It only took a brief moment of about three to five breaths.
The verdant Spirit Boat had grown to more than two meters long, emitting a strong wave of spiritual power.
Zhang Jing looked on in amazement at this scene.
This was his first time seeing the magical artifact that was only spoken of in legends.
"Junior Brothers, come on board quickly." Senior Brother Lu stepped onto the Spirit Boat in one stride, looking over at Zhang Jing and Deng Yuan with a smile on his face.
"Yes, Senior Brother Lu!"
The two of them carefully stepped onto the Spirit Boat.
Once aboard, Zhang Jing realized that although the Spirit Boat seemed large, the space on it was rather cramped.
Just enough room for three people to stand on.
"Junior Brother Wang, we'll be leaving first."
"Have a smooth journey."
Coach Wang below waved goodbye.
The Spirit Boat slowly rose.
A transparent spiritual light centered around Senior Brother Lu's feet rapidly spread outward, wrapping around the entire Spirit Boat.
The boat gently changed direction.
Then the Spirit Boat was seen gliding directly above the Temporary Institute number seven.
Below.
The chubby young man was frozen in place, staring out of the window, still immersed in his sorrowful feelings from moments ago.
Suddenly, it seemed like something went floating by in front of him.
He quickly raised his head, his eyes fixed on the Spirit Boat slowly drifting away above him, his mouth gaping open.
The figures on it looked familiar.
Wasn't one of them the guy who carried the luggage? And the other one seemed to be Deng An, one of the four gifted youngsters!
"Didn't he give up on the assessment? Why is he with Deng An..."
The chubby lad sucked in a breath of cold air after finally realizing it.
It seemed he had misunderstood. This was not giving up on the assessment, it was clearly passing the assessment!
"No wonder he was on such good terms with Ji Bochang. Truly, a dragon doesn't mingle with snakes, the ancients surely did not deceive me." The chubby lad's face showed an expression of sudden enlightenment.
Wait a minute!
Doesn't that mean, during the lecture the day before yesterday, a person no less gifted than the four prodigies was sitting right next to him, and yet he himself was...
Thinking of this.
"Oh God, what exactly have I missed?!"
The chubby lad wailed, covering his face, tears in his eyes.
Meanwhile.
"Senior Brother Lu, does our... ahem... Spirit Boat always fly this slow?"
Zhang Jing, looking at the Spirit Boat below him that was moving as leisurely as an old lady taking her daily stroll, couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.
The difference between this creature and the Spirit Boats that soared through the sky in his imagination was too great.
"Junior Brother, we cannot deploy full power to the Flying Artifacts within the areas of the Temporary Institutes. Otherwise, the wave of spiritual power would disrupt the cultivation of the youngsters below," Senior Brother Lu explained, smiling gently.
"So that's how it is. Thank you, Senior Brother, for clearing up my confusion." Zhang Jing immediately understood.
While they were talking.
The Spirit Boat had already floated out of the Temporary Institute's territory.
"Both of you, hold on tight," warned Senior Brother Lu, suddenly turning around.
And before his words had completely fallen, the Spirit Boat trembled slightly before suddenly accelerating, transforming into a streak of azure spiritual light, shooting off in the direction of the Legacy Pavilion.
"Wait, Senior Brother!" Zhang Jing and Deng An called out together.
Hearing their voices, Senior Brother Lu turned his head, a smirk flashing at the corners of his eyes.
"Do you need anything, Junior Brothers?"
...
"Senior Brother, isn't the speed a bit too fast?"
Standing in front of an imposing nine-story tower, Zhang Jing immediately jumped off the Spirit Boat the moment it slowly landed and said with a pale face.
Even though he was now back on the ground, his legs were still shaking uncontrollably.
It was not that Zhang Jing was afraid of heights. It was that the Spirit Boat's flight had been too wild.
Under Senior Brother Lu's control.
The Spirit Boat behaved like a runaway beast, hurrying sideways, rushing up and down. One moment it skimmed over the surface of the lake, the next it soared into the clouds, demonstrating utter caprice.
If not for the protective spiritual light around them, Zhang Jing and the others would have been thrown off long ago.
Whose idea was it to drive a Spirit Boat like this?
"Junior Brothers Zhang and Deng, how did it feel? Wasn't it thrilling? Would you like me to take you for another ride?" Senior Brother Lu asked excitedly.
The moment they heard that.
Zhang Jing and Deng An, still recovering from the shock, took a few steps back and quickly declined, "No need, Senior brother!"
A glint of disappointment flashed in Senior Brother Lu's eyes, as he whispered:
"Actually, my Spirit Boat is very safe."
Then, as though remembering the task at hand, Senior Brother Lu pointed to the nine-story building in front of them and said:
"Junior Brothers, this is the Legacy Pavilion. Let's go in."
"Thank you, Senior Brother!"
With that, Zhang Jing followed behind Senior Brother Lu, walking towards the Legacy Pavilion.
As they got closer, an inexplicable pressure began to weigh on Zhang Jing's heart.
He couldn't help but lift his head to look up.
The Legacy Pavilion was several tens of meters high, the entire structure seemingly cast from bronze. The surface was engraved with countless bizarre patterns featuring dragons, phoenixes, spirit snakes, divine monkeys, and giant whales, all emanating an ancient and time-worn aura, bewitching and soul-stirring.
Looking back.
Only then did he notice that the place where the Legacy Pavilion stood was actually a huge square, stretching out as far as the eye could see.
In the distance were continuous houses, shimmering in the sunlight.
"Junior Brother Lu, you finally arrived."
The moment they entered through the doors.
A young man with white hair, dressed in a green robe, his eyes sharp as a sword, came out to meet them.
"Senior Brother Liu, my duties to bring the two Junior Brothers from Temporary Institute number seven have been completed. I will take my leave now." Upon seeing the approaching man, Senior Brother Lu shivered, quickly and respectfully speaking.
"Hmm, good work, Junior Brother Lu."
The young man known as 'Senior Brother Liu' nodded with a smile.