"Hey! What are you doing down here?"

The voice of one of the golems boomed.

They could talk? Mei looked closer and realised each of them was piloted by a spirit. How was she supposed to explain herself? It's wasn't as if she could go: "Oh, your stupid turtle god sent me down here!"

Another golem floated closer to the glass, almost as if squinting at her with its red gem.

"Hey, I think I recognise that human!" it said.

"You do?"

"A few months ago, I was visiting the auction in my free time, and I spotted her along with a few others following Han Yun!"

"Ah... so she's another one of those disciples from that mysterious sect he drags around..." the first golem mumbled.

Mei brightened up. Were her "connections" with Senior Han going to get her out of this mess? ...never mind, they couldn't even get out of the tower, so how were they going to help her?

"I saw her beat up someone and get arrested, but then it turns out he was the famous Masked Thief!" a third golem chimed inn.

More and more golems gathered to point and stare at her. It was getting rather crowded...

Mei wasn't sure how she felt about it... Despite being the one outside the "cage", she felt like a zoo animal.

The slugs, meanwhile, seemed quite harmless. Out of harm's way, they were content lying around and rebuilding their rock shells.

As Mei was considering what to do, a turtle's head materialised from stone beside her!

"What's this all about?" it boomed.

"Great Xuanwu!"

The golems panicked and did their best to prostrate before it. It was rather awkward, with they were only torsos and arms.

Even the slugs were trying to bow as well?!

"This Han Yun... you all know about him?" it asked.

"Yes, great Xuanwu! He's the-"

The spirits rattled on about how he was a mysterious figure that appeared in the last decade for several minutes. From his various exploits, to him helping people and his various connections...

Mei was a little awed as she listened. So this was what she could be like if she managed to get her cultivation high enough? She didn't stop to consider how that would require a lot of effort on her end as well.

The stone turtle seemed a bit at a loss for words after hearing all that.

"You, human girl! Tell me more about the fugitive he was chasing!"

Hah, so the stupid turtle realised it beat up someone way more important than it expected just for waking it up?

Unfortunately, she had absolutely no idea why Hong Ling was being chased in the first place.

"I'll explain..." Xiao Mei sighed. "Don't resist while I talk."

Using Mei's mouth, she explained everything about Hong Ling. Mei shifted uncomfortably at the feeling of her mouth out of control.

She felt her heart sink. Hearing Xiao Mei admit she possessed her was one thing, but actually experiencing it...

"How is that possible? A nine element spirit?" the turtle cried out in shock. "Has he already slain it? Or is it still in his hands?"

"Hong Ling is still locked up." Xiao Mei said.

She tried to say a little more, but Mei took back over, closing her mouth. Mei felt a little relieved by how easy it was for her to regain control.

"You've explained enough!" she said with soulsense.

Xuanwu seemed deep in thought.

"I'm still skeptical about such a spirit's existence, but I don't sense any lies from you." the turtle said. "If I hand you back your teleportation artefact, will you negotiate with the elders of your sect to show it to me?"

"Yes!" Mei nodded in a hurry.

She didn't want to be stuck in this dingy cave any longer!

With a nod, the stone turtle head yanked her bag off her and swallowed it.

"I'll be taking your bag hostage so you don't just run away!" Xuanwu said.

This stupid turtle! Was the only thing it was good at taking hostages?

"Fine!" Mei huffed.

She really wanted to smack Xiao Mei. If it wasn't for her taking all the jade along, she wouldn't even mind her bag being stolen!

The turtle head spat her token back to her, before fusing back into the ground.

Li Xuan jumped as Mei materialised right before her.

"Why do you keep teleporting right into my room? Do you have no respect?" she yelled. "Why can't you just knock the door like a normal person?"

"Ehhh?" Mei cried.

"Oh. You're not her." Li Xuan realised it wasn't Xiao Mei. "Oh, but if you teleport right into my room again, I'll send you right to community service."

Mei glanced at her dantian. It seemed her nascent soul had been getting into a lot of mischief...

Why was Li Xuan covering for Xiao Mei anyway? Mei felt a little angry. Shouldn't an elder have told her?

"Sorry..." she mumbled.

"So? What is it?"

Mei told her about how the turtle kidnapped her and was now holding her bag hostage.

Li Xuan, put a hand to her face, speechless.

"...that insufferable beast masquerading as a god... who does he think he is to cause me so much trouble?"

Li Xuan pulled out a scroll and a pen from her ring, writing something on it.

As she wrote, golden spirit after golden spirit materialised around her. Mei was stunned. It was as if they suddenly popped into existence from nowhere, just like when the spirit "pretending" to be her inner demon escaped!

"Heavenly spirits. Allow me access to the sixth belt for 2 hours." she said.

"Reason for visit?" one the spirits asked.

"I need to give a godbeast a good beating. Non lethal, no permanent injuries."

That stupid turtle was going to get a beating? Heh.

"Visit approved. Do not overstay or deviate from your stated plans, or you will be fined. Your fee for this visit will be one low grade heaven stone."

The elder tossed the spirit a small golden stone before teleporting off.

The heavenly spirit wasn't even going to question it?! Was this bribery?