Chapter 624: The Real Number One in Running Away (4,500 words, two chapters totaling 7,900)

Chapter 624: The True Master of Fleeing (4500+ plus two chapters totaling 7900+)

In first place, Jiu Tianliu.

Within the final registration zone of the entire underwater racing sector.

At this moment, Jiu Tianliu was seen piloting his divine shuttle, splitting into streaks of phantom images as he swept through the vast registration area and located the black registration orbs.

The Nine Heavens Divine Shuttle he piloted, fully named the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Hazard-Evading Divine Shuttle, was a magical treasure with a long history, having undergone generations of upgrades without ever becoming obsolete.

From aristocratic clans to imperial nobility, and prestigious sects of the immortal path... through every historical revolution, every leap of the era, every fall of powerful families and sects, or the outbreak of wars, conflicts, and contradictions... the figure of the Nine Heavens Divine Shuttle carrying people and their fortunes as they fled could always be seen.

As long as one runs fast enough, as long as one survives, there will always be a chance to make a comeback; this philosophy has been passed down through generations and has now become the creed of the Finance Department, earning Jiu Tianliu's wholehearted approval.

The reason the Nine Heavens Divine Shuttle could become the ultimate artifact for fleeing, aside from its ability to harness luck, upgrade configurations with accumulated resources, and facilitate easy liquidation, always boiled down to one most crucial factor... it was fast enough.

"Speed is the primary element in evading danger."

"And the Nine Heavens Divine Shuttle represents the pinnacle of speed among its tier."

Though he knew nothing of artifact refining, it did not prevent Jiu Tianliu from mastering formidable artifact-controlling abilities through his dharma skeleton, and with the support of several soul cultivation masters, he piloted this divine shuttle with practiced ease.

Jiu Tianliu knew that artifact refining, medicine, talismans, communications, transportation, construction, combat... none of these were things the Finance Department excelled at.

Yet, relying on the vast resources of the Finance Department, he could acquire these capabilities and even directly reap their fruits.

The tentacles of the Finance Department had long extended into every industry; as long as they wished... they could stir up storms in any field at any time and compete with the masters of any trade.

"This is where the true power of the Finance Department lies."

"Simply because money is omnipotent."

"And the Finance Department is the most omnipotent major."

"In this edition of the Top Ten League, taking advantage of the rivalry between Kuang Tianqing and Dao Qiankun... I might just have a chance to vie for the championship."

"Though the risks involved are not insignificant."

Although unaware of the specific inside details, Jiu Tianliu could sense the restlessness among the Finance Departments of various schools, as if they had been plotting something recently.

But as to what exactly they were doing, everyone could only see the fragment in their own hands, and even Jiu Tianliu could not guess the complete plan.

"Perhaps only my master and the other few Soul Transformation cultivators can see the full picture."

Pondering this, Jiu Tianliu finished registering the final black orb.

And next would be the final stretch of this stage's track.

Just then, Jiu Tianliu noticed a dragon shadow shooting toward him from afar.

"Hmm?"

At first, Jiu Tianliu thought Ying Zhoufan had caught up, but a moment later he saw it was actually Zhang Yu, standing proudly atop the dragon's head, riding the beast toward him.

"Oh? So this is how you managed to catch up?"

And under Jiu Tianliu's surprised gaze, a fish demon fiercely dashed toward the dragon shadow, tossing two black orbs into the air, which were caught by the man and the dragon, instantly completing the registration.

"What?"

Watching Zhang Yu, Ying Zhoufan, and himself suddenly standing on the same starting line, Jiu Tianliu was inwardly startled: "They can pull off a stunt like this?"

But the next moment, he laughed again: "Excellent."

Jiu Tianliu said to the dragon and the man, "I was just thinking this stage lacked a talking point, and taking first place might not generate much buzz; your arrival is perfect timing."

The dragon's body writhed, carrying Zhang Yu right in front of Jiu Tianliu.

Zhang Yu looked at Jiu Tianliu inside the divine shuttle and said indifferently, "Senior brother, we meet again."

Jiu Tianliu smiled, "Junior brother, let us settle the score on this final stretch of the track."

