Volume One: The Palace of Celestial Clouds Chapter Fifty-Two: Choices

Chapter Fifty-Two: Choice

“These old scoundrels treat you like a guard dog—no, a guard turtle! We’re fellow townsmen; if I don’t save you, who will? Just stick close to me, and I guarantee you’ll have your freedom!” Zhou Hao spelled out the situation to the turtle.

The turtle’s large eyes spun twice, then it nodded.

With that, Zhou Hao cradled the Celestial from Beyond and headed straight toward the Cloud Veil Immortal Hall, the turtle waddling after him in eager pursuit. Amusingly, it walked upright, albeit awkwardly, swaying unsteadily like a child hauling a thick black schoolbag to class.

Everyone atop the Ascension Platform had their eyes fixed on the turtle—a rare sight, an immortal turtle spirit cultivated from the mortal realm. Who knew, it might even become a Turtle Immortal—a precedent that had occurred in the Immortal Domain before!

“Master Cloud Veil, you can’t expect to claim this turtle spirit for yourself, can you?” Master Wood Wonder’s gaze was cold as he spoke.

“Don’t think that just because your Cloud Veil Hall has two disciples who’ve distinguished themselves today, you can disregard the other halls. Besides, this turtle spirit belongs to whoever sees it; none of us will let any single hall take it by force!” Master Fiery Mountain chimed in.

“Hmm, you both make fair points,” Cloud Veil Immortal stroked his white beard, remarkably composed. “I have a good idea—care to hear it?”

“What’s your idea?” the two hall masters asked.

Cloud Veil Immortal pointed to the upright turtle behind Zhou Hao. “Let the turtle spirit choose for itself—which hall it wishes to join.”

“I think that’s perfectly fair. It settles the contest and respects the dignity of the turtle. The best of both worlds!” he continued.

The other two masters hesitated, then nodded. “That works, but how will the turtle choose? Surely you don’t expect us to stand before it and let it judge us?”

“Heh, you misunderstand. I propose each hall uses its own methods to attract the turtle, but only disciples may act. What do you think?” Cloud Veil Hall’s master replied, calm as ever.

“Agreed!” Master Fiery Mountain and Master Wood Wonder exchanged glances, then looked at Cloud Veil Immortal, finally giving their consent.

All present had heard the exchange clearly. The turtle grinned, and Zhou Hao, puzzled, asked, “Why are you smiling? Do you actually want to join the other halls?”

“Heh, you never know. They’re all trying to curry favor with me. If Cloud Veil Hall can’t offer something enticing, I won’t go with you!” The turtle’s voice was sly, its smile mischievous.

“You wretched turtle! I saved you out of kindness, and you want to betray us? But don’t say I didn’t warn you—those hall masters aren’t saints. Being a guardian beast isn’t so bad, but if their lifespans run out and they want turtle meat for longevity, you’ll have nowhere to cry!” Zhou Hao scorned and threatened.

“Hmph, as if Cloud Veil Hall’s master would be any different! When his lifespan ends, won’t he eat me too? I won’t fall for your tricks. Still, rest assured—I promise to judge fairly in the coming selection!” The turtle pounded its chest with a tiny paw, feigning righteous resolve, as if it were an upright official.

Meanwhile, Fiery Mountain Hall and Wood Wonder Hall made preparations, eager to tempt the turtle.

Three Fiery Mountain disciples approached first, carrying a whole bucket of fragrant insects. The sight made many gag, but the turtle dashed for the bucket as if possessed!

Inside, the pale yellow bugs, each about three millimeters long, emitted a pungent meaty aroma. Even immortals like Zhou Hao could barely stand the smell, but the turtle devoured them with wild abandon, as if a cat after mice.

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The bucket brimmed with wriggling live insects, their scent overwhelming. The one-meter-long turtle stretched its neck into the bucket, and in minutes, had cleaned it out. Remarkably, the turtle was thorough—its “clean bucket campaign” left not a trace inside or out. The three disciples watching were still retching, wasting and polluting, in stark contrast to the turtle.

“Burp! Burp! Burp…”

The turtle sprawled, utterly unconcerned with its image (not that it had much). Its little paws stroked its round belly, and satisfied burps echoed one after another.

“Damn, this turtle is disgusting! It ate a whole bucket of those bugs. I must be crazy—if it joins Cloud Veil Hall, everyone will be vomiting!” Zhou Hao retched, feeling deeply self-critical.

Once the crowd had recovered, Wood Wonder Hall’s disciples brought out three jugs of fine wine.

