Worlds’ Apocalypse Online

Gu Qing Shan stood alone in the barren wasteland.

He silently digested everything he saw just now.

A surprised voice came from the sky: 「 You're still alive? 」

Gu Qing Shan looked up.

The Spirit Tortoise was currently floating above, looking at him.

「 You're only a Virtualized realm cultivator! How did you survive in that war? Even if you found a way to hide without being noticed like a coward clinging onto life, that fragment wouldn't have let you out either, it would have just reset and forced you to go through everything again and again 」the Spirit Tortoise commented.

"I have a certain Thaumaturgy that proved to be extremely potent in the war" Gu Qing Shan replied.

As the Spirit Tortoise heard his explanation, its eyes showed understanding.

So that's the reason why. He is as weak as a speck of dust, but he had a Thaumaturgy capable of changing the flow of war.

This youngster must have contributed greatly to that battle, enough that the fragment accepted him and let him out.

The Spirit Tortoise spoke emotionally: 「 After so many years, finally there is someone capable of staying alive outside of the Heavenly Palace, could I perhaps be dreaming right now? 」

Its tone was full of sorrow and pain, such that Gu Qing Shan had no idea how to follow up.

Gu Qing Shan thought briefly before he tried asking: "Senior, now can you allow me to enter the Barren Cloud Heavenly Palace?"

The Spirit Tortoise regained its senses and spoke: 「 There are two ways to enter the Barren Cloud Heavenly Palace right now. According to my estimation, one of them fits you very well 」

"Please elaborate, senior"

「 I will help you steal a jade disk, this is the fastest and most direct solution 」

"Stealing a jade disk?" Gu Qing Shan asked doubtfully.

The Spirit Tortoise explained: 「 There are a total of two jade disks that will grant you passage. The first is the sect master's jade disk, held by each of the Barren Cloud Heavenly Palace's sect masters; the second is the protector's jade disk, which has been kept in the Vermillion Bird's nest ever since long ago 」

「 Vermillion Bird is already dead, but a strand of its soul is still left to protect its nest, so we will have to steal the jade disk from it 」

Gu Qing Shan asked: "How should we do that?"

The Spirit Tortoise explained: 「 A few moments later, I will separate my soul from my body, using it to fight with the Vermillion Bird. You can take that chance while it's busy to climb the tree and take the jade disk from its nest 」

「 The Vermillion Bird wouldn't go too far from its nest, so our battle might affect you. And with your current level of power, even the tiniest bit of residual energy from our fight will be fatal 」

"Then what do we do? If it's too hard, how about the other method?"

The Spirit Tortoise shook its head: 「 That's not it, I will teach you a certain Thaumaturgy. It will help you protect yourself during our fight 」

The Tortoise's tone seemed stern: 「 After learning this Thaumaturgy, you will be able to survive in many fatal situations, in fact, it will be harder for you to actually die 」

Hearing that, Gu Qing Shan was surprised.

What kind of Thaumaturgy would be so powerful that it allows a weak person to survive within the range of two powerful ancient spirit beasts' battle?

Furthermore, being able to teach someone a Thaumaturgy is completely unheard of.

No matter what, if it is willing to teach me such a powerful Thaumaturgy…

Gu Qing Shan thanked it sincerely: "Thank you, senior, for your goodwill. May I ask what kind of Thaumaturgy it is?"

The Spirit Tortoise spoke: 「 The Thaumaturgy I'm about to teach you is one with considerable history, it is called [Untraceable Head & Tail] 」

"[Untraceable Head & Tail]?"

「 Indeed, I will take off a piece of my own shell and use a secret technique to put it on your back, completely fusing it with your body 」

「 That way, you will obtain the same defensive capabilities that I have」

「 With my shell as protection, no matter what kind of life-threatening danger you might face in the future, you only need to pull yourself into the shell. No matter how powerful your enemies' attacks are, they wouldn't be able to hurt you 」

「 How is it, isn't it a formidable Thaumaturgy? 」the Spirit Tortoise boasted.