Being from the same four-school faction, neither of them attacked the other.

Zhang Yu knew that whoever made a move to hinder the other would only incur the wrath of the school leaders.

That meant for this final segment of the race, the contest between him and Jiu Tianliu would be a pure test of speed.

Looking at the youth atop the dragon's head, Jiu Tianliu seemed not to have expected that the civil engineering boy who had once rejected him and refused to transfer to the Finance Department had unknowingly walked right up to him, earning the qualification to compete against him.

3!

A spiritual realm projection summoned by Jiu Tianliu materialized in the air, beginning the countdown.

Jiu Tianliu: "Junior brother, I won't hold back during this final sprint."

2!

"If you can manage it, try your best to chase me down."

"Use all your strength and try to close the distance."

1!

As the number one appeared, both sides accelerated fiercely, drawing long white trails across the seabed, and in the blink of an eye, they had burst out of the registration zone, leaving behind a scene churned into a tangled mess by the underwater turbulence.

The Nine Heavens Divine Shuttle took the lead, parting the waves with tremendous force all the way, as if forcibly carving a vacuum tunnel through the depths of the sea.

At the same time, Zhang Yu rode atop the giant dragon, the water field expanding around him merging with Ying Zhoufan's water-controlling abilities, creating a sensation of unparalleled smoothness.

Gazing at the Nine Heavens Divine Shuttle ahead, Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Excellent... the Azure Water Golden Crystal Armor and the power of the demon bloodline transforming into a dragon are too perfectly matched; the water feels like an extension of our very bodies."

"This stage... we can win."

...

Before the finish line of the underwater racing stage.

Aside from the eleven contestants currently racing, almost all the other competitors had gathered here, along with the guiding instructors from each school, all waiting for the first contestant to cross the finish line.

Many contestants watched the rivalry between Jiu Tianliu and Zhang Yu, letting out gasps of astonishment.

Wen Wuya thought to himself, "So fast. Jiu Tianliu was already swift to begin with, and the Nine Heavens Divine Shuttle boasts immense power, making it top-tier in speed whether flying through the sky, burrowing into the earth, or racing underwater. But I never imagined Zhang Yu, riding a dragon, could actually match his pace."

Before Dao Qiankun's eyes played the broadcast of Zhang Yu and Jiu Tianliu's contest, while beside him gathered the teammates he had chosen: Yan Qianji, Li Shiwei from the Dao Arts Department, and Wen Rongjue from the Finance Department.

Watching the broadcast of Jiu Tianliu in the lead, Dao Qiankun smiled and said, "Jiu Tianliu is quite composed; he actually didn't take an early start just now, choosing instead to begin the sprint alongside Zhang Yu. I just wonder if he can maintain this composure until the very end."

Beside him, Li Shiwei, the second-ranked student in the Dao Arts Department, had always looked up to Dao Qiankun as her idol, being his junior schoolmate.

When she first heard Zhang Yu talking about placing Dao Qiankun on the throne, Li Shiwei had been thoroughly displeased.

"Those should be my words!" she had roared in her heart.

Now, hearing Dao Qiankun speak, Li Shiwei asked in surprise, "Senior brother, do you think Zhang Yu will win?"

Dao Qiankun replied faintly, "There are no absolute certainties in this world, but Zhang Yu indeed has a chance."

As he spoke, they saw Jiu Tianliu and Zhang Yu, one after the other, plunging into a deep oceanic trench; coupled with their blistering speed, the live broadcast feed suddenly became chaotic and dim.

Watching this scene, Dao Qiankun snapped his fingers and said, "Let me treat you all to the premium seats."

Accompanied by the payment of spiritual coins, a spiritual realm projection manifested in their eye skeletons, and the surroundings of Dao Qiankun and his teammates underwent a drastic transformation in their vision.

It was as if they had instantaneously shifted through space, moving directly from the finish line into the oceanic trench, trailing closely right behind Jiu Tianliu and Zhang Yu.

Li Shiwei thought to herself, "Is this a tracking camera combined with a spiritual realm projection? It's practically like being there in person, following right behind Jiu Tianliu and Zhang Yu, watching them race with my own eyes."

