The moment the sacred warship's light shield touched the edge of the storm belt over the sea of clouds, violent tremors rose from beneath the hull. Dark gray clouds churned like boiling ink, and twisted "chaotic air currents" became invisible giant hands that battered the shield-the once-steady pale golden membrane instantly rippled, and the runes on its surface began flickering erratically, as though it might shatter at any moment.
"Hold the helm steady!" Chief Tongchui's roar drowned out the storm. He gripped the Fallen Star Iron tiller with both hands, his knuckles white from the strain. "These air currents can distort energy! The warship's ice and fire power is weakening. Lei Lin, Snow Spirit Qilin, you need to increase your energy output!"
Lei Lin immediately beat his fiery wings, pouring golden-red flames into the warship's core socket, but the moment the flames left his wingtips, the chaotic air currents tore them into tiny sparks. Snow Spirit Qilin's icy mist met the same difficulty, its luminous white vapor swirling in the currents, unable to flow smoothly into the propulsion system. The warship's speed plummeted. As though caught in an invisible net, it slowly spun within the storm belt.
"The water element is being disrupted too!" A Ze's voice was anxious. Gaps kept appearing in the water-element barrier gathered in his palm, and tiny cracks covered the pale blue membrane. "The currents devour elemental power. We can hold out for half an hour at most. If we don't find a way out, the light shield will shatter completely!"
Liya leaned over the ship's rail, the pages of the Illustrated Catalog of Plants rustling loudly in the currents. Her fingertip traced the section on the sea of clouds, and her eyes suddenly lit up. "The catalog says there are 'ancient purifying air currents' hidden deep within the storm belt! They're energy spilling out of the Qilin Holy Land. They can neutralize the chaotic air currents and guide us! It's just that... the purifying currents shift with the storm, so they're very hard to catch!"
Loran was just about to respond when Snow Spirit Qilin's ice talisman suddenly pulsed violently. Countless red dots appeared within its luminous white glow-the dots were rapidly approaching from deep within the storm belt. Each was a translucent flying insect, its wings gleaming with sinister black-purple light. They were the "Soul-Corroding Flying Insects" mentioned earlier!
"It's an Insect Clan ambush! They're moving with the purifying currents, waiting to ambush us!" Snow Spirit Qilin shouted. The icy mist turned into dozens of ice blades that shot toward the first insects to approach. The instant the blades struck, the insects actually burst with a buzz, spreading a sinister black-purple mist. It settled on the light shield and instantly corroded tiny holes in it-these insects could not only devour energy, but also self-destruct to release evil power!
More flying insects emerged from the clouds, swarming thickly around the warship like a moving black-purple cloud. A "Flying Insect Matriarch," ten times larger than the others, hovered at the center of the swarm, new insects constantly pouring from her abdomen. A black-purple energy sphere was also gathering within her mouthparts. She was clearly the swarm's commander.
"The matriarch is absorbing the chaotic air currents to strengthen herself!" Loran tightened his grip on his knight's sword, the power of three elements condensing into a spear of light along its blade. "Liya, use your nature power to repair the gaps in the light shield. A Ze, have the Water Speakers concentrate their power on protecting the sealed compartment on the warship's lowest level. Lei Lin, keep the matriarch occupied. Snow Spirit Qilin and Icefield Wolf, clear out the flying insects with me!"
Everyone immediately sprang into action. Liya waved her staff, and emerald vines grew from the ship's rail, winding around the holes in the light shield. The life force within the vines spread along the membrane, sealing the gaps one by one. Ten Water Speakers formed a circle, weaving pale blue water elements into a thick shield that firmly protected the sealed compartment and kept the insects from approaching. Icefield Wolf leaped onto the top of the ship, swinging golden claws. Every swipe smashed several insects, and the black evil mist quickly dissipated within the faint glow surrounding the wolf-it turned out that Icefield Wolf's power of origin could actually counter the soul-corroding evil power.
Lei Lin charged toward the Flying Insect Matriarch, golden-red flames condensing into a pillar of fire that thrust straight at her abdomen. But the matriarch was already prepared. With a sweep of her wings, dozens of insects blocked her front, and the evil mist from their self-destruction stopped the pillar of fire. At the same time, the energy sphere in her mouth shot out. A black-purple beam grazed Lei Lin's fiery wing and struck the warship's light shield-the shield flickered violently, and the pale golden membrane instantly lost more than half its radiance.