Chapter 103: The Wind Profound Turtle

Yi Tian and his group ventured deep into the Wind Spirit Wood Forest. Here, each Wind Spirit Tree soared two to three hundred zhang high, some aged five to six centuries.

Gradually, they discerned certain patterns.

The forest was dominated by fierce beasts, each claiming territory. Unless they stumbled upon the beasts’ lairs and were detected, the dangers went unnoticed. Yet, the moment a Wind Spirit Tree was felled, the disturbance in the wind elemental energy immediately alerted the beasts.

These trees, having grown for centuries, were extraordinarily hard. Even human-tier experts found them difficult to fell, requiring considerable time. Therefore, to harvest these trees, they had to battle the beasts. Victory meant claiming the beasts’ territory’s older Wind Spirit Trees. Afterwards, they had to relocate swiftly, lest other nearby beasts give chase, escalating the peril.

This was their method.

Upon reaching each beast’s domain, they selected their target trees. Some restrained the beasts, while others hacked away relentlessly. Success meant immediate retreat.

Several times, they faced formidable beasts—each a dominant presence among mid-level mid-stage fierce beasts—but all were slain by Yi Tian’s Sun-Shooting Technique, unleashed through his Void-Breaking Bow.

Thus, as they delved deeper, they harvested one century-old Wind Spirit Tree after another.

They finally reached the forest’s core, where clusters of centuries-old trees radiated overwhelming wind elemental energy. Even in the beasts’ lairs, ancient Wind Spirit Trees older than a millennium thrived, their wind energy intensely potent, making these places treasures for wind-elemental beasts.

Yi Tian’s group ventured into this core but found these millennium-old trees fiercely guarded. To claim them meant taking them from the beasts’ very jaws.

Careful reconnaissance revealed that the beasts guarding these ancient trees were all mid-level late-stage fierce beasts. Each was formidable, likely impervious even to human-tier experts at the Nascent Soul stage.

Some beasts were mid-level mid-stage, but possessed extraordinary bloodlines—several carried royal-tier lineage—making them even more terrifying than late-stage mid-level fierce beasts, radiating an aura of lethal danger from afar.

Even human-tier experts at the Nascent Soul stage dared not claim victory against these late-stage mid-level beasts.

Yi Tian wielded the Void-Breaking Bow, which amplified the power of his Sun-Shooting Technique. It could annihilate mid-stage mid-level fierce beasts with a single arrow. However, against late-stage ones, he had little confidence in a one-shot kill. After all, these beasts could suppress human-tier Nascent Soul experts, who without magical artifacts, could be overwhelmed.

Moreover, Yi Tian discovered that using the Void-Breaking Bow to unleash the Sun-Shooting Technique drained immense true energy. Each shot consumed nearly thirty percent of his reserves, meaning he could only fire three arrows before losing the strength to continue.

Millennium-old Wind Spirit Trees were no longer just superior in age compared to their century-old brethren—they belonged to a higher echelon entirely. Only after enduring a thousand-year trial could they truly transform into a different species.

Among hundreds or thousands of Wind Spirit Trees, not even one managed this transformation.

The value of each millennium-old tree could not be compensated by the sheer number of century-old ones. Only these ancient trees could be forged into carriers capable of sealing and holding elemental techniques and imprinting methods.

After further scouting, several beasts detected them and gave chase briefly. Yi Tian’s group finally targeted one beast.

A Wind Profound Turtle.

This turtle dwelled in a small lake spanning over thirty li. At its center lay a small island, upon which grew at least ten millennium-old Wind Spirit Trees, each towering over five hundred zhang. The wind elemental energy here formed a powerful vortex, turning the lake into a wind eye; any creature nearing it risked being torn apart by the fierce gale.

“Captain, why choose that Wind Profound Turtle as our target? Its shell is impenetrable; it’s the toughest,” Yi Li asked from outside the lake.

Yi Hong was equally puzzled.

The turtle’s habitat was the lake, where their power would diminish. It seemed unwise to engage there.

For Yi Feng, Yi Shan, and Yi Kuang, selecting any beast to attack posed no challenge.

Yi Tian welcomed Yi Li’s question, pleased by his steadfast cultivation and keen mind—a contrast to Yi Feng, Yi Shan, and Yi Kuang—which would greatly benefit the Reincarnation Squad.

Yi Tian answered, “I chose the Wind Profound Turtle for three reasons. First, the lake forms a self-contained wind eye, a relatively closed environment and a marshland. Fighting here won’t attract other beasts nearby. Second, although it is a wind-elemental beast, its species traits limit its speed. We can fight it at ease and retreat if needed. Third, the turtle is a water-wind elemental beast. Once away from the lake, its control over water weakens significantly.”

At this, Yi Feng and the others understood the strategy’s nuances.

Summoning their elemental energy, the group stepped into the lake’s outer edge. The raging gale struck their auras, rippling through their defenses.

This gale was over ten times stronger than that outside Tianfeng Gorge, rapidly draining their true energy.

Still, Yi Tian and the others pushed through the storm, entering the lake. Though unable to step on air amid the violent wind, their cultivation allowed them to stride across waves swiftly.

They concealed their presence and crossed the lake within several dozen breaths, arriving at the small island’s center.

The island was modest, about five li in circumference.

Ancient Wind Spirit Trees crowded the land. At the heart stood ten millennium-old trees, each occupying its own space, brimming with fierce wind elemental energy and potent verdant wood aura.

They resembled mighty sentient beings, dormant yet exuding terrifying energy that swept the surroundings ruthlessly.

These ten millennium-old trees were the source of the lake’s gale.

Yi Tian said, “Quickly, while the Wind Profound Turtle is at the lake bottom, let’s chop down one tree together. We must seize the moment.”

Yi Feng, Yi Shan, Yi Li, and two others struck with full force. Sword qi and blade light cleaved into the trunk of a millennium-old tree, carving deep scars.

Yi Tian stood watch, conserving his true energy for the imminent battle.

The Reincarnation Squad’s efforts resembled the clash of mighty weapons, the ringing of metal echoing across the lake. The wind elemental energy quivered in turmoil.

To their surprise, the millennium-old tree’s hardness exceeded all expectations.

Each full strike only carved an inch. For trees over ten zhang thick, felling one would take an entire day.

Suddenly, the lake roiled violently as a small mountain-like figure emerged.

The Wind Profound Turtle appeared.

Over two hundred zhang in size, it resembled a mountain. Its thick shell served as an impregnable fortress. Its limbs were as thick as dragon claws, with sharp talons capable of tearing through any beast’s scales.

It commanded the lake’s water, advancing toward the island’s center. A fierce gale swirled around it, lifting it as if flying. Its eyes gleamed with murderous intent.

Someone dared invade its lair and fell its treasures—now it was enraged beyond measure.