The next second, Zhou Huai's consciousness instantly shifted.

He arrived in Gandalf's body.

The airship returning to Great Xia was steadily cutting through the clouds, sailing over the vast, blue ocean.

Zhou Huai, controlling Gandalf, pushed open the cabin door and came out onto the deck.

The sea breeze whipped around him, fluttering his star moon magic robe.

Zhang Cheng, the head of overseas affairs, and Principal Lin were both on the deck at this moment.

Seeing Gandalf walk out, their expressions were solemn.

Zhang Cheng hurried forward, a look of concern on his face.

"Captain Gandalf, is something wrong?"

Zhou Huai didn't answer, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon, and he countered with a question.

"How much longer will it take for our airship to return to Great Xia?"

Zhang Cheng was stunned for a moment, then began to calculate in his mind.

"At the current speed, it will take at least another two days and one night."

Gandalf's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"What if we go at full speed?"

Zhang Cheng thought for a moment.

"Even if all thrusters are engaged, regardless of energy consumption, it will still take about a day and a half."

A day and a half.

Plus the time to return to Donghai City from the Imperial Capital.

It would take at least two more days.

Too long.

Donghai City couldn't wait that long.

Seeing Gandalf's increasingly solemn expression, Principal Lin, who was nearby, also sensed that something was amiss.

Her clear, cold eyes looked over.

"Gandalf, what's wrong with you?"

"What exactly happened?"

The other Great Xia team members on the deck also cast concerned glances.

Gandalf took a deep breath, as if organizing his words.

After a brief thought, Zhou Huai, controlling Gandalf, slowly spoke.

"Minister Zhang Cheng, Principal Lin, I may not be able to continue returning to the Imperial Capital with you."

"What?"

As soon as he said this, everyone's faces were filled with surprise.

Principal Lin's brows also furrowed tightly.

"Gandalf, what do you mean by that?"

"Where are you going?"

Zhang Cheng also quickly chimed in:

"Captain Gan, if you've encountered any difficulties, you can tell us, and we can try to help you."

Zhou Huai smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"I don't have time."

He turned around, his gaze serious as he looked at Principal Lin.

"Principal Lin, I'll trouble you and everyone else to deliver the pendulum of life back to the Imperial Capital."

"I need to go ahead now."

Everyone was utterly confused.

What did he mean by going ahead?

This was the vast ocean, thousands of kilometers from land.

Was he planning to surf back using his water abilities?

That would be suicide!

The ocean was full of dangers, with countless powerful Abyssal Beasts.

Even this heavily armed airship couldn't claim to be 100% safe.

Let alone a single person.

Zhang Cheng became anxious and quickly stepped forward to persuade him.

"Captain Gandalf, what exactly happened?"

"Please don't do anything foolish!"

Zhou Huai stopped explaining.

He quickly removed Gandalf's outfit and the Holy Light-shining staff, placing them all into the Storage Ring.

Then, looking at everyone, he said seriously: "Everyone, my actions next may seem incredible, but please don't stop me."

"I will explain everything to you later."

"In short, see you in the Imperial Capital!"

After he finished speaking.

To everyone's horror, Gandalf leaped!

He actually jumped directly from the airship, thousands of meters high!

His body, like a kite with a broken string, plummeted vertically towards the deep blue ocean below!

"Quick! Save him!"

Zhang Cheng's face instantly turned pale, and he let out a terrified roar.

Everyone on the deck changed color and fell into a chaotic panic.

However, everything happened too fast.

No one had time to react.

Only Principal Lin.

Her reaction was incredibly fast.

She lightly tapped the wooden staff in her hand.

"Go!"

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

Countless emerald green vines, like living spirit snakes, shot out from the tip of the staff, instantly tearing through the air and wildly coiling towards the falling figure!

The vines were as fast as lightning, arriving after the initial action but before the outcome!

They were about to entangle Gandalf's body!

However, just at that critical moment. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

An unexpected change occurred!

