The Wusu clan of the Black Catfish are indigenous locals living near the Cold Dragon Cave. Compared to the incoming Pig-Boars, they are the quintessential local tyrants.
The Boar clan is a prominent family of the Seven Stars Lake, boasting an extremely vast population. Based on the purity of their bloodline, they are further divided into three major groups: the Pig-Boars of medium bloodline, the Niu Tun of high bloodline, and the Rhinoceros Horn Clan of top-tier bloodline.
The Pig-Boars are numerous in population and possess a greedy, bloodthirsty nature. With robust physiques, formidable defense, and their renowned innate skill of the Gravity Technique, they serve as one of the favorite soldier sources for the Spirit Clan armies of the Seven Stars Lake. In particular, the Battle Boar Legion—composed entirely of the Boar clan—inspires awe throughout the Seven Stars Lake.
The lower ranks of the Battle Boar Legion are made up entirely of the bloodthirsty and belligerent Pig-Boars. The middle ranks and above are commanded by high-tier Pig-Boars and Niu Tun at various levels. However, the commander of the legion can only be held by a member of the Rhinoceros Horn Clan.
Unlike the Pig-Boars, the Niu Tun possess even greater martial prowess, yet their individual numbers are smaller and their dispositions are gentle, earning them an excellent reputation among all clans. In fact, major clans frequently like to employ the Niu Tun, appointing them to serve as guest ministers or honored patrons of their households.
As for the Rhinoceros Horn Clan, they belong to the top-tier bloodline of the entire Seven Stars Lake. Alongside the Dragon Carp, Dragon Turtle, and Golden Scale, they are known as the four top-tier families of the Seven Stars Lake, representing a highly intelligent species.
The Rhinoceros Horn Clan possesses the innate skills of Gravity Technique, Charge, and Stone Skin. Combined with their exceptionally massive size, they stand as invincible entities of sheer might. Most terrifyingly, they can use the single horn atop their heads as an offensive flying dharma treasure; once launched, nothing can stand in their way. Therefore, despite their sparse population, they rely on their powerful bloodline and innate talents to exclusively occupy Jiaoxi Island, one of the seven islands of the Seven Stars Lake.
As for the Black Catfish clan, their bloodline is low-tier, placing them truly at the bottom strata of the Seven Stars Lake. Clans like theirs are countless in number across the Seven Stars Lake.
Although the Black Catfish clan is not as thriving as the Pig-Boars, they are nonetheless a considerable force around the Cold Dragon Cave area. Their individuals are not exceptionally strong, but they possess the bloodline talents of Sluggishness, Water Control, and Water Arrow, making them well-rounded in both offense and defense, and a remarkably troublesome group to deal with.
The Black Catfish clan has a sizable population, widely distributed across different waters of the Seven Stars Lake. This small Black Catfish branch near the Cold Dragon Cave lives in the vicinity of Hulu Island, not far from here.
...
Hulu Island is less than twenty miles from the entrance of the Cold Dragon Cave. Here, the water is clear and warm, with a depth of only slightly more than ten meters, ample sunlight, and lush aquatic plants.
The lakebed here is overgrown with all kinds of green grass, and the water's surface is covered with water hyacinths.
In some places, the verdant water hyacinths pile up layer upon layer, actually forming a vast expanse of thick turf floating on the water's surface. Except for large spirit beasts, all other aquatic and terrestrial spirit beasts can move freely in and out of this place, making life extremely convenient.
These Black Catfish live on this green blanket. This leaves the Giant Tortoise deeply disappointed—there is simply no way Dragon Scale Trees could be cultivated here.
Wusu is the clan surname of this Black Catfish, and Tianniu is the name of the Giant Tortoise's good brother.
Come to think of it, this good brother of his is truly loyal. Not only did he freely gift him a Dragon Scale Fruit, but when he was in his most critical moment, he even led his clansmen to rush to his rescue. This is truly the warmth of providing charcoal in the depth of winter!
This time, the Giant Tortoise truly regards Tianniu as his own biological brother.
...
