Chapter 4976 — Bound for the Middle Island

If she waited too long in between, the momentum of that breakneck ascent would cool, and Ning Xuefei's difficulty would grow by imperceptible degrees. One hour, then, was already the limit.

When the hour was up, Ning Xuefei's eyes flew open, and a radiance such as he had never seen wheeled within them—it made Wei Zhao's own eyes light up. This girl's aptitude was truly monstrous; in a scant hour she had already grown familiar with an entirely new realm, the great perfection of the Nascent Soul. Even if it was not yet fully settled, to ordinary eyes this alone was a feat of breathtaking improbability.

"Let's go. We'll find a quiet place and make the push for the Mystic Ascension!" Wei Zhao's heart was now steady. Her present state lent him a measure of confidence, and besides, with the Thunder Mystic Pill and a top-grade seventh-rank Great Restoration Pill, even a failed attempt would not cost Ning Xuefei her life. There was no need for undue worry.

The two of them came to the outskirts of the city. Once Ning Xuefei signaled that she was ready, Wei Zhao without hesitation unleashed the Thunderbolt Thousand Bursts. Its force was several degrees stronger than an ordinary lightning tribulation—more than enough for her to fuse her spiritual roots through it. Naturally, if it fell short, that hardly mattered either; with Wei Zhao on hand, he could always add another bolt at any moment.

As for the far more fearsome Thunder Burial, that was out of the question. Even a first-rate early Mountain-Opening expert like Zang Zili had been unable to withstand it. With Ning Xuefei's meager strength, even having swallowed the Thunder Mystic Pill would make no difference—she would be blasted to scattering ash. Wei Zhao dared not take such a risk.

Watching Ning Xuefei steeped within that deep-blue pillar of lightning, seeing her still calm and composed, Wei Zhao was at last wholly reassured. For all that the girl shirked and schemed to avoid cultivation in ordinary days, when the true moment came she carried herself with the bearing of a great house—well worthy of being the daughter of Ning Shanghe, Mistress of the Western Island. That talent and that poise of hers were rooted deep in her bones.

No one knows a daughter like her mother. Were it otherwise, why would Ning Shanghe have insisted on making her the heir to the Western Island?

One had to understand that for the weak to climb to such a height was never a good thing. Ning Shanghe was not the sort to stake her own daughter against the fate of the Western Island. Since she had insisted, it proved that Ning Xuefei truly possessed the potential—the surpassing potential—to grow into the Western Island's mistress!

A person with the potential to grow into the Mistress of the Western Island. An assault on the Mystic Ascension was, for her, a trifling matter by comparison—just as Ning Xuefei's present bearing showed, light as drifting cloud.

"This girl's talent is frighteningly strong. What a pity..." Wei Zhao could not help shaking his head inwardly. With her gift and her background, had Ning Xuefei been willing to apply herself, she would long since have been a Mystic Ascension expert—and he would never have needed to go to such superfluous lengths.

At dawn the next day, when Wei Zhao appeared at the Newcomers' Court with a wholly transformed Ning Xuefei, Huo Yudie, Leng Rufeng, and Yang Qianshuang were already waiting at the gate, craning their necks in anticipation. Ning Xuefei's master, Chen Xinglan, had come as well.

"This—how is this possible?!" Sensing the formidable aura rolling off Ning Xuefei, Huo Yudie was not in the least surprised, but Leng Rufeng's and Yang Qianshuang's eyes were fairly starting from their sockets. Yesterday she had plainly still been at the Golden Core stage—how had a single night turned her into an early Mystic Ascension expert? Had the world gone mad?

Even Chen Xinglan, ever gentle and refined, could not help clapping a hand over her mouth, staring blankly at Ning Xuefei, at a loss for what to say.

"A small trick or two. I'd be grateful if you would all keep it to yourselves," Wei Zhao said, cupping his hands to the group.

"A small trick?!" Leng Rufeng nearly bit his own tongue off. His face took on a strange expression. "Leader, even modesty ought to have its limits. If this counts as a small trick, then what's the point of the rest of us cultivating at all? We might as well pack up and go home to farm!"

He and Wei Zhao had become friends through fighting. Before this, though he had acknowledged Wei Zhao's prowess, he had never once thought himself the lesser man—but this move of Wei Zhao's had overturned his entire view of the world and of life. Recalling his former foolish notions, he wished he could find a crack in the floor and crawl into it.

Only one thought remained in his heart now: this leader of his was truly a man of the gods!

"Indeed. Your methods are simply inconceivable—nothing short of heaven-defying," Chen Xinglan chimed in with a sigh of admiration, then looked at Ning Xuefei with a wry smile. "It seems your master has little left to teach you..."

"How can you say that! Feifei still has so much to learn from you, Master—array formations above all. You mustn't hold anything back!" Ning Xuefei clung affectionately to Chen Xinglan. In the past she had been forced to spend the greater part of her time on cultivation. Now things were different—before heading to the Mystic-Tier Sea Region, she need only follow Chen Xinglan and devote herself to studying formations, which suited her perfectly.

"Very well. The way of formations has countless uses; it will do you no harm to learn more of it, Feifei. It will stand you in good stead someday," Chen Xinglan said with a nod.

Though no great master of formations herself, she had picked up a fair measure of insight over the years—enough at least to guide Ning Xuefei through the rudiments. As for advancing further in days to come, Ning Xuefei, as princess of the Western Island, could easily seek out a more accomplished master of the art. What Chen Xinglan gave her here would serve as a foundation.

"Well then. I've said everything on this side that needed saying. Let us part here—until we meet again, all of you." Wei Zhao at once took his leave.

"Then you must take good care of yourself! When the Mystic-Tier Academy begins recruiting, you absolutely must come!" Ning Xuefei said, exchanging a glance with Huo Yudie.

"I'll do my best. Rest assured, I'll certainly come find you," Wei Zhao said with a nod. He embraced Huo Yudie and Ning Xuefei lightly, cupped his hands to the others, and turned to go.

Walking all the way out of the Xiangyun Academy gates, Wei Zhao unsurprisingly drew a crowd of onlookers once more—though he was not the sole focus of their talk. Amid the murmurs around him he could clearly make out talk of last night's strange celestial phenomenon. The Thunderbolt Thousand Bursts had, after all, made an enormous commotion; it would have been impossible to escape notice entirely.

Wei Zhao's heart chilled with apprehension. This was no good thing. If Chang Minghui pursued him to these parts, it would be an easy matter to infer his trail from it. Best to be gone quickly, as he had thought.

Employing the Butterfly Microstep, he left the bounds of Xiangyun City and made straight for the Eastern Continent's largest Yellow-Tier port. He had no flying spirit beast with him, and getting to the Middle Island would be no easy matter—he would have to take a ship.

But to go from the Eastern Continent to the Middle Island, an ordinary vessel would obviously not do. Only warships and treasure ships could cross that vast expanse of sea—and such vessels were strategic resources of the various powers. How would they ever let an outsider aboard under normal circumstances?