Primordial Era: Refusing Hongjun's path to sainthood, I attained the Dao of Hunyuan.

Chapter 113 Turtle Spirit

He didn't think Xuanhuang was doing anything wrong. On the contrary, he knew that with Xuanhuang's current cultivation level, he could still joke around with him like this.

This is someone who truly wants to be a fellow Daoist with me. And don't worry about the fact that I myself will soon attain enlightenment.

But at least I am not a saint yet. The fact that Xuanhuang can still set aside his status and be close to me is enough to show his affection.

"He's in a difficult position. He borrowed the Taiji Diagram before, and now the senior brother is unaware of it and wants to compete with him, but little does he know that he has already attained enlightenment." Zhen Yuanzi thought about it and found it amusing.

If I found out the truth, I don't know how badly I would be affected.

It's probably even more exciting than finding out that he severed his three corpses before him, right?

"However, although the eldest brother forgot his emotions and severed the three corpses, the heavenly secrets show that every saint who attains enlightenment does not sever the three corpses, including me, but rather achieves sainthood through merit."

Zhen Yuanzi shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it any longer, and went back into seclusion. This encounter with Laozi, and his comprehension of Laozi's Dao of Forgetfulness, had been very rewarding, and he needed to process it thoroughly.

Meanwhile, Xuanhuang left Wuzhuang Temple, carrying a bamboo staff, and headed towards the northern wilderness.

After crossing the northern lands, they entered the vast North Sea. Xuanhuang did not go to any dragon palace, but instead found a sleeping giant tortoise in the deep sea.

This giant tortoise, also known as the North Sea Black Tortoise, was perhaps the most innocent of all creatures in the primordial world, if not the one that died a particularly tragic death.

After all, it was just taking a nap. Who knew that disaster would strike from the sky? Gonggong knocked down Mount Buzhou, and it wanted to cut off its four legs to support it.

Where can you reason with this? But the way of Heaven is never about reason. The way of Heaven operates, and it never considers anyone innocent or guilty.

Xuanhuang found the Xuan Turtle, and without saying much, directly awakened it.

This black tortoise isn't without intelligence; it's just that in the world, there are two types of beings who cultivate. One type transforms into an innate Dao body to better align with heaven and earth and comprehend the Dao.

There is another type, like this black tortoise, which follows its own nature and form, and does not transform into an innate Dao body, but maintains its original form to continue cultivating.

Between these two categories, Xuanhuang can't say that the second category is really bad, but at least he himself wouldn't choose the second category.

Just like when I transmigrated here and was still a tree, I tried very hard to transform into an innate Dao body.

Instead of standing in the same place forever as a tree, waiting for someone to discover it and take it away one day.

Xuanhuang startled the Xuan Turtle awake. After waking up, the Xuan Turtle opened its eyes, and its gaze met Xuanhuang's.

Boom!

The black tortoise felt as if the entire world had shattered and turned into endless rolling earth, water, fire, and wind.

However, amidst this great destruction, a glimmer of light suddenly appeared, engulfing the endless earth, water, fire, and wind.

In the end, only a small dot remained. This small dot was indescribable, vague and indistinct.

It saw this tiny point explode, and then a world was recreated, transforming into all things and countless beings.

It's a perfectly good place again.

And so, after an unknown amount of time, or perhaps just a moment, the Xuan Turtle awoke, only to find an ordinary Taoist priest before him, holding a bamboo staff, with a peaceful expression and no aura whatsoever.

But the Xuan Turtle knew that this Taoist was probably an incredibly terrifying being in this world, and for some reason, he had come looking for him.

"Mysterious Turtle, I have reshaped your karma, creating a connection between us. Would you be willing to become my disciple? That way, you can shed your original form and achieve enlightenment." Xuanhuang said to the Mysterious Turtle.

The Xuan Turtle looked at Xuanhuang and spoke with its divine sense. It was a female voice, and the Xuan Turtle was a female turtle.

