224: Visitors from the Star Palace

As the Black Tortoise of the Northern Darkness slowly sank into the deep pool, its aura returning to a vast tranquility, Li Changqing and Sikong Ye, suppressing the surging waves in their hearts, bowed in respect and prepared to lead Qin Feng and Xiao Chun out of the completely transformed Xuantian Valley.

However, the ancient and majestic will of the Black Tortoise sounded again, calm and waveless, yet carrying irrefutable authority:

"Enough, you two, go out first."

Li Changqing and Sikong Ye paused, looking up at the direction of the deep pool in surprise. Did the Old Ancestor mean... to keep Qin Feng and Xiao Chun alone?

"This Saint has some things to discuss privately with these two little ones," the Black Tortoise's will added, its tone flat, yet causing the two Valley Masters to inwardly stiffen. The Old Ancestor had just attained a great fortune, advanced to Saint-Grade, and awakened his Bloodline. To speak privately with these two Juniors now... they dared not speculate on the deeper meaning, nor should they ask.

"Yes, your Disciples take our leave." Li Changqing and Sikong Ye suppressed their myriad doubts and worries, bowed respectfully again, glanced secretly at Qin Feng and Xiao Chun with looks instructing them to be cautious with their words, and then slowly retreated from Xuantian Valley, thoughtfully reinforcing the outer Restriction.

In the valley, only Xiao Chun, who was still somewhat weak, sat by the pool, Qin Feng supporting her, and the Black Tortoise's true form emitting Saint-Grade majesty in the deep pool remained.

Qin Feng was also puzzled. What did Senior Black Tortoise keep them for? Was it related to Xiao Chun's Physique? Or perhaps... he vaguely felt it might be related to the strange Rune Mark that flashed across Xiao Chun's brow that day when her Myriad Medicine Body was activated—a mark that even the System hadn't clearly pointed out? He remembered a fleeting, extremely faint ray of light, seemingly from the Nine Heavens, entering Xiao Chun's body. Could it be... Just as his thoughts raced, the Black Tortoise did not speak immediately. The surface of the deep pool stirred without wind, spreading out fine ripples. A power, deeper and more mysterious than before, quietly permeated the area, gently enveloping the space where Qin Feng and Xiao Chun were located.

Qin Feng suddenly felt a strong drowsiness wash over him, not due to injury or exhaustion, but a feeling of warmth, security, and tranquility akin to returning to the womb, making it impossible to resist. Just as a warning bell rang in his heart, before he could react, his vision went black, and his consciousness rapidly sank. The last thing he heard was Xiao Chun letting out a soft hum, and then he felt her go limp in his arms, losing consciousness too.

The two leaned against each other, as if falling into the deepest slumber.

Confirming that the consciousness of the two had temporarily quieted, a look of extreme complexity flashed in the Black Tortoise's dark eyes—a mixture of reverence, emotion, and a trace of relief. It did not look at Qin Feng and Xiao Chun, but slightly raised its head, gazing toward the sky above Xuantian Valley, which was covered by the Restriction yet now seemed transparent. Its will carried immense respect, as if facing a Supreme existence:

"They are temporarily asleep. Senior... please show yourself."

As its respectful will transmitted, the space in the valley rippled gently like water.

Immediately afterward, a hazy Blue Phantom, seemingly condensed from countless starlight and ice crystals, appeared above the deep pool without warning. The phantom had a slender figure, its face indistinct, only its eyes were clearly visible. Those eyes seemed to contain swirling galaxies and eternal coldness. Merely the existence of the phantom caused the surrounding light to slightly distort and the temperature to plummet. Even the Saint-Grade pressure emanating from the Black Tortoise seemed insignificant before this phantom.

"Buzz..."

An extremely faint chime, yet one that seemed to resonate directly to the Origin of the Soul, sounded in the Black Tortoise's mind.

The location of Qin Feng's Sword Heart and the now-hidden strange Rune Mark on Xiao Chun's chest flickered with light, then settled upon the Black Tortoise.

A cold, ethereal female voice, seemingly transmitted across endless time and space, sounded directly in the depths of the Black Tortoise's consciousness, entirely devoid of worldly dust:

"Little turtle... your gains this time are quite substantial."

The Black Tortoise's massive body lowered slightly, its will filled with humility: "I dare not accept Senior's praise. This Junior was able to dispel the chronic ailment, glimpse the Saint Dao, and even luckily awaken the ancestral Bloodline, all thanks to... all thanks to these two Juniors, especially this young girl with the Myriad Medicine Body, who provided full assistance. This Junior is terrified, not knowing of Senior's arrival, nor that these two Juniors are..."

Its words carried probing and boundless reverence. The aura emitted by this Blue Phantom was something it had only faintly sensed in the oldest, vaguest depths of its inherited memories—a status that transcended ordinary Martial Gods, belonging to a true Starry Sky Supreme!

