“Hush!” Seeing Su He about to ask more, Ji Feixue raised a finger to her lips, signaling silence: “There are many secrets in this world, as numerous as cow hair. Some, if revealed, could even tear the heavens in two. But secrets require strength to bear. You lack the strength, and knowing them could kill you.”

What concerns one has depends on one’s realm; not just for cultivators, but even mortals. Without sufficient status, how can one pry into the top secrets of a nation?

Su He shook his head, the bubble above him trembling: “No, I’m not asking about that. The technique you just transmitted to me, was it prepared especially for me?”

Ji Feixue’s eyes twinkled with sincerity as she replied: “Of course, I have traveled through countless worlds over tens of thousands of years, slaying numerous powerful beings and earning the name of a mad demon, all for these few techniques for my husband.”

Su He nodded, realizing that the techniques weren’t prepared especially for him; she just happened to have them on hand.

It made sense, after all. For a being who had lived for who knows how long, wasn’t it natural to have some strange techniques?

He should ask Uncle Lei later; perhaps Uncle Lei had even more.

Moreover, Uncle Lei and the others would surely need to create new techniques suitable for the Basalt true body. Su He was still struggling with whether to live a life where everything was handed to him.

In truth, only those techniques one creates for oneself are truly suitable. Others can only serve as references.

Su He looked at Ji Feixue: “Sister, how should I change the divine abilities I already have?”

This question had been circling in Su He’s mind for a long time. Not every divine ability he possessed was highly utilized. For example, Qianjun was great for clearing out the riffraff, but in the battles Su He faced, Qianjun was almost useless.

It wasn’t until he used Youming that Su He felt Youming and Qianjun could be merged, much like Teng Snake’s Yellow Springs domain.

Su He could now open a Youming channel to release ghosts, but the ghosts he released were entirely different from Teng Snake’s.

Every ghost released by Teng Snake possessed the power to Traverse Heaven, clearly handpicked. When used, they were simply summoned. Unlike Su He, who relied on randomness and luck.

Teng Snake had his Yellow Springs domain, perhaps to mark and nourish ghosts.

But most of Dragon Turtle’s divine abilities were naturally righteous, the bane of all things sneaky. Using Youming, Su He had to suppress his own aura.

The only ability that could nourish ghosts was “Sacrifice Soul,” but that was a one-time use; once released, the ghosts could only burst forth with their life’s ultimate strike before turning to ash.

Only Qianjun, a purely water-based divine ability, was free of the distinction between good and evil and might accommodate Youming ghosts.

At the Town Evil Dao Palace, he had seen a senior Dragon Turtle, where each drop of Qianjun was like a world. Su He wondered if each drop of his Qianjun could be like a Youming world, too?

Each drop of Qianjun could contain countless ghosts—even without the ghosts, the idea of a Youming world sounded quite domineering!

Ji Feixue looked at him, sizing him up: “Tsk tsk, you actually have serious thoughts?”

Not content with Bai Ling arranging everything and passively advancing, you’re actually actively cultivating?

Su He: “…”

He had always been diligent, immersing himself in cultivation whenever he had free time. He had never thought about advancing automatically after sleeping for ten thousand years.

Seeing Su He’s dejected look, Ji Feixue giggled, ruffling his hair, and said: “Divine abilities are essentially no different from your claws and teeth. Claws can tear, can cover, can be used as swords to execute sword techniques. Divine abilities are much the same.”

As she spoke, she pointed lightly, and a Fairy Sword floated out.

Dragon Clan Divine Ability: Hundred Arms!

Su He had seen the Meng sisters use it, able to condense various weapons and kill enemies with the laws of weaponry.

But Ji Feixue’s Fairy Sword was different. Su He didn’t sense sharpness, edge, or slashing laws, but rather soothing, healing, and empowering ones.

Being stabbed by this sword seemed like it would feel great.

He saw Spirit Talismans flashing on the Fairy Sword, completely changing its function.

