Death Qi

In his view, if this wasn't Guanyin's doing, how else could Chen Tong have vanished right in front of him? Besides, Chen Tong had already been at the end of his rope.

At the Jade Emperor's suspicion, Guanyin gave a faint, mocking smile, but it vanished in an instant.

"Your Majesty, you are the supreme ruler of the world, the master of Heaven and Earth. Surely you know how terrifying the Northern Darkness Sea Domain is. Even if this were my doing, why would I be foolish enough to send him here? What would I gain from it?"

Guanyin's words were so calm that they left almost no room for doubt.

The Jade Emperor gave a cold snort. As the Jade Emperor, how could he not understand how terrifying the Northern Darkness Sea Domain was? But the prize had slipped right out of his grasp. No matter how good his temper was, he still needed someone to vent his anger on. Unfortunately for Guanyin, she had become that scapegoat.

"I hope what you say is true. If I find out that Spiritual Mountain was behind this..." The Jade Emperor paused, his expression turning cold. "I will certainly pay Spiritual Mountain a proper visit."

With that, the Jade Emperor flicked his sleeve and vanished from the spot.

All the Buddhas saw the threat in the Jade Emperor's words. Aside from the two guardian deities and Guanyin, the Four Great Vajras and the Eighteen Arhats all exchanged glances.

"Was your appearance arranged by Buddha Ancestor?" Guanyin asked, turning her head slightly while facing away from the other Buddhas.

Anan and Ayou exchanged a look, stepped forward, and pressed their palms together. "Yes."

Hearing their answer, Guanyin understood everything. It seems Master had long anticipated Chen Tong's arrival, but the outcome... Guanyin cast a long look at the sea below, then closed her eyes, her chest rising and falling.

"You've seen the outcome for yourselves. When you return to Spiritual Mountain to report, just tell it as it happened."

The two guardian deities exchanged a look and said nothing more. They bowed, and with a flash of light, they vanished.

"Alas..."

In the empty sky, only a white figure remained, along with a faint sigh. Though quiet, it was filled with endless helplessness.

She pointed down, and plunged into the sea below. Not long after she disappeared, the Jade Emperor reappeared where she had stood. An elderly white-haired man stood beside him, with a kind face and an upright bearing.

"Taibai Jinxing, in your opinion, what is Guanyin trying to do?" the Jade Emperor asked, his brow furrowed.

Taibai Jinxing stroked his white beard and replied calmly, "Your Majesty, as far as this old minister knows, even the Sages dare not set foot in the Sea of Death lightly. Guanyin's actions are no different from destroying herself."

The Jade Emperor shook his head. "But I don't believe Guanyin is some utter fool who knows nothing. If she knows it's impossible and still goes ahead, then she must have a way to escape! Hmph, Spiritual Mountain certainly has plenty of treasures."

"Your Majesty, this old minister does have a plan that might achieve what you wish." Taibai Jinxing bowed. The Jade Emperor glanced at him. "Speak."

"Even if Guanyin has a treasure protecting her, she cannot remain in the Sea of Death for three hours. Your Majesty need only cover the sea for ten thousand miles with your divine sense. When Guanyin emerges, you will know."

"You mean to wait for the rabbit by the tree stump?" The Jade Emperor finally revealed a sly smile.

Guanyin, you were the one who betrayed me first. Don't blame me for being underhanded. The Jade Emperor was clearly pleased with Taibai Jinxing's suggestion. The two deities then faded from view.

Deep beneath the sea, Chen Tong still sat cross-legged. The difference was that streams of black Qi now swirled all around him, forming a vortex in front of his belly and surging into it. Only half his head remained above the surface.

He wasn't cultivating some divine art or secret technique. This was the Death Qi of the Sea of Death, something even the Sages refused to touch. Yet he had been absorbing it for a full three hours.

And the more he absorbed, the happier he became! He had tried countless times, and although the Death Qi caused him pain, it couldn't kill him. He had no idea why. Perhaps it was because he was so handsome.

Heh! Death Qi that even the Sages feared! Just thinking about it made Chen Tong happy. If he could make all this Death Qi his own, then even if he ran into a Sage on land, he wouldn't have to be afraid. The Jade Emperor, Tathagata—he'd knock them all flat.

"Hmm..." Chen Tong murmured. His calm eyes snapped open, and he immediately turned to look to his right. His eyes narrowed. "The aura of life?"

"The Sea of Death should be devoid of life. How could such a vigorous aura suddenly appear?" Chen Tong wondered. "Could I have sensed it wrong?"

Although the Sea of Death blocked all auras, he had absorbed quite a bit of Death Qi by now. It wasn't much, but he could still sense everything within ten thousand miles.

"This aura... why does it seem so familiar?" Chen Tong wondered again. Then the hair on his body stood on end. "Oh no! It's that old scoundrel Guanyin."

Chen Tong sprang to his feet, forgetting that he was still gravely injured. Pain made him grit his teeth.

"Damn it, what's that old scoundrel doing here?" Chen Tong had no time to think. Dragging his badly injured body, he slowly made his way deeper into the sea.

Not long after he left, a pale figure appeared where he had been. It was Guanyin.

"Strange. Why is the Death Qi so dense here?" Guanyin mused. "Was this where the Death Qi gathered just now?"

Guanyin looked around, puzzled. "What is here? Why did the Death Qi gather in this place?"

She didn't know much about the Sea of Death. She had come down this time at the risk of her life. Looking at the dimming white light around her, she grew anxious. "Alas, I don't have much time left. I wonder where that boy is."

"Hmm..." Just then, her eyes narrowed. She sensed ripples coming from ahead. They were faint, but with her Quasi-Saint cultivation, she could still feel them. Without another thought, she flew forward.

The sea was dark, but it stretched as far as the eye could see. As long as you were close enough, you could see everything around you.

That was why Chen Tong hadn't tried to find somewhere to hide. It wasn't that he didn't want to; there was nowhere to hide.

Chen Tong endured the agony and pressed onward. Every so often, he glanced back, because he could clearly sense Guanyin rapidly catching up to him.

"It's strange enough that Guanyin appeared here at all. She can even chase after me! Could it be... she's found me?"

Chen Tong thought it over, then shook his head. "That can't be right. The Sea of Death blocks all auras. No matter how powerful Guanyin is, could she really be stronger than a Sage?"

As Chen Tong ran, he suddenly spotted a gigantic vortex ahead. It was as huge as a cavern, looming before him, unchanged since time immemorial.

Chen Tong slowly approached, wanting to see if the vortex had any suction. One step! Two steps! Three... Even when he reached its side, nothing happened.