Chapter 4

Lu Guan lowered his head.

The man and the turtle stared at each other.

In just one glance, many images flooded his mind, and he understood everything that had happened before.

It turned out that he had been saved by the mysterious black turtle from the Heavenly Fire Abyss, which allowed him to successfully condense his bones.

Lu Guan bowed deeply, "Thank you, Senior, for saving me!"

The black turtle sneered, "Don't say you don't know the relationship between us now."

Lu Guan said, "We share life and death, and our fates are intertwined... but please believe me, this was never my intention."

The black turtle stared directly into his eyes, "Are you willing to set me free?"

Lu Guan replied resolutely, "I am willing!"

The black turtle found no hesitation in his eyes, only calmness and sincerity.

Is he really thinking this way? This foolish boy!

It sighed, "Even if you were willing, it's impossible. We can only wait until you transcend the mortal realm and ascend to immortality, then we might have a chance."

"Ascend to immortality!" Lu Guan was full of shock, "How is that possible..."

The seven realms of martial arts.

Ten stages of the immortal path!

This was the pinnacle of cultivation he knew.

In the Yunhai Continent, where the Qingyang Kingdom was located, countless beings had thrived, but no one had ever reached the realm of ascension to immortality.

The black turtle snorted, "Put away your ignorance. With Lord Gui's help, reaching the immortal realm is as easy as pie! But first, you must tell me where the curse came from?"

Lu Guan frowned, "If you mean the eyes in the black mist, I don't know."

The black turtle was speechless, "You brat, if it weren't for Lord Gui, you would never have been able to condense the Heavenly Bone!"

"This vicious curse that cuts off cultivation... if the Tianci Clan knew you were still alive, they would surely eradicate you!"

"The Tianci Clan... I will remember this."

The black turtle glared, "Is this the key? The Tianci Clan is extremely powerful; even I, Lord Gui, have suffered greatly at their hands. Are you not afraid?"

Lu Guan's expression was calm, "When I entered the Heavenly Fire Abyss, I had already put life and death out of my mind. If I am not afraid of life and death, why should I fear the Tianci Clan? Now that I know this, I will one day find the Tianci Clan and demand retribution!"

"Big talk!" The black turtle mocked, "Do you know that even at the immortal realm, you would be nothing compared to them."

Lu Guan bowed respectfully, "Please help me, Senior."

The black turtle looked arrogant, "Lord Gui is well-versed in ancient knowledge and knows countless secret texts. There is a minor technique I can teach you. If you can comprehend it, it shows some insight. Otherwise, stop boasting and focus on steady cultivation!"

Saying this, it spat out a golden light, forming a secret text on the Heavenly Bone.

"You only have one hour!"

Lu Guan took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

The black turtle looked smug.

Boy, I'll shock you today, and you'll naturally bow to Lord Gui in the future.

Indeed, what it spat out was not some minor technique, but an unparalleled sword scripture!

It had stolen it from the old man and had spent three thousand years trying to comprehend it without success. It was perfect for humbling Lu Guan.

The arrogance of young people must be corrected!

An hour was a fleeting moment for the black turtle, but at that moment, it felt a sudden jolt in its heart!

On its back, the Heavenly Bone, which reached into the sky, suddenly trembled.

Buzz—

Buzz—

The sound was like a sword being drawn!

"Impossible!"

The black turtle exclaimed, but it was one with the Heavenly Bone and knew its perception was never wrong.

Lu Guan had comprehended it!

He had comprehended it!

In less than half an hour...

What had it been doing for the past three thousand years? Its mouth twitched as it fell into a deep reflection on the meaning of turtle life.

Buzz—

The Heavenly Bone resonated like a divine sword being unsheathed, absorbing the golden secret text.

Lu Guan opened his eyes, full of shock!

He could hardly imagine what kind of existence the black turtle was, that a minor technique it casually spat out had such immense power.

Uh... Senior Black Turtle doesn't look happy, it must be because I comprehended it too slowly and disappointed it.

Indeed, I am not a genius at all!

"Senior?"

"Hmm... Ah, you're awake!" The black turtle came to its senses.

Lu Guan felt ashamed, "I am dull-witted and have kept you waiting, Senior."

The black turtle: ...

"Your insight, uh... is barely satisfactory." The black turtle's eyes darted, "Do you know the name of this technique?"

Senior is testing me!

"The Twelve Emperors of the Great Wasteland Sword!"

