You're Taking Me Flying

The main team and the reserves stood on opposite sides.

Xuan Zi was still passionately explaining Shrek's Inspection Group system.

This was one of the things Shrek did well. Since it was a gathering place for the continent's most talented young people, it was only right for Shrek to shoulder some responsibility.

It had no effect on Gu Yuena at all.

Gu Yuena felt no pressure whatsoever when dealing with Evil Soul Masters.

"Before we head out to take part in the Soul Fighting Tournament, we have another task to complete.

"At the border between the Star Luo Empire and the Sun Moon Empire, there's a group of Evil Soul Masters who call themselves the Hand of the Death God. We need to set out early. Don't let this delay us from making it to the tournament."

Mu Xuanheng thought Xuan Zi still seemed a little unreliable. "Second Old Man, you're not going to be the one leading us this time, are you?"

He knew the answer, but still wanted to ask, because Xuan Zi really was unreliable.

"Do you have a problem with me? Other people might not know me well, but you should know better, kid." Xuan Zi sounded very pleased with himself. He ranked among the best even among Titled Douluo.

But what did that have to do with his strength? Xuan Zi was simply unreliable.

"Why not find someone else?"

"Hey, you dare question me?" Xuan Zi gave Mu Xuanheng a hard kick. "There's nobody else. Hurry up and get ready to leave."

Ma Xiaotao took out several Flying Soul Tools. "Our Soul Power Levels are high, so we won't have time to wait for you later. We'll each take one of you. Who do you want to go with?"

She was talking to Huo Yuhao and the other two.

After all, the strongest of the three was Wang Dong, and she was only a Soul Elder. There was no way she could keep up with the group.

Everyone quickly paired off.

Wang Dong continued to hide her gender and chose Ma Xiaotao.

Bei Bei and He Caitou were Soul Ancestors and had their own Flying Soul Tools.

The two of them were getting their boosters ready.

Only Gu Yuena stood beside Mu Xuanheng without moving.

"You're taking me flying."

Mu Xuanheng fiddled with the Flying Soul Tool. "All right, but you'll have to give me a boost later. Otherwise, I don't know if I'll be able to catch up with them."

She reached out and took hold of Mu Xuanheng's hand, answering softly, "Mm. I'll help you."

"You two, don't fool around. We can't afford to waste time." Wang Yan had heard their conversation. "We all know you're powerful, but flying with Soul Tools isn't the same as fighting. You're only Soul Ancestors, so you can't match our speed. Don't ride together."

Mu Xuanheng fastened on his Flying Soul Tool. "Teacher Wang, take a look. Doesn't my Soul Tool seem a little different? You could say I became a Level 4 Soul Engineer a few days ago. I just can't use things like Level 4 fixed soul ammunition, so I can't call myself a Level 4 Soul Engineer. But I can make Soul Tools tailored to myself."

His casual words left Huo Yuhao and He Caitou looking bitter. A thirteen-year-old Level 4 Soul Engineer?

"Junior Brother Xuanheng, stop putting so much pressure on us. I only became a Level 4 Soul Engineer at your age." He Caitou felt miserable. His new junior fellow disciples weren't ordinary either. Huo Yuhao was already on his way to becoming a Level 3 Soul Engineer, and Gu Yuena had reached Level 3 long ago.

"Senior Brother He Caitou, I've only made a few little things. Like my Flying Soul Tool." He showed it off a little, letting everyone see his handiwork.

Compared with everyone else's Flying Soul Tools, Mu Xuanheng's was more of a speed booster. After all, he could fly on his own.

Xuan Zi said, "All right, let's get going. Xiaotao, I'll leave the rest to you."

Mu Xuanheng snorted. "Old geezer, slacking off again."

The unreliable Xuan Zi had once again decided to do nothing.

Everyone took off at high speed and soared through the sky.

Mu Xuanheng held Gu Yuena as he spread his wings and flew. The wind stirred gently around them, providing extra lift and saving him energy. Gu Yuena was the one helping him fly.

"There's a safety strap. You don't have to hold me so tightly." The two flew close together along the flank of the group, carefree and unrestrained.

When a girl made a request, he naturally did his absolute best to fulfill it.

He loosened his hold a little. Gu Yuena felt herself almost fall out of the sky and grabbed him tightly, annoyed. "You don't have to hold me so tightly, but that doesn't mean you can take advantage of me."

"Then I'd better hold you tight. It wouldn't be good if something went wrong up here."

Flirting while flying had its own special charm.

He couldn't be as outrageous as Zhou Weiqing, but he could still tease her a little.

The other flyers tactfully kept their distance from the two of them.

In the Spiritual Sea, Snow Empress was very displeased. "I told you playing with fire would get you burned, but you still jumped right in."

