Chapter 286: Chapter 284: Little Turtle, Be Good and Come Home With Me
At that moment, the Black Tortoise crawled a bit closer to her and spoke.
"Do you really know Sister Phoenix?" it asked.
Although the Black Tortoise’s question still held a trace of doubt, it was clear it was already beginning to believe Celeste Grant.
The Black Tortoise was actually quite pleased to hear Celeste Grant mention the Vermilion Bird.
Celeste Grant nodded slightly. "I’m telling the truth. If you don’t believe me, you can come back with me and see." ’As long as it comes, I’ll have met my KPI for raising a little turtle.’
’So, little turtle, come on into my bowl! When it comes to raising turtles, I, Celeste Grant, am a true professional.’
Celeste Grant smiled inwardly.
’I’m the undisputed turtle-raising master.’
When it came to raising turtles, she had many years of experience.
’Go to her home?’ The Black Tortoise remained wary. "You’re not trying to trick me, are you?" it asked.
"Oh, what are you talking about!" Celeste Grant waved her hand dismissively. "Why would I trick you? That Vermilion Bird tail feather can’t be a fake. How about this, little turtle? I am now formally inviting you to be a guest at my home. You won’t just see your Sister Phoenix; you’ll also get to meet the Azure Dragon and the White Tiger. You’re all Divine Beasts. Who knows, you could become good friends instead of staying all alone in this sunless corner of the Open Sea. How boring."
At this, she couldn’t resist adding, "Hey, Brother Turtle, don’t tell me you’ve never been out to see the world?"
The Black Tortoise felt its pride was wounded by her words. "Nonsense!" it retorted. "This entire Nulvar Sea is my territory. If I wanted to leave, it would be easy. I’m just too lazy to bother."
The lazy part was true. The Black Tortoise was known to stay in one spot for a hundred years without so much as budging.
Celeste Grant pressed on, "So, that’s a no, you haven’t been out."
The Black Tortoise was displeased.
’Who does this Human Clan Female Cultivator think she’s looking down on? She thinks I’m some uncultured country bumpkin who’s never seen the world!’
"Says who! I went out eight hundred years ago. That’s when I met Sister Phoenix. Come to think of it, we haven’t seen each other in over seven hundred years. Her Cultivation must be much stronger now."
’Eight hundred years ago?’
’But I remember the Vermilion Bird was still just a Vermilion Bird Egg when it appeared in Breezewind Town. Is the Black Tortoise talking about the same one? Could there be another Vermilion Bird in the Cultivation World? No, that’s impossible.’
Celeste Grant scratched her head. "Hold on, Brother Turtle, let me get this straight... something’s not right. I first saw the Vermilion Bird fifteen years ago. Back then, it was just a Vermilion Bird Egg. Are you absolutely sure you met her eight hundred years ago?"
The Black Tortoise replied, "That’s impossible. My Sister Phoenix had already taken human form eight hundred years ago." He paused for a moment, then continued, a new realization dawning on him. "Could it be... Did something happen to Sister Phoenix? Did she fall into a deep sleep and enter a new reincarnation cycle? That must be it! No wonder I suddenly lost all contact with her. I just thought she’d gone into seclusion. Who dared to harm my Sister Phoenix? I’ll make them pay with their life!"
With that last sentence, a furious roar echoed out, shaking the entire Open Sea. The Demonic Beasts in the area cowered, trembling under the pressure of that immense aura.
The Vermilion Bird clan cannot truly die. When faced with complete annihilation, they enter a new cycle of reincarnation, reverting to a Vermilion Bird Egg to be reborn and begin their Cultivation anew.
Celeste Grant understood now.
"So that’s what happened. I was worried there was another Vermilion Bird in the Cultivation World. It must be just as you said; she must have met with some misfortune and reverted to a Vermilion Bird Egg. But don’t worry, she’s doing just fine now. Oh, by the way, her name is Ruby now."
