Chapter 223: Fifth-Tier Feather Sheath · Four-Leaf Green Cicada Wings!
When the black-clothed, green-winged figure arrived, Gu He hovered in the air, his expression complicated as he quickly recounted everything he had just experienced.
"...The Heavenly Flame has been my lifelong pursuit. I can only beg this of you..." While flying, Gu He pulled from his spatial ring a brand-new artifact, resembling the wings of a cicada—four thin, green, leaf-like wings. They shimmered faintly, semi-transparent, with star-like specks flashing across them. Most astonishing of all, these cicada wings even possessed a trace of flexibility.
Fifth-Tier Feather Sheath · Four-Leaf Green Cicada Wings!
The black-clothed figure with green wings stared at the specialized wind-element wings in silence. Finally, under Gu He's pleading gaze, she accepted the artifact—this was the very treasure Gu He had once obtained through the Mittel Family after Hu Lei tossed it to them.
"You should leave the desert first. I'll find a way to catch up with them." Her cold voice sounded. In the next instant, the Four-Leaf Green Cicada Wings fused into her Dou Huang green wings with a buzz. They adhered to her back seamlessly, the ornate cicada-like patterns lighting up instantly. Shua! Four dazzling green light-wings unfolded, expanding two or three meters outward. Phantom-like emerald flames burned faintly at her back.
BOOM!
With an explosive burst, the black-clothed figure transformed into a streak of green light, soaring at terrifying speed, so fast it seemed like teleportation. Gu He and the others blinked, and she was already gone, vanishing into the distant horizon.
"This old Gu He... that Fifth-Tier Feather Sheath Wings are leagues apart from your Fourth-Tier one!" Yan Shi muttered, swallowing hard as he watched the figure disappear across the desert sky like a blazing arrow of green light.
With the four-leaf wings, Gu He's flight speed could match a Dou Huang. Yan Shi and Feng Li could still understand that. They themselves were already planning to commission Fourth-Tier Feather Sheath Wings from the Blacksmiths' Guild. But the guild's artifact masters were so overbooked with orders that they were fully scheduled until next year. Even with connections, they would need to cut the line.
"Do you know about Youlin?" Gu He asked, gazing with admiration at the direction the black-clothed figure had vanished, before quickly leading the others in another direction.
"Of course! The one who created the unique flight design of the Feather Sheath Wings! The youngest Profound Artifact Master of the Blacksmiths' Guild!" The two immediately lit up at the name and pressed further, "Could it be...?"
"Yes. This Fifth-Tier Four-Leaf Green Cicada Wings were forged by the Guild President himself, but the design came from Youlin. Many of its concepts are pioneering—part of the blueprint for the upcoming Six-Leaf Feather Sheath Wings. Hu Lei merely carried it out for him."
Now, Gu He could only pin his hopes on that Dou Huang. To ease his nervousness about the Heavenly Flame, he deliberately changed the subject.
"The final product—the Fifth-Tier Cicada Wings—are of extremely high quality. The way they attach, their energy specialization, all underwent fundamental improvements. And inside is a built-in Dou Qi engine, the latest technology. According to Hu Lei, it can even absorb surrounding natural energy, like executing an Earth-Tier Dou Technique."
From Gu He's description, Feng Li and Yan Shi finally understood why this Fifth-Tier set was so different from Gu He's own Fourth-Tier Four-Leaf Feather Sheath Wings. His was a mass-production model, while this one was an experimental limited edition.
Gu He's set had been crafted by Yuan Pangzi, a Fourth-Tier master, but at that time Yuan strictly followed the existing schematics without adding anything extra. Thus, Gu He's wings were reliable, but just an ordinary mass-production set.
"The Four-Leaf Green Cicada Wings are specialized for wind-element Dou Qi... Just a little trick from the Guild. In the hands of a Wind Dou Huang, they can perform at the level of a Sixth-Tier Feather Sheath Wings." The Guild wasn't going to let Jia Xingtian or Fa Ma reap any benefits so easily.
That suited Gu He just fine. He was very satisfied. Still, he hadn't given them away before, because the other side had refused to accept such a valuable treasure. Only today, finally, were they sent out.
But for the sake of the Green Lotus Core Flame, Gu He had truly paid a heavy price...
"I suspect they had an artifact master helping them in secret! My Four-Leaf Wings suddenly malfunctioned inside—that must have been sabotage! If I find out which forger dared to pit himself against me, I'll make him regret it!" Rage simmered in Gu He's heart at the thought.
With such heavy thoughts, Gu He and the two other Dou Wangs sped toward the desert's edge.
—
Meanwhile, believing himself to have narrowly escaped, Xiao Yan carried the Green Lotus Core Flame in his arms, still shaken.
"Teacher, that was Brother Lin just now, wasn't it?" Though phrased as a question, Xiao Yan's tone was full of certainty.
Of all the people he knew, only Jiang Lin would willingly help him and possessed such frighteningly precise long-range attacks.
"That brat... He nearly made a misstep. The Feather Sheath Wings, under Dou Qi reinforcement, are incredibly durable. Spiritual force alone can't shatter them." Yao Chen had tested his soul power the moment Gu He lost speed, but found it useless against the Fourth-Tier Wings.
After all, though called "Feather Sheath Wings," their full name was "Fourth-Tier Flying Dou Artifact"—and a Fourth-Tier artifact was still extremely tough!
"Should we wait for Brother Lin then?" Xiao Yan asked, glancing back at the empty skies behind him while continuing to fly swiftly.
"Wait for him? You're holding a Heavenly Flame! With his spiritual sense, he can track your flight path without any trouble!" Yao Chen scolded, annoyed by Xiao Yan's needless worry.
"Oh, so that's it... But, Teacher, Teacher! Look behind us!" Xiao Yan had just turned back to focus on flying when a flash of green light caught his eye. His heart instantly tightened. Spinning around, what he saw nearly scared his soul right out of him!
A streak of green light burst from the horizon, rapidly closing in at visible speed!
Buzz! Four walls of wind instantly materialized, trapping Xiao Yan inside.
This was a Dou Technique—within a sealed domain!
"Hand over the Heavenly Flame, and I'll let you go." The black-clothed figure, wings of the Four-Leaf Green Cicada spread wide behind her, spoke in a cold, detached voice.
Xiao Yan turned back, glaring at those glowing wings. At that moment, he swore—he had never hated the sight of the Four-Leaf Feather Sheath Wings more than he did today!
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Franklin1