C395 Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle!

The relentless sun blazed overhead, casting its harsh light on the vast, icy wasteland.

All around, a deathly silence prevailed.

A sleek, silver flying artifact, nearly thirty meters in length and seven meters across, streaked across the sky like a bolt of lightning.

"The Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle!"

Beneath the desolate quiet of the wasteland, someone craned their neck to watch the shuttle speed by, shrinking back uneasily.

They quickly concealed themselves in a gaping cave mouth dotting the barren landscape.

Deep within the cave, a man clad in golden armor, a late-stage practitioner of the Profound Break Stage, exclaimed in alarm, "What? The Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle!"

"Calm down, it's not after us," another voice scoffed, watching the shuttle disappear. "With our level of cultivation, we're hardly worth the pursuit of those who commandeer the Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle. We're close to the Absence Relic here; rumor has it that it's become quite tumultuous. Old Cash, Chi Hongyi, and others have all slipped away there."

"Judging by the shuttle's trajectory, it seems to have originated from the Absence Relic, aiming to traverse the Divine Might Empire en route to the sea."

The cultivator with unkempt, knotted gray hair, a result of years of neglect, seemed indifferent. He sighed, "After the trouble in the Divine Might Empire, I thought to flee to the Absence Relic. Little did I know, that bizarre place has turned into a hotbed of peril."

"What kind of danger?" asked the man in golden armor, clearly out of the loop.

"A great many have perished. Soul Wandering cultivators from the Cold Yin Sect and Thunder Sect, even the Silverfrost Dragon from Hidden Dragon Lake, all met their end in the Absence Relic," he lamented. "Next to them, we're mere insects. I've no desire to meet an untimely end there without cause."

"What in the world has happened at the Absence Relic?" The armored man was visibly shaken.

"Who can say for sure? I've only heard that numerous individuals from the seven lower sects of the Heavenly Source Continent have fallen there too. The space teleportation array, crafted by the Spirit Void Sect, has been sabotaged and is currently out of commission," the man with tangled hair fretted. "If you ask me, we're better off changing course and heading for the Desolate Swamp. By comparison, it's still a haven of relative calm."

"Moreover, with a Desolate God stationed here, not even the sects from the Heavenly Source and Quietus Continents would dare to cause trouble."

"Well, that settles it."

The pair conversed, their silhouettes shrinking into a subterranean cavern within the ice field, fading into silence.

...

"The Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle! It's actually the Devil Palace's Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle!"

"It truly is the Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle!"

"How can the Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle flout the rules and soar through the skies over the Holy City of Heavenly Might?"

In a city thrice the size of Darkmoon City, crowds on the streets and in the squares craned their necks to watch the gleaming shuttle streak across the sky above.

Bordering the Absence Relic, this city was one of the six grand cities of the Divine Might Empire.

The Lau family, the most powerful in the Holy City of Heavenly Might, had produced the Mighty Spirit King.

The city was not only the Lau family's birthplace but also home to the previous empress of the Divine Might Empire and her brother, the Mighty Spirit King.

Renowned throughout the Divine Might Empire, this formidable city was a haven for many esteemed cultivators.

In principle, such a mighty city would not permit flying artifacts to brazenly traverse its airspace.

Except for the well-known gilded treasure ships of the Divine Might Empire, other flying artifacts would take a detour, avoiding the Holy City of Heavenly Might's skies.

Yet, the Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle disregarded the city's regulations entirely, its audacity unchallenged.

"The Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle is of the Devil Palace! Even the Mighty Spirit King from the Lau family is now training there!" someone remarked with a huff, "With the Devil Palace's flying artifacts crossing the city, who would dare object? Even if the emperor is aware, would he dare confront the Devil Palace?"

"Alas, the empire's days of splendor may be behind us. With the Wei Clan supplanting the Lau Clan as the new sovereigns, leading to the general's treason, the Tusk Troops have been nearly wiped out," another person murmured discontentedly, "How can a nation riddled with ceaseless strife ever be strong?"

"Indeed, the Wei Clan just doesn't measure up to the Lau Clan."

The city was abuzz with lively discussions.

...

With a whoosh, the Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle soared over Sky Might Sacred City and came to a gentle halt above a small village on the outskirts.

Yu Yuan, who had been meditating quietly in a corner, channeling the energy of the Spirit Stone in his hand, sensed the anomaly of the flying artifact and instinctively opened his eyes. Beside him, Yan Lu did the same.

With a wide grin, Yan Lu said, "I'll go check it out." Without another word, he sprang to his feet and made his way toward the cabin of the Devil Shuttle.

It had been several days since their farewell to Zhou Cangmin and Yan Qiling. Before they had parted, the Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle had arrived unannounced at the Absence Relic, with Yan Lu standing atop it, extending an invitation.

Zhou Cangmin had seen him off with a nod and an encouraging smile, assuring him that he could journey to the Ember Waters with ease. Throughout the entire encounter, he had not laid eyes on any other cultivators from the Devil Palace aboard the Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle, nor did he know how many were on board besides himself and Yan Lu.

Yet, he was well aware that the Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle was the Devil Palace's hallmark—a symbol of their power and prestige.

The Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle, an emblem of the Devil Palace, traversed the heavens and earth, commanding respect from every sect, power, and empire. Aboard such a vessel, one could soar with pride over any realm of the Profound Sky Continent, save for the Luan Bird Empire.

The Luan Bird Empire stood alone in this regard, its empress so formidable and meritorious to the Boundless Land that even the Devil Palace held her in high esteem. Within her domain, the Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle adhered to the rules she had set, never daring to defy her authority.

