Five Directions Sacred Beasts, Nine Spirits Yuan Sheng, North Sea Black Tortoise

The matter of merit was concluded, and the pillar of light that connected heaven and earth vanished completely, the sky returning to its normal state.

Zhenyuanzi's calm yet dignified gaze once again fell upon the sentient beings below the stage who had not yet departed, their eyes still filled with anticipation.

His powerful divine sense, like the most precise sieve, had already meticulously observed and discerned them throughout the nine hundred years of Dao preaching, as well as during their subsequent enlightenment and expressions of gratitude.

Now, from among these countless beings, he had clearly identified several whose aptitude, temperament, and origins were all of the highest caliber, who were subtly connected to his own fortune and that of Longevity Mountain, and who possessed a destined affinity.

He first turned his gaze toward the few immortal cranes that had maintained an elegant posture and a unique Dao resonance throughout, especially pointing to the most spirited one, whose aura was the purest and most transparent, and whose cultivation had reached the late Golden Immortal stage. His voice was calm but carried an undeniable authority:

"You few immortal cranes, with your unique origins and pure hearts, are you willing to remain here at my Wuzhuang Temple, to serve in welcoming guests, delivering messages, and adorning the mountain forests?"

Upon hearing this, the leading crane raised its long neck abruptly, a trace of disbelief flashing in its crane-like eyes before erupting into a burst of incomparable joy.

It stretched its neck and let out a clear and melodious cry, its voice filled with utmost respect and gratitude, and quickly nodded: "We obey the Immortal's decree! We are willing, willing to serve the Immortal!"

To be able to stay in such a source of the Great Dao, a Great Luo Dojo, even if only to handle trivial matters of greeting and seeing off guests, was an unparalleled honor and opportunity for them. Bathing daily in the dense spiritual energy and Dao resonance would bring immeasurable benefits to their cultivation.

The remaining immortal cranes also let out clear chirps, expressing their submission and delight.

Next, Zhenyuanzi's gaze swept like lightning over the groups of beasts on the platform, some majestic, some ferocious, some auspicious, and he pointed out each one:

A Vermilion Bird, its body burning with faint Southern Bright Leaving Fire, extraordinary and spirited, its tail feathers flowing with rosy clouds;

A Pure-blooded Kirin, stepping on auspicious clouds, its scales shining brightly, its eyes containing the light of benevolence and virtue;

A White Tiger, its Sha Qi restrained but its might innate, with a clear kingly pattern on its forehead, exuding authority with every glance;

An Azure Dragon, its Dragon Might just beginning to manifest, its cyan scales gleaming, its horns forked like ancient trees, bearing considerable presence;

A Black Tortoise, with a snake and turtle coiled around it, its aura heavy as a mountain, its shell naturally inscribed with Mysterious Patterns.

These five spirit beasts all possessed the purest, most fundamental bloodlines of the Five Directions Sacred Beasts, their cultivation at the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal level, with immense potential and enduring fortune.

They were stunned when Zhenyuanzi called them out, seemingly not expecting to be chosen. Then they felt the recognition, regard, and clear intent to recruit in his gaze.

Though their bloodlines were noble, facing this great power who had preached the Dao for nine hundred years, drawn down Heavenly Dao Merit, and possessed unfathomable cultivation, they all set aside their usual pride.

They lowered their majestic or elegant heads, letting out clear, deep, or dignified roars and cries, each expressing their complete submission and willingness to stay in their own way.

Then, Zhenyuanzi's gaze passed over those conspicuous pure-blooded sacred beasts and fell upon a somewhat solitary Ink Kirin standing alone at the edge, its scales an unusual, dull black, standing out among the other radiant kirins.

Due to a strange mutation in its bloodline, its color was inauspicious, and its power leaned toward shadow and the depths of the earth. It was not tolerated by the main Kirin clan, even ostracized. Though its cultivation had also reached the Primordial Unity realm, its eyes often carried a trace of loneliness and resilience.

Feeling Zhenyuanzi's gaze, which seemed to see through everything, fall upon it, the Ink Kirin's massive body trembled violently. Its eyes showed disbelief and immense excitement. It quickly stepped forward, deeply bowing its head almost to the ground, expressing its willingness with the most humble posture.

Finally, Zhenyuanzi's gaze settled on an inconspicuous corner of the platform, where a massive tortoise lay, its body like a mountain, its aura deep and condensed like an abyss, almost merging with the earth.

This tortoise was an extremely rare Innate Black Tortoise that had attained the Dao, its origins ancient and profound, far exceeding the vast majority of beings present. Its cultivation had actually reached the early Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal stage!

Its vast mana lay dormant within its body like an ocean abyss. However, it seemed trapped by some innate shackle or limitation of the Great Dao. Though its intelligence was complete and its cultivation profound, it had long been unable to successfully transform.

