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

With the matter of merit settled, the pillar of light connecting heaven and earth vanished completely, and the sky returned to normal.

Zhenyuanzi's calm yet majestic gaze once again fell upon the beings below the platform who had yet to leave, their eyes still filled with anticipation.

His powerful divine sense had long been working like the finest sieve, meticulously observing and discerning their qualities throughout his nine hundred years of teaching, as well as their conduct while comprehending the Dao and offering their thanks just now.

By this point, he had clearly identified several among the countless beings whose aptitude, temperament, and origins were all outstanding, and whose fortune was faintly connected to his own and that of Longevity Mountain, indicating a strong affinity.

He first turned his gaze toward the immortal cranes, whose bearing had remained graceful throughout and whose Dao resonance was pure and refined. In particular, he singled out their leader, the most magnificent among them, with the purest, clearest aura and cultivation at the late Golden Immortal stage. His voice was gentle, yet brooked no question:

"You immortal cranes possess remarkable origins and pure hearts. Would you be willing to remain at my Wuzhuang Temple, welcoming guests, delivering messages, and gracing the mountain forests?"

At his words, the lead crane abruptly raised its slender neck. Disbelief flashed through its eyes, followed by a blaze of overwhelming joy.

It stretched its neck and let out a clear, melodious cry filled with reverence and gratitude, then hurriedly nodded. "We humbly obey your decree, Exalted Immortal! We are willing! We would gladly serve you!"

To remain at such a wellspring of the Great Dao, a Great Luo Dojo, was an unparalleled honor and opportunity, even if they were only to handle minor duties such as greeting and seeing off visitors. Bathing daily in rich spiritual energy and Dao resonance would bring immeasurable benefits to their cultivation.

The other immortal cranes also gave clear cries, expressing their submission and delight.

Next, Zhenyuanzi's lightning-sharp gaze swept over the beasts on the platform, their auras variously majestic, ferocious, or auspicious, and singled them out in turn:

A magnificent Vermilion Bird wreathed in faint Southern Bright Leaving Fire, rosy light flowing through its tail feathers;

A pure-blooded kirin standing upon auspicious clouds, its scales gleaming and its eyes shining with benevolence;

A White Tiger with restrained baleful energy but innate majesty, a distinct king-shaped marking on its forehead and an imposing gaze;

An Azure Dragon whose dragon might was beginning to emerge, its green scales shining and its antlers branching like ancient trees, already displaying an impressive bearing;

A Black Warrior with tortoise and serpent entwined, its aura as weighty as a mountain, its shell naturally inscribed with profound patterns.

These five spirit beasts all possessed exceptionally pure bloodlines of the Five Directions Sacred Beasts, close to their original source. Each had reached the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal level, with tremendous potential and enduring fortune.

When Zhenyuanzi singled them out, they were initially stunned, seemingly never having expected to be chosen. Then they sensed the approval and regard in his gaze, along with his clear intent to recruit them.

Though their bloodlines were noble, before them stood a mighty cultivator who had taught the Dao for nine hundred years, drawn down Heavenly Dao Merit, and possessed unfathomable cultivation.

They put aside their usual pride, lowering their mighty or graceful heads and giving clear, deep, or majestic roars and cries, each expressing complete submission and a willingness to remain in their own way.

Then Zhenyuanzi looked past the conspicuous pure-blooded sacred beasts and settled his gaze on an Ink Kirin standing alone at the edge. Somewhat withdrawn, it bore scales of an unusually deep, inky hue that made it seem out of place among the other dazzling kirin.

Because of a strange mutation in its bloodline, its coloration was considered ill-omened, and its power inclined toward shadows and the depths of the earth. The main kirin clan refused to accept it and had even ostracized it. Though its cultivation had reached the Primordial Unity realm, its eyes often held a trace of loneliness and tenacity.

Feeling Zhenyuanzi's seemingly all-seeing gaze settle upon it, the Ink Kirin's enormous body jolted. Disbelief and intense excitement filled its eyes. It hurried forward and bowed its head low, nearly touching the ground, expressing its willingness with the utmost humility.

Finally, Zhenyuanzi's gaze settled on an inconspicuous corner of the platform, where a Black Tortoise lay. Its body was as vast as a mountain, yet its aura was as still and deep as an abyss, almost blending into the earth.

This tortoise was an exceedingly rare Innate Black Tortoise that had attained the Dao. Its origins were ancient and profound, far surpassing those of most beings present, and its cultivation had actually reached the early Da Luo Golden Immortal stage!

Vast magical power lay dormant within it like a fathomless ocean. Yet it seemed bound by some innate shackle or restriction of the Great Dao. Though fully intelligent and possessed of profound cultivation, it had still been unable to take human form.

In Zhenyuanzi's memories, this tortoise had suffered a tragic fate. In later ages, it seemed to have remained unable to find a suitable method or opportunity for transformation. Despite possessing immense magical power approaching the peak of the Quasi-Saint realm and a formidable body, it could not shed its original form. In the end, calamity befell it, and its four limbs were severed to support heaven and earth—a fate both heroic and heartbreaking.

