Racing

As soon as he finished speaking, ripples spread through the void, casting a soft glow. A Cloudstep Light-Carriage, gleaming white and smooth as jade, appeared out of thin air beside the Sea-Covering Wandering Dragon Boat.

Its body, forged from Ten Thousand Year Warm Jade, flowed with the gentle radiance of a newborn sunrise. The Astral Soul Crystals embedded around it lit up one after another, silver-blue starlight winding around the carriage. Its retractable wings fluttered twice, making it look naturally immortal.

But in the eyes of Qian Xunzong, who loved extreme speed, this was no immortal jade carriage. It was clearly the one and only top-tier, god-grade supercar on the Douluo Continent—an invincible land, sea, and air vehicle.

"Everyone, get in! I'll take you for a ride!"

Qian Xunzong flashed into the driver's seat first. Shen Ye had no idea what this thing was, but he followed right behind. Mo Hengchuan, who had still been blowing his beard and glaring, grew curious at the sight and turned into a streak of light as he entered the carriage.

Yue Guan and Gui Mei, sprawled on the grass and still shaken, had yet to react when a gentle wave of Soul Power pulled them straight into the jade carriage.

The scissor doors slowly closed, and the glowing stones of the starry dome lit up. Gentle starlight filled the entire cabin as Qian Xunzong sat in the jade driver's seat.

Qian Xunzong was still a little too short, but the Soul Tool thoughtfully adjusted and raised all the controls. Even though he was only six years old, he could still drive!

Even without a license!

His fingertips tapped the steering wheel before him and the familiar handbrake, his eyes brimming with excitement.

"Dear passengers, this high-speed journey is about to begin. Fasten your seatbelts, sit tight, and let's go!!!"

The next second, every Astral Soul Crystal on the vehicle erupted with dazzling starlight. Like a white meteor, the Cloudstep Light-Carriage instantly tore through the air above the lake, leaving Cloud-Treading Villa in the blink of an eye and racing across the endless, open Qingchuan Plains.

The speed of three hundred kilometers per hour ripped through the low-altitude air currents, but the Constant-Temperature Soul-Purifying Array operated at full power, blocking out the howling wind and jolts. The cabin remained warm and quiet, without the slightest sensation of bumping.

Only the expressions of the four passengers were vastly different.

Mo Hengchuan lounged against the soft cushion by the window, slowly fanning himself with a plain folding fan. His fingertips occasionally tapped the window frame as he calmly watched the forests, hills, and wildflowers outside streak backward, all things becoming fleeting trails of light at such speed.

Yet his state of mind remained tranquil. He even used the flowing winds to comprehend the rhythm of heaven and earth. His expression never changed throughout the journey, entirely unaffected by the high-speed drive. Not a trace of the Confucian Immortal's refined bearing was diminished.

Shen Ye stood close at the side. At first, he could still keep his balance calmly, but as Qian Xunzong threw the vehicle through consecutive S-curves and performed a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree spinning turn on the spot, the carriage repeatedly tilted sharply from side to side. The color gradually drained from his face, leaving it faintly pale and bluish. His fingers clenched the jade handrail beside him tightly as his stomach churned.

His Soul Power far exceeded that of ordinary people, and he could only force down the waves of dizziness and nausea. He pressed his lips together and remained silent, quietly circulating his Soul Power to ease the discomfort in his head. He endured it all in silence without making a single panicked sound.

But the Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo beside him had long since completely lost all composure. Their minds had utterly collapsed.

"Handbrake, turn the wheel!!"

Qian Xunzong operated the controls skillfully, and his first extreme sideways drift arrived abruptly. The carriage tilted sharply to the left at nearly forty-five degrees, while star trails stretched across the ground in long silver-blue bands. A sensation of weightlessness instantly swept through the entire vehicle.

Yue Guan's throat tightened, and a shrill scream burst from his lips. His long lashes trembled wildly, all color draining from his face as he frantically wrapped his arms around Gui Mei's neck. He clung to Gui Mei's body and did not dare loosen his hold in the slightest.

"Ah!! Young Master, spare us! It's too fast! We're going to flip! We're going to fly out!"

Yue Guan's voice cracked, his scream sharp and piercing. With his eyes squeezed shut, he refused to look at the scenery whipping past the windows, his entire body shaking uncontrollably.

Gui Mei was no better off. Cold sweat soaked through his black clothes, plastering the fabric on his back to his skin. He wrapped both arms tightly around Yue Guan's waist, and the two clung to each other in a terrified embrace, neither able to let go as he shouted in panic.

