The turtle was shocked, but Lin Hao was sighing.

’Even using an imperial art to draw the world’s vital energy into my body can’t nourish my Divine Soul. The appetite of this True Self Divine Soul is far bigger than I ever imagined.’

"So what if it is? At this rate, I can forget about advancing for the next year or so," Lin Hao admitted, showing no joy on his face.

If other Martial Artists heard Lin Hao say this, they would probably cough up blood.

To advance from the Soul Gathering Realm First Layer to the Second Layer in a year or so was a speed most people couldn’t even dream of. But from Lin Hao’s tone, it was as if this timeframe was some kind of disgrace.

Fortunately, the turtle had been with Lin Hao for some time now, and with its own extraordinary origins, it didn’t find his attitude strange at all.

"After a Martial Artist enters the Soul Gathering Realm, the most crucial thing is to nourish the soul. If your Divine Soul were ordinary, your Blood Coagulation Realm Cultivation Technique would be sufficient. But having a True Self Divine Soul is indeed a troublesome matter. Your most urgent task is to find Emperor Hongtian’s Cultivation Technique."

For the first time in a long while, the turtle became serious, strategizing for Lin Hao.

"Of course, I know that. That’s why we’ll wait a bit, then head to the capital of the Mo Yun Kingdom. After we pick up Master Duan, we’ll return immediately." Lin Hao nodded in agreement with the turtle.

Just as he finished speaking, an idea flashed in Lin Hao’s mind. He then asked the turtle, "You’ve met Emperor Hongtian. Tell me, what’s so special about his Soul Gathering Realm Cultivation Technique?"

Martial Artists rely on the vital energy of heaven and earth to cultivate. In the Blood Coagulation Realm, the Godslaying Celestial Slash Skill used the sun and moon for Body Refinement. Lin Hao truly couldn’t imagine what else could be used to nourish a soul.

The turtle stood up like a person, pointed at the sky, and said, "Emperor Hongtian’s Soul Gathering Realm Cultivation Technique borrows the power of the stars for his own use. He nourished his soul with the stars."

"Ah!" Hearing the turtle’s words, Lin Hao shot to his feet, his eyes widening abruptly.

The vast, boundless sky, the innumerable stars... that Emperor Hongtian’s Soul Gathering Realm Cultivation Technique could actually use the stars to nourish the soul left Lin Hao utterly stunned.

But he quickly returned to normal.

’If a Profound Emperor could use the sun and moon for Body Refinement, then it’s only natural that Emperor Hongtian could use the stars to nourish his soul.’

’The power of a Great Emperor is truly unfathomable.’

"I must obtain this Cultivation Technique!" Lin Hao clenched his fists, his eyes shining with brilliant light.

"Let’s go! We leave for the capital of the Mo Yun Kingdom at once!" Snapping back to his senses, Lin Hao called out to the turtle.

After learning about Emperor Hongtian’s Cultivation Technique, Lin Hao didn’t want to stay in the Mo Yun Kingdom for another moment.

"In my opinion, we should head back now. Let’s find Emperor Hongtian’s Cultivation Technique first," the turtle disagreed.

Lin Hao hesitated.

"You know full well what you relied on to reign supreme in Flame Heaven City. Once you leave the city, you’ll face many more powerful enemies. With your current cultivation, you’re definitely no match for them. Besides, Duan Mushuang is a princess of Cangnan, and you’ve now captured Moyun’s Crown Prince and princess. She’s perfectly safe."

Lin Hao pondered for a moment, then nodded.

To be honest, one of the reasons Lin Hao had entered the Mo Yun Kingdom so early was for the Ten Thousand Years Ice Essence in the Earth Core beneath the Celestial Monarch’s Mansion. Now that he had it, the trip to the capital of the Mo Yun Kingdom was indeed not urgent.

Besides, facing countless Soul Gathering Realm Martial Artists from the Mo Yun Kingdom below the Fifth Layer, Lin Hao knew what the consequences would be, no matter how confident he was.

