Whoosh! Whoosh!
When the Mysterious Turtle opened its eyes, two beams of ancient, weathered gaze shot toward Ye Yunfei like sharp blades.
Ye Yunfei stamped his foot. Surging earth energy billowed forth, and dozens of green dragons materialized before him, blocking the two piercing gazes.
Boom! Boom...
One after another, the green dragons in front of Ye Yunfei exploded, dissolving back into earth energy.
In an instant, almost all the Earth Dragons summoned by Ye Yunfei were shattered!
Earth Dragons were originally condensed from earth energy. Once shattered, they returned to their original form and merged back into the earth.
"As expected of the guardian beast of the Ziwei Sect. Even after slumbering for such a long time, it still possesses such strength," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
"Human lad, why have you disturbed my peace?" The Mysterious Turtle fixed its gaze on Ye Yunfei, sizing him up suspiciously before speaking.
"I have come to invite Senior to emerge from seclusion and safeguard the Ziwei Sect. The current Ziwei Sect needs you," Ye Yunfei stated his purpose directly.
"The current Ziwei Sect?" The Mysterious Turtle murmured.
It had slumbered for far too long. Having just awakened, it needed a moment to adjust.
"How is the Ziwei Sect now?" it asked after a while.
"The current Ziwei Sect is one of the weakest minor sects in the Eastern Barrens," Ye Yunfei replied.
"What?! How is that possible! The Ziwei Sect has always been one of the strongest powers on the Primordial Continent. How could it have become one of the weakest minor sects in the Eastern Barrens? What happened? What of Sect Leader Gongsun, Elder Lu, Elder Tang, and the others? They were all top experts on the Primordial Continent. How could they allow the Ziwei Sect to decline to such a state?" Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, the Mysterious Turtle found it utterly unbelievable and fired off a string of questions.
"You have slept for too long. Many things in the world have changed, including the Ziwei Sect. As for the Sect Leader Gongsun, Elder Lu, Elder Tang, and others you mentioned... they have long since vanished into the dust of history," Ye Yunfei sighed softly.
Hearing this, the Mysterious Turtle fell silent for a long moment.
"It seems... I truly have slept for far too long," it finally said with a sigh.
"Hence, the current Ziwei Sect needs you, Senior. Otherwise, I would not have come to disturb your peace," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Who are you?" the Mysterious Turtle asked, looking at Ye Yunfei.
"I am currently the Senior Brother of the Ziwei Sect. My name is Su Fei," Ye Yunfei replied.
"You can summon and control Earth Dragons... Are you a Geomancer?" the turtle inquired further.
"Yes," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"To think the Ziwei Sect has actually produced a Geomancer," the Mysterious Turtle mused. "The world generally views the Geomancer path as an unorthodox minor art. In truth, the study of topography is vast and profound. Those who truly cultivate it to a profound realm, reaching the legendary pinnacle Saint Master level, can even be mentioned in the same breath as a Heavenly Emperor."
"Senior, I invite you to emerge from seclusion and safeguard the Ziwei Sect," Ye Yunfei pressed.
"My strength is less than a tenth of what it was. Even if I emerge, I cannot restore the Ziwei Sect to its former glory," the turtle said hesitantly.
"Senior, rest assured. The Ziwei Sect will eventually regain its former glory. Moreover, I will find ways to slowly help you regulate your body in the future, allowing your strength to gradually recover and return to your peak state," Ye Yunfei said.
"You can help regulate my body?" The Mysterious Turtle was startled.
"Yes. Your body primarily suffers from two issues. First, your lifespan is nearly exhausted, and your vitality is depleted. Second, you must have endured a bitter battle in the past, desperately holding on until you nearly depleted your foundational energy, leaving severe hidden injuries in your body. I will slowly find ways to help you resolve these two problems," Ye Yunfei explained.
"How do you know this so clearly?!" Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, the Mysterious Turtle was utterly astounded. It stared at Ye Yunfei with its turtle eyes, its gaze filled with disbelief.
"I can discern it," Ye Yunfei answered.
"Very well. I can emerge anew. At the very least, it is my duty to try," the Mysterious Turtle pondered for a moment before finally nodding.
"My thanks, Senior!" Ye Yunfei was overjoyed.
This Mysterious Turtle was the ancient guardian beast of the Ziwei Sect, possessing terrifying strength. Although its body was afflicted with problems, once it could recover, the Ziwei Sect would gain another top-tier expert!
"Senior, let us leave now," Ye Yunfei said.
"Agreed," the Mysterious Turtle nodded.
Boom...
The Mysterious Turtle shifted its massive body and began to rise slowly.
Immediately, the swamp began to churn and roil violently.
Even the ground of the entire Ziwei Sect headquarters began to tremble.
"What's happening?!" Everyone in the headquarters was startled, unaware of what was occurring.
Soon, the Mysterious Turtle emerged from the swamp, arriving above the ground.
Ye Yunfei followed, soaring up from the earth.
"Sunlight, fresh air... Long-forgotten sensations," the Mysterious Turtle crawled out of the swamp onto solid ground. Surveying the surroundings, it couldn't help but sigh nostalgically.
"Senior, here are some elixirs for you. Consume them immediately. They should benefit your body." Ye Yunfei produced over a hundred jade vials. With a wave of his hand, he sent them floating before the turtle's head. Each vial contained ten pills. And they were all Nascent-Grade elixirs!
Ye Yunfei had long intended to invite this Mysterious Turtle out, so he had prepared this batch of pills in advance specifically for it.
"These elixirs... were prepared specifically for me?" The Mysterious Turtle seemed surprised.
Then its tongue extended, curling forward. All the jade vials opened, and the pills inside flew out.
A total of over a thousand Nascent-Grade elixirs!
"They are indeed useful to me! Some extend lifespan and vitality; others replenish foundational depletion! You went to the trouble of gathering so many elixirs beneficial to me. Though their grade is somewhat low, they are very useful for my current state." Being an ancient relic that had lived through countless ages, the Mysterious Turtle instantly recognized the effects of these pills and was greatly pleased.
Swoosh...
The Mysterious Turtle opened its large mouth and inhaled, sucking all the pills into its mouth and swallowing them.
Boom! Boom...
Vast medicinal energy instantly erupted within its body, nourishing its form.
"Comfortable." Moments later, after digesting all the medicinal power, the turtle couldn't help but exclaim in satisfaction. Its condition was visibly much improved.
"Let us first visit the ancestral temple. It has been a long time since I last entered it," the Mysterious Turtle suggested.
"Very well," Ye Yunfei nodded.
Thus, Ye Yunfei and the Mysterious Turtle rose into the air, heading toward the ancestral temple.
The Mysterious Turtle's body was over ten meters long and several meters wide—a truly conspicuous sight.
Naturally, it quickly drew the attention of many.
"Look! A giant turtle is flying in the sky!"
"Senior Brother Su Fei is with that giant turtle! It seems he brought it from the Back Mountain!"
...
Many Ziwei Sect disciples watched the Mysterious Turtle flying overhead with astonishment.
"The current Ziwei Sect is indeed exceedingly weak," the Mysterious Turtle sighed as it observed the headquarters and sensed the auras of the disciples.
At that moment, Sect Leader Liu and the other high-ranking members, having received reports, also soared into the air one after another. They had heard that Su Fei had brought a Mysterious Turtle from the Back Mountain and wanted to see what was happening.