Chapter 329: The Great Demon, White Chi

Chapter 329: The Great Demon, White Chi

November 27, 2024

Two days later.

"Haa..."

On an unknown desolate island, Jiang Ning exhaled a mouthful of turbid air.

White mist like a sword pierced through the air, extending over three feet.

[Skills]: Inner Core Cultivation Technique (Minor Accomplishment: 3831/5000)



He glanced at the panel and then closed it.

Ever since the weather cleared up a few days ago, there had been several consecutive days of good weather, allowing his Inner Core Cultivation Technique to progress rapidly, earning him over a hundred experience points each day.

Now, with the accumulated experience points, he was already close to reaching four thousand experience points for the Inner Core Cultivation Technique.

With his current efficiency and progress, as long as the weather remained clear and cloudless, allowing him to smoothly absorb and expel the Grand Yang Essence Qi, it would take no more than twelve days to achieve a breakthrough in the Inner Core Cultivation Technique.

"It's time to continue searching for Heavenly Materials!"

He muttered to himself and slowly stood up.

Beside him.

The Ancient Turtle flipped over, basking in the sun with its belly and legs up.

Hearing Jiang Ning's movement, it quickly opened its eyes.

Then, it kicked off the ground with all four limbs.

"Whoosh!"

The Ancient Turtle landed on Jiang Ning's shoulder.

"Old Turtle, if you sense the aura of the Great Demon White Chi, be sure to inform me!" Jiang Ning reminded him again.

"Understood!" The Ancient Turtle nodded repeatedly.

Then, he went to the very edge of the nameless island beneath his feet.

In front of him was the surging lake water.

After several days of clear weather and the warmth of the sun, Luoshui Lake had completely thawed.

Now, only a few shattered ice fragments floated on the lake's surface.

[Essence Points]: 2175.37

He checked his Essence Points once again.

Breaking through the two thousand point mark again.

This was the result of his efforts over the past few days.

Including today, he had been away from home for three days.

He had ventured deep into Luoshui Lake, covering an unknown number of li.

His footprints had spread across every corner of the lake's bottom.

Due to the vast area he had searched, his harvest over these days had been excellent, and among his findings were Heavenly Materials over a hundred years old.

However, he also discovered a problem.

The Heavenly Materials found at the lake's bottom were mostly no older than a hundred years, with seven or eight decades being common, but those over a century were scarce.

As for Heavenly Materials over a hundred years old, reaching up to two centuries, he had never seen any.

"Old Turtle, do you think there might be some kind of power in this lake?"

"Power?" The Ancient Turtle mumbled upon hearing this.

"That's right!!" It pondered for a moment, then suddenly rose from Jiang Ning's shoulder.

Then it continued, "Master, I recall that about two hundred years ago, when I gained sentience, I met a giant shrimp."

"A giant shrimp?" Jiang Ning was astonished.

The Ancient Turtle stood on Jiang Ning's shoulder, its body upright, nodding.

"Yes, Master!"

"A fire-red giant shrimp, with sentience, had long transformed into a demon."

"It invited me to join them at the time."

"But I was guarding the Imperial Elixir, so I decisively declined its invitation!"

"It didn't say much, just told me that if I wanted to find them in the future, I should head northeast and keep going, and I would eventually encounter them."

Northeast direction?

Jiang Ning's eyes narrowed, and he instantly located the northeast direction mentioned by the Ancient Turtle on the map in his mind.

It was to the east of his current position.

These past few days, after diving into the lake's bottom, his powerful memory, enhanced by the Overlooking Nothingness skill, allowed him to create a three-dimensional map in his mind whenever he scanned a new area.

Every time he scanned an area of the lake, a three-dimensional map would form in his mind, including the terrain and features from Luoshui County to his current location at the lake's bottom.

On the surface, he had no idea where he was or which way led back.

However, after diving into the lake's bottom, he could instantly locate himself using the map in his mind.

Now, the unknown desolate island beneath his feet was also recorded on the map in his mind, making it easy to find the general direction of the northeast mentioned by the Ancient Turtle.

Let's go take a look!

After a brief moment of thought, he made his decision.

Over the past few days, he had searched countless areas at the lake's bottom.

There were a few places that puzzled him.

One was the scarcity of Heavenly Materials over a hundred years old, and even more so for those over two hundred years old.

Secondly, despite covering an extensive area of the lake, he had not encountered any other demons besides the Ancient Turtle and the Electric Eel.

This was unreasonable!

