Call Me Master

"Hmph! I was born from Death Qi. I represent destruction and death, an existence the world itself cannot tolerate." The Death Underworld Dragon glared viciously at Chen Tong. "Human, come out and face your death. I'll make it quick."

"Are you out of your mind? If I can stay alive, why would I come out to die?" Chen Tong shot it a look of contempt.

Chen Tong wasn't afraid of it now. After all, anything that could speak had consciousness, and anything with consciousness was bound to have weaknesses. If it had weaknesses, what was there to fear?

"Big guy, you claim to represent death, but I'd say you're not quite living up to the title!"

"What do you mean?"

"Heh..." Chen Tong gave a cold laugh. "Don't think I haven't figured it out. You can't withstand the Death Qi here, either."

A flicker of surprise crossed the Death Underworld Dragon's face, but it quickly said coldly, "Ignorant human, I was born from Death Qi, and you claim I can't withstand it? Heh, what a joke."

"Keep pretending!" Chen Tong stared at it coldly. "Don't think I haven't figured it out. There's no life in the Sea of Death! But you're conscious, so how can you be considered a dead thing?"

"Besides, I know the Death Qi spilling from your body still carries traces of life, though they're incredibly faint. I imagine you haven't been alive for much longer!"

The Death Underworld Dragon was stunned for three whole seconds. It had been trapped in the Sea of Death for three hundred years. Those years had been dark and agonizing, and it had long since forgotten whether it was dead or alive.

"Hmph! You're clever, kid, but so what? You're about to die anyway."

Chen Tong opened his left hand, and wisps of Death Qi rose from his palm. "See? My body can withstand Death Qi. Don't you want to keep living?" Chen Tong winked at it, making his meaning perfectly clear.

The Death Underworld Dragon stared at Chen Tong in utter shock, unable to believe what it was seeing. "Y-you can really withstand Death Qi?"

"Not only can I withstand it, I'll tell you the truth: I absorbed all this Death Qi myself." Chen Tong spoke proudly. "So, how impressive am I?"

The Death Underworld Dragon opened its mouth, then snorted coldly. "So what? You're still going to die."

"Ugh!"

Chen Tong shook his head helplessly. "What a stupid dragon. There's a living person right in front of you who can save your life, and you'd rather he died. Tsk, you're beyond saving. Fine, I'll just stay in the passage for a few more decades and leave after you die."

"Wait...!" The Death Underworld Dragon stared hard at Chen Tong. "What did you just say? You can save me?"

"Obviously. The Death Qi is what's killing you. If I absorb it from your body, won't you be saved?"

The Death Underworld Dragon's massive body trembled, though it was hard to tell whether from excitement or pain.

"Fine! If you can save me, I promise I won't kill you."

"Heh..." Chen Tong laughed coldly, folding his arms as he regarded the dragon with a faint smile. "Saving you would be like giving you a new life. And all I get is a promise that you won't kill me? Isn't that a little insincere?"

The Death Underworld Dragon paused, its expression turning cold. "What do you mean? Do you expect me to kneel and call you Grandpa?"

"That won't be necessary." Chen Tong waved a hand.

"Hmph! You'd better not!" the Death Underworld Dragon snorted.

"But... you do need to call me Master."

The Death Underworld Dragon froze. Its volcano-red eyes darkened. "What did you say? You want me to call you Master? Hahahaha! What a joke!" The Death Underworld Dragon sneered.

"Oh... is that so? Suit yourself." Chen Tong found a place to sit and leisurely crossed his legs.

"Argh! Argh! I'll kill you, brat!" The Death Underworld Dragon erupted like a volcano, thrashing its enormous body and repeatedly slamming into the barrier separating it from Chen Tong.

"What a crazy dragon," Chen Tong muttered indifferently. Then he closed his eyes and began to recover, paying no further attention to anything outside.

Within Spiritual Mountain, before the Spiritual Pond.

"Buddha Ancestor!"

Two voices rang out in unison.

"You're back." A calm voice filled with solemnity and serenity sounded as a Buddhist figure appeared before them.

"Yes, we..." Anan and Ayou exchanged a glance, hesitating to speak.

"I already know the cause and the outcome. There's no need for formalities. Rise." Tathagata waved a hand, and the two bowed before standing up.

Guanyin has fallen into the hands of the Heavenly Court. Take my decree to the Jade Emperor. He'll show us some consideration."

A decree glowing with golden light appeared in their hands. They answered, "Yes."

Watching the two disappear, Tathagata murmured, "The Northern Darkness Sea Domain... It seems I'll have to pay it a visit." Then his figure dissolved into nothingness.

High above the Sea of Death, Tathagata, dressed in plain robes like a young monk, strode through the air.

The Sea of Death cut off all energy. Not even a sage could overcome it! "Chen Tong, Chen Tong... I'm quite curious now. Are you dead or alive?"

As he spoke, he extended a pale, jade-like hand. A drop of golden liquid slid from his index finger and fell into the Sea of Death. A streak of golden light shot up from the sea, enveloped him, and then vanished.

"Rumble!!"

The Death Underworld Dragon kept pounding the passage, but it remained completely intact.

"Kid, can't you give a little? I'd even accept some other conditions!" The Death Underworld Dragon roared as it pounded away, exhausting itself with all that effort. But Chen Tong remained seated cross-legged, completely motionless.

"Hmm..." The Death Underworld Dragon paused and looked into the distance. "A sage's aura? Could someone have come to save that kid?"

The Death Underworld Dragon took a long look at Chen Tong inside the passage. Then its massive body swung around, and it quickly disappeared.

Feeling the Death Underworld Dragon leave, Chen Tong opened his eyes. "Why did that stupid dragon suddenly take off?" He pondered for a moment, unable to make sense of it, then closed his eyes and continued recovering.

But the next second, his hair stood on end, and he jumped to his feet! He sensed a divine consciousness locking onto him, and it was terrifying—its pressure struck directly at his soul.

"What's going on? Wasn't the Sea of Death supposed to cut off all energy? How can someone still use divine consciousness?"

Shock, confusion, and fear sent his thoughts reeling. Without stopping to think, he immediately fled into the distance.

"What's going on? Who is it? Who?" Chen Tong ran frantically, trying to figure it out. He had offended both the Heavenly Court and Spiritual Mountain. No matter which side he fell into the hands of, he'd be in for a world of trouble.

"Huh... why did that kid run out by himself?" Watching Chen Tong sprint past, the Death Underworld Dragon was puzzled. "Wasn't that sage coming to save him? Why is the kid running?"