“My original plan was to rely on my own efforts. But you know how it is, my talent is mediocre. If I wanted to break into the Three-Corpse Burial Ground or even face our enemies, it would take me a lifetime,” the man said with a bitter smile. “Since you recognized this cultivation art, I figured you must know my master. I had no choice but to gamble.”

“Then why did you run earlier?” Xu Zimo asked.

“I was afraid you were one of the enemies from the upper realm, someone sent to kill me,” the man said sheepishly. “But after calming down, I realized you weren’t hostile. So I waited here.”

“What’s your name?” Xu Zimo asked.

“Ji Zhan.”

“Alright. Follow me for now,” Xu Zimo said after a moment of thought. “I’ll be heading to the upper realm soon. When I do, I’ll check that Three-Corpse Burial Ground on the way.”

Ji Zhan nodded quickly.

Since Alchemy God City had been wiped out, Xu Zimo had originally intended to return. But this time was different, another group, the Leviathan Race, had also interfered. Xu Zimo wasn’t about to enter the Dragon Sea, their territory, alone. The Leviathan Prince most likely had an Infinite Dao powerhouse protecting him.

So Xu Zimo waited, specifically for Paimon to return with reinforcements from the True Martial Sacred Ground.

“Tell me about your master,” Xu Zimo said casually while they walked.

“My master may be a rogue cultivator, but he’s very strong. At least at the peak of the Grand Emperor Realm. If he didn’t die in the Three-Corpse Burial Ground, he should’ve reached Saint Sovereign by now,” Ji Zhan answered.

“He’s cultivated fast,” Xu Zimo said. He remembered that when Lin Ruhu entered the Nine Heavens, he hadn’t even reached the Grand Emperor realm. He must have clawed his way through life-and-death encounters to progress so quickly. For a rogue cultivator, strength didn’t come easily.

“Why did he take you as a disciple?” Xu Zimo asked.

“That goes back to my master’s enemies,” Ji Zhan said awkwardly. “He’d been at odds with the War God Palace for years. One time, he was severely injured and collapsed in our village. My father saved him. To repay that kindness, he took me in as a disciple. He even reforged my body and taught me his Strength Scripture, hoping I’d inherit his legacy.”

“But your talent is poor, up to now you haven’t even reached the Grand Emperor realm,” Xu Zimo said.

Ji Zhan’s face turned red with embarrassment. It was true, Lin Ruhu had treated him with great care, even spending many resources on him. Ji Zhan had worked hard. But compared to geniuses and prodigies, he was painfully slow.

“All right, go on,” Xu Zimo said.

“After that, I followed Master and lived the life of a wandering cultivator. Until one day, the War God Palace found us. Master was gravely wounded defending me. He told me he didn’t have long to live, unless he broke through to Saint Sovereign. Later, the Three-Corpse Burial Ground opened. Master insisted on entering. He made an agreement with me. If he returned within three months, everything would be fine. If not, I was to run as far as possible and live as an ordinary person.”

“He didn’t return. To escape the War God Palace, you left the upper realm and came to the Absolute God Heaven,” Xu Zimo concluded.

Ji Zhan nodded. “It’s my fault. I was too weak. I wasn’t even qualified to accompany him.”

“We’ll handle it once we reach the Three-Corpse Burial Ground,” Xu Zimo said. “And if he’s really dead, I’ll go to the Mirage Tides Heaven and resurrect him.”

As they spoke, the void before them was suddenly torn open by a massive hand. Paimon and San Dao stepped out.

Xu Zimo waved his hand, sending Paimon back to the God World through the void.

“The Leviathan Race interfered?” San Dao asked.

“The Leviathan Prince,” Xu Zimo said.

“They’re courting death. The Leviathan Race lives in the Dragon Sea, and no one has ever bothered them. But now… looks like it’s time we paid Dragon Sea a visit.”

A sharp glint flashed in San Dao’s eyes. “Dragon Sea has been peaceful too long. My three blades need fresh blood.”

“Then let’s go,” Xu Zimo said with a smile. “The two of us are enough to destroy Dragon Sea and slay the Leviathan.”

…

Dragon Sea lay in the most remote corner of the Absolute God Heaven. Its size was neither small nor large, but its origin carried a hint of legend.

In an ancient era, a dragon circled above the void over this place. It was said that its sorrowful roar lasted three hundred years. The dragon’s tears formed the Dragon Sea.

The water of the Dragon Sea was unlike ordinary seawater. It carried a powerful Dao, the Dao of Oblivion. Any ordinary creature touched by those waters would forget all emotions and desires. They would lose everything that made life meaningful. A fate worse than death. People without joy, sorrow, or desire eventually succumbed to despair and took their own lives.

Such was the terror of the Dragon Sea.

Because of this, only two types of beings could survive here. Absolute powerhouses capable of resisting the Dao of Oblivion, and creatures with spatial abilities able to travel through the void without touching the sea at all.

For countless years, Dragon Sea had remained silent and calm. The surface shimmered without even a ripple. Dotted across the sea were countless islands, the so-called immortal isles and mountains. True Martial Mountain had originally been moved from here by the True Martial Progenitor.

On this day, the void above Dragon Sea twisted. Xu Zimo and San Dao stepped out. As for Ji Zhan, Xu Zimo ordered him to stay outside; he was far too weak, still merely at the God Meridian realm, and would only be a burden.

…

“Where is the Leviathan Race?!” San Dao shouted. His voice carried the sharpness of blade intent, echoing across the Dragon Sea like a roaring river.

The tranquil sea immediately surged with waves.

“Who’s making such a racket on Dragon Sea?” an annoyed voice said.

A huge splash rose, revealing a sky-blue tiger lounging lazily atop it. The tiger was covered in fat, lacking the ferocity of its species, more like an oversized lazy cat.

It lifted its head slightly. “Who are you two? Making such noise and disturbing my sleep?”