Chapter 70: The Northern Giant

So how did Tongtian ultimately escape his predicament? And why was he injured?

As it happened, Tongtian remembered the "Six Souls Banner" in his possession. This banner was once a treasured artifact of the Underworld and was given to him for his contributions when the Underworld was first established. When the Six Souls Banner is shaken, several black threads emerge. These threads carry the power of karma; as long as one's cultivation and spiritual power are sufficient, they can drag any living being into the Six Paths of Reincarnation, condemning them to endless cycles of suffering.

In this way, the Six Souls Banner is directly connected to the realm of reincarnation itself. It was Lady Houtu, the Mistress of the Underworld, who had explained this to him. If not for her words, Tongtian would not have known how to escape such peril.

Thus, Tongtian activated the Six Souls Banner, shaking it several times. With each motion, the surrounding mist and water vapor were whisked away and transferred into the Underworld.

Meanwhile, the Black Dragon, who had been watching the Three Pure Ones flounder, noticed that the mist around them was thinning and becoming clearer. Alarmed, the dragon quickly investigated and realized that Tongtian was the cause of this change.

Furious, the Black Dragon lashed out, slamming its claw fiercely toward Tongtian. Tongtian, absorbed in his success, failed to notice the attack. The blow struck him directly at the soul, the primordial spirit. This was no ordinary strike—it was imbued with dense, innate turbid energy, which clung to Tongtian’s soul like insects, slowly corroding it.

This innate turbid energy was far stronger than Tongtian’s own innate pure energy. Even his primordial soul, formed of pure energy, trembled under its might. Tongtian fell to one knee, sweat beading on his forehead, his hand clutching the Six Souls Banner tightly.

Seeing his attack succeed, the Black Dragon burst into raucous laughter. “Since you are so eager to return to your Father God, then let me grant your wish!”

The Black Dragon began to dance wildly, gathering all the innate turbid energy around him into a dense, black cloud above his head. With a furious roar, he sent the mass of energy surging toward Tongtian.

Tongtian forced himself to stand, roaring as he poured all his power into the Six Souls Banner and shook it with all his might.

But there was simply too much turbid energy. Despite the karmic power unleashed by the Six Souls Banner, he could not shield himself. The turbid energy pierced through his body again and again, and Tongtian could no longer support the use of the banner.

Even so, he managed to transfer all the floating mist and weak water vapors into the Underworld. Spent, he tumbled from the clouds.

At that moment, the Grand Supreme Elder Lord and the Primordial Heavenly Lord rushed forward to catch him. But just then, the Black Dragon attacked again. Their attention fixed on Tongtian, they failed to notice in time, and both were wounded, falling with Tongtian into the currents of the Weak Water below.

Seeing the Three Pure Ones topple to the ground, utterly defeated, the Black Dragon laughed in triumph. But just then, the sky was suddenly filled with radiant clouds of light, and even the ceaseless flow of Weak Water was halted by an invisible force.

"It is time for you to return," a voice declared.

The figure of the Dao Ancestor Hongjun appeared in the sky. In truth, the Black Dragon was not someone any being of the Great Desolation could contend with. Having endured and absorbed the baleful energies and countless souls from both the Dragon-Han Calamity and the Lich-Demon Calamity, and with the "gifts" left by the Wu Tribe, the Black Dragon's power had skyrocketed.

“Hmph, you brought this upon yourselves. Had you not slaughtered without restraint, would I be so powerful? Still, I must thank you for releasing me,” the Black Dragon retorted, showing no sign of being cowed by Hongjun’s presence—indeed, almost his equal in bearing.

“If you remain so obstinate, then I shall cast you into the endless abyss,” Hongjun replied. With a wave of his hand, the Wheel of the Heavenly Dao appeared from the clouds.

At the sight of the Wheel, the Black Dragon’s mocking expression vanished, replaced by solemnity. He knew then that his suffering had truly come.

With a single motion, just one strike, Hongjun sent the Black Dragon plunging beneath the base of Buzhou Mountain. Then, holding a talisman, Hongjun chanted softly until the talisman vanished into the mountain, and the innate turbid energy ceased to pour forth.

