Journey to the West: Starting with the True Lord of the Pure Land

Deep in the Liuyun Sea.

The fading of the undercurrents arrived as expected.

People gathered in front of the Crystal Palace.

Ao Ying, dressed in a light blue battle robe, stood on the jade steps, her gaze calm as she looked toward the dark and unpredictable Blackwater Abyss.

She did not accompany them; she needed to remain at the central command to coordinate various parties and provide backup.

"This journey is perilous, and I thank you all for your hard work. I will wait here for good news."

After speaking, she lightly flicked her sleeve.

Maids brought over several jade plates brimming with spiritual energy, on which were placed several protective magical artifacts and healing elixirs that shimmered with precious light.

Chen Jiao took the cool-to-the-touch Xuan Shui jade pendant. After a brief sensing, he knew that the water element power contained within it was quite pure, and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Xuan Gu, Li Yang, and the others accepted the gifts and expressed their gratitude with various expressions.

The Azure Dragon Taoist, holding a guiding banner that shimmered with a ghostly light, led the way and addressed the crowd:

"I will now lead the way."

Please follow closely behind and do not stray from the path.

His face was simple and calm, but his eyes inadvertently met those of General Whale a moment later, so quickly that no one noticed.

Having said that, the Azure Dragon Daoist took the lead, transforming into a streak of azure light and shooting towards the Blackwater Abyss.

Jin Yu's face turned ashen. After being swept by Chen Jiao's icy gaze, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and bear it.

He followed a few feet behind the Azure Dragon Daoist with a sullen expression, his golden wings tightly folded, looking quite aggrieved.

He would occasionally glance at Chen Jiao, his eyes filled with a mixture of resentment and fear.

"Walk."

Chen Jiao then spoke, his voice clearly reaching everyone's ears.

He moved slightly and followed silently, disappearing into the increasingly deep and dark sea ahead.

Xuan Gu and Li Yang exchanged a glance, each using water-avoiding techniques to follow closely behind Chen Jiao.

General Whale Roar led dozens of elite aquatic soldiers, bringing up the rear of the column.

He was clad in black armor, holding a trident that could split water, his face solemn. He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Ao Ying and said:

"Your Highness, rest assured, this humble general will certainly protect all fellow cultivators!"

His tone was firm and resolute, revealing his unwavering loyalty.

The group walked silently through the increasingly murky sea.

The closer you get to the Blackwater Abyss, the thicker and colder the surrounding seawater becomes, and the thinner the light becomes.

Even during the decline phase, one can still feel the pervasive heavy pressure and chaotic spirit.

The once vibrant marine life has long since vanished, leaving only the mournful sound of the surging currents, like the low weeping of vengeful ghosts, echoing in my ears.

And from deeper within, a low, muffled rumble, like muffled thunder, a faint, almost imperceptible roar of flowing water.

The group continued forward through endless darkness and deathly silence.

Twisted rocks, broken ancient corals, and fragments of magical artifacts torn to pieces by the undercurrents began to appear around them.

The pressure was increasing, and the water temperature was dropping, as if it could freeze one's soul.

Even Golden Core cultivators felt a slight sluggishness in the flow of their magical power.

Jin Yu, who was scouting ahead, was walking on thin ice, while Xuan Gu and Li Yang were also pale-faced and dared not be careless.

Chen Jiao remained expressionless, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, constantly scanning his surroundings and taking in all unusual activity.

His aura was contained yet as solid as a rock, which reassured Xuan Gu and Li Yang who were following closely behind.

It was unclear how long they had been sinking when the Azure Dragon Daoist suddenly stopped, and the guiding banner shone brightly, illuminating the scene below.

But what appeared on the seabed was an enormous, pitch-black abyss shaped like a ferocious maw.

At the edge of the abyss, the seawater was torn apart, forming countless tiny whirlpools that emitted a shrill, ghostly wail.

At the edge of the whirlpool, thousands of solidified black water ribbons coiled and twisted like giant pythons.

That is the entrance to the Blackwater Abyss.

"arrive."

The Azure Dragon Taoist's voice was deep and hoarse, making it exceptionally clear in the silent deep sea.

"Next, I will use a secret technique to open a path for you fellow cultivators."

His face was obscured, and only his lips could be seen moving.

The blue banner in the hands of the Azure Dragon Taoist suddenly began to swirl with water patterns at an accelerated pace.

Immediately, he formed a series of complex and ancient hand seals with his hands.

Where the fingertips glide, the void trembles slightly, and strange, sparkling specks of light appear out of thin air, like stardust falling and swirling around the banner.

The light fragments were cold and distant, carrying an ancient and boundless aura, completely out of place with the chill of this deep sea abyss.

