With preparations complete, the group could no longer dawdle—this was an Inspection Corps mission. Time mattered.
Ma Xiaotao took charge: she carried Wu Feng; Dai Yueheng and Xi Xi each transported Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong. The rest moved at full speed.
Elder Xuan vanished into stealth.
They raced toward their target, halting only at noon to rest.
The Inner Court students showed no strain—only slightly quickened breaths. But what surprised them was that the Outer Court reserves weren't far behind.
Even Xu Sanshi, though he'd collapsed earlier from exhaustion, now looked stable.
As for the reason…
"Hey… gotta admit, this soul engineering gear is good," Xu Sanshi said, removing his device and examining it.
Bei Bei shot him a look of disdain. "Who was it again that mocked soul engineering just hours ago?"
"Not me!" Xu Sanshi lied smoothly, returning the device to He Caitou before laughing it off.
Then someone asked, "So… lunch?"
A pause fell over both Inner and Outer Court members.
None of them could cook.
"Guess we'll go with rations," Yao Haoxuan shrugged, pulling out a black, dense loaf—Inner Court field food. He handed one to Xu Sanshi. "Our elite supply. High nutrition."
Inner Court rations!?
Xu Sanshi's eyes lit up. After thanking him, he split it in half—one for Jiang Nannan—and shoved it into his mouth—
—just as the Inner Court burst into laughter. Even Teacher Wang Yan chuckled.
Xu Sanshi collapsed, gagging. "It's disgusting!"
Jiang Nannan paused mid-bite. "Is it really that bad? I heard it's nutritious."
"Nannan," Chen Junting smiled, "high nutrition doesn't mean good taste. Usually, the more nutrients you preserve, the less flavor you can add. That's why high-nutrient food is always simple."
"True!" Wang Dong nodded vigorously, shuddering. "I ate stuff like this as a kid—my family said it was 'nutritious.' I believed them… and threw up every time."
Many exchanged envious glances. To think a young master of the Hao Tian Sect would reject such rare rations!
"Enough," Chen Junting said. "Let's eat what we brought."
Ning Tian unfurled a large picnic cloth. From her storage device came row after row of meal boxes—ordered from a Shrek City restaurant.
"You brought actual food!?"
The Inner Court members quickly pocketed their loaves. Anything was better than that.
"Straight from a restaurant," Ning Tian grinned.
"Amazing!"
Xu Sanshi flipped upright—like a turtle righting itself—drawing snickers from the group.
But he didn't care. He lunged for a box, desperate to erase the taste.
Seeing Xu Sanshi impatiently open the lunch box, Bei Bei pouted. He leaned forward and said in a strange tone, "Xiao Ya just heating up the restaurant's dishes would be good..."
But before he could finish,
"What are you saying, what are you saying!" Xu Sanshi had a righteous expression on his face, and even turned the tables, "Bei Bei, as a boyfriend, how can you look down on Xiao Ya's cooking!?"
"You're lying!" Bei Bei roared. "That was your complaint last night!"
Seeing the two about to brawl, Chen Junting stepped in. "Senior Brothers, let's eat first."
He had Wu Feng and Ma Xiaotao reheat the pre-made dishes. Soon, rich aromas filled the air.
Even Elder Xuan emerged, drawn by the scent. With a lazy hand motion, two meal boxes vanished—both chicken dishes.
Yao Haoxuan muttered, "Crazy about chicken—should call him Chicken Elder instead."
Shoomp—!
A chicken bone flew from nowhere, striking Yao Haoxuan on the back of the head. He stumbled, stars bursting in his vision—about to face-plant into the picnic spread.
"Yao Haoxuan! You want to die!?"
The group roared—but before they could act, a cold gale froze Yao Haoxuan solid—a human ice block fused to the ground.
His dizziness vanished instantly. Blinking rapidly, he tried to break free—
"You stay put," Xuan Zi's voice echoed. "And stop calling me Chicken Elder!"
The others relocated the picnic—leaving Yao Haoxuan trapped in ice.
For a moment, they laughed, feasted, and relaxed by the stream—like a spring outing.
Only Yao Haoxuan disagreed. To him, their joy was noise.
After everyone finished, he was freed—his untouched portion saved. But cleanup? All his.
They rested for half an hour, then resumed their formation.
An hour later, they reached the border between the Tian Dou and Star Luo Empires.
Before them stood a massive Star Luo military camp—blocking the path.
While Dai Yueheng negotiated entry, Chen Junting scanned the army.
He felt the killing intent—raw, battle-hardened, primed for war. This was a true iron legion.
But he also saw the truth:
Tian Dou and Star Luo were tense—not allies. If truly united against Sun Moon, even this non-elite force wouldn't be on standby.
As for Sun Moon's threat?
Excuse.
Sun Moon shared land borders only with Star Luo. Their sea routes to Tian Dou were open—no need to attack through this chokepoint and risk dual-front war.
Chen Junting shook his head.
The Three Empires feared the Sun Moon Empire but lagged in soul engineering. Unity was their only hope.
Yet beneath the surface—each harbored secret ambitions.
How could such fragile cooperation stand against a rising storm?
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