But today, now that he had encountered it, an opportunity had arisen to change the course of its fate.

Looking into the Black Tortoise's enormous, timeworn eyes, Zhenyuanzi spoke directly. His voice was calm, yet carried a reassuring strength, as though he were stating an established fact:

"Would you be willing to enter my tutelage, for now as a registered disciple? I can help you comprehend the mysteries and discover your own Way of Transformation."

The Black Tortoise slowly raised its enormous head, its movements sluggish, as though it bore the weight of countless ages.

At first, its cloudy eyes, as though veiled in dust, held only bewilderment, seemingly unable to believe what it had heard. Once it confirmed that the voice had truly reached its mind, and that the gaze was indeed fixed upon it, those immense eyes suddenly blazed with unprecedented brilliance, like sunlight breaking through the clouds!

It had been trapped in the hopeless plight of being unable to transform for countless cosmic cycles. Having searched throughout the Primordial Wilderness without finding an answer, it had nearly succumbed to despair. Now it heard these words.

It was like seeing a dazzling ray of light within an endless dark abyss, like someone who had been drowning for hundreds of millions of years finally grasping a piece of driftwood!

It hurriedly conveyed its overwhelming excitement through divine thought, its message even trembling slightly. A deep voice like ancient thunder resounded above the platform:

"I am willing! Your disciple, Black Tortoise, pays respects to you, Master! Thank you for your grace, Master! Thank you for your grace!" Its voice echoed, brimming with heartfelt gratitude and newfound hope.

In addition, Zhenyuanzi selected a majestic lion with a tremendous aura and nine heads, each bearing a different expression.

This lion had also reached the peak of the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal realm. Golden light shone all around him, marking him as extraordinary. He was the very being who would later be known as Nine Spirits Yuan Sheng.

Zhenyuanzi told him, "You are upright by nature and possess ample might. You may remain as well. In the future, you can guard the Mountain Gate and deter evildoers."

The Nine-Headed Lion turned all nine heads toward Zhenyuanzi at once, reverence and obedience in all eighteen eyes. He gave a low, resonant roar and nodded all nine heads together, accepting the decree.

Having chosen those with whom he shared an affinity, Zhenyuanzi addressed the still-vast multitude of beings on the platform who had not been selected. His gentle voice carried throughout the gathering:

"The teaching is complete, and our affinities have been settled. Each of you has your own opportunities awaiting you. Disperse now and return to your abodes. Cultivate diligently and reflect upon what you have learned. Do not squander the Dao you heard today. That is the proper path."

At his words, many of the beings showed disappointment and envy, but they also understood that opportunities could not be forced. Hearing the Great Dao at all had already been an extraordinary blessing.

Together, they bowed deeply toward the raised platform once more and said in unison, "We shall humbly heed your teachings, Exalted Immortal!"

Then they took flight through rays of escape light, divine abilities, or their own physical strength, becoming countless streams of dazzling radiance. Like an ebbing tide, they rose from the platform on Longevity Mountain and scattered in every direction across the Primordial Wilderness, taking their tremendous gains and all they had witnessed back to their own worlds, while also spreading word of the prestige and benevolence of "Zhenyuanzi of Longevity Mountain."

Once all the other beings had departed, the platform seemed far more spacious. Only the chosen immortal cranes, descendants of the Five Directions Sacred Beasts, the Ink Kirin, the Black Tortoise, and the Nine-Headed Lion remained.

Looking over these beings of exceptional aptitude, origins, and potential, Zhenyuanzi nodded slightly. A barely perceptible hint of satisfaction appeared on his austere face.

After this gathering, Wuzhuang Temple of Longevity Mountain was finally no longer home to merely himself, Hong Yun, his avatar, and the young attendants. It had begun to show signs of prosperity and growth.

With proper nurturing and instruction suited to their individual talents, these beings could all become pillars of the Longevity Mountain Lineage. Within, they could manage the dojo; beyond it, they could uphold its prestige. They would also serve as vital foundations for carrying out certain plans he held for the future.

With a gentle sweep of his sleeve, a soft yet irresistible power enveloped all the beings who remained, and he said:

"Now that you have entered my tutelage, you must abide by the temple's rules. Follow me inside, and I shall make detailed arrangements for your duties and cultivation."

With that, he turned and led the way toward the ancient, grand gates of Wuzhuang Temple, his steps steady and his Daoist robes fluttering lightly. Hong Yun and Lord Wanshouyuan exchanged smiles and followed.

The two young Daoist attendants, Qingfeng and Mingyue, blinked curiously, eagerly studying these new "companions" with their varied forms and powerful auras before hurrying after them.

With this influx of new blood, a new chapter for Longevity Mountain solemnly began, and the unfolding picture of its future seemed to gain still more possibilities and color.