Looking at Dao Qiankun, who was treating them to the spectacle, Li Shiwei thought, "He truly lives up to his reputation as my senior brother, treating others as naturally as breathing... so incredibly cool."

Just then, Dao Qiankun analyzed, "Jiutian Liu is gradually widening the gap. Ying Zhoufan is injured, after all, and it is only natural for his stamina to wane after running for so long."

Li Shiwei asked, "Is Zhang Yu going to lose?"

Dao Qiankun replied, "The waters are still open for now, giving Jiutian Liu a significant advantage. But the course will grow increasingly narrow, especially once they enter the final stretch of submarine caverns. The complex terrain there might just close the gap between them."

Moments later, Jiutian Liu and Zhang Yu were seen racing deep into the trench, their silhouettes flickering as they carved beautiful arcs through the water, kicking up towering waves before plunging into the adjacent submarine caverns.

...

Inside the cavern, Jiutian Liu's divine shuttle surged forward at high speed, weaving through the narrow underwater passages, though its pace inevitably began to slow. "Hmph, Zhang Yu... if you think this complex terrain gives you a chance, you are gravely mistaken."

"Scatter light and split shadows, spirit realm reconnaissance!"

In an instant, a series of phantoms rose from the shuttle, shooting out in all directions and mapping the vast terrain in the blink of an eye.

As the topographical data flooded in, Jiutian Liu swiftly calculated and deduced the optimal route, accelerating once more to carve the perfect path at the fastest and most precise speed.

"The first rule of racing is intelligence."

"Only by fully utilizing intelligence can one unleash maximum speed, truly become the undisputed champion of the race, and achieve peak velocity in any environment."

"Can you keep up with me, Zhang Yu?"

In Zhang Yu's mind, the entire submarine cavern course materialized, its topography already fully modeled.

At this moment, his position and that of the giant dragon beneath him appeared as a glowing red dot, moving at breakneck speed within his mental model.

This was because Zhang Yu had sent demonic beasts ahead to scout the terrain, helping him build the model and memorize the route.

...

"Incredible," Li Shiwei exclaimed in astonishment. "Even tracking them with the spirit realm lens, I can barely keep up. Are these two really here for the first time? But..."

Li Shiwei added in surprise, "Why does it feel like the distance between Zhang Yu and Jiutian Liu is widening a bit?"

Dao Qiankun swiped his fingertips across the screen, instantly locking, popping up, and enlarging a series of screenshots showing the dragon's massive body colliding with the terrain.

Dao Qiankun said, "The dragon's physique is simply too colossal, and Ying Zhoufan's control is not as fluid as Zhang Yu's. At such extreme speeds, any collision causes deceleration, steadily widening the gap with Jiutian Liu. However..."

...

Inside the submarine cavern.

The Jiutian divine shuttle shattered a patch of seaweed and soared past a massive cavern lined with stone pillars, only to see a dragon's shadow emerging not far behind.

"Hmm?"

Gazing at the figure atop the dragon's head, Jiutian Liu said in surprise, "He caught up?"

...

Li Shiwei asked in confusion, "How did Zhang Yu catch up?"

Dao Qiankun analyzed calmly, "He used his own power to compensate for Ying Zhoufan's mistakes."

"Through the mountain-moving divine power of Tiankunlun, he made subtle, preemptive adjustments to the terrain to accommodate the dragon's body and reduce collisions."

"To achieve this, one needs not only lightning-fast reflexes but also the ability to calculate Ying Zhoufan's errors while simultaneously plotting the route."

Under the astonished gazes of his two teammates, Dao Qiankun continued, "If Jiutian Liu is riding the optimal route, then Zhang Yu has forged and carved out an optimal route of his own."

...

Inside the submarine cavern.

"Can't shake him?"

Watching Zhang Yu cling stubbornly to his tail, Jiutian Liu thought, "A stubborn foe."

...

Before the finish line.

Wen Wuya sighed, "The key to underwater speed lies either in overwhelming propulsion or absolute mastery over water control."

