The sea suddenly split open, and a towering wave burst up from the depths, overturning the entire ship like a scrap of paper. Chen Wuya only had time to seize Bai Zhi's wrist before the seawater swallowed them whole.
The current dragged them rapidly downward. All he could hear was the howling rush of water as an irresistible force pulled his body toward the seafloor. He barely managed to open his eyes and saw a colossal shadow spiraling down through the ink-black water—the dragon.
He tried to circulate his power in resistance, only to discover that the pressure of the deep sea far exceeded anything he had imagined. The Misaligned Divine Body activated on its own, guiding the remaining energy of the Blood Demon Art within him to the outer layer of his meridians, forming a thin protective film that held back the crushing force against his chest. He clutched Bai Zhi's hand tightly, sensing her presence through the faint resonance of the Twinborn Curse.
He did not know how much time had passed before his body slammed heavily into hard ground. The seawater vanished in an instant, as though some force had drained it away. He lay sprawled on the ground, coughing up mouthfuls of saltwater before struggling to lift his head.
A vast cavern surrounded them. Flowing patterns covered the rock walls, giving off an eerie blue glow. He had seen those designs before—they were identical to the patterns on the keepsake Bai Zhi carried from her mother. He immediately turned and helped Bai Zhi up, propping her against the stone wall.
Her face was pale, her breathing faint, but the Twinborn Curse on her arm was still pulsing. The instant her back touched the rock wall, a sudden change occurred.
A clear light burst from within her