The Skyward Boat, a transportation treasure that enhances speed, is akin to Lin Xiao’s Void Phoenix Wings.
Embedded with formations, the Skyward Boat requires spirit stones or other energy materials and is powered by vital energy to accelerate flight.
In the era of the Devouring Spirit Emperor, Skyward Boats were common transport tools.
However, crafting a Skyward Boat demands exceptionally high-quality materials and skilled artisans, making it extremely difficult to produce. Even in that era, it wasn’t something an ordinary Martial Lord could possess.
Lin Xiao hadn’t expected the three arrivals to possess a Skyward Boat.
“They’re elders from the Great Elder’s lineage of our Zi family!” Zi Ling rushed out from a room in the same courtyard, her brows furrowing upon seeing the Skyward Boat.
“Your Zi family’s Skyward Boat?” Lin Xiao was slightly surprised. As expected of a Martial Emperor faction, they even possessed such a flight treasure.
“Our Zi family has three Skyward Boats in total. Each activation consumes a significant amount of spirit stones, so they’re rarely used unless it’s an emergency,” Zi Ling said, frowning.
“Has something happened in the Zi family?” Lin Xiao asked.
“Possibly,” Zi Ling replied uncertainly.
At that moment, figures of Martial Lord experts soared into the void. In the blink of an eye, over a dozen Martial Lords gathered in the air, including Zi Jinchen.
If they weren’t from the Zi family, the Skyward Boat would likely have been shot down by now.
“Elder Zi Jian, arriving so urgently with the Skyward Boat, what’s happened in the Zi family?” Zi Jinchen asked, frowning.
The Ninth-Tier Martial Lord named Zi Jian bowed slightly to Zi Jinchen and said, “Third Elder, headquarters has urgently summoned Zi Ling back.”
“Summoned Zi Ling?” Zi Jinchen was taken aback, puzzled, as were the other Zi family elders.
Summoning a single descendant wasn’t a major event, but using a Skyward Boat for it, even if not a crisis, was certainly urgent.
What could prompt the family to summon Zi Ling back to headquarters so urgently?
“Summoning me?” Zi Ling was startled, her face paling.
“Elder Zi Jian, why the urgent summons for Zi Ling using the Skyward Boat?” Zi Jinchen couldn’t help but ask.
Zi Jian scanned the surroundings, pausing upon seeing Zi Ling, and said, “It’s a significant matter. To avoid leaks, you’ll learn more when you return to the family.”
Zi Jinchen frowned, and Zi Mo, also in the void, raised his brows. Zi Ling’s face grew even paler.
“Zi Ling, what’s wrong? Do you know what’s happening?” Seeing her expression, Lin Xiao asked with concern.
Zi Ling shook her head, not responding.
At that moment, Zi Jian’s gaze locked onto her location and said, “Zi Ling, please board the Skyward Boat and return to the family with us immediately.”
“Zi Ling, what’s going on? If it’s bad, we can escape,” Lin Xiao transmitted to her.
Judging by her reaction, it didn’t seem like good news.
“It’s a bit troublesome, but not critical. Let’s return to the Zi family headquarters with them,” Zi Ling transmitted back.
Then, she addressed Zi Jian on the Skyward Boat, “Elder Zi Jian, I’ll return to headquarters with you, but I need to bring my friends.”
Zi Jian glanced at Lin Xiao, Ling Hu, Mei Tianmo, and Xiao Mao beside Zi Ling, his brows furrowing slightly.
Lin Xiao’s group totalled four people. With Zi Ling and the three already on the boat, that made eight.
A Skyward Boat could hold a maximum of ten people.
Bringing Lin Xiao’s group would leave room for only two more.
“Elder Zi Jian, they’re all Zi Ling’s friends. They fought for our Zi family in this round of arenas, securing a complete victory. Why not bring them along?” Zi Jinchen said.
“Oh?” Zi Jian and the other two elders were slightly surprised. The Zi family’s victories in this round were thanks to these youngsters?
“I’ll accompany them with Elder Zi Mo to prevent ambushes en route. The others can return to headquarters separately,” Zi Jinchen added.
“Since the Third Elder says so, bringing them is fine,” Zi Jian nodded.
“Let’s go to the Zi family headquarters,” Zi Ling said to Lin Xiao and the others.
Lin Xiao, Ling Hu, and the others nodded to each other, then leaped into the air with Zi Ling, boarding the Skyward Boat. Zi Mo and Zi Jinchen followed suit.
“To the other elders, handle matters here and return to headquarters afterward,” Zi Jinchen instructed the remaining elders.
The group nodded.
Many of them had come from headquarters for the arena battles. With some time before the next round, and headquarters sending its own representatives, they had little reason to stay and would soon return.
However, they couldn’t ride the Skyward Boat, the swift vessel.
Among the crowd, Zi Hao’s face showed disappointment. As a young genius, he had no place on the Skyward Boat, which was fully occupied by Lin Xiao’s group.
Given their talents, Zi Hao couldn’t muster any resentment, only blaming himself for not being exceptional enough.
“I must train harder, or I’ll have no place in the Zi family,” Zi Hao sighed inwardly, clenching his fists.
“Let’s go!” Zi Jinchen said to Zi Jian, who nodded. Stepping to the boat’s stern, Zi Jian channelled vital energy through his feet, activating the formation. The Skyward Boat glowed with bright purple light, then shot toward the horizon at incredible speed, like a beam of light.
Zi Family City No. 41 vanished from Lin Xiao’s group’s sight in an instant.
“This Skyward Boat really has the same capabilities as my Void Phoenix Wings. If I still had them, it probably wouldn’t have caused much of a stir in the Zi family,” Lin Xiao thought to himself.
“Elder Zi Jian, now that we’re on the Skyward Boat, the news won’t leak, will it? Why does headquarters want me back?” Zi Ling asked as the boat sped along.
Zi Jian’s face showed reluctance as he said, “Two distinguished guests from the Ling Sword Sect have arrived at our Zi family. One is Jian Tianjiao’s younger brother, Jian Wuqu, a direct disciple. They’ve come mainly to meet you.”
Zi Ling’s brows furrowed. Her fears were indeed coming true. “What’s the matter? Please, Elder Zi Jian, speak plainly,” she said, her expression grim.
