A Truth Revealed

The spiritual carp leaps against the current to ascend the dragon gate.

After his bloodline assessment was complete, Jin Ming returned to his clan, spending these six days in quiet meditation to stabilize his mind. Through deep reflection, he realized that while he had learned much, he had mastered nothing. He was no peerless genius; how could he expect to excel in everything? He further contemplated that his grandfathers, known for their sharp calculations, must have been aware of this as well.

If he had focused solely on cultivation, would he have already reached a higher realm—the mid-stage, perhaps the late-stage, or even perfection?

No, upon further thought, he realized that without the elders' guidance, it would have been even harder for him to comprehend the Dao, and he would not have gained such wealth of experience and knowledge.

Perhaps he should use these years of study to explore broadly, and then filter out the paths he understood and preferred?

The Third Elder had praised his natural intelligence, but no matter how bright he was, he could not master every craft.

"But will my bloodline remain fixed at the Spirit Blood level?" A trace of unwillingness rose in Jin Ming's heart. "Why must this be?"

Ultimately, he calmed down. After weighing his options, he decided to abandon talisman-making and weapon-forging for the time being.

Thinking that by now the Grand Elder should have returned to his residence, Jin Ming mounted his sword and flew off.

He arrived once more at the back mountain, still surrounded by peaks, with clouds and mist lingering around the mountainsides as they did every day. In the center lay the familiar spirit lake.

As he landed in the courtyard, he paused for a moment before a curly-maned lion wreathed in electric arcs darted out. This was the Grand Elder's household guardian and mount, the Purple Thunder Cloud, a Great Demon at the peak of the initial stage.

Before the demon lion could make a move, Jin Ming spoke.

"Senior Purple Thunder Cloud, I understand." He offered two third-grade pills.

Using telekinesis, the lion snatched them up like candies. "My master is not here," the Purple Thunder Cloud said in human speech. "You may return; he should be back by the afternoon."

Jin Ming cupped his hands. "Thank you, Senior. I have two more pills here." He handed over another two third-grade pills.

The Purple Thunder Cloud ate them, thinking that something was better than nothing, while Jin Ming felt a pang of pain at the loss of nearly two hundred spirit stones.

"Farewell, Senior."

"Remember to visit often. I've grown thin from lack of extra meals." The beast then flew to the roof to lounge.

Usually, when the other disciples came, they would often feed this demon beast some spirit stones; though the amount was small, even a mosquito's leg had meat on it.

The Purple Thunder Cloud stood over a zhang tall. As a Great Demon of the initial stage, it was immensely powerful. Despite its massive size, it could fly alongside the clouds and manipulate lightning. As a high-grade demon beast, it would only begin to take human form upon reaching the mid-stage of Great Demon status. Years ago, the Grand Elder had ventured deep into the Northern Ridge and captured it after a fierce battle. The beast was incredibly arrogant, but after being subdued by lightning arts and subjected to both threats and inducements, it finally yielded.

Though he could barely afford to feed it, the beast had hundreds of years of lifespan left. Who knew? If he treated it with respect, perhaps it would follow him one day. If one held hope, sincerity would be rewarded.

***

Leaving the residence, he took to the sky on his sword. A moment later, he prepared to cross the spirit lake. "Wait, something is wrong. Is there an extra island?" He looked toward the center of the lake. There had never been such a thing before, but now there was a small, yellowish-green mound.

He assessed the situation; how could there be danger here, given the Elder's presence? With that thought, Jin Ming flew toward the island. As he approached, he noticed it was unlike an ordinary island, covered in strange aquatic weeds.

As he stepped onto it and prepared to investigate, the ground moved. *Damn it,* he thought, *this wouldn't be a massive demon beast, would it?*

The small island began to rise.

He leaped to escape, but a massive turtle head emerged from the water. Before he could fly away, Jin Ming was immobilized, suspended a few meters above the turtle's shell.

"It's over. I shouldn't have come here so carelessly. The Grand Elder must have set up a formation to suppress divine sense here; I can't even probe it."

Unable to move his limbs, the restraint was tight. In his panic, Jin Ming accidentally spoke his thoughts aloud.

