Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 714 Is there really divine turtle blood?

The night is as dark as ink, so thick that it cannot be dissolved.

A cold moon hangs alone in the sky, casting its pale, cold light upon the boundless Gobi Desert. The sand and stones reflect the faint light, preventing the desolate wasteland from falling into complete darkness.

A troop of several hundred elite soldiers was silently marching along the winding official road.

The armor gleamed coldly in the moonlight, and the horses' hooves pounded the hard ground with a dull, rhythmic sound that broke the silence of the night.

At the heart of the procession was a simple-looking yet exceptionally sturdy and spacious carriage.

Liang Jin sat upright in the carriage, observing the outside world through the slightly ajar curtains of the window.

The biting wind, like countless tiny ice needles, seeped in through the window cracks, carrying the dryness and frigidity unique to the Gobi Desert.

Even these seasoned soldiers occasionally shivered from the cold, shrinking their necks and muttering curses at the awful weather.

Su Yumo and Bao Rui rode their horses on either side of the carriage, following closely behind.

Su Yumo was still dressed in a practical riding outfit, with a cloak over it. The hood covered most of her face, revealing only her beautifully shaped jawline and a touch of red lips.

Her horsemanship was superb, and her figure swayed naturally with the rise and fall of the horse's back. Even in this solemn marching column, she inexplicably exuded a captivating and charming allure.

The eyes of the spirited young soldiers in the ranks were always involuntarily drawn to it, and they would secretly peek, their Adam's apples bobbing unconsciously.

Bao Rui, on the other hand, appeared much more clumsy. He gripped the reins tightly, his body swaying stiffly on the horse's back, and he had to adjust his posture from time to time to maintain his balance.

The biting wind made his nose run and his face turn pale, but he tried his best to maintain a fawning smile, as if being able to follow the Marquis's carriage was the greatest honor, and it was worth it no matter how cold it was.

Liang Jin turned his gaze from the window to the flickering lights inside the carriage, and a slight ripple stirred in his heart.

"There are still too few talented people."

He sighed silently.

Once upon a time, when he first established the Qingyi Tower, he had gathered a group of capable men under his command, including Leng You, Mr. Ding, and Mu Zheluo. He believed that he had enough talent under his command to deal with anything.

However, when Qingyilou truly took control of the vast and complex Western Desert, he deeply understood what it meant to be "strapped for resources".

The amount of core talent invested in the vast system of maintaining rule, handling government affairs, organizing the military, and pacifying various tribes was like a drop in the ocean, barely making a ripple.

Subsequently, the strategic focus began to penetrate the Central Plains, establishing branch buildings and expanding influence, which almost emptied his already limited talent pool.

Even someone like Xiong Xiang, who wasn't part of the inner circle, had to be sent out to take charge on his own.

Liu Yuan's resolute departure was the last straw, causing him to lose a capable and loyal assistant.

Currently, many key positions within the Western Desert still lack trusted confidants whom he can truly rely on to oversee them.

The root of the problem lies in the fact that he rose to power too quickly.

From making a name for himself in Haystack, to stunning the world in the Battle of Hidden Wind Valley, and then overwhelming the three major factions of the Western Desert with overwhelming force, establishing a supreme ruling position... all of this happened in just two short years.

He was like an out-of-control, constantly accelerating war machine, with simply not enough time to stop and calmly cultivate, assess, and build a large and loyal core team.

However, he could not stop.

Because his clone's growth path was completely different from that of the Great Sage Teacher in the Southern Continent, or the other clones lurking on Hualong Island.

Other clones can focus more on the ultimate advancement of their own martial arts, and if necessary, they can even temporarily abandon their power to pursue personal transcendence.

In particular, the Great Sage Teacher's avatar, with its miraculous healing power of talisman water, can quickly gather a large number of believers even if its power is temporarily scattered.

As for him, Meng Xinghun, the Marquis of Zhenxi in the Western Desert, his power increase is closely related to the strength of the forces under his command!
The "Thousand-Mile Tracking" feature requires him to constantly lock onto and eliminate specific targets in exchange for the system's generous rewards.

From the initial hundreds or thousands of people, to the current tens of thousands... the next target is a shocking one hundred thousand!
What a terrifying number!

Even with his extraordinary martial arts skills, he alone could not have completed the task within the limited time.

He must rely on a highly efficient, massive, and absolutely obedient power machine to screen, locate, and even assist in eliminating those "characteristic targets."

