Chapter 332: Even with This, You Dare Say You Run the Fastest (Thanks to Book Friend Fansuisuibian for the Alliance Leader Reward)

The flying shuttle moved hundreds of times slower than on its journey hither, a pace which, in the words of the Fifth Elder, was meant to afford Lu Yang and his companions a leisurely view of the celestial vista.

Yet even so, the craft steadily overtook one flying vessel after another, its sheer velocity casting such dread into the hearts of the four youths that they possessed not the slightest courage to peer out at the passing scenery.

"Perhaps it would be wiser to cultivate; after all, cultivation is the proper duty of a cultivator," Li Haoran suggested, timidly raising his hand.

The Fifth Elder pondered for a moment, finding these youngsters remarkably diligent, and replied, "Very well. Shall I activate the Spirit-Gathering Array for you?"

Lu Yang waved his hand dismissively with great confidence. "No need. I have just mastered a primitive divine ability that can draw together all the ambient spiritual energy, serving perfectly in place of the array."

The Fifth Elder was rather astonished, wondering what manner of divine ability this could be, and whether it had been imparted by Yun Zhi.

Proudly raising his chin, Lu Yang opened his mouth wide and invoked the primitive grand divine ability of the Taotie clan—Heaven-Devouring—whereupon an endless stream of spiritual energy began to coalesce toward him.

The density of the surrounding spiritual energy surged dramatically in an instant.

"To think such a miraculous divine ability exists?" With his vast experience, the Fifth Elder recognized its extraordinary nature at a single glance; it consumed virtually no spiritual power, making it far more cost-effective than a Spirit-Gathering Array, yet its efficacy was nearly identical, and free from any geographical constraints, allowing for cultivation anytime and anywhere!

Only its appearance lacked grace, for with his neck strained back and mouth agape, he resembled nothing so much as a divine hound howling at the moon.

Nonetheless, for a cultivator, the pursuit of cultivation was the paramount duty, while elegance was a secondary concern.

Meng Jingzhou likewise perceived the brilliance of this technique and leaned closer to ask, "How does one practice this divine ability? Could you perchance teach me?"

Li Haoran and Qin Yanyan also gazed at Lu Yang with eager expectation, their yearning to acquire this art plain to see.

"Easily done, easily done," Lu Yang answered generously, and upon obtaining the assent of the Immortal Fairy, he imparted the mental techniques and vital principles of the skill to them.

"You can master it slowly once we return; for now, let us cultivate," Lu Yang remarked, before once more opening his mouth to gather the spiritual energy.

...

"Halt! Do not think to escape!"

"To defy the laws of the realm so brazenly within the borders of the Great Xia—do you still imagine this to be your Great Yu Dynasty?!"

"Accursed Great Xia! Naught but usurpers of power and throne, yet you dare display such insolence!"

Three streaks of flowing light chased one another across the sky, with one leading the fray, desperately striving to shake off the two pursuers behind.

He was a peak Body Integration stage cultivator of the Great Yu Dynasty, who had chosen to enter a deep slumber whilst at the height of his powers, so as to meet the conflicts of the grand era to come.

Ordinarily, he would not have awakened at this hour; according to the grand design, the Imperial Preceptor was to rouse them one by one.

Alas, his place of slumber was chanced upon by several blind cultivators who, imagining they had stumbled upon some grand fortune, excavated the site with great fervor, ultimately disrupting his dormant state.

In a fit of rage, he had slaughtered those meddlesome cultivators.

Yet this deed alerted the local chief constable, who, seeing the newcomer’s menacing aura, immediately contacted his superiors, prompting the imperial capital to dispatch two Body Integration stage cultivators to apprehend him.

The pretext for his arrest was the utterly laughable charge of willful murder.

What did it matter if he, a grand master of the Body Integration stage, slew a few minor cultivators? It was merely a convenient excuse to capture him.

To his mind, the Great Yu Dynasty had been as glorious as the midday sun, and this so-called Great Xia Dynasty was bound to be a cabal of usurpers, shamelessly declaring themselves the rightful rulers.

Fortunately, he had prepared a contingency plan, enabling him to reclaim his peak condition for a brief duration.

Moreover, he excelled in the arts of evasion, which should have been more than sufficient to elude capture.

"Once I shake you off, I shall secretly bring a minor clan under my control and thoroughly investigate the state of this Great Xia Dynasty, thereby smoothing the path for the Imperial Preceptor!"

He reflected on how truly magnificent the Imperial Preceptor was.

