Chapter 119: Invincible Shield and Golden Turtle Shedding Its Shell
The Golden Tortoise explained, "This is my natal shell, the Golden Tortoise Shell. I can only shed it once in my lifetime. It is one of the most precious things on my body."
Lin Qingmo crouched down and picked up the small golden shell. It was lighter than it looked, almost hollow.
The patterns on its surface were intricate and exquisite, like a naturally formed formation array.
"What does it do?" Lin Qingmo asked.
In the original story, the Golden Tortoise did not seem to mention possessing such a treasure.
The Golden Tortoise replied seriously, "It has two abilities."
"The first is the Invincible Shield. By injecting soul power into it, you can activate a powerful golden shield."
"As long as sufficient soul power is supplied, unless the opponent's strength exceeds yours by a major realm, it will be very difficult to break."
"In simple terms, it is a life-saving ability."
Lin Qingmo's eyes lit up. This ability was extremely practical.
At a critical moment, activating a shield to block a fatal strike could turn the tide.
"And the second ability?"
He pressed further.
"The second is the Golden Turtle Shedding Its Shell."
The Golden Tortoise continued, "After activation, this shell will remain in place and form a golden light barrier. Any target within the range of the light barrier can be instantly teleported to any location within one kilometer."
"You can designate the teleportation point at will, with an error margin of no more than ten meters."
"It can be used to escape or to launch a surprise attack, such as teleporting directly behind an enemy."
"However, this ability can only be used once per day. After teleportation, the shell will temporarily lose its function and require a full day to recharge."
The more Lin Qingmo listened, the brighter his eyes became.
"Damn!"
He could not help but blurt out.
This was practically a divine artifact.
A shield for survival, the Golden Turtle Shedding Its Shell for escape or ambush. Both abilities were maximized in practicality.
Especially the second one. Was this not an upgraded version of instant teleportation?
Even if it could only be used once per day, once was enough at a crucial moment. Moreover, it could bring multiple people at once.
"Thank you!"
Lin Qingmo accepted the Golden Tortoise Shell without hesitation.
He was already overjoyed inside.
First, the Life Gold, then a life-saving divine artifact, and earlier, the Eight Spider Lances. This trip to the Star Dou Forest had yielded absurdly abundant rewards.
This Golden Tortoise truly lived up to the title of auspicious beast. Encountering it was pure fortune.
The Golden Tortoise smiled honestly.
The expression looked somewhat comical on its tortoise face.
"I should be the one thanking you."
It said earnestly, "For three hundred years, I finally gained my freedom. This kindness cannot be repaid with just one treasure."
It looked deeply at Lin Qingmo once more.
"If we ever meet again, I will repay this favor."
After speaking, it did not linger. Turning around, it moved its four thick legs and quickly disappeared into the depths of the forest, vanishing behind dense trees.
As if afraid that if it ran too slowly, the murderous woman beside him would change her mind and kill it.
It was going to enjoy life.
Without the Life Gold draining it, its cultivation would gradually recover.
One hundred thousand years, perhaps even beyond. The Golden Tortoise was full of anticipation for the future.
Watching its retreating figure, Lin Qingmo could not help but smile.
"This Golden Tortoise is quite interesting."
The forest grew quiet.
After the Golden Tortoise vanished, only Lin Qingmo and Bibi Dong remained.
Lin Qingmo turned to look at the woman beside him.
His master stood there, long hair gently swaying in the wind. Beneath the mask, the outline of her profile appeared especially beautiful under the dappled light.
'The treasure is in my hands, but without Master here, that tortoise would have escaped long ago. It might have even turned around to hunt me instead.'
He knew his own limits.
A rank 45 Soul Ancestor could manage in the outer regions of the Star Dou Forest.
But facing a fifty-thousand-year soul beast head-on was still extremely difficult.
Forcing it to obediently hand over treasure was out of the question.
All of this was because his master was here.
Bibi Dong was like a max-level expert carrying a beginner through a dungeon.
She defeated the monster, yet the equipment all went to the beginner.
Lin Qingmo shook his head.
He stepped in front of Bibi Dong and solemnly handed over both the Life Gold and the Golden Tortoise Shell.
"Master, both of these items are extremely precious. They should be useful to you as well."
His tone was sincere.
Although he was indeed extremely tempted by both treasures, who would not be?
But his mind was clear.
Without his master, he would have obtained nothing.
Not to mention the Golden Tortoise; even the dangers within the depths of the Star Dou Forest alone would have been enough to overwhelm him.
Moreover, from awakening his martial soul until now, his cultivation path has been paved entirely by her.
Resources, guidance, and protection. Bibi Dong had given him far more than he had ever returned.
One must not forget one's roots.
Nor forget kindness.
This was not sentimentality. It was a principle.
Bibi Dong looked at the two treasures he offered and paused for a moment.
Then she smiled.
It was a gentle smile, like ice melting in spring.
There was an emotion flowing in her eyes that Lin Qingmo could not quite understand.
Perhaps gratification. Perhaps something else.
"I do not need them. Ah Qing, you keep them for yourself."
Bibi Dong gently shook her head, her voice soft.
She did not even reach out to take them.
"But…"
Lin Qingmo wanted to insist.
"Listen to me."
Bibi Dong interrupted him, her tone gentle yet unquestionable.
She raised her hand and lightly brushed her fingers through his hair, the gesture natural, as if she had done it countless times before.
"Only when your strength increases can you better protect yourself."
She looked into his eyes seriously.
"That way, your master can feel at ease."
After a brief pause, she added, "I am a Titled Douluo. These items will have a limited effect on me."
"But for you, it is different."
Her words made sense.
Lin Qingmo had to admit it.
The Life Gold was precious, but for a Rank 95 Super Douluo like his master, its effect might not be that significant.
As for the Golden Tortoise Shell's barrier, with Bibi Dong's strength, did she even need it?
On the contrary, any improvement for him was enormous.
That does seem to be the case.
He pondered internally, yet still felt a bit uneasy.
"Master, at least accept the Golden Tortoise Shell. Even as a keepsake…"
"Ah Qing."
Bibi Dong called his name again.
This time, there was a trace of helplessness in her voice, along with unmistakable indulgence.
"You are my disciple. If I give you something, accept it peacefully. If you keep refusing, your master will be angry."
She said "angry," but there was no anger in her eyes. Instead, the smile in them deepened.
Lin Qingmo felt slightly embarrassed under that gaze.
The master is being far too gentle today. So gentle that he almost could not handle it.
He scratched his head and finally stopped insisting.
"Then… thank you, Master."
He stored the Golden Tortoise Shell in his storage soul tool. From now on, it would be his ultimate life-saving trump card.
Seeing him accept it, Bibi Dong nodded in satisfaction.
Then her gaze shifted to the other item in Lin Qingmo's hand, the blue-silver Life Gold.
"The Golden Tortoise Shell can serve as a life-saving soul tool. But what about this? What exactly is it, and how do you plan to use it?"
She asked.
All she could sense was the powerful life energy fluctuation within it, pure and vast.
As for what it truly was or its specific uses, she had no knowledge.
After all, a heavenly treasure like Life Gold was far too rare, so rare that even the records of Spirit Hall contained no mention of it.
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End of Chapter