Power is the catalyst and multiplier for his growth!
That is why this clone of his can never be "detached from worldly affairs" like the other clones.

He must hold onto power tightly and constantly expand his influence to meet the increasingly stringent "kill quotas" in exchange for greater strength.

His gaze once again fell through the car window onto Su Yumo's slender and mysterious figure.

"I hope... you've truly come to surrender, and not with malicious intent."

Liang Jin thought to himself, a hint of barely perceptible expectation mixed with coldness.

If a third-rank martial artist who actively offers himself up can sincerely submit to him, it will undoubtedly greatly alleviate his current predicament of lacking high-end combat power.

But what if all of this—from Bao Rui's "gift" to Su Yumo's "defection," and even the unverified "spiritual ore"—was a meticulously woven trap...?

Therefore, the mastermind behind this must have something much bigger in mind!
Thinking of this, a long-lost killing intent, mixed with violence and excitement, quietly surfaced deep in Liang Jin's eyes.

Since taking control of the Western Desert, in order to maintain the stability and "legitimacy" of his rule, he needed to establish a righteous and upright image, and he had not carried out a large-scale bloody purge for a long time.

I thought the next time I could unleash my killing spree would be on the battlefield against the Black Dragon Dynasty.

But if someone is truly oblivious to the danger, thinking his blade has dulled, and tries to pull some tricks or schemes against him...

Then, Liang Jin wouldn't mind using their blood to redden his name again, so that the world could relive the terror behind the name "Meng Xinghun"!
Just then, Liang Jin's gaze suddenly fixed on the young officer in charge of leading the group at the front of the formation.

The man rode a magnificent black horse, his posture upright, his armor gleaming, exuding an air of pride under the moonlight.

Liang Jin felt that this person looked familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before.

"that whoever!"

Liang Jin pointed his finger through the car window at the young officer, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching the other man's ears.

Upon hearing this, the young officer trembled, immediately turned his horse around, trotted to the carriage window, reined in his horse, clasped his hands in a fist salute, his movements swift and decisive, his voice loud and clear, tinged with suppressed excitement:
"This humble general, Qi Zijun, greets Your Excellency! What are Your Excellency's orders?"

Liang Jin carefully examined his young and energetic face, raising an eyebrow slightly:
"Qi Zijun? Have we... met before?"

He did find the name familiar, but couldn't immediately connect it to the specific event.

Upon hearing this, Qi Zijun's face instantly lit up with immense joy, as if he had received the highest praise.

He answered hastily, his voice slightly hurried with excitement:

"Reporting to Your Excellency! Your Excellency is so busy with state affairs, yet you still remember someone as insignificant as me. I am humbled and honored!"

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and said clearly:
"This humble general was originally an insignificant elite member under the command of Star Demon Sea Ximu Star Lord."

"Back then... back then in the slave market of Liusha City, I had the honor of following Lord Hou, and... and Senior Sister Mi, to fight alongside the Great Snow Mountain Sect, the Boundless Bright King Sect, and the scum of Liusha City!"

When he spoke of the fierce battle that changed his fate, Qi Zijun's eyes shone with a burning light:
"In that battle, Your Excellency, you displayed unparalleled might, single-handedly turning the tide and routing the experts from the three major forces!"

"Although I am of lowly strength and can only cheer from the sidelines and help clear out the rabble, it is the greatest honor and pride of my life to be able to witness your unparalleled demeanor, my lord!"

His tone was sincere, filled with heartfelt respect:
"It was thanks to that bloody battle that I was later selected to join the Marquis's guard and, thanks to Lord Leng You's promotion, was appointed as the captain of the guard."

At the end, Qi Zijun scratched his head sheepishly, a hint of awkwardness on his face:

"This humble general knows that his martial arts skills are low and his talent is mediocre. I am able to obtain this position because... because I have benefited from fighting alongside the Marquis in the past."

After listening to his narration, the long-buried memory in Liang Jin's mind instantly became clear.

"Oh it's you!"

Liang Jin suddenly realized, and a rare, genuine smile appeared on his face:

“I remember now. Back in the slave market, there was indeed a young man like you who dared to fight and take risks.”

Yes, that's what happened. He wore a mask and infiltrated the Star Demon Sea's ranks, successfully sowing discord between the Star Demon Sea and the other two major sects of the Western Desert.

It was on that occasion that he met Mi Qianmeng.

