Overwhelming Power

[Beep, congratulations, Host. You have completed a hidden quest.]

[Beep, congratulations, Host. You have received your quest reward: your cultivation has increased to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal level.]

The voice that rang in Chen Tong's mind was utterly devoid of emotion, but to him, it sounded like celestial music. Before he could even get excited, a beam of golden light shot straight into his crown. The next moment, his whole body began to shine brilliantly, its radiance reaching to the Ninth Heaven. The Ninth Princess stared at him in a daze, her pink lips forming an "O" that stayed open.

Guanyin's expression gradually grew grave. As a Quasi-Saint, she was all too familiar with the aura of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal. Yet she had never imagined that this young man would break through at such a moment.

A Grand Unity Golden Immortal! That was the threshold to the ranks of the high immortals. One could say that anyone who reached this level would be revered by all living things beneath heaven and earth. Above that were the Taiyi Golden Immortal, Quasi-Saint, Saint, and Heavenly Dao Ancestor realms.

As the light faded, Chen Tong's true appearance came into view. He had already been handsome, but after being bathed in the aura of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, he now seemed to possess an air of inviolable authority.

"Brother Chen, are you all right?"

The Ninth Princess's worried voice sounded beside him. Chen Tong shook his head, unfazed. "I'm fine!"

"Brother Chen!" The Ninth Princess lowered her voice, glancing at Guanyin in front of them from time to time. "Even though you've reached the Grand Unity Golden Immortal level, you're still no match for Bodhisattva Guanyin. Let's yield a little. With the Bodhisattva's great compassion, she surely won't hold it against us."

Chen Tong shook his head and looked straight at Guanyin. This androgynous being was Old Thief Tathagata's right-hand aide and a loyal executor of his plans. How could she possibly let me go?

"Jiu'er, you're too innocent. Things aren't the way you think they are." As Chen Tong finished speaking, Guanyin's voice drifted over.

"Young man, I don't care what kind of demon you are or what your purpose is. But since you've fallen into my hands, I can only take you back to Spiritual Mountain to answer for your crimes. Will you come willingly or not?"

"Hmph! You think you can make me?" Chen Tong replied coldly.

"Oh...!" Guanyin was taken aback by how defiant Chen Tong was, but then a cold smile flashed across her face. "Although I don't know how you managed to raise your cultivation to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal level, if you think this little bit of power gives you reason to act arrogantly, then you'd better surrender meekly and spare yourself a beating."

"That's right, benefactor!" Golden Cicada hurriedly stepped forward to urge him. "My Buddha is merciful. This humble monk has already forgiven you for your earlier transgressions. If you're willing to come back with me to Spiritual Mountain, I'll plead for you before the Buddha Ancestor. I'm sure the Buddha Ancestor will show you mercy."

Chen Tong studied them in silence, constantly calculating in his mind what his odds were of making it to the sea from here.

He feared that if he turned to run, Guanyin might suddenly immobilize him. The shadow of Tathagata's power still lingered over him, so he couldn't afford to be careless.

Never mind. I'll retreat in order to advance. He sent a telepathic message to the Ninth Princess. "Jiu'er, go wait for me on the surface."

Before the Ninth Princess could react, Chen Tong transformed into a streak of light and charged forward, as if he meant to fight Guanyin to the death. Guanyin shook her head helplessly. Though her expression seemed casual, a faint, mocking smile had already appeared on her face.

Just as she was about to suppress Chen Tong as he rushed toward her, he suddenly changed course and plunged straight down! The move left both her and Golden Cicada stunned for a moment. In that brief opening, Chen Tong narrowly made it to the surface of the sea and let out a sigh of relief.

Though Guanyin was puzzled by Chen Tong's actions, she was still a Quasi-Saint. Almost the instant he reached the surface, she appeared in front of him.

Before Chen Tong could react, she flicked her willow branch, sending a gust of force his way. It seemed ordinary enough, but it was a blow from a Quasi-Saint, and the power it contained was enough to suppress a Grand Unity Golden Immortal. Unfortunately for her, her opponent was Chen Tong.

"Hmph!" Chen Tong scoffed. He merely shifted to one side, then raised his left hand and pressed his index and middle fingers together, tapping the incoming gust. The two forces erupted, shaking the surrounding sea, but the waters quickly settled again. Chen Tong remained completely still, as if he'd just done something utterly insignificant.

Guanyin narrowed her eyes. That force had been casually unleashed, but it should still have been beyond the power of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal to break through. What was going on?

"Hmph!" Chen Tong stood with his hands behind his back atop the deep blue sea. His white robes danced in the wind, yet not a drop of water touched them. Facing Guanyin, he spoke in a cold, disdainful voice. "Has no one ever told you that I'm invincible in water?"

"Young man, you're becoming harder and harder for me to read!" Guanyin's right hand opened like a lotus flower. The Jade Pure Bottle, which she always carried with her, floated toward Chen Tong's head, growing larger as it went. Ribbons of gentle light descended from it and enveloped him.

Feeling his body grow slightly heavier, as if the pressure reached straight into his soul, Chen Tong's expression shifted. Guanyin truly was no ordinary opponent. He was invincible in water; even a Saint couldn't hope to harm him here. Yet Guanyin had managed to make him feel threatened despite being only a Quasi-Saint. That was no small feat.

Chen Tong raised his right hand and pointed at the Jade Pure Bottle above him. At the same time, whirlpools formed across the surrounding sea. Deep blue light rippled within them, gradually gathering into a column of water. It suddenly surged upward with a force that battered and smashed against the Jade Pure Bottle.

In an instant, the Jade Pure Bottle was blasted high into the sky. Guanyin, its owner, suffered a backlash from the force, and her mind reeled.

When your opponent was down, you struck hard. Chen Tong wouldn't let an opportunity like this pass him by. He swept out his left hand, forming another column of water that shot straight toward Guanyin. Unless something unexpected happened, she was bound to be seriously injured this time.

At the critical moment, Golden Cicada suddenly appeared in front of Guanyin. He pressed his palms together as Buddha-light spread around him. But Chen Tong's power was far too formidable. In water, he possessed strength comparable to a Saint. How could Golden Cicada possibly stop him?

BOOM!!

A tremendous crash rang out. As the Buddha-light vanished and mist filled the air, Golden Cicada and Guanyin were nowhere to be seen.

Just then, a streak of white light fell from the sky like a meteor, hurtling toward Chen Tong's head. Sensing it, Chen Tong looked up. "Isn't that Guanyin's Jade Pure Bottle?"

Chen Tong reached out and caught it in his palm. "Hmph! You even lost your own magic treasure. Let's see if you still dare act arrogant in front of me."

Chen Tong had no reason to turn down the Jade Pure Bottle. After all, it belonged to Guanyin, and it was a very useful treasure.

"Brother Chen! Brother Chen!" the Ninth Princess called from above. Chen Tong looked up and saw her drifting down from the sky, her pink dress fluttering in the breeze—a scene as lovely as a dream.