Chapter 467: The Death Boat

Chapter 467: The Death Boat

Tomorrow... Huh?

Jack had spent eight years cultivating. He’d reached the E-Grade in a month, the D-Grade in three, then the C-Grade in a year and a half. Since then, the other six and a half years had spent inside the C-Grade. It had been a tremendous amount of time—but it didn’t feel that long. Things had been slower.

Three years in the Green Dragon Realm, one in the Black Hole World, one and a half at the Black Hole Church, and finally one spent running around the Milky Way... Over all that time, he’d gotten used to being a C-Grade. The Dao Tree in his soul world felt intimate, while its every fruit was a sight he’d seen a thousand times.

Breaking into the B-Grade tomorrow—or, at least, attempting it—felt like a dream.

Tomorrow...

Jack didn’t know how he reached his room that night. All he knew was that, when he awoke, he was on a hard military bed in a high-tech room in a massive starship in a galaxy far far away. A tinted window showcased the starry cosmos outside, while the room itself was illuminated by fluorescent wires running through the ceiling. Besides the bed itself, a bathroom occupied part of the space, outfitted with a shower and a toilet.

Jack shook his head to clear it, then pulled away the covers. He quickly got dressed—an action which involved a mere putting on his pants and boots. It felt weird to dress like a barbarian in a starship, but who were they to judge? This was his war attire!

Today is the day I’m breaking through.

It still felt like a dream. He walked out of his room regardless, finding Brock leaned against a wall. “Morning, bro,” said the brorilla. “Slept well?”

“I think so.”

“Good. So I did.”

“Had any dreams?”

“Me, you, and Grandpa Dead eating bananarms.”

Jack laughed. “That’s a dream alright.”

Brock smiled. “Are you ready?”

“I was born ready.”

“Good. Let’s go.”

They followed the corridor, only to run into a beautiful D-Grade woman at the next corner. Her blond hair was long and thrown back, while her blue eyes exuded a feeling of professionalism. Light blue robes covered her shapely body, and her features were sharp in a resolved way. “Good morning,” she said. “My name is Literia, an assistant of Death Boat. I will be guiding you today. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“Uh... Likewise,” Jack responded. “Who’s Death Boat?”

“That’s the name of this starship, Sir. Coined by the great Elder Boatman himself.”

Jack remembered seeing the ship from afar—it had looked like a dark, ominous boat. He could picture Charon ferrying souls on it.

“Where are you guiding us?” he asked.

“Around,” she replied, then smiled. “I have been instructed to take you to your assigned breakthrough location, if that’s fine with you.”

“Oh.” Jack blinked. He wasn’t just breaking through today—he was doing it, like, now. “Sure.”

“Great!” She smiled again, lighting up the walls. “Follow me, please.”

Literia sailed down the corridor on her long legs, only halfway covered by her robes. Jack only had to glance at her once to suspect they’d sent their most beautiful assistant on purpose.

“Who exactly ordered you to guide us?” he asked as they followed.

“Envoy Min Ling,” Literia replied with reverence. “She’s an honorary manager of Death Boat. I presume you’re acquainted?”

“Hmm.” Jack narrowed his eyes. “A bit.”

He did not press the issue further. Brock chuckled silently. They followed Literia down a set of winding corridors, finally emerging on a wider one whose right side was covered entirely in glass. Behind it, Jack had a terrific view of one level of the Death Boat. He was stunned. There were tens of thousands of houses—just this level was like a small city.

She turned into a ray of cyan light that flew into the distance. Of course, to Jack and Brock, she was beyond slow. They would have offered to lead the way, but thankfully, they could see that their destination was near.

A large asteroid hung in the distance, so large it resembled a planet. Crowds of cultivators hovered around it, and looking back, Jack could also see a large window of the Death Boat overlooking this spot, crowded with the faces of thousands of people.

“Is this the breakthrough location?” he asked.

“Yes,” Literia replied, sounding a little embarrassed. “We know privacy is usually best, but in this case, we need a show to increase morale. We hope you can understand.”

“It’s fine either way,” Jack said. “But won’t morale drop if I fail my breakthrough?”

She looked at him like he’d made a joke. “If even your breakthrough fails, sir, then the rest of us might as well abandon cultivation and become farmers.”

“That ‘sir’ feels weird. Just call me Jack.”

She beamed. “Okay... Jack.” She said the name slowly, as if enjoying it. Jack couldn’t tell if she was a fangirl or an expert hostess. Her voice turned warmer. “In any case, Jack, there is no need to worry. I’m sure you’ll do just fine. Both of you. We aren’t just waiting to see if you succeed, but to how many miles you can grow your inner world!”

“Thanks. That’s— Wait. Both of us?”

“Yes?” she replied. “The two of you are breaking through, correct?”

Jack looked at Brock, who winked. “We’re bros,” he said. “We walk together.”

“I guess we do.” Jack laughed. “There is one else I would rather share my breakthrough, bro.”

“I know.”

“This is as far as I can go,” Literia said as they approached the asteroid. “I wish you luck, Jack...and Brock.” She’d used the brorilla’s name as well—he smiled and winked at her.

“Thanks, Pretty Bro. We’re bringing it home.”

Literia didn’t recognize the phrase, while Jack wondered where Brock had picked it up. Earth, probably. Gan Salin?

The girl flew to the side, joining the crowd which was staring at them by now. Jack saw many familiar faces—Sovereign Heavenly Spoon, the Sage, Min Ling... Even Elder Heavenstar was present, sitting on a starry throne at the very front of the crowd, his scholarly aura putting everyone at ease. He smiled politely at Jack and Brock.

“Show us the power of your generation,” he told them telepathically, to which both smiled.

“Thank you, Elder.”

They flew towards the nearby asteroid. Elder Boatman hovered alone right over it. An aura of death surrounded him, not menacingly, but like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“I have taken very few disciples in my life,” he said as they approached. Though it felt like a whisper, his voice somehow spread across space, even reaching the Death Boat. “I believe in the two of you. Your potential is great. Do not disappoint me.”

Short and to the point. Classic Elder Boatman. Yet, though he sounded strict, Jack could hear the love behind those words. Elder Boatman was maintaining absolute vigilance, ensuring that nobody would arrive to disturb them, and he also used his Dao to keep the asteroid below them completely still. This last job could have been delegated to a B-Grade, but he chose to do it personally. That showed he cared.

“Thank you, Master,” both said as one. “We will make you proud.”

Boatman nodded. “Then, you may begin when you are ready.”

He flew away, coming to float beside Elder Heavenstar. The two of them were the only ones sitting—one had a throne seemingly made of stars, while the other of dark bone. Everyone else was standing.

Nobody was within a hundred miles of the asteroid’s surface. Jack and Brock exchanged a glance. They clasped hands. “Good luck, bro,” said Brock.

“You too,” Jack replied with barely contained excitement. “Let’s become strong.”

Brock flew away, circling the asteroid to land at the exact opposite side. The breakthrough to the B-Grade was a very delicate process—even soul companions like them couldn’t be too close to each other.

Jack stood alone, on an asteroid in space, overlooked by A-Grades, in a galaxy far from home. The pressure was one he was used to—and it was made easier by the fact that his bro was undergoing the same thing on the other side of the asteroid.

He sat down and closed his eyes. It was time to reach the B-Grade.