Don't Mess with that Turtle

Language is the embodiment of spirit wisdom, and clear language means that Green Snake's spirit wisdom had completely awakened.

Su He looked at it in amazement.

We both ate tiger meat, I even ate the tiger's heart. Why have you evolved more than me?

The improvement in physique, no matter how significant, can't compare with the awakening of spirit wisdom. This is a qualitative leap.

"Mmm~"

Su He called out weakly, Congratulations!

You evolve without me, you can already speak like humans, while I'm still roaring like a beast. Fortunately, this time I woke up my call is no longer like an old lady's, rough and unrestrained, matching my dark skin color.

"Eh?" Green Snake lifted its head, a lazy aura revitalized, the entire snake seemed energized: "You can't speak yet?"

Su He blinked: What are you so excited about?

The corners of Green Snake's mouth curled up, learning even how to smile as it awakened its spirit wisdom.

It had always considered itself no match for Su He—not just an issue of evolution, but the natural differences between their species were too great.

It had no poison, and its Python Snake's coiling was ineffective against Su He, nor could Fog Release, Water Arrows, or Wind and Wave Creation do anything to this Turtle. It was like the Grandson Turtle was specifically sent by the heavens to punish it.

Heaven's bane!

Although we are now friends... the fact that your pace of becoming a Demonic creature is slower than mine is just too wonderful!

Green Snake slapped its tail, rustling as it flicked its tongue, almost bursting into laughter. But seeing Su He grinding his teeth, it felt a tad guilty and coiled itself up, asking: "Didn't your inheritance teach you how to speak?"

Enlightening the spirit wisdom, refining the horizontal bones, speaking human tongues, these are the basics of Demon Species' cultivation, aren't they? A turtle, having evolved to this point, should be able to speak by now.

Su He looked up at the misty night sky through the drizzle.

The Demonic Fruit I ate was fake; there was no inheritance!

Seeing Su He's dejection, Green Snake wriggled its tail closer and coiled itself on Su He's Shell: "I'll teach you!"

Light shone in Su He's eyes.

Green Snake whispered: "Can you look inside yourself?"

Su He nodded.

Green Snake coiled its body, recalling the dream inheritance: "In human cultivation, the first realm of Transcendence is divided into seven steps: Opening Heart Apertures, Divine God Objects, True Blood, Intention Orifice, Offering Bones, Spirit Awakening, Gathering Origin. Not to mention the rest, but just the first two: Mind Orifice and Divine God Objects."

"When the body is tempered to the ultimate, vast Qi and blood are used to blast open the Mind Orifice. This is the first step of transcending the mundane. Then nourish the Mind Orifice, and within it, condense Divine God Objects: swords, spears, blades, halberds, wind, fire, thunder, lightning; countless possibilities."

"Different people and different cultivation techniques influence the Divine God Objects condensed in the Mind Orifice. When the Mind Orifice Divine God Object is formed, the cultivator gains miraculous powers, spewing water with a breath, mastering thunder... and can then learn Tao Cultivation."

"The Demon Species' cultivation, while not entirely the same as humans, is quite similar."

Green Snake glided down from Su He's back, coiled on a withering willow tree, like a female mentor ascending a platform, a mature and enchanting voice slowly said: "The moment a beast swallows a Demonic Fruit, they begin to feed extensively and unplanned, initiating evolution. Until they break their own limits. Just like how I grew from a Little Green Snake into a Giant Python, and you from a little turtle into..."

She used the tip of her tail to gesture a large shape.

"When we broke our limits, our Heart Apertures were already open, just unknowingly so. Until the Demonic Fruit is fully digested, a phantom Human Shadow forms within the Heart Orifice. That shadow is the Demon's Heart Orifice Divine God Object."

"Thus, all Demon Species' Heart Orifice Divine God Objects are the same: they are all Human Shadows. The demon powers and Divine Skills they wield are not related to the Heart Orifice Divine God Objects but are inherent to their species. For example, my Fog Release, Wind and Wave Creation, your Control Water."

She pointed with the tip of her tail at the water currents unconsciously gathering beneath Su He's four claws.

