52: Chapter 52 Boarding the Solar Boat, I Feel Pity for Yan Jingjing

"Run! This fire is going to roast us alive!"

"Forget the baggage! Survival is what matters!"

Following the command of the State Preceptor,

this Yankang Iron Cavalry, originally strictly disciplined and capable of sweeping the world, finally showed their strongest survival instinct.

Soldiers could be seen all over the mountains and plains, frantically tearing off their scorching armor.

At the same time, they scrambled to rush into those unstable teleportation arrays that had just been opened.

As for the expensive Mechanical Spiders and Divine Fire Heavy Cannons, originally regarded as the nation's vital treasures, they had all become burdens.

They were discarded by the roadside like trash, emitting a "sizzling" melting sound under the intense heat.

They turned into heaps of twisted scrap metal.

The scene in the air was even more spectacular and miserable.

Those Tower Ships, which usually looked so majestic, were now like a swarm of startled headless flies.

To reduce weight and increase speed,

the supplies in the cabins, spare Spirit Stones, and even some damaged secondary cannons were thrown down from the heights by the sailors.

For a moment, it rained parts from the sky.

And at the very rear of the formation,

the State Preceptor of Yankang, Jiang Baigui, had a solemn expression.

Although his cultivation was heavenly, in the face of such ancient Divine Might, he could only barely protect the core capital ships from being ignited by the high temperature.

He looked back deeply at Ye Xiu, who was standing by the cliff with his clothes fluttering in the wind.

He then glanced at that terrifying sun ship.

A complex light flashed in his eyes.

"The Great Ruins... are indeed unfathomable."

"Ye Xiu, you won today's game."

"But the momentum of reform is like a surging river; you can block it for a moment, but not for a lifetime!"

With that, the State Preceptor swept his large sleeve.

A brilliant white rainbow pierced through heaven and earth, enveloping the last few battered flagships and instantly vanishing into the horizon.

The speed was so fast it was as if a vengeful ghost was chasing after his life.

"Whew..."

Watching the Yankang Army completely disappear,

everyone inside and outside Xianglong City, whether they were commoners or members of the Heavenly Demon Sect,

and even the old men from Canlao Village, felt as if they had just returned from the gates of hell.

However, something unexpected happened.

That sun ship, which had been so aggressive and seemed ready to destroy everything,

did not continue the pursuit after driving away the Yankang Army.

Nor did it carry out an indiscriminate purge of the surrounding living beings as legends suggested.

"Moo—!"

Accompanied by a low chant from the twelve Fire Giants,

the massive Divine Gold chains suddenly pulled taut and then slowly slackened.

Rumble!

The sun ship slowly came to a halt three miles outside of Xianglong City.

It was like a true sun that had fallen into the mortal world, hovering in mid-air.

The light it emitted illuminated The Great Ruins, which had already entered the night, as if it were broad daylight.

Although the terrifying heat had subsided significantly, it still caused the surrounding air to appear in distorted ripples.

"It... it stopped?"

At this moment, Ye Xiu was also somewhat dazed.

He had originally thought the sun ship was just passing through or had come out to "clean the floor" because the rules of The Great Ruins were triggered.

But looking at this posture, it seemed more like it had specifically come to... stand guard?

"Brother Ye!"

Just then, Ling Yuxiu rushed up recklessly and hugged Ye Xiu's arm tightly.

Her eyes were full of the joy of surviving a disaster and shock at the sight before her.

"That big ship... it seems to be protecting us?"

"Protecting?"

Ye Xiu rubbed his chin, looking thoughtfully at the bow of the sun ship.

Although they were far apart and separated by blazing flames,

he vaguely sensed that at the very top of the sun ship, there seemed to be a pair of eyes.

They were piercing through the endless Void Realm, silently watching this side.

Or rather, watching... something inside his body?

However, the gaze soon shifted to Qin Mu nearby.

Buzz!

Likely sensing a power from the same source,

the jade pendant hanging around the Cowherd Boy's neck suddenly floated up.

It also emitted an incredible golden light.

Soon, it attracted everyone's attention.

"Young friend, you have an Aura that feels very familiar to me!"

