Chapter 117: The Treasure Swallowed into the Belly, Life Gold!
"Then what happened?"
Lin Qingmo had already guessed the outcome, but he still wanted to hear it said personally.
"What happened? That treasure simply couldn't be digested!"
The Golden Tortoise looked utterly miserable; the grievance in its voice was practically overflowing.
"Not only could I not digest it, but I couldn't expel it either. It's stuck in my stomach like it's grown roots!"
"And that's not even the worst part…"
It paused, its tone turning even more aggrieved.
"That thing is absorbing my life force inside my belly, like some parasite. No, worse than a parasite!"
"I originally had one hundred thousand years of cultivation. It drained me all the way down to fifty thousand years!"
"And it's still continuing to drop!"
By the end, the Golden Tortoise was truly crying.
Large tears rolled out of its amber eyes.
"Every day I can feel my life force draining away, my cultivation regressing. If this continues, sooner or later I'll weaken to the point my soul scatters!"
"Do you know what that feels like? It's like watching your own lifespan being sliced away piece by piece, yet being completely powerless."
Lin Qingmo suddenly understood.
He could not help but laugh inwardly.
So it really is that thing.
This Golden Tortoise was the unlucky soul beast from the original Unrivaled Tang Sect (Douluo Dalu II) that swallowed the Life Gold, only to have its cultivation and life force drained in return.
He did not expect it to still have fifty thousand years of cultivation left.
That was twenty thousand years more than in the original storyline, where it had fallen to thirty thousand years.
I've struck treasure…
Lin Qingmo's mind worked rapidly.
No matter what, this was a heaven-sent opportunity.
"Life Gold!"
He stared at the Golden Tortoise's abdomen, his eyes shining like a hungry wolf spotting prey.
He did not bother to hide his desire.
He knew exactly how valuable this treasure was.
Life Gold contained the purest life energy, a heavenly treasure whose value might rival a hundred-thousand-year soul bone.
In some respects, it was even rarer and more practical than a hundred-thousand-year soul bone.
In the original story, even an existence like the Silver Dragon King could rely on it to recover from injuries.
This was practically a cheat-level treasure.
Its three most fundamental effects were:
First, it provided vast life energy, equivalent to carrying around an infinite "life power bank."
Second, it possessed purification properties, capable of removing all negative states. Detoxification, healing injuries, cleansing curses—none of these were a problem.
Third, it greatly enhanced spiritual power and nourished the soul. For spiritual-type soul masters, it was priceless.
Every single effect struck precisely at Lin Qingmo's current needs.
An increase in spiritual power. What soul master would ever complain about having too much spiritual power?
This was no ordinary treasure.
It was essentially a walking "life power bank plus purification artifact plus spiritual power amplifier"—a deluxe three-in-one package.
Sensing the blazing heat in Lin Qingmo's gaze, Bibi Dong did not hesitate. The pressure of a Titled Douluo instantly locked onto the Golden Tortoise.
The oppressive force felt almost tangible, pressing down until all four of its legs trembled.
"Since the treasure is inside your belly…"
Bibi Dong's voice was as cold as winter frost.
"Then you are no longer of any use. We'll simply cut you open and take it out."
As she spoke, she prepared to strike.
Purple soul power condensed in her palm into a sharp spear, aimed directly at the Golden Tortoise's vital point.
Kill it, then dissect it and retrieve the treasure. Simple and direct.
"Don't kill me! Please don't kill me!"
The Golden Tortoise was terrified out of its wits.
Its massive body shrank into itself, the golden shell trembling violently.
"That treasure has tormented me for so long. I've wanted to remove it for ages!"
"As long as you don't kill me, I'm willing to cooperate and help you retrieve it. You can have the treasure. I don't want any of it!"
It spoke at lightning speed, afraid that any delay would result in being pierced through.
"Master, wait!"
Lin Qingmo hurriedly stopped Bibi Dong.
"Don't kill it. I have a way to extract the Life Gold."
He looked at the Golden Tortoise with a serious expression. "Listen carefully. If you try anything funny, my master will slaughter you."
"I wouldn't dare! Absolutely wouldn't!"
The Golden Tortoise nodded frantically.
Its turtle head bobbed so quickly one might worry it would snap its own neck.
"As long as you can take that tormenting treasure out, I'll do anything!"
It had endured enough.
Three hundred years of torture.
Watching its cultivation drop from one hundred thousand years to fifty thousand years.
That kind of despair was impossible to understand without experiencing it personally.
Now that it finally saw hope for freedom, how could it possibly dare to scheme?
Bibi Dong withdrew the soul power spear but remained vigilant.
She stepped back to Lin Qingmo's side, her gaze sharp as blades, fixed firmly on the Golden Tortoise.
"Ah Qing, I'll watch it. You act. The moment anything unusual happens, I will kill it immediately."
Her tone was calm, but the content made the Golden Tortoise shiver.
"Alright."
Lin Qingmo nodded.
He flew before the Golden Tortoise, hovering in front of its enormous head.
"Open your mouth. Do not resist."
The Golden Tortoise obediently opened its massive jaws.
Inside was a rough oral cavity and a thick tongue.
A scent mixed with grass and metal rushed out.
Lin Qingmo frowned but did not retreat.
He took a deep breath and began circulating his soul power.
The Blue Silver Grass martial soul was quietly released.
Dozens of crystalline Blue Silver Grass vines surged from his palm like agile serpents, drilling into the Golden Tortoise's mouth.
The process was somewhat disgusting.
But Lin Qingmo endured it.
The Blue Silver Grass slid down the esophagus, extending along the intestinal tract toward the stomach.
The life aura attached to the Blue Silver Grass made the Golden Tortoise narrow its eyes in comfort.
For the first time in three hundred years, its body felt such pure life energy, rather than being constantly drained by that damned metal.
Through its innate sensitivity to life energy, the Blue Silver Grass quickly came into contact with a warm mass radiating immense vitality.
The Life Gold.
"Found it!"
Joy flashed through Lin Qingmo's heart.
The Golden Tortoise's cooperation made the search remarkably smooth.
The Blue Silver Grass immediately wrapped toward the Life Gold, attempting to envelop it.
The Golden Tortoise instantly felt the "source of torment" inside its belly being touched.
A flicker of excitement flashed through its eyes.
Three hundred years. Finally, someone could touch that thing.
Just as it was about to move slightly in excitement, Lin Qingmo shouted sharply.
"Don't move!"
"Do you want the Life Gold to stay rooted in your stomach forever, impossible to remove?"
The Golden Tortoise froze instantly.
Not moving.
Not moving at all.
It forcibly suppressed the urge to shift, even lightening its breathing.
Through the Blue Silver Grass, Lin Qingmo carefully examined the condition of the Life Gold.
The situation was more complicated than he expected.
The Life Gold had already embedded deeply into the stomach wall. Dense flesh and blood tissue had even grown around it, firmly anchoring it in place.
It was like an unnatural metal tumor growing inside the body.
"Life Gold has grown into your flesh."
Lin Qingmo said solemnly, "If we want to extract it completely, we'll likely have to tear away a large portion of flesh along with it."
He met the Golden Tortoise's eyes.
"This will be painful. Extremely painful. You must endure it and not move, or you could injure me."
The Golden Tortoise nodded without hesitation, its gaze frighteningly resolute.
As long as it can be removed, it will endure no matter how painful it is.
After three hundred years of torture, it had long reached its limit.
Temporary agony in exchange for eternal relief. It was more than worth it.
—
End of Chapter