“Oh, I’m ‘Master’ when you need something, but just an old turtle when you don’t. You little scoundrel.” The turtle knew Bai Shuo well enough to realize that once she set her mind on something, she wouldn’t stop until she got it. Resigned, he began to share his knowledge. “I’ve said it before—a grade-one immortal pill requires the alchemist to have the strength of an upper lord. But if you meet another condition, you might just succeed.”
“What condition?”
“Using grade-one celestial treasures as ingredients.”
“Where would Miao Miao Island get a grade-one treasure?” Bai Shuo paused, then leaned closer to the turtle. “You know where it is, don’t you?”
“Xiao Bai, your master here may not be that capable, but as they say, ‘a turtle lives a thousand years, and an old tortoise ten thousand.’ I’ve been around long enough to know a thing or two.”
“Please, tell me.” Bai Shuo immediately moved the turtle to a rattan chair, pouring him a cup of celestial elixir. “Master, please, take your time with your drink.”
The turtle lifted his claw, letting the elixir flow into his mouth. His tiny bean-like eyes looked dazed and drowsy. “Although Miao Miao Island is just a secluded spot on the Eastern Sea, we were once ranked among the ‘Three Mountains and Six Palaces.’ But over the years, no real talent has emerged, and the disciples only care about martial cultivation. They’ve neglected medicine entirely…”
“Master, keep it short,” Bai Shuo said, pinning his claw down as he reached for another drink. She knew well that her turtle master could go on all night with tales of Miao Miao Island’s history.
“Alright, alright, I’ll keep it short. On the easternmost edge of Miao Miao Island, in the waters off the coast, there’s a hidden thousand-year-old red coral. That’s the only grade-one treasure on our island!” The turtle pointed his right claw eastward, his tone concise.
Bai Shuo stared at the turtle, speechless for a moment, then suddenly grinned, setting out a full spread of celestial elixir on the table. “You’re a true friend, Master! I’m off! These are for you to enjoy!”
“Go on, go on.” The turtle waved a claw, eyes half-closed in drunken satisfaction.
Bai Shuo secured her medicine pouch and set off under the cover of night.
The straw hut fell silent. After a moment, the old turtle opened his eyes, revealing a look of clarity—there was no trace of drunkenness.
If grade-one celestial treasures were that easy to obtain, the Three Realms would be overflowing with grade-one pills. But that girl had such a pure heart that she’d believe anything if it meant helping someone she cared for. If he hadn’t tricked her, she would surely cause trouble within the next three months.
The old turtle chuckled and settled back to enjoy his drink.
With no moon that night, a corner of the main hall’s library was stealthily pushed open. Bai Shuo, familiar with the place, slipped inside, igniting a faint light in her palm as she searched the dusty corners and pulled out a few old books. Dusting them off, she read the title on one of the covers: The Celestial and Earthly Treasures of Miao Miao Island. She flipped through a few pages, raising an eyebrow.
Just as she suspected, the old rascal had deliberately tricked her. The book made it very clear: the thousand-year-old red coral off the Eastern Sea was merely a grade-two treasure. The area around the Eastern Sea was protected by a sect barrier, and if she trespassed, she could be trapped for three to five months. Then, she wouldn’t be able to help A-Zhao in time.
Sighing, Bai Shuo understood that the old turtle had only tricked her to keep her from causing trouble. But if the coral wasn’t the answer, then what was Miao Miao Island’s true grade-one treasure?
Her gaze scanned the book, eventually pausing on a particular section. She pressed her lips together, tucked the book into her robe, extinguished the light in her palm, and slipped out into the moonlight.
When Bai Shuo returned to the herb hut, the table of elixir was nearly empty, and the old turtle lay on his back, snoring loudly.
Bai Shuo muttered an incantation, shrinking the herb cauldron to the size of her palm. She summoned it into her medicine pouch, took a few steps, then turned back to cover the old turtle with a blanket before hurrying out of the garden.
Meanwhile, in the demon realm’s skies, a powerful silver demonic aura shot across the heavens, heading toward the Eastern Sea of the celestial realm.
0 Comments