The Most Ancient Beast, an old turtle known as the Longevity Immortal Turtle, had gained immense power through the crucible of ages.

Its fundamental ability was eternal life. As a Beast King Species, it slowly developed its Immortal Domain through this inherent immortality.

Initially, within the Immortal Domain, it was merely undying and indestructible. But as eons passed and its wisdom gradually grew, the Longevity Immortal Turtle's Immortal Domain developed various powerful abilities.

It ultimately became the most terrifying taboo in the sea.

In other words, it lived long enough to become the strongest in the world.

Initially, Beast King Species weren't born with their own Domain; they only possessed a fundamental ability. Only upon reaching old age could a Beast King Species undergo a qualitative change in their basic ability to form a Domain.

Through the accumulation of time and evolution, newer generations of Beast King Species were born already possessing a Domain. Meanwhile, Battle Beast Species evolved from merely having strong physiques to possessing the innate fundamental abilities once exclusive to Beast King Species.

After all, there was no reproductive isolation among beasts. However, when a Beast King Species and a Battle Beast Species mated, ninety-nine percent of the offspring would be Battle Beast Species, with only a slim chance of producing a Beast King Species.

Only the union between two Beast King Species guaranteed the birth of another Beast King Species.

In the era of the Longevity Immortal Turtle, The Most Ancient Beast, there wasn't such a significant gap between Beast King Species and Battle Beast Species, as these classifications had only just emerged.

"How am I supposed to fight that? By trying to scratch its shell?" Wang Linchi couldn't help but grumble.

After a month of travel, Wang Linchi finally reached the sea region where the Longevity Immortal Turtle resided.

Finding the Longevity Immortal Turtle wasn't an issue; he had already spotted it. The massive island in the distance was the Longevity Immortal Turtle itself.

The Longevity Immortal Turtle's Immortal Domain caused its body to continuously expand, eventually reaching its current island-like size.

However, there was some good news: the Longevity Immortal Turtle's Immortal Domain only enveloped itself and hadn't expanded proportionally with its body. The reason for this was currently unknown.

"A Golden Turtle?" Wang Linchi recognized the Longevity Immortal Turtle's appearance from afar. It had a dragon-like head and tail, the body of a land tortoise, its entire body was golden, and it lived in the sea.

The Golden Turtle also had another name: Dragon Turtle.

So the Blessing I received, enhanced by the Dragon Ball, actually worked?

Given the Longevity Immortal Turtle's appearance, Wang Linchi found it hard to believe it had no connection to dragons.

If it were a hybrid, it might be plausible for a new generation Beast King Species. But as one of the first-generation beasts, the Longevity Immortal Turtle had no ancestors to speak of. Therefore, it was more likely that this was its inherent appearance.

Looks like I have no choice but to fight now.

Before arriving, Wang Linchi had thought he would fight if he could win, and flee if he couldn't.

Now, however, he felt compelled to press on.

He had the strange sensation of being in Yan Ming King's shoes. Yan Ming King couldn't have reached his current position without desperately fighting for it; to claim otherwise would surely be a lie.

"It's definitely beyond Morning Star Level, possibly even Bright Moon Level. How can I possibly fight this?" Wang Linchi lamented.

Having to fight but knowing he couldn't win made his heart sink.

"I'll help you," a voice suddenly interjected.

The voice originated from the surface of the sea. Wang Linchi saw his reflection in the water transform into the Beast God—not just the skull, but the complete Beast God.

"So you weren't dead after all. You've been scheming against me from the very beginning, haven't you?" Wang Linchi said, staring at the Beast God's reflection.

"How can you call it scheming? I merely provided you with some opportunities that aligned with the fortune you carry," the Beast God's reflection teased.

"Fine. Let's cut to the chase. What's your objective? You can't be helping me for nothing, right?" Wang Linchi asked bluntly.

"I appreciate your directness. I only need you to do me a small favor." The Beast God's reflection wavered for a moment, as if disturbed, then continued, "After you leave the Secret Realm, just place this item at its entrance."

As soon as it finished speaking, it tore the heart from its chest and, impossibly, passed it out from the reflection, penetrating the boundary between illusion and reality.

"You want to leave the Secret Realm?!" As the heart landed in Wang Linchi's hand, the realization dawned on him.

Everything it said before was a lie—its supposed death, its feigned magnanimity.

"Exactly. Who would choose death if they could live?"

"Remaining here means only waiting to be absorbed as sustenance or to be crushed by the Great Ruins. But if I escape these bonds, there's still a sliver of hope for survival," the Beast God said with a chuckle.

The reason it hadn't told Wang Linchi from the start was, naturally, because manipulating him into doing this required a certain finesse.