Wait a minute!

Su He looked at Ji Feixue in astonishment: “How can you use divine abilities in the Xuan Realm?”

The Xuan Realm was essentially a consciousness avatar, and divine abilities were embedded in the flesh. Like eyes that can’t see without being present.

Without a physical body in the Xuan Realm, how could divine abilities manifest?

Ji Feixue stroked her hair, giggling: “Because, I’m amazing!”

Su He fell silent. That was a strong argument, and he had no rebuttal.

Ji Feixue poked the Fairy Sword, and a comfortable sensation arose, clearing his mind a bit.

“To change a divine ability, you first have to find it, like finding your hand on your arm if you want to tattoo it. Divine abilities are within you, find their essence, comprehend them, understand them, then try to change them! But—”

Here, she looked at Su He seriously: “Divine abilities are different from techniques. If a technique goes wrong, at worst you can discard your cultivation level and start over. But there’s only one essence of a divine ability; once changed, it can’t be changed back. Think carefully before you act.”

Ji Feixue’s lecture was surprisingly devoid of teasing, sarcasm, or jokes, which made Su He a bit uncomfortable.

Su He nodded: “I won’t act recklessly.”

Then the woman, who had just been serious for a few moments, revealed her true nature, suddenly leaning close to Su He and blowing in his ear: “Little husband, for the great favor of transmitting the technique, how will you repay me?”

Su He shivered and blinked, a bubble quietly appearing above his head, seriously writing: “Great favors are not to be thanked?”

“Pah!” Ji Feixue poked him: “Think again!”

Su He thought for a moment: “I have nothing to repay in this life, in the next life… we’ll see?”

“You heartless man!” Ji Feixue gritted her teeth and kicked him hard, the bells on her ankle jingling. She poked Su He’s forehead: “Tell me quietly, does the inheritance Bai Ling left in the Dragon Turtle involve any divine abilities related to time?”

She was probing for the Dragon Turtle inheritance.

There was nothing wrong with saying it; divine abilities were meant to be used. The Dragon Turtle clan’s divine abilities had been studied by countless people, even the major powers knew more about them than Su He did.

But… all divine abilities were in the Turtle Eye inheritance, and Su He didn’t know which ones were left by Bai Ling!

Seeing Su He’s dilemma, Ji Feixue chuckled: “Does the inheritance shadow left by Bai Ling involve any experiences with time?”

Su He blinked. Ji Feixue knew the Dragon Turtle inheritance very well! She even knew about the inheritance shadow.

He shook his head: “There are combat skills, myriad strategies, Refining Artifact, alchemy, Formation… but I haven’t seen anything about time.”

Ji Feixue looked at him, suddenly as if she had seen something unbelievable, and exclaimed: “Alchemy? Bai Ling doing alchemy? Is she trying to blow up the Dragon Turtle clan?”

What’s the difference between Bai Ling doing alchemy and Can Chen Daoist Refining Artifact? Both are set by laws, and if there’s no explosion, one might wonder if the end of the worlds is near.

“Is there anything else? No need to tell me the details, just whether there’s anything involving time.”

Su He thought for a moment, and a spark of star intent flew from the Dragon Horn towards Ji Feixue.

The Fairy who disliked private communication did not swat away the spark this time.

“The Talismans left by the clan sister, the most powerful ones are three. One is about divination, incomprehensible. The other two cannot be looked at.”

“?” A question mark appeared above Ji Feixue’s head.

She didn’t have a dialogue box; the question mark just popped up and swayed left and right.

“The other two Talismans, just a slight touch of consciousness causes dizziness and a feeling of being sucked in, completely unviewable.”

Ji Feixue fell silent.

For a long while, she didn’t speak again. After a long time, she slightly raised her head, looking at Su He: “Little husband, I need to go out for a while, and it will be at least two months before I return. Take care of yourself and don’t let that Feng Chaofei eat you.”

That phoenix still harbors ill intentions?

