The North Sea Black Tortoise Was Tempted, and Ran Deng Arrived!

The Spiritual Sense of the North Sea Black Tortoise fluctuated once more, entering Xuandu's mind:

"Join... the Interception Sect?"

His voice carried an almost numb sense of doubt.

Xuandu remained expressionless, meeting those ancient eyes, and slowly nodded:

"Exactly."

"Our Interception Sect Teach Without Discrimination. Anyone who seeks the Dao, regardless of their background or origin, can join our Jie Interception Sect and have a Glimmer of Hope."

"Our predecessors possessed Immeasurable Merit and had ancient lineage."

"If one can join my Interception Sect and receive guidance from Sage Master, one will surely Dao Path of cultivation, and may even... Glimpse of 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 Spiritual Sense arrived again, this time with a clearer hint of mockery, though it was still slow.

"Young man, do you know... who I am?"

Xuandu paused slightly, then said in a deep voice:

"This junior understands."

"This predecessor existed since the beginning of time; his lineage is so ancient that it is rarely seen in the Great Wilderness."

A slight surge of Chaos Qi 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 Four Extremes of Great Wilderness. My limbs are destined to... support the heavens and the earth."

"This is the Heaven's Decree, which even Sage cannot change."

Its Spiritual Sense grew increasingly low, and it resigned itself to its fate:

"When the Great Tribulation 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 Xuandu, the mockery vanishing, leaving only an unfathomable calm:

"Join the Interception Sect?"

"Would the Sage Tongtian accept someone who is destined to die and will bring karmic Karma?"

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 immediately."

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 Interception Sect had some ulterior motive.

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

However.

Just as the Black Tortoise was about to fall into complete silence.

Xuandu suddenly stepped forward!

"Senior!"

"Definite number? Heaven's Decree?"

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

"The Jie Sect's Teachings is to Seize a Thread of Life!"

"Strive to cross the river in Desperate Situation, break free from a deadly impasse!"

What is destiny? What is Heaven's Decree?

"Was Nuwa Creates Humans predetermined? Was Laozi's Human Sect predetermined?"

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

The questions echoed deep within the Black Tortoise'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 Chaos Qi surging wildly, and they stared intently at Xuandu!

"What... what did you say?"

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

Xuandu's words were too audacious, too defying the heavens!

How dare you question the actions of Sage, and the Heavenly Dao's Predetermined Number?

Xuandu did not back down, meeting the Black Tortoise's gaze, and continued:

"I say, destiny is not necessarily unchangeable!"

"My master, the Sage Tongtian, wields the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, which cannot be broken by any of the Four Sages. His Intercepting Heaven Taking Dao is to contend with Heaven itself!"

He paused slightly, his tone turning serious:

"Besides, even if you really do have to face that Calamity of Supporting Heaven in the future... can't you do more for yourself before facing it?"

"By joining the Interception Sect, you will receive the Sage's Protection and enjoy the Jie Sect's Fortune Blessing. Even if you still need to face tribulations in the future, the Interception Sect will bear the Karma!"

"At that time, the Merit of Supporting Heaven will no longer be merely the virtue of the senior, but also the Supreme Merit that our Interception Sect has established for the Great Wilderness!"

"The karmic Karma owed by Sage... what do you think, senior, weigh?"

Upon hearing this North Sea Black Tortoise slightly raised its head, and Chaos Energy Flow surged violently in its eyes.

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

"Seize a Thread of Life..."

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 annihilation?

Unwilling to accept this!

A pent-up resentment and bitterness, suppressed for countless eons, was now completely ignited by Xuandu's words!

"Young man..."

The Spiritual Sense of the North Sea Black Tortoise arrived once more, this time carrying an unprecedented fluctuation, hoarse and heavy:

"Is what you said... true?"

Its deep, dark eyes were fixed on Xuandu, as if trying to see through the Green Clad Figure.

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

"Every word I have said is true."

"Our Jie Sect Leader, Sage Tongtian of Pangu Orthodox Lineage, a Heavenly Dao Sage, and wields the Immortal Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, which cannot be broken by any but the Four Sages."

"If he were to offer his protection, even if it Heavenly Dao's Predetermined Number, it wouldn't necessarily be impossible to fight for it!"

"Not to mention..."

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

"Senior is burdened with the Mandate of Supporting Heaven; this is a Great Karma."

"If we can use this Karma to gain the Sage's Protection, and even the strong support of the Interception Sect in the future... do you think this deal is worth it, senior?"

Is it worth it?

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

It was totally worth it!

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

The Sage's Karma —how precious are they?

Let alone Sage 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 Interception Sect...

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

and...

If one could receive guidance from Sage, perhaps... perhaps there truly is a sliver of a possibility to Glimpse of Transcendence?

"You..."

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

Those Chaos, surging eyes suddenly turned upwards towards the crack, staring intently at the North Sea Surface!

An extremely Obscure Spiritual Sense is quietly sweeping across this sea area!

That Spiritual Sense contained the pressure of Quasi-Saint Peak.

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 Spiritual Sense clearly paused for a moment when it swept across the area!

Their target... was clearly Xuandu!

"A living being is approaching."

The Spiritual Sense of the North Sea Black Tortoise instantly entered Xuandu's mind, carrying a hint of solemnity:

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

"They came for you."

!!!

Xuandu's pupils suddenly contracted!

Quasi-Saint Peak?

Coming for him?

Almost at the same time, he also sensed an extremely faint anomaly.

It was as if something was spying on him from the shadows, but when he scanned it with his Spiritual 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 Xuandu's eyes.

He knew that his master, Martial Uncle 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 being!

The Ran Deng...

Xuandu pondered in his heart, but his expression remained completely calm.

The Old Daoist did indeed arrive.

If it were an ordinary Mid Stage Golden Immortal of the Origin, facing a veteran Quasi-Saint Peak like Ran Deng, 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 Cultivation Technique Sum Feedback allowed him to reach the pinnacle of his understanding of the Interception Sect's techniques, such as the Shangqing Sword Art Manual.

Although there was no actual combat to verify it, countless Sword Intent flowed in his mind.

With the Intercepting Heaven Sword in hand and the Chaos Origin empowering it, one can create myriad forms at will. Its sharpness may well be able to break through the Ran Deng's defense.

More importantly... he wasn't alone at that moment!

The North Sea Black Tortoise is the best barrier.

Unless he were insane, Ran Deng would never dare to act recklessly in front of Black Tortoise.

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

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Xuandu's lips.

He didn't need to fight Ran Deng head-on at all.

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

What he wanted was absolute domination.

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