Primordial Era: Cultivation level equals the sum of the Jie Sect's total; the Three Pure Ones a

The divine sense of the North Sea Black Tortoise fluctuated once more, entering Xuan Du's mind:

"Join... the Jie Sect?"

His voice carried an almost numb sense of doubt.

Xuan Du remained expressionless, meeting those ancient eyes, and slowly nodded:

"Exactly."

"Our Jie Sect teaches without discrimination. Anyone who seeks the Dao, regardless of their background or origin, can join our Jie Sect and have a chance to survive."

"Our predecessors possessed immeasurable merits and had ancient roots."

"If one can join my Jie Sect and receive guidance from a sage master, one will surely make great progress on the path of cultivation, and may even... glimpse the opportunity for transcendence."

however.

The massive body of the North Sea Black Tortoise remained silent, without the slightest ripple.

It simply gazed silently at Xuandu, a trace of sorrow flickering in the depths of its profound eyes.

"Transcendence?"

The divine thought arrived again, this time with a clearer hint of mockery, though it was still slow.

"Youngster, do you know... who I am?"

Xuan Du paused slightly, then said in a deep voice:

"I understand."

"Our predecessor existed since the beginning of time, and his lineage is so ancient that it is rarely seen in the primordial world."

A slight surge of chaotic energy appeared in the eyes of the North Sea Black Tortoise:

"If you know who I am, how could you not know... that I am bound by destiny?"

Its massive head rose extremely slowly.

"I was born here, grew up here, and will... die here."

"My carapace is destined to bear the weight of the four great poles of the primordial world. My limbs are destined to... support the heavens and the earth."

"This is the ordained destiny, which even a sage cannot change."

Its divine sense grew increasingly weak, and it resigned itself to its fate:

"When the great calamity is about to arrive, that will be the day I face my fate."

"Falling... is my only end."

The North Sea Black Tortoise's gaze returned to Xuan Du, the mockery vanishing, leaving only an unfathomable calm:

"Join the Jie Sect?"

"Would the Sage of Heaven accept someone destined to die and who would bring karmic consequences?"

It slightly shook its head, causing a surge of underwater currents:

"Young man, I appreciate your kind intentions."

"But this matter... let's not mention it again."

"Leave quickly."

As soon as he finished speaking, the powerful and heavy aura surrounding the North Sea Black Tortoise began to slowly recede, as if it were about to sink back into the darkness.

Clearly, it no longer intends to speak with Xuandu.

In its view, Xuandu's words were either due to youthful arrogance and ignorance, or that the sage of the Jie Sect had some ulterior motive.

But in any case, it has nothing to do with this dying thing anymore.

however.

Just as the Xuan Turtle was about to fall into complete silence.

Xuandu suddenly stepped forward!

"senior!"

"Destiny? Destiny?"

His gaze was intense, fixed on the black tortoise's eyes, which were about to close, and he said, word by word:

"The doctrine of my Intercepting Sect is about seizing a sliver of hope!"

"Strive to cross the river in dire straits, break free from a deadly impasse!"

What is destiny? What is divine will?

"Was Nuwa's creation of humans predetermined? Was Lao Tzu's establishment of humanistic teachings predetermined?"

"Or... is it that your four limbs supporting the sky, senior, are necessarily predetermined?"

The questions echoed deep within the Xuan Turtle's mind, which had been silent for countless years!

The North Sea Black Tortoise, about to sink its head, suddenly stopped!

Those deep, dark eyes suddenly opened, their chaotic energy surging wildly as they stared intently at Xuan Du!

"What...what did you say?"

For the first time, its divine sense showed a clear fluctuation, filled with disbelief and astonishment!

Xuan Du's words were too bold and too defiant!

How dare you question the actions of a sage and the predetermined course of Heaven?

Xuan Du did not back down, meeting the Xuan Turtle's gaze and continuing:

"As the younger generation says, destiny is not necessarily unchangeable!"

"My master, the Sage Tongtian, wields the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation, which cannot be broken by any of the Four Sages. His mission to seize the Dao from Heaven is to contend with Heaven itself!"

He paused slightly, his tone turning serious:

"Besides, even if you truly face that heaven-shaking calamity in the future... can't you strive for more for yourself before facing it?"

"By joining the Jie Sect, you will receive the protection of sages and enjoy the blessings of the Jie Sect's fortune. Even if you still need to face tribulations in the future, the Jie Sect will bear the consequences!"

"At that time, the merit of supporting the heavens will no longer be solely due to your virtue, senior, but will be the supreme merit that our Jie Sect has established for the prehistoric world!"

"The karmic debts incurred by a sage... what do you think, senior, weigh?"

Upon hearing this, the North Sea Black Tortoise slightly raised its head, and chaotic energy surged violently in its eyes.