Resorting to threats would be the crudest method; making Wang Linchi cooperate willingly was the proper way. The allure of The Most Ancient Beast's Beast Soul—a Dragon Soul—was an enticement that Wang Linchi, with his Dragon Ball, simply couldn't refuse.

"What if I deliberately discard your heart before I leave?" Wang Linchi asked, staring at the Beast God.

"Have you heard of cause and effect?" The Beast God seemed completely unconcerned about its secrets being exposed and continued, "I help you, you help me. Human interactions and social etiquette are, in fact, the most superficial manifestations of cause and effect."

"The heart isn't the main point. The point is that you accepted my help. When the time comes, even if you don't take my heart when you leave, I can still get out. It's just that, as for our relationship then..."

The Beast God didn't finish, but the implication was clear: it would mean a feud to the death.

"So, do you need my help?" The Beast God showed no concern that Wang Linchi might refuse.

Wang Linchi fell silent. Of course, he needed it.

However, the Beast God's methods were so bizarre and unpredictable that he still felt a lingering apprehension.

"Rest assured, I have no designs on you. I only wish to borrow your good fortune. This is what we call mutual benefit. After we leave, our transaction will be complete, and we'll go our separate ways, not bothering each other."

"Besides, I bear no ill will towards your Great View. I just want to survive in the Great Ruins."

"If you're still uneasy, we can establish a corresponding karmic bond as a guarantee," the Beast God pressed, striking while the iron was hot.

"Let's skip establishing a karmic bond. However, I must say in advance, it might take me a few more months to leave the Secret Realm," Wang Linchi conceded.

He agreed because the matter was out of his hands. He couldn't even defeat the Longevity Immortal Turtle, let alone the Beast God.

This was the Beast God employing courtesy before resorting to force; if he didn't agree, did he really think the Beast God would just leave resentfully? Unless Wang Linchi left the Secret Realm, he could forget about shaking off the Beast God.

As for leaving, he might have done so without hesitation before, but now it didn't matter to him. Whether he lived five years more or five years less made no real difference. Becoming stronger as quickly as possible gave him a chance to survive the Great Ruins; if he left now, he would truly only be waiting for death.

"You truly are a clever man. I enjoy collaborating with people like you." The Beast God looked pleased. Leaving in a few months? That was no problem at all for the Beast God.

"I, however, don't enjoy collaborating with you. You're too clever, and you enjoy scheming against people," Wang Linchi said, shaking his head.

"It doesn't matter if you don't like it. Once we leave the Secret Realm, we'll go our separate ways and act as if we've never met." The Beast God also didn't want to get too entangled with Wang Linchi. If it weren't for its own desperate situation, it would have avoided someone with such potent good fortune; otherwise, everything it had might end up benefiting Wang Linchi.

Killing him was even more out of the question. Turning misfortune into blessing and transforming calamities into good fortune was the man's fundamental ability.

Even if Wang Linchi's good fortune might not match that of a Son of Destiny, for someone like itself who cultivated the principles of cause and effect, attempting a killing blow or intercepting his opportunities would result in a massive backlash. After all, 'cause and effect' is often followed by 'retribution,' a consequence that absolutely couldn't be ignored.

Essentially, it was a matter of good being rewarded with good, and evil with evil.

For others, it might be a case of 'retribution is not lacking, its time has just not yet come,' but for those who cultivated cause and effect, retribution was immediate, offering no buffer time.

While gaining this power, one naturally had to bear the corresponding obligations. If one hadn't cultivated cause and effect and gained its associated advantages, then its influence could be largely ignored.

One could even kill a protagonist without issue—provided one was actually capable of killing them.

"Well then, are you ready to receive the Beast Soul?" The moment the Beast God finished speaking, the Longevity Immortal Turtle's enormous head exploded into a bloody mist.

Its gigantic body began to sink rapidly to the seabed.

From within the Longevity Immortal Turtle's remains, a gleam of light flew out, landing directly in Wang Linchi's palm. This was the Longevity Immortal Turtle's Beast Soul, which the Beast God had very kindly helped to extract as well.

"'All done. Remember to fulfill your promise, heheh,'" the Beast God cackled strangely. Then, its reflection on the sea surface dissipated, reverting to Wang Linchi's own.

"I've obtained it, yes, but extracting the Dragon Soul from the Longevity Immortal Turtle's Beast Soul will take a considerable amount of time," Wang Linchi muttered to himself, gazing at the Beast Soul in his hand.

Within the Beast Soul, a Golden Turtle was confined, but upon closer inspection, the faint reflection of a dragon could also be seen.

This Beast God definitely didn't start scheming against me only when it saw me. Perhaps its plans began when the Secret Realm first fused with the Great View World. Otherwise, it couldn't have manipulated me with such precision. Wang Linchi understood in his heart that cause and effect was not as superficial as the Beast God had described; it surely held a deeper meaning.

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