Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Everyone else withdrew from the Land of Heavenly Punishment; it was now a restricted area. This place still looked as scary as it had been initially. The Lost Garden was filled with the spiritual energy of the world. Despite the ability of all sorts of ancient plants to grow and spread, it did not seem to have much effect.

Outside the border stood a figure with an imposing look. This person was Zhang Zhongshi. He was the one who had a grudge against White Phoenix and gathered everyone to try and kill him.

Now, although Zhang Zhongshi still looked the same as he did back then, his entire aura had completely changed.

The expression he had as he looked at the Land of Heavenly Punishment was of someone who had lived through many years of changes…

It was a kind of feeling that you could sense but was difficult to describe.

It was to the point that if Zhang Zhongshi were to change his clothes and hairstyle, you would not be able to recognize him unless you were someone familiar with him.

As he stood outside the Land of Heavenly Punishment, Zhang Zhongshi repeatedly debated whether to step in. In the end, he chose to stay.

As he took a step, the ground split open soundlessly. After Zhang Zhongshi's figure disappeared, the ground returned to its original state.

He did not dare to rush in hastily but also did not want to give up. Thus he could only wait here…until the person inside came out. So he had a target, and that was why he paid such a high price to get the chance to enter the Lost Garden.

He had needed blood from White Phoenix's clan. But after Qin Yu ruined his plans, he unexpectedly found another reward.

A cultivator who could survive heaven's punishment. He knew very clearly what this meant…he was going to wait for this person, kill him, and take everything from him!

……

Qin Yu was awake.

Soon, he realized that he had been extremely fortunate. He had been so lucky that he wished he could stay in this state forever.

That neverending energy was continuously being absorbed into his body. Every inch of his physical body and soul was rapidly eating.

This feeling was like giving a starving man a whole banquet.

The word 'delight' would be accurate in describing his feelings now!

Before Qin Yu could thoroughly enjoy this feeling, he was interrupted by a voice that sounded weak, unsatisfied, happy, and excited all at the same time, "Master, you are awake. You are finally awake!"

I am a Shadow of the Abyss. I am a holy being but only the heavens know how much I have suffered to survive until now! What suffering. Old Turtle swore that he never wanted to go through this a second time.

Qin Yu jumped in shock. Old Turtle's current condition was a lot more miserable than before.

He was completely curled into a ball and had turned into a ball of mist that could only roll around slightly. He had entirely lost his human silhouette.

The feeling he gave was that he would be blown away by a single light breath!

"Hungry, very hungry. Master, save me, quick save me!" It would be an exaggeration to describe the energy from the Spiritual Snake as endless, but it could be described as sufficient to fill the oceans and form mountains.

Although this was the case, he did not dare to touch it!

As he thought about this, Old Turtle wanted to cry. He felt like someone who had a whole feast in front of him and if he just opened his mouth he would be able to eat it, but he was starving to death.

But if he wanted to live, he had to persevere and not take a single mouthful. There was no choice. That woman was too scary. The heavens' punishment was enough to crush someone and he could not bear that!

This was torture, absolute torture!

I am too miserable, this is too difficult. This was so difficult that he had lost the interest and hope towards staying alive and the future.

Ick…he was lying. No matter what happens, we have to maintain an optimistic outlook. So, we definitely have to continue living. No matter what we have to go through, we have to survive.

Qin Yu could not understand. Old Turtle was already in such a miserable state; why didn't he start to eat? But at this moment, if he asked any more, Old Turtle might be gone for good.

Eat first and then we can talk. After all, a lot of credit should go to Old Turtle for this meal…hmm? Actually, the one who deserved the most credit should be that woman, I owe her a huge favor. It was such a huge favor that in the future, I will do anything she asks and be her servant!

Qin Yu's expression changed as he was filled with shock. What is going on? How can I have such a scary thought!

Not only that, most importantly, I actually believe that…I should be her servant!

Damn!

What is going on!

As Qin Yu was shocked, Old Turtle was suffering. Sometimes when people are at their worst point and think that things cannot get any worse, it suddenly does not seem that difficult to persevere a bit more.

On the other hand, if you give false hopes, the disappointment that follows could be so immense that it could take away someone's will to live.

Old Turtle was facing this right now~

He thought that everything he had gone through was the worst thing that could happen in this world. He never expected that things could become even worse.

Qin Yu, how can you treat me like this? I am so loyal to you and helped you to the point where I am barely surviving!

He was fuming and his consciousness started to waver. Old Turtle became blind for a moment. He could sense very clearly that in that short moment, he had almost completely vanished for good.

Oh my goodness, that was truly death. As a shadow, if he disappeared there was no coming back.

This is so terrifying. I admit defeat!

Go away anger. I will be a loyal dog. I will wag my tail and look pitiful.

"Master, save me. Please hurry and save me. I can't hold on any longer. I am about to die!"

Who cares! As long as he could live, he would be anything!

Qin Yu pulled himself out of his self-doubt. As his intentions turned, a portion of the energy that he had absorbed appeared.

Wooooo —

Old Turtle exhaled a long breath and another longer breath. It was like he wanted to get rid of the fear and disappointment within him. His actions made one worry that he might let out too much air and eventually suffocate himself.

Qin Yu patiently waited for him to finish exhaling before speaking, "When I was unconscious, I think I saw a woman. But the image I have of her is not very clear. I only remember that I owe her a huge favor. Did something like this happen?"

Nonsense. Of course it happened. If not for that woman's help, they would be dead. However, although this was the truth, Old Turtle completely ignored it, "Master you already saw the state I was in. I was struggling to survive; how would I have the energy to care about anything else? I don't know what you are talking about."

Qin Yu's expression was like still water, "You don't know? Are you sure?"

Old Turtle's heart sped up. He had no choice, now his life was in Qin Yu's hands. If Qin Yu became angry and stopped sharing the energy, Old Turtle would return to the state where he was barely holding it together.

Telling the truth…not possible. It was impossible!

Although there was a risk in lying to Qin Yu, there was a chance they would survive this. If he really were to tell the truth about that woman, then death would be certain!

Hence, he only hesitated for a short moment before shaking his head firmly. "I don't know, I really don't know!"

Qin Yu only half believed him. He fell silent and did not say anything more. The truth was that his memory was very foggy and it felt like a dream.

But if it was a dream, why would he feel that he owed someone a huge favor? It was to the point that he would even give up his life to repay the favor. That was too much!

His instinct told him that there was something fishy going on.

Old Turtle was afraid that he would continue prodding and lightly coughed before changing the topic, "Master, now that you are awake, we had better think of a way to pass this test.

"Now that you have started eating the Spiritual Snake's feast, you cannot stop. You either finish it all and gain all the benefits or you die from eating too much."

Qin Yu's expression changed slightly. He was completely awake now. He looked to the side and saw the red energy that was continuously gathering. He then took a sense of his current state. He inhaled a deep breath before asking, "From when I was unconscious until now, how much have I eaten?"

Old Turtle laughed bitterly, "I was too weak earlier and cannot estimate. But judging by your current absorption rate, I think you only finished about ten percent."

"So little?"

"That is not little. This is already calculated according to your quickest absorption rate. There is a possibility that you have not even finished ten percent of it."

Qin Yu's eyes widened as he paled.

It was simple. This feast had just begun and he was the only diner. However, he already felt quite full. This was a very uncomfortable feeling.

More importantly, this was not just a matter of eating more or less. This concerned his survival!

To die from eating too much? No, he would never accept such an ending!