Xiao Bai stood at the prow of the skyship with his hands behind his back, speeding through the boundless sea of clouds.
Astral winds howled past with thunderous roars, yet neither his robes nor hair stirred in the slightest.
The Mysterious Rank Dao Alliance Skyship was a dusky black Spirit Boat shaped like a longsword, five zhang long and six chi wide, capable of carrying up to fifty people.
The pentagonal Spirit Drive Wheel at the hilt was powered by spirit stones. It could adjust the proportions of Five Elements Spiritual Power according to the environment at any time, achieving either maximum thrust or the most effortless flight speed.
The Sword Body held a recessed cabin, while the prow had a viewing platform. A faint sky-blue light shield covered the hull, giving it a perfect aerodynamic shape and a defensive formation.
The Discipline Hall of the Snow Flame Sect and the Ministry of Justice of the Imperial Court each possessed a Mysterious Rank Dao Alliance Skyship to strengthen their ties with the Dao Alliance.
Generally speaking, a Mysterious Rank Dao Alliance Skyship required at least one Golden Core cultivator to control it with ease.
According to the rules, it also needed two assistants.
Yet today, aside from Xiao Bai, there was only Zhang Yufeng aboard.
Xiao Bai sensed that something was off and asked directly,
"Generally speaking, shouldn't a Mysterious Rank Dao Alliance Skyship have three pilots? Why is Zhang, Enforcer of Discipline the only one piloting it on this journey?"
Zhang Yufeng's expression remained unchanged, stern and unsmiling.
"If Martial Uncle Xiao was afraid, he should have raised the matter before boarding. Then the Discipline Elder might have brought a few more people to protect us."
Protect us?
Xiao Bai did not think there was any danger. He stood with his hands behind his back, his expression unchanged.
"There's nothing to be afraid of. I simply feel that this is not normal."
Zhang Yufeng was expressionless. He felt that he could keep this newly promoted martial uncle firmly in his grasp whenever he wished.
"So... Martial Uncle is afraid of me?"
Though he addressed him as Martial Uncle, his tone was that of an elder speaking to a junior.
Even though Xiao Bai had unexpectedly displayed swordsmanship talent on par with Lan Daozi's during the Sect Tour Ceremony,
Zhang Yufeng, as the chief Core Disciple of Discipline Peak and a cultivator at Early Golden Core, found it difficult to truly regard Xiao Bai, who was only in the Qi Refining Realm, as worthy of notice.
No matter how high his talent in the sword was, he was still only in the Qi Refining Realm. How could he possibly be worthy of Elder Yuhu?
Perhaps his future held limitless possibilities.
But for now... he was merely a chess piece.
"Afraid of you? What kind of onion are you?"
Xiao Bai shut Zhang Yufeng down with a single sentence.
He was not afraid of Zhang Yufeng. If anything went wrong during this journey, it would be the Dao Alliance's responsibility.
Whether Zhang Yufeng was a good man or a villain, he did not have the nerve.
Even if the Dao Alliance truly wanted him dead, they would not make a move on the road to the Dao Supervision Palace.
At the very least, they would have to wait until he took up his post as a Dao apprehender, then arrange some accident while he was arresting criminals and conveniently pin the blame on them. That would be the safer course.
Zhang Yufeng was somewhat stunned by Xiao Bai's retort. Only then did he lower himself and explain seriously,
"The reason this disciple alone is accompanying Martial Uncle is mainly because I believe danger may arise along the way. This disciple's strength is limited, and with more people, I might not be able to protect everyone properly. Only if it is just you and me, when danger comes, can this disciple abandon the ship and flee with all his strength, ensuring Martial Uncle's safety."
What kind of humblebrag explanation was that?
Xiao Bai was sick of hearing it.
"Stop being a crow's mouth. Just steer the ship properly."
After saying that, Xiao Bai stood at the prow and looked down at the dark forest below. He kept feeling that some Ferocious Beast was watching him...
Seeing Xiao Bai's concern, Zhang Yufeng reassured him,
"This area lies along a Dao Alliance route. Let alone Golden Core Realm Ferocious Beasts, even Foundation Establishment Stage Ferocious Beasts have mostly been captured. There are currently no Ferocious Beasts capable of threatening us."