"The Heart Orifice Human Shadow is the essence of the Demonic Fruit and the foundation of a beast's transformation into a human. Demon Species' cultivators must first condense this shadow fully, transcend the Heavenly Tribulation, and then may transform into a human form. If you want to speak, you first need to solidify the shadow through the twelve Layers, projecting it onto the true form, then naturally you will speak the human tongue."

"???"

Three question marks appeared over Su He's head.

He closed his eyes and looked inside himself, his vision rushing straight to his heart. The Heart Orifice was indeed opened, resembling an ethereal space, incredibly mystical.

In the center of the Mind Orifice, a pitch-black turtle like ink.

There were no humans nor any inheritance, just a large black turtle.

But the turtle wasn't a proper Turtle; with a Dragon Head and Dragon Tail, it lacked the caution of its species, exuding a dominant and ferocious air.

Just a brute who only knows how to blunder.

Where's my human form?!

Su He's entire turtle self was no longer well.

...

He didn't know how he left Snake Valley, and he dared not look at the sympathetic eyes of Green Snake. He forgot about the encounter with the Heart Orifice Divine God Turtle in his dreams until after waking up and introspecting his Mind Orifice, he suddenly remembered.

My human form is gone, what am I going to do? How will I transform into a human?

Su He crawled out of Snake Valley step by step. Green Snake, with its mind elsewhere, absentmindedly flicked its tongue. She hoped her friend was not as unfortunate as herself, but she didn't want her friend to fall into the dust either.

The better off her friend, the better, as long as the friend never surpasses her.

Housing a turtle within a turtle's Heart Orifice was something she also didn't know how to handle. There was nothing about it in her inherited memories.

Su He returned to Crocodile Beach in a daze, where a crocodile in the group was challenging the entire clan.

This crocodile barely qualified as a Giant Crocodile, a body almost three zhang in length, nearly catching up to the Green Giant Crocodile of the past.

Su He hadn't returned for over a month, and the Crocodile Group had revolted.

What's more, like this large crocodile, they were envious of Su He's effortless lifestyle and wanted the other crocodiles to provide for them, attempting to break through the Crocodile Group to usurp the position.

At this moment, the large crocodile was being pummeled to near death underwater by four other crocodiles.

"King!"

"Boss!"

"The fiercest!"

A group of crocodiles recognized Su He and started calling out; although his form had changed, that royal aura was unmistakable— the king had returned.

The big crocodile burst from the water, roaring.

The gist of it was that the other crocodiles had recognized him as king, and they should stop their attack! He had heard the cries of the Crocodile Group.

But Su He submerged the roaring crocodile with one swipe of his claw, and as it struggled up furiously, it met his gaze.

The king had grown even larger.

He could easily bite a crocodile to death in one go now, could he not?

It quietly submerged its head back into the water, caught a fish, and placed it before Su He, then slinked back into the Crocodile Group without another peep about breaking through and fighting for kingship.

"Mmm~" Su He hummed lowly to inform the Crocodile Group that the king was hungry and needed to feed!

The Crocodile Group dispersed to hunt, while Su He lay in the water, beginning a serious inspection of the evolution brought on by this period of hibernation.

As for the turtle in his Mind Orifice—if the problem couldn't be resolved, then there was no point getting lost in it. This was the wisdom Su He gained from his two years of Turtle Life.

If there's an unsolvable problem, then just avoid it.

This is a world of cultivation; as long as your cultivation is sufficient, there's nothing that can't be solved.

If it can't be solved, then it's a lack of Tao Cultivation!

If he cannot transform into a human this time, he can just fight for the Demonic Fruit again in sixty years. At worst, he won't eat the ones that improve quality, just the regular transparent ones.

Sixty years is nothing to fear, can a turtle not live that long?

If one cycle of sixty years isn't enough, then try for two cycles; if one fruit isn't enough, eat a few more, he'll eventually transform into a human!

If it really comes down to it—well, then just be an honest turtle.

Having been a turtle for two years, Su He had somewhat gotten used to it.

The light drizzle was hazy, the fresh lake water flowed into his nostrils and filled his chest and lungs, leaving oxygen before being exhaled out again.

Su He could now breathe underwater.