Don't Mess with that Turtle

The Green Giant Crocodile was extremely restless in its movements; Su He had torn off three of its four legs, and Green Snake had strangled it to death. By the time it died, not a single intact bone could be found.

After killing the Green Giant Crocodile, it was much easier to kill the other Green Crocodiles. Above, the Giant Python and Green Snake strangled them, while below, Su He ferociously blocked the tunnel.

Only seventy percent of the pythons in Snake Valley died, yet nearly twenty Green Crocodiles were slaughtered to near extinction.

Su He leisurely surfaced, the dense fog had already dispersed, and Green Snake no longer attacked with water arrows. Even the most polite turtle cannot match the display of baring its fangs just once.

In front of Green Snake, Su He brutally tore off three limbs of the Green Giant Crocodile and then blocked the tunnel entrance. A single turtle was guarding it, and thousands of crocodiles were unable to break through. The bloody and fierce battle was a true testament to Su He's combat power.

This was not the turtle that carried a rabbit to submit and hoped to sneak a peek at it transforming with the Demonic Fruit from a corner.

This was a Giant Turtle with unparalleled combat power.

For dealing with beasts, showing one's fangs is much faster than currying favor.

Su He and Green Snake looked at each other for a moment before Su He turned around and crawled towards Crocodile Beach from the valley entrance.

"Roar~"

Crocodiles, follow me!

Green Snake hesitated for a moment, then twisted its body to follow, hissing orders to bring along the few Giant Pythons remaining in Snake Valley.

Climbing out of Snake Valley, they entered Tinghai Lake, with Crocodile Beach looming in the distance.

Green Snake refused to go any further, even considering leading the Giant Pythons back to Snake Valley. As a snake born and bred here, it knew that ahead was an uncountable Crocodile Group.

Did this turtle bring it here to kill these crocodiles?

Impossible! That would be a suicide mission!

Green Snake shrank back, only to see that turtle bellowing at the crocodiles while floating in the water.

Roar~

The little ones, follow me to hunt!

Upon hearing the king's voice, the Su Family Crocodiles excitedly howled, with each crocodile looking towards the Giant Pythons of Snake Valley with greedy eyes.

Su He slapped a crocodile into the water: "Roar!"

You idiots, those are allies!

What an ally was, the crocodiles did not understand, but they knew that their king forbade them from hunting these long worms. Perhaps the long worms were the king's prey?

Green Snake: "!!!"

This turtle is the king of the Crocodile Group! He has a group of killing machines at his command!

Feeding on the Demonic Fruit for two months, his Spirit Wisdom had already awakened, albeit not abundantly, and he was deeply shocked.

Turtle, crocodile, king.

Somewhere, something seemed off, but then again, not really.

Tentatively, it followed the Crocodile Group led by Su He into the inner lake, growing more and more alarmed as they swam. These crocodiles were heading towards the tunnel entrance to Snake Valley to kill.

Just when Green Snake thought that Su He might be trying to lure it out and then lead the crocodiles to seize Snake Valley, the foul scent of the Green Crocodiles transmitted into its brain through its Jacobson's organ and nostrils.

Ahead, there really were Green Crocodiles, not many. A Green Giant Crocodile led six ordinary ones, the group that had previously detoured to block Su He's return to Crocodile Beach.

Leading the Su Family Crocodiles submerged, Su He swam in the forefront, with the belly of the Green Giant Crocodile visible in the distance. Su He suddenly accelerated and charged upward, toppling the Green Giant Crocodile and in the process tearing a large chunk of flesh from its belly.

The hunt was about to explode.

Bringing the Su Family Crocodiles to confront two groups of Green Crocodiles led by Green Giant Crocodiles was a war, and the Su Family Crocodiles might not obey commands. But facing just one Green Giant Crocodile and six ordinary ones, this was a hunt!

Caught by surprise, the Green Giant Crocodile frantically turned around, its huge tail coming down with a "smack!"

The immense force sent Su He flying out of the water, skipping across the lake surface like a stone.

As the world spun around him, Su He only saw a blue shadow dart past, followed by the Green Giant Crocodile's cries of terror and rage. Soon after came the roars of the Su Family Crocodiles and the frantic splashing of the Green Crocodiles as they fled in terror.

The hunt was explosive and was over in an instant.

The Su Family Crocodiles were too numerous, and there were only seven Green Crocodiles, with the Green Giant Crocodile being entangled and strangled by Green Snake.

The Green Crocodiles, who had been rampaging on Crocodile Beach just days ago, were completely annihilated by Su He's slight ruse.

