Chapter 616: True Escape Champion

First place, Jiutian Liu.

In the last registration area of the entire underwater competition zone.

At this moment, Jiutian Liu was piloting a divine shuttle, splitting into multiple afterimages, sweeping through the large registration area before finding the black registration sphere.

This Nine Heavens Divine Shuttle he piloted, fully named the Nine Heavens Ten Earths Hazard-Avoiding Divine Shuttle, was a type of magic artifact with a long history, updated generation after generation, and never eliminated.

From aristocratic families, to imperial royalty, to famous immortal sects… every historical change, every era transition, every fall of a powerful clan or sect, or the outbreak of war, conflict, and contradiction… the sight of the Nine Heavens Divine Shuttle carrying people and funds in escape could be seen.

As long as you run fast, as long as you survive, there is always a chance to turn things around. This philosophy was passed down through generations, and now had become the philosophy of the Finance Department, earning Jiutian Liu's approval.

As for why the Nine Heavens Divine Shuttle could become a divine tool for fleeing, besides being able to carry fortune, use accumulated resources to upgrade configurations, and be easily liquidated, the most important reason was always… it was fast enough.

“Speed is the primary element for avoiding danger.”

“And the Nine Heavens Divine Shuttle represents the top speed of its rank.”

Although he could not refine artifacts, it did not prevent Jiutian Liu from mastering powerful artifact-control abilities through Dharma remains, and with the support of many Soul Cultivation masters, he skillfully piloted this divine shuttle.

Jiutian Liu knew that refining artifacts, medicine, talismans, communication, transportation, construction, combat… none of these were areas the Finance Department excelled in.

But relying on the vast resources of the Finance Department, he could acquire these capabilities, or even directly harvest their results.

The tentacles of the Finance Department had long extended into every industry; as long as one wanted… they could stir up trouble in any field at any time and compete with experts from any profession.

“This is the strength of the Finance Department.”

“Because money is omnipotent.”

“And the Finance Department is the most omnipotent major.”

“In this Ten Great Leagues, while Kuang Tianqing and Dao Qiankun are contending… I too might have a chance to compete for the championship.”

“But the risks involved are not small either.”

Although he did not know the specific details, Jiutian Liu could feel that the Finance Departments of various schools were restless and seemed to be plotting something recently.

But as for what exactly they were doing, each person could only see the part in their own hands, and Jiutian Liu could not guess the complete plan.

“I'm afraid only the master and a few other Divine Transformation cultivators can see the whole picture.”

While thinking, Jiutian Liu completed the registration of the last black sphere.

And next was the final segment of this stage's track.

Just then, Jiutian Liu noticed a dragon shadow shooting toward him from afar.

“Hm?”

At first, Jiutian Liu thought it was Yingzhou Fan catching up, but only after a moment did he see that it was Zhang Yu standing proudly on the dragon's head, riding the dragon toward him.

“Oh? So it's possible to catch up like this?”

And under Jiutian Liu's surprised gaze, a fish demon suddenly charged toward the dragon shadow, tossing two black spheres into the air, which were caught by a person and the dragon, instantly completing the registration.

“What?”

Seeing Zhang Yu, Yingzhou Fan, and himself standing at the same starting line in the blink of an eye, Jiutian Liu was also shocked: “You can do that?”

But the next moment, he laughed again: “Very good.”

Jiutian Liu said to the dragon and the person: “I was just thinking this stage lacked talking points, and taking first place might not generate much buzz. Your arrival is perfect.”

The dragon's body twisted, lifting Zhang Yu to Jiutian Liu's front.

Zhang Yu looked at Jiutian Liu inside the divine shuttle and said calmly: “Senior, we meet again.”

Jiutian Liu smiled: “Junior, on the final track, let us decide the victor.”

Both being from the Four Schools camp, neither attacked the other.

Zhang Yu knew that if either of them obstructed the other, it would only anger the school leadership.

That is to say, in the following final leg of the competition, between him and Jiutian Liu, it would only be a pure contest of speed.

And Jiutian Liu looked at the young man on the dragon's head, seemingly not expecting that the civil engineering youth who had once rejected him and refused to transfer to the Finance Department had, without realizing it, come before him and gained the qualifications to compete with him.

3!

A projection from the celestial realm materialized in the air, conjured by Jiutianliu, and began playing a countdown.

