The interior control panel was complex and dizzying, with all kinds of crystal balls, rune arrays, and elemental regulators available.
"This is a high-speed vehicle designed based on the skeletal structure of an ancient dragon."
Orlando proudly introduced,
"The maximum flight speed can reach ten times the speed of sound and remains stable in any harsh environment."
"However..."
He glanced at Ron, adding with a hint of concern,
"The control difficulty is quite high, requiring precise magic power control and extensive flight experience."
Ron carefully observed the two vehicles, secretly making comparisons in his mind.
Sheena’s flying leaf boat might look gentle and harmless, but its completely biological structure meant that the life and death of the rider were entirely in the hands of the vehicle’s "master."
If Sheena wanted to restrict his actions, just a thought would turn the flying leaf boat into a living cage.
In contrast, while the Wings of Sandstorm had complex controls, its mechanical structure at least provided him with the possibility of proactive control.
Moreover, Salamanda specifically chose this vehicle, evidently considering its high-speed maneuverability — essential for escaping if necessary.
"Then, let’s set off."
Sheena boarded the flying leaf boat, and the vine seat immediately adjusted to fit her body shape best.
The entire leaf began to flap gently, silently lifting into the sky.
Ron was not to be outdone, skillfully entering the cockpit of the Wings of Sandstorm.
Although it was his first time encountering this kind of vehicle.
But the extraordinary computing power of the "Wisdom Triangle" allowed him to quickly understand the functions and usage methods of various control devices.
The mechanical wings began to flap forcefully, accompanied by a deep rumbling sound, as the Wings of Sandstorm shot into the sky.
The two vehicles converged in the air, starting their flight toward the Vitality Spring area in the northwest.
......
After leaving the protective range of the Sand Sea School, the harsh environment of the Quicksand Lands immediately revealed its menacing visage.
The first encounter was with a "gravity inversion zone."
In this strange space, the direction of gravity was completely inverted, and all objects would be "attracted" upwards.
The sky became an unfathomable abyss, while the earth seemed like a gigantic stone suspended overhead, threatening to fall at any moment.
In such an environment, Sheena’s flying leaf boat moved as effortlessly as a fish in water.
As a living vehicle, it could instinctively perceive changes in the gravitational field and automatically adjust its flying posture.
The giant leaves gently flipped, always maintaining an elegant gliding state.
But Ron’s Wings of Sandstorm was not so fortunate.
The mechanical vehicle, though sturdy, lacked biological intuition.
At the instant gravity inverted, the entire vehicle began to spin out of control.
Inside the cockpit, alarms blared incessantly, various indicator lights flashing crazily.
"Stability system failure! Please manually adjust the gravity compensator!"
The mechanical voice of the vehicle sounded especially jarring amidst the noisy alarms.
But Ron did not panic.
With the help of "Hermit’s Knowledge," he could clearly perceive the change patterns of the gravitational field;
"Eye of Observation" helped him predict the timing and intensity of the next change.
His hands moved swiftly over the complex control panel, adjusting the gravity compensator while finely tuning the engine output.
The flapping frequency of the mechanical wings began to synchronize with the fluctuations of the gravitational field, and the entire vehicle regained stability.
Sheena observed Ron’s operation through the communication crystal, a flash of surprise in her eyes.
"Lecturer Ralph, you truly are multi-talented; is this your first time controlling such a vehicle?"
Her voice remained gentle, but the tone carried an inquisitive hint.
"Yes, but the principles are similar, and I’ve received some training under Great Wizard Weinard, so I’m fairly proficient with these mechanical controls."
Ron replied modestly while once again subtly raising a tiger skin banner.
"Great Wizard Weinard... hmm, I see." Sheena chuckled lightly, responding noncommittally.
After passing through the gravity inversion zone, a massive elemental storm wall loomed ahead.
This storm wall was thousands of meters high, with an endless width.
It mixed violent energy of fire, water, wind, and earth elements, forming a magnificent yet deadly natural barrier.
Inside the storm, lightning of various colors flashed continuously, each bolt capable of tearing ordinary vehicles to shreds.
As Sheena’s flying leaf boat approached the storm wall, its surface began to secrete a transparent mucus.
This mucus rapidly solidified, forming a protective film on the outside of the leaf boat.
"This is the result of years of my research."
Sheena’s voice came through the communication crystal, carrying a hint of pride:
"This protective film can neutralize most elemental impacts, allowing us to pass through the storm safely."
However, her flight speed suddenly increased nearly twofold, evidently testing Ron’s ability to follow.
For an ordinary Moonlight Level Mage, maintaining such speed in such a complex environment would consume a great deal of magic power and spiritual power.
But Ron chose not to compete on endurance.
He carefully observed the internal structure of the storm, using the "Wisdom Triangle’s" computing power to find relatively calm airflow channels within the storm.
The Wings of Sandstorm navigated through the storm like a nimble swift, always choosing the path that required the least effort.
Though it seemed incredibly risky, the actual magic power consumption was much lower than flying straight through.
What surprised Sheena more was that Ron not only kept up with her speed but even had the energy to engage in academic discussions with her through the communication crystal:
"Elder Sheena, the generation mechanism of this protective film is interesting; what principle is it based on?"
"How did you discover those airflow channels? I observed for so many years but never noticed such a pattern within the storm."
Although Sheena’s tone remained gentle, her internal assessment had once again elevated.
This young man’s precision in magic power control and combat intuition far exceeded the typical scope of a Moonlight Level Mage.
Her assessment of Ron’s "research value" was upgraded from "interesting sample" to "extremely precious specimen."
......
After nearly two hours of arduous flight, the Vitality Spring area finally appeared on the horizon.
In stark contrast to the barren scene of the sand swirling outside, here lay a lush oasis.
But as the vehicles landed and Ron stepped onto this land, he immediately felt an indescribable eeriness.
Though the plants here were indeed vibrant, they bore obvious signs of artificial modification.
Huge ferns, with eye-like patterns growing on their leaves, would rotate with the observer’s movements;
Towering ancient trees had human face-like patterns on their trunks, occasionally letting out faint sighs;
The ground was covered in meaty vines, whose touch felt like stepping on warm skin, even transmitting a faint pulse.
"Welcome to the Vitality Spring, Lecturer Ralph."
Sheena gracefully disembarked from the flying leaf boat, opening her arms in a gesture of embracing the sky:
"This is the fruit of my thirty years of effort; every plant, every inch of land, carries the miracle of life."
Her tone was filled with maternal affection, as if introducing her beloved children.