"Correct, it is the Twelve Emperors of the Great Wasteland Sword." The black turtle's heart was filled with tears; after three thousand years, it finally knew its name.

Suppressing its sorrow, the black turtle continued, "This sword scripture has extremely high requirements for the body. A slight mistake can lead to self-injury. Lord Gui has a divine body-cultivation technique that complements it, but this technique can only be learned by my disciples..."

Lu Guan bowed, "Please take me as your disciple, Senior!"

"This lineage values talent... sigh, never mind! Lord Gui will make an exception. From today on, you are my disciple."

"Meeting my teacher!"

The black turtle nodded, "Now that you are my disciple, I will do my best to help you become stronger."

In its heart, it was laughing maniacally.

To comprehend the Twelve Emperors of the Great Wasteland Sword in half an hour is an unparalleled sword genius. Old man, wait for us; we will come back and tear apart your shell!

Lu Guan said, "Teacher, are we underground?"

"Yes, the Heavenly Fire Abyss will sink underground when it closes."

Lu Guan's face changed slightly, "Oh no! If the Heavenly Fire Abyss closes, the five elders will think something happened to me."

"Teacher, I need to return home as soon as possible."

He was worried about his father's health.

The black turtle said, "Jump into the lava lake and pass through the deep cave to leave. There is a two-thousand-year-old Fire Lotus at the bottom of the lake. Pick it and consume it."

"..."

"Relax, with me here, ordinary water and fire cannot harm you."

Lu Guan realized he was near the lava lake but felt no heat. He took a deep breath and jumped in.

Indeed, nothing happened!

After adapting to the lava environment, Lu Guan swam forcefully like a large fish, heading straight for the depths.

The Heavenly Bone's energy flow replaced his breathing. After half an hour, Lu Guan reached the bottom of the lava lake.

Following the black turtle's guidance, he found the Fire Lotus!

Even here, it emitted a fierce light like the sun, and Lu Guan's skin felt a burning pain as he approached.

He pulled it off, feeling the intense burning pain in his palm, and hesitated, "Just eat it like this?"

The black turtle said, "If I tell you to eat it, eat it."

Lu Guan gritted his teeth and swallowed the Fire Lotus in a few bites, immediately feeling as if he was about to burst into flames.

"Hold it in, don't vomit!" The black turtle said sternly, "The Fire Lotus can refine your body and complete your foundation. There is an underground river in the cave that will make you feel better."

Lu Guan swam hard toward the cave, found it, and dove in. Soon, an underground river appeared.

Splash—

Lu Guan jumped in, and the icy cold water immediately boiled, "Bubbles" rising to the surface.

He let out a long breath and relaxed.

"Teacher, if you give me such opportunities, please warn me in advance. I almost couldn't hold on just now."

The black turtle said, "Don't be ungrateful. Quickly circulate your cultivation technique to absorb the cold energy. The balance of yin and yang will have a miraculous effect on body refinement."

"Yes!"

Lu Guan focused his mind and circulated his cultivation technique.

The cold energy met the power of the Fire Lotus, creating endless changes, and it had a similar effect to certain parts of the Twelve Emperors of the Great Wasteland Sword.

Lu Guan's mind was immersed in it.

Whoosh—

Suddenly, a sword aura burst out, cutting through the surging river and penetrating the stone wall.

The black turtle drew a sharp breath.

"The Twelve Emperors of the Great Wasteland Sword... this... he has just mastered it?"

Sensing the changes in Lu Guan's body, it was stunned.

Unparalleled... not enough, definitely not enough.

This disciple is at least a ten-thousand-year genius!

The black turtle muttered, "Perhaps, the last spot the old man mentioned... this boy... can try..."

Shaking its head to clear its thoughts.

The cultivation world is terrifying. It had seen many rise like comets and fall suddenly. Lu Guan had just entered the martial path; thinking about these things was too early.

The realm faded, and Lu Guan opened his eyes.

"Ah!"

A scream pierced his ears, and he saw several young women by the river, dropping their laundry baskets and running away, covering their faces.

Lu Guan looked at himself and smiled bitterly, "Why didn't you wake me, Teacher?"

The black turtle was calm, "What are you afraid of? You didn't lose anything."

Lu Guan smiled even more bitterly and quickly picked up some clothes to put on, looking around, "Now, I need to determine my location."

His face changed, and he ran off.

Dust rose as a group of burly men, wielding pitchforks and hoes, ran toward him.

"Stop, you pervert!"

Lu Guan looked around and ran.