Mi Qianmeng is Leng You's daughter, and should have been a trustworthy and promising talent who could be entrusted with important responsibilities...

Unfortunately, that girl was born with an extremely lazy nature, and at a young age she chose to "lie flat," becoming the recognized "laziest person" in the Western Desert.

Despite Liang Jin's good intentions, he simply couldn't lift up this soft "mud," and ultimately had no choice but to give up.

Since Mi Qianmeng was deemed unsuitable for important tasks, Qi Zijun, who had also been present back then and still maintained high morale, once again came into Liang Jin's view.

Having shared a history of "fighting side by side," Liang Jin couldn't help but scrutinize the young officer more closely.

Qi Zijun's martial arts skills are really a bit weak.

Back when Qi Zijun fought alongside Liang Jin in the slave market, he was already a martial artist at the early seventh rank.

But even now, he is only a mid-stage seventh-rank martial artist.

This training speed... is actually the normal training speed for the vast majority of martial artists.

While it may not be considered excellent, it's better than mediocre, and at least not too bad.

However, the guards that Liang Jin led on this trip were mainly responsible for ceremonial duties and handling miscellaneous tasks along the way. They were not elite troops for overcoming difficulties, and he never expected these guards to actually protect Liang Jin's safety.

Therefore, these guards were not very strong, and Qi Zijun's strength was just enough to serve as the captain of the guard.

"You no longer need to go ahead and lead the team."

Liang Jin had already made up his mind, and gave the order:

"Stay by my carriage and be ready to be ordered at any time."

This is precisely the time when talent is needed. Since we have this connection, Liang Jin doesn't mind giving this seemingly loyal young man a chance to see if he is truly worth cultivating and if he can be of use at a crucial moment.

Upon hearing this, Qi Zijun was first stunned, then a surge of immense joy welled up in his heart.

He almost immediately straightened up on his horse, clasped his hands in a salute, and his voice trembled slightly with excitement:
"Your humble servant obeys! Thank you for your appreciation, Your Excellency!"

"I would gladly die to serve you, my lord!"

Liang Jin nodded slightly, said nothing more, and simply waved his hand.
"Go and call Bao Rui over."

Qi Zijun accepted the order and immediately rode off to summon the messenger.

Soon, Bao Rui's round figure appeared by the car window, his face plastered with his usual obsequious smile, which was turning slightly blue from the cold wind.

"My lord, what are your orders? Are you bored during the carriage ride and would like to find me to relieve your boredom?"

Liang Jin looked up at the sky; the moon was already setting in the west, and it was getting late.

His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of questioning:

"Baorui, it's already past 11 PM."

"You were so confident before, saying you wouldn't have to wait until 9 PM to see the third 'grand gift.' Now, where is the gift?"

His time is precious, and he hates nothing more than having it wasted for no reason.

If Bao Rui is just being deliberately mysterious, he wouldn't mind letting him immediately experience the consequences of deceiving him.

Bao Rui's fawning smile froze instantly, replaced by embarrassment and fear. He hurriedly explained:
"My lord, please calm down! My lord, please calm down!" "This...this is all my fault for not considering things carefully and miscalculating the time."

He looked dejected and pointed to the line behind him:
"My initial estimate was based on the time required to travel light and move quickly."

"But...but I never expected that Your Excellency would bring so many valiant soldiers with you on this trip. With so many people, the procession naturally slowed down, and that's why...that's why we've been delayed."

As he spoke, he scratched the back of his head vigorously, looking extremely embarrassed.

Just then, as if he had seen a savior, he suddenly pointed to a faint light in the distance darkness and shouted excitedly:

"My lord, look! We're here! It's right there! The third great gift is waiting for you over there!"

Liang Jin looked in the direction he was pointing.

On the edge of the vast Gobi Desert, the outline of a cluster of low buildings appeared under the moonlight, with twinkling lights like scattered stars on the ground.

"That place is... Duango Town."

Liang Jin spoke slowly, his tone certain.

He had an excellent grasp of the geography of the Western Desert.

Duange Town is the first gateway west of Hanzhou City.

Its history can be traced back to the darker and more chaotic times in the Western Desert.

Legend has it that this place was once an ancient battlefield, littered with corpses, and piled high with weapons and bones.

Initially, it was a gathering place where some audacious herders and outlaws scavenged for the weapons, armor, and valuables left behind by the fallen in battle and traded with passing merchants.