A blinding white light suddenly erupted from Gandalf's rapidly descending body!

The light was so brilliant, so dazzling, like a miniature sun, exploding with a roar in mid-air!

Boom—!!!

A deafening roar, accompanied by a terrifying energy shockwave, swept across the entire sea area!

The sea surface below was violently blasted into a huge depression!

Towering waves surged skyward, then crashed down again!

Principal Lin's vines, which were about to touch Gandalf, couldn't even withstand the destructive force for an instant before being directly vaporized, disappearing into nothingness!

On the deck, everyone was so startled by the terrifying explosion that they retreated repeatedly.

They clung tightly to the ship's railing, barely avoiding being thrown off by the violent air current.

When all the dust settled.

Only churning waves remained on the sea surface, along with a huge whirlpool that had not yet subsided.

Gandalf's figure had long since vanished without a trace.

On the deck, there was a deathly silence.

Everyone gaped, staring blankly at the chaotic sea below, their faces filled with disbelief.

"Cap... Captain!!!"

A young team member let out a ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) heartbreaking wail, his voice trembling.

What was happening?

Captain Gandalf... self-destructed?

He just... died?

In an instant, everyone's faces turned pale, their minds blank.

Even the usually composed Principal Lin's clear, beautiful face showed a rare pallor.

Zhang Cheng suddenly snapped back to reality, rushing to the railing and shouting hoarsely at the sea below.

"Quick! Send people down to look! We need to see him alive, or his body dead!"

Principal Lin, however, slowly shook her head.

She closed her eyes, sensed for a moment, then spoke in a voice almost like a dream: "No need to go."

"His aura... has completely vanished." "He... is truly dead."

No one could understand.

This hero who had just led them to acquire a Divine Artifact and achieve an unparalleled feat.

This new generation SS-rank powerhouse that Great Xia Country had finally produced.

Why would he, out of nowhere, suddenly commit suicide?

What did those words he just said mean?

Zhang Cheng slumped onto the deck, his eyes vacant.

It was over.

Everything was over now.

How could he explain this to Marshal Zhao when he returned?

However, while they were still reeling from the immense shock of Gandalf's suicide.

In the distant sky.

Two streaks of light, emitting terrifying auras, were rapidly approaching their direction at an astonishing speed!

Feeling those two undisguised powerful auras, Principal Lin's expression instantly became solemn.

Almost in a breath.

The two figures had already crossed a great distance and landed heavily on the deck of the Great Xia Country airship!

Boom!

The entire airship trembled violently!

Only then did everyone clearly see the appearance of the newcomers, and they all looked as if they were facing a formidable enemy.

The newcomers were Watada Heizan from Sakura Country and the representative from Kimchi Country.

Two SS-rank powerhouses, arriving simultaneously!

Even a fool would understand that they meant trouble!

Watada Heizan's gaze swept across the deck, finally landing on Principal Lin.

He grinned, his smile filled with undisguised mockery and malice.

"Your Excellency Principal Lin, the matter in the ruins is not yet settled."

"Are you Great Xia Country too eager to leave?"

Principal Lin stepped forward, shielding all her team members behind her, her expression icy.

"Since we have withdrawn, the matter of the ruins naturally has nothing to do with us."

"What do you two mean by chasing after us?"

The representative from Kimchi Country shook his head, a false smile on his face.

"No, no, we originally thought that the Divine Artifact you Great Xia Country obtained was also fake."

"But now it seems that is not the case."

"Archbishop Andrew wants to personally verify the authenticity of that Divine Artifact."

He paused, a cold glint flashing in his narrow eyes.

"So, I'll trouble all of you from Great Xia Country to come back with us."

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of all the Great Xia team members present became solemn.

Even a fool could understand.

This was not an invitation.

This was clearly a threat!

The Free Federation had no intention of letting them return so easily with the Divine Artifact!

Principal Lin's clear, cold face was covered with a layer of frost.

She slowly raised the staff in her hand, and a vast natural force began to gather around her.

"What if we refuse?"