Chapter Nine: The City of the Black Tortoise

The City of Black Tortoise stood at the very heart of the Black Tortoise Waters, a divine city of water. Its entire structure was forged from obsidian crystal, one of the hardest divine stones, rendering it unbreakable. It spanned a million miles in all directions, vast and boundless, with tens of thousands of undersea dragon veins converging beneath, providing an unceasing flow of spiritual power.

“The City of Black Tortoise truly deserves its place among the Ten Sovereign Divine Cities of the Northern Sea,” the blue-robed Taoist could not help but praise as he gazed upon the towering, magnificent city before him.

Behind him, a black-faced acolyte stared fixedly at the awe-inspiring grandeur of the city, utterly motionless.

...

Within the City of Black Tortoise, at the Auspicious Pavilion, in the Divine Chamber marked by the character for “Black Tortoise,”

“Zhaixing, you have followed me for some time now and have accomplished a few tasks for me. Today, I will grant you two choices,” the blue-robed Taoist, seated at the main seat, spoke with calm majesty as he looked at the black-faced acolyte kneeling before him in the great hall.

Two flushes of red rose on the acolyte’s dark cheeks as he prostrated himself, his voice trembling with excitement, “I await my lord’s command.”

“First, I may withdraw the divine sense with which I control your soul, granting you freedom and bestowing upon you a cultivation art. Or second, you may continue to serve as my subordinate,” the blue-robed Taoist said evenly, his gaze steady.

The acolyte’s expression flickered with inner conflict, but at last, he made his decision. Bowing deeply, he declared, “I am willing to continue following my lord.”

“You have made a wise decision.” The blue-robed Taoist gave a soft laugh, extending a finger toward the acolyte. A beam of blue light shot into the acolyte’s forehead.

“The Scripture of Heaven’s Larceny—steal from heaven and earth, seize all things for your own...” A mighty and resounding voice rang out in the acolyte’s mind, as countless golden beams of light flooded his consciousness.

Moments later, he managed to suppress his overwhelming joy, bowing deeply to the blue-robed Taoist, “Your servant shall follow you to eternity, my lord.”

Hearing Zhaixing address himself as “your servant” instead of “little fiend,” the Taoist knew he had won the acolyte’s allegiance entirely.

Nodding in satisfaction, the blue-robed Taoist said with calm authority, “Rise.”

“Thank you for your boundless grace, my lord.” The black-faced acolyte—no, Zhaixing—thanked him fervently.

“Now, I have an arduous task for you. Are you prepared?” The Taoist’s tone was serene yet commanding.

“Your servant will obey your every command.” Zhaixing bowed with clasped hands.

The Taoist nodded slightly, his voice unwavering. “I am soon departing for the Central Wilds. You will remain in the Northern Sea, building power in secret and awaiting my return. Lay the foundation for my unification of the Northern Sea.”

“To unify the Northern Sea? I never imagined my lord harbored such ambition! But can he truly accomplish it? The Ten Divine Lords of the Northern Sea are all innate gods and demons!” Zhaixing’s mind raced, but recalling the Scripture of Heaven’s Larceny newly bestowed upon him, he felt his confidence return.

Though Zhaixing considered much, in the flow of thought it was but an instant. He knelt once more, bowing deeply, “Your servant shall exhaust all efforts and never betray your great trust.”

...

Seated on the main throne in the great hall, the blue-robed Taoist was cultivating when suddenly his golden eyes snapped open and he spat a mouthful of blood.

“To think the baleful aura of an innate god-demon is so fierce. After all this time, I still cannot dissolve it,” he murmured, recalling the scene of his awakening—the uncontrollable surge of violence and slaughter he had unleashed upon countless living beings.

With a thought, a vast water mirror appeared before his eyes, reflecting his blue-robed figure.

His form shifted, becoming that of an innate god-demon clad in a blue divine robe.

“Who am I now? Am I the innate god-demon Nanluo, or the Taoist of Transcendence?” Staring at his reflection, he felt reality grow uncertain.

A humble Taoist, seized by a black hand and brought into the primordial wilderness, who, with that hand’s aid, seized the body of an innate god-demon and now lived on as one.

All of it seemed a dream.

“I am the Taoist of Transcendence bearing Nanluo’s memories,” he affirmed at last, watching his reflection.

“I am Nanluo, and I am the Taoist of Transcendence.” Brilliant golden light burst from his eyes.

Lowering his gaze to his hands, he clenched them tightly. “I am the innate god-demon Nanluo. Who dares defy me?”

Having resolved his inner turmoil, Nanluo felt a wave of relief; no longer resisting the power within his divine body, he found the baleful aura had vanished.

Within him, the divine spark of the Water Laws suddenly radiated a pure light, sweeping away the dust from its surface and unleashing a powerful brilliance that suffused his divine form.

A mighty roar escaped Nanluo’s lips as he felt strength like never before. He threw back his head and howled with exhilaration.

Fortunately, he resided in the Auspicious Pavilion, the finest divine inn, protected by formidably strong barriers. With his own formations reinforcing them, they barely contained the full-force roar of a god-king realm innate demon.

“This is the true power and bearing of an innate god-demon,” Nanluo said, excitement in his voice as he gazed at his reflection, agleam with divine radiance, feeling the world-shattering power within.

...

At the central square of the City of Black Tortoise lay a teleportation array, heavily guarded by soldiers.

Such arrays were standard infrastructure for every divine city. Without one, could it even be called a divine city?

And it was precisely Nanluo’s destination today.

“Exalted one, may I ask your destination?” The teleportation officer in charge of fees inquired with poised courtesy, sensing the immortal aura radiating from the blue-robed Taoist.

As one of the Ten Sovereign Divine Cities of the Northern Sea, the City of Black Tortoise’s teleportation officer had seen gods and immortals of every rank.

“To the Central Wilds, City of Qilin,” the blue-robed Taoist replied evenly, handing over a spatial pouch.

The officer produced a black token carved with the image of the Black Tortoise and handed it over, maintaining his respectful composure. “Please proceed to Central Teleportation Array One.”

The blue-robed Taoist accepted the token, boarded a seahorse carriage within the teleportation array’s precincts, and made his way toward Array One.

“Wow, the bounty on that innate god-demon named Nanluo just increased again! Now, anyone who provides information on his whereabouts can claim three innate spirit treasures,” a startled voice drifted to his ears.

“Really? Let me see!” another voice chimed in noisily.

Hearing this, the blue-robed Taoist calmly sent his divine sense into the Northern Sea’s wanted board—a blue crystal device—and found that indeed, his bounty had risen.

For the blue-robed Taoist was none other than Nanluo himself.

Listening to the surrounding chatter, Nanluo thought to himself that continuing to disguise as a Taoist was truly a wise choice. Who would suspect that the infamous innate god-demon Nanluo had transformed into an immortal master?

He inserted the black token into the slot before the teleportation array and waited quietly for the array to activate.

As the token slid into place, five black dots above the slot lit up one by one.

With a thunderous rumble, the array erupted with a great black light.

Moments later, the black light receded, and not a single living being remained within the teleportation array.