This boy...wants to carry?!
What a familiar tone.
The scene was all too familiar.
Fang Lang gave his teammate an odd look…
Old Liu?
Coincidence?
Fang Lang chuckled to himself and tried not to think about it.
He put his focus on the Meteor flight sword. This entry-level flight sword was Fang Lang's first flight sword.
A flight sword was distinct from an ordinary sword—a flight sword could not be used to attack and only served as a mode of transport.
A sword for killing had its own characteristics.
Like the Blooming Lotus Sword, a sword for killing was made of high quality material and could cut steel like butter. The sword was raised on intent and had no runes on its body—it was made for sword mastery.
The flight sword had runes carved into it. The flight sword would be rendered useless if the rune was damaged, therefore it was not suited to be used as a weapon.
A gentle caress of the aerodynamic body of the Meteor flight sword elicited a soothing sensation in Fang Lang. The sword guard had a complicated and eye-catching rune design.
Fang Lang's occasional spell mastery exchange with Ni Wen improved his rune understanding so he was able to appreciate the complexity of the flight sword rune.
At his level, he found it difficult to analyze and decipher the markings.
"Newbie, stop daydreaming. Get on your flight sword! I'll take the back, you stay up front. You're in charge of wind-breaking, power the flight sword rune with all your might and maintain flight. I will correct your path and guide you.
"Slow down if I slow down, speed up if I speed up, understand? Don't drag me down, I'll carry us to victory!" Liu Bubai said with his head held high.
Fang Lang smirked as he took the familiar yet annoying comments in stride.
Liu Bubai continued his lecture. "A round of Flight Rally has fifty teams setting out at the same time, so a hundred participants in total as every team has two riders. There is a clear distinction in roles, one person is responsible for wind-breaking while the other person stores their energy, spiritual sense and focus for the final sprint!"
"Okay," Fang Lang gave a succinct reply.
Liu Bubai's heart was tired—he decided the newbie knew nothing.
However, there was nothing he could do as the team allocation was random.
Fang Lang placed his Flying Sword Examination Pass into the eye of the rune and activated the flight sword rune. Meanwhile, Liu Bubai surveyed their competition.
Liu Bubai's expression turned for the worse.
"Oh, Luojiang's Young Blade God? How familiar, you're the one who lost, right? What a preposterous name and riding such a useless flight sword. Hilarious, if I were you, I'd change my identification name to something else."
A mocking voice was heard from an enemy named Changan's Chao Xiaojian.
Liu Bubai had participated in many Flight Rallies before this and verbal spars were common. This was not the first time this person had mocked him and their races typically ended with Liu Bubai losing.
This round, Liu Bubai was paired up with a newbie. Frustration filled his chest as he faced his nemesis.
Liu Bubai had wanted to relieve some stress before the Imperial Examination but at the state of things, he could imagine the jeers he would have to endure after he lost.
His mentality for the Imperial Examination would be affected.
A bad call.
At that moment, Fang Lang was sitting cross-legged atop the Meteor flight sword. When he started up the flight sword, the silver rune on the sword guard expanded into a fiery red rune around the flight sword. A low-grade spirit crystal was slotted into the center, feeding the rune.
The shouts by his teammate and another participant caught Fang Lang's attention. He turned around and was surprised by the other participant's identification name.
Changan's Chao Xiaojian?
This person must be a fan of Chao Xiaojian.
It reminded Fang Lang of his previous life where people had nicknames like Somewhere's Peng Yuyan.
Fang Lang chuckled at the duo who were arguing. Their identification names were both equally hilarious.
Dang!
A loud sound echoed in the space.
"Newbie! Once the third ring sounds, take off as fast as possible!" Liu Bubai said in a serious tone from the seat of his flight sword.
"Sure," Fang Lang responded. He was seated on the sword guard, near the center of the rune. The rune made a stuttering sound and a grin formed on Fang Lang's face. He was extremely excited and curious.
Dang!
The third chime rang loudly.
As the ring faded, the area exploded in a cacophony of noises.
Flight swords picked up speed and the 50 teams took off at the same time. Like dragons swimming in the river, the riders shot through the air.
Fang Lang extended his hand and presented a finger. He gently touched the palm-sized rune floating before him and made a lazy circle. The spirit crystal was devoured—its energy converted into a driving force.
The Meteor flight sword took off slowly.
As the Meteor moved, Liu Bubai urged his own flight sword to follow Fang Lang.
"Quick! Speed up! Speed up!" Liu Bubai hollered ceaselessly from behind.
His heart sank as he watched the newbie's maneuvering.
It was too slow!
'Why are you moving at such a leisurely pace? You're not shopping here!'
Fang Lang and Liu Bubai were at the tail end of the competing teams.
The loud mocking laughs from other participants could be heard a distance away.
Much like the nursery story of the speedy rabbit who ridiculed the slow-moving tortoise.
Liu Bubai clutched his chest as if he had been backstabbed by his own teammate.
'This is the teammate I get?'
Was the world intentionally out to get him?
Fang Lang sensed Liu Bubai's despair and focused on his flight sword skill.
The Specialized Flight Sword Maneuver Skill training appeared in his mind.
Fang Lang lifted his hands. He placed his fingers on the shimmering rune and increased the spinning to pull ahead.
