Chapter 170: A Stormy Day

Chapter 170: A Stormy Day

On a dreary evening a few days later, winds raged across the sea and dark clouds filled the horizon like a prelude to an incipient storm.

The waves grew larger and larger, until the ships sailing at sea began to rock perceptibly. On deck, Nalan Feng looked toward the Isle of Xiao in the distance, his face dark.

His scheme against Xiao Nanfeng had failed to hurt his target; rather, his own reputation had completely tanked.

"Your Highness, if Xiao Nanfeng's poised to strike at you, aren't you in dire straits? Should we inform the second prince about what's going on?" one of Nalan Feng's subordinates asked.

"There's no need to inform my second brother. I'm certain that Xiao Nanfeng's going to attack me, but I'm not so weak as to be incapable of handling him," Nalan Feng replied disdainfully.

Just then, a wave swelled by their side. A frightening aura revealed itself from the sea.

"There's something down there!" one subordinate cried.

With a huge crash, a massive object smashed into the ship. It splintered and cracked.

The cultivators aboard cried out in shock. Many of the weakest fell into the sea. Nalan Feng and his subordinates hurriedly drew their swords, manifested their own sword techniques, and shot them toward the massive object.

The cultivators were all sent flying.

"A Spiritsong-realm sea turtle?!" they cried out.

Nalan Feng narrowed his eyes. This was the ancient sea turtle that had been suppressed within the Isle of Nalan! Xiao Nanfeng had rescued it. Was it seeking revenge now?

"Xiao Nanfeng had you come, didn't he? He's planning to use you to kill me!" Nalan Feng cried out in rage.

The sea turtle didn't respond. It only roared as it shot toward Nalan Feng.

"Protect His Highness!" Nalan Feng's subordinates cried out.

However, they were no match for the ancient turtle. It slapped its flippers against the surface of the sea, spawning a few water dragons that sent them flying away. The turtle widened its maw, as though about to swallow Nalan Feng whole.

"Save me!" Nalan Feng cried out.

In the water, his strength was considerably reduced, and his sword technique seemed to do no damage against the turtle. It looked as though he were about to perish.

Just then, a huge blade of qi shot down from the heavens, accompanied by an enraged roar. "Die, foul beast!" The initial instance of this chapter being available happened at N0v3l.Bin.

The blade struck the turtle's shell in a flurry of sparks. The ancient turtle raised its head to see three figures in the air, all Taiqing elders.

The other two elders each shot their own blades of qi at the ancient turtle, badly wounding it. It fled deep into the sea.

"Get back here, you foul beast!" the two elders shouted, diving into the sea and chasing after it.

Above the surface, huge waves continued to form.

One elder protected Nalan Feng as he gathered all the shipwrecked cultivators, saving them all. The two other elders who had gone off chasing the ancient turtle quickly returned, both incensed.

The turtle stared at Xiao Nanfeng for some time, but it had no rebuttal.

"Elder, the storm is approaching. Once the waves reach toward the sky and the air is filled with mist, the Isle of Nalan will be out of sight to one and all. Even if there's a disturbance, it'll be drowned out by the sound and sight of the storm. The heavens themselves are helping us. We'll be heading off immediately," Xiao Nanfeng continued.

"Just you and the two toad spirits?"

"They can protect me from any danger. It's best not to make too many people aware of this. I've already packed up the Immortal's Destruction. Please instruct me on how to make use of the Immortal's Destruction to extract draconic veins, elder."

Feeling as though Xiao Nanfeng had been trustworthy and reliable in his dealings with it to date, the turtle relaxed and nodded.

Suddenly, something came to mind. "Isn't it a bit early to be heading out, though? The storm hasn't even started."

"It'll be arriving soon. The earlier we head out, the sooner we can get the lay of the land, and the sooner we can resolve any unexpected emergencies," Xiao Nanfeng advised.

The ancient turtle was silent for a long moment before it finally agreed. "Follow me."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

He clambered onto Croak's back, and the two toad spirits then followed the ancient turtle toward the Isle of Nalan.

Two hours later, as dark clouds took over the sky and all sight was restricted, with a resounding boom of thunder, the storm began to fall in earnest. Huge waves struck the islands in the vicinity.

Taiqing Island, however, was full of hubbub. The news of Nalan Feng's return after an assassination attempt by an ancient turtle spirit quickly spread throughout the island, and the Taiqing disciples were all discussing the news.

"It had to be Xiao Nanfeng's doing!"

"Do you have any proof? How dare you besmirch Senior Brother Xiao's name! What if Nalan Feng did it himself to garner sympathy?"

"Then how do you prove that Nalan Feng was responsible for spreading word of Xiao Nanfeng's identity? You have no evidence, either."

Nalan Feng had found a few trustworthy disciples to help defend his name at this critical moment and turn the tide of public opinion in his favor. His gambit paid off. Many fell deep in thought, and agreed that Xiao Nanfeng might indeed be responsible for the assassination attempt. Despite the storm, the island was abuzz with activity.

By that time, Xiao Nanfeng had arrived on the Isle of Nalan.

"Let's kill everyone here," the ancient turtle hissed.

"Elder, why don't we let Croak strike? Its sound waves are a debilitating wide-range attack, and it won't take Croak long," Xiao Nanfeng suggested instead.

The turtle was silent for some time before finally nodding. "Do it quickly, then."

"Croak?" Xiao Nanfeng turned toward Croak.

Croak quickly shrouded itself in fog and leapt into the air, summoning wave after wave of sonic energy that struck directly at the souls of the cultivators on the Isle of Nalan.

"The spiritbeast from before! It's back!"

"My head hurts!"

"A distress signal, quickly!"

Nalan Feng's subordinates clutched their heads in pain as they fell unconscious. Some gritted their teeth and attempted to send a signal flare into the air, but Croak batted it down whenever they attempted to do so. Furthermore, given the raging storm, no one on Taiqing Island would notice the signal flare regardless.

Croak's spiritual attacks were extremely effective, and the pained cries on the island quickly stopped.