Later, the business of scavenging corpses became unsustainable, and this place, due to its geographical location, evolved into a small distribution center for foreign trade in Hanzhou City, eventually forming the mixed-race town it is today.

When Bao Rui saw that Liang Jin accurately stated the place name, his smile widened, filled with the excitement of a secret about to be revealed:

"Your Excellency is indeed learned and knowledgeable, seemingly omniscient! That place is indeed Duange Town!"

He lowered his voice and said mysteriously:
"And the third great gift I've carefully prepared for you is right here in this town!"

At this point, Bao Rui glanced around, especially warily at Su Yumo and Qi Zijun not far away, as if what he was about to say could only be known to Liang Jin.

Liang Jin understood and said calmly:

"Let's talk once we get on the bus."

The carriage slowly came to a stop, and Bao Rui climbed onto the carriage using both his hands and feet.

In the cramped space, he leaned close to Liang Jin and said in a voice that was barely audible to the two of them:

"My lord, I overheard that... the Green Robe Pavilion has been secretly searching for a rare treasure called 'Blood of the Divine Turtle'..."

Upon hearing the words "blood of the divine turtle," Liang Jin's originally calm eyes suddenly narrowed, and his sharp gaze instantly locked onto Bao Rui's face!

An invisible pressure was released slightly, causing Bao Rui to gasp for breath.

He was naturally aware of the legend about the blood of the divine tortoise.

Liu Yuan once told him in detail about that lost history: The king of the ancient Ulan Kingdom attempted to capture the legendary divine tortoise, and with the strength of the entire country, gathered the strongest people of the time to fight an earth-shattering battle with the divine tortoise in the depths of the desert.

It was during that devastating war that changed the fate of the nation that some lucky individuals obtained the blood spilled by the divine tortoise.

The first Dharma King of the Boundless Bright King Sect was surprised to discover that the blood of the divine tortoise was actually the key ingredient for cultivating the sect's supreme divine skill, the "Mahagala Dharma Protector Skill"!

However, the result of that great battle was that both sides were severely damaged. The divine tortoise was wounded and fled far away, its whereabouts unknown. The Kingdom of Ulan was greatly weakened and never recovered, so much so that it perished a few years later and was replaced by the newly rising Kingdom of Ancient Elephant.

The already scarce blood of the divine tortoise was consumed over time and through fierce competition among powerful individuals, eventually becoming a lost art, resulting in no one in later generations being able to master the "Mahagala Protector Technique".

After Liang Jin took control of the Western Desert, he did indeed order a secret search, but he knew the chances were slim and did not have high expectations.

Who would have thought that Bao Rui, this seemingly sycophantic street urchin, would actually be involved with such a divine object that had long been forgotten by the world!

Bao Rui sensed the change in Liang Jin's gaze, feeling both fear and smug. He continued:

"The third great gift I've prepared for you is a top-secret piece of information about the whereabouts of the Divine Turtle's Blood!"

He lowered his voice even further, as if afraid the air would hear him:

"According to the precise intelligence that I obtained at great cost, tonight, the blood of the divine turtle will be traded on the black market in Duango Town!"

Upon hearing this, Liang Jin frowned slightly, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure:
"Given such definite information, why didn't you make arrangements earlier to retrieve the blood of the divine tortoise for me directly? Why did you wait for me to come in person?"

He knew the details of Duango Town.

After taking control of Hanzhou City, Qingyilou used an iron-fisted approach to rectify the atmosphere, confiscating and eliminating all shady businesses in the city, cutting off the gray financial paths of those wealthy families, severely damaging their power, and winning the praise of the people.

However, these industries could not be completely eradicated, and they moved to areas outside the city.

Duango Town thus became an important hub for underground black market transactions.

Once the blood of the divine turtle, such a rare item, enters this black market rife with all sorts of strange and powerful people, the chances of it changing hands in the blink of an eye are extremely high, and it may become difficult to find again.

Liang Jin didn't want to miss out on this rare treasure because of Bao Rui's delay.

Bao Rui's face immediately showed bitterness and helplessness, and he complained:

"Oh, my lord! How could I not wish to go bankrupt and present that divine object directly to you?"

"But...but I'm really not up to the task!"

Although Bao Rui had some money, he was not even close to being among the truly wealthy people in Hanzhou City.

