Chapter 126: Shameless

"So that's why!" Following Bai’s prompt, Lan Tian had a sudden realization. His gaze toward Deputy Commander Qipeng turned one of pure contempt.

He had appeared so righteous, yet to think he was such a pathetic creature.

"Don't look down on him. Survival is the only ultimate truth," Bai said dismissively, then urged, "Leave now! If you're too slow, I fear you won't make it out at all!"

"Don't be so anxious. Didn't Qipeng say he sent out a distress signal? Maybe we can hold out until reinforcements arrive," Lan Tian hesitated. Although he had no real connection with anyone on the passenger starship other than Bebu—and even Bebu was merely a chance acquaintance with no deep bond—he still felt it was wrong to abandon everyone and flee alone.

"You idiot! You actually believe that nonsense? Within the magnetic field of the Gold-Eater race, even the starship's engines won't start. What kind of ghost signal do you expect to get out?!" Bai scolded sharply. "Move! Get your head in the game. If this Gold-Eater decides to abandon the others and focuses solely on hunting you down, you won't even be faster than it unless you activate your flight mode!"

"What?! That fast?!" Lan Tian was stunned. Without another word, he donned the Scarlet Gold Divine Armor and, amidst the astonished gazes of the others, flew rapidly toward the breach in the starship’s hull.

What a joke! He had been hesitant before only because he believed that with the speed of the Scarlet Gold Divine Armor, once he broke through the swarm of parasites, he would be as free as a bird in the sky or a fish in the sea. That was why he felt reluctant to leave the others behind. But now, after hearing Bai’s words, all hesitation vanished. His only thought was to run!

Nothing mattered more than his own life!

...

Only when truly facing these hideously shaped parasites did Lan Tian realize how terrifying they were.

Just as he emerged, before he had even cleared the wreckage, countless sharp, clawed limbs—like barbed whips—rained down upon him, striking his Scarlet Gold Divine Armor.

Bai had not miscalculated. Judging by the impact force fed back through the armor, each strike from these parasites was comparable to the full-strength blow of a Star-Radiance level expert. Lan Tian was certain that without the armor, relying only on his own cosmic star power for protection, he wouldn't have lasted a few minutes against such an overwhelming onslaught!

"Don't space out! Keep pushing, break through!" Bai’s voice, sharpened by agitation, interrupted Lan Tian’s thoughts.

He added a warning: "Push through like this, but unless absolutely necessary, do not activate flight mode. We are very close to Huidu Star. Once you trigger the locator, the chances of your exposure are incredibly high!"

Lan Tian nodded. He understood this well; the danger of being discovered by the Yuanlan Empire was no less than facing the Gold-Eater Matriarch. He stopped overthinking and exerted his full strength to break out.

Grey flames surged, and pagoda-shaped manifestations of cosmic star power were unleashed. Even though the Scarlet Gold Divine Armor was only functioning at fifty percent efficiency, under the terrifying might of the Pale Blood Starfire, every parasite blocking Lan Tian’s path was reduced to charcoal!

Seeing Lan Tian fly out of the starship in his armor, a glint of strange light flashed in Deputy Commander Qipeng’s eyes. He roared, "Everyone, get ready! We will break out together!"

He then took the lead, following closely in Lan Tian’s wake, spearheading the charge!

Seeing the example set by Lan Tian and Qipeng, the other cultivators in the starship followed suit, controlling their bodies, ascending, and fighting their way out.

However, once outside, they realized the cruelty of reality.

The moment they emerged, they were terrified by the overwhelming power of the parasites. Unlike Lan Tian, the vast majority of them had no protective treasures. The defensive shields formed by their cosmic star power were useless against the relentless barrage, and in a short time, a great number of cultivators fell.

As for Deputy Commander Qipeng, who had acted so valiantly and claimed he would lead everyone to safety, he abandoned all pretense the moment he saw Lan Tian’s display of power, sticking closely behind him.

Moreover, upon realizing that Lan Tian could handle the parasites on his own, he stopped attacking altogether, only helping to clear away some minor harassment from the rear.

"This Qipeng is truly shameless!" Lan Tian gritted his teeth.

It was one thing to spout empty words and ignore the lives of other cultivators—after all, everyone was fleeing for their lives, and no one would risk themselves for strangers without a guarantee of their own survival.

But what was this, following right behind him?

Lan Tian was fighting with all his might, his energy constantly depleting, while Qipeng leisurely swiped his blade left and right, hiding safely under his protection, comfortably coasting along!

And Qipeng’s own strength was far greater than his!

"Qipeng, is it? Either fight alongside me or get lost!" Lan Tian was beyond furious. He transmitted his voice via mental energy. Because of Qipeng’s presence, he could clearly feel the parasites becoming much denser in their vicinity.

"Haha, little brother, what are you saying? Am I not fighting side-by-side with you?" Hearing Lan Tian’s blunt words, a sharp glint flashed in Qipeng’s eyes, but he replied with a smug, smiling mental transmission.

"You call this fighting side-by-side? You clearly have the strength, so why are you hiding behind me?" Lan Tian was incensed. There were still countless parasites ahead. Because he had been practicing the "Heaven-Sealing Technique," which severed the connection between his nascent universe and the outside world, he had no way to replenish his energy. His cosmic star power was running low, while Qipeng, hiding behind him and only occasionally swinging his blade, was barely expending any energy at all. It was infuriating.

He couldn't go on like this. A Star-Domain level expert like Qipeng could only be worn down by the Gold-Eater Matriarch through a war of attrition. But now, Qipeng wasn't expending much energy at all, while he himself was drained. Lan Tian had every reason to believe that once they broke through the encirclement, the other man would strike at him. After all, the very armor on his back was enough to incite greed in anyone!

"You fool! Quickly undo the 'Heaven-Sealing Technique'! You only practiced it because you were afraid the energy in your nascent universe would spontaneously form energy planets, but now the nebulae in your nascent universe are almost drained! What kind of breakthrough are you afraid of now?!" Bai’s voice, filled with exasperation, echoed in his mind.

Novices were truly frightening. Bai secretly resolved that after this ordeal, he would find an opportunity to give Lan Tian a crash course in the basics of cultivation. Sometimes, battles happened in the blink of an eye, and he wouldn't always have the chance to remind him.