During this period, taking advantage of the opportunity to recuperate, the Giant Tortoise has managed to become a familiar face among the entire Black Catfish clan, and has also gained a general understanding of this world.
Wusu Tianniu is the young clan leader of the Wusu clan. His mother died early, making him the sole son of the clan leader. His name, "Tianniu," is derived from a legendary divine beast of the Seven Stars Lake.
The history of the Seven Stars Lake is extremely ancient, traceable as far back as the primeval era. That was already the era of mythological stories of creation and the birth of the world. Next came the middle ancient era, an era that still lacks historical records and similarly belongs to the time of legends.
The legendary "Tianniu" was a renowned divine beast of the middle ancient era, possessing the mixed blood of a True Dragon and boundless mighty power. Soaring through the heavens and earth alongside the True Dragons, they were the ultimate peak divine beasts in the endless worlds.
The Tianniu possesses the "Sluggishness" talent, capable of freezing opponents right in their tracks and then smashing them to death with their innate divine strength.
The Wusu clan proudly considers themselves descendants of the Tianniu...
Through communicating with his brother Tianniu, the Giant Tortoise has finally figured out the background of this "Little Master"—
The Dragon Carp clan possesses a rich True Dragon bloodline and is the most powerful overlord of the Seven Stars Lake, without exception! It is no exaggeration to say that the Dragon Carp clan are the masters of the Seven Stars Lake!
Throughout the entire Seven Stars Lake, all spirit clans possess a trace of the True Dragon's bloodline to a greater or lesser degree. Those with low bloodline concentration can barely be detected even with dharma instruments, while those with the highest bloodline concentration can even awaken divine artifacts and divine talismans inherited from the dragon race.
The dragon bloodline possesses a natural suppression. When higher spirit clans face lower spirit beasts, they can often win without a fight simply through Bloodline Suppression.
Throughout the entire Seven Stars Lake, dragon blood is revered above all! Bloodline purity serves as the basis for dividing the hierarchy among various clans...
Due to differences in appearance, the Dragon Carp clan is further divided into two branches: the Golden Dragon Carp, with golden body surfaces known for their strength; and the Azure Dragon Carp, with greenish body surfaces known for their wisdom. They respectively occupy the two largest islands of the Seven Stars Lake—Golden Dragon Island and Azure Dragon Island.
Although the population of the Dragon Carp clan is slightly larger than that of the Rhinoceros Horn Clan, it is still extremely sparse. Consequently, young Dragon Carps traveling out in the world are exceedingly rare.
Awed by the formidable strength of the Dragon Carp clan, generally no one dares to lay a hand on their young, save for ignorant, low-tier mixed-blood beasts or newborn infants. As for this Dragon Carp who has traveled far to the Cold Dragon Cave for tempering, everyone respectfully addresses him as the "Little Master."
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"This bastard!"
Although the Giant Tortoise still feels anger burning in his heart, he can only swallow his pride and bear it...
...
The Giant Tortoise swims leisurely forward in the deep water, followed closely by his apprehensive good brother. Here in the gloomy waters, the bone-chilling cold makes the Giant Tortoise feel as though he has returned home.
"It's still better at home!" the Giant Tortoise sighs inwardly. "Moreover, here I can sweep away everything!"
Having taken a trip outside, it feels as though a very long time has passed. He is like an infant newly separated from swaddling clothes, toddling around in a warm, bright world, only to crawl back through all sorts of perils and hardships.
The outside world is truly dangerous; having seen the world, he now understands his own insignificance.
Leaving home twice has meant facing death at close range twice. Once was encountering the Bazhuo at the boundary membrane; the other was engaging in a fierce struggle with the Pig-Boars. Fortunately on both occasions, his fortune has been smiling upon him.
The Giant Tortoise reflects deeply: if he could just stay home all the time and quietly cultivate until the Three Channels and Seven Chakras are completely opened, would the path of his future be somewhat simpler?
He wonders if he, too, possesses a trace of the True Dragon's bloodline, just like the indigenous locals here.