"If I'd known this thing of the Young Master's was this insane, I'd rather have stayed at the villa and taken Sir's punishment than come up here to suffer this! Help!"

Qian Xunzong's playful mood rose, and he had no intention of slowing down. He immediately followed up with steep-slope charges, sideways ground-hugging slides, consecutive chained drifts, and other flashy maneuvers. The white jade carriage carved one brilliant, magnificent star trail after another across the plains, looking as stylish as could be. Watching the two men in the backseat cling together and scream, the smile on his lips grew wider.

"Don't rush. The best part is still ahead. Let's go!!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Cloudstep Light-Carriage changed direction and headed straight for the mighty Canglan River ahead. The vents beneath it instantly switched to water-driving mode, and its jade wheels transformed into broad floating boards that rode steadily atop the surging river. The sturdy carriage split the raging waters apart, forcing up two enormous waves. Mist filled the air and slapped against the windows, instantly blurring the view.

"Ahhh! We're going to fall into the river!!"

The two were terrified out of their wits when the jade carriage plunged into the river without warning, instantly diving dozens of zhang down to the riverbed. Its specialized water-pressure ward activated fully, isolating the icy water and immense pressure. Schools of river fish scattered in panic beyond the windows, while mottled light and shadow in the dark depths added another layer of unknown terror.

"Help!"

Yue Guan and Gui Mei screamed until their voices went hoarse. They clung to each other even more tightly, both burying their heads in the soft Ice Fox-fur cushions and covering their ears desperately, not daring to even breathe loudly.

The next second, the jade carriage burst from the water. Its broad wings fully spread, and its body shot upward vertically, breaking through the river mist and charging into the sea of clouds a hundred zhang overhead. The extreme weightlessness of high altitude struck again.

Rolling white clouds flowed past them at arm's reach, while the long wind swept over the wings. From the open viewing platform, they could nearly touch the soft clouds, and the vast sky stretched endlessly before their eyes. Qian Xunzong even controlled the carriage through a high-altitude dive and sharp turn, thrillingly skimming past layer after layer of clouds. The exhilaration was simply maxed out.

Mo Hengchuan raised a hand and took a sip of the clear tea prepared in the cabin. Looking at the magnificent sea of clouds, he nodded in praise, his tone calm and composed.

"This object combines Soul Tool arrays with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. It travels steadily over land, water, and sky alike. It is perfect for watching clouds and comprehending the Dao. It truly is a rare treasure."

His heart remained as calm as still water throughout. Even during the high-speed aerial dive, his expression did not ripple in the slightest.

The aerial dive doubled Shen Ye's dizziness. His face turned white as paper, and he simply closed his eyes completely, focusing on circulating his Soul Power to regulate his breathing. He forced himself to ignore every movement of the carriage and silently endured the airborne sprint.

Yue Guan and Gui Mei, meanwhile, could no longer make a sound. Only intermittent sobs and muffled groans remained. They held each other tightly from beginning to end, not daring to move at all.

From high-speed drifts on land, to racing through waves on the river, to deep-water diving and plunging through clouds high in the sky, screams had accompanied the entire journey. Their minds had been tortured into collapse by the extreme speed, and they never wanted to come within half a step of this immortal jade carriage again for the rest of their lives.

Seeing how miserable the two looked, Qian Xunzong laughed heartily and guided the jade carriage into a slow, steady landing.

"Well? Is my new ride exciting enough?"

The jade carriage landed smoothly, and its scissor doors slowly opened. Yue Guan and Gui Mei scrambled and tumbled out, their legs weak as they collapsed onto the grass. Their bodies were limp and their limbs numb as they greedily gulped down the fresh air near the ground.

Their eyes were filled with fear and resistance as they looked at the Cloudstep Light-Carriage, their gazes carrying the shadow of lasting trauma. Qian Xunzong jumped down from the jade carriage, patted its body, and smiled with utter satisfaction.

"Well? My exclusive tri-mode divine carriage—was the experience totally maxed out?"

Mo Hengchuan stepped out slowly, lightly waving his folding fan as he smiled. "My lord's playful heart has not diminished, but these two little fellows have suffered for it."

Shen Ye steadied himself against the carriage. Only after a long while did he suppress his dizziness, shaking his head helplessly.

"Blegh..."

"Blargh..."

Only Yue Guan and Gui Mei lay sprawled on the ground, vomiting repeatedly and waving their hands in unison. They did not want to say another word. Today's wild ride would become a nightmare they would never forget for the rest of their lives.