerful Elders with different titles—"Great Aunt Hu San," "Second Master Huang," "Old Madame Bai," "Venerable Liu," "Eighth Master Grey"... These were clearly honorific titles corresponding to the Five Immortals Ancestors.
The most crucial memory appeared about three months ago.
The visitor was still that old man with the Purple Fiend tattoo on his forehead, but his expression this time was noticeably tinged with urgency and gravity.
"The hundred-year period is about to end. The return of the Ancestors is imminent! Preparations for the 'Sacred Altar' must be accelerated!" the old man ordered the Demon Turtle. "There will be major activity near 'Snow Nest' in Black Water Ridge recently. You must strengthen patrols upstream and downstream. Any suspicious individuals approaching, especially those possessing cultivation, must be intercepted and driven away immediately. If they cannot be driven away... lure them here for you to deal with. They absolutely must not interfere with the 'Sacred Altar's' Spirit Awakening!"
"Snow Nest" was mentioned again! And explicitly as the location of the "Sacred Altar," where "Spirit Awakening" preparations were underway!
"...When exactly? What do I need to do?" the Demon Turtle inquired via mental fluctuations.
"The Night of the Full Moon is the time of the Grand Sacrifice," the old man's eyes flashed with fanaticism. "At that time, the Incarnations of the Five Lineage Ancestors will personally descend upon the 'Sacred Altar' to receive the 'Spirit Medium,' communicate with the Ancestral Spirits, and renew the covenant! You only need to guard your waterway gate, and that will be a great merit. Afterwards, the Alliance will naturally help you dissolve your throat bone and condense your demonic core, truly stepping into the realm of a Great Demon!"
Dissolving the throat bone and condensing a demonic core! For any Essence Spirit, this was an irresistible temptation. The Demon Turtle immediately agreed.
Over the next month or so, the Demon Turtle's memories contained more and more abnormal activity from the direction of "Snow Nest." It often sensed obscure yet powerful energy fluctuations from there—sometimes thick Demonic Qi soaring skyward, sometimes strange fragrances permeating the mountain forests, other times slight, abnormal tremors from the earth veins. Out of curiosity, it had probed from afar with its Divine Sense a few times, but the periphery of "Snow Nest" seemed to be protected by an extremely powerful concealment and alarm Formation. Its Divine Sense was repelled the moment it approached, drawing stern warnings from the Grey-robed attendants.
Until a few days ago, it received the order to assist "Third Master Huang" in "testing" a "Spirit Medium Candidate" passing through the deserted village. Thus, the scene at the ancient well in the deserted village unfolded: the Weasel Spirit seeking a title, the tragic death of the Fire-dwelling Daoist Priest, and Chen Feng becoming entangled.
And last night's ambush on Li Muchen by the riverbank was in response to an urgent distress signal transmitted by the Grey-robed figures via special incense... The memories stopped abruptly here. Earlier parts were already blurred due to the severe damage to the softshell turtle's soul body. Forcing further exploration risked causing its soul to fly away and spirit to scatter.
Li Muchen slowly withdrew his Divine Sense and opened his eyes, a sharp, cold light glinting within them.
The information was clear enough.
The Five Immortals Alliance, with several titled "Elders" at its core, had a tightly organized structure and was closely linked to the Hu, Huang, Bai, Liu, and Grey lineage Ancestors. They were preparing for a "centennial Grand Sacrifice" to be held on the Night of the Full Moon deep within Black Water Ridge at "Snow Nest," intending to communicate with so-called "Ancestral Spirits" and renew a covenant by sacrificing specific "Spirit Mediums." Chen Feng was one of the selected "Spirit Mediums."
That "Elder Purple Fiend" was likely the key figure responsible for the Black Water Ridge area and liaison with non-five immortals lineage Essence Spirits like the "Black Water Yuan Lord."
As for the Night of the Full Moon... Li Muchen looked up at the brightening sky outside the window. Today was the ninth day of the lunar month. The next full moon was in six days.
Time was somewhat pressing.
"Snow Nest..." he repeated the place name in a low voice. From the Demon Turtle's memories and the previous Grey-robed old man's veiled hints, this place was extraordinary. Not only was its earth qi special, but it was also heavily guarded by Formations set up by the Five Immortals Alliance, clearly the core location of the Grand Sacrifice.
He must go to investigate as soon as possible.
He glanced at the Demon Turtle bound by golden light on the floor, its soul on the verge of collapse. This beast had committed numerous evils, aided evildoers, and devoured innocent lives; its death was well-deserved. But annihilating it completely now might alert the enemy.
After a moment's thought, Li Muchen pointed his fingers like a sword, tracing in the air. Streaks of golden runes appeared, forming the "Supreme Demon-Suppressing Talisman" imbued with sealing, suppression, and refining intent. Layer by layer, they imprinted into the Demon Turtle's brow, Dantian, and vital points.
The Demon Turtle's body shuddered violently. Its already weak Demonic Qi was completely sealed off. Its massive body shrank rapidly once more, finally transforming into a black pearl the size of a longan, covered in golden patterns. It fell to the floor with a soft *tap*.
Li Muchen picked up the pearl. It felt cold and heavy in his hand, faintly sensing the completely sealed, slumbering soul of the Demon Turtle within. He would keep this item for now; perhaps it would have other uses later or serve as evidence.
Having done all this, he withdrew the Restriction. The sky was already fully bright.