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

Chapter 734 Alarming the Divine Turtle
When the terrifying sandstorm that blotted out the sky, like a giant, constantly churning brass cauldron, completely enveloped the entire Dry Dragon Gorge, Leng You had already led his cavalry to retreat to a safe area in the distance.

As soon as the group came to a stop, everyone couldn't help but turn around in shock.

The distant Dry Dragon Gorge had completely disappeared from sight, replaced by a giant sandstorm tornado that stretched from heaven to earth and was several miles in diameter.

No one could see inside the sandstorm; only the muffled sound of the wind, like the roar of a giant beast, could be faintly heard, striking at the heartstrings of everyone.

Mi Lanyue stood beside a weathered giant rock, gazing up at the devastating celestial phenomenon. For the first time, her aged and wrinkled face revealed a look of near-complaint in shock.

Her fingers trembled slightly from the force as she pointed towards the sandstorm:
"Using internal force... to draw upon the power of heaven and earth, and control the sandstorm... this is... Chile's unique skill!"

Her voice trembled slightly, as if the name itself represented something taboo and terrifying.

“Chi Le… He is one of the most famous and top experts in the Yinxi Society! More than a decade ago, he had already firmly entered the second rank, and his skill was unfathomable!”

"I never expected... that even a giant like him would personally descend upon the Western Desert just to deal with... the Marquis!"

Milan Yue's words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, causing a huge commotion among the cavalry.

They had initially thought this terrifying sandstorm was a rare natural disaster in the desert, but now they were horrified to realize that it was actually caused by human intervention!
What immense inner strength and exquisite control would it take to create such a world-changing spectacle?
Their understanding of the power of martial artists was completely refreshed at this moment, and their gazes toward the sandstorm were filled with deeper awe and concern for the Marquis's situation.

Leng You sat upright at the front of the carriage, his black clothes fluttering in the wind.

Her clear and calm eyes were fixed on the sandstorm in the distance that was swallowing everything. Her slender fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes, and her eyebrows furrowed deeply for the first time.

Even though she had almost blind faith in Liang Jin, she couldn't help but feel a tightness in her chest when faced with a top expert like Chi Le, who had been famous for decades, and this imposing formation that resembled the might of heaven.

suddenly!

Mutations reborn!

Without any warning, an extremely pure and condensed golden beam of light suddenly pierced through the center of the dim sandstorm!

A golden wound was torn open in the night sky, and even the dust storms paled in comparison under the golden light, as if they had become insignificant backgrounds.

This golden light was not just ordinary light; it exuded an indescribable aura of majesty, antiquity, and...destruction!

"Hiss! His ...

Almost at the same instant the golden light appeared, all the well-trained and battle-hardened warhorses in the cavalry seemed to feel some kind of intense fear, and they all reared up, letting out shrill and terrified neighs!

"Steady! Steady the horses!"

The cavalry captain shouted at the top of his lungs, but to little avail.

On the carriage, Leng You and Mi Lanyue's expressions changed drastically the moment they saw the golden light!

Almost simultaneously, the two stood up abruptly, looked at each other, and saw in each other's eyes an undisguised, deep-seated horror!

The next moment, two trembling voices cried out in unison:
"Golden Soul Jade!!!"

These four words seemed to possess a magical power, instantly plunging the surroundings into a deathly silence, even the neighing of horses seemed to be suppressed by this invisible fear.

Any martial artist who has reached a certain level knows the legend of the "Golden Soul Jade".

That was the ultimate weapon formed from the life and all cultivation of a first-grade martial artist, sealing away the terrifying power of his desperate strike!
Many people know its name, but only a handful of people in the world have the privilege of witnessing its inspiration firsthand!

Even Leng You, who came from the Star Demon Sea and once served the knowledgeable former leader Ming Cangwu, had only heard of him but never met him.

As for Milan Yue, with her ancient family heritage and experience in the Yinxi Society, she may know more, but she too will not have the chance to witness the blooming of this legendary object.

At this moment, they became witnesses to this historic instant.