Hongjun then turned his gaze to the Three Pure Ones, still soaking in the Weak Water. With a gesture, he summoned them to his side and cleansed their bodies of the turbid energy and the Weak Water.

The Three Pure Ones slowly regained consciousness. Seeing Hongjun before them, they knelt in unison and said, “Greetings, Master. May you live as long as the heavens.”

“Rise,” Hongjun replied, this time with a faint smile, clearly untroubled by the calamity that had just passed. Seeing his disciples unharmed, he nodded in satisfaction.

“Where is that fiend?” Tongtian asked in fear. What kind of terrifying creature was this? To defeat the Three Pure Ones one by one—such power was beyond imagining.

“The Black Dragon has been suppressed. I have also cleared the Weak Water from your primordial souls,” Hongjun replied gently to his three prized disciples.

“Master is merciful. Thank you for your great kindness,” the Three Pure Ones said, kneeling to express their gratitude.

“No need for thanks. Now, since Buzhou Mountain has collapsed, and heaven and earth cannot be without pillars, Tongtian, you must go north and slay a giant turtle. Use its four limbs as the new pillars of heaven and earth.” Clearly, Hongjun had matters to discuss with the Grand Supreme Elder Lord and the Primordial Heavenly Lord, and so sent Tongtian away.

Tongtian knew this was inevitable and did not object. He bid farewell to Hongjun and, following his master’s guidance, flew north.

Despite his recent injuries and depleted powers, Tongtian now felt invigorated, his limbs full of strength, and his primordial spirit at his core. On inspecting himself, he was shocked to discover a dramatic change. Having cultivated the “Great Perfection Scripture of Spiritual Treasures” to the late spirit-god stage, he now found that he had already entered the nascent-god stage—just one step away from becoming a Golden Immortal of Primordial Unity.

But he found no joy in this advancement. Strength was a blessing, but growth that comes too quickly is dangerous. He suspected this sudden leap was related to Hongjun.

After careful examination, he realized the source was the power of merit. Hongjun, worried that the Three Pure Ones had been wounded at their very roots, had negotiated with Heaven to grant them a great influx of merit, healing their primordial souls. Tongtian’s injuries had been the most severe, so Hongjun had not done it solely for his sake.

Tongtian shook his head, clearing his mind of distractions, and set off to the north in search of the giant turtle.

He recalled reading in middle school the chapter “Nüwa Mends the Sky” in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, which describes how the four pillars that support heaven and earth were made from the limbs of a giant turtle. What manner of turtle could possess such mighty limbs?

Reaching the vast northern seas, Tongtian followed Hongjun’s instructions northward until he found an island. But on closer inspection, he realized it was an enormous turtle.

“Young friend, you’ve finally arrived,” the giant turtle greeted him.

Tongtian was astonished. What kind of creature was this, with such a majestic form? In these waters, who could possibly rival it? With a sweep of its limbs, it could defeat or repel any foe.

“Ah, yes… Senior, you know why I have come,” Tongtian replied, quickly correcting his earlier lapse and scratching his head in embarrassment.

“If that is so, then I ask you to care for my grandson. Will you do this for me?” As he spoke, a very small turtle appeared beneath the giant turtle, attracting Tongtian’s gaze.

“Rest assured, Senior, as long as I live, I will protect him,” Tongtian replied, immediately taking a liking to the unformed little turtle, whose potential he also found promising. He accepted the little turtle, who whimpered, anxious and teary-eyed.

Suddenly, four loud explosions rang out, startling Tongtian. He looked over to see the giant turtle had severed its own four limbs and said, “Please, take good care of my grandson. I must now sleep—his fate is in your hands.” With that, the giant turtle vanished.

Tongtian was deeply shaken; the prehistoric world truly held many formidable existences. If not for the blood staining the sea red, he might not have realized that he had just been speaking with one such great being.

He collected the four limbs and rode the clouds back toward Buzhou Mountain.

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