In Zhenyuanzi's memory, this tortoise's fate was troubled. In later generations, it seemed that because it could never find a suitable method or opportunity for transformation, it possessed vast mana and a powerful physical body close to the peak of a Quasi-Saint, yet could not shed its original form. Ultimately, it met with calamity, its limbs severed to support heaven and earth—a tragic end.

But today, since he had encountered it, the trajectory of this tortoise's fate had already gained an opportunity for change.

Zhenyuanzi looked into the tortoise's huge, weathered eyes and spoke directly, his voice calm yet carrying a power that could settle the heart, as if stating an established fact:

"Are you willing to enter my sect, temporarily as a registered disciple? I can help you comprehend the profound mysteries and find your own Way of Transformation."

The giant tortoise slowly raised its enormous head, its movements seeming somewhat sluggish, as if bearing the weight of countless ages.

In its murky, dust-covered tortoise eyes, there was first confusion, as if it could not believe what it had heard. When it confirmed that the voice had truly reached its heart and that the gaze was indeed upon it, a previously unseen brilliance erupted in those huge eyes, like the sun breaking through clouds!

It had been trapped in this desperate situation of being unable to transform for who knows how many eons, searching the Primordial World without solution, nearly in despair. Now, hearing these words, it was like seeing the most dazzling light in an endless dark abyss, like a being drowning for countless years finally grasping a life-saving piece of driftwood!

It quickly transmitted a divine thought filled with immense excitement, even trembling slightly. A voice, deep and muffled like ancient thunder, echoed above the platform:

"Willing! Disciple Black Tortoise pays respects to Teacher! Thank you for your grace, Teacher! Thank you for your grace, Teacher!" The voice reverberated, filled with sincere gratitude and unprecedented hope that seemed ready to overflow.

Additionally, Zhenyuanzi also pointed out a lion with nine heads, each with a different expression, majestic and imposing, its aura vast.

This lion's cultivation was also at the peak of Primordial Unity Golden Immortal, golden light shining all around it, extraordinary and divine. It was the very being later known as "Nine Spirits Yuan Sheng."

Zhenyuanzi said to it: "Your nature is upright and strong, with more than enough might. You may also stay. In the future, you can be tasked with guarding the mountain gate and intimidating petty villains."

The Nine-Headed Lion turned all nine heads toward Zhenyuanzi, all eighteen eyes showing respect and obedience. It let out a deep, resonant roar, nodding all nine heads simultaneously to indicate compliance with the decree.

Having selected these destined beings, Zhenyuanzi then spoke gently to the remaining, still vast number of beings on the platform who had not been named, his voice carrying throughout the venue:

"The Dao preaching is complete; the destined affinities are set. You all have your own encounters. Disperse now, return to your respective caves, cultivate and comprehend well. Do not waste the Dao you have heard today—that is the proper path."

Upon hearing this, though many showed disappointment and envy, they also deeply understood that opportunities could not be forced. Having been able to hear the Great Dao was already a great fortune.

They once again bowed deeply toward the high platform in unison, saying in chorus: "We obey the Immortal's teachings!"

Then, each mounted their escape light, or used their divine abilities, or relied on their physical bodies, transforming into countless streaks of flowing radiance. Like a receding tide, they rose from the Longevity Mountain platform and scattered in all directions across the Primordial World, taking the great harvest and experiences of this Dao listening back to their own worlds. At the same time, they spread the fame and grace of "Zhenyuanzi of Longevity Mountain" far and wide.

After all the miscellaneous beings had dispersed, the platform became much emptier, leaving only the selected immortal cranes, the descendants of the Five Directions Sacred Beasts, the Ink Kirin, the Black Tortoise, and the Nine-Headed Lion.

Zhenyuanzi looked at these beings before him, all with considerable aptitude, origins, and potential, and slightly nodded. A trace of barely noticeable satisfaction appeared on his simple and unadorned face.

After this gathering, the Wuzhuang Temple of Longevity Mountain was no longer just him, Hongyun, his clone, and a few Daoist children. It had begun to show signs of prosperity and growth.

As long as these beings were properly nurtured and taught according to their aptitudes, they could all become pillars supporting the Longevity Mountain lineage in the future. Internally, they could manage the dojo; externally, they could display its dignity. They would also be important foundations for realizing certain plans he had in mind.

He lightly waved his sleeve, and a gentle yet irresistible force enveloped all the remaining beings. He said:

"Since you have entered my sect, you must abide by the temple's rules. Follow me into the temple, where I will arrange your duties and cultivation matters in detail."

With that, he turned and walked toward the simple yet magnificent gate of Wuzhuang Temple, his steps steady, his Daoist robe lightly fluttering. Hongyun and Lord Wanshouyuan exchanged a smile and followed.

The two Daoist children, Qingfeng and Mingyue, blinked curiously, excitedly sizing up these new "companions" of various forms and powerful auras, and hurriedly followed.

A new chapter for Longevity Mountain, with the addition of this fresh blood, had thus solemnly begun. The future canvas seemed to have gained more possibilities and colors.