223: Xuan Turtle Becomes a Saint

Seven days, without sleep or rest.

Within Xuantian Valley, time seemed to lose its meaning. Only the flow of emerald vitality by the deep pool and the quiet breathing of the ancient will at the pool's center formed a marvelous rhythm.

Xiao Chun's exhaustion grew greater by the day. After each day's treatment, her face was as pale as paper, requiring Qin Feng and the two Valley Masters to take turns helping her recover with Medicinal Pills and True Qi. But her eyes grew brighter and brighter, filled with the light of focus and conviction from witnessing a miracle and personally participating in the creation of history. The potential of the Myriad Medicine Body was being constantly unearthed and refined through this extreme exertion, and the circulation of the Returning Origin Guiding Heart Art became increasingly harmonious and profound. Between her and the Xuantian Turtle, a subtle connection based on original vitality was established that transcended words.

The Xuantian Turtle's condition was improving at a rate visible to the naked eye.

At first, it was just a slight loosening at the edges of the dark 'Dao Erosion' area. Gradually, like hard ice under the warm spring sun, it melted and peeled away piece by piece, layer by layer. The original meridians that had been eroded for eons were once again saturated and cleared by pure vitality, radiating a brilliance that had long been dormant. In the deep pool, the aura emitted by the massive shadow grew more harmonious, heavy, and lively by the day, like a volcano on the verge of extinction regaining its surging power.

The seventh day, at dusk.

Xiao Chun sat cross-legged on a giant rock, and for the seventh and final time, she injected the emerald original vitality, condensed to its limit, into the Xuantian Turtle's body. Unlike the previous six times, this time, her vitality was like a nimble jade stream; wherever it passed, the last stubborn traces of 'Dao Erosion' vanished without a trace, like snow meeting the blazing sun.

In the center of the deep pool, that massive turtle shell suddenly erupted with an unprecedented gentle brilliance! It was no longer a dark green, but a mysterious deep azure. The light was not dazzling, yet it seemed capable of illuminating the Soul, making every detail of Xuantian Valley visible!

An indescribably comfortable, perfect, and vast intent that had broken free from eternal shackles swept out like a waking star!

“Roar—!!!!!!”

A low, long roar, seemingly coming from the beginning of the primordial era and containing the accumulation of endless years and supreme majesty, rose rumbling from the depths of the pool. It shook the entire Xuantian Valley and even penetrated layers of Restrictions, faintly echoing in the skies above Medicine King Valley!

That was not a roar of pain, but a joyous long cry of shackles being cast off and a dragon returning to the sea!

Accompanying this roar, the Xuantian Turtle's vast aura, which had been dormant for countless years, began to climb frantically at an unprecedented speed! The pressure, which was already unfathomable, was now like a volcanic eruption or a star river flowing backward, breaking through inherent boundaries step by step!

“Is this... a Breakthrough?!” Li Changqing cried out in shock, trembling with excitement alongside Sikong Ye. They could clearly feel the Old Ancestor's aura breaking through the Bottleneck that had troubled it for untold years—the barrier of the Half-Step Saint-Grade!

The Xuantian Turtle's aura became increasingly grand, invoking the Laws of Heaven and Earth. Within the valley, winds surged and clouds churned as endless Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi gathered frantically from all directions, forming a massive Spiritual Qi vortex spanning dozens of miles above Xuantian Valley. In the center of the vortex, mysterious runes faintly flickered, and the sound of the Great Dao rumbled. The mountains of Medicine King Valley trembled, and ten thousand beasts bowed their heads. Every Disciple and Elder, no matter where they were, felt a sense of awe and submission stemming from biological instinct. They all looked toward the Forbidden Ground in shock.

However, the changes were far from over!

Just as the Xuantian Turtle's aura broke through a certain limit and officially stepped into the Saint-Grade Domain, another transformation occurred!

Upon its massive turtle shell, which was covered in the moss of ages, the natural patterns suddenly brightened to the extreme, bursting with a dazzling divine light of interwoven deep azure and profound black! Within the divine light, the form of the turtle shell actually began to undergo a mysterious change. Its edges became sharper and more ancient, and phantom images of mountains, rivers, the sun, moon, and stars emerged, emitting a heavy Dao charm that carried the heavens and earth and suppressed the eight directions!

At the same time, its head and limbs slowly emerged further from the pool water. The head was still like a turtle's but appeared more majestic. A complex Innate rune condensed and appeared on its forehead, and the ghostly light in its eyes turned into pure profound black, as if it could swallow light and see through the Nine Sereneries. Most startlingly, its tail transformed and extended within the divine light. It was no longer a simple turtle tail, but had turned into a vigorous and powerful snake tail covered in profound black scales! The snake tail was nimble, merging perfectly with the steady turtle body; one still and one moving, it secretly aligned with the principles of Yin and Yang.

A turtle body with a snake tail, carrying mountains and rivers on its back, with eyes containing the underworld—this was the true form of the Divine Beast from myth and legend that governed the North, ruled over water and Yin, possessed peerless defense, and held an extremely high status: the Northern Underworld Xuanwu!

