Sea of Death

[Beep, detecting host's question, System's answer is as follows: Anything the System can achieve, it will grant, but there is only one chance. Once missed, there will be no more.]

"Hmm..." Chen Tong hesitated. "Anything the System can achieve." This sentence made him consider carefully, because there was another part: "there is only one chance." This meant that if the condition he requested couldn't be met by the System, he would lose his opportunity.

He was currently in a dangerous environment, and the System's reward was his only hope of survival. If he chose incorrectly, he would die without a burial place, with no room for error.

While Chen Tong was struggling internally, Guanyin and the Jade Emperor were also vying with each other. One considered himself the ruler of heaven and earth, while the other believed he had the Buddha Ancestor's backing. Neither was willing to back down, and they had even argued to the point of blushing.

"Guanyin, I respect you as a high-ranking figure in Buddhism, but don't push your luck."

"Heh heh... Your Majesty, the Jade Emperor, you claim to be the supreme ruler of heaven and earth, yet your words and actions are always contradictory. Where is your dignity?"

"Hmph, aren't you afraid I'll order my forces to flatten your Spiritual Mountain with a single command?"

"Although my Buddhist sect is pure and detached, and dislikes conflict, we are not cowards."

"Hahaha!" The Jade Emperor laughed in extreme anger. "Fine! Even if Tathagata were here today, I'd like to see if he dares to take this kid away."

Chen Tong pouted. "Am I a person or a treasure? That you're fighting over me like this."

However, he was now completely relaxed because he had taken control of his own life! Although he didn't understand the System's limits, as long as he said "Get me out of here safely," the System would surely be able to do it.

It was just that he didn't want to waste such a good opportunity, which was why he had been hesitant to make a decision.

"Guanyin, let your people come out. What do I have to fear?" the Jade Emperor said calmly.

Guanyin was stunned. "..."

"I don't understand what the Jade Emperor means."

"Heh!" The Jade Emperor sneered. "Tathagata's two great protectors, the Four Great Vajras, and the Eighteen Arhats are all hidden within this South Heavenly Gate. Do you really think I'm blind?"

These words not only confused Guanyin further, but Chen Tong himself was also completely bewildered!

"What... are Tathagata's people hiding here too?"

Just as Chen Tong was wondering, the Jade Emperor waved his hand, and the surroundings flashed with golden light, revealing the Buddhas and Vajras. This shocked Chen Tong. "Damn, as expected of that old thief Tathagata. He really had a backup plan."

Chen Tong was shocked, but Guanyin was even more astonished. To be honest, she didn't know that so many people were hidden here. If it weren't for the fact that many of them were familiar faces, she might have suspected that this was a scheme by the Jade Emperor.

"Hmph!" the Jade Emperor said coldly. "You've been hiding for so long, it's time to come out and get some air."

The Vajras and Arhats exchanged glances. Their leaders, the two great protectors, A'nan and A'you, had calm expressions. They neither saluted nor knelt, simply standing there quietly.

Guanyin scanned them and understood that this was the Buddha Ancestor's arrangement. In Spiritual Mountain, only the Buddha Ancestor could mobilize A'nan and A'you.

She now regretted not taking Chen Tong away sooner! If the Jade Emperor were to resort to force now, it could trigger a conflict between the Heavenly Court and Spiritual Mountain, which was not something Spiritual Mountain wanted at this time.

Chen Tong swallowed. Just standing there, he could feel a powerful pressure. If before this, he could have considered his conditions while the Jade Emperor and Guanyin were arguing, he now had no such opportunity.

"System, please take me to a safe place." Chen Tong's heart sank as he made his request. Although this condition seemed like a waste of such an opportunity, there was no other way. After all, he didn't know the System's limits, and with only one chance, he had to be cautious.

[Beep, checking host's request! Beep, check complete, transporting host away.]

"Hoo~"

The System's voice undoubtedly made Chen Tong breathe a sigh of relief. He could finally escape this damned dangerous place. Although the mission completion felt a bit frustrating, and the reward was also given in a frustrating manner, after facing the threat of death, nothing felt better than the hope of survival.

Chen Tong's figure began to fade, without any fluctuation of power or strange phenomena. Everything changed quietly...

Guanyin, who had been contemplating how to deal with the Jade Emperor, suddenly her eyes narrowed. She immediately turned to look at Chen Tong. She saw his figure becoming transparent, a faint smile on his face, as if saying, "Wait for me, I'll definitely strip you naked."

Guanyin didn't have time to think further. She immediately clasped her hands together, and Buddhist light emanated, with Buddhist patterns surging towards Chen Tong. But all she received was Chen Tong's complete disappearance and a willow branch left in the air.

Guanyin's brow furrowed. Then, with a wave of her hand, she transformed into a white light and disappeared from her spot.

Soon, A'nan and A'you exchanged glances, led the Four Great Vajras and the Eighteen Arhats, and quickly vanished from sight.

All of this happened and ended in just a few breaths. The changes were so fast that even someone as powerful as the Jade Emperor couldn't react.

"What... what is going on?" The Jade Emperor stared blankly at the vanished Chen Tong and Guanyin, his face still etched with disbelief.

But soon, he locked onto Guanyin's aura, which also disappeared.

In the Northern Darkness Sea Domain, deep within the endless abyss, a figure sat cross-legged in the deathly still water. He would sometimes frown, sometimes relax, his pale face twitching from time to time, as if enduring immense pain.

This person was Chen Tong, saved by the System. At first, he didn't know where he would be taken! He had imagined many places, but he never expected to be brought to the Northern Darkness Sea, a place with a terrifying name: the Sea of Death.

Legend had it that the Sea of Death was devoid of life for thousands of miles, and its pale water could devour the body of a Saint! It was also a place where demons were born and gathered. In short, it was a forbidden zone for life, a forbidden land for all things.

And yet, he had been brought here... "Damn it, is this considered a safe place?"

Chen Tong's heart was filled with rage. If he weren't seriously injured and unable to speak, he would have already cursed the damned System to the heavens.

Meanwhile, above the Northern Darkness Sea, tens of figures stood atop the endless clouds. They looked down at the sea below with heavy expressions. Wisps of pale white gas covered the entire surface of the sea, exuding an aura of death, reaching thousands of miles high.

"Guanyin, you'd better give me an explanation for this." The Jade Emperor glared at Guanyin.

"What! Does Your Majesty the Jade Emperor think I did this?" Guanyin replied calmly. She had a million questions about Chen Tong's sudden disappearance.

"Hmph! You know in your heart what you did." The Jade Emperor flicked his wide sleeve, turned halfway, and his anger was evident.