Volume One: The Celestial Palace Amidst the Clouds Chapter Fifty-Six: Movements from All Sides

Chapter Fifty-six: The Stirring of All Sides

As soon as those words were spoken, Zhou Hao felt as though the air around him had turned to stone. He glanced at Yu Nan beside him, whose head was bowed so low that the dense black lines of frustration on her forehead were almost visible.

The turtle was startled the moment the words left its mouth, hurriedly scurrying behind Zhou Hao, for Yu Nan was radiating a fierce aura of murderous intent!

"You filthy turtle, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you? Today, I'm going to strip your shell!" Yu Nan shouted. She had tried hard to forget yesterday's events, but the wretched little turtle seemed keen on poking at old wounds.

"Ah, she's going to kill the turtle!" With a whoosh, the turtle retreated inside its black shell, wailing loudly.

Yu Nan didn't hesitate. She grabbed the black shell and flung it away. Zhou Hao tried to intervene but was too late, for Yu Nan's fury was so overwhelming that no one dared approach.

"A woman’s rage is truly terrifying!" Zhou Hao shuddered inwardly.

Sword Practice Plaza.

"Look, something's falling from the sky!" a disciple pointed upward.

Several disciples immediately raised their heads, and saw a jet-black tortoiseshell descending from the heavens. Just as it reached three feet above the ground, it abruptly halted, and two legs extended from within the shell!

The turtle landed safely, head, forepaws, and tail emerging.

"A king terrapin?" a disciple blurted out.

"A terrapin from the heavens!" another chimed in.

"You lot, I’m a turtle, your grand-elder turtle!" The turtle straightened its back, retorting with gusto.

"This terrapin can talk! Seems it’s a millennium-old creature with cultivation!" another disciple said in wonder.

"Oh, right. I heard from my master that after the Immortal Hall assembly yesterday, Zhou Hao brought back a turtle spirit. Could this be it?"

As these words were spoken, Zhou Hao and Yu Nan arrived at the Sword Practice Plaza, their eyes immediately drawn to the turtle surrounded by disciples.

"Perfect timing. Tell them my true identity!" The turtle was exasperated with the disciples, but seeing Zhou Hao and Yu Nan, it felt relief—finally someone would clear its name.

"Your true identity? What identity do you have?" Zhou Hao shrugged, feigning ignorance.

"Thrown from such a height and still unscathed, perhaps I should try some special measures." Yu Nan glared at the turtle, thoroughly annoyed; it had left her with no pleasant impression.

She walked over to the turtle, who trembled and knelt, pleading, "Heroine, spare me! I won’t dare next time! Forgive me!"

"A terrapin kneeling!" The surrounding disciples burst into laughter.

"They say a man's knees are gilded with honor, yet you..." Yu Nan was astonished.

Before she could finish, the turtle chuckled, "A true man bends when necessary!"

"Well said!" Zhou Hao applauded, and the disciples nodded in agreement.

"A model among turtles! To utter 'a true man bends when necessary' from a turtle’s mouth—how fitting," Zhou Hao sighed.

Yu Nan was baffled, but the male disciples were doubled over with laughter, casting admiring glances at Zhou Hao, praising him as a seasoned veteran.

"Alright, rise, my turtle." Zhou Hao stepped forward and helped the turtle up.

"All is well. Let’s get back to sword practice!"

Thus, the awkward episode ended.

On the plaza, Zhou Hao wielded his sword, and the turtle mimicked his movements, looking utterly comical. Many female disciples giggled, whispering about the turtle.

"Brother, why did you bring it along?" Cao Shuang approached Zhou Hao, bewildered at the sight of the turtle.

"He insisted. I couldn’t stop him," Zhou Hao replied helplessly.

"Hmph, you tubby fellow, you think you can control me?" The turtle sneered.

"Oh, high and mighty, are you? Today, I’ll show you!" Cao Shuang, fired up by the turtle’s attitude, was ready for a challenge.

"Then come and practice!" the turtle shouted.

"I refuse to believe I’ll be bested by a turtle today. Brother, be our referee. I’ll help you tame this creature!" Cao Shuang declared.

Zhou Hao was speechless—these two troublemakers had found each other…

By now, the man and the turtle were squaring off, neither willing to yield. One puffed up his round belly, the other his black shell, like two wrestlers facing off!

"Take my punch!" Cao Shuang roared. His fist, white and plump like a bun, generated a buzzing in the air as it swung.

The turtle snorted, unfazed, extending its forepaw and clenching it. In the next instant, with a resounding bang, Cao Shuang’s rotund body traced a graceful arc through the air.

"What power!" Zhou Hao was amazed—the turtle’s punch was direct, swift, and forceful, truly a killing blow.

As Cao Shuang’s fist came within a meter of the turtle, the turtle unleashed its own, the force enough to shatter a mountain. Thankfully, it held back; else Cao Shuang would have been crippled.

"Ouch, that hurts! How is your punch so strong, cursed turtle?" Cao Shuang complained, rubbing his backside.

"What style are you using?" Zhou Hao asked.

"Heh, want to learn? I’ll teach you!" The turtle crossed its arms behind its back and winked mischievously at Zhou Hao and Cao Shuang.

"Listen well, this is the Sovereign Turtle Divine Fist, the supreme technique of our immortal turtle clan. Master it, and you can shatter heaven and earth!" The turtle declared with righteous fervor.

"Sovereign Turtle Divine Fist! Ha ha ha! That suits you perfectly!" Cao Shuang laughed, pointing at the turtle.