“The... the Xuanwu True Body?! Its Bloodline has purified and returned to its ancestors!” Sikong Ye's voice was hoarse, and he was so excited he almost fainted. The Xuantian Turtle originally contained a thin trace of Xuanwu Bloodline. Now, with its hidden injuries gone and the Opportunity of original restructuring upon breaking through to the Saint-Grade, it had been completely stimulated and purified, achieving a leap in Bloodline level! From now on, it was no longer the 'Xuantian Turtle,' but a true Northern Underworld Xuanwu! Its strength and status were top-tier even among those in the Saint-Grade!

“Roar—!!!”

Another long cry rang out, more majestic and vast than before, carrying the joy of rebirth and supreme Divine Might. The newborn Northern Underworld Xuanwu slightly raised its head, its profound black eyes scanning the void. The Spiritual Qi vortex in the sky slowly calmed, turning into a spiritual rain that fell over Medicine King Valley like sweet dew, nourishing all things. The aura it emitted was like the deep and boundless Northern Underworld Sea—heavy, cold, encompassing all things, and containing a terrifying power that could change the heavens and earth.

Saint-Grade power, Xuanwu charm, reigning over this place!

Qin Feng watched this scene in shock, his heart surging with waves. Saint-Grade! And a Northern Underworld Xuanwu with an ancestral Bloodline! From today on, the foundation of Medicine King Valley would undergo an earth-shaking change! Xiao Chun's Myriad Medicine Body had actually created such a miracle!

He quickly looked at Xiao Chun. Having finished the final treatment, Xiao Chun had long since collapsed from exhaustion, leaning limply in the arms of Qin Feng, who had caught her in time. Her face was as pale as paper, her breath was weak, and she barely had the strength to open her eyes. But a trace of a satisfied, gratified, and barely perceptible smile hung at the corner of her mouth. The earthy-red small beast 'Little Fire' in her arms also seemed intimidated by the Saint-Grade and Xuanwu aura, burying its little head deep and trembling slightly, yet it also felt a trace of instinctive yearning.

Li Changqing and Sikong Ye were already moved to tears, kneeling on the ground and bowing with the most respectful grand rite toward the Xuanwu True Body in the center of the pool that radiated supreme Divine Might: “Congratulations to the Old Ancestor for the removal of hidden injuries, ascending to the Saint Realm, returning to the ancestral Bloodline, and achieving the Xuanwu True Body! Heaven blesses Medicine King Valley! May our lineage prosper forever!”

“Rise...” The intent of the newborn Xuanwu sounded. It was still old, but filled with unprecedented vitality and an indescribable majesty and gentleness. Its profound black gaze first landed on Xiao Chun in Qin Feng's arms, its intent filled with sincere gratitude and a nearly paternal gentleness: “Little girl... you have worked hard. This favor, this Saint... this old man, shall keep it in my heart.”

A gentle and soft deep azure light was exhaled from the Xuanwu's mouth, gently sinking into Xiao Chun's body. Xiao Chun's pale face regained its color at a visible rate, and her exhausted Origin was quickly nourished and replenished like parched earth receiving rain, becoming even more condensed and pure than before. She gave a soft moan and slowly opened her eyes. Seeing the majestic yet gentle Xuanwu True Body, her eyes also showed joy.

The Xuanwu then looked at Qin Feng. Its gaze lingered on him and his instinctive posture of protecting Xiao Chun for a moment, its intent showing a hint of praise: “Kid, you are good.” Then, it looked toward Li Changqing and the other, its intent turning solemn: “This Opportunity is all thanks to this girl. She is a treasure of my Medicine King Valley not seen in ten thousand generations, and also my, the Black Turtle's, benefactor. You must devote everything to protect her safety and help her grow. From this day forth, her status is equal to you two, and she shall enjoy all the highest treatment and resources within the valley. No one is allowed to slight her, much less reveal even a fraction of her Physique. Violators will be dealt with by this Saint personally.”

“This Disciple respectfully obeys the Old Ancestor's (Saint Sovereign's) decree!” Li Changqing and Sikong Ye responded solemnly, without a shred of doubt in their hearts, only absolute determination.

The Xuanwu nodded, and its massive body slowly sank into the pool water, leaving only a small portion of its mysterious back shell exposed. Its aura gradually returned to a deep calm, but the majesty of the Saint-Grade and the Xuanwu was eternally branded into this world and into the depths of the Soul of everyone in Medicine King Valley.

“Did we... succeed?” Xiao Chun asked weakly but happily.

“Yes, we succeeded.” Qin Feng held her tightly, looking at the calm yet completely transformed deep pool with a distant gaze. “And, it was much more successful than we imagined.”

Medicine King Valley, from this day forth, had a Saint.

And the connection and bond between them, this ancient Sect, and this newborn Sacred Beast, had also become inseparable from then on.