Shang Xia’s words made the hearts of everyone on the bridge sink a little heavier. As silence settled within the bridge, the noise outside became increasingly chaotic. Since Tian Mengzi had not taken the initiative to act, the oncoming Asteroid Sea that the Spirit Ark now faced could only be dealt with by the more than twenty elite cultivators from the academy. Amidst a series of deafening blasts, one after another, large and small chunks of rock that hurtled toward the ark were shattered. The smaller ones broke apart in a single strike, but the larger ones were much harder to destroy. Even after being smashed into pieces, the fragments still carried immense force and destructive power. If they struck the hull, they would inevitably cause some degree of damage. For that reason, the fragments had to be shattered further into smaller pieces. Yet even the smallest fragments, scouring ceaselessly through the void at high speed, would sooner or later cause damage to the Spirit Ark. Once the elite cultivators realized their predicament, they began deliberately sweeping the fragments aside, sending them drifting away in different directions. But doing so consumed even more of their inner qi. It wouldn’t take long before they were exhausted. Thus, they quickly adjusted their strategy. While shattering the falling asteroids, they simultaneously altered the fragments’ flight paths so they would veer away from the ark. However, that only marginally reduced the consumption of their inner qi, while each strike also placed extra strain on their perception as they calculated the precise timing and angles. Soon, they adjusted their methods again. They no longer aimed to smash meteors apart at all costs, but instead tried to extend their divine souls to greater distances, nudging and diverting meteors with minimal inner qi expenditure so they skimmed past the ark from different directions. As time went on, their consumption with each maneuver became less, their calculations of the trajectories became faster, and the timing of their strikes became more accurate. Gradually, they were even able to predict in advance the degree of threat, speed, and destructive power of incoming asteroids, thus making their use of divine soul more refined and their control over their inner qi more intricate. Meanwhile, the Spirit Ark went from occasionally being struck by small fragments at the beginning, to only a few pebbles rattling against the hull, and finally to the point where not even those impacts could be heard. By then, the Spirit Ark sailed through the void without danger. Every threat was intercepted and diverted far away before they could draw near. It was only then that Tian Mengzi, who had sat on the deck all along without ever once acting, finally nodded in satisfaction. He waved toward the bridge, and a layer of protection barrier rose, enveloping the Spirit Ark. The elite cultivators who had been intercepting asteroids for so long immediately relaxed. Many collapsed onto the ground, drained of energy, panting raggedly like survivors of a great calamity. The sight made Tian Mengzi’s expression harden, and he snapped coldly, "Stand up! Do you think the danger has passed? In the void, you can never afford to lower your guard. No one can guarantee whether there are other hidden threats lurking, ready to erupt at any moment!" He strode across the deck with his hands behind his back, kicking at the cultivators around him to jolt them to their feet. "As long as you can still breathe, move! Do anything within your power. Those whose inner qi is not yet drained, continue to alter the trajectories of the larger asteroids to reduce the pressure on the protective formation. During a deep-space voyage, every effort must be made to conserve resources!" Official source ıs 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⁂𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱 "For those whose inner qi is greatly depleted but can still move, immediately check the outer hull for any damage. Do not overlook even the smallest flaw. Pay special attention to the formation runes, if they appear even slightly dim, they must be repaired at once to prevent hidden dangers!" "The rest of you, use this time to circulate your inner qi and recover! Restore your combat strength as quickly as possible. No one knows when danger or accidents may strike! Besides, this state of depletion is the best opportunity to improve your cultivation. To waste it would be such a pity!" Under Tian Mengzi’s constant commands and urging, the exhausted cultivators once again rose and carried out their tasks, each according to their condition. The scene repeated itself many times afterward, until all had grown accustomed to it. Their actions became second nature to them. Finally, the Spirit Ark sailed out of the Asteroid Sea. By then, though their cultivation levels had not visibly advanced, each of the 20 or so elite cultivators radiated a sharper aura, their bearing hardened and honed. But just after the Spirit Ark broke free of the Asteroid Sea, the void quivered from several directions. A streaking firebolt, an enormous crossbow bolt, and a massive ice spear tore through the void. All of them were aimed directly at the ark’s prow, its bridge, and the left flank. "Enemy attack!" An Astrologer from the Stargazing Hall yelled the warning at once. That was the moment when their training in the Asteroid Sea bore fruit. Though the ambush had been sudden and timed with extreme cunning, striking just as the Spirit Ark cleared the Asteroid Sea, when vigilance might falter, the cultivators of the Tongyou Institution responded instantly. The cultivators of the institution sprinted across the Spirit Ark. What looked like chaos was in fact disciplined order. Everyone had their role. The Spirit Ark’s protection formation activated at once, and it was quickly reinforced. 14 of them formed two joint battle formations on the deck. One battle formation conjured a small spatial vortex outside the protection barrier, swallowing the incoming firebolt and annihilating it in a violent collapse. The resulting void turbulence only stirred faint ripples across the barrier. The second battle formation of seven combined their power into a blazing pillar of light that smashed into the giant ice spear. Ice and fire collided in a cataclysmic explosion that tore the void apart, but the aftermath did not touch the Spirit Ark’s barrier. Only a few shards of ice struck harmlessly against it. Even though they dealt with the firebolt and ice spear, the giant crossbow bolt arrived. But in truth, the Spirit Ark had already shifted course. Guided by several cultivators working together, it veered in time so the bridge was no longer in the bolt’s path. Even so, the power it contained shredded the void around it as it flew straight into the protection barrier. Just as it was about to strike, the bolt failed to tear through the shield. Those on board opened a hole in the barrier right before impact. The passage led directly through to the opposite side, aligned perfectly with the bolt’s path. As it roared past above the deck, the power it contained was confined within the channel they opened and carried straight through. The Spirit Ark itself remained unharmed. Exiting the other side of the shield, the bolt plunged into the depths of the Asteroid Sea, tearing through more than ten massive asteroids along its path. The voice of the Astrologer who yelled the warning earlier came again. "Three medium Star Ships are approaching! At least one True Immortal is on board and they should be part of a small raiding squad!”