"Oof—"
A muffled, suppressed cry comes from behind. The Giant Tortoise hurriedly looks back, only to see his good brother curled up in a ball, staring in front of him with fearful treed.
In the chilly current not far ahead, a faint, dim light reflects. Then, that graceful, golden, streamlined physique squeezes out from behind the water curtain.
The manifested body of the Dragon Carp slowly approaches them. At the same time, his angry voice rings out through the water:
"You bad guy!"
"Bad guy?" Staring at the step-by-step approaching Dragon Carp, the Giant Tortoise's mind is somewhat bewildered: could it be that the Black Catfish offended this Little Fellow?
"You bad guy!" the Dragon Carp roars in a suppressed, angry, and low voice, "How dare you bring an outsider into my home!"
Outsider? Home? A layer of cold sweat beads upon the Giant Tortoise's forehead: so this turns out to be the Dragon Carp's home?
"I'm going to punish you!" the Dragon Carp releases his coercion and loudly reprimands!
"Ah?—This?" The Giant Tortoise remains confused for a good long while before finally recovering his wits. Suppressing the turbulent anger within his bloodline, he snaps angrily:
"This is not your home! This is my home!"
The Dragon Carp pauses for a moment, completely unprepared for the Giant Tortoise to reply in this manner. He stands frozen there for quite a while before finally finding grounds for a counterattack:
"Hmph! This is no home of yours; this is Lord Cold Dragon's home!"
With that, he casts the Giant Tortoise aside, turns his gaze instead to the Black Catfish, and declares:
"Then I'll punish him!"
Seeing the Dragon Carp behave so unreasonably and stubbornly, the Giant Tortoise is very tempted to teach him a lesson. However, considering the other party's formidable background and unfathomable strength, he wisely decides that it is better to conquer rigidity with gentleness.
"That won't do!" Wielding the soul-bewitching art, the Giant Tortoise initiates a psychological battle: "You said you were going to protect me..."
"When I encountered danger outside, where were you?"
Turning back, the Giant Tortoise pulls the Black Catfish into his embrace and puts on a wronged expression: "He protected me. And you said you were going to protect me!"
"Uh..." The Dragon Carp freezes instantly. Could that really be how it was?
"If not for him, I wouldn't have been able to make it back this time!" The Giant Tortoise's low voice is laden with gratitude...
"Mm-mm... Fine then..." After struggling with himself for a long time, the Dragon Carp finally deflates.
"Fine, then let it be like this..."
"As for the two of you, from now on just the two of you can follow me. No more, absolutely not one more!"
The Giant Tortoise secretly winks at his good brother in his arms, prompting the good brother to hurriedly wriggle out of the Giant Tortoise's embrace, lower his head respectfully toward the Dragon Carp, and say, "Little Master!"
"Hmph!" The Dragon Carp lifts his massive head high and lets out a heavy snort.
...
On a verdant, lushly wooded large island, mottled light and shadow flutter with the breeze, scattering sporadically upon the ground.
At the edge of the line of sight stands a towering palace, located at the center of the island and surrounded by a dense cluster of magnificent, well-proportioned buildings gleaming with golden splendor.
In a quiet corner of the island winds a sparse, meandering path that stretches all the way here. Passing through one flower bed after another, it extends under the shelter of towering surrounding trees toward a patch of verdant turf...
On the turf here stands an exquisite building resembling an altar.
At the center of the crystal-crafted altar towers a white jade stele nearly five meters tall. Intricate and delicate runes surround a central row of bold inscription characters, and the colorless text and patterns shimmer with brilliant radiance in the sunlight.
Suddenly, with a sweep of a gentle breeze, it is as though an invisible curtain draped over the stele has been pulled back. Specks of golden light begin to well up from the top of the stele.
These golden lights resemble flowing, viscous liquid, slowly trickling down under the pull of gravity, gradually spreading across the stele and eventually coating all the runes with a golden finish...
As wave after wave of powerful divine sense successively sweeps across the place, a deep and resonant voice echoes from the massive palace on the island:
"Divine blood descends, the Child of Heavenly Favor is born into the world!"