C31 Iron Back Tortoise Lake!

Chu Qingyong's analysis was spot on. At the time, the Black Panther Profound Warrior Group had dispatched twenty-two members, including Lian Ji and Bao Lie. Over the past ten days, not one had returned.

Now, with the entire Black Panther Profound Warrior Group mobilized, there must have been a startling turn of events.

Chu Yuexing offered a faint smile. "Dad, are you suggesting there's a connection between the Black Panther Profound Warrior Group and Chu Yangxiang?"

Chu Yuexing had hit the nail on the head. While The Great Elder was deeply concerned about Chu Yangxiang, he lacked Chu Qingyong's keen intuition. Capturing Chu Yangxiang should have been a straightforward task for the Black Panther Profound Warrior Group.

Was it possible that Chu Yangxiang had caused the Black Panther Profound Warrior Group a significant setback? That would be laughable.

Chu Yangxiang was only capable of holding his own against a Profound Warrior Six-star. The group consisted of over twenty skilled fighters from the Black Panther Profound Warrior Group, including individuals ranked as Profound Master Two-star.

The Fifth Elder nodded in agreement, "Patriarch, I believe Chu Yuexing is correct. If this situation involves Chu Yangxiang, then they would have captured him by now."

Chu Qingyong shook his head, his stance unwavering, not swayed by The Fifth Elder and Chu Yuexing's opinions. He declared resolutely, "Take Chu Yunxing and ten Profound Warriors to Hyphosis Mountain to thoroughly investigate any schemes the Black Panther Profound Warrior Group might be plotting."

The Fifth Elder, The Fourth Elder, and Chu Yunxing stood up in acknowledgment and promptly exited the council hall.

Chu Yuexing addressed the Patriarch, "Father, may I also join them on this mission?"

Chu Qingyong smiled and shook his head. "Second Brother, you're in charge of our family's finances; we can't spare you."

The Chu Family's forces immediately set out in pursuit of the Black Panther Profound Warrior Group.

The Black Panther Profound Warrior Group made their way to the very heart of Hyphosis Mountain, aiming for At The Top Of Xuanwu.

Meanwhile, Lian Ji and the Black Panther Profound Warrior Group pursued Chu Yangxiang, leaving a trail of markers in their wake.

Lian Ji gazed toward the mountain pass ahead. Beyond it lay the Iron Back Tortoise Lake, a gathering place for the Demonic Beasts of Hyphosis Mountain.

With a grave expression, Lian Ji struggled to understand Chu Yangxiang's recklessness. To think that Chu Yangxiang would dare to venture into this region, known to be inhabited by Yellow Rank Demonic Beasts, was beyond belief. These beasts, comparable in strength to a Profound Master or Profound General, were far from ordinary.

The Black Panther Profound Warrior Group, accompanied by Lian Ji, faced extreme peril within this territory. Did Chu Yangxiang not realize the peril that lay within?

Take, for instance, the Iron Back Tortoise Lake just ahead of the Black Panther Profound Warrior Group. This was the stronghold of the Iron Back Tortoise Demonic Beasts.

Beneath the vast, misty waters lurked Iron Back Tortoise experts of the Profound General Level. Should Lian Ji and the Black Panther Profound Warrior Group encounter one of these formidable beasts, it would spell certain doom.

"Be alert," he cautioned. "Everyone must hold their breath. We cannot afford to draw the attention of the Iron Back Tortoises."

The group nodded in understanding, seasoned as they were in slaying Demonic Beasts and having traversed Hyphosis Mountain numerous times. By holding their breath, they could usually cross the Iron Back Tortoise Lake undetected. After all, the Iron Back Tortoise was an aquatic Demonic Beast, seldom active on land.

Having crossed the mountain pass, the group's eyes were drawn to the lake's expansive surface, so vast that the opposite shore was out of sight.

In the distance rose a towering peak, its silhouette resembling a tortoise proudly raising its head. This was At The Top Of Xuanwu, which from the mountain pass, appeared like a massive Profound Snake wrapped around the tortoise's back.

To the north of the lake stood a sheer cliff, a marvel of nature's craftsmanship.

With bated breath, the group advanced cautiously along the cliff face.

Throughout their journey, Lian Ji and the Black Panther Profound Warrior Group continually came across signs of Chu Yangxiang's passage.

Chu Yangxiang was indeed making his way to the summit of Xuanwu.

Lian Ji and the Black Panther Profound Warrior Group proceeded with extreme caution, not allowing for even the slightest slip-up.

Midway through their trek, a barrage of rocks tumbled down from the mountain peak, accompanied by a voice that announced, "You've arrived. Here's a little gift for you."

Hundreds of stones cascaded from the cliff, hurtling toward them.

Members of the Black Panther Profound Warrior Group sprinted to safety as the rocks crashed to the ground, shaking the entire lakeshore.

Soon after, a downpour began to fall from the cliffside, and a pungent odor filled the air.

The earth trembled, and furious roars echoed from the lake as one enormous black tortoise after another surfaced, startling everyone.

One particularly massive tortoise pursued them as if it were on a deadly mission.

"We need to move, now!" Lian Ji bellowed, prompting the group to break into a run.

The colossal Iron Back Tortoise cut through the water, intercepting them with incredible speed.

It was a race against death, with it being uncertain whether they or the Iron Back Tortoise were faster.

While they desperately fled for their lives, the Iron Back Tortoise powered through the water with formidable force.

As they neared the escape point at the cliff's edge, the giant Iron Back Tortoise was already upon them.