Amidst the extreme worry and fear, there was also a hint of indescribable awe and...honor at witnessing a legend?
The golden light that filled the sky seemed to devour people's souls, leaving everyone present mesmerized and unable to recover for a long time.

It often represents the fall of a world-renowned and powerful figure, or the upheaval of an era.

"Chile personally took action... and even used the golden soul jade..."

Mi Lanyue murmured absentmindedly, her aged voice filled with complex emotions:

"Lord Marquis... he actually managed to push the Yinxi Society to such an extent... truly... truly a talent beyond compare, a dragon among men!"

For the first time, her tone carried a genuine sense of awe and wonder at Liang Jin.

The fact that the Yinxi Society would go to such lengths to use such a treasured weapon shows that Liang Jin's value and threat have exceeded her expectations.

However, after the initial amazement came a deeper sense of regret and sadness.

"What a pity...what a pity! Such a brilliant and promising young talent, tonight...I'm afraid he really will... perish here..."

She couldn't believe, or rather, couldn't believe, that a second-rank martial artist could survive a true first-rank martial artist's power.

Since the founding emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty, Zhao Wuji, the rank of First Rank has become a legend.

If Liang Jin were truly a first-rank official, why would he choose to remain in the barren land of the Western Desert?

"On the contrary!"

A cold, clear, and firm voice rang out, breaking the heavy atmosphere.

She stood on the carriage, her posture as upright as a pine tree, her gaze fixed intently on the direction of the sandstorm, her voice carrying clearly throughout the area:

"It is precisely because the other party used the golden soul jade that it proves that the Marquis has driven them into a desperate situation! He has forced them to use this final and most helpless means!"

"From beginning to end, the advantage has always been in the Marquis's hands! This golden soul jade is nothing more than their last desperate struggle!"

"I trust the Marquis! If he was able to force this out, he must have a way to deal with it!"

Her words were filled with unwavering conviction, like a torch lit in the darkness, instantly dispelling the gloom in the cavalrymen's hearts.

"Lord Marquis, you are mighty!!!"

A deafening cheer erupted from the cavalry, greatly boosting their morale!
Looking at Leng You's resolute profile, Mi Lanyue couldn't help but shake her head and sigh:
“Girl, your trust in the Marquis… borders on obsession. That’s a golden soul jade… something no human can resist…”

Before she could finish speaking, another strange phenomenon occurred!
The golden radiance that illuminated the heavens and the earth, just as abruptly as it appeared, suddenly contracted inward and vanished without a trace!
Darkness and the still-howling sandstorm enveloped the world once more, as if the shocking scene from just moments ago had never happened.

"finished?"

Mi Lanyue murmured, a complex and unfathomable sadness flashing in her eyes.

Although she disliked the Yinxi Society, if Liang Jin died, the situation in the Western Desert would inevitably change drastically, and her future would also be uncertain.

"Of course it's not over yet!"

Leng You's voice remained resolute.

Mi Lanyue was startled and quickly looked over.

really!

The sandstorm that enveloped Hanlong Gorge did not subside; instead, it surged even more violently!

In the hazy distance, one could see a colossal, suffocating wolf head, formed entirely of sand and stone, pouncing down in a certain direction with an aura of annihilation!

Immediately afterwards, even more intense and dense sounds of energy collisions and rocks cracking faintly came from inside the sandstorm!

The enormous sandstorm wolf head was shrinking and disintegrating at a speed visible to the naked eye!
"This...how is this possible?!"

Mi Lanyue's eyes widened suddenly, her thin body trembling slightly with excitement:
"The battle continues! And... it's so intense! Could it be... could it be that Marquis Zhenxi... he really..."

A thought she had previously considered impossible suddenly exploded in her mind like a thunderbolt—Liang Jin was not dead!

He survived the attack from the golden soul jade!
And they are still engaged in a fierce battle with Chile!
This revolutionary realization left her stunned, her mind blank.

How could such an illogical thing happen in the world?
Just as she was overwhelmed with emotion, the battle situation in the distance took another sharp turn for the worse!

The massive, sky-covering sandstorm, without warning, vanished instantly, as if wiped away by an invisible giant hand!