When their strength wasn't vastly different, Su He, with human intelligence, would absolutely crush these wild beasts.

The Su Family Crocodile emerged unscathed from borrowing Snake Valley, annihilating the Green Crocodile and draining seven tenths of the Giant Python's energy, while also greatly reducing the Green Snake's hostility towards him.

Killing three birds with one stone.

Not gallant, perhaps even despicable, but very practical.

Su He bore no malice towards the Green Snake—after all, both were on their way to becoming Demonic beings, and would likely live alongside each other for more than a hundred years to come. There was no need to create enemies, but Su He still hoped his neighbor would become weaker, even weaker still.

Ideally, it could become a vassal.

Should the Green Snake's Spirit Wisdom blossom and it recalls everything today—what of it? Weren't those just the ignorant acts of a wild beast? Should it hold a grudge?

It surely couldn't be that I, a mere Turtle, schemed against you? Back then, I was just a beast without awakened Spirit Wisdom.

Crocodile Beach returned to its usual serenity.

Eating, sleeping.

Su He wasn't hitting the crocodiles anymore; they were well-behaved, so there was no need—of course, the occasional friendly and warm education didn't count.

Snake Valley opened up to Su He.

At the very least, when Su He visited again, he wouldn't be met with a Water Arrow to the face. He often lay under the willow tree, sleeping while the Green Snake coiled above, its tail occasionally dangling and brushing against Su He's Shell, tickling him.

The Green Snake was a female.

Su He often lingered in its Snake Valley, but he hadn't found out how the Green Snake acquired its inheritance.

As days went by, Su He grew fonder of basking in the sun.

The water level of Qinghai Lake began to return to normal, and the crocodiles moved back into the lake with the water level. Su He's exclusive Sunbathing Stone was gone. Most times, he would throw himself into the water just like a crocodile, motionless.

As the water level receded, another rock surfaced, but Su He didn't like it—it had no slope and was a vertical platform, which was a bit difficult to climb onto.

During this time, he grew a bit, but didn't experience a breakthrough in growth. Common triply Quality fish could hardly send him into slumber, at most fourfold Quality may result in two or three days of sleep. The rate of growth was also not as rapid as in the previous two months.

The energy requirement for growth had increased.

Two Sword Lights traced across the sky and circled around before landing on the high platform in the water, turning into two youths dressed in Qingyuan Gate attire.

"Junior Brother Yulin, this place is pretty good, surrounded by no one but a Crocodile Group, perfect for your practice."

The youth addressed as Yu Lin looked around and nodded in satisfaction.

Both were disciples of the Qingyuan Gate, and as autumn set in, within just over a month at most, the first snowfall would arrive. It is a tradition at the Qingyuan Gate, the first snow signals the start of the year's new disciples' teachings.

Yu Lin was this year's Talisman Rune tutor. This was his first time teaching, and as the leaves turned yellow with the dropping temperatures, he was already unbearably nervous.

Just the thought of facing dozens of eyes beneath the stage made his face go pale.

This was more frightening to him than hunting the same number of Exotic Beasts.

In desperation, he sought counsel from his Senior Brother, who then brought him here.

"Junior Brother Yulin, do you see those old crocodiles below? Imagine them as the newly admitted junior brothers and sisters. Just say whatever comes to your mind, and once you're used to it, you can regard the disciples as the old crocodiles, so you won't feel nervous during lectures."

"Your Senior Brother got through it much the same way," he said, patting Junior Brother's shoulder: "Don't worry, your Senior Brother won't peek, just speak freely and jot down any issues or difficulties. Once we return, we'll discuss them."

Yu Lin's eyes shone with gratitude.

His Senior Brother left on his flying sword.

Yu Lin licked his dry lips, took a deep breath, and addressed the Crocodile Group with as much emotion as he could muster: "Dear junior brothers and sisters, I am Scripture Hall Teacher Yulin. You can call me Sister Yulin—no, Senior Brother Yulin, and I will be explaining the Talisman Rune..."

Even when facing a group of crocodiles, he was extremely nervous.

Su He's turtle eyes bulged to their limit as he let out a low growl to keep the Crocodile Group quiet, edging somewhat closer to Yu Lin and then quietly slipping into the water.

Thank heavens for this gift; he was about to take a lesson!

A dice fell from the sky, landing above Yu Lin's head and began to spin.

Four points!

Feasting was unexpected wealth, so stealing a skill wasn't?

He just wondered how the dice worked here. Would it create four duplicates of Yu Lin to teach? Wouldn't that scare the poor fellow into fainting on the spot?