Standing two zhang tall, the Iron Back Tortoise's shell was as dark and sturdy as forged steel, adorned with prominent Tortoise Shell Patterns.

At just over ten feet away, the Iron Back Tortoise opened its mouth and unleashed a volley of water arrows that sliced through the air, producing a tearing sound and rendering the atmosphere hazy.

The Black Panther Profound Warrior Group members made evasive maneuvers, but five or six were not quick enough.

The water arrows impaled them, their eyes wide with terror, knowing that a hit from the Iron Back Tortoise's water arrows meant certain death.

As expected, their bodies slowly darkened as the tortoise's venom began to work its deadly magic.

With a powerful thrust of its limbs, the Iron Back Tortoise spun through the air like a windmill, bringing with it a stench of lakebed silt as it barreled toward the group.

The group hastily took cover.

The ground quaked and the mountains quivered as the Iron Back Tortoise collided with the mountain, sending chunks of rock hurtling through the air.

With a flick of its neck, the Iron Back Tortoise executed a sharp ninety-degree turn, launching several water arrows in their direction. Only Lian Ji managed to evade them before fleeing deeper into the mountain.

The Iron Back Tortoise thrust its limbs once more, spinning toward Lian Ji.

Its massive body landed with a thunderous crash.

Its elongated head stretched out more than eight feet, aiming a vicious strike at Lian Ji, who nimbly dodged the blow. The Iron Back Tortoise then unleashed another barrage of water arrows.

It spun again, barreling toward Lian Ji.

Lian Ji's Long Sword met the tortoise's shell with a series of metallic clangs.

From the mountain summit, Chu Yangxiang watched the spectacle below, utterly astonished.

Faced with such an immense Demonic Beast and its wide-reaching attacks, he knew he wouldn't stand a chance of escaping. And with the added threat of water arrows and poison, it was remarkable that Lian Ji had held out for so long.

Chu Yangxiang's gaze was fixed on the fierce clash between Lian Ji and the Iron Back Tortoise. Both combatants were at the Profound Master Cultivation Level—one desperately enduring with his refined Profound Power, the other relentlessly attacking with his formidable physique and natural advantages.

Eventually, the Iron Back Tortoise extended its head and clamped down on Lian Ji's left shoulder.

Lian Ji, realizing he couldn't dodge, thrust his Long Sword into the Iron Back Tortoise's brain through its eye socket.

The Iron Back Tortoise let out a skyward wail of agony.

In excruciating pain, it thrashed its head violently, the sword embedded in its skull crashing against the rock face. With that final blow, the Iron Back Tortoise met its end.

Chu Yangxiang's eyes sparkled with excitement. He slapped his thigh, exclaiming, "It's just as the Heaven Martial Divine Cultivation Skill predicted—they both suffered injuries and met their demise together."

"I've hit the jackpot," Chu Yangxiang thought with a surge of exhilaration as he raced down the hillside.

With an Iron Back Tortoise in his possession, he could unlock a martial technique from the Heaven Martial Divine Cultivation Skill. He would have access to the blood and inner core of a Profound Master level Demonic Beast for his training—a treasure that even thousands of Xuanwu Coins could scarcely procure.

Moreover, Chu Yangxiang felt like he had truly hit the jackpot with the items Lian Ji and his group had brought with them.

He swiftly stowed the body in the Nine Horns Xuanwu Cauldron and made a beeline for At The Top Of Xuanwu.

Behind him, the Iron Back Tortoises raised their heads and bellowed.

As it turned out, the Xuanwu Artifact Spirit was able to completely shield Chu Yangxiang's aura. Additionally, he carried a potent aura that subdued all Demonic Beasts, causing those he passed to cower under the overwhelming pressure.

Upon his arrival, the Iron Back Tortoises in the lake sensed his presence and shuddered.

He had Chu Yangxiang excavate some of the Iron Back Tortoise eggs and ascend the mountain.

Atop the mountain, he selected a suitable rock, ready to startle Lian Ji and his companions.

As they were recovering from their shock, Chu Yangxiang showered them with water containing the Iron Back Tortoise eggs, dousing them in the scent of the tortoises' progeny.

This naturally sent the Iron Back Tortoises into a furious rage.

The Iron Back Tortoises possessed two innate martial abilities: Black Water Poison Arrow and Spinning Top.

The formidable Iron Back Tortoises, upon realizing their offspring had been unearthed, launched a relentless attack. This led to the mutually damaging confrontation Chu Yangxiang had anticipated.

Chu Yangxiang quickly departed, scaling towards the peak of Xuanwu.

Beneath At The Top Of Xuanwu lay a vast mountain resembling a tortoise, with the Profound Snake on its back stretching majestically towards the rising sun, its presence soaring to the heavens. This sight was reminiscent of the Profound Snake rising from the sea.

The Xuanwu Sea Formation had the power to concentrate Profound Power, drawing the energy of the heavens and earth together, making this area a haven for Demonic Beasts.

Tianwu was well aware that such landscapes often harbored a sea eye, known as the Xuanwu Sea Eye, the epicenter of the Xuanwu Sea Formation, where the Profound Qi was densest and most conducive for cultivation.

If this place had remained undisturbed for millions of years, there was a chance that the Xuanwu God Pearl might have formed within.

Chu Yangxiang mounted the massive tortoise, gazing upon the mountain's base where the Profound Snake soared skyward. Nestled halfway up the mountain was a deep valley, and on its cliffside, a cave shrouded by a thick curtain of vines.

Tianwu informed him that this cave was the location of the Xuanwu Sea Eye.