Luoshui Lake, capable of birthing the Ancient Turtle and the Electric Eel, must also have the potential to nurture other demon transformations.

It was unlikely for aquatic creatures to obtain such opportunities without transforming into demons.

Furthermore, he had only encountered the Ancient Turtle and the Electric Eel, no other demons had appeared.

As for Heavenly Materials over a hundred years old, and even those reaching two centuries, he had never seen any.

"Old Turtle, what do you think about going to the northeast direction mentioned by that giant shrimp?"

"Yes, Master!" The Ancient Turtle's voice sounded in Jiang Ning's ear.

"Master, I believe that must be a gathering place for aquatic creatures that have transformed into demons. We might find my companions there!"

Jiang Ning's body sank into the water as he spoke, "I think so too! Two hundred years ago, they invited you to join them, most likely because you had awakened your sentience and transformed into a demon."

A moment later, he reached the bottom of the lake.

With his perception covering a five-li radius of the surrounding water, he quickly matched the area with the map in his mind and instantly determined the direction.

The next moment, a passage appeared at the bottom of the lake, like a vacuum tunnel.

Amidst the surging undercurrents, he swiftly headed east.

At this time, he also narrowed his perception range.

Covering a five-li radius of the surrounding water, his perception would flood his brain with a vast amount of visual information in a short time. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue, as he could easily process this information influx at his usual speed.

But now, as he was moving at full speed, traveling hundreds of meters in a single breath, maintaining perception over a five-li radius of water, the flood of information from the visuals was overwhelming, making him feel dizzy and unable to keep up.

As he continued at high speed, he maintained control over a one-li radius of water.

An hour later, Jiang Ning asked, "Old Turtle, do you think we might be heading in the wrong direction?"

"Master, I don't know either. I've never traveled such a long distance before!" the old turtle replied.

Jiang Ning stopped in his tracks.

From the moment they started until now, several hours had passed, and they had crossed an immense expanse of water.

Along the way, he had only occasionally discovered one or two types of heavenly materials and treasures, and had no other gains.

He paused to think for a moment.

He compared the location with the map in his mind.

"Old Turtle, let's go back first!" Jiang Ning said, reaching out to grab the ancient turtle on his shoulder.

Then, with a thought, his body suddenly disappeared from that spot and merged into the lake water.

The next moment, his figure reappeared thirty li away, and his face turned deathly pale.

After using the Grand Quintessence Water Teleportation Technique once, he was completely exhausted, his body drained of energy.

But seeing the familiar surroundings and matching the map of the lake bottom in his mind with the actual terrain, a faint smile appeared on his face.

In an instant, he crossed thirty-three li and appeared at that spot.

"No good!!!" After two attempts, he shook his head repeatedly.

Using the technique twice in a row made him feel physically weak, as if he had been completely drained.

Moreover, he realized that although he could cross over thirty li in an instant, the recovery time was too long, making the efficiency of the technique not as high as he had hoped.

This time, nourished by the lake water, he took a longer time to recover before he felt completely replenished.

Then, he used the Water Control Technique and continued his journey along the lake bottom.

He planned to first go to the northeast direction where the ancient turtle had been, and then continue northeast, searching for heavenly materials and treasures and possibly gathering places of demons.

After several hours of searching, he continued to travel northeast, constantly gathering heavenly materials.

The Celestial Eye on his forehead had long been activated, constantly scanning the surroundings.

With the Celestial Eye's insight, he could see the scenery ten li away, much further than his perception of his perception of the five-li radius of water, the Celestial Eye could clearly see much further.

The next day, he scanned the area with his eyes.

His expression suddenly froze.

There it was!!!

Nine li away, he saw a giant snapping shrimp's pincer, as large as his arm.

This instantly reminded him of what the ancient turtle had told him.

Over two hundred years ago, when the ancient turtle had just transformed into a demon, there was a giant shrimp that had also awakened its sentience and become a demon.

Could this be that giant shrimp?

He wondered in his heart.

Then, his body moved, and he darted through the water like an arrow. The water parted before him, and the lake posed no obstacle.

In an instant, he reached the giant shrimp.

He stood before the giant pincer.

"Master, look at this!" The ancient turtle on his shoulder exclaimed in surprise at the sight of the red pincer ahead.

"Do you recognize it?" Jiang Ning asked.

"I do!" The ancient turtle replied without hesitation.

It leaped from Jiang Ning's shoulder and approached the red pincer.

"Master, you're right! This aura belongs to that giant shrimp from over two hundred years ago!" The ancient turtle affirmed.

