A Druid Also Can Cultivate

Chapter 683: Chapter 523: Heart-Knot and Gift

“From being able to measure past, present, and future, feeling like my strength stretches to the heavens, to realizing that I am merely an old man who knows slightly more, who is slightly stronger…”

“From actively intervening in the cause and effect, to acting in harmony with destiny….”

“Forcibly intervening in cause and effect actually resulted in worse outcomes….”

Qi Ping contemplated the words of the Profound Armor elder turtle deeply, his whole being immersed in reflection.

If that’s the case, his forceful attempt to alter the order of the Star Sea World, prohibiting any unreasonable persecution and slaughter, is he also stifling certain possibilities?

For a moment, Qi Ping felt uncertain.

This is because he knows the Profound Armor elder turtle wasn’t lying.

Then what does it mean to act in harmony with destiny? Does it mean to watch life’s ups and downs without making a move?

“No, it isn’t like that!”

After just a moment, Qi Ping’s gaze became incredibly resolute again, he looked at the Profound Armor elder turtle and affirmed:

“Seniority, my choice is still to save!”

This more affirmative answer took the Profound Armor elder turtle slightly by surprise.

It couldn’t remember how many ages had passed since someone spoke to it like this.

But it wasn’t angry, rather it asked curiously:

“Do you think I am lying?”

“Of course not, I don’t believe the elder would deceive me on such matters.”

“Why then?”

“Just as you said, there was a time when I thought I could know past, present, and future, chose to intervene actively in the destiny of talents, only to encounter worse outcomes, thus realizing the vastness of destiny in the world, my own insignificance, and then choosing tranquility and letting destiny select its true strongest… but, is this opposite answer necessarily correct?”

“This…” The Profound Armor elder turtle was rendered speechless momentarily, but suddenly a bright glint appeared in its eyes, as if grasping something:

“Then what do you say, what is the correct course of action?”

“I don’t know what is correct!” Qi Ping shook his head in reply.

This statement left a trace of doubt in the Profound Armor elder turtle’s eyes:

“You don’t know?”

Qi Ping’s gaze seemed so determined, it should have had an answer.

“Yes, I don’t know!” Qi Ping affirmed in response:

“I don’t know whether intervening in destiny is right or wrong, nor do I know whether standing by might be a better choice, even less do I know whether in the future I might find a better answer, whether this answer is right or wrong, because before thoroughly grasping all worldly information and destiny, no one could truly have the right answer.”

“But…” As Qi Ping spoke, an unprecedented resolve was etched in his eyes:

“I know what choice leaves me with a clear conscience!”

“I don’t know whether saving such a talent might hinder the emergence of someone stronger, but I know I do not want a Sect Disciple with extraordinary talent and trustworthy character to perish.”

“I don’t know whether establishing a good social order might result in more people becoming sheltered flowers, lacking life and death trial and hence achieving little, but I know I don’t want countless Cultivators living in constant fear, nor do I want the world full of tragedies….”

“I am resolute that everything I do now is to make the Star Sea World stronger, building a home worth guarding and loyal to, and also striving for a better future… These, I don’t know right or wrong, and neither can anyone judge right or wrong.”

“If I am truly wrong, let destiny tell me the answer, or end my deeds with my death, otherwise, until then, I will only firmly follow my choice, making my move… without regret!”

With Qi Ping’s final two words falling, the Profound Armor elder turtle immediately fell into strong shock.

It was an answer it had never imagined.

Over the years, for the sake of the Forest Sea Demon Realm’s safety and future, it calculated everything, sweating blood, always seeking the method that would truly allow the Forest Sea Demon Realm to continue.

Therefore, it calculated world affairs, modifying destiny and cause and effect, constantly summarizing and reflecting, all to find the most perfect answer.

This is why it connected with Qi Ping, who awoke after three thousand years of Sleep, facilitating this meeting and discussion.

But never did it expect the answer received:

The perfect answer it pursued was fundamentally wrong, fundamentally no perfect answer exists!

Despite having Cultivation higher than Qi Ping, living countless years in vain, knowing many affairs ancient and modern, ultimately it wasn’t as perceptive as a little guy at the Integration Stage.

Yet, it wasn’t enraged, instead the heavy burden in its heart suddenly eased!

“Hahaha, good! Good! Good!” The Profound Armor elder turtle laughed aloud now, saying good three times.

The sound carried the regrets of years of entanglement, but more so the joy of enlightenment.

“What a move without regret! Such a grand perspective, such steadfast Dao Heart, rarely seen ancient or modern!”

“Profound Armor senior is flattering!”

“Fellow Daoist, don’t be modest…” At this moment, the Profound Armor elder turtle changed its address from ‘little friend’ to ‘fellow Daoist’, indicating it raised Qi Ping from the position of a junior at the Integration Stage to an equal standing.

Upon hearing this address, Qi Ping couldn’t help but feel a wave of shock internally.

The Profound Armor elder turtle before him held unfathomable strength, an extraordinary status, even referring to usual Mahayana Stage beings as ‘little guys’, yet now it considered him an equal ‘fellow Daoist’.

If this news went out, many Mahayana Stage Divine Beasts might drop their jaws in surprise!

Then, the Profound Armor elder turtle continued:

“The appearance of someone like you as the Star Sea World was on the brink of turning into scorched earth truly is Fortune to the Star Sea! I, who lived countless years in vain, pale in comparison to you…”

“Today, having Fellow Daoist Qi solve the doubts accumulated over endless years, achieving Enlightenment…”

With the Profound Armor elder turtle’s words, an incredibly arcane aura began to appear on its body,

This arcane Secret Technique Qi Ping encountered for the first time in his life!

“What realm is this Profound Armor elder turtle truly at?” Qi Ping was inwardly shocked.

Such aura, even gave him a feeling reminiscent of the terrifying demon dragon summoned through sacrificial offerings.

At this moment, Qi Ping was more certain that the Profound Armor elder turtle before him is definitely an unimaginably terrifying existence!

“Fellow Daoist Qi, with my long-standing mental knot opened, I am about to enter the Enlightenment state, before that, there are two matters.”

“One is your proposed trade agreement I agreed to, and we in the Forest Sea Demon Realm are willing to raise the price by twenty percent on this basis, willing to establish a war alliance with the Star Sea World…”

As these words fell, Qi Ping’s pupils dilated!

He hadn’t expected the Profound Armor elder turtle to agree so directly, knowing his stated price was quite high!

Moreover, it even voluntarily raised it by twenty percent on this basis!

Don’t underestimate this mere twenty percent, given the future trade volume between the two realms, this twenty percent pure profit will be an unimaginable astronomical figure!

“But this is merely a small gift within my capabilities, I also prepared an additional gift for you, soon Little Gold Spirit will take you to retrieve it, I suppose you’ll be more interested in this gift…”

“I am leaving, apologies for any inadequacies in the hospitality!”

Saying so, the Profound Armor elder turtle disappeared into thin air in front of Qi Ping, leaving behind only piles of bones…