Before anyone could speak,

a very pleasant voice came from the sun ship, like the spring-like tone of a girl.

The tone was filled with curiosity and excitement.

This gave Qin Mu a big fright, but he also became exceptionally excited.

Don't be fooled by this kid's constant laughing and joking.

He had things on his mind.

He had always wanted to know what his origins were.

He wanted to know where his parents were.

And the person on the sun ship seemed to have a clue.

"You, do you know the origin of this jade pendant?"

Despite the apprehension and unease in his heart,

Qin Mu boldly asked his question.

The pleasant voice on the ship fell silent for a moment.

Then, she made an incredible decision.

She seemed to extend an invitation to the Cowherd Boy.

"Why don't you come aboard the ship, and we can discuss it in detail?"

Seeing this scene, the people from Canlao Village were a bit worried.

Especially Si Youyou.

So, the Sect Master's Wife, who was disguised as the City Lord, quickly sent a voice transmission to her husband.

"Husband, accompany Muer up there to take a look!"

"Mm!"

While the couple was talking,

one of the giants had already lowered a massive palm, coming before the two like an elevator.

"Muer, I'll go up with you!"

Seeing the Cowherd Boy still hesitating, Ye Xiu proactively placed a hand on his shoulder.

He took the kid and jumped onto the giant hand.

The owner on the ship didn't seem to object.

She directly led both of them up!

Whoosh—!

The sound of whistling wind and the gradually rising terrifying heat waves filled their ears.

Ye Xiu held Qin Mu's shoulder with one hand as they stood in the palm of the Fire Giant.

It was like riding an elevator to the heavens, rapidly ascending into the high sky.

"Brother Ye, the surface of this big guy... it seems to be living igneous rock!"

Although Qin Mu was usually incredibly bold,

standing at an altitude of several thousand feet with flowing dark red lava beneath his feet, his legs couldn't help but feel a bit weak.

That family heirloom jade pendant was now throbbing wildly against his chest.

It was as if it wanted to fly out of his body to embrace the "sun" above.

"Don't move around, keep your mind steady."

Ye Xiu didn't dare to be careless at this time. As the height increased, the roasting sensation from the Solar True Fire increased geometrically.

If he hadn't just achieved Perfection in the Dao Palace and had the Kidney Divine Treasure in his body automatically operating to form a faint deep blue water curtain around them,

Qin Mu would probably have been roasted into a "human jerky" before even boarding the ship.

Thud!

With a dull vibration, the giant flattened its palm against the edge of the sun ship's deck, which was as broad as a continent.

"We're here."

Ye Xiu lifted Qin Mu, tapped his toes lightly, and landed steadily on this legendary divine ship.

What met their eyes was a desolate and grand scene.

How was this a ship?

This was clearly a mobile divine kingdom of fire!

The deck was forged from an unknown Divine Gold, covered in ancient and obscure sun totems.

Massive masts pierced the clouds, like pillars supporting heaven and earth.

And in the center of the ship, that massive ball of fire being towed was emitting light and pressure that one could not look at directly.

"You... have come."

Just as the two were shocked by the miraculous scene, that pleasant, spring-like voice sounded again.

This time, it didn't come from the distant sky, but from not far ahead.

Ye Xiu and Qin Mu looked toward the source of the sound.

On a crimson altar in the center of the deck, a huge figure gradually shrank, and a petite figure slowly walked down.

The moment he saw that figure clearly, even Ye Xiu, who had seen countless beauties, couldn't help but have a flash of amazement and surprise in his eyes.

It was a girl who looked only fifteen or sixteen years old.

She wasn't covered in flames like the giants; instead, she gave off an extremely "fragile" illusion.

She wore a fiery red short skirt woven from some unknown Divine Beast's silk, revealing slender, straight calves and jade-like arms.

Her skin was not ordinary white, but a nearly transparent pink.

It was as if what flowed under her skin was not blood, but diluted nectar, emitting a faint glow.

She was beautiful!

But it was a sickly, pitiable beauty.

As if all her energy and spirit had been drained by some external force.

At first glance, one couldn't help but feel heartache.

"Hello, my name is Yan Jingjing, I am the Sun Guardian of this generation..."