Su He was depressed, a bubble above his head: “What are you going to do?”

Did she think of something after hearing about Bai Ling’s Talismans?

Ji Feixue was about to leave with a light tap of her lotus foot, but she turned back and smiled at him: “Don’t worry, I am loyal and will not glance at another man.”

Su He: “…”

With a flash of white light, Ji Feixue’s consciousness had disappeared. This mother dragon was different from the other clan uncles; like Su He, she rarely stayed in the Xuan Realm.

Su He exited Qianjiang, scanned the Autumn Lake with his Divine Sense again, and still saw no trace of Ji Feixue. He paid special attention to Su Huanian; the mountaintop was quiet, still no Ji Feixue.

Liar!

He knew she wouldn’t really go to Su Huanian.

Unable to find her, Su He simply stopped looking and returned to the Star Observation Platform to lie down again, preparing to enter a state of cultivation. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck, and he softly said: “Be careful!”

In a moment, Ji Feixue’s voice rang in his ear: “Little husband, are you concerned about me? Hehe, don’t worry, in this world, no one can harm me except you.”

Seductress! She’s seducing me again!

She hasn’t left!

Su He swept his Divine Sense again, but still saw no trace.

At the top of the snowy mountain, Ji Feixue stretched her arms and yawned: “Alright, I’m done with my business, I’m leaving now. If I don’t go, you might really slash me with your sword.”

Little husband is absolutely right; this delicate beauty of his would dare to use a sword on her. If she hadn’t appeared at such a delicate time, before their relationship was confirmed, that Fairy Sword would surely have landed on her by now.

“I’m not here, you take good care of little husband, don’t let him flirt with other girls.” Ji Feixue giggled: “Don’t look at him as just a turtle, once he gets smart, he’s quite formidable!”

As she spoke, she glanced at the Fairy Sword beside Su Huanian and disappeared in a flash.

Su Nianzi’s sword is no ordinary item! To carry it so openly and yet not be robbed by others.

But now there’s no fear, who would dare to rob the Dragon Turtle clan’s daughter-in-law for a Fairy Sword?

“Don’t look anymore, she’s gone.” Su Huanian’s voice rang in Su He’s ear.

The Dragon Turtle’s Divine Sense trembled slightly. Did that seductress really go to Su Huanian?

He quietly looked towards the mountaintop, only to see that a snow-carved chair had appeared beside Su Huanian at some point, lavish and unrestrained, clearly the work of the seductress.

“Tonight I will practice swordsmanship, you comprehend the stars yourself!” Su Huanian’s voice was cold.

Su He opened his mouth but said nothing.

Is she jealous? The cold Fairy is jealous? For some reason, there was a bit of joy in his heart.

“Wife!” Su He called out.

Su Huanian stood quietly with her eyes closed, not responding to him.

“Wife!” Su He called again.

Still no response.

“Wife~~”

“Cultivate!” Su Huanian’s voice was cold, with a hint of helplessness.

Su He wanted to be cheeky, but seeing Su Huanian surrounded by sword energy, already immersed, he closed his mouth that had opened, and muttered softly, closing his eyes slightly, inhaling deeply like a whale, drawing water elements from the Autumn Lake to increase his own true essence.

At the top of the mountain, a smile flickered across Su Huanian’s lips.

…

The long-awaited heavy rain fell at some point, pattering against the lake, with occasional lightning flashing overhead. Sensing the moisture in the air, this rain wouldn’t stop anytime soon.

This year’s rainy season was two or three months late. Now in the thick of autumn, mortals should have just finished the autumn harvest, drying their grains. After this rain, the grains would likely sprout, making for a tough winter.

This thought briefly crossed Su He’s mind before he cast it aside.

He was a Divine Beast, not a god; there were many things he couldn’t do.

As a Dragon Turtle, Su He could stop a rainstorm within a hundred or a thousand miles, but not one spanning ten thousand miles. Mortals have their ways of living, and cultivators have theirs.

