·pmShareChapter 74: Those Who Break the Oath — Brothers, Let Us Strike Together!
Babata shrank back into the storage space, afraid that if it lingered any longer, it would lose its composure and be laughed at by Jiang Zhe and that "wicked woman."
Boss... sob sob...
Boss, I'm not greedy. Having Luo Feng as your disciple is enough for me. Sob sob...
As the domain energy faded, Luo Feng and Thunder God were still shaken to their core. Their throats felt dry, and they gulped nervously.
In the face of a domain of the same type, Thunder God realized just how weak he was. Moments ago, he couldn't even summon his own domain.
Luo Feng, on the other hand, only understood the first part.
He had seen Hong's light domain before, but it was clear that compared to this thunder domain, it was like heaven and earth.
"Thunder God, don't take this the wrong way, but if you can't reach the fifth level of domain by 2065, you might as well prepare for an early exit."
Thunder God, usually cheerful and carefree, now wore a bitter smile.
"Sigh! I'm not even at the star level yet... Five years? If I don't reach the star level, I won't even qualify for that big opportunity."
Jiang Zhe shook his head.
"Energy accumulation has never been the problem. Thunder God, if you want, I can push you straight to Star Level 9 within a year. But without the corresponding insights, your combat power would still be pathetic. What's the point?"
Thunder God's expression turned even more troubled.
Meanwhile, Luo Feng was communicating with Babata, asking about what his senior brother meant by "laws," and receiving a crash course.
Domain? Lower laws? Domain Lord?
Higher laws? Sector Lord?
Learning about the "rules of the universe," Luo Feng fell silent.
It was only now that he realized the vast gap between himself and Jiang Zhe.
So... a person's potential ceiling could be this high?
Babata, I want to be like Senior Brother Jiang Zhe. Help me. I want to become stronger!
Babata: (◎_◎;)
The ship arrived at Hongning Base City to pick up Hong.
Now, Earth's "one super and three giants" set out together for the universe.
When Hong heard what they had discussed earlier, he too fell into silence.
This somber atmosphere gave Jiang Zhe the perfect chance to bring up another matter.
"Anna, show them the live footage from when I was selecting slaves on Qiu Long Planet."
"And find a classic documentary on 'interstellar slave trade' to play for them."
"Also, send them information on previous Genius Battles."
"Finally, look up that bounty posted a few days ago on Heilongshan Island for the [Milky Way—Void Starfield Ancient Star Map] and show it to them."
About 30 hours passed in flight.
Jiang Zhe calmly pondered the key points of cultivating the Clone Secret Technique.
But for Luo Feng and the others, this journey was tormenting. They had just survived the ordeal of the Golden-Horned Beast, and now, within mere years, they faced threats from slave traders.
Even Babata fell quiet, beginning to suspect that Earth might not be a safe place, and tried urging Luo Feng to pack up his family and flee.
"Babata, enough!"
"I didn't back down when facing the Golden-Horned Beast. I won't back down against slave traders either! I won't abandon my homeland, and I trust Senior Brother Jiang Zhe to help us deal with these threats!"
After firmly rejecting that notion in his heart, Luo Feng looked up at his senior brother seated across from him.
The handsome young man sat there, legs crossed, swirling the crimson liquid in his glass with calm confidence.
It was as if everything was within his grasp — giving off an indescribable sense of reassurance.
"Senior Brother, you can protect Earth, right? I'll help you. Hong, Thunder God — we'll all help you. We won't let slave traders trample our home!"
Hong and Thunder God quickly echoed this sentiment, their resolve to protect Earth unmistakable.
"Mere slave traders, even with a Universe-level backer, are hardly worth my attention," Jiang Zhe said calmly.
"What worries me is something else."
Then he turned to Orianna.
"Anna, where are we now?"
"Master, we've exited the Milky Way and are approximately 110,000 light-years from Earth."
"Good. Maintain superluminal speed. Now set up a temporary virtual space. Bring us and Kaiming Beast inside for a discussion."
In just a dozen breaths, Orianna completed the task, pulling their consciousnesses into a virtual space.
