Chapter 672

Chapter 672: Highest Alert

"Heavenly Dao Turtle?" Abbot Mountain Man froze momentarily before his expression twisted violently. He halted mid-air and growled, "You mean the sole Heavenly Dao White Jade Turtle in existence? That supreme treasure capable of freely detecting valuables?"

"Correct!" Li Fanghe admitted. "All my thefts were possible because of it!"

"You imbecile!" Abbot Mountain Man bellowed, striking Li Fanghe’s face with a thunderous slap.

The resounding crack echoed as Li Fanghe hurtled backward like a comet, his Thunder Tribulation Immortal cultivation powerless to stabilize him. He crashed into the ocean with undignified splendor.

Regaining consciousness, Li Fanghe emerged from the sea and returned to Abbot Mountain Man’s side, his face grotesquely swollen and half his teeth shattered. Though his robust physique sustained only superficial damage, the humiliation cut deeper than any blade. At his level, a slap stung far worse than a wound.

Normally, Abbot Mountain Man treated Li Fanghe with deference, rarely reprimanding even his errors, honoring him as the sect’s sole grandmaster of refining techniques. But this transgression ignited unparalleled fury—the Heavenly Dao Turtle was unique, a treasure-forging marvel that pinpointed any desired artifact!

Merely inputting a target, it unfailingly located riches. This made it akin to a golden-egg-laying hen! While less practical for individuals needing cultivation time, for sects with legions of Thunder Tribulation Immortals cycling its use daily, its worth eclipsed even a Ten-Thousand-Year Field!

A Ten-Thousand-Year Field yielded merely one mu of ten-thousand-year spirit herbs annually, constrained by sparse planting density. Yet the turtle could uncover entire mineral veins from a single deposit or swathes of herbs from one specimen. Annual yields from such finds dwarfed the field’s output.

That Li Fanghe hoarded this treasure instead of surrendering it to the sect reeked of greed. Worse, he’d lost it to Mo Sect, squandering a golden opportunity for sect supremacy—endorsed by Semi-Immortal Ancestors themselves! Had Abbot Mountain Man known earlier, he’d have sacrificed Li Fanghe to reclaim it.

Cowed, Li Fanghe muttered, "Founder, surely we can’t let Fang Lie keep it?"

"You—you utter fool!" Abbot Mountain Man trembled with rage. "I personally ratified his terms! We just departed, and you expect me to slink back and renege? What remains of my dignity?"

His roar churned the surrounding seas, Semi-Immortal aura radiating terrifying pressure. Cultivators and demon beasts alike fled in panic, inwardly cursing the unhinged Semi-Immortal.

Realizing his identity-revealing blunder, Abbot Mountain Man hastily retracted his aura. "That sly Fang Lie! I wondered why he showed mercy—killing you over this theft would’ve been justified. Yet he merely confiscated the treasure, anticipating my humiliation all along!"

"The new generation drowns the old!" he lamented bitterly. "My overconfidence blinded me to a junior’s schemes."

"Fang Lie deserves retribution!" Li Fanghe seethed.

"Think!" Abbot Mountain Man snapped. "Fang Lei answers to no one now—he’s his own fortress. Provoke him, and Abbot Mountain becomes the next Ximen family clan!"

Li Fanghe paled. The Ximen clan’s downfall—where three Semi-Immortals, including East Kunlun’s Sword God, failed to stop Fang Lie’s rampage—served as grim warning.

Resigned, Abbot Mountain Man sighed. "Enough. The Heavenly Dao Turtle was never ours to claim."

After finishing, he glared fiercely at Li Fanghe, wishing he could devour the man alive. Had this scoundrel surrendered it earlier, even if it fell into Fang Lie’s hands, he could’ve reclaimed it under the sect’s inheritance pretense. Now he could only watch helplessly as the Heavenly Dao Turtle passed to Fang Lie, lacking any pretext for retrieval.

Li Fanghe hung his head in shame. "I… I acted rashly for Qingshi’s injury!"

"Qingshi’s injury?" Abbot Mountain Man paused briefly before waving dismissively. "Enough. Though we suffered losses, Fang Lie knows he secured an Enormous Bargain. We’ll relinquish the Heavenly Dao Turtle, but demand compensation – request a Ten-thousand-year Phoenix Blood Lingzhi from him!"

With that, Abbot Mountain Man dispatched a Flying Sword message.

Li Fanghe’s eyes brightened eagerly. "Will he comply?"

"First, he owes us. Second, my reputation still holds weight. Unless he wishes to oppose Abbot Mountain, he’ll agree."

"But if he refuses?" Li Fanghe pressed.

"Then Fang Lie’s greed proves him unfit for leadership. Even cooperating now, I’ll rectify him given future opportunity!" Abbot Mountain Man sneered.

Before their conversation concluded, a Sword Ray bearing a leaf arrived.

Abbot Mountain Man caught it, finding a substantial Ten-thousand-year Phoenix Blood Lingzhi leaf – enough for three ninth-rank spirit pills. "It seems Fang Lie understands priorities. Since he’s offered reconciliation, we’ll let this rest." He departed with Li Fanghe.

Meanwhile, in Qingyu Island’s tranquil quarters, Fang Lie sipped tea with Mo Lanyun and Mao Mao.

Mo Lanyun sighed over her cup. "Why surrender such precious Lingzhi? This large piece needs centuries to regain its Nascent Soul energy!"

"Didn’t you sense that aura? The stubborn old men discovered the Heavenly Dao Turtle." Fang Lie chuckled. "Fortunately, face-saving prevents outright reneging. A Lingzhi fragment placates an angry Semi-Immortal – trivial compared to our gain!"

"Does it truly match the Legend’s power?" Mo Lanyun inquired skeptically.

"Undoubtedly." Fang Lie tapped the turtle shell. "This potent Law of Cause and Effect energy marks superior karmic treasures. I suspect improper refinement stifled its true power – a perfected version would surpass mere treasure-hunting."

"Accurate!" Old Bird materialized on Fang Lie’s shoulder. "Finest karmic material I’ve witnessed! Some fool barely activated 1% of its power. My refinement could rival a live Heavenly Dao Turtle!"

"Can you modify it now?" Fang Lie pressed.

"Requires time and rare materials. Mo Sect only possesses 2-3 suitable eighth/ninth-rank spiritual items. You’ll need contribution points for the rest."

"Secure whatever’s needed before Dragon Palace!" Fang Lie urged.

"I’ll try." Old Bird vanished.

Fang Lie grinned excitedly. "Can’t wait to witness this treasure’s true might!"

"Me too!" Mo Lanyun agreed.

As Mao Mao opened his mouth, a crimson Sword Ray streaked in – urgent military alert!

Fang Lie caught it, inhaling sharply. "Sea demon army advances! Forward positions engage. Human Tribe cultivators flee en masse. We’ve three months before battle reaches us!"