Above the immortal ship, the sea of clouds churned, and ten thousand rays of rosy light radiated outward.
Under the Heaven-Mending Power of Nuwa, the shattered hull of the ship radiated with a new lease on life.
The immortal ship had been reborn.
Su Fu stood on the deck, her sleeves fluttering gently in the breeze.
She faced the three members of the Guizang Clan and thanked them solemnly once more.
“Thank you three for your help. If it weren’t for your timely intervention, Penglai might not have escaped this disaster.”
Bai Shou tucked his long blade back into its sheath and nodded slightly, “You are too kind.”
“We only contributed a meager amount of effort,” Cang Yue said, his voice deep.
Qing Ling gave a soft laugh, “Moreover, being able to see Nuwa is already our great fortune.”
Su Fu had many things she wanted to say, but unfortunately, this was the league’s Exam Hall, and they were under the watchful eyes of the public.
She blinked and spoke with a pointed meaning, “If the three of you have any spare time, you are welcome to gather at Kunlun Academy. At that time, I shall prepare a sumptuous feast to entertain you.”
‘The sparks.’
“We shall certainly visit,” the three answered in unison.
The group looked at one another and smiled.
A thousand words were condensed into a tacit understanding.
Su Fu had once thought that on the long road through the Star Sea, she was alone, walking in solitude.
But now, she suddenly discovered that she had never been alone.
There had always been people walking the same path as her, guarding the same spark of civilization.
‘Who says we have no clothes? We share the same robes.’
The sparks of the Chinese civilization had never been extinguished; they were merely scattered throughout the Star Sea, waiting to be reunited.
Su Fu looked at them.
To live under assumed names in the depths of the Star Sea, guarding the embers… that path must not have been easy.
Watching over it for generations in the vast Star Sea, no one knew of their existence.
The long wait of generation after generation—no one knew where the end was.
They might even doubt during the long wait whether those sparks would ever have a day to be relit.
For thousands of years, unknown and seeking no reward, how difficult must it have been?
As the three from the Guizang Clan looked at Su Fu, they were equally moved.
She had traveled alone, groping her way through the vast Star Sea, walking step by step from the edge of the Interstellar space to where she stood today.
They at least had their clansmen for company, but she was a solitary figure carrying the hope of all China.
Without the guidance of predecessors or the support of peers, she had walked alone.
Whenever news reached them of a Divine Summoner from China in the Star Sea, they knew it was Su Fu.
On this long road, she had gone from a nobody to someone whose name shook the four seas.
How could others possibly understand the hardships involved?
“It has truly been a hard journey for you,” Qing Ling said softly, looking at Su Fu.
“But fortunately, the result is good.” Su Fu understood the hidden meaning, her eyes glinting with a smile.
This conversation sounded like complete gibberish to George and the others.
They looked at each other, unable to make head or tail of it.
George scratched his head and said, “Are they being sarcastic? ‘Hard’ exam? Su Fu clearly crushed Yamata no Orochi the entire time…”
She finished it in two or three moves.
Where was the hardship?
Yi Congling was equally confused, “Yeah, and as for the three from the Guizang Clan… they were on the ship the whole time, carried by Su Fu. They won while lying down. What’s so hard about that?”
They just couldn’t understand.
Hearing these words, Su Fu and the others smiled at one another.
They weren’t talking about this exam.
Right then, above the Penglai Immortal Ship, the sea of clouds suddenly shifted, the boiling sea of clouds receded, revealing a patch of empty void.
A majestic and vast aura descended from the heavens.
“This is…” Su Fu looked up, her pupils shrinking.
In the void, a figure gradually solidified.
The figure wore dragon robes and a ‘mianliu’ crown, with the Ta-e sword hanging at his waist.
He stood with his hands behind his back.
Even though it was only a phantom, it gave off an overwhelming pressure that seemed to prop up the heavens and the earth, as if the entire world were bowing at his feet.
“The First Emperor!”
The crowd bowed in greeting one after another.
Su Fu was also filled with solemn respect, giving a deep bow toward the figure.
It was the Eternal Emperor, the First Emperor of Qin, Ying Zheng.
The phantom of the First Emperor slowly looked at Su Fu.
His voice was like a clap of thunder, vibrating through the sea of clouds.
“A thousand years have passed. Immortal Xu failed us.”
“Back then, seeking the elixir of immortality was a lie; stealing the core of Penglai was the truth. It nearly caused a great catastrophe.”
“Today, you have turned the tide, resolved the crisis of the Eight-Headed Serpent, and saved Penglai from toppling. Our heart is greatly comforted.”
The phantom’s gaze fell upon Su Fu.
She replied respectfully, “I dare not take the credit. Penglai is Chinese territory. Immortal Xu’s betrayal and perfidy deserved execution.”
Ying Zheng nodded slightly, his expression showing a hint of approval, “You have settled this old matter for us.”
He raised his hand and said, “Since there is merit, there shall be a reward.”
As the words fell, the sea of clouds trembled.
As if pulled by some force, the phantom of a massive wall slowly emerged, winding and spiraling, stretching for ten thousand miles.
“The Great Wall… of China?” Su Fu murmured softly, her heart surging with waves of shock.
Was it not the Great Wall?
The phantom wound through the sea of clouds, extending as far as the eye could see, like a coiled dragon.
That was the symbol of Chinese civilization, having witnessed countless trials and tribulations.
Back then, Emperor Ying Zheng of Qin unified the six states and struck north against the Xiongnu.
