Chapter 82: Unifying the Northern Wastes (Part Two)

The Black Tortoise Waters, Black Tortoise City, Black Tortoise Hall.

Black Tortoise City was the grandest fortress of the Northern Wilderness, and Black Tortoise Hall was the crown atop this unrivaled city, majestic and dignified.

The exterior of Black Tortoise Hall resembled a pure-black tortoise, its eyes glimmering with mysterious light. The shell bore endless shifting patterns, ever-changing and unfathomable, as the tortoise lay motionless, gazing southward toward the primordial lands.

It was said that the inspiration for Black Tortoise Hall came from the unfathomable patriarch of the Black Tortoise Clan, Xuan Tianwu.

Xuan Tianwu, one of the Three Thousand Primordial Gods and Demons, founded the Black Tortoise Clan in the Northern Sea a million years ago and led them to dominate the Northern Wilderness. His cultivation was unfathomable.

Black Tortoise Hall was divided into the Outer and Inner Halls. The Outer Hall was the supreme center of power for the Black Tortoise Clan, while the Inner Hall served as Xuan Tianwu’s residence.

The Outer Hall, as the clan’s highest authority, was grand and solemn. The Inner Hall, where Xuan Tianwu resided, was an elegant, tranquil paradise.

The Inner Hall was also playfully referred to as Black Tortoise Cave.

At the center of Black Tortoise Cave stood a towering tree whose crown stretched to the clouds, vibrant and lush. Its leaves bore profound markings, radiating infinite wisdom—this was the legendary Enlightenment Tree.

Surrounding the tree were waterfalls whose peaks and sources could not be seen, endlessly flowing with spiritual water.

The spiritual water from the waterfalls pooled into a natural lake, nourishing the Enlightenment Tree.

Xuan Tianwu, dressed in a black robe adorned with a lively tortoise roaming across it, his hair unbound, sat on a rocking chair beneath the Enlightenment Tree. His eyes were nearly closed, listening to the sounds of water, serene and content.

As Xuan Tianwu indulged in this rare moment of leisure, a shadow arrived, breaking the calm.

A streak of black light appeared beside the stone tablet in Black Tortoise Cave, revealing a slender figure.

“Your Majesty, the Divine Clan has begun their assault on the Black Tortoise Clan,” Xuan Tianji said, his thin face and black eyes shining with intelligence.

Xuan Tianwu, unmoved on his rocking chair, calmly asked, “Which Divine Lords did they send?”

“So far, only the Lord of Thunder is known. The others remain unidentified,” Xuan Tianji replied evenly.

Xuan Tianwu asked quietly, “How long do you think it will take the Divine Clan to subdue the Xuanming Black Serpent Clan?”

“At least a day,” Xuan Tianji’s black eyes flickered with silvery, mysterious light, uncertain.

“One day? Your divination skills need more work! To annihilate the Xuanming Black Serpent Clan, the Divine Clan needs only half a day,” Xuan Tianwu opened his enigmatic black eyes, releasing endless silver light, his tone certain.

“Half a day?! With just the Lord of Thunder, it’s impossible to defeat Black Sky. To kill Black Sky, the Divine Clan must send at least four Divine Lords. Would they really send four Lords to destroy the Xuanming Black Serpent Clan?” Xuan Tianji’s brows furrowed, his mysterious gaze grew brighter.

Yet, the light in Xuan Tianji’s eyes was but a firefly compared to the brilliance of Xuan Tianwu.

“Why does the Divine Clan want to annihilate the Xuanming Black Serpent Clan?” Xuan Tianwu suddenly posed an unexpected question.

For Xuan Tianji, master of divination, this question struck like a blow.

“I see. The Divine Clan attacks to establish their dominance and unify the Northern Wilderness. Half a day is enough for all beings to know of this, and it proclaims the Divine Clan’s immense power,” Xuan Tianji’s silver light surged then calmed, clearly advancing in cultivation, his tone excited.

“Correct. The Divine Clan sent six Divine Lords led by the Lord of Fate, aiming for a display of power,” Xuan Tianwu said gravely.

“After the Xuanming Black Serpent Clan is destroyed, it will be our turn to bow before the Divine Clan,” Xuan Tianwu, unrivaled in his era, could not hide his despondency.

The Black Tortoise Clan spent millions of years to rule the Northern Wilderness, only to surrender to a newly founded Divine Clan in a moment.

Not only Xuan Tianwu, but Xuan Tianji and the entire clan were filled with sorrow.

“Your Majesty, why must we bow to the Divine Clan?” Xuan Tianji could no longer contain his frustration, raising his voice. “With the might of our clan, and the Nine Clans of the North, why could we not resist?”

“Indeed, you are right,” Xuan Tianwu looked at Xuan Tianji, surprisingly agreeing, leaving Xuan Tianji at a loss.

“The strength of the Ten Northern Clans could resist the Divine Clan. But what then?”

“The chaos of the world has already begun. Ferocious beasts invade, threatening all tribes. Without enough fortune and strength, how can we survive this catastrophe?”

With each word, Xuan Tianji’s face grew paler.

Yet, Xuan Tianji refused to concede, loudly retorting, “The Dragon Clan, Lion Clan, Phoenix Clan—do they not rely on their own strength? When have they ever submitted?”

“Hmph. The Dragon and Phoenix clans do rely on strength, but not their own—it is external power,” Xuan Tianwu’s eyes flashed with ferocity, his tone impassioned.

“Fortune! Power! These are the only means to survive the calamity. Either be a clan of destiny, like the Divine Clan, or possess external aid, as the dragons and phoenixes do.”

“But which among the Black Tortoise Clan or the Ten Northern Clans has such fortune or strength?”

Suddenly, Xuan Tianwu unleashed the overwhelming pressure of a Divine Lord, his voice thunderous.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

His divine aura swept through the cave, sending columns of water shooting from the waterfalls and lake.

Upon hearing Xuan Tianwu’s reasoning, Xuan Tianji fell silent, ashamed of his naive thoughts.

“Now you understand why the Nine Clans do not aid the Xuanming Black Serpent Clan? To help them is to offend the Divine Clan, to cut off one’s own hope, to invite destruction,” Xuan Tianwu said mournfully.

“I admit my mistake,” Xuan Tianji faced Xuan Tianwu, bowed in apology.

“Good. Prepare yourself, and ready to bow to the Divine Clan,” Xuan Tianwu, weary, closed his eyes and gently rocked, his tone heavy.

Yet Xuan Tianji persisted, determined to resolve his doubt. “Your Majesty, what is the external power of the Dragon and Phoenix Clans?”

Xuan Tianwu’s black eyes suddenly opened, turning dazzlingly silver, coldly regarding Xuan Tianji’s earnest gaze, his tone oppressive. “That is not for you to ask.”

Bang!

Xuan Tianji felt an irresistible force, and was instantly thrown out of Black Tortoise Cave.