"And when it comes to water control, the greater the range, the faster the speed."

"Zhang Yu controls the water at close range with the Azure Water Golden Crystal Armor, at mid-range with his dragon-transforming power, and at long range with the mountain-moving divine power of Tiankunlun, vastly expanding his sphere of control."

"To think he could achieve this on his very first run with Ying Zhoufan?"

Watching the live feed flash by as the competitors unleashed their unique techniques, many students gathered at the finish line let out gasps of awe.

Staring at the increasingly narrow cavern ahead, Dao Qiankun said, "Here it comes. The final submarine fissure, the most twisting and complex stretch of the course. This is where the victor will be decided."

Meanwhile, a growing number of spectators who had been watching other competitors now turned their attention to the duel between Zhang Yu and Jiutian Liu.

"Jiutian Liu is actually being hounded by Zhang Yu?"

"It is the result of Zhang Yu and Ying Zhoufan's cooperation."

"What cooperation? Zhang Yu subdued Ying Zhoufan and dragged him all the way to this position."

"It is so fast, an absolute pinnacle of underwater speed dueling. Who on earth will win?"

...

In the submarine cavern.

Seeing the colossal dragon attempt to squeeze through a nearby crevice to overtake him, only to be swiftly left behind once more, Jiutian Liu thought, "Useless. I am on the optimal route; trying to bypass me via any other path will only make you slower."

Behind the lens, Li Shiwei watched with rapt attention, "Failed again. There is simply no way past."

Dao Qiankun said indifferently, "Three final twisting corridors left. The outcome will be sealed soon."

Bang!

A deafening roar echoed through the submarine cavern as the dragon, trying once more to bypass the shuttle, collided violently with it.

Watching both racers accelerate anew after the clash, Dao Qiankun's eyes flickered. "Jiutian Liu's focus is slipping."

Under the tense stares of his two teammates, Dao Qiankun said calmly, "Watch closely. The match will be decided in this very instant."

Accompanied by a slight flicker of error from the Jiutian divine shuttle, the optimal route was finally yielded.

A burst of flames erupted fiercely from the dragon's body; the Heavenly Sun Radiant God surged from the beast's tail, and amidst the dragon's grievous wounds, a terrifying force propelled man and beast forward.

"That was no mistake..." Jiutian Liu's mind was utterly calm at this moment. "I am merely switching to a more perfect route, one that transcends your current dimension."

"Jiutian Shidi Evasion Divine Shuttle! Dive into the earth for me!"

As an illusory radiance emanated from the shuttle's surface, the flickering vessel pulverized the rock in its path, carving a shorter, unyielding route straight toward the finish line without losing an ounce of speed.

As it pierced through massive swathes of earth and stone, the mana within the shuttle was consumed frantically, and Jiutian Liu's own reserves burned fiercely, nearly running dry in the blink of an eye.

But in the next moment, bursting forth in a flash of light, the shuttle tore through the sea surface in one breath, arriving at the finish line just before its mana was utterly depleted.

"Done."

Jiutian Liu breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, but as he glanced at the dragon's shadow barely breaking the surface right behind him, a sudden jolt of shock struck him.

"Where is he?"

Atop the blood-drenched dragon, there was no longer any trace of Zhang Yu.

Yet Jiutian Liu did not slow down because of this; instead, he accelerated further toward the finish line.

"No matter where he went, I will cross the finish line first..."

Yet in the very next breath, as his ocular implant projected his ranking of second place, a jolt of shock seized Jiu Tianliu.

"What?"

"When did he overtake me?"

Jerking his head up, Jiu Tianliu beheld Zhang Yu, who had somehow already taken his stand atop the Divine Shuttle; with the thunderous eruption of the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Shifting Divine Power, the man launched himself from the vessel like a cannonball, seizing the lead and tearing across the finish line a heartbeat ahead.

Crossing the finish line a close second, Jiu Tianliu found his mind still echoing with the visceral image of a blood-drenched Zhang Yu planting his feet upon the Divine Shuttle just moments before.

"That bastard actually leaped onto my Divine Shuttle?"

"Madman."

(End of Chapter)