To protect China from external invasion, he ordered the construction of the Great Wall to intimidate the barbarians of the four directions.
The Great Wall stretched across the towering mountains, like a dragon perched upon the territory of China for thousands of generations.
At that moment, the phantom of the Great Wall in the sky suddenly shook, turning into a streak of golden light that shot directly toward Su Fu.
The light circled her body before finally merging into her.
A majestic power surged through her body, as if ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains were unfolding before her eyes.
Shen Yan’s voice rang out: [“You have been granted a Godly Power by Qin Shi Huang (Ying Zheng): Great Wall of China · Eternal Solace”]
[“Rank: S-rank”]
[“Effect 1: Can summon the Great Wall defense barrier to resist attacks. It is as solid as gold and impenetrable by a hundred evils.”]
[“Effect 2: Enemy suppression is enhanced, and allies receive a guardian buff. If damage is sustained, it can be temporarily reversed and repaired to perfect condition.”]
[“Special Note: This is a Godly Power personally bestowed by Qin Shi Huang, containing the majesty and obsession of the Eternal Emperor. When used, enemies will feel pressure as if facing ten thousand horses and a thousand soldiers.”]
Su Fu bowed deeply, “Thank you for the reward, Your Majesty.”
The figure of Qin Shi Huang gradually faded, leaving behind only a faint, ethereal voice: “Use it properly to protect China’s eternal stability. Should any misfortune occur, it can also serve as the final line of defense to ensure the safety of our people. This time, guard it well for us.”
Su Fu looked up.
The sea of clouds had already returned to tranquility, as if everything that had just happened was an illusion.
But she knew it wasn’t.
The Eternal Emperor had passed his will to her, hoping she could continue to guard the future of China.
In that case… she would not fail the First Emperor’s trust!
***
Ten minutes ago, in the Eighteen Levels of Hell, on the ninth level—the Oil Cauldron Hell.
The test takers were fighting hard to clear the level, battling all sorts of terrifying Underworld Yin Chai.
“Damn it, there’s no end to these ghost things!”
“Hold on a bit longer! We’ll pass this level soon!”
Just then, the entire space shook violently, and a deafening sound echoed from the sky.
No one knew who looked at the sky first, but their voice changed pitch.
“My god! The immortal ship is collapsing!”
Everyone snapped their heads upward.
They saw the floating Penglai Immortal Ship tilting.
The massive hull was teetering, looking as if it could fall at any second.
Countless golden tiles and jade bricks broke off from the ship, crashing toward the ground.
The entire Exam Hall instantly fell into chaos.
“Run! If that thing falls, we’re all dead! We’ll be turned into meat paste!”
“Hide to the side! Get to the edge!”
The immortal ship continued to tilt, its massive shadow looming over the entire ninth level of Hell.
Quite a few test takers were forced into corners, looking at the sky in terror as they speculated:
“Wait, isn’t Su Fu up there? Did she knock the ship down?”
“What on earth is that crazy woman doing! This is too ridiculous!”
“Could it be that she encountered some incredibly powerful boss?”
“Otherwise, how could the ship be knocked down?”
A booming roar echoed from the ship.
More debris fell, smashing into the ground and kicking up dust.
Someone who couldn’t run anymore simply gave up struggling, venting their hatred frantically, “She deserves it!”
“Serves her right for being so arrogant! Now she’s going down with the ship!”
“Shut up!” A girl next to him kicked him.
“If the ship is destroyed, the World Tree will be taken with it!”
“What will we use to recover our status? How are we supposed to pass the rest of the exam?”
These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over the crowd.
The test takers who had been gloating suddenly had a massive change in expression.
“Then doesn’t that mean our exam is totally over?”
“Su Fu, don’t die! You have to win!” Someone began to pray with their hands clasped.
“Hold on!”
At that moment, a deafening sound of snapping echoed.
The main mast of the Penglai Immortal Ship broke.
The test takers ran around in terror, “Holy crap! It really is over!”
“Run!”
At this critical moment—
“Look at that! What is that!”
Everyone looked up again.
They saw a massive Azure Dragon soar into the sky, coiling around the descending immortal ship and forcefully propping up the giant vessel that was about to fall.
“Roar—”
“My god…” a test taker murmured to himself, “Is that… the Azure Dragon?”
“That dragon is actually trying to hold up the entire ship by itself?”
“Where did that dragon come from?”
“Su Fu must have summoned it! Heavens, just how strong is her ability?”
The Azure Dragon manifestation gripped the ship tightly, but even for such a powerful existence, it was difficult to support such a massive weight for long.
The dragon’s body trembled slightly.
Then, it suddenly threw its head back and let out a long cry that shook the nine heavens.
Under everyone’s shocked gazes, it actually began to rise slowly while carrying the ship.
“Hold on!” someone shouted.
In this life-or-death moment, competition and personal grudges were thrown out the window.
“Keep going!”
“Please don’t crush me! I don’t want to die like this!”
However, the Azure Dragon’s power was clearly weakening, and the ship began to fall again.
“It’s over… it can’t hold it…” Everyone’s heart sank.
“It’s over, it’s over…”
“This time we’re really—”
“Roar!!”
A sky-shaking tiger’s roar rang out.
A majestic White Tiger lunged toward the ship, its powerful claws steadily propping up another corner of the vessel.
The entire giant ship jolted, and its downward momentum suddenly decreased.
“Another Divine Beast?”
“What… what is going on?”