Chapter 625
The Void Vortex Teleports Him Thousands of Miles
Seeing the undisguised shock and anxiety on Jiang Xuan's face, Qingyuan blinked its big eyes and suddenly asked.
"By the way, your cultivation level is... well, so-so. How did you end up in this deep-sea ruin, which even high-level cultivators rarely see? Could it be that you just got lucky and were swept here by ocean currents?"
Jiang Xuan was in a state of confusion, so he didn't hide anything when he heard this. He gave a wry smile and briefly recounted his previous experiences, including how he was chased by the Chi family, how he hijacked the warship to fight back, and how he was finally swallowed by the terrifying underwater void vortex and woke up here.
His description was concise, but the blue turtle's eyes lit up as it listened, especially when it heard the words "void vortex." Its massive body even trembled slightly with excitement, and its claws dug hard into the coral reef beneath its feet, making a "crunching" sound.
"A void vortex! It really is a void vortex that transcends space! You... you actually came from there! And you survived!"
The blue turtle's voice was filled with unbelievable excitement as it stared intently at Jiang Xuan.
"A miracle! It's simply a miracle! Logically speaking, even divine metal or immortal iron would be torn to shreds in those unstable spatial turbulences. How could your mere Spirit Stream Realm body and cultivation be completely unharmed?!"
It suddenly stretched its head forward, almost touching Jiang Xuan, its eyes flashing with an intensely burning light.
"Speak quickly! Do you possess some supreme treasure that can withstand the void turbulence?! You must have! Otherwise, you have no chance of survival!"
Jiang Xuan was startled by its excited appearance and subconsciously took a step back, his mind racing. He had never mentioned the secret of the Heavenly Water Sacred Pearl to anyone, but in the current situation... the Azure Turtle clearly guessed something, and seemed to value it extremely.
Seeing that Jiang Xuan's eyes flickered and he did not immediately deny it, the green turtle became even more convinced of its judgment. It excitedly spun around on the spot, creating a small splash of water.
"Hahaha! Heaven have mercy! Eight hundred years! A full eight hundred years! This great king has been trapped in this godforsaken place for eight hundred years, and finally... finally, I've seen a glimmer of hope to escape! It's you! Boy, you are this great king's savior!"
"Escape? Savior?"
Jiang Xuan grasped the key words, temporarily suppressing his worries about the long journey, and asked with doubt.
"Your Majesty, are you saying... you are trapped here? This sea area... isn't it your territory?"
"Territory my ass!"
In his excitement, the blue turtle forgot all about maintaining its "kingly" demeanor and uttered a curse.
"I am a naturally born and carefree Azure Turtle! If I hadn't been greedy eight hundred years ago and followed a wisp of 'Nine Nether Profound Qi' into this hellish place, how could I have stayed here for eight hundred years! This place... this place is simply an ancient prison! It's easy to get in, but getting out is as difficult as ascending to heaven!"
It angrily slapped the seawater with its claws.
"Why do you think this sea is called the 'Sea of Annihilation'? Why is the spiritual energy so pure and strange, yet few powerful beings occupy it for long periods of time? It's because the depths of this seabed are filled with the divine power and restrictions left over from ancient ruins!"
That is a power that transcends the current cultivation system's comprehension. It appears peaceful, but in reality, it is extremely domineering, forming a natural 'domain'! I, the Great King, am probably the strongest 'king' here, right?
But so what? They were still firmly locked in this core area by the power of this 'domain,' unable to break through the invisible outer barrier, let alone move away! Every attempt to forcefully break through resulted in a backlash from the divine power, damaging their very essence!
Ancient ruins? Divine power? Even the Heavenly Rank spirit beast, the Azure Turtle, was trapped for eight hundred years and unable to escape?
Jiang Xuan was shocked by what he heard.
He had only thought that the place was rich in spiritual energy and had a beautiful and unusual landscape, but he never expected that the seemingly fairyland-like sea beneath his feet was actually a terrifying ancient prison! After countless years, the remaining power could still trap a creature like the Azure Turtle. How terrifying must the ruins have been at their peak?
"So... Your Majesty, you believe that I was able to pass through that void vortex because I was protected by a supreme treasure. And this supreme treasure might also help us... pass through the restrictions surrounding the ruins and leave this place?"
Jiang Xuan sorted out his thoughts.
"It's not just possible, it's certain!"
The green turtle looked at Jiang Xuan with unwavering determination and intense gaze.
"That void vortex is actually a temporary 'crack' entrance that occasionally appears when the outer restrictions of this ruin collide with the unstable parts of the outside space. It's incredibly violent. The fact that you were able to pass through safely proves that the treasure you possess is definitely beyond the erosion limit of the residual divine power of this ruin!"