A few hours later, a turtle shot out of the Celestial Monarch’s Mansion. Its speed was astonishing, and in an instant, it was outside the city.

"City Lord Mo, the Crown Prince and princess are coming with me to Cangnan as guests. Please inform your Sovereign not to worry about them." Lin Hao’s voice suddenly boomed, echoing throughout Flame Heaven City.

Not long after Lin Hao’s voice faded, several pavilions in the Flame Heaven City Lord’s Mansion exploded into pieces.

Mo Yantian had just ensured the news wouldn’t leak, but with that one shout from Lin Hao, hours of his effort went down the drain!

"Lin Hao, do you think there’s no one in my Mo Yun Kingdom to stand up to you?!" Before long, another voice rang out from the Flame Heaven City Lord’s Mansion, also spreading across the entire city.

Then, the city’s commoners saw City Lord Mo Yantian, brimming with murderous intent, chasing out of the city.

From that day on, they never saw Mo Yantian again.

Meanwhile, the turtle flew at lightning speed, pushing itself to its absolute limit. Mountains and rivers flowed backward, and the stars themselves seemed to shift...

「Three days later.」

Jumo Ridge was already in sight.

Cangnan soldiers were now stationed on the side of the Cangyun Battlefield bordering the Mo Yun Kingdom.

"Who goes there?!" Someone barked before the turtle even got close.

In an instant, the atmosphere on the Cangyun Battlefield grew tense. The Cangnan soldiers looked as if they were facing a great enemy.

The turtle was simply too fast. The words had barely been spoken, and it was already less than a hundred meters from the Cangyun Battlefield.

"Shenshan, it’s me." From the turtle’s back, Lin Hao, with his astounding vision, recognized the person who had just spoken at a single glance.

"Brother Lin!" Shenshan was stunned.

The other soldiers let out a long sigh of relief and immediately relaxed.

But in the next moment, they gripped their weapons again. The turtle had appeared on the Cangyun Battlefield, and on its back, besides Lin Hao, were two other people. One was the Crown Prince of the Mo Yun Kingdom, Marquis Mo, and the other was a peerless beauty. With her exotic features, she was clearly not one of the Cangnan People.

’Could it be that Young Master Lin Hao has been taken hostage by people from the Mo Yun Kingdom?’

This was what all the soldiers guessed.

But they soon discovered they were wrong.

Lin Hao hopped down from the turtle’s back, not looking at all like a hostage. In contrast, Marquis Mo and the peerless beauty were completely still, expressions of distress on their faces.

"Brother Lin, did you capture the Crown Prince of the Mo Yun Kingdom?" Shenshan took off his helmet, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Before Lin Hao could answer, the turtle spoke up, "And Princess Moyun. PHEW, this divine turtle is exhausted."

"P-Princess? Is that Princess Yunxi, the one known as the number one beauty of Moyun?!" Shenshan stammered, staring at Yunxi.

"She was, but not anymore. She’s Lin Hao’s handmaiden now. Oh, and he’s not the Crown Prince of Moyun anymore, either. He’s this divine turtle’s servant," the turtle corrected.

"Lin Hao, you’ve gone too far! I swear I will repay this humiliation a hundred times over!" Marquis Mo’s body was immobilized, but his eyes were bulging with fury.

"Are you stupid? Do you really think you have any chance of turning the tables now that you’re in our hands? Learn from this girl and be quiet, or this divine turtle won’t mind finding a new servant." With a shake of its body, the turtle tossed Marquis Mo off its back.

Marquis Mo had just rolled on the ground a couple of times before one of the turtle’s claws pinned him down.

"As a servant, you actually sat on my back, and now you’re running your mouth. It seems I really should consider finding a replacement."

A CRACKING sound came from Marquis Mo’s body. The turtle was serious.

Shenshan and the soldiers behind him watched, utterly dumbfounded.

Lin Hao had ventured into the Mo Yun Kingdom alone with a turtle, not only returning completely unscathed but also capturing their Crown Prince and princess. And now, the once high and mighty royals had become a servant and a handmaiden.

It was simply unimaginable.