The night sky reappeared, and the moonlight, like mercury spilling onto the ground, illuminated the now unrecognizable and devastated Hanlong Gorge.

All the sounds of fighting and the roar of energy ceased abruptly at that moment.

All sounds are silent.

It's over. This time, it's truly over.

Everyone's heart was in their throat, and they involuntarily stood on tiptoe, craned their necks, and desperately looked towards the direction of Hanlong Gorge.

However, the distance was too great and the night too deep; all they could see was a deathly silence.

The most anxious of them all was Mi Lan Yue, who longed to know the final result, as it concerned her judgment and, more importantly, her future.

Leng You, though outwardly calm, revealed that her slightly pursed lips betrayed the turmoil within her.

Just as everyone was eagerly anticipating and speculating about who the ultimate victor would be—

"Rumble...!!!"

A muffled roar, seemingly coming from the deepest depths of the underworld, suddenly erupted without warning!

The sound wasn't particularly loud, but it possessed a peculiar, soul-piercing power!

It doesn't spread through the air, but rather seems to resonate directly deep within the earth, in everyone's bones and organs!
"Puff! Puff!"

The cavalrymen suddenly felt their legs give way and fell to the ground one after another!
They looked at their mounts in horror, only to see that the warhorses, which they had just managed to calm down, were now foaming at the mouth, their eyes rolled back, and they were lifeless.

All the warhorses were scared to death by the incomprehensible and terrifying sounds coming from underground!
"what happened?!"

"Has the earth dragon turned over?!"

A sense of surprise and fear instantly filled the air.

Even Leng You, who is usually so wise and composed, couldn't help but change her expression slightly, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise and solemnity.

The unknown and eerie nature of the underground noises was completely beyond her expectations and control.

Only Milan Moon!
The moment she heard the underground roar, her originally cloudy and dim old eyes suddenly burst forth with an unbelievable, almost fanatical light!

"Could it be... could it be...!"

Her voice trembled, as if she had discovered some long-awaited treasure.

She suddenly fell to the ground, pressing her ear tightly to the ground without any regard for her image, holding her breath, and listening intently.

The rumbling sound from underground was deep and long, like the unconscious murmur of some colossal creature that had been sleeping for millennia, turning over in its dream.

A moment later, she suddenly raised her head, her face filled with extreme excitement and confirmation, pointing in the direction of Hanlong Gorge, her voice sharp with excitement:
"That's it! The source is in the Dry Dragon Gorge! There's no mistake! This aura... this rhythm..."

Just then, a calm, familiar voice, yet seemingly possessing an all-knowing magic, rang out leisurely around everyone:

"It's a divine turtle."

The whole place was dead silent!

Everyone trembled violently and turned around in horror!
Suddenly, a figure appeared beside the group, as if he had always been there, blending into the shadows.

The newcomer had no aura and moved silently, so much so that even Leng You and Mi Lanyue, both third-rank martial artists, failed to detect him in the slightest!
As the moonlight illuminated his face, after a brief moment of shock, all the cavalrymen erupted in a deafening cheer, filled with ecstasy and awe, and knelt down in unison on one knee:

"Greetings, Lord Marquis!!!"

"Congratulations on your victorious return, Lord Marquis!!!"

The person who came was Liang Jin.

He had already returned to his normal human form, changed into a clean black robe, and looked calm, as if the earth-shattering battle just now was merely a leisurely stroll after a meal.

However, the two corpses he casually carried in his hand silently spoke of the ferocity and outcome of the battle—those were none other than King Hunxiu and Chile!

Mi Lan Yue's gaze was instantly drawn to the still-grotesque corpse of Chi Le Na, now transformed into a wolf. She pointed at the corpse, her voice trembling with disbelief:
"Chile...it really is Chile! You...you actually...killed him?! Even a master like him couldn't..."

Her words came to an abrupt halt, and her gaze toward Liang Jin was filled with the awe one would show to a god or demon.

Liang Jin ignored her shock, his gaze calmly sweeping over the crowd before finally settling on the direction of the deep, dark Hanlong Gorge.

