Chapter 2028: The Xuanwu Divine Beast

Though surprised, Jiang Chen did not panic. Hovering high above, he studied the enormous sea turtle as it cut through the water at tremendous speed. A creature of this magnitude, having already drawn attention, was bound to make the next move.

Ordinarily, divine turtles and their like were not especially aggressive. But a divine turtle that had undergone Dao tribulation possessed a temperament far different from common turtle-type creatures.

Jiang Chen dared not let his guard down. He had never liked leaving his safety in the hands of another's mood. Preparations had to be made — every possible contingency accounted for.

He could sense that this divine turtle's strength was far from ordinary.

Jiang Chen decided to summon the Vermilion Bird Divine Avian, along with Long Xiaoxuan and Little White.

With these three companions by his side, he would feel considerably more confident.

"Heh heh, Chen Shao, what kind of place is this?" The moment the Vermilion Bird Divine Avian emerged, something felt off about their surroundings. The instincts of a divine creature put the Avian on edge.

Jiang Chen gave a brief account of what had transpired. The Vermilion Bird listened in silence, extending its senses for a moment. Its expression tightened ever so slightly.

Its gaze sharpened, piercing downward toward the colossal divine turtle below.

Then, with evident interest, the Avian's eyes shifted to Long Xiaoxuan and Little White.

"Brother Long, did you feel anything?" The Vermilion Bird's voice carried a weight of hidden meaning.

Long Xiaoxuan furrowed his brow slightly. "My bloodline feels a kind of restless heat. It seems this divine turtle's bloodline is far from ordinary — it's capable of stimulating my bloodline power."

Little White echoed the sentiment, clearly startled. "I'm feeling something similar. This divine turtle — there's something peculiar about it."

All eyes turned to the Vermilion Bird Divine Avian.

"It's no divine turtle!" The Avian was mid-sentence when it suddenly barked a low warning. "Everyone, be careful — it's about to attack!"

During their exchange, the massive creature had finally made its move. A tail suddenly erupted from its rear — thick as an iron whip, segmented as though armored with plates of steel. The colossal appendage swept through the air, and the half of the sky it crossed seemed to collapse under the blow, hurtling directly toward Jiang Chen and his companions.

The force of that tail sweep carried from the ocean surface all the way to the upper atmosphere without diminishing in the slightest.

The Vermilion Bird reacted with blazing speed. Its wings unfurled, blotting out sky and sun, shielding Jiang Chen and the others beneath their span. At the same time, it swerved, narrowly evading the devastating sweep.

They could see the savage scars carved across the sky — the torn remnants of spatial fabric — and the sight sent a chill through every one of them.

Ordinary divine turtles had very short tails. Few could even use their tails as weapons. Based on Jiang Chen's knowledge of turtle-type creatures, none that he knew of could deliver attacks of such staggering power.

"Could it be…" Long Xiaoxuan's mind suddenly ignited with a flash of recognition, and the words tumbled from his mouth before he could think. "The Xuanwu Divine Beast?"

His inherited bloodline memories seemed to burst open all at once, a bolt of inspiration striking him with perfect clarity — and he named the creature's true identity on the spot.

The Xuanwu Divine Beast!

Jiang Chen's expression shifted dramatically upon hearing the name. Astonishment warred with a spark of unmistakable delight. He had never imagined, not in his wildest dreams, that he would encounter a Xuanwu Divine Beast in a place like this.

"Brother Long, are you certain?" Jiang Chen drew a deep breath and asked in a low, steady voice.

Long Xiaoxuan glanced at the Vermilion Bird. "What does Brother Vermilion Bird think?"

The Avian smiled bitterly. "That is the Xuanwu Divine Beast — beyond any doubt. That bloodline aura is unmistakable, and what's more, the resonance between our bloodlines confirms it beyond question. If the Four Divine Beasts were not all present, our bloodline resonance could never reach this level of intensity."