Using it to protect us and get through the weaker points in the relatively stable outer defenses of the ruins is definitely feasible!
It stretched out a claw, pointing in a certain direction from this area of silver sword grass, where the seawater seemed to be a deeper color.
"The exit, or rather the easiest barrier to break through, is over there. Before, when I approached that place, I could feel a stinging pain in my soul and my power was suppressed. I dared not stay there for long, let alone pass through. But now it's different. With you here and that supreme treasure, we might actually be able to get out!"
The blue turtle became more and more excited as it spoke, as if the frustration of being trapped for eight hundred years had found an outlet, and it seemed to have already seen the free and vast world outside.
Jiang Xuan fell silent.
He was certain that the Heavenly Water Sacred Pearl was indeed mysterious and extraordinary, capable of protecting him in the void vortex, and most likely, as the Azure Turtle had said, could help them cross the barrier. But... should they just leave like this?
He glanced at the silver frost sword grass in the distance, which shone like a galaxy, and then recalled the "ancient ruins" that Qingyuan had just mentioned.
Is this the only thing inside a ruin that can trap a celestial-level spirit beast for eight hundred years?
Seemingly sensing Jiang Xuan's hesitation, the green turtle's eyes darted around, and it immediately changed its tone, pointing with its claws at the silver light.
"Boy, don't hesitate! Look, I'm not a stingy person. This 'Starlight Sword Algae,' oh, you humans might call it 'Silver Frost Sword Grass,' is a genuine ancient treasure! It has miraculous effects such as bringing the dead back to life, rebuilding foundations, tempering the body, nourishing the soul, and enhancing cultivation!"
"In the outside world, even those so-called 'kings' would fight tooth and nail to get their hands on this! I, the Great King, will give you some! Consider it... payment for helping me escape this predicament, how about it?"
Resurrection? Physical tempering? Cultivation enhancement? Jiang Xuan's heart swelled with excitement.
What he lacks most right now is resources to improve his strength! If this Silver Frost Sword Grass really has such miraculous effects, its value is simply immeasurable!
But he resisted the urge to agree immediately and asked instead.
"Such a rare treasure, why doesn't Your Majesty consume it yourself?"
He noticed that the blue turtle said "I'll share some with you," not "I'll give you everything."
Upon hearing this, the green turtle showed a human-like "helplessness" expression and pursed its lips.
"You think I, the Great King, don't want to eat more? When I first discovered this place, I ate it like it was my main meal for quite a while! I devoured over a hundred plants! Otherwise, do you think I could have cultivated to my current level in this ghostly place where the spiritual energy is dense yet the rules are oppressive? I would have been exhausted long ago! But..."
It dragged out the melody, adopting an air of profound mystery and world-weariness.
"Such rare treasures of heaven and earth, though powerful, have their limits. My bloodline is special, and I have already absorbed all of their medicinal power, reaching the peak of improvement I can achieve under the current conditions. Eating more would only satisfy my appetite and would be of no benefit to my cultivation. You will understand this principle when you reach my current level."
Jiang Xuan's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
He'd be a fool to believe that! This green turtle clearly ate too much back then and is now tired of it! Or its body has developed a resistance, so eating it again would have little effect, hence its "generosity." However, this was irrelevant to Jiang Xuan; as long as the food was real, that was enough. "I see. Your Majesty's realm is profound; this junior admires you."
Jiang Xuan offered another flattering remark at the opportune moment, then looked troubled.
"However... such spiritual herbs must be difficult to harvest and preserve, right? I have nothing of value to offer, I'm afraid..."
"What's so difficult about that!"
Seeing that Jiang Xuan was interested, the green turtle immediately perked up.
"This herb is indeed delicate; it withers as soon as it is separated from its roots, its spiritual power is greatly diminished if touched, and it will burn if exposed to ordinary fire. It must be preserved using special methods. Take a close look!"
It opened its mouth and spat out a wisp of pale blue light. The light was concentrated and full of vitality. It swirled in the air and gently enveloped a Silver Frost Sword Grass, forming a fist-sized blue light shield. The sword grass inside the shield shimmered with silver light and showed no signs of wilting.
"This is my natal Azure Cloud, containing a trace of innate water and wood essence, which is most suitable for nourishing water-attribute spiritual plants. You can wrap it with this Azure Cloud and then store it in your storage magic artifact. However, this Azure Cloud of mine cannot last long outside my body; it will dissipate after a month at most, so you need to use it as soon as possible."
As the Azure Turtle spoke, it manipulated the wisp of azure light to envelop dozens more Silver Frost Sword Grasses, and one by one, azure light clusters floated in front of Jiang Xuan.
"This should be enough for you for a long time. So, kid, can you take me away from this godforsaken place now?"
The green turtle looked at Jiang Xuan expectantly, its tone urging him on.