"What do you mean?" Jiang Ning asked.

"I mean, this giant shrimp's cultivation seems rather shallow, far inferior to mine! But that shouldn't be the case! So much time has passed!" The ancient turtle explained.

"You can sense that?" Jiang Ning inquired.

"I can sense it. The cultivation level of several decades or even centuries is easily perceivable, and at this stage, it manifests on the outside, merging with the body."

"One who has cultivated for over a thousand years will not be able to sense it, as their cultivation is hidden within."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning asked again, "Can you sense how many years of cultivation that giant shrimp has?"

The old turtle replied, "Around a hundred years or so!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he took a bite.

A crisp sound rang out, followed by the sound of "creak, creak."

Jiang Ning watched the old turtle, and in less than a moment, the shrimp, which was as big as his arm, was completely devoured by the old turtle.

"Master, you're right, it's this shrimp!" The old turtle continued, "Master, and this shrimp claw is very fresh, the shrimp should have died less than a week ago!"

Hearing this, Jiang Ning fell into deep thought.

He glanced at the old turtle again, "Old Turtle, you said that shrimp has about a hundred years of cultivation?"

"Yes!" The old turtle nodded, "From the feeling I get from its claw, it should indeed have a hundred years of cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning smiled slightly.

"It seems I overestimated the cultivation of those demons in this lake."

"Master, why do you say that?" The old turtle's tone was filled with confusion.

Jiang Ning explained, "You have over two hundred years of cultivation because you have the opportunity to monopolize the Imperial Elixir. That electric eel has over two hundred years of cultivation because it has the opportunity to monopolize the Thunderfruit Tree.

"As for the creatures in this lake, without your opportunities, their cultivation growth rate is far slower than yours."

Perhaps after reaching a hundred years, many of the treasures in the lake were taken away by this giant shrimp and its gang of small demons.

Then, he looked ahead.

"Let's go! Keep moving forward, the shrimp's claw came from up ahead!" Jiang Ning said as he picked up the old turtle and placed it on his shoulder.

The next moment, he continued forward with his Celestial Eye.

After half a cup of tea's time, he halted.

"Master, what have you discovered?" The old turtle asked.

Jiang Ning nodded slightly.

Using the insight of his Celestial Eye, he saw a turtle shell in the left distance, a shell that was about four to five feet wide.

With a swift movement, he broke through the water like a sharp arrow.

In the blink of an eye, he arrived before the turtle shell.

"Master, the owner of this turtle shell in its previous life was a demon."

"Nonsense!" Jiang Ning said.

"Master, that turtle is stronger than me!" The old turtle came to the shell and sniffed a few times, his tone filled with admiration.

"How many years of cultivation?"

"Around three hundred years!" The old turtle replied.

"Three hundred years?" Jiang Ning was surprised, then nodded, "It's stronger than you."

Just then—

"Ouch!" The old turtle cried out.

Jiang Ning looked up and saw the old turtle biting the turtle shell, but instead of biting it off, it almost broke its teeth. The turtle shell was so hard that it was a rare treasure in this era.

"Stop biting!" Jiang Ning came to the shell and, seeing the old turtle still wanting to try, immediately stored the shell in his Infinite Ring.

Then, he continued forward.

In just a moment, he stopped with the old turtle.

Before their eyes was a collapsed palace.

The floor was paved with white marble stones, and the pillars were inlaid with dazzling gems, emitting a brilliant light. The collapsed walls were made of crystal, now covered in a thick layer of ice.

"Master, this..." The old turtle looked at the collapsed structure made of crystal and shells, filled with astonishment.

Jiang Ning said, "This place must have been invaded by a powerful enemy!"

The old turtle nodded solemnly, "Master is right, it was indeed invaded by a powerful enemy! There's the aura of the Great Demon, White Chi, here."

"A Great Demon?" Jiang Ning's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise.

Then, he focused his gaze, and in a flash, he arrived at a wall.

He placed his palm on the thick layer of ice.

"This is the battle trace left by the Great Demon, White Chi."

"Yes, Master!" The old turtle replied.

At this moment, Jiang Ning felt a deep chill from the ice, even with his current state.

This chill seemed to penetrate his very bones.

He felt a deep sense of apprehension.

The ice crystal before him was just a battle trace left by the Great Demon, White Chi, and who knew how long ago it was left behind.

But even this trace was enough to make him feel the chill was unstoppable.

If he were to face this Great Demon directly, how terrifying would it be? How could he possibly withstand it? At this moment, he felt his own weakness.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end