Refining the Dao into Godhood: A Tale of the Jie Sect

Above the North Sea, a cold wind was blowing, carrying a piercing chill. Xuanwu Zhi Ming, with his colossal Turtle-Snake form, finally manifested truly in front of Xuanqing.

"Salutations to Divine Monarch Zhi Ming!"

Xuanqing formally paid his respects, slightly clasping his hands before curiously glancing at the other.

This is because he did not see any Heavenly Dao Chains on Zhi Ming, unlike on Green Dragon Meng Zhang.

"There's no need to look!"

It seemed that Zhi Ming had guessed what Xuanqing was thinking, and shook his head: "I'm different from Meng Zhang, Ling Guang, and Jian Bing! Meng Zhang and Ling Guang belong to the Dragon and Phoenix clans, while Jian Bing, naturally warlike, although not from the Qilin clan, followed the call of the Primordial Qilin and participated in that great war among the three clans that shook the Primordial era!"

"The three of them made great oaths to the Heavenly Dao to help their clans reduce the Heavenly Dao Karma, committing to guard the lands at the Earth's poles!"

"As for me, I stay here because the North Sea is tranquil, unmarred by worldly karma, and incidentally, I accumulate some Heavenly Dao Merit by guarding the Arctic lands!"

While speaking, Zhi Ming put away a chessboard and his immense body slightly moved, causing the nearby void of Beiming to tremble.

Seeing this, Xuanqing frowned and quickly said, "Elder, that chessboard..."

But Zhi Ming, unconcerned, continued: "Stop looking. That chessboard originally belonged to me; I only lent it to Yu Jiang for a while!"

Xuanqing was startled.

This Divine Monarch Zhi Ming, appearing simple-minded, seemed to have the ability to read minds?

He immediately noticed that the "Myriad Tribulations Chessboard" was a Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, profoundly mysterious, harboring both the Innate Qiankun Dao and Innate Tribulation Dao.

He had initially thought, as "Yu Jiang's heir," that he would inherit this chessboard as well.

"Stop thinking about it!"

Zhi Ming, as if he could perceive the thoughts of others: "Since Ancestor Dragon killed Yu Jiang, how could he possibly not take away all his Spiritual Treasures?"

"I only lent the Myriad Tribulations Chessboard to him temporarily as a gesture of neighborliness, to harbor his lingering spirit!"

"That makes sense!" Xuanqing pondered for a moment, finding it reasonable, then asked: "The Primordial realm is vast; don't you ever think of venturing out?"

He was curious since Zhi Ming, not restricted by any Heavenly Dao Chains and possessing strength nearly equivalent to a Saint, chose to remain confined to the Beiming area.

"The Primordial realm, it's just so-so!"

Zhi Ming, showing a blasé attitude: "Every era has its protagonists, but every protagonist ultimately meets an unfortunate end!"

"Have I not seen the rest of the world?"

"When Hong Jun became a Saint, I even asked the Mysterious Turtle to substitute for me temporarily and secretly went to Purple Cloud Palace to listen to his preaching!"

"But considering that standing out too much is not good, as it draws too much attention—'the higher the tree, the stronger the wind'—I opted not to compete for the foremost meditation cushions!"

Xuanqing was astonished to hear this.

He hadn't imagined that Zhi Ming was also one of the three thousand guests at the Purple Cloud Palace; with his strength at that time, if he had competed for a cushion, possibly no one could have contended with him!

After all, during that period, The Three Pure Ones, Jieyin, Zhunti, Fu Xi, Nuwa, Kunpeng, Hong Yun, these powers were merely at the Daluo Golden Immortal Realm!

Whereas Divine Monarch Zhi Ming was at the peak of the Primordial Golden Immortal, infinitely close to the realm of a Saint.

"That Hong Jun, he does have some substance!" Zhi Ming continued, self-absorbed," At least I myself am not capable of creating the Immortal Dao!"

"His disciples also have some substance, Nuwa created the Human Race, The Three Pure Ones established the Dao orders, and even those two beings from the West have their unique aspects!"

"And you!"

"Your cultivation is not high, yet your destiny is utterly intangible, such that even I, skilled in divination, cannot see your future, as if it's veiled in fog."