Each jug was different. The first, entirely silver, released a pink mist upon opening, sweetly fragrant and instantly captivating the turtle, which floated in the air, drawn by the scent.

The turtle inhaled the pink mist, eyes closed in bliss, its mouth moving in a sucking motion. The pink wine surged up from the jug into its mouth!

“Ah, wonderful wine, truly delightful!” The turtle finished the first jug, eyes opening slowly, unable to resist praising it.

Thud! The turtle, forgetting it hovered in midair, crashed onto the platform, thoroughly disgruntled.

But any sulkiness vanished when the second jug was opened—a long-necked vessel of deep red, like carnelian. Its aroma filled the air, and the turtle clung to it, tilting the neck to its mouth and gulping it down amid astonished gazes.

Gulp… gulp…

In a few moments, the second jug was empty, the turtle’s face flushed, its feet wobbly. Now, it held the jug with one paw, tipping the last drops into its mouth—a true little drunkard!

As the turtle drained the last drops, Zhou Hao and others saw the wine was pitch-black, its scent irresistibly alluring, intoxicating even to mere whiffs.

After a long while, the turtle finally set the jug down, clearly drunk—staggering, vision blurred.

“Hey, you’ve got tricks, kid. Trying to fool Grandpa Turtle with clones? I’ve played that game since three hundred years ago!” the turtle babbled at the eight identical Zhou Haos nearby.

“Oh heavens, I might stew this turtle yet. Glutton and drunkard—how did it ever ascend to the Immortal Domain?” Zhou Hao ground his teeth, doubting the turtle’s cultivation.

The last jug was crystal, revealing the wine inside—a mysterious blue liquid. Once opened, blue mist filled the air, the wine vaporizing instantly.

The mist rose, creating a dreamlike blue world, its subtle fragrance making all feel as if they embraced the sea and sky at the world’s edge.

Not only the turtle, but everyone present inhaled the blue wine mist, relaxing so completely that all burdens seemed to fall away.

When the mist faded and reality returned, the turtle’s face was even more flushed—a black face now tinged with rosy red, making it look rather adorable.

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“Alright, it’s Cloud Veil Hall’s turn! Yu Nan, it’s your moment—heh heh heh!” Zhou Hao grinned, motioning to Yu Nan.

“Will this really work? It feels so unreliable!” Though Zhou Hao had explained the plan, Yu Nan was still full of doubt.

“Trust me—it’s just a turtle. With your charm, you’ll win it in no time. We’ll all cheer for you!” Zhou Hao stepped back, joining Cao Shuang, Xiao Shanshan, and the others in a line to encourage Yu Nan for Cloud Veil Hall.

“Go for it, Miss Yu! You can do it!” Cao Shuang cheered.

Xiao Shanshan, clenching her pink fist, echoed, “That’s right, senior sister, I believe in you!”

…

Hearing the chorus of encouragement behind her, Yu Nan rolled her eyes. “Let’s see you try it! Easy for you to say—who could handle a turtle?”

But with the moment upon her, Yu Nan walked over to the drunken turtle, whose vision was now a blur of double images and confusion.

“Come here, sweetheart. Come to mama—mama loves you!” Yu Nan suddenly scooped up the turtle, her voice gentle, as if coaxing her own child.

“So cute! Come, mama will hold you to sleep, rock you, rock you to grandma’s bridge…” Yu Nan cradled the turtle, rocking it gently, her gaze full of maternal warmth, softly humming a lullaby.

Her seamless combination of tenderness struck home—the turtle was instantly captivated by her maternal glow, its eyes clearing, the drunkenness fading.

“Whimper…”

Gradually, tears welled in the turtle’s eyes. It buried its head in Yu Nan’s soft chest, rubbing vigorously, its little paws clinging to that softness. Yu Nan was nearly driven mad—this wasn’t a turtle, but a dirty little pervert!

Yet she could do nothing; this was the crucial moment. Whether Cloud Veil Hall could claim the turtle spirit depended on her.

Among the other disciples, especially the men—and especially those from Cloud Veil Hall—tears streamed down their faces, their lungs ready to explode in anger.

How could they allow this? Their goddess humiliated, sacrificing her beauty for a turtle—if word spread, wouldn’t she become a laughingstock?

“So fragrant—mama’s scent is wonderful!” The turtle buried its head entirely between Yu Nan’s bosom, sniffing deeply, eyes squinted in delight.

“I swear, when you join Cloud Veil Hall, I’ll steam, fry, bake, boil, and roast you!” Yu Nan gritted her teeth inwardly.

After a long while, the turtle reluctantly left its warm haven. All eyes turned to it once again.