Thack, thack, thack…
The rune on the Meteor flight sword spun at a high speed and the drawing flared like molten steel.
Zoom!
The air was sliced apart as the Meteor sped up exponentially.
Behind Fang Lang, Liu Bubai's expression froze.
Huh?
Something was off.
This newbie...was odd!
Liu Bubai began to control his flight sword. Fingers touching the rune, he accelerated and followed the newbie's trail. As the wind was pushed aside by the newbie, Liu Bubai flew the path without any resistance.
Fast!
The speed was impressive!
Fang Lang sped up with the Meteor. His surroundings blurred as he flew.
Liu Bubai's eyes sparkled. He allowed the rune to increase its spiritual energy absorption in order to fly faster.
This newbie!
There was no choice. Only this speeding technique allowed Liu Bubai to keep up with the newbie.
They flew past the other teams.
49th, 48th, 47th…
They were moving up the ranks.
"Good! Keep it up!" Liu Bubai praised.
At this rate, Liu Bubai was sure he could carry them to victory! He would let the newbie have a taste of the air high up in the mountains!
Hearing Liu Bubai's words, Fang Lang smirked in the front seat.
This...where to where.
…
Zoom! Zoom! Zoom!
Flight swords enveloped by rune drawings rushed past, flying through mountains that rose from the ground like swords.
Fang Lang was not familiar with the route so Liu Bubai had given him an introduction before the race started.
The mountain ranges, the rushing waterfall, the dense forest and the grassy plains… These were the four different sceneries of the rally map and the whole track was 2,000 miles long.
Although an illusion, the rune was designed by a fourth-class spell master from the Flying Sword Examination Board and contained forbidden spells that made the scenes incredibly realistic.
The realism meant the physical elements in the environment had a huge effect on flying.
The first scene—the mountain ranges—was coming to an end.
Then, the scene changed. Fang Lang could feel the faint mist on his body.
The second scene—the rushing waterfall—was near.
The deafening roars of the waterfall sounded.
Hum.
The participants slowed down and controlled their flight swords.
After the first scene, the spirit crystal in the center of the rune should be exhausted. Everyone knew the scene change meant a spirit crystal replacement was due. The wind-breakers would typically slow down then to perform the replacement in a swift and steady fashion.
However…
"Newbie, what are you doing? Slow down and change the spirit crystal!" Liu Bubai shouted the reminder after realizing his teammate had no intentions of reducing speed.
This newbie… Was he high on adrenaline?
If the spiritual energy in the spirit crystal was exhausted, the flight sword would abruptly slow down and plummet to the ground!
A grin still hung on Fang Lang's face.
Changing spirit crystals?
It was important, of course, but why slow down?
With his Specialized Flight Sword Maneuver Skill, there was no need to decelerate.
Rather, he picked up speed!
A loud roar!
The scene changed and a giant waterfall appeared before them. The water splashed wildly, giving off a chaotic aura.
The flight swords around them slowed down.
They were the outlier.
The Meteor flight sword flew through the sky like a comet, showing no signs of slowing down. It headed straight for the roaring waterfall.
The dozens of riders who were overtaken were furious. They shouted and called the Meteor rider crazy.
If one carried on, the flight sword would stop functioning!
Not changing the spirit crystal was one thing, the rider did not even stop for the scene change.
"Slow down! What are you still speeding up?
"Ahhhh! Stop! Slow down!"
Liu Bubai gulped down a breath of cold air. His face was pale as he shouted at the top of his lungs!
F*ck!
Too fast!
Please slow down!
He watched the waterfall expand in size—Fang Lang was charging toward the waterfall as he accelerated…
Liu Bubai pulled his legs together tightly as his chest tensed.
It was too exciting!
Was this…
The symptom of a cardiac thrombosis?
Close!
Getting closer!
They were approaching the waterfall. Liu Bubai felt his hair stand as beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. His breathing was ragged.
He followed his wind-breaker's flight path as his fingers trembled on the flight rune.
The waterfall appeared like a horrifying beast with its jaw wide open!
They were approaching said beast. 500 meters, 400 meters, 300 meters…
Water splashed from the waterfall, striking them like 10,000 arrows. The splashes hit the flight sword rune and sizzled as the liquid was turned into steam.
When Fang Lang was 100 meters away from the rushing waterfall, he removed his fingers on the flight rune. He smacked the rune with his palm once.
The spinning rune came to a sudden stop. The sword tip angled downward and the air pressure was released. The flight sword's air pressure struck the waterfall, causing water to splash everywhere. Then, Fang Lang dove.
It looked like a tiger swallowing its prey.
Fang Lang drifted at the last moment when they were centimeters away from the waterfall!
Liu Bubai's flight sword followed Fang Lang's rhythm and trail, plunging through the atmosphere.
The two flight swords spiraled as they fell parallel to the waterfall.
The strong winds buffeted and made Liu Bubai shiver.
It felt like he was jumping off a cliff!
Slow...slow down!
Liu Bubai was panicking inside!
"Ahhhhhh!"
Liu Bubai's cries sounded amidst the rumbling waterfall.
His scream was piercing.
Sometimes far, sometimes near…
The noise scattered the birds in the area.
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