That gaze seemed to penetrate the rock layers, revealing the mysteries deep underground.

"The divine tortoise, in its long slumber, was briefly disturbed by the aftershocks of the battle just now."

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly, carrying an unquestionable authority:

"But there's no need to worry. It only moved slightly, and now... it has fallen asleep again."

Mi Lanyue's body trembled violently, as if struck by lightning.

She couldn't help but cry out:

"You...how did you know?!"

The habits and condition of the divine tortoise are the highest secrets of her family's research over generations, a field she is proud of and far surpasses that of ordinary people!

She believed that although Yinxi might know more about mythical beasts than she did, no one in the world knew more about divine turtles than she did.

Liang Jin not only pinpointed the source of the strange noise, but also knew details such as that the divine tortoise was only "briefly disturbed" and "returned to sleep"!

This is simply unbelievable!
Liang Jin glanced at her indifferently, his tone remaining calm:

"There's nothing strange about it. Because I... personally went to check it."

Just a short while ago, when he swiftly and decisively killed Chi Le and Hun Xiu Wang, ending the battle, a rumbling sound originating from the depths of the earth happened to come.

With his familiarity with the terrain of Hanlong Gorge and his extraordinary perception, Liang Jin immediately determined that the source of the rumbling was the mysterious grotto that concealed the giant tortoise shell!
Without the slightest hesitation, and without even having time to carefully deal with the battlefield, he once again slipped into the deep and winding cave, reaching the very depths of the grotto.

There, he witnessed a breathtaking scene:
The enormous tortoise shell, as large as a mountain and covered with ancient and mysterious patterns, was trembling slightly, exuding an aura of primordial vastness that made one feel insignificant.

The surrounding rock walls then began to shed rubble, and the entire grotto seemed to pulsate with a slow and heavy rhythm.

Liang Jin held his breath and focused intently, quietly sensing the sensation.

The tremor lasted for about 15 minutes, gradually weakening in amplitude and slowing in frequency, until finally, everything returned to silence.

The enormous tortoise shell once again became as hard as the hardest rock, showing no signs of life whatsoever.

After all, Hua Nongying once said that only by sacrificing a powerful person like Liang Jin, who possesses great fortune and divine blood, could the divine tortoise be successfully awakened.

This passage contains keywords related to the conditions for awakening the divine turtle, such as "sacrifice," "great fortune," "divine blood," and "strong person." These four keywords seem to constitute four conditions.

Liang Jin already had a guess in his mind:
In the fierce battle just now, Liang Jin successfully killed Chi Le, who had fused with "divine blood," as well as "powerful figures" like King Hunxiu.

Those who can reach the second rank are naturally blessed with great fortune.

Whether this luck is sufficient remains to be seen.

After all, from what Chi Le said, Liang Jin felt that only someone like Liang Jin, who made rapid progress in cultivation at a young age and even gained great power, was more in line with the condition of "great fortune".

Thus, of the four conditions, only the "sacrifice" condition was not met, and the "great fortune" condition was only partially met.

The conditions were not fully met, so the divine tortoise was only "startled" by the energy of the battle and the aura of the fallen powerhouse. Like a sleeping person disturbed by noise outside the door, it turned over but did not truly wake up.

Of course, all of this is currently just Liang Jin's speculation.

The mystery of the divine turtle is unfathomable and requires a longer period of observation and research to determine.

Am I right?

Liang Jin suddenly spoke up and asked.

But his gaze wasn't directed at Mi Lanyue; instead, it passed over her and fell upon the shadows behind him.

Amidst the astonished and uncertain gazes of the crowd, a slender and graceful figure, yet appearing extremely disheveled, slowly emerged from the darkness behind Liang Jin.

She was covered in dust and dirt, her beautiful dress was tattered, and the black iron chain that pierced through her shoulder blade was still there.

But a glimmer of light had returned to those beautiful, previously bewildered eyes, though that light was filled with even deeper confusion.

It's just like flowers playing with shadows!
Liang Jin's last question was directed at her.

(End of this chapter)