It’s best not to interfere with each other and cultivate one’s own fate.

It was already dark, but it was actually just after noon. Su He glanced at the bronze mirror and saw a large mansion courtyard where a girl stood on a grandmaster’s chair, looking down at the kneeling populace below.

Despite the heavy rain, the faces of the people showed a mix of panic and joy, forming strange expressions.

They looked at the girl with fear and gratitude. One knelt, then ten, and soon all were kneeling, not daring to shout long live, but thanking her profusely.

However, the girl’s face showed no great joy, but rather confusion.

Looking up at the sky, she suddenly punched upwards, shattering a patch of dark clouds, and the rain dissipated.

The noisy gratitude on the ground quieted for a moment, then the worship became more devout. Before, they were looking at a mountain king who suddenly did a good deed, unsure whether to accept the kindness, whether the future would be good or bad.

Now, it was as if they were looking at a deity.

Su He put down the bronze mirror, parted the lake water with his claws, and leaped up, breaking through the rain to fly towards Su Huanian’s snowy mountain.

The mountain was very high; halfway up, the rain turned to snow, and further up, it was completely covered in heavy snow. Breaking through the snow and looking back, the dark clouds below were neatly cut as if by a tile knife. Through the clouds, one could see the rain beneath, dense like a bead curtain.

A breathtaking sight.

Su He liked the rain, perhaps because of the turtle, or because he had crossed over on a rainy night? He had crossed over to the sound of rain.

Su Huanian seemed not to have heard the rain, with sword energy fluttering around her.

Su He did not disturb her, stopping beside her, watching her quietly waiting.The sky had completely darkened, night descended, and the rain at the foot of the mountain did not lessen but grew heavier.

Su Huanian slowly opened her eyes and looked helplessly at Su He: “Why are you here instead of cultivating?”

Su He opened his mouth but said nothing. Lacking experience, he didn’t know what to say.

Su Huanian shook her head in resignation: “Recite the scriptures!”

Su He was overjoyed and immediately closed his eyes, silently reciting the Taoist moral codes. His consciousness was drawn by Su Huanian straight into the starry sky.

“My wife…”

“Quietly comprehend,” Su Huanian said coldly. Su He didn’t know how to respond, and it took a while before he heard Su Huanian say, “If there’s a next time, I will cut you down!”

Su He was delighted: “Good!”

“Quietly comprehend.” The voice was still icy, but no longer as distant.

…

The rain continued for ten days before the sky gradually cleared. The weather brightened, but the temperature had completely cooled down, signaling the true arrival of deep autumn.

In those ten days, Ya Ya only sneaked back once. She wasn’t there to see her parents; that unfilial girl didn’t even meet Su Huanian and quietly borrowed a fishing rod from Su He before running off without looking back.

She had been hungry for ten days outside, couldn’t bear it any longer, and didn’t want to return, hoping to be self-reliant with the fishing rod.

Su Huanian’s hand hovered over the disciplinary ruler but ultimately did not strike.

Considering her age and cultivation level, Ya Ya could have been independent long ago. Only her Spiritual Intelligence was somewhat lacking. However, after ten days outside, gathering bandits, helping the common people, destroying wealthy households, and killing corrupt officials, she had seen and thought much, and her Spiritual Intelligence had significantly improved.

Su He didn’t interfere, instead, he was happy to see her progress. Experience, wisdom, and knowledge are closely related in a person.

Days of cultivation passed quickly, and in ten days, Su He had mastered the Panwu Yandao Jue. As a Demon Subduing Realm technique, with Su He’s current Divine Sense, consciousness, and true essence, cultivating it was several times more effective. He had completely mastered it in three to four days.

Even among the seven techniques passed down by Ji Feixue, Su He had begun to understand the beginning of one…

Was it worthy of being a technique collected by the Princess of Yunmengze? It was unknown how much more profound it was than the Panwu Yandao Jue. The knowledge involved was too diverse.