In particular, he is not good at business, and his money is all going out and no coming in. So it is already difficult for him to maintain his status, and he really does not have enough financial resources to buy a divine item like the blood of the divine turtle.

Furthermore, Bao Rui held no official position and had no powerful martial artists under his command. Even if he had obtained the rare treasure, the blood of the divine turtle, he would not have been able to bring it back alive.

Bao Rui, with his limited influence, clearly wasn't qualified to order a master like Su Yumo to take action.

A lackey without power and connections certainly cannot get his hands on such a precious treasure.

Reporting the message directly to the top floor of the Qingyi Building was undoubtedly the smartest and safest option.

His choice to bypass layers of institutions and directly confront Liang Jin was clearly to maximize this "merit".

Liang Jin wasn't angry after hearing this.

Even if Bao Rui reported it to Qingyi Tower in the morning, such important news would likely still alarm him and make him come to oversee things personally.

The blood of the divine turtle is worth the trip he made personally.

However, if he had known beforehand that the target was this object, he might have gathered more experts to accompany him to ensure that nothing went wrong.

However, Liang Jin was not overly worried.

He holds a trump card that no one in this era can match—an information transmission speed that transcends time!

He once led the core members of the Green Robe Pavilion into the capital of the Great Qian Dynasty. One of his important purposes was to enable his reliable Nine-Supreme Warriors to obtain the qualification to enter the [Nine Void Boundless Realm].

Through this magical channel, even if they are thousands of miles apart, he can accurately convey instructions to designated subordinates in a very short time.

At this moment, there are several such level-nine martial artists waiting in Hanzhou City.

If the situation changes, he can immediately issue an order through [Nine Void Boundless] to have Leng You quickly dispatch elite troops to provide support.

This near-instantaneous communication capability was a strategic weapon in the era of cold weapons!

He originally planned to use this trump card in the future decisive battle against the Black Dragon Dynasty to catch the enemy off guard.

But if the situation gets out of control tonight, he wouldn't mind using it earlier.

Of course, since he came in person, even with only a few hundred guards by his side, it was more than enough.

more importantly……

Liang Jin's gaze returned to the car window, landing on Su Yumo, a slender and mysterious figure riding on horseback.

The presence of this third-rank martial artist of unknown strength is itself a force to be reckoned with.

Perfect timing! Let's take this opportunity to see just how capable Su Yumo really is, and whether she's sincere or not.

"I understand."

Liang Jin said to Bao Rui indifferently:

"You go down first."

Bao Rui felt as if he had been granted a pardon and immediately bowed:
"Yes, yes, I'll take my leave."

After saying that, he carefully exited the carriage.

Liang Jin raised his hand and closed the car window, cutting off the cold wind and his view from the outside.

The carriage was plunged into a relatively quiet and dim light, with only the dim lamps in the corners providing a faint light source.

"After nearly a thousand years, the blood of the divine tortoise has reappeared in the world?"

"Is it really such a coincidence, or a trap?"

He hoped it was true.

If new blood of the divine turtle truly appears in the world, then perhaps he can trace the divine turtle's whereabouts through it.

With a thought, he took out the [Snake Noodle] from his [Item Inventory].

The mask felt cold to the touch, and he gently placed it on his face.

The next moment, a strange sensory ability spread out – “Fire Eyes” activated!
His gaze seemed to possess penetrating power, easily piercing through the thick wooden planks of the carriage, and clearly "seeing" the distant scene of Duange Town.

The town's outline, the details of the buildings, the crowds of people on the streets... even the subtle expressions on some people's faces, all seem so close at hand.

"It seems Bao Rui was right... There's definitely big business in the Duange Town black market tonight."

Liang Jin thought to himself.

In his "view," the small town of Duango was bustling with activity and brightly lit.

The streets were crowded with all sorts of people, many of whom were armed, exuded a fierce aura, and had sharp eyes. They were clearly martial artists from all over the country, and there were quite a few skilled ones among them.

A restless, greedy, and dangerous atmosphere permeated the air.

However, just as Liang Jin's gaze swept across the bustling crowd, trying to find clues that might be related to the blood of the divine turtle, his eyes suddenly fixed on a corner!
There, an inconspicuous figure came into his view.

Liang Jin's pupils contracted slightly, his brows furrowed tightly beneath the mask, and a mixture of surprise, melancholy, and emotion welled up in his heart.

"To think I'd run into an old friend here!"

"But...why would an old friend appear here?"

(End of this chapter)