Manifesting Form, Mystic Turtle Bestows Treasure

The Mystic Turtle opened its mouth, but after uttering a single word, it fell silent.

It was several days later before the Mystic Turtle spoke again.

Although time in the Primordial World was of little value, it still ticked away second by second, provided one wasn't in a special state like enlightenment or cultivation.

Lin Bei waited patiently for a long time before he could piece together the fragmented words spoken by the Mystic Turtle:

"You have come. I have always been unable to take human form, and I wish to discuss the Dao with you."

It was true; looking across the North Sea region, ever since the Dragon Clan became mired in the Immeasurable Kalpa and was devastated by Luo Hou, no living being remained more powerful than Kun Peng.

"Very well," Lin Bei agreed decisively. "I, too, have been looking for a fellow Daoist to discuss the Dao with."

The original Kun Peng had a sinister personality and certainly would not have wasted words on this slow-talking, seemingly foolish Mystic Turtle.

But Lin Bei was different; in his eyes, even setting aside the future feat of Mending Heaven, this Mystic Turtle was by no means simple.

Of the Primordial Continent, the northern region was currently the poorest, and once Luo Hou detonated the West, that would become the most wretched region of all.

Even so, Jieyin's personal wealth was not meager.

Beyond his Personal Spirit Treasure, the Jieyin Treasure Banner, he possessed the Bodhi Tree, a supreme Innate Spiritual Root.

It was just that Jieyin was truly compassionate; he allowed the Bodhi Tree to take human form, which resulted in Zhunti.

Once divided between the two, their spirit treasures seemed fewer.

If Jieyin had extinguished the Bodhi Tree's sentience, combined with his subsequent gains from the Purple Cloud Palace, his foundation—while not matching the Three Pure Ones—would have been more than enough to stand against Nüwa, who was also a Saint.

In truth, the situations of the West and the North were somewhat similar, both having been affected during the Immeasurable Kalpa.

Today, the top-notch cultivators hailing from the northern part of the Primordial World, aside from the Xuanwu who had transformed into the Four Extremes of Heaven and Earth to suppress the North, were only the Mystic Turtle and Kun Peng.

It was impossible that two Innate Gods with such top-tier origins couldn't even scrape together a single Personal Spirit Treasure between them.

Since the Mystic Turtle couldn't take human form, building a good relationship with him meant that, when the time came, borrowing one might be an option.

Thus, Lin Bei settled down near the Mystic Turtle, taking time between his cultivation sessions to discuss the Dao with him and foster their relationship.

A long time later, the Demonic Dao War, far away in the West, finally drew to a close.

The duel between Hongjun and Luo Hou, after the sacrifice of Yin Yang Lao Zu and Qiankun Lao Zu and the destruction of the western ley lines, ended in victory for Hongjun.

However, Luo Hou also issued the vow that "the Dao rises as the Demonic wanes, and the Demonic rises as the Dao wanes," vowing to be forever entangled with Hongjun.

With this, the Primordial World truly entered a relatively long period of peaceful development.

Above the North Sea, murky waves surged into the sky, and spiritual energy roiled, forming a black vortex.

A strain of Dao sound flowed out from within, expounding the core essence of the The Great Void Two Forms Art:

"The Great Void is vast and indistinct, the Hundun yet to take form. Qi gestates in the primordial, the Dao hides nameless."

"Movement and stillness resonate, Yin and Yang begin to stir. The Two Manifestations are judged, the Eternal Manifestations bloom."

"Yin and Yang merge as one, returning to the Wuji. Form and spirit are perfected, merging with the truth of the Dao."

"Guard the void to command the myriad, grasp the Two Manifestations to settle the Heavens and Earth."

"Return to the root and fulfill the mandate, thus proving the Great Void!"

The phantoms of the Kun and the Peng surged within, the two merging and gradually condensing into form.

The Lightning Tribulation was primarily a trial for Acquired Living Beings; as long as one was an Innate being, there was no need to worry about such matters.

Lin Bei's body gradually took shape, manifesting and descending amidst the surging black Qi.