"Daoist Master, am I not yet a fully enlightened being? Why do you insist on reshaping my karma and forcing me to form a karmic bond with you? Please enlighten me, Daoist Master." The black tortoise clearly did not want to become Xuanhuang's disciple, and replied.

Xuanhuang smiled and said, "Without achieving Hunyuan, one cannot attain the Great Dao. How can one achieve true enlightenment? As for why I am forcibly forming a bond with you, it's simple. I just think you are quite good and want to enlighten you."

"If you are unwilling, that's fine too. I'll just change your karma back to normal, and you'll still have good fortune then."

The Black Tortoise listened in silence and pondered for a long time before replying, "Daoist Master, I have another question. You said that without achieving Hunyuan and attaining the Great Dao, one cannot attain true enlightenment. Then may I ask you, Daoist Master, have you attained true enlightenment?"

Xuanhuang laughed heartily and said, "That's a good question. In this world today, only two people have attained the Dao and become Hunyuan, and I am one of them. Do you think I have achieved enlightenment?"

The Xuan Turtle's enormous body trembled, and it said, "Although I am fond of sleeping, I have only ever heard of the Goddess Nuwa as one who attained the Primordial Dao and became a Saint. I do not know the origin of the Great One. If you tell me, the Xuan Turtle is willing to become your disciple."

"it is good."

Xuanhuang nodded and said, "Indeed, only Nuwa has become a saint, but in this world, besides saints, there are also Primordial Golden Immortals. I do not become a saint, but instead pursue the path of the Primordial Golden Immortal."

"As for my origins, Nuwa is my senior sister. My name is Xuanhuang!"

"I see."

Upon hearing this, the Xuan Turtle finally believed it. Although its enormous size made it difficult for it to perform the formal apprenticeship ceremony, it still respectfully addressed Xuanhuang as "Teacher."

Xuanhuang nodded and said, "Alright, now you are my third disciple. I will name you Guiling."

"However, your body is currently enormous and it's not easy to change. I do have some heavy work for you to do first. I don't know if you'd be willing."

"Teacher, please speak freely. Your disciple Guiling is willing to share your burdens," Xuan Gui replied.

"Ha ha."

Xuanhuang laughed and said, "You are indeed filial." Then, Xuanhuang transmitted some heavenly secrets and the things he wanted him to do to the tortoise spirit.

Gui Ling's heart jolted, and he came to his senses, but couldn't help but say, "So that's my destiny?"

"This disciple thanks you, Master. If it weren't for you, Gui Ling would not have known that he was about to face a great calamity."

Xuanhuang said, "There is no escaping this calamity; it is the will of Heaven. Although I am a Hunyuan, I cannot arbitrarily change the will of Heaven."

"However, great calamity can also be transformed into great merit, allowing you to shed this body, cultivate the Great Dao anew, and attain true enlightenment."

"Yes, teacher," Gui Ling replied.

This black tortoise was originally supposed to be the Tortoise Spirit Mother, one of Tongtian's four future direct disciples.

However, Xuanhuang has now intercepted it, altered its cause and effect, and brought it under their control.

As for Tongtian becoming a saint in the future, he will not be able to foresee this cause and effect. After all, this happened before Tongtian became a saint, and with Tongtian's current level of cultivation, it is impossible for him to foresee the fate between the Xuan Turtle and himself.

Secondly, the reason why Tongtian later accepted Guiling as his disciple was because Guiling had his four legs cut off and was supporting the sky before, and the cause and effect originated at that time, not now.

Therefore, before the cause and effect had even occurred, Xuanhuang had already taken Guiling as his disciple, and naturally, it had nothing to do with Tongtian.

"Go to the East Sea first and wait for me for a while," Xuanhuang said to Guiling.

The tortoise spirit naturally obeyed.

Then Xuanhuang pointed with his staff again, and the bamboo staff emitted bursts of mysterious light, enveloping the tortoise spirit's entire body.

The next moment, Gui Ling felt his surroundings change and he was transported to the East Sea.

(End of this chapter)