"…It certainly is… Will I be able to put the shell away or hide it normally?" Gu Qing Shan carefully asked.

The Spirit Tortoise replied: 「 There is no way to hide it, the turtle shell will have thoroughly fused with you and become a part of your body. On the other hand, why would you want to hide such a fearsome shell? 」

Gu Qing Shan couldn't help but imagine himself wearing a tortoise's shell.

Although…

Normally I would have to carry this shell on my back…

But with this shell, I'll be able to attack my enemies as I see fit!

Whenever someone wants to attack me, I can simply pull back into the shell to protect myself.

Yeah… that is indeed [Untraceable Head & Tail], it is indeed formidable…

…

Formidable my ass!

Damn it!

If I fight like that, before the battle is half over, the enemy will have already laughed themselves to death!

At this point, the Spirit Tortoise seems to recall something as it spoke regretfully: 「 When Kirin was close to dying, I originally wanted to teach it [Untraceable Head & Tail] because we were the closest among the four 」

「 But after it heard my explanation, it refused to learn the Thaumaturgy no matter how much I persuaded, finally succumbing to its wounds and dying 」

「 I really don't understand what it was thinking 」

Gu Qing Shan spoke with a solemn expression: "Senior, no matter what others might think, I personally feel that your Thaumaturgy is indeed formidable and peerless, I really am in awe"

The Spirit Tortoise appeared glad: 「 You're quite right, youngster, your eyes are certainly correct! 」

Gu Qing Shan then spoke heavily: "But I have already made a vow to heaven and earth. As a sword cultivator, the most I can use is an armour to protect myself, I can never use a technique specifically to evade or dodge an enemy's attack, otherwise, I would be killed by the heaven's Dao"

「 You are a sword cultivator? No wonder you would make such a heavy vow 」the Spirit Tortoise regretfully sighed, 「 Then there is no other way, you cannot learn my Thaumaturgy 」

Gu Qing Shan clasped his fist: "Senior, didn't you say there were two ways to enter the Barren Cloud Heavenly Palace? We can try the second method"

The Spirit Tortoise nodded: 「 Indeed, if you cannot learn my Thaumaturgy, you wouldn't be able to survive the residual energy that mine and the Vermillion Bird's fight would give off, so we can only try the second method 」

"Please tell me, senior" Gu Qing Shan said.

The Spirit Tortoise told him: 「 The second method was something the master of the Heavenly Palace arranged to test newcomers. You must take the trial of passage like a completely new member of the sect, only after passing it will you be granted entry 」

It then sighed and added: 「 This is an exceedingly arduous trial, I will not be able to help you at all, and if you are unable to pass, you will immediately be killed by the lock seals inside 」

"I am willing to try" Gu Qing Shan replied.

「 Very well, then you may try 」the Spirit Tortoise spoke.

A jade disk flew out from its mouth.

「 This is a jade disk for the trial of passage, the Golden Dragon, Vermillion Bird, Kirin as well as myself each has one of them 」

「 Take this jade disk to the Mountain Protector Pavilion, the Kirin's soul will not stop you and instead bring you into the trial 」

The jade disk hovered in the air as it slowly landed in Gu Qing Shan's hands.

Gu Qing Shan clasped his fist: "Thank you, senior"

The Spirit Tortoise spoke: 「 Yes, if you pass the trial, you will enter the Barren Cloud Heavenly Palace as an official disciple, at that time, I will wait for you inside the Heavenly Palace 」

"Yes, then I shall be on my way" Gu Qing Shan said.

「 Go, and be careful 」the Spirit Tortoise sent him off.

Gu Qing Shan nodded lightly before heading up through the sea of clouds.

As the Spirit Tortoise looked at him leaving, it silently sighed.

「 Ah, how regretful, if that youngster had been able to learn my Thaumaturgy, why must he walk this tribulation of life and death? 」

The Spirit Tortoise regretfully sighed again.