As the Azure Dragon Seal was activated, the light fragments gradually merged into the deep blue water light of the banner, transforming into thin, silvery rays as fine as hair, which, like serpentine snakes, probed into the dark vortex ahead.

A moment later, the myriad points of light hidden in the abyss emerged one after another.

The interplay of starlight and water light unexpectedly created a passage leading directly into the depths.

"what?"

Master Xuan Gu let out a soft "hmm," his face showing doubt:

"This technique is unlike ordinary water-based methods; it is rather mysterious and unpredictable..."

Master Li Yang was also astonished. He felt that the aura of this technique was ancient and powerful, but he did not know its origin at all. He thought it was some kind of secret water mansion supernatural power passed down by the Azure Dragon.

Chen Jiao remained calm.

His gaze swept over the shimmering starlight, then glanced at the Azure Dragon Daoist, who was exerting himself to the utmost and whose forehead was already beaded with sweat, and said calmly:

"What an ancient secret technique for stabilizing water flow! Fellow Daoist Qingjiao, this is quite an opportunity."

The Azure Dragon Daoist remained expressionless and chuckled softly:

"I cannot compare to Fellow Daoist Xuanling's great supernatural powers, who reigns supreme in this region."

"The passage is open, enter immediately!"

The Azure Dragon let out a low shout, its voice carrying a hint of urgency.

Jin Yu had no choice but to bite the bullet and transform into a golden light, carefully slipping into the passage.

The crowd followed closely behind.

Upon entering the passage, the surrounding scenery suddenly changed!

Beyond the passage lay the pitch-black vortex itself, with turbulent undercurrents and chilling roars and grinding sounds emanating from it.

Inside the passage, an extremely hot wave of heat swept up from the bottom of the abyss.

The heatwave carried a violent, malevolent energy, making everyone feel as if they were in a furnace.

Then another stream of extremely cold and black water flowed silently.

Even more bizarrely, this black water seemed to be able to corrupt spiritual light!

Sometimes the fire element overwhelms the water element, spewing out scorching poisonous water; sometimes the water element counterattacks the fire element, gushing out cold, turbid water.

At this moment, Jin Yu, who was flying ahead, was in the most disheveled state.

He was already severely injured and his protective demonic aura flickered erratically under the alternating impact of the scorching heat and the black water energy, on the verge of collapse.

His face flushed red and then turned ashen white, his breathing fluctuating wildly, clearly indicating that he was struggling greatly, yet he dared not pause for even a moment.

He dodged left and right, looking extremely disheveled.

"Earth's Fiery Inferno! Such intense earth fire energy!"

Master Li Yang exclaimed in surprise. As a fire cultivator, he was most sensitive to the aura of earth fire, and his expression was extremely solemn at this moment.

"Indeed, this fire is violent; there is likely an extremely deep fire vein hidden in the seabed, something extraordinary!"

Master Xuan Gu also spoke in a deep voice, circulating Xuan Yin Qi around his body to resist the heat wave.

"This black water energy is cold and filthy, and it can actually corrode spiritual energy, which I have never heard of before."

This is the Black Water, which is intertwined with earth fire, yet is even more sinister and unpredictable.

Xuan Gu and Li Yang looked confused, unable to recognize him.

Chen Jiao's eyes narrowed.

He could tell at a glance that the black water was the essence of the Weak Water of the Heavenly River!

This water is so deep that even a goose feather cannot float on it, and even immortals and gods cannot cross it. It can also corrode magical treasures and pollute one's primordial spirit. It is one of the most mysterious and treacherous true waters in the world.

"Is this the Weak Water?"

A long-buried memory suddenly flashed through Chen Jiao's mind like a bolt of lightning.

A hundred years ago, he was ordered to hunt down a group of demons who stole the essence of the Milky Way's Weak Water. He was delayed in the East Sea for a moment and almost let them escape without a trace.

At that time, that group of demons acted ruthlessly and mysteriously, much like the demon kings of Beiju Luzhou.

They were quite similar to the demons who had previously slaughtered the Dragon Whale Market.

In the end, he annihilated all the demons and reclaimed the essence of the Weak Water.

And now...

In this remote sea area of ​​the Eastern Sea in the lower realm, in this Black Water Abyss, the aura of the Heavenly River Weak Water has once again appeared.

Furthermore, it was artificially confined to a place with the violent subterranean fire, forming this extremely unstable and ominous land!

If the Weak Water were to borrow the long-suppressed earth fire energy and further activate the Water Element Array, it would likely be enough to create a catastrophe that sweeps across the four seas and the water elements of heaven and earth!

Chen Jiao kept walking, his face calm and expressionless.

However, a chilling realization swept through his mind like a cold tide.

A century-long scheme, nurturing demons, and mobilizing celestial officials!

The person who devised this plan must have connections that reach the heavens!