Jiang Xuan looked at the dozens of blue orbs of light in front of him, which were shimmering with silver light and brimming with spiritual energy, and felt a surge of joy in his heart.
He carefully collected each of the orbs of light into the small Sumeru ring on his finger.
The ring doesn't have much internal space, but it's more than enough to hold these orbs of light.
After carefully putting away the sword grass, Jiang Xuan did not immediately agree. Instead, he stroked his chin, his gaze sweeping towards the deeper part of this beautiful body of water, a thoughtful expression and... a hint of greed on his face.
"Your Majesty."
Jiang Xuan spoke, his tone "sincere".
"Since we have a treasure to protect us and can try to leave at any time, then... why rush? Look, this is an ancient ruin! We've only circled the outermost perimeter and we've already discovered such a rare treasure as the Silver Frost Sword Grass."
"Inside...could there be any other... 'scraps' that are useless to you but might be of some help to a junior? Since we're already here, wouldn't it be a waste not to take a look? It would be like entering a treasure trove and leaving empty-handed!"
The blue turtle was stunned. It didn't expect that Jiang Xuan, after taking the sword grass, would not only not agree to leave immediately, but would instead set his sights on the depths of the ruins.
It stared at Jiang Xuan for several seconds, then suddenly let out a strange "hoho" laugh.
"Good lad! Interesting! Greedy, but bold! Alright! We've been trapped for eight hundred years anyway, a little longer won't make a difference. I'll take you to the second level of these ruins! There are indeed some 'trinkets' there that I don't care about or need, but they might be treasures for you."
It climbed down from the coral reef, gesturing for Jiang Xuan to follow.
"Stay close. This place looks beautiful, but some areas are fraught with danger. Don't touch anything."
Jiang Xuan was overjoyed and quickly agreed.
"Thank you, Your Majesty! This junior will certainly follow in Your Majesty's footsteps!"
One person and one turtle swam deeper into this silvery body of water.
As we moved forward, the color of the surrounding seawater gradually transitioned from a bright blue to a deeper, purer azure. The current seemed to slow down and become heavy, carrying an indescribable rhythm.
The glowing corals and aquatic fish around us gradually dwindled, replaced by a vast, ancient, and desolate atmosphere.
Even though the water flow hadn't increased, Jiang Xuan felt an invisible pressure, as if the seawater itself had gained weight, pressing heavily on his body and seeping into his soul, making him feel palpitations and oppression involuntarily.
Even the usually carefree blue turtle had put away its playful expression and become much more serious. The dark gold patterns on its bluish-black carapace were faintly glowing, as if it were resisting something.
"Be careful. This is an area where the power of the ruins is strongly penetrating. Although it won't kill you immediately, staying here for too long will damage your soul."
The blue turtle reminded him in a low voice.
Jiang Xuan nodded, silently circulating his spiritual power, and also felt a slight tremor in his sea of consciousness.
He became even more convinced of the extraordinary nature of the ruins.
After swimming for about fifteen minutes, a rugged group of underwater rocks appeared ahead. The rocks were dark red, as if scorched by flames, contrasting sharply with the surrounding azure seawater. From a crevice in one of the rocks, Jiang Xuan spotted a striking crimson light.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a small tree no more than three feet tall! Its entire body was like a piece of red jade, with sparse branches and leaves, but each leaf looked like a dancing flame.
At the very top of the tree, there are twenty-four fruits the size of longan. The fruits are round and fiery red, with lava flowing on their surface, exuding a hot and pure masculine aura, like twenty-four miniature suns in the deep sea!
"This is... True Yang Dragon Marrow Fruit?!"
Jiang Xuan recognized the item based on the memories of some spiritual plant illustrations that came with the "Compendium of Ten Thousand Beasts," and his voice was filled with excitement.
"Oh, you've got some knowledge, huh?"
The blue turtle glanced at the crimson sapling, its tone indifferent.
"That's right, it's the True Yang Dragon Marrow Fruit. This thing has miraculous effects on opening up intelligence and improving comprehension, especially for you human cultivators. However, each person can only take one at most. Taking more is not beneficial and will instead cause an excess of yang energy, which will damage the brain. I ate a few in my early years, but they are no longer of any use to me."
As it spoke, it waved its claws, and a gentle force swept through the air, causing the twenty-four crimson fruits to fall off simultaneously. They were swept away by a stream of water and flew to Jiang Xuan's face. A scorching heat rushed towards him, and even through the seawater, Jiang Xuan could feel the immense pure Yang energy contained within.
He quickly took out several jade bottles he had prepared beforehand and carefully placed the fruits inside, sealing them away. The jade bottles could effectively neutralize and preserve their medicinal power, preventing the loss of spiritual energy. (End of Chapter)