The Mystic Turtle's massive eyes revealed a look of longing, staring fixedly at the center of the vortex.

When the vortex dissipated, a man of extraordinary bearing stepped upon the waves of the North Sea, dressed in a luxurious black robe adorned with intricate gold patterns;

His thick, ink-black hair billowed wildly in the wind, and the cold glint in his eyes was sharp and piercing.

Lin Bei sensed the Heaven and Earth around him and declared:

"The Great Dao is above; I am Bei Ming, with the Daoist name Kun Peng!"

Following the declaration, Bei Ming faintly perceived a deep, unfathomable echo.

Regardless of how the transmigration had occurred, in this era before Hongjun had merged with the Dao, reporting one's presence to the Great Dao could do no harm.

Moreover, after completing the fusion of soul and body, and having cultivated for countless Yuanhui;

He was no longer entirely the former Lin Bei, and he was certainly not the original Kun Peng.

Therefore, to stand in the Primordial World, a new name was required.

In the Primordial World, names and Daoist names were not chosen haphazardly.

Kun Peng was born in the North Sea, located in the northernmost part of the Primordial World, so he took Bei Ming as his name;

"Kun Peng" was better suited as a Daoist name, much like "Fei Xiong";

Di Jun and Tai Yi did not call themselves Da Jinwu and Er Jinwu, after all.

Bei Ming cupped his hands toward the Mystic Turtle and said, "Fellow Daoist, I have finally met you in this form."

The Mystic Turtle opened its mouth.

So much time had passed, yet aside from the exponential growth of his physical body's strength and size, he had made no progress in any other aspect.

Bei Ming landed on his back and sat cross-legged; he had rested on the Mystic Turtle's back before when he occasionally transformed into a Peng, so both parties were accustomed to it.

"Mystic Turtle, don't rush, speak slowly."

After a long, intermittent narration, a complete message was pieced together:

"Fellow Daoist, congratulations on your successful transformation, yet I have cultivated for countless Yuanhui and still find the Dao Body difficult to attain.

We have kept each other company for a long time, but now the time has come to part ways.

All living things in the Primordial Wilderness have different destinies; you should not be trapped in this corner of the North Sea, but should enter the world in the name of the Northern Border of the Primordial Wilderness."

Bei Ming did not put on a show of false sentimentality, nor did he claim he couldn't bear to leave after so many years of friendship; instead, he replied directly:

"That is exactly my intention. Now that the Three Clans have declined and the Primordial Wilderness is relatively stable, it is indeed a good opportunity to travel.

Once I consolidate my cultivation, I will head out to wander, explore the Primordial Wilderness, and while I am at it, see if I can find a way for you to achieve transformation."

Although he spoke plainly, the Mystic Turtle felt a touch of emotion; after all, he was the only friend the Mystic Turtle had made after countless Yuanhui, and he was still thinking of him even while preparing to head out into the world.

The Mystic Turtle had existed in the North Sea long before Bei Ming had even gained sentience.

Back then, there were quite a few Dragon Clan experts in the North Sea, but none of them paid much attention to the Mystic Turtle.

Given the Mystic Turtle's state, he spoke with such sluggish slowness that few Cultivators were willing to waste their time lingering with him—would it not be better to spend that time cultivating or seeking opportunities?

Relying on his formidable defensive power, the Mystic Turtle could ignore most attacks, and many Cultivators who had designs on him ended up meeting their doom.

As a kin of Xuanwu and a member of the Scaled Creatures, neither Zu Long nor Zhu Long would naturally come to cause trouble for him personally.

This resulted in the Mystic Turtle dwelling in endless loneliness; unable to cultivate normally, he could only taste that isolation more profoundly.

At this moment, the arrival of Bei Ming was like a ray of light shining into the Mystic Turtle's bewildered existence.

After another period of waiting, Bei Ming pieced together the rest of the Mystic Turtle's words:

"I see that you have no defensive Spirit Treasure, and since I cannot move, I have no use for this object, so I shall gift it to you."