It stared intently at Xuandu, its aged divine sense stirring up a monstrous wave within its very soul:

"Seizing a glimmer of hope..."

These words shook its Dao heart, which had been dormant for countless years.

Yes.

On what grounds?

Why should it be born to bear such a doomed fate?

Why should the merit of supporting the heavens come at the cost of its own death and the annihilation of its essence?

Unwilling!

A sense of resentment and anger that had been suppressed for countless eons was now completely ignited by Xuandu's words!

"Junior..."

The divine thought of the North Sea Black Tortoise arrived again, this time carrying an unprecedented fluctuation, hoarse and heavy:

"Is what you're saying...true?"

Its deep eyes were fixed on Xuan Du, as if trying to see through the figure in green.

Xuan Du's expression remained unchanged, his gaze calm, and he said, word by word:

"Every word I have said is true."

"Our Jie Sect leader, Tongtian Shengren, is a true descendant of Pangu, a Heavenly Dao Saint, and wields the Zhuxian Sword Formation, which cannot be broken by any of the Four Saints."

"If he were to offer his protection, it would be a matter of destiny, and we might still have a chance to fight for it!"

"not to mention......"

Xuan Du paused slightly, his tone carrying a hint of deeper meaning:

"Senior is burdened with the destiny of supporting the heavens; this is a great cause and effect."

"If we could exchange this karma for the protection of a sage, and even the future strong support of the Jie Sect... do you think this deal is worthwhile, senior?"

Is it worth it?

The massive body of the North Sea Black Tortoise trembled slightly.

value!

Too much value!

Although it has been sleeping in the North Sea for many years, isolated from the world, it is not dull-witted.

The cause and effect of a sage—how precious that is!

Not to mention a saint like Tongtian, who is decisive in killing and extremely protective of his own.

If this could truly secure a promise from the sage and the Jie Sect...

Even if it still cannot escape its fate in the future, at least this merit will no longer belong to it alone.

and......

If one could receive guidance from a sage, perhaps... perhaps there is even a slight possibility of glimpsing the opportunity for transcendence?

"you......"

Just as the North Sea Black Tortoise was about to speak, its divine sense suddenly froze!

Those chaotic, surging eyes suddenly turned upwards towards the crack, staring intently at the surface of the North Sea!

An extremely subtle divine sense is quietly sweeping across this sea area!

That divine sense contained the pressure of a peak Quasi-Saint.

Although it tried to conceal itself, it still couldn't escape the perception of such an ancient being!

What made the black tortoise even more alarmed was...

The divine sense clearly paused for a moment when it swept across the area!

Their target... was clearly Xuan Du!

"A living being is approaching."

The divine sense of the North Sea Black Tortoise instantly entered Xuan Du's mind, carrying a hint of solemnity:

"Peak Quasi-Saint... He concealed his aura, but he couldn't hide it from me."

"It's for you."

!!!

Xuan Du's pupils suddenly contracted!

Peak Quasi-Saint?

Coming straight for him?

At almost the same time, he also sensed an extremely faint anomaly.

It was as if something was spying on him in the dark, but when he scanned it with his divine sense, he found nothing.

If the black tortoise hadn't reminded him, he would have almost thought it was his imagination.

"really......"

A cold glint flashed in Xuan Du's eyes.

He knew that his master, Yuanshi, wouldn't let him off so easily.

It would be abnormal not to do something since I damaged his Dao heart.

I just didn't expect the other side to act so quickly, and to send out a Quasi-Saint peak level being!

The Taoist Master Ran Deng...

Xuan Du pondered in his heart, but his expression remained completely calm.

The old Taoist priest did indeed arrive.

If it were an ordinary mid-stage Hunyuan Golden Immortal, facing a veteran Quasi-Saint peak like Randeng, they would probably face a nine-out-of-ten chance of death.

But Xuandu... is not an ordinary Hunyuan.

Breaking through a realm in a century is indeed astonishing, but the real reliance is not on the realm itself.

The combined feedback from the various cultivation methods allowed him to reach the pinnacle of his understanding of the Jie Sect's cultivation methods, such as the Shangqing Sword Manual.

Although there was no actual combat to verify it, countless sword intents flowed in his heart.

With the Heaven-Slaying Sword in hand and the blessing of the Chaos Origin, one can create all kinds of laws at will. Its sharpness may not be unable to break through the Burning Lamp's defense.

More importantly... he is not alone at this moment!

The Black Tortoise of the North Sea is the best barrier.

Unless he were insane, Randeng would never dare to act recklessly in front of Xuan Gui.

The old Taoist priest was hiding and spying, waiting for me to leave so he could ambush me.

Xuan Du's lips curled into a faint smile.

He didn't need to fight the lamp head-on at all.

What's the difference between a battle you're not absolutely certain of winning and a death sentence?

What he wanted was absolute domination.

And the key to all of this... lies in the North Sea Black Tortoise.