Bang!
The hull of the ship vibrated violently.
Xu Yi swayed, her brow furrowing sharply.
The demonic beast that had attacked the Divine Speed ship was too fast; she hadn't perceived its approach at all.
The Golden Horned Azure Ox was right behind them. She had to deal with this demonic beast quickly.
She pressed her left hand against the hull to stabilize herself, then swiftly took out another spirit stone with her right hand and placed it into the attack formation.
After the attack formation absorbed the spirit stone, the formation patterns erupted with a blinding golden light.
Xu Yi shouted, "Hold on tight!"
Lu Zaiye, holding Yin Li, and Xiong Zhuangzhuang quickly used their spiritual energy to fix themselves to the hull.
Boom!
Several golden lights, like dancing golden serpents, coiled around the Divine Speed ship. Any demonic beast that dared to approach would be met with its attack.
Simultaneously, the patterns on the Divine Speed ship flickered, soaring into the sky like a shooting star.
"Yee!"
Just as Xu Yi thought she could shake off the demonic beast, a world-shattering shriek suddenly rang out.
Xu Yi looked up in alarm and saw a vast, dark shadow sweeping towards the Divine Speed ship.
She hastily maneuvered the Divine Speed ship to dodge, but the shadow's expanse was too great, and it eventually collided with the ship.
Sizzle—
A sound like cold water hitting a hot iron plate echoed.
The black shadow was pierced by the golden light surrounding the Divine Speed ship and dispersed with a roar.
However, the scattered spiritual energy followed the hull and spread to Xu Yi and the others.
Xu Yi's expression changed drastically, and a look of pain flashed across her face.
Controlling a sixth-level magical treasure with Nascent Soul stage cultivation was still too strenuous for her.
She gritted her teeth, swallowed the sweetish liquid in her mouth, and incessantly replaced the spirit stones in the formation with her right hand.
She couldn't stop.
After a tremor, the Divine Speed ship flew off in the opposite direction of the black shadow.
"It's in the upper right," Lu Zaiye shouted.
Hearing this, Xu Yi unhesitatingly veered left to evade.
Whoosh—
The dense black shadow brushed past the hull.
It was then that Xu Yi finally got a clear look at the demonic beast attacking them in the air.
It was a bird-like beast with enormous black feathers, a sharp beak, and no feet. Its pitch-black eyes gleamed with a bloodthirsty light.
"It's a Wu Zu Ya!" Xiong Zhuangzhuang recognized the bird-beast instantly, his heart sinking.
The Wu Zu Ya was born without feet and could only attack with its wings. It was among the fastest flying beasts.
In other words, once targeted by it, escape was difficult.
"Moo!"
The roar of the Golden Horned Azure Ox was also drawing nearer.
Xu Yi was assaulted by the sonic waves, instantly feeling dizzy and experiencing tinnitus. Her blood churned, and the Divine Speed ship wobbled precariously.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang said bitterly, "Fellow Daoist Lu, Fellow Daoist Xu, I have implicated you both."
"Shut up, it's not over yet," Xu Yi bit her tongue hard, forcing herself to stay clear-headed, and replied coldly.
She didn't want to die in this desolate place just because she tried to save someone.
"Fellow Daoist Xu…" Xiong Zhuangzhuang hesitated to speak further.
Xu Yi took out a jade bottle from her storage ring and gulped down the pills within. A surge of powerful spiritual energy instantly flowed through her entire body.
The spiritual energy was so dense that she felt an illusion of her body about to burst.
Enduring the pain, she repeatedly circulated the spiritual energy within her body, an imperceptible madness flashing in the depths of her eyes.
Lu Zaiye smelled the lingering medicinal scent in the air, and a sharp glint appeared in his eyes.
Within moments, Xu Yi's aura ascended, and an indescribable pressure erupted.
The sky immediately rumbled with thunder.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang stared dumbfoundedly at the gathering dark clouds in the sky, a disbelieving guess forming in his mind.
Xu Yi had chosen this moment to attempt a breakthrough to the Out-of-Body stage.
"Yee!"
The Wu Zu Ya seemed to have perceived Xu Yi's intention as well, letting out an enraged cry. It flapped its wings, sending another wave of black shadow towards them.
Xu Yi's mind was completely immersed in the breakthrough, leaving her unable to resist. Just as the black shadow was about to strike the Divine Speed ship again.
Lu Zaiye stepped forward and placed a palm on the formation.
The formation blazed with light, and the next moment, the hull flickered, transporting them tens of miles away, narrowly dodging the shadow's attack.
At this moment, the thunderclouds in the sky finally formed. Streaks of purple lightning roiled within them, and a terrifying pressure enveloped Xu Yi from above.
The Wu Zu Ya cast a resentful glance at the Divine Speed ship, flapped its wings, and hovered a thousand miles away, observing the situation.
Xu Yi believed that once the heavenly tribulation ended, it would attack the Divine Speed ship without hesitation.
Xu Yi turned, and the Golden Horned Azure Ox, as colossal as a mountain, was also staring at them menacingly.
She looked at the thunderclouds rumbling with thunder, a peculiar glint in her eyes.
If she didn't make good use of these clouds, which even two great demons feared, wouldn't it be a pity?
"Lu Zaiye, Xiong Zhuangzhuang."
Xu Yi suddenly called out their names.
Just as the two were about to respond, Xu Yi continued, "Do you have any recording talismans with you?"
The two were stunned. Xiong Zhuangzhuang, not understanding, replied, "I do."
Xu Yi's lips curved. "Then you must capture my majestic appearance."
With that, Xu Yi stomped her foot, and her figure instantly shot out of the Divine Speed ship, stepping on the Discipline Ruler and darting towards the Wu Zu Ya.
The thunderclouds, about to reach their climax, drifted along with Xu Yi.
"Xu Yi!"
Xiong Zhuangzhuang, aghast, stood up from the ship, staring foolishly at Xu Yi's retreating back.
Even many years later, Xiong Zhuangzhuang would still remember this scene that had shaken him to the core.
Lu Zaiye couldn't help but take a step forward, murmuring to himself, Xu Yi, which side of you is the real you?
The Wu Zu Ya, seeing the weak human daring to challenge it, flapped its wings and unleashed a black shadow. Its pitch-black eyes were filled with disdain.
Xu Yi neither dodged nor sped up.
Boom!
The heavenly thunder descended.
An unsparing strike hit Xu Yi, and her body was instantly embedded into a deep pit in the ground.
Another bolt landed on the black shadow, shattering it.
The Wu Zu Ya stared furiously at its attack being neutralized, flapping its wings even harder.
It didn't notice a thread of lightning, as fine as a cow's hair, rapidly approaching.
On the Divine Speed ship, Lu Zaiye looked at the oblivious Wu Zu Ya, the corners of his mouth curving upward almost imperceptibly.
Just then, the Wu Zu Ya finally sensed the approaching danger. Its feathers bristled, and it tried to dodge in panic. However, it was still struck by the lightning, letting out a shrill cry.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang's face lit up with joy, his admiration for Xu Yi as boundless as a surging river.
He thought that only Fellow Daoist Xu could come up with such an astonishing method of escape.
Lu Zaiye knew how troublesome the lightning power was, so he didn't focus on the Wu Zu Ya but looked at the deep pit emitting black smoke.
Then, he saw a dark, black arm suddenly reach out, grip the edge of the pit, and slowly pull itself up.
He breathed a sigh of relief. Xu Yi's condition was much better than he had anticipated.
After Xu Yi climbed out of the pit, Lu Zaiye's gaze fell upon the Discipline Ruler in her hand, and he suddenly understood.
That's right, he had almost forgotten about it.