"Ruby... That’s a nice name."
The Black Tortoise asked curiously, "What is Sister Phoenix’s Cultivation level now?"
Celeste Grant replied, "The Vermilion Bird? She took human form two years ago and is now at the late-stage Divinity Transformation." ’Of course, that’s just her combat strength in human form. If she were to unleash her true form’s power, even two Void Refinement Realm experts wouldn’t be a match for her.’
This was the innate advantage of a Divine Beast. After all, a Primal Spirit Beast born of heaven and earth possessed an inherently powerful true form. This was also why the birth of a Divine Beast would cause everyone in the Cultivation World to scramble for it.
The Black Tortoise nodded its head and sighed in admiration. "As expected of Sister Phoenix, to become so strong again after starting her Cultivation from scratch. Still, my Cultivation is just a little bit higher than hers right now."
’I can’t believe this little turtle’s combat strength is even greater than the Vermilion Bird’s.’
’I will gladly accept this fortuitous opportunity.’
’This little turtle...’
’I’m raising it, no question about it.’
"Brother Turtle, what’s your Cultivation level now?"
The Black Tortoise was displeased.
It spoke, its voice laced with annoyance. "Let me remind you, I am the Black Tortoise. How can an ordinary turtle compare to me? You Human Clan Female Cultivator are truly clueless."
’What an arrogant little turtle.’
Celeste Grant smiled faintly and addressed it properly. "Alright, Brother Black Tortoise."
The Black Tortoise, pleased, gave its small head a little shake.
"That’s more like it."
"Fine, since you asked, I suppose I can deign to tell you. My current Cultivation is equivalent to the Integration Realm among your Human Clan Cultivators. Let me put it this way: in the entire Cultivation World, you won’t find more than two people who can break through my defenses. Even a Mahayana Realm Cultivator wouldn’t necessarily be able to breach them. Now do you see how formidable I am?"
"Very impressive."
Celeste Grant believed that.
The Black Tortoise wasn’t known for its offense, but its defense was incredibly strong. ’If I’d approached it with hostility,’ she thought, ’this little turtle might have leaped up and crushed me to death with its shell.’ It was no joke. The combat power of a Black Tortoise at the Integration Realm was undeniable. The strength of its true form was comparable to that of a Mahayana Realm Cultivator.
As for the Black Tortoise only looking to be palm-sized at the moment, that was perfectly normal. Divine Beasts could change their size at will. What you saw wasn’t necessarily the truth.
"Brother Black Tortoise, you really are amazing."
The Black Tortoise said, "Actually, you’re quite impressive yourself. You’re already at the Void Refinement Realm, and you don’t look old at all. Even among Human Clan Cultivators, a Cultivation Talent like yours would be considered excellent."
"Haha, you think so? I guess I’m alright."
Celeste Grant realized that while the Black Tortoise was arrogant, it was also very honest, almost endearingly simple-minded.
She spoke again, "So, Brother Black Tortoise, would you like to visit my home as a guest? If you want to return later, I’ll personally bring you back. And if you discover I’ve tricked you, you can just leave on your own. After all, you’re a Divine Beast. With your level of Cultivation, what could I possibly do to you?"
’That’s true.’
The Black Tortoise hesitated.
Celeste Grant continued, "The Vermilion Bird is currently my son’s contracted Spirit Beast. My son is fifteen years old, with the strength of a late-stage Divinity Transformation cultivator. She’s not getting a bad deal by following him. If you don’t want to come with me, that’s fine too. I’ll just pass on your regards to the Vermilion Bird when I see her."
The Black Tortoise was astonished.
Its voice was filled with disbelief.
"Hiss—a fifteen-year-old at late-stage Divinity Transformation? Are all you Human Clan Cultivators this powerful nowadays?" ’If that’s the case,’ it thought, ’it makes sense that Sister Phoenix would be willing to become his contracted Spirit Beast.’
