Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 660 Turtle's Fear

"Last year during the great flood, I dragged a scholar into the river outside Yueyang City. The taste was amazing, so crunchy!"

Upon hearing this, General Benbo gave a cold laugh: "Very good, this general appreciates 'talent' like you."

Suddenly, a sharp shout rang out: "Guards! Lock it up!"

Before the catfish demon could react, four black iron chains had already wrapped around its body. It struggled in terror, crying, "My lord! Why? Everything I've said is true!"

You're telling the truth; it has nothing to do with me wanting to kill you.

Moreover, those of you who have eaten human flesh are the basis for my promotion.

In the darkest depths of the Zijiang Water Palace, thousands of vines intertwine to form a writhing, living palace.

The Blood Vine Demon King's true form was coiled within it, each vine gleaming with a sickly dark red hue, its barbs adorned with the undigested remains of demon corpses, and its viscous sap dripping continuously onto the bluish-black reef, emitting a hissing, corrosive sound.

"Great General~" The Demon King's voice was like shards of broken porcelain scraping against glass, creating a teeth-grinding echo in the sealed water palace, "Where are today's tributes?"

Turtle bowed respectfully and deftly pushed the catfish and carp spirits, who were bound like rice dumplings, forward: "Your Majesty, these two little demons are ignorant of fate and are rightfully yours to enjoy."

“Guchu——”

Dozens of vines shot out instantly, wrapping the two demons into an airtight cocoon.

Just as he was digesting the information, the Bloodvine Demon King suddenly stopped and asked, "This time it's not one of the other demon kings' forces, is it?"

"No."

"That's good. It's not that I'm afraid of them, it's just that facing three demon kings at once will be a bit difficult for me."

The fact that even a madman like the Bloodvine Demon King could become so cautious shows just how crazy Turtle had been recently.

They practically attacked everyone with a name, constantly saying things like, "So what if my king eats your subordinate? It's his honor, and it's your honor too."

The tone and content were really off-putting; anyone who didn't know better would think that Dongting Lake had a new ruler.

Bloodvine managed to control his appetite for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and only began to feast after seeing that no monsters had come looking for him.

A chilling chewing sound emanated from within the cocoon, interspersed with the crisp cracking of bones. Dark red sap flowed slowly along the veins of the vines, illuminating the entire nest as if it were a pool of blood from hell.

The giant tortoise watched the gluttonous feast without changing its expression, and immediately began its daily routine with practiced ease: "Your Majesty's complexion is even better than before!" It waved its front paws exaggeratedly, "Look at the color of this vine, as vibrant as the morning glow. I'm afraid even the cinnabar in Xiangjun's box cannot compare to its brilliance!"

The vines stretched out joyfully, and the distorted human face on the main vine revealed a satisfied expression.

The newly acquired Xuan Turtle was indeed considerate; not only was the monster meat it offered as tribute tender, but this flattery made it feel completely comfortable.

"You certainly know how to talk." The main vine gently patted the tortoise shell, producing a crisp sound like metal striking stone. "Once I've collected all seven boxes, I might as well give you one to play with."

Gui Dalian said he dared not, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.

Everyone knows that the Blood Vine Demon King's true form is incapable of transforming into a dragon and has absolutely no interest in the Dongting Dragon Palace.

This act is nothing more than imitating the other demon kings.

After lavishing flattery with eighty-one sycophants, Turtle was finally allowed to take his leave. Back in his Xuanjing Mansion, he immediately activated the soundproofing array and lay on the jade steps, retching uncontrollably. Those nauseatingly obsequious words were more repulsive than the stench of a rotting corpse.

"Master Xu detests such flattering words the most." He rinsed his mouth with the spiritual spring and recalled his days at Baoan Hall. "Although Master Qing loves to hear praise, he still has to maintain his airs." But this demon king is utterly shameless. Those ridiculous and absurd words, such as "You are the leader of the eight great demon kings and are invincible in Dongting Lake," actually made the vines flush with excitement.

However—Kame suddenly smiled sinisterly.

That's fine too. If this madman didn't love flattery, he wouldn't be the busy General he is today. He'll use sweet words to weave a deadly net for him.

Let's rewind to six months ago.

That day, as soon as Gui Dagang dived into the Zijiang River, he was tightly entangled by dozens of thorny vines.

The Bloodvine Demon King's main vine pressed against the cracks in its tortoise shell, its sharp barbs only half an inch from its heart, and the oozing venom corroded the shell with a sizzling sound.

