CHAPTER 130: RIDING THE DIAMOND BUS!

About three hours later, outside the southern gate, a large group had gathered.

At the head of it stood Xu Tao, with Wu Zetian and Yifa positioned just behind him. Further back was Arthur, leading 34 experts from various races. There was Jehanne with her five soldiers, and finally, the five outer disciples of the Azure Dragon Sect.

Last but not least was the still-asleep Achilles, curled up on the ground by Xu Tao’s feet. His vitality had been drained until he was barely alive, so it would take roughly half a day before he woke up.

"This is everyone, right?" After checking the headcount, Xu Tao asked to confirm. "Then, Zetian, if you please..."

Of course, leaving with all the top fighters meant leaving the settlement vulnerable. They couldn’t risk going out to grow stronger, only to return and find what they were protecting already destroyed.

As such, they needed to leave "guards" behind to help protect the people.

"As you wish, my Emperor." Zetian bowed, then waved her hand. "Come forth! My Astral Tower!"

The next moment, an Astral Tower rose from the ground. No—not rose, but manifested from thin air. As the tower appeared, purple-black portals opened up around it, and from them leapt a dozen or so Celestial Beasts.

Four-meter-tall giant wolves covered in obsidian skin and crackling with blue lightning—beasts that commanded both fear and awe from all who laid eyes on them.

"Woah!"

The people standing closest to where the beasts landed jumped in fright. Some even fell on their butts in surprise... but aside from a slight tingling against their skin, none were harmed.

"My faithful stars," Zetian spoke, her voice calm and commanding, "you are to protect this small kingdom from any malice, until my return."

GROWL!

Each of the celestial beasts—Star-Eater Hounds—had strength comparable to level 400s. With a dozen of them, it was more than enough to cover all sides of the remaining non-desert land, let alone just a small section of it.

The device controlling them, and allowing them to remain manifested, was the Astral Tower. And with True Qi constantly streaming from the Small World Tree, the tower wouldn’t lack energy—it should persist for a long time.

With that setup, they shouldn’t have any issues leaving for a while.

"Everyone, listen up."

Finally, under curious gazes, Xu Tao stepped forward and revealed their itinerary.

"Starting now, for six hours straight, we’ll be riding a special mode of transportation. While inside, you will experience a rise in strength—but please, don’t panic." He said. "We only have five minutes to board, so don’t dally!"

Honestly, Xu Tao himself wasn’t entirely sure what the Diamond Bus was. However, he was sure it was a vehicle, given that people could ride it.

He imagined something like a giant turtle that crushed everything in its path, or a colossal crane with unmatched strength. His imagination was running wild, and he felt genuine excitement as he brought out the ticket.

"Then, prepare to board." He clarified, raising his hand with the ticket. "We have five minutes before departure, so don’t dally!"

The ticket released a golden glow. At the same time, a golden portal appeared somewhere to their left.

VROOOM!

A loud engine roared, echoing across the field—before something emerged from the portal.

A bus.

A regular, fifty-seater bus painted in ocean dark-blue and ochre white. It wouldn’t have seemed out of place in a modern setting—but here, it stuck out like a sore thumb.

Its wide windshield and modern design were foreign enough to draw awe from everyone present. As it approached and slowly came to a full stop—brakes screeching under strain—everyone instinctively stepped back... everyone but Xu Tao, Wu Zetian, and Yifa.

PSHHH!

The door hissed before slowly folding open.

From inside, a single figure descended, stepping down the steps and standing beside the door, one hand carefully holding her white beret in place.

She wore a dress in the same dark blue as the bus. Long sleeves hid her wrists, the collar rose to conceal the base of her neck, and a short skirt flowed into shiny black stockings. She was the perfect image of a bus guide from head to toe.

Her pale red lips curled in an unchanging smile as she greeted them.

"Greetings, customers. I am the bus guide for this Diamond Bus Experience. Please call me Nadi." Her voice was soft and pleasant to the ears. "We have little time, so please get in. Further questions can be addressed once everyone is onboard."

She was polite, gentle, and professional. Yet Xu Tao felt an unease ripple through his Dao Heart. Trusting his instincts, he returned the greeting with matching politeness.

"Greetings, Sister Nadi. I’m Xu Tao, Great Elder of the Azure Dragon Sect. I look forward to your guidance." He cupped his fists and gave a light bow.

Yes—Xu Tao bowed his head!

"...!"

All the cultivators were shocked by the display, but quickly followed his example. Even Zetian bowed respectfully.

"Ah, please don’t trouble yourselves with such pleasantries." Nadi waved her hand, slightly embarrassed. "I’m just a humble bus guide—hardly someone worthy of bows from a cultivator who has reached the fabled Divine Heaven Immortal realm."

At present, Xu Tao’s cultivation should have appeared to be at the Golden Core stage. Yet this "mere" bus guide had seen through his true realm at a glance. His gut feeling was right—she wasn’t simple at all!

"...No, I simply had the fortune of a lucky encounter." Xu Tao insisted. "Someone like you, who’s one step away from that stage, is more worthy of respect, Sister Nadi."

The bus guide’s smile stiffened slightly before she composed herself and bowed in return.

"So you saw through my cultivation too... As expected of Elder Xu Tao," she said with genuine admiration. "Please forgive my earlier disrespect. I am Nadi of the Heaven’s Path Sect from the Upper World. It is an honor to finally meet the famous Elder."

"The pleasure’s all mine," Xu Tao replied.

The two maintained their bows for a few moments before finally raising their gazes—smiles now pasted across their faces.

"Well then, let’s board. Even I can’t control the five-minute boarding limit," she said with a touch of urgency.

"Yes. Then, please excuse us."

Xu Tao was the first to get on. Inside, he found dozens of seats arranged in pairs, stretching toward the back. Each was fitted with cushions in the same ocean-blue and ochre-white color scheme as the bus.

Touching the material, he felt a springy yet firm texture—heavenly to the touch. As he settled into his seat, Xu Tao felt as if he were sitting on clouds.

Following his lead, the rest entered one after another.

As if by silent agreement, everyone moved to seats far from Xu Tao.

The seat beside him was taken by Wu Zetian, who came in second. Yifa sat on the other side of the aisle, with the unconscious Achilles beside her. Jehanne took the seat directly behind Xu Tao, with Arthur pushed into the window seat beside her—a tactical move to prevent "chaos" among the girls.

Less than two minutes later, everyone was seated comfortably... perhaps too comfortably. Some even nodded off without realizing it.

"Everyone’s seated," Nadi said as the door closed behind her. "Then let us begin the Diamond Bus Experience Tour~!"

VROOOM!

As if her voice were a command, the bus began to move on its own—rolling forward...

Toward the desert, where danger awaited!