Yin Zhang and Qiangu Yunying were fine—after all, they were already accustomed to flying.
For this journey, Golden Crocodile and Tang Zhen had deliberately reduced their speed. Tang Zhen was carrying the Shi brothers, so his flying speed was only slightly faster than Yin Zhang's.
When Grinding Stone and Graphite finally set foot on the ground again, both felt a lingering sense of loss in their hearts.
Grinding Stone said blankly,
"So… this is what it feels like to fly."
Graphite's face was also filled with longing.
Golden Crocodile, however, turned to Tang Zhen and asked,
"Tang Zhen, is the Xuanwu Secret Realm directly beneath this island?"
Tang Zhen nodded slightly.
"Yes. You can enter the lake through the hollow inside that massive tree. However, I believe attempting to enter directly through the lake water won't work."
Golden Crocodile nodded.
"I'll go down and take a look first to confirm. That way, I can make proper arrangements."
After speaking, Golden Crocodile summoned his Martial Soul—the Golden Crocodile King—and dove straight into the lake.
The Golden Crocodile King itself possessed a water attribute. Combined with his cultivation, Golden Crocodile could enter the water without even a drop clinging to him.
[The Xuanwu Secret Realm was formed when the ancient Divine Beast Xuanwu fell here, using grand methods before its death. Those who possess the Xuanwu Bloodline—whether human or Spirit Beast—can formally open the Secret Realm upon entry. Their Bloodline will evolve, and they will have the chance to inherit the Black Tortoise God Position. (Due to the great war, this God Position has been downgraded to a Second-Class God, with a chance to restore it to a First-Class God, similar to Ma Hongjun's Phoenix God.)]
[Detected that the host is facing a choice. Triggered options are as follows:]
[One: Help Graphite and Grinding Stone enter the Xuanwu Secret Realm and formally open it.]
[Reward: Black Tortoise Bead (A Xuanwu divine item capable of evolving the Bloodline of turtle-type Spirit Beasts, with a chance to evolve into the Divine Beast Xuanwu. The closer the Bloodline concentration is to Xuanwu, the higher the success rate.)]
[Two: Remain indifferent and watch from the sidelines.]
[Reward: Xuanwu Turtle Shell (A turtle shell with extremely powerful defensive properties, usable for crafting defensive equipment.)]
[Three: Offer minor assistance.]
[Reward: Xuanwu Boots (Footwear that greatly enhances movement speed.)]
Yin Zhang quickly scanned the options. The second and third rewards were not bad, but they paled in comparison to the Black Tortoise Bead.
More importantly, this choice concerned Graphite and Grinding Stone.
Reading the description, Yin Zhang frowned slightly. It seemed that this time, the two brothers might not directly evolve into the Divine Beast Xuanwu.
After using the system for years, Yin Zhang had learned to read between the lines of its prompts.
Without hesitation, he made his decision.
[System, I choose the first option.]
[Selection successful. Reward—Black Tortoise Bead—has been placed in the host's personal warehouse.]
[Warehouse]: Black Tortoise Bead
Yin Zhang nodded faintly and looked toward Graphite and Grinding Stone.
The difference in their personalities was clear. Graphite was mature and steady, while Grinding Stone was more impulsive and restless.
If the Black Tortoise Bead were to be assigned based purely on temperament, Yin Zhang leaned toward Graphite.
After all, if a God Position truly emerged in the future, even a downgraded Second-Class God—with a chance to be restored to First-Class—was no small matter.
That said, for the sake of fairness and to maximize success, Yin Zhang planned to first observe whose Bloodline resonated more strongly with Xuanwu after entering the Secret Realm. Only then would he decide who should use the Black Tortoise Bead.
Golden Crocodile soon emerged from the lake. Facing the others' questioning gazes, he said,
"I can sense an entirely different world beneath the island, but I can't enter it directly. There's nothing I can do from outside. We'll have to go in through the tree."
He turned to Tang Zhen.
Tang Zhen nodded and pointed toward the towering tree at the center of the island.
This ancient tree had long since lost its bark. When Qiangu Yuan and Tang Zhen first discovered its secret, they had stripped it bare, yet it had not died. Instead, a layer of slick, slime-like substance now covered its surface.
"This tree is hollow," Tang Zhen said. "Once inside, you can enter the Xuanwu Secret Realm."
The group did not hesitate.
Golden Crocodile snorted softly and extended his crocodile claws, slicing cleanly through the upper portion of the tree.
The massive trunk began to topple toward the lake, threatening to stir up huge waves. However, a spirit ring beneath Golden Crocodile lit up, and he instantly cut the falling tree into several sections.
The logs splashed into the lake, but not a single drop of water reached the group.
Immediately afterward, a dense surge of water-attribute energy rushed outward.
Yin Zhang frowned slightly. Qiangu Yunying also reacted, surprised.
"This water energy is incredibly dense. I feel a bit uncomfortable."
Tang Zhen glanced at her and said,
"The Xuanwu Secret Realm was left behind by the Divine Beast Xuanwu, one of the Four Ancient Divine Beasts. It's naturally a water-attribute domain. That much is expected. What concerns me is what exactly lies inside."
Golden Crocodile nodded.
"For fire-attribute Spirit Masters, this environment will indeed be uncomfortable. Yunying, if you feel unwell, stay on the island and keep watch. If any Spirit Masters or Spirit Beasts approach, inform us immediately."
Qiangu Yunying didn't hesitate. She had no desire to go down anyway.
"Alright. I'll stay here and guard."
Yin Zhang also shook his head.
"My Spirit attribute is fire as well. I'll stay here with Yunying and wait. I wish you all smooth progress inside the Secret Realm."
Golden Crocodile, Tang Zhen, Graphite, and Grinding Stone jumped into the hollow and descended toward the base of the tree beneath the lake.
The moment they arrived, Golden Crocodile and Tang Zhen sensed something unusual.
Brilliant light bloomed all around them, condensing into countless star-like particles that converged toward Graphite and Grinding Stone.
Grinding Stone let out a comfortable groan and instinctively summoned his Martial Soul—the Xuanwu Turtle.
Graphite did the same.
The two Xuanwu Turtles appeared in the spacious area, and the patterns on their shells absorbed the starlight, beginning to glow with a deep, mysterious radiance.
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