Though the providential destiny of the Great Yu Dynasty had been at its zenith in those days, unifying the Central Continent without a single rival, possessing a majesty that swallowed mountains and rivers, and an enduring fortune that seemed eternal.

Yet the Imperial Preceptor maintained that no dynasty could last forever; even an era as mighty as antiquity eventually met its demise, and no matter how formidable the Great Yu Dynasty might be, it could not surpass the ancient era blessed with the Four Ancient Immortals—thus, the Great Yu could not endure eternally.

Therefore, the sole method to restore the cosmic order for the Great Yu Dynasty was to revive during the epoch of the new dynasty, using the contentions of the grand era to re-establish the Great Yu Dynasty and prolong its providential destiny.

Shaking his head to dispel these musings for the moment, he knew his immediate priority was to break free from the pursuit of his two antagonists.

The two Great Xia cultivators knitted their brows closely, for the adversary's velocity was astonishingly swift, easily placing him among the top ten within the Body Integration stage; even with the aid of speed-enhancing talismans, they remained a step behind.

Just then, one of the cultivators caught a fleeting glimpse of a flying shuttle that appeared remarkably familiar.

"Old Chu, keep up the pursuit while I seek assistance."

Old Chu did not comprehend his intent, wondering if it were not too late to seek aid, yet trusting his companion's judgment, he nodded and replied, "Very well."

...

The Great Xia cultivator rapped upon the flying shuttle, and the Fifth Elder opened the hatch to admit him.

Upon entering, the Great Xia cultivator was met with the sight of Lu Yang with his head tilted back and mouth wide open, while Meng Jingzhou and the other two sat positioned around him in a triangular formation; all four were immersed in meditation, creating an exceedingly bizarre atmosphere.

Was this the latest method of cultivation devised by the Dao Seeking Sect?

Shaking off the thought, for now was not the time for such wonders, the Great Xia cultivator espied the Fifth Elder standing with his hands clasbed behind his back, and joy immediately surged in his heart.

A great savior indeed.

"Haha, Zhou Xin! I knew this flying shuttle belonged to you!"

The Fifth Elder turned his head to look at him, his expression guarded. "Yu Qian, my shuttle has by no means exceeded the speed limit. What business have you with me?"

At the arrival of an unfamiliar cultivator who was clearly an acquaintance of the Fifth Elder, Lu Yang and the other three slowly opened their eyes, curious to discern the unfolding situation.

The Fifth Elder offered a casual introduction: "This is Yu Qian, a constable of the Great Xia Dynasty. Back when I used to race my flying shuttle, he would pursue me day after day just to issue fines. Later on, when I ceased my racing, he stopped chasing me."

Lu Yang’s eyelids twitched; when the Fifth Elder had raced his shuttle, his cultivation must have been at least at the Soul Transformation stage. This constable, Yu Qian, being a contemporary of the Fifth Elder, undoubtedly possessed immense power—even as a lawman, he must be a grand figure akin to the Chief Constable of the Imperial Capital.

Veins throbbed prominently on Yu Qian's forehead upon hearing this. "Utter nonsense! What do you mean you 'ceased your racing'? It was clearly because, by the end, absolutely no one could catch you anymore!"

"Barely half a month ago, I heard someone grumbling that you were racing your shuttle once again!"

In his youth, the Fifth Elder's reckless racing had caused no end of trouble for Yu Qian and his fellows; indeed, the very reason Yu Qian could move so swiftly now was entirely due to the rigorous training he underwent while pursuing the Fifth Elder in days past.

"One must not make baseless accusations. When have I raced my shuttle since then? Do you possess any evidence?"

Yu Qian was so incensed he felt tempted to strike him. You fly with such blinding speed that even a Shadow-Recording Orb cannot capture the mere silhouette of your shuttle; where on earth would evidence come from?

"Enough, I shall not dally with you any further. There is an urgent matter at hand—do you see that fellow speeding ahead? He is a cultivator from the Great Yu; overtake him!"

So vexed was Yu Qian by the Fifth Elder that he had nearly forgotten his critical duty.

"He claims to be the swiftest runner among those of the Body Integration stage from the Great Yu era, and we cannot keep pace with him."

The Fifth Elder cast a sidelong glance at the rapidly fleeing Great Yu cultivator and scoffed, "A mere display like that, and he dares call himself the swiftest?"

"Seat yourselves firmly!"

The Fifth Elder was prepared to exert his true might, for none had ever dared challenge him within the dominion of aerial flight.

Yu Qian breathed a sigh of relief; though the Fifth Elder was an exceedingly troublesome adversary, as an ally, he was a most fortunate blessing indeed.