Northern Sea

A massive black dragon silhouette, with eerie fangs and blood-red eyes, swept toward Tathagata, its enormous body writhing!

"Death Underworld Dragon, you stupid dragon! Why haven't you run yet? Hurry up and get out of here!" Chen Tong shouted at it, his voice almost breaking with desperation.

"Hahaha, young friend, since it doesn't want to run, I'll help it along."

Tathagata stood with a faint smile, ignoring the Death Underworld Dragon as it rushed toward him. He slowly extended a golden palm, but the next instant, his smile vanished. It was too late to pull back—his palm collided head-on with the massive dragon's head.

"Boom!!"

A tremendous crash and shockwave spread through the depths. The impact was so powerful that it created a vast whirlpool on the sea's surface, tens of thousands of miles above. Fortunately, this was the Sea of Death, devoid of living creatures. Otherwise, who knew how many innocents would have suffered?

"Stupid dragon, you could've escaped on your own. Why did you have to save me?"

Chen Tong was sprawled across the Death Underworld Dragon's head as it sped away. Just as the shockwave had spread, the dragon's body had appeared in front of him. He'd thought it had been blasted away, but before he could think it through, the dragon had carried him off.

"Hmph, saving you is saving myself," the Death Underworld Dragon replied. "Don't worry. That fellow took my Soul Strike. Even a Saint won't be able to break free for half an hour."

"Oh...!" Hearing that, Chen Tong finally gained a little respect for the stupid dragon.

"We have a fifty percent chance of escaping in half an hour. I hope your Soul Strike is as reliable as you say."

"Hmph, that was a Forbidden Strike, unleashed at the cost of my soul. If he weren't a Saint, he'd have been reduced to ashes by now. He wouldn't still be alive."

The Death Underworld Dragon was confident in its Soul Strike, but it didn't know that its opponent was Tathagata.

Gurgle, gurgle!

The shockwave had long since settled in the dark depths. Now, only ripples spread through the water, glimmering with strands of golden light.

"Alas, I really did underestimate that little dragon." Tathagata looked at the dim gold light around him and murmured, "Still... this little bit of power is enough to catch you."

His golden eyes turned toward the distance, in the direction the Death Underworld Dragon had taken Chen Tong. Then his brows drew together. "Could they be heading there?"

Tathagata thought of something and immediately turned into a streak of golden light, chasing after them. Though everything appeared calm, the flash of anxiety on his face revealed his unease.

Deep in the Northern Darkness Sea Domain, the Death Underworld Dragon raced north with Chen Tong, sending ripples through the water in its wake.

"Stupid dragon, where are we going?" Surrounded by nothing but endless water, Chen Tong grew increasingly uneasy.

"The Death Forbidden Zone." The four calm words left the Death Underworld Dragon's mouth, but made Chen Tong's heart tremble.

"The Death Forbidden Zone?" Chen Tong was confused. In his eyes, wasn't the entire Sea of Death forbidden? How could there be another forbidden zone?

"Hmph, what do you outsiders know? The real Sea of Death lies within the Death Forbidden Zone. Even the Death Qi throughout this entire sea comes from there. That's the true core."

"Only by reaching it can we shake off the fellow chasing you. But it's also where the real danger lies. Whether you'll survive is still uncertain."

Chen Tong: "..."

"How is that any different from choosing another way to die?"

Before Chen Tong could think further, a weight pressed down on his once-calm soul. The familiar sensation startled him. "No good! That old scoundrel Tathagata is catching up. Hurry!"

The Death Underworld Dragon didn't need Chen Tong to remind it. It had already sped up.

"That guy you provoked is a real freak."

"I told you, that's Tathagata. He's abnormal by nature."

Feeling Tathagata's presence drawing ever closer, the Death Underworld Dragon gritted its teeth. "In that case, I'll have to send you to the North Sea. Whether you can escape will be up to you."

"What did you say? The North Sea?" Chen Tong's voice held an almost imperceptible note of excitement.

"Mm. The entrance to the North Sea isn't far from here." The Death Underworld Dragon glanced back at Tathagata. "That fellow is too fast, and far too powerful. We can't reach the Death Forbidden Zone in time. The North Sea is our only chance to survive."

"No! It's not our only chance. It's a guaranteed chance to survive, you stupid dragon. You finally got something right." Chen Tong's voice trembled. "Where's the North Sea? Hurry! Get me in there!"

The Death Underworld Dragon: "..."

Though it was puzzled by Chen Tong's words, the Death Underworld Dragon didn't dwell on them. It sped toward the depths of the sea.

Chen Tong was astonished that the Sea of Death had an entrance to the North Sea, but even more than that, he was delighted. Once he entered the North Sea, he could rely on his unmatched ability in the water to quickly recover his divine power and turn the tables.

"Tathagata, just you wait for my wrath!" Chen Tong said excitedly, sneaking a glance at the faint golden light flickering behind them.

Seeing the Death Underworld Dragon change direction, Tathagata was suspicious but didn't think much of it. He summoned all his strength and raced after them.

One sea divided them: the Northern Darkness Sea to the left, the North Sea to the right. A murky barrier stood between them, seemingly ordinary yet firm and absolute.

"Kid, this is as far as I can take you. What becomes of you is up to fate. If you survive, remember to come back and save me."

"What?" Chen Tong was startled. "You're not coming in with me?"

"Hmph, if I could leave this sea, I'd have been gone ages ago. I wouldn't have waited until now! I only hope that if you survive, you'll have enough conscience to come back and save me."

As soon as the Death Underworld Dragon finished speaking, it sharply tossed its head. Chen Tong shot off like a runaway horse, his face full of shock, straight toward the North Sea's entrance.

"That stupid dragon... Never mind...!" Chen Tong had only enough time to mock it inwardly before he plunged into the North Sea. At once, he felt the oppressive aura of death disappear, and an indescribable comfort seep through his body.

Tathagata arrived at the barrier a moment later. He didn't enter the North Sea right away, but instead studied what lay beyond it, his expression slightly darkening.

The Death Underworld Dragon beside him sneered. "Heh heh, I've already sent that kid inside. If you want to go in, you'll have to get past me first."

Tathagata glanced at it without a word, showing no intention of entering.

He knew all too well that Chen Tong's strength underwater was terrifying. Now that he'd escaped into the North Sea, he was like a dragon returning to the ocean. Tathagata feared he might no longer be a match for him.

"Heh..." Tathagata smiled warmly. "Since I can't capture him, I'll capture you instead. The Spiritual Pond could use a guardian dragon."