Yu Lingzi laughed out loud, "Chen Shi, I truly thought you were a man who embraced the common folk in your heart, but it seems I’ve overestimated you. You are arrogant and ambitious if you gain power, far from a blessing to the people, you will surely bring disaster to all living beings!"
His anger at Chen Shi’s words was evident, as he now referred to himself as "Master Dao."
The wooden cart moved along, and miraculously, clusters of white clouds sprang forth under its wheels, lifting the cart and the two within it into the air.
This was the Cloud Ascending Skill, effortlessly executed by Yu Lingzi with such otherworldly Taoist Skill, it left onlookers in absolute awe.
Black Pot looked back and could no longer see the cart, frantically searching around to no avail. Looking up, he saw that the cart had already ascended hundreds of feet into the sky, racing through the clouds, escorted by white jade.
Black Pot hastily activated the Armored Horse Talisman and Godspeed Talisman tied around its four legs, dashing even faster with divine assistance, sprinting into the air on the wind.
With its mouth wide open, it raced through the wind, climbing higher and higher, getting closer and closer to the wooden cart.
Just then, a giant deer raced through the sky, the very spotted deer that Yu Lingzi and others had ridden into the city.
The deer, large as a small hill, was impressively vast, stretching over twenty feet from head to tail, and carried a cloud of celebration on its back, adorned with fluttering banners.
Its antlers were even more peculiar, with branched antlers sprouting many plum blossom-like twigs, each blooming with flowers, a true plum blossom deer.
It was one of Taihua Qing Palace’s Divine Beasts guarding the mountain, accompanying Yu Lingzi into the Western Capital. Now it dashed forward at an angle, lowered its head to catch Black Pot with a flick of its antlers, sending it flying far away!
Black Pot went spinning through the air, not knowing where it would be flung.
The plum blossom deer, treading on auspicious clouds, rushed beneath the wooden cart, with the cart coming to rest upon the celebratory cloud.
The plum blossom deer continued its pace in the sky.
The wooden cart traveled within the celebratory cloud, trying to break free. However, as it moved forward, the cloud seemed to expand, and no matter how swiftly the cart moved, the edge of the cloud remained just ahead.
The same was true when it tried to move backward.
This celebratory cloud appeared to be another treasure, seemingly fused with the plum blossom deer, so that wherever the wooden cart tried to go, it remained atop the cloud, unable to escape.
In the wooden cart, Chen Shi peered down at the mountains and great lands below, seeing rivers and hills pass beneath him, clouds streaming under the wheels.
Yu Lingzi, seated opposite him, said indifferently, "Chen Shi, your murderous intent is too strong, you’re arrogant with your talents and underestimate the heroes of this world. Do you think I’ve come here as a mediator, to have you relinquish the fight for top scorer, because the young master fears you? Laughable, so laughable! The young master isn’t even aware of this matter, nor does he deign to care! Not to mention the young master, even I, you may not be able to defeat!"
His gaze was fixed on his nose, and his nose on his heart, not looking directly at Chen Shi, and he continued leisurely, "I began my cultivation at six, was the top scorer in the county examination at ten, and afterward entered Taihua Qing Palace to cultivate. Now, after thirteen years of cultivation, I’ve reached Divinity Transformation. Each realm is a new heaven, and being one realm above you is like standing in the skies and looking down at you, like an Immortal beholding a mortal."
Chen Shi retracted his gaze, his expression strange, and he couldn’t help saying, "Yu Lingzi, you mobilized your mana to bring this wooden cart into the air, demonstrating your extraordinary strength, but so close to me and yet spouting such madness, do you not realize how extremely perilous your position is?"
The Jade Ruyi behind Yu Lingzi’s head shone even brighter, seemingly about to transform from ethereal to real, exuding immense confidence: "Chen Shi, the heritage of my Taihua Qing Palace is in no way inferior to the Thirteen Families. I’ve practised the Taizhen Jade Formula of Taihua Qing Palace and have forged the Taizhen Dao Body. The Jade Ruyi Dharma Form is a sign of the Taizhen Dao Body. The so-called Ruyi is my heart’s desire; at the whim of my heart, no Taoist Skill or attack can draw near me."
Before he could finish speaking, Black Pot suddenly came chasing back, riding the fresh breeze with a roar of anger, heading straight for the plum blossom deer!
The deer was over twenty feet tall with long legs, gracefully moving through the clouds, unhurried but very fast. Black Pot had been caught off guard and tossed away by the deer’s antlers, and now, despite running at full speed, it struggled to catch up.
Just as Black Pot closed in, the plum blossom deer, unbothered, flicked its hoof, aiming a kick at Black Pot’s head!
Yu Lingzi maintained his gaze, not looking at Chen Shi’s movements nor those of the plum blossom deer and Black Pot, his expression serene: "With my Taizhen Dao Body, I’ve traversed the West Bull New Continent, subdued countless Evil Spirits, and have been revered as a Daoist of my Taihua Qing Palace. You facing me is like your dog facing our Taihua Qing Palace’s plum blossom deer..."
He had hardly finished when a sudden, chilling wind blew fiercely, "whooshing" away the plum blossom deer and Black Pot in a blink!
Black Pot... had pulled the deer into the underworld!
Yu Lingzi was startled, quickly opening his eyes, but all he saw was the celebratory cloud still in place, the wooden cart still traversing within it, reassuring him.
The cloud was a treasure of Taihua Qing Palace, capable of flight, expandable and contractible. With the cloud present, Chen Shi and the wooden cart had no hopes of escaping!
Chen Shi also witnessed this scene, surprised in his heart: "Black Pot has gained new skills! Previously it could only take souls and Primordial Spirits to the underworld, not physical bodies! It seems these days of studying haven’t been in vain!"
He was not at all worried about Black Pot’s safety, smiling, he said, "Yu Lingzi, soon I will have you crying and repeating your earlier words."
Yu Lingzi was briefly taken aback, then coldly sneered, "Make me cry..."
Chen Shi made his move!
His fingers curled inward, halfway into a fist, and with a fierce motion, a sound of Thunder Sound emanated!
Striking Yu Lingzi’s throat.
The Jade Ruyi from behind Yu Lingzi flew out to block.