"His grandson? No, you must be Zhao Si's little grandson." The Great Demon turtle spoke in a deep, resonant voice after sniffing him with its spiritual sense.

His alarm turned to shock, then quickly to calm. "Senior, I did not intend to intrude or disturb your meditation. I was not aware of your relationship with my grandfathers."

"Could you tell me something about it?" he asked, feeling a trace of confusion.

The demon turtle stretched its head toward him.

"This spirit lake is my home. Nearly a thousand years ago, I headed east toward the Qin Sea, but my trail was exposed, and I was besieged by humans. Fortunately, my cultivation was sufficient, and I escaped back here to hide. There is a terrestrial formation here that blocks human divine sense, so I have been meditating here to heal. My injuries were severe, and they have not healed in over seven hundred years. Three hundred years ago, your great-grandfather came here to settle and happened to discover me, gifting me two human medicinal pills. As for your grandfathers, they all grew up playing around me. I have spent several more centuries here."

"Every fifty years, I emerge from the lake for air. Who would have thought you would happen to visit today?" The turtle then lowered Jin Ming onto its shell.

Jin Ming was astonished: *Over a thousand years... and it speaks of centuries as if they were nothing. Could this turtle be at the Nascent Soul stage?*

He looked at the thick, solid earth beneath his feet. "To have the honor of seeing your true form, Senior, is truly the blessing of eight generations for Jin Ming."

"Hmm, since we met by chance, and I see today is an auspicious day—and your talent is quite good—I shall gift you a secret technique." A ray of spiritual light flew into Jin Ming's sea of consciousness. "This is the Black Tortoise Golden Lock Art."

Though delighted, he still asked, "Senior, if I may ask, shouldn't the Black Tortoise Golden Lock Art be a secret technique of the demon race? How can I learn it?"

"That is where you are mistaken. This technique was inscribed on my shell the moment I was born. It is a Law of the Earth; it makes no distinction between beast, demon, or man."

"A Law of the Earth? What is a Law of the Earth, Senior?"

"A Law of the Earth is a law born of heaven and earth. One part is used to govern and restrain living beings, while the other is used to enlighten them. The laws of heaven and earth consist of the Law of Heaven and the Law of Earth, also known as Heavenly Laws and Earthly Laws."

***

"I think I understand, Junior."

"The Black Tortoise Golden Lock Art can be practiced once you reach the Golden Core stage; it can seal all phenomena. As for the rest, your cultivation is still too shallow for you to know."

Jin Ming looked thoughtful, indicating he understood.

The Great Demon turtle then issued a dismissal. "You may take your leave. And remember, you have never seen me." With a single look, he sent him away.

Jin Ming flew off and returned to the Grand Elder's courtyard to wait.

An hour later, the Grand Elder returned, moving at high speed, covering a mile every few breaths.

"What are you doing here?" As he drew near, he retracted his sword and flashed into the courtyard.

"I was waiting for your return. After several days of deep reflection, I realize my aptitude is limited. I no longer wish to continue learning weapon-forging and talisman-making. I hope you will grant me permission, Great Grandfather."

Without hesitation, he replied, "Granted. I will speak to your uncle regarding the talismans. Filtering and choosing the right path is an important milestone in one's growth. You have made progress."

"You haven't been wandering around aimlessly, have you? There is a Great Demon beast here that could harm you."

Jin Ming spoke, "No, I arrived just now and saw you were not here. I prepared to leave, but then I thought it would be better to wait and inform you of my decision as soon as possible, so I returned."

Zhao Tiangang looked toward the Purple Thunder Cloud, who gave a slight nod. Seeing this, he signaled for Jin Ming to leave.

After Jin Ming left, Zhao Tiangang thought to himself that he must not let anyone disturb Senior Black Tortoise.

Today was the day of the fifty-year cycle. He glanced at the iron-wood tree before entering his room to meditate.

Was it not the same for a youth growing up? Two hundred and forty or fifty years had passed in the blink of an eye. If one did not look back, it was as if it had all been forgotten.

A lingering regret.

Among the living cultivators, everyone is a protagonist; their legends do not end simply because of age.