Only the Luan Bird Empire, only the Luan Bird Empress, possessed such a privilege.

"The Devil Shuttle has stopped to pick someone up," Yan Lu announced as he returned, his smile tinged with a hint of mischief. "It's an acquaintance."

"An acquaintance?" Yu Yuan inquired, intrigued.

"You'll find out soon enough," Yan Lu replied with a hearty laugh.

As his words fell, a cascade of dark, devilish light showered down upon the village below.

Yu Yuan rose to his feet and peered over the edge of the flying shuttle. In the instant that the dark light touched down, the long-abandoned village, once shrouded in desolation, seemed to be unveiled by magic, bursting forth with life and vibrancy.

The ramshackle village was transformed into a series of exquisite pavilions, with courtyards adorned in jade and a profusion of exotic flora blanketing the ground.

Suddenly, a graceful silhouette emerged from one of the pavilions.

A sinister black magic light was hurtling towards her.

In an instant, the magic light enveloped her, whisking her away into the Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle and depositing her before Yan Lu and Yu Yuan.

"Su Yan!"

"Yu Yuan!"

Both exclaimed in shock.

Su Yan, already privy to the news, was aware that the Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle would arrive and that Yan Lu would be present.

Yet, she was unaware that Yu Yuan was also aboard the Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle.

And Yu Yuan had no inkling that Su Yan would be taken by the Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle to the Ember Waters.

Su Yan was a newly recognized disciple, her name and status officially recorded by the Taiyuan Sect.

While the Taiyuan Sect maintained alliances far and wide, Yu Yuan was taken aback that the Devil Palace's Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle had come to collect her.

As they voiced their astonishment, the Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle surged forward, soaring through the skies once more.

"Yu Yuan, how did you end up here? After the Tusk Troops relentlessly pursued us, what unfolded?"

She stepped closer, her green dress swaying gently as she stood before Yu Yuan. Her nostrils flared slightly with her rising excitement as she inquired, "I'm aware that the Yan family has succeeded the Lee family as the new rulers of the Devil Moon Empire. Thanks to messages from my father, I'm somewhat informed about the Empire's internal affairs. But since leaving the Absence Relic, I've been out of the loop on subsequent events."

The transformation of the Absence Relic over the past half-month was nothing short of miraculous.

The master of the village where she had taken refuge was a man of exceptional skill, an old friend of her father, Su Xiangtian, who had shared revelations that left her astounded.

The Divine City of Mighty Heaven, situated near the Absence Relic, was within easy reach. Utilizing the art of Yin God Soul Wandering, the village master had observed the relic from a distance, noting the enriched Spirit Qi and the once-barren woods now teeming with life.

A lover of botany himself, the village master had attempted to harvest some plants but was deterred by a formidable consciousness.

Recognizing his inferiority, he promptly apologized and withdrew without protest.

Upon the Yin God's return, the village chief inquired extensively but couldn't unravel the mystery, leaving him no choice but to wait in silence.

"It's not a big deal. The Rainier Empire's Imperial Advisor, a fully formed Yang God, has descended upon the relic land. The commander had no choice but to flee to the Desolate God Great Swamp, while our Empress was captured alive by the Yang God," Yu Yuan bluffed. "Any plans the Empress and the army commander had were obviously doomed."

"You're telling me things I already know," Su Yan said with a hint of bitterness. "I want to know the truths that are unclear to me. Yu Yuan, I saw quite a bit before I left, and I refuse to believe it's as straightforward as you claim."

Yu Yuan shrugged nonchalantly. "I passed out partway through, so I'm really out of the loop."

"Never mind, you're not reliable," Su Yan chided, giving him a playful glare, but she didn't press further. "You visited the Ember Waters too, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I wandered over there to see if I could stumble upon any good fortune."

Following that, they both settled into their own spaces aboard the Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle, occasionally engaging in light conversation, though they mostly devoted their time to cultivation.

As time swiftly passed, the Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle departed from Mighty Heaven Holy City and set its course for the Kingdom of Rewia, occasionally stopping to pick up passengers.

Half a month later, the shuttle welcomed two more men and a woman, all at the Profound Break Stage.

These individuals hailed from the Kingdom of Rewia and appeared to have been preselected by the Devil Palace.

Like Yan Lu, they would first venture to the Ember Waters before setting off directly for the Quietus Continent.

Since the two men and the woman were all from the Kingdom of Rewia and disciples of the Devil Palace, they were already well-acquainted.

"We're familiar with Yan Lu. The Yan family, like ours, has long been integrated into the sect," remarked a gaunt man, casting a sidelong glance at Yu Yuan. "However, the Yu family from Darkmoon City is new to me. I'm curious when they caught the sect's attention."

Finally, his gaze turned icy as he looked at Su Yan. "The Su family's current head seems to be cozying up to the Taiyuan Sect, doesn't he?"

"Yes," Yan Lu responded coolly.

"What business do Taiyuan Sect members have on our Devil Shuttle?" the man huffed.

With a sly grin, Yan Lu gestured toward the cabin and suggested, "If you're clueless, why not head inside and pose the question to the Devil Envoy?"

"Devil Envoy..."

The trio, two men and a woman, had been harboring a grudge over Su Yan's presence on the Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle. But at Yan Lu's remark, they exchanged glances, their faces tensing up, and they fell silent, not daring to make a peep.

Some time passed before the same person approached Yu Yuan with another question. "Hold on, you're just at the Yellow Court Stage, so frail. What's your purpose in heading to the Ember Waters?"

"You sure do have a lot to say," Yu Yuan responded, clearly annoyed.

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