Ice Empress said, "Our dear master has probably already fallen for him herself. Xue'er, you'd better try harder."

"Bing'er, what are you talking about?"

"I'm not stupid. You've changed from how you used to be. You've got a certain charm now. If you don't try harder, you might really end up as the junior wife. You're a Heavenly Snow Woman, born of heaven and earth. Would you really bow your head to this little girl?"

Snow Empress's skin took on a faint tinge of color. Snow Women didn't blush. "I refuse to believe I can't drag you into the fire with me, Bing'er."

Ice Empress: ???

After flying at full speed for a while, everyone found a place to land and rest.

The others could still chat and laugh, but Bei Bei and He Caitou were already starting to struggle.

The others either had high cultivation or were being carried. As for Mu Xuanheng, he couldn't be judged by ordinary standards.

Ma Xiaotao started organizing everyone's rest.

"Come on, Huo Yuhao. It's time for you to do what you're best at." Wang Dong urged Huo Yuhao to prepare some food. "Your cooking's so good. Why not make us a delicious meal?"

"Huh? I don't have anything. How am I supposed to cook?"

At the mention of food, Xuan Zi was the first to jump in. "Easy. Ling Luochеn and Xixi, go catch some fish. Dai Yueheng and Chen Zifeng, go hunt some game. Xiaotao, start a fire. Is that everyone?"

Mu Xuanheng said, "Forget it, Second Old Man. You've got the food and the fire covered, but you haven't got a single seasoning. Leave it to me."

He raised a hand, and a stove made of earth took shape. Then he took a whole pile of bottles and jars out of his Space Soul Tool. He even had an iron pot, bowls, and chopsticks.

"Kid, why do you carry all this stuff around?"

"To eat, obviously. What else?"

Xuan Zi said, "Fine. Then I'll leave the rest to Huo Yuhao."

Huo Yuhao asked, "Senior Brother Xuanheng, could you make a grill?"

Mu Xuanheng reached out and manipulated the metal. A grill quickly took shape.

Cooking was a hassle, so it was just right to leave it to Huo Yuhao.

He went to the river and waited for the food.

Gu Yuena sat down beside him and dipped her jade feet into the water, making ripples. She lifted them gently, and droplets fell back into the clear stream. "Cool and refreshing. It feels nice."

Mu Xuanheng sat down too. She naturally leaned against him. "I'm hungry. You can cook too, right?"

"Do you want something to eat?"

"I do. And I want to watch you cook."

By the stove, the fire burned brightly and smoke curled into the air.

Over here, flames blazed anew as fish simmered in midair.

Bei Bei was holding grilled fish and had been about to bring them some when he saw Mu Xuanheng and Gu Yuena leaning against each other, with flames suspended in midair as they steamed rice and stewed fish.

The fragrant rice drew everyone over. They all stopped and stared from behind.

"Unbelievable, you little brat! You went and made yourself a private meal!" Xuan Zi didn't care about anything else and immediately reached for the steamer.

Mu Xuanheng hurriedly said, "Second Old Man, that isn't yours. I made food for all of you."

Not all food was the same, and not all rice was the same either.

Xuan Zi clearly knew that. "I'm not stupid. This batch smells delicious."

A thousand-year-old crop of Qingling Moonlight Rice was bound to smell better than ordinary rice, and the mushrooms added a rich umami flavor.

"No way. I'm an old man. You should respect your elders and care for the young. I should get first pick."

Mu Xuanheng knew he had to placate Xuan Zi with something else to eat. "Wait, wait. I'll give you some fish. There's Tiger Paw Mushroom, Jianshouqing Mushroom, Chicken Oil Mushroom, and Bamboo Fungus in it. It's really tasty. Hey, I didn't say you could take all of it, you old geezer. Leave some for me too."

With no other choice, he and Gu Yuena returned to the group.

"Wow, I didn't know you were so good at cooking, Xuanheng. This tastes better than the food at those top-tier restaurants in Shrek City."

Bei Bei immediately chimed in, "Of course it does! Just look at who we have to thank for it!"

Mu Xuanheng gave Bei Bei a piece of fish. "Eat your food. Maybe then you'll stop talking."

Everyone laughed and joked together.

Though there were some conflicts and grievances, they all managed to get along.

Mu Xuanheng also hoped no one would die this time. With him there, that Soul King would be no problem.

A butterfly's wings never affected only what it could see.

Ye Xishui, who had returned to the Holy Spirit Cult in the Sun Moon Empire, felt deeply uneasy. "Go find out whether Xuan Zi of Shrek is truly at the Limit Douluo level. If he isn't, test his strength."

Once they had eaten their fill, everyone got ready to set out again.

Dai Yueheng said, "We'll see Father at our next stop."