Chapter 354: Chapter 244: Mid-battle Breakthrough, "Earth Pivot World Record", the True Great Lifebound Rune
"Earth Pivot" means the earth is the core hub around which the world revolves. "World Record" refers to how, at a high level of Cultivation, one can manifest a vast subterranean world with its own ecosystem. It allowed for the uninhibited reshaping of the earthen environment. For example, one could instantly raise multiple intersecting rock walls to form maze-like fortifications; or turn the ground into a quicksand vortex to trap and submerge enemies; or condense a giant hand of earth to reach out, seize foes, and destroy their ground forces. One could also sense and guide Earth Vein Energy to remotely trigger targeted earthquakes; detect hidden spaces and Ore; or even compress rock to its critical point and detonate it, unleashing a spray of superheated magma and a powerful shockwave...
All in all, the sheer range of skills could be said to encompass the entire Earth Element.
But since Li Xiang had only just formed this Rune, his exploration and understanding of it were still very limited. The initial ability he could use with some proficiency was the simplest of all: the Earth Escape Technique.
This Superpower fit him far better than his previous six. Li Xiang felt a subtle sense deep down... ’Is this my true Lifebound Superpower? Or maybe I should call it... a true Lifebound Divine Technique?’
’Are my other Superpowers just secondary Lifebound Superpowers?’
His Cultivation experience from his past life was insufficient, so in this life, he was essentially learning as he went, constantly arriving at new understandings.
’So after all this time, it turns out I have an Earth Attribute constitution? A dirt-kicking Extraordinary Being? No wonder my Cultivation was so ridiculously effective when I was farming.’
A sudden realization dawned on Li Xiang.
"Feifei, come over here. I have something to tell you." Li Xiang called Luo Feifei into a small grove, and the two began to talk.
Yao Yao, Zhao Xueqing, and Lei Xiaohui were all quite jealous, but they felt it wasn’t their place to go over and disturb them.
If it had been Yao Yao, Zhao Xueqing, or Lei Xiaohui, any one of them, who had been called over, the other two would have shamelessly tagged along to eavesdrop and participate. After all, although the three of them had a bit of a "plastic" friendship behind the scenes, they were inseparable most of the time.
Luo Feifei, however, seemed somewhat unapproachable.
"You’re saying a golden Great Lifebound Rune formed inside you?" Luo Feifei was startled. She thought for a moment, carefully searching her memories from her past life. After a moment of recollection, she confirmed that she had indeed heard of such things before.
Apparently, only after advancing to the Saint Tier would some Superpowers with similar Attributes merge into a single great Divine Technique—that was what constituted a true Lifebound Superpower.
However, since Luo Feifei had failed in her attempt to break through to the Saint Tier in her past life, she wasn’t clear on the specifics. She never imagined that Li Xiang would form a golden Great Lifebound Rune before even reaching the Saint Tier.
Furthermore, the average person only ever formed six Runes in their body, and many people didn’t even manage that many.
Only true prodigies had more than six.
"How many did you have in your past life?" Li Xiang asked curiously.
"Me? I had twelve, but they were all small ones. Nothing like you—you’re only Tier Eight, and you already have the kind of Rune a Saint Tier would have. You’re the real prodigy." Luo Feifei was utterly impressed. Her brilliant eyes gazed at him adoringly as she thought, ’As expected of my future husband, he’s incredible! Sticking with him in this life is absolutely the right choice!’
While the two were in the small grove, "discussing the Dao" (and being all lovey-dovey), back on the beach, Xu Xuan had already contacted the military via satellite phone. He briefly explained the situation, and as it happened, a warship was patrolling nearby and would come to pick them up.
When the warship approached, Li Xiang and the others were shocked to discover it was a massive 10,000-ton destroyer: a Type 055.
Damn! Lei Jiaming and the others were instantly thrilled. They had never ridden on such a "luxurious" warship before.
At the same time, at a United States military base in the Pacific Ocean, the American forces had also spotted this Type 055 and were completely stunned.
"What the hell? Wasn’t that 055 just off the coast of Washington State, near Seattle? How did it cover nearly two thousand nautical miles in under six hours? The 055’s top speed is only around thirty-five knots, isn’t it?"
"Latest intel. Those mysterious individuals aren’t CIA agents. They’re from China—Chinese Extraordinary Beings."
"Satellite has them being picked up by the 055. Requesting orders, sir. Do we pursue?"
"Extraordinary powers... Could China have mastered spatial transport technology? Is that how they ’flashed’ from Seattle all the way to the waters off Mexico?"
"A Ghost Ship?" an American soldier muttered, unable to suppress a shiver.
"What nonsense is this? Get ready for battle! Now!"
"But, sir, that’s an 055."
"It’s just one lone ship. What’s there to be afraid of? We have two carrier strike groups in the vicinity. They had the audacity to enter our country and steal an Exotic Beast, and now they’re sailing near our territorial waters. They’re not getting away this time."
In an instant, early-warning aircraft, drones, and F-35 carrier fighters were scrambled into the air...
But moments later, they were all left dumbfounded. A report came through the C4ISR system: it wasn’t just one 055. There were eight of them!
"Fall back! Fall back! Retreat immediately! Avoid engaging the enemy."
A flood of orders was issued. The vast net that had been cast in such a hurry was slowly drawn back in. The commanders of the two carrier strike groups were seething, but they now understood the Chinese ploy.
"Cunning. They’re too damn cunning. It’s not a Ghost Ship, and they haven’t mastered any spatial transport technology. They were just lying in ambush, maintaining radio silence. They probably even had replenishment ships with them, but they only ever exposed one vessel at a time to create the illusion of a Ghost Ship. I should have seen it. I’m such an idiot!"
Li Xiang and the others were completely unaware of the confrontation that had just unfolded. Without the cover provided by the other seven destroyers, they never would have escaped. Their only option would have been to board the Sea-Stepping Spirit Whale Ship and dive back into the deep sea.
But the Sea-Stepping Spirit Whale Ship was completely bare on the inside, with no facilities to speak of. It was stuffy and cramped deep beneath the sea, and even using the restroom was an issue. It certainly couldn’t compare to the comfort of a "luxurious" warship like the 055.