Watch your mouth. Don't plant flags.
His words came true at once!
More than ten minutes later, Zhang Yufeng's words truly became a crow's mouth.
The previously clear sky suddenly churned with wind and gathered spiritual energy as black clouds blanketed the heavens.
Black Crows!
Countless Black Crows dove from the clouds swirling like a black vortex, surging forward one after another to slam into the skyship.
Their eyes held crimson Spiral Pupils, and their long beaks were sharp as swords.
Though each Black Crow was generally only in the Qi Refining Realm, their numbers were enormous—more than a hundred thousand!
The Dao Alliance Skyship's defenses were excellent. Black Crows were burned into ashes one after another by the cyan formation light.
Unfortunately, the formation's soundproofing was truly terrible. Their shrill cries continually clawed at Xiao Bai's scalp.
"Didn't you say there were no Ferocious Beasts that could threaten us?"
Zhang Yufeng steadied the ship and struggled to remain calm as he muttered,
"This is a beast tide... Only the Demon Alliance could launch a beast tide on such a massive scale. It seems someone in the Demon Alliance wants your life... Brace yourself. We're accelerating!"
With that, the skyship switched to full thrust.
But Black Crows kept crashing into the prow, severely slowing its flight.
The Demon Alliance?
Xiao Bai found it strange.
Elder Yuhu's contact in the Demon Alliance, that Black Sheep Crone, had said she would not interfere with her Dao companion...
Why were they suddenly attacking him?
At that moment!
Some of the Black Crows pursued the skyship at high speed and changed their attack method.
Before touching the cyan formation, they suddenly self-destructed!
The hull jolted violently.
Once Black Crows of the Qi Refining Realm self-destructed, they unleashed spiritual pressure beyond Peak Qi Refining and close to Foundation Establishment, using it to damage and drain the skyship's cyan formation.
Zhang Yufeng felt the pressure and had no choice but to reassess Xiao Bai's value.
"There is an expert controlling this beast tide. It seems Martial Uncle is no ordinary man."
Xiao Bai was speechless. He still wanted to chat at a time like this?
"You realized that far too late."
The merciless war of attrition began...
Brilliant fireworks blossomed before and behind the hull, erupting with deafening booms.
No matter what it did, the skyship could not escape the beast tide's pursuit. The hull shook without stop beneath the bombardment.
Zhang Yufeng sat cross-legged at the stern, piloting the vessel. His face was deathly pale, and he was nearing collapse.
A blessing born of misfortune—Xiao Bai felt that even the kidney stones left over from his previous life had been shaken to pieces.
That counted as one good thing. With Elder Yuhu's pills keeping him alive, he remained fairly calm.
Splash...
Zhang Yufeng spat out a mouthful of blood.
"At this rate, the skyship won't hold. We can only abandon it and flee. I'll carry you on my sword!"
Xiao Bai felt that the two of them had become a feast for the crows. He might as well sit still and await death.
"My intuition tells me there may be an ambush outside. Better to live and die with the skyship."
Zhang Yufeng froze, unable to understand why Xiao Bai had such a death-seeking notion.
"Do not worry. Generally speaking, those controlling a beast tide are not too powerful. Otherwise, they would not waste their effort controlling one. I will disembark first and scout the way for Martial Uncle."
Xiao Bai nodded.
"Be careful."
Zhang Yufeng set the skyship to Autonomous Mode, then leaped from the hull.
Although Autonomous Mode would not last long, it was enough for him to locate whoever was controlling the Crow Tide.
But the instant he jumped off the hull, a Giant Crow at the Golden Core Realm, hidden within the beast tide, suddenly appeared and thrust a claw into his chest...
Had Zhang Yufeng not reacted quickly, that claw would have pierced his lower abdomen and crushed his dantian!
Recovering from the shock amid spurting blood, Zhang Yufeng immediately drew his sword and slashed at the Giant Crow.
Xiao Bai was speechless. This fellow was practically a Flag Saint!
At the same time, a mechanical voice ruthlessly cleaved into his mind—
Ding—The system has detected suspected evil conduct by the Second Female Lead, Xiahou Mu Yun. Initiate Remote Sensing observation immediately?
This had something to do with Mu Yun?
Xiao Bai was stunned.
Immediately!
Right now!
Before you continue