"Where did this wild turtle come from?" The human face that emerged from the vines grinned maliciously. "Perfect for me to have a feast!" At this critical moment, the Great Turtle suddenly had a flash of inspiration and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Your Majesty, wait! This humble demon has long heard of Lord Blood Vine's might that shakes the eight hundred miles of Dongting Lake. Today, I finally see your true form, and your aura is comparable to that of a dragon!"

The strangling vines actually loosened by a third, and the auspicious outcome was indeed—good fortune.

Gui Da spoke more and more fluently, using all the words he had learned from listening to storytelling in the teahouse back in the day.

In the following three months, he rose rapidly through the ranks under Bloodvine, thanks to his skill in flattery and sycophancy.

Today he offers advice to sow discord, tomorrow he offers strategies to eliminate dissidents, and in a short period of time he has become the "General of Busyness," and even the little demons of the Zijiang Water Palace have to respectfully call him "Prime Minister Turtle."

Using the infamous reputation of the Blood Vine, a series of bloody storms were unleashed in Dongting Lake:
The Xiangjiang alligator dragon and the Yuanshui ghost shark fought over the sunken silver beach, and were secretly instigated by it to fight to the death. The alligator dragon still drags half of its tail, and the ghost shark's venom sac has been punctured in three places.

The Snake King of Yuanling fared even worse. He was deceived by a forged secret letter from Gui Da, believing that the Fox Elder of Zengbi Mountain was colluding with human cultivators. As a result, he led his confidants to attack the mountain, only to be trapped in the Fox Elder's "Thousand Illusions Bewitching Array" for three days and three nights. When he emerged, even his forked tongue had split.
As for the Blood Vine Demon King, Turtle Big smiled sinisterly as he looked towards the southwest waters. Seven demon tribes originally inhabited that area, but Turtle Big had led the Blood Vine to slaughter them all, leaving the lake water a dark red hue.

"Let it be chaotic, the more chaotic the better."

During this time, he also released those boxes step by step according to the command's plan.

I don't know if it was really the right time or what, but even though I only brought four boxes, the remaining boxes appeared.

Legend has it that there are seven secret boxes in the Dragon Palace of Dongting Lake. Only by collecting all seven boxes can the deepest restriction in the Dragon Palace be broken.

Now, the five treasures of the Xiang River, Dongting Lake, Cangwu, Baling, and Lishui River—the Horn, the Neck, the Root, the Room, and the Heart—are all in the hands of several demon kings.

This timing is unbelievably perfect.

When the fifth box appeared, Turtle immediately reported it, suggesting that someone else might have been involved.

Because its shell was frighteningly hot, it instantly heightened my sense of crisis.

Xu Xuan also saw the letter in his hand on Nanshan Mountain, and his first instinct was that Yun Zhongjun had made a move.

The boss who had been lurking for three years was always very high-class, with claims such as having been entrenched in the clouds and mist of Junshan for hundreds of years, having swallowed thousands of demons in one go, and having killed the snake king and hung it on a building.

This includes the Taihu Lake Water God Seal that was casually tossed out, and the Dongting Lake clouds and mist brought by the Great Compassionate Dharma King.

The two sides have essentially clashed twice, albeit indirectly.

These are the extra boxes.
Various military strategies were colliding in my mind, but I couldn't find any motive.

I always felt that this Lord of the Clouds was very abnormal.

"It doesn't matter. If all else fails, I will personally go to Dongting Lake."

So he replied to Turtle, expressing his concern for his comrades who had gone deep behind enemy lines, making empty promises, and insincerely promising not to send him on such missions again.

Finally: "The remaining two boxes should appear soon, please be careful."

According to Master Xu's prediction, the time has come, the Dragon Palace will open, and calamities will follow closely behind.

Gui Da was a little flustered. If it were someone else analyzing the situation, such as the old man Zhuge Yu, they would have three points of truth, while the villain Yu Bai would only have one point of truth.

What the hall master said is absolutely true.

If the box doesn't come out in the end, then it's Dongting's problem. That's how firm Turtle's resolve is.

The reason it panicked was that the letter said the entire front line was working on a meat grinder plan centered around the birth of the Dragon Palace, intending to severely weaken the enemy's forces.

When the seventh box appears, the sect leader may personally descend.

"Why should I do this?"

What Kame-sama is really afraid of is someone's presence.

　I plan to start the story about burning in the next volume; this volume is just a setup for the southern setting. Anyway, I'm planning to speed things up and try to finish it around 300 million words. It can't exceed 400 million words at most. I can't handle writing anything too long.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)