Chapter 55: Humanoid Airplane
After advancing to the Third Grade Middle Stage, Xia Wuyang’s base speed reached one hundred kilometers per hour.
He cultivated the Top Level Dragon and Phoenix Body Technique, which could increase his speed by up to threefold. Moreover, he had personally improved this technique, making it practically tailor-made for him.
Therefore, in his hands, the Dragon and Phoenix Body Technique could unleash one hundred and twenty percent of its power, boosting his speed by a factor of about three point six.
As for the Top Level Cyan Cloud Boots, since he had not crafted them and they were not tailor-made for him, they could at most exert their full power, increasing his speed by about threefold.
Three point six multiplied by three equals ten point eight. Multiply that by one hundred kilometers per hour, and the result is one thousand and eighty kilometers per hour.
One thousand and eighty kilometers per hour!
This was the theoretical top speed Xia Wuyang could currently achieve, and it was also the fastest speed an Upper Third Grade Martial Artist could possess—over one thousand kilometers per hour.
In his past life, commercial airliners generally flew at speeds between eight hundred and one thousand kilometers per hour. Xia Wuyang’s current speed had already surpassed that of a typical commercial airliner from his previous life.
Although he couldn’t maintain it for long, one could only imagine the power it could unleash if used at a critical moment.
The same was true for his speed and Power. While his other attributes like Defense and his five senses didn’t see quite as large an increase, they were not far behind.
A Top Level Cultivation Technique, Top Level Combat Techniques and Secret Techniques, and top-level weapons... only by combining all these could such a killing machine be forged.
One could only imagine how terrifying this would be in combat. This was precisely why Third Grade Martial Artists were qualified to be enfeoffed as marquises and appointed as generals.
After the breakthrough, the connection between his five zang and six fu organs grew even tighter, and he could command the circulation of his Qi Blood as effortlessly as moving his own limbs.
The Six Viscera Divine Techniques, which he previously had to activate deliberately, had now become almost instinctual, operating more smoothly and freely than ever.
The Courageous Golden Essence constantly guarded his Heart Spirit, making him fearless against any Illusion Technique or bewitchment.
His enhanced digestive system allowed him to absorb food and Elixirs much faster. His poison-immune constitution gave him an extra layer of security at all times. His superior stamina gave him an advantage in all sorts of combat, especially in battles of attrition.
His unblocked Three Jiao made his Cultivation Speed faster and more potent. Combined with his one-in-ten-thousand Talent and Qualification, one could only imagine the results.
A glint flashed in his eyes as Xia Wuyang slowly threw a punch. He used no Combat Techniques—it was just a simple punch.
WHOOSH...
As the fist passed, the air let out a sharp crack. It stirred the air in the Practice Room, forming an invisible vortex that swirled around Xia Wuyang.
Xia Wuyang nodded in satisfaction. With a shift of his feet, his body moved like a dragon, weaving through the Practice Room. He flickered in and out of sight, his figure nearly impossible to track.
His Talent and Qualification had surged by a whole Grand Realm, and his Cultivation Realm had also risen significantly. It was safe to say that Xia Wuyang had gained a great deal tonight, laying a much more solid foundation for his future Cultivation.
"Not bad!"
He smiled faintly. There was a new sense of ease in his stride and a new sharpness in his gaze.
Seeing that dawn was approaching, Xia Wuyang spent a few more moments consolidating his progress before returning to the Sleeping Palace outside. He once again lay amidst soft pleasures, as if he had just wasted another night in debauchery. By day, the music and dancing would continue, as he recklessly squandered his vitality, looking as if he could drop dead in a beauty’s arms at any moment.
Inside and outside the Imperial Palace, the Princes, Princesses, and ministers of the Imperial Court were all jostling for position, waiting for him, the elder Crown Prince, to die so they could snatch that supremely honored position.
In Wenhua Hall, the soft songs and graceful dances continued. No one knew that this very elder Crown Prince, who was seemingly decaying day by day in Wenhua Hall, was already an expert of the Upper Three Grades, with Talent and Qualification no inferior to that of most of the other Princes and Princesses.
"Spirit +1!"
"Spirit +1!"
...
The days passed, one by one. With each passing day, Xia Wuyang’s Spiritual Power increased by a point, and his overall strength grew by a fraction, which in turn spurred improvements in his other aspects as well.
The more time he bought, the stronger Xia Wuyang became. Whether inside or outside the Imperial Palace, there was not a single Martial Artist whose Cultivation Speed could match his.
Meanwhile, in the Gold and Silver Palace not far away, a commotion finally erupted.
"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"
"The Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit is gone! The Practice Room has been emptied! And you’re only just now discovering this? You’re all a bunch of worthless gluttons!"
"What use do I have for any of you? Get out!"
...
The Fifth Prince, Xia Wushang, was seething with uncontrollable rage. He sent the old eunuch before him flying with a single palm strike, and the man lay motionless where he landed.
His eyes were bloodshot and his chest heaved violently. The surrounding attendants, Palace Maids, and eunuchs were so terrified they prostrated themselves on the ground, trembling uncontrollably, afraid they would suffer the same fate as the old eunuch.
"A thief stole the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit and plundered the entire Practice Room right under your noses, and you only just found out? How outrageous!"
Xia Wushang’s voice was hoarse, each word squeezed through his teeth. The Second Grade Grandmaster behind him also wore a grim expression; after all, he was among those being berated.
’As the strongest expert in the Gold and Silver Palace, to have the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit stolen by a thief right under his nose, and even have the Practice Room emptied—it was a complete and utter humiliation.’
If the intruder could empty the Practice Room today, then tomorrow they could potentially take Xia Wushang’s head.
At this moment, Xia Wushang felt not only rage, but also fear.
"Investigate! I want this matter thoroughly investigated!"
Xia Wushang spun around abruptly, his robes stirring up a strong gust of wind. "Even if you have to turn White Jade City upside down, you will drag that thief out!"
Following this command, a large number of Guards from the Gold and Silver Palace poured out. The forces loyal to Xia Wushang’s mother, an imperial concubine, also began searching all over White Jade City.
The search was extremely aggressive, showing no regard for the palace’s rules or decorum. They not only questioned the Palace Attendants of various palaces but didn’t even spare some of the less-favored concubines, causing widespread complaints and resentment.
"Has the Fifth Prince gone mad? To cause such a huge disturbance, he’s even searching the palaces of some of the concubines. Those are His Majesty’s women—his own aunts!"
"I heard he lost a Special Miracle Treasure, the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit. It can Purify the Marrow and enhance one’s Talent and Qualification. That’s why the Fifth Prince is acting so crazy."
"Oh, so it was the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit. No wonder the Fifth Prince is reacting like this. That explains it. Even for His Majesty, a Special Miracle Treasure is something you can only stumble upon by chance, not seek out."
...
The news spread like wildfire throughout the Imperial Palace. Upon learning that the stolen item was the Special Miracle Treasure, the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, most of the Princes and Princesses gloated over his misfortune. Even many of the concubines who had been searched forgave Xia Wushang’s transgression.
A Special Miracle Treasure was incredibly precious; it was no exaggeration to call it priceless. Xia Wushang’s frantic behavior was entirely understandable. However, the man also knew how to bully the weak and fear the strong. He only dared to search the residences of the unfavored concubines, not touching a single one of the favored ones.
Still, a son searching his aunts’ residences was not a good look, no matter how one spun it.