"Are you daft? I said Sovereign Fist—sovereign, sovereign!" The turtle corrected him.

"My good son, call it out a few more times, how obedient!" Cao Shuang laughed again.

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

The next moment, Cao Shuang was crying for his mother as the turtle demonstrated the full force of the Sovereign Turtle Divine Fist!

"It’s beating me up! Brother, can’t you control your pet?" Cao Shuang’s face was bruised and swollen.

"Senior brother, I’ve suffered its wrath many times last night. Your pain is well understood," Zhou Hao smiled wryly.

"What, is there no justice?" Cao Shuang was distraught.

"But truly, this Sovereign Turtle Divine Fist is remarkable," Zhou Hao said, looking at the turtle.

"Could you teach me?"

"Dream on! Absolutely not!" The turtle refused flatly.

"I feed you, shelter you, let you practice swordplay, and you won’t grant me this modest request?" Zhou Hao reproached.

"This is our immortal turtle clan’s secret art. How could an outsider learn it?" The turtle replied.

"Fine, don’t teach me. I’m not interested anyway!" Zhou Hao pouted.

Three hours later, Zhou Hao and the turtle returned by sword. Meanwhile, the rest of the Cloud Veil Immortal Hall was anything but peaceful!

On the immortal mountain, a tall tower stood. Four figures stood atop its highest level: Nangong Xun, Cheng Bing, Nangong Ying, and Cheng Yan.

"Nangong Dao-brother, in three days the Grand Immortal Cave will open. Now, about our plan…" Cheng Bing glanced at Nangong Xun and Nangong Ying, father and son, both calm and composed.

"Though Ying’er didn’t make the top three in the Immortal Hall assembly, it won’t hinder our plan. In fact, he can contribute to it," Nangong Xun said.

"Dao-brother… You mean, in three days you’ll…" Cheng Bing was taken aback.

"Isn’t that a bit soon?" Cheng Bing asked.

"Soon? I think it’s already too late. The Cloud Veil Immortal Hall should have been mine long ago, but that old man has clung to power. Now that I am an Immortal, with the secret arts of Night Palace, even Cloud Veil’s prowess can’t stop me," Nangong Xun spoke coldly.

"Indeed, Nangong Dao-brother, your talents are unrivaled. Even Yun Fang has not reached the Immortal realm; only you can lead Cloud Veil to greatness!" Cheng Bing said.

"Remember, in three days, there will be no Cloud Veil Immortal Hall, only Nangong Immortal Hall!"

As he spoke, Nangong Xun extended his right hand toward the void, and ten suns aligned in the sky, their power awe-inspiring.

Inside the Cloud Veil Golden Hall.

Cloud Veil Immortal, the two vice-hall masters, and Yun Fang were in council. Cloud Veil’s face was pale, bloodless. The three beside him sighed, saying, "Hall master, your wounds seem…"

"I know. After fighting Night Palace’s emissary, I’ve become a candle in the wind. And after settling things with Mu Qi, I fear I don’t have a hundred years left," Cloud Veil Immortal said.

"Hall master, Nangong Xun may have truly broken through to the Golden Immortal realm. He’ll surely act soon. What should we do then?" the two vice-hall masters asked.

"We’ve foreseen this day. He’s likely backed by Night Palace. I can’t be sure if Night Palace will join him against Cloud Veil Hall, so we must prepare for the worst," Cloud Veil Immortal said resolutely.

On Qionghua Immortal Mountain.

Two slender figures stood atop the peak: Elder Li Qionghua and Su Qing.

Li Qionghua’s face was tinged with bitterness. After a long silence, she looked at her female disciple and said, "Su Qing, in three days you’ll enter the Grand Immortal Cave. I must tell you—look after yourself!"

Su Qing was startled, puzzled. "Master, why say such things? Are you worried something might happen to me?"

"That’s part of it. The disciples of the four great powers are all outstanding, not inferior to you," Li Qionghua replied.

"And what else? Is it Elder Nangong?" Su Qing pressed.

"You are sharp; I cannot hide much from you. But the hall master has his own plans, so don’t worry. Prepare well these three days," Li Qionghua said.

"If master doesn’t wish to say more, then I won’t ask. But please take care of yourself. When I return from the Grand Immortal Cave, I hope..." Su Qing looked at Li Qionghua, but the rest of her words remained unspoken.

Both knew, truly, that Cloud Veil Immortal Hall would not remain peaceful in the days ahead.

Night fell, atop Yun Fang Immortal Mountain.

Inside the bamboo hut, bright candles burned. Two men and a turtle sat discussing.

"Master, Nangong Xun will likely make his move. I suspect he’ll act once the Grand Immortal Cave opens. How will you prepare?" Zhou Hao, knowing he could do little, was anxious.

"Rest assured, the hall master has arranged everything. Even if Nangong Xun becomes an Immortal, he is no real threat. The foundation of Cloud Veil Immortal Hall is not so easily overturned," Yun Fang said, smiling coldly.

"Then I’m relieved!" Zhou Hao gazed deeply at Yun Fang and nodded.

"You two are so dull, dragging me up in the dead of night just to listen to your nonsense. Finished yet? I want to sleep!" The turtle protested, yawning with its dark circles.

"Ah, sorry! We thought it more ceremonious with three," Zhou Hao hurriedly led the turtle back to the blue lake, which it now regarded as its bed.

Three days passed swiftly. As the first ray of dawn bathed the mountains and rivers, the sixteen hall masters once again looked toward the same horizon. Within the starry sky, four figures led their followers toward that same direction.