As one of the earliest beings born after the creation of heaven and earth, Zhi Ming's experiences were even more substantial than a Saint's, with few matters capable of piquing his interest.

"Inaction is better than action!"

Xuanqing, upon hearing Zhi Ming's words, although surprised, replied composedly, "Senior's mindset indeed resembles that of my great uncle."

"The one who does not contend, thus no one in the world can contend with him," Zhi Ming, upon hearing this, simply smiled and said, "Inaction is better than action, your uncle indeed has great wisdom!"

"You are also quite interesting!"

"Looking at the merit on you, you must be the one who explained the Innate Eight Diagrams a few tens of thousands of years ago, invoking the response of the Heavenly Dao, thus receiving this merit."

Xuanqing nodded, "Senior seems to have a very thorough understanding of the Primordial trends; the external changes in the world seem to have no effect on you at all."

This Divine Monarch Zhi Ming truly stands aloof from the world, untainted by karma. He, too, possesses Heavenly Dao Merit capable of dissolving the grudges of the giants, but he turns a blind eye, choosing to wait for the Dragon Clan to handle it themselves.

Moreover, whether it was the Dragon Han Catastrophe or the current Witch Demon Catastrophe, he has not been tainted with any bit of karma, but instead holds the merit of guarding the Arctic.

Despite having the capability to influence the situation in Primordial, he chooses to stay in the bitterly cold Beiming, a place where few could make him move.

Xuanqing bowed respectfully, unabashedly saying, "May I, the junior, request some Gui Water Essence from the senior? Also, may I ask the senior to release the Innate Spiritual Treasure in your hand so that I can imprint a bit of the Dao contained within it?"

"Granted!"

Zhi Ming did not refuse.

Although he does not wish to be tainted by karma, sometimes, he does not mind forming a good connection.

Moreover, apart from the Dao of Gui Water, he has also comprehended the Yin Yang Great Dao; the turtle represents yang, the snake represents yin, action and inaction align with the mysteries of the Yin Yang Dao.

Therefore, he also wishes to discuss the "Innate Eight Diagrams" with Xuanqing, to see if this derived Dao from the Yin Yang Great Dao could verify his own understanding of the Yin Yang Great Dao?

In an instant, a stream of Gui Water Essence directly fell into Xuanqing's brow.

Even more, nearly a hundred Innate Spiritual Treasures shone brightly in the void, bursting out with various Dao essences.

"This is..."

Xuanqing did not expect that Zhi Ming would be so wealthy. Beiming is barren, with Kunpeng born in Beiming without any treasures to offer... Could it be because Zhi Ming had swept clean the Beiming region?

In the Beiming region, those who are well-known are only a few, such as Xuanwu Zhi Ming, North Sea Mysterious Turtle, the Demon Kunpeng, and the already deceased Sea God...

The Sea God has passed away.

Kunpeng is destitute.

The Mysterious Turtle cannot transform, so he has no use for Spiritual Treasures.

The most likely to have swept clean the Beiming region is this person in front of him, who can move freely, endowed with merit, a mighty figure existing since the creation of the world—Zhi Ming!

The more Xuanqing thought, the more he felt it was possible, even claiming the barren western side has the "Bodhi Tree" and "Seven Emotions Tortured Bamboo," two Top Grade Innate Spirit Roots.

It's impossible for Beiming to have nothing.

Now, aside from the previously seen "Myriad Tribulations Chessboard," Xuanqing also saw such as "Xuan Yuan Water Control Banner" ranked among the Top Grades of Innate Spiritual Treasures and a High Grade Innate Spirit Root named "Great Chun Tree."

"If Zhunti, the Saint, were to see this, wouldn't he say, 'You have fate with my Western side'?"

Xuanqing inwardly ridiculed, also firming up his guess, and ventured to ask, "Senior, this can't be your entire fortune, can it?"

"Now there's really nothing left!"

Zhi Ming thought for a moment, then pulled out dozens of Innate Spiritual Treasures from somewhere, "Hong Jun that fellow, also once took many opportunities from the Beiming region!"

You really do have more!

Seeing this, Xuanqing was utterly astonished. Had he just tried his luck with a casual question?

"Senior, are you lacking a son?"

He immediately cast aside all concerns of face, and with the most respectful tone, said, "I would like to provide for your old age!"