Jiutianliu: "Junior, in this final sprint, I won’t go easy on you."

2!

"If you can, then try your best to catch me."

"Use all your strength to try and get close to me."

1!

As the number 1 appeared, both sides suddenly accelerated, drawing long white lines through the seabed. In the blink of an eye, they had already burst out of the registration area, leaving behind a scene churned into a tangled mess by the underwater currents.

The Nine Heavens Shuttle took the lead, its powerful force cleaving through the water like it was ramming a vacuum tunnel through the seabed.

At the same time, Zhang Yu rode the giant dragon, and his extended water field combined with Yingzhoufan's water-control ability, making everything feel incredibly smooth.

Watching the Nine Heavens Shuttle ahead, Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Excellent… the power of the Azure Water Golden Crystal Armor and the dragon transformation of the demon descendants fit together perfectly. The water feels like an extension of our bodies."

"This stage… I can win."

…

Before the finish line of the underwater speed race.

Aside from the eleven contestants currently racing, almost all the other competitors had gathered here, and even the instructors from each school were waiting for the first racer to cross the finish line.

Many competitors, seeing the rivalry between Jiutianliu and Zhang Yu, let out exclamations of amazement.

Wen Wuyia thought to himself, "So fast. Jiutianliu was already fast, and the Nine Heavens Shuttle’s powerful propulsion makes it the fastest whether flying through the sky, burrowing through the earth, or racing underwater. But I never imagined that after Zhang Yu rode the dragon, he could keep up with him."

Before Dao Qiankun, a video of the competition between Zhang Yu and Jiutianliu was playing. Around him gathered the teammates he had selected: Yan Qianji, Li Shiwei from the Dao Arts Department, and Wen Rongjue from the Finance Department.

Watching the scene where Jiutianliu was leading, Dao Qiankun smiled and said, "Jiutianliu is very composed. He didn't jump the start just now and instead chose to start the sprint together with Zhang Yu. I wonder if he can maintain that composure until the very end."

Li Shiwei, who was standing by, was the second-ranked student in the Dao Arts Department. As a junior, she had always regarded Dao Qiankun as her idol.

When she first heard Zhang Yu say something about putting Dao Qiankun on the throne, Li Shiwei was extremely displeased.

"That’s my line!" she roared in her heart.

Hearing Dao Qiankun’s words now, Li Shiwei said in surprise, "Senior, do you think Zhang Yu might win?"

Dao Qiankun replied calmly, "There’s no such thing as a one-hundred-percent sure outcome, but Zhang Yu does have a chance."

As he spoke, Jiutianliu and Zhang Yu, one after the other, had already rushed into a trench. Their speed was so great that the live broadcast image suddenly became chaotic and dim.

Watching this scene, Dao Qiankun snapped his fingers and said, "Let me treat you all to a special seat to watch."

With the payment of spirit coins, a projection of the celestial realm appeared within their eye sockets, and the surroundings of Dao Qiankun and his teammates underwent a drastic transformation before their eyes.

It was as if they had instantly teleported from the finish line directly into the trench, closely following behind Jiutianliu and Zhang Yu.

Li Shiwei thought, "Is this a tracking camera combined with a celestial realm projection? It feels exactly like being there, right behind Jiutianliu and Zhang Yu, watching them race in person."

Watching Dao Qiankun treat them to this spectacle, Li Shiwei thought, "As expected from senior—he treats others as naturally as breathing… so cool."

Just then, Dao Qiankun analyzed, "Jiutianliu is gradually pulling ahead. After all, Yingzhoufan is still injured; it’s normal for his stamina to decline after running this long."

Li Shiwei asked, "Is Zhang Yu going to lose?"

Dao Qiankun said, "Right now it’s still open water, so Jiutianliu has the advantage. But the track ahead gets narrower and narrower, especially when they enter the final section of the seabed cavern. The terrain there is complex, which might close the gap between them."

Moments later, they saw Jiutianliu and Zhang Yu arrive at the depths of the trench. Their figures flickered, they twisted into a beautiful arc, and while kicking up enormous waves, they charged into a seabed cavern on the side.

…

Inside the cavern, Jiutianliu’s shuttle continued at high speed, darting back and forth through the narrow seabed cavern, but its speed inevitably decreased.