Su Huanian spent half of each day tutoring him. The soul summoning altar outside Changyue Mansion had officially begun construction. The heavy rain was not a problem for the Jiaoren and did not affect the construction schedule.

Time passed quietly and steadily, day by day in cultivation.

With the arrival of winter and a heavy snowfall, all but the bamboo withered. Occasionally, one could see pandas tumbling in the bamboo forest covered in snow.

There was also the Barbarian King Wood Sculpture, who rode a panda all day looking for bamboo rats to challenge, only to be beaten and flee all over the world.

A spiritual snake coiled around the green bamboo, slithering back and forth, occasionally flicking its tongue. The spiritual snake was majestic, almost like a Flood Dragon.

With a roar, it leaped out of the bamboo forest, turned its body in the snow, and suddenly transformed into the true form of Basalt, a turtle and a snake.

Panwu Yandao Jue, where does the turtle come from, and where does the snake come from? The turtle is the snake, and the snake is the turtle. Yin and Yang give birth to each other, inseparable.

Su He could feel that this was not the path of Basalt he sought, but this technique was interesting and worth delving into.

Unfortunately, the cultivator who created this technique had a low realm, probably only at the peak of Demon Subduing or just entering Traverse Heaven.

His vision was ultimately limited.

Moreover, when ordinary people practiced the Panwu Yandao Jue, they used their true essence as the turtle and snake, forming a state of mutual support within their bodies. For Su He, the turtle and snake were his true forms.

With Su Huanian’s assistance and the techniques from Ji Feixue, the Panwu Yandao Jue in Su He’s hands had completely changed.

Far from the form of Basalt, but Su He’s understanding of the synergy between the turtle and snake deepened.

A Jiaoren hurried over and, seeing Su He cultivating, stopped at a distance and quietly waited until Su He transformed into his Basalt true form before bowing from afar: “Master, the grandmother has sent me to inform you, the altar is completed.”

Su He was pleased.

Long Min was very capable; just a glance at the blueprint and he said it would take three months, and indeed it took exactly three months. Not a day more or less.

“Let’s go! Take a look.” Su He said happily, with water waves churning beneath him, leading the way to the outside of Changyue Mansion.

Three miles southwest of Changyue Mansion, a dark altar rose from the ground. It wasn’t very tall, but it stood out in the open surroundings.

It was shaped like a square cauldron, with two giant stone pillars rising high on either side.

The altar was not large, nine zhang in length and width, which was the size of an ordinary room for Su He.

“Master!”

As Su He approached on the waves, the Jiaoren guarding the four corners of the altar bowed in salute. After seeing Su He frequently over the months, they no longer panicked as before, and their salutes became more orderly.

Su He waved his claw in greeting and landed on the altar. Closing his eyes and concentrating, he connected his qi to the altar and tried it out. The spiritual power and intentions connected smoothly, without any awkwardness.

The altar was excellently completed!

Su He offered a few words of encouragement, and with a slight movement of his Divine Sense, he condensed several pebbles-sized water droplets filled with spiritual energy and adorned with true essence, like water jades containing the essence of Dragon Turtle.

“Thank you for your hard work. These water droplets are a token of appreciation.”

The water droplets floated down, landing securely beside each Jiaoren.

The Jiaoren were overjoyed.

For the Jiaoren, any item containing the essence of Dragon Turtle was a treasure—not just in terms of faith but as a real object that could improve their Cultivation Level!

Not to mention the jade stones personally condensed by Dragon Turtle containing true essence!

Day 10,000+1

I’d like to mention in advance that I have an appointment with the doctor at 10 am on Tuesday (the 20th) to check my stomach, as it has been hurting for over a month. I’m trying to save up drafts these days. If I have enough for that day, I won’t take leave, but since I’ve been updating 10,000 words every day, I’m not sure if I’ll have a draft for that day. If not, I may need to take half a day or a full day off, depending on the situation.