Chapter 9

    Liu Yi You paused. Weren't they just talking about duties to perform? Just a moment ago, it seemed they looked down on Xiao Gui for making a pact with humans. Had their mind changed so quickly within fifteen minutes?

    "Don't you have to maintain the balance of the world anymore?" Liu Yi You asked, furrowing her brows.

    "Master," the old turtle looked at Liu Yi You with a bashful expression. "The continent of Mei Guo is far from here. Just using spiritual power to support the continent doesn't require constant vigilance."

    "What do you mean? Just existing is enough?" Liu Yi You tilted her head, trying to understand.

    The old turtle nodded affirmatively. “Yes.”

    "Then why call Xiao Gui to take on duties?"

    "Actually, I must say that I alone can no longer sustain everything. In recent years, strange events have caused the land that was once fertile to lack the spiritual and Qi energies needed to support the world."

    “...” Liu Yi You was speechless; she wanted to admit that she didn't understand, but it seemed a bit embarrassing to say so.

    Seeing his granddaughter's face, Liu Tun chuckled slightly, "You mean something is causing the world to lose its balance?"

    "That's right. I initially planned to seek out Yi Long, but I haven't been able to contact him for a long time."

    Liu Yi You paused upon hearing the name Yi Long, reminding her of a mischievous worm, and asked, "What is this Yi Long?"

    The old turtle slightly grimaced before answering, "Yi Long is a dragon that supports Qing Yun."

    "What does this dragon look like?" Liu Yi You inquired eagerly, hoping it wasn't just a small dragon-like worm.

    "It’s a dragon, so it looks like a dragon. What else would it look like?"

    "Small? Large?"

    The old turtle frowned, not understanding the young girl's question but answered patiently, fearing she might not be kind to him,

    "It's a large dragon, larger than this island." answered the old turtle as he looked at the girl nervously.

    Liu Yi You was slightly disappointed; the Yi Long was not the Mao Tong she had secretly hoped it would be. But she quickly let it go; after all, this was her world now. If it collapsed, what would she do? Thus, she summoned Xiao Gui.

    The little turtle appeared in the palm of her hand. "Xiao Gui, did you hear that?"

    The little turtle looked at its master with a woeful expression, "Master, you won't abandon me, right?"

    Liu Yi You nodded, "Never! Do what you must, stay where you wish."

    The little turtle smiled happily, "Grandfather, I’m ready."

    Liu Yi You pouted, that greedy turtle.

    As the old turtle watched his grandson disappear into the girl's forehead, he looked around enviously and then dashed toward the giant island.

    Thud!

    The entire island trembled violently, the sound echoing louder than before it had appeared.

    Thud!

    Thud!

    "What are you doing?" Liu Yi You shouted.

    "Making it bleed," the old turtle responded with a resounding voice.

    Liu Yi You and the old man looked at each other, their faces marked with question marks, but ultimately they got no answer.

    Why make it bleed?

    As the island nearly collapsed, it finally stopped and flew towards Liu Yi You with a face full of disappointment.

    "Why do you want the blood?" Liu Yi You asked, frowning.

    "To make a pact," the old turtle replied, his face full of despair.

    Oh, how I wish I were a worm instead!

    First it’s the worm, second is the turtle, and now this weird turtle.

    "If you wanted blood, you should have just asked," Liu Yi You muttered internally, wondering why it went through the trouble of crashing into the island.

    In the girl's hand appeared a blade, a saint-class weapon she had obtained from a tomb near the city of Lu Long, which had since become a training ground for people of the Liu and Zhuang families. She pricked the small foot of the old turtle with the tip of the blade.

    Soon, a drop of blood was drawn.

    The old turtle, pleased, quickly forged a pact with Liu Yi You without waiting for her permission, as if fearful she might change her mind or forbid it.

    "What will it be then? Will you choose the name Ta Gui or Yi Gui?" Liu Yi You asked.

    The old turtle seemed uneasy but then confidently replied, "Yi Gui."

    Liu Yi You stroked her chin and said, "Yi Gui doesn't quite fit. Let's go with Ta Gui."

    Liu Tian, overhearing this, glanced at his granddaughter and then rummaged through his cosmic ring to pop a snack into his mouth, losing interest in the turtle.

    So much for the excitement and respect initially felt. What were they but turtles greedy for gains?

    The old turtle paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

    Ta Gui it is then, as long as he can live in the Underwater Palace.

    Liu Yi You, Liu Tian, and Tong Tian finally set out on their journey again, leaving the island that had once been the turtle's home behind.

    Inside the Underwater Palace,

    Xiao Gui watched his grandfather seizing the vegetable patch he was munching on discontentedly. Fortunately, the vegetables grew rapidly, so there was no shortage of food.

    "Didn't you say you were going to find Yi Long?"

    "Not going anymore," Ta Gui muttered as he ate voraciously.

    Xiao Gui felt helpless. Although the other had come later, it was still his grandfather, and he had to endure it.

    Just then, Xiao Gui quickly moved to compete for the vegetable patch with his grandfather Ta Gui.

    At that moment, Mao Tong awoke from his drowsiness, seeing the vegetable patch being rapidly devoured. Although the vegetables regrew quickly, he still furrowed his brows incessantly.

    "Who dares steal my vegetables?" Mao Tong roared.

    "You disgusting worm, this is my master's vegetable patch. I'll eat as much as I want," Ta Gui retorted.

    "You…dared…to... call... me... a…worm?" Mao Tong enunciated slowly and clearly.

    "Worm, worm, you worm-faced creature, what are you going to do about it?!" The old turtle refused to back down, provoking the other even more.

    Mao Tong, enraged, immediately spewed purple fire at Ta Gui.

    Ta Gui, a celestial beast himself and quite formidable, was not like Xiao Gui, who would readily surrender everything. Seeing the fire approach, he blew air to counter it.

    The wind met the fire, dispersing it around the area.

    Ta Gui squinted, "Why do you carry the scent of Yi Long?"