The Blue Phantom seemed to chuckle lightly, the sound carrying the cold stillness of the starry sky: "Do you think... this 'Myriad Medicine Body' is something just anyone can Awaken? If not for her own deep Karma accumulated over lifetimes, long-lasting fortune, and a spark of uncorrupted spirituality... would the Heavenly Dao so easily bestow such favor?"

"They happened to run into me that day, so I just helped her out a little."

Xuanwu's heart shook violently! Karma across lifetimes? Favor from the Heavenly Dao? So that's how it is! No wonder this legendary Physique reappeared, no wonder this little girl's Heart-Nature is so pure and benevolent; her roots must be extraordinary! This isn't just a Genius, but a 'key' carrying immense Luck, possibly even connected to some Supreme beings!

The Blue Phantom's gaze swept over Qin Feng again, pausing briefly on his tenacious Sword Heart and his Soul, which was also enveloped by Karma and Luck, before continuing: "As for this fellow beside him... his Sword Heart is transparent, and calamity-Luck intertwines, making him an interesting variable as well. That they could meet and accompany each other, relying on one another, is also a form of destiny."

Xuanwu understood, raising its estimation of Qin Feng even higher. To be called an 'interesting variable' by this Senior meant he was absolutely not ordinary.

"I heard..." The Blue Phantom's tone suddenly shifted. The speech remained placid, yet it delivered content that made Xuanwu's spirit tremble: "Those long worms under the Sea God, calling themselves 'Leviathans,' have been rather restless?"

Xuanwu dared not hide anything: "Yes... the Leviathan race occupies the depths of the Endless Sea. Their power is vast, and their Clan Chief is rumored to possess Martial God cultivation. They have many strong experts, and they have indeed been agitated recently, seeming to covet the mainland..."

"Martial God?" The Blue Phantom's tone revealed neither joy nor anger, only a detachment like looking down on ants. "A few days ago, this Seat passed by the Eye of the North Abyss and casually wiped out the most aggressively clamoring main branches of the 'Leviathans,' along with their self-important Clan Chief..."

Wiped them out? Casually? Wiping out the main branches of a top-tier powerful race that dominates the deep sea and is led by a Martial God?

Even though Xuanwu had just advanced to Saint-Grade and possessed an unshakeable will, a chill shot from its spine straight to the top of its head, and its massive turtle shell felt slightly cold! This Senior's strength and methods were terrifying beyond imagination!

"The remaining riff-raff aren't worth mentioning; they've probably hidden in some trench or cave, shivering," the Blue Phantom continued, as if merely narrating a trivial matter. "They won't dare show their heads again for a short time."

Xuanwu quickly bowed its head: "Senior's Divine Might! You have removed a great threat for the world!" It knew well the cruelty and ambition of the Leviathan race; if they truly launched a full invasion of the continent, it would surely lead to widespread devastation. This Senior's action had inadvertently averted a catastrophe that might have swept across the world.

The Blue Phantom shook its head slightly, its gaze returning to Qin Feng and Xiao Chun: "This Seat did not come for this matter. I am merely informing you so that if there are any aftershocks or connections in the future, you will be aware."

She paused, and a faint, almost gentle glimmer seemed to flash in her star-river-like eyes, her voice softening slightly:

"These two children... still have a long road ahead. Since you received their favor and achieved the Saint position, you should offer them some appropriate care. You need not interfere excessively, only provide a small helping hand when they truly encounter an insurmountable life-or-death crisis."

"This Junior understands! I will certainly not fail Senior's trust!" Xuanwu solemnly agreed. Even without the Senior's instruction, it already regarded Xiao Chun as a benefactor, and now it knew that the Karma connected to the two of them might be terrifyingly immense.

The Blue Phantom seemed to nod slightly, its form beginning to grow more ethereal, as if about to merge into the starlight. Before completely dissipating, her ethereal voice left a final sentence, carrying a distant expectation and an undeniable sense of fate, echoing deep within Xuanwu's mind:

"Perhaps one day..."

"This Seat... will personally come to fetch them..."

"Back to... the Polaris Palace."

As the voice faded, the phantom completely vanished, as if it had never existed. The celestial phenomena and icy aura in the valley instantly receded, leaving only the tranquility of the deep pool and the turbulent waves in Xuanwu's heart that could not settle for a long time.

Polaris Palace... Xuanwu lowered its massive head deeply, paying the highest reverence towards the direction where the phantom disappeared. That name, which only existed in the oldest myths and forbidden texts... actually existed! And these two little ones it had just decided to protect with all its might might actually be connected to that place!

It slowly looked at the still sleeping Qin Feng and Xiao Chun, its gaze becoming incredibly complex, finally resolving into a long sigh mixed with reverence, responsibility, and a hint of honor.

Within Xuantian Valley, the Saint-Grade Xuanwu stood guard nearby. Meanwhile, the two sleeping figures were completely unaware of how distant and lofty an existence their destiny was about to intersect with.