It manifested as the same temple on the island in the lake, with statues of Master Nan Hua seated on the main throne, and Ancestor Chen Tuan on a lower seat.
The three looked on as Jiang Zhe entered the hall to light incense, exchanging puzzled glances, and wanted to do the same, but Orianna stopped them.
As her master put it: "There's no karmic tie for you. Why join in the ritual?"
For Jiang Zhe... whether it was his Path of Heart cultivation or the sudden appearance of the "Hibernating Dragon Method" later, his allegiances were already clear.
He can traverse books. Who knows what those great beings...
After finishing his incense ritual, Jiang Zhe returned to the courtyard and took a seat at the stone table.
"Bring out Babata. Today, it can listen in, but its memories must be sealed to ensure nothing leaks."
"As you wish, Master." Orianna moved at once.
Luo Feng's lips twitched as if to plead on Babata's behalf, but facing Jiang Zhe's serious expression, he swallowed the words. Seeing that Babata was quickly restrained without being harmed, he let out a sigh of relief.
"Kaiming Beast."
With Jiang Zhe's call, a creature appeared — tiger-like, with nine heads and human faces.
"Explain to them the origins of Earth's lineage."
After Kaiming Beast shared what it knew, Jiang Zhe kicked it out of the virtual space, then supplemented with some half-truths and half-fabrications.
With Babata corroborating, the three came to understand Earth's unique significance.
Luo Feng couldn't help recalling Babata's earlier suggestion to move their families away.
He quickly shook off that terrible idea.
For Xu Xin and the child in her belly, for the Luo family's descendants for generations to come...
Earth cannot be lost. It must belong to Earth's people!
The three of them looked up, meeting each other's eyes, each seeing unwavering determination to defend their planet.
At that moment, Jiang Zhe extended his hand, palm up, hovering above the stone table.
"My friends, let this be our mutual vow: Earth can only belong to Earth's people!"
"Unless we face absolute life-and-death crisis, if anyone dares reveal the unique nature of our souls for short-term gain during some test or trial, we brothers shall strike them down together!"
"But don't be rigid — if it truly comes to mortal danger, prioritize your own survival. As long as we live, we have a chance to reclaim Earth."
"Do you agree?"
Snap! Snap! Snap!
Four hands stacked together.
"Let us strive together. Should any break this oath, we brothers will rise against them!" ×4
Having a shared secret drew them closer than ever.
They then spoke of Ink Star.
At Luo Feng's request, Babata agreed to accept Hong and Thunder God as registered disciples of Ink Star.
Having heard such profound secrets, Babata no longer dared underestimate Earthlings. Knowing Luo Feng's soul was also extraordinary, it started to dream of cultivating him into a second Jiang Zhe.
What an accomplishment that would be!
Because Luo Feng was concerned about his family, Jiang Zhe didn't take the three to register for interstellar citizenship just yet.
That process was cumbersome, involving traveling to various places and having Orianna forge different identities.
Luo Feng would get a fairly normal identity.
Hong and Thunder God would be registered as native slaves from a primitive planet — purchased for their exceptional potential and granted Ink Star's registered disciple status.
Hong and Thunder God busied themselves studying Ink Star's warrior techniques, while Jiang Zhe brought Luo Feng into the bracelet world.
Babata suddenly popped up. Seeing the mechanical factories operating around them, it froze for a moment, then recognized where this world came from.
"It's that mechanical race immortal's world storage device... You cleared the remaining life imprint on it while only at the star level? How did you do it?"
"Babata, what are you doing?" Luo Feng frowned and apologized at once.
"Sorry, Senior Brother, Babata—"
Jiang Zhe raised his hand, stopping Luo Feng's apology.
"It's fine. I simply have stronger heart cultivation and developed special abilities. You'll have them too in time."
"Really? I'll take that blessing, Senior Brother." Luo Feng's eyes shone with anticipation.
It wasn't just kind words.
If you keep following the path of the heart, your willpower will be honed. Even the City Lord of Chaos would praise you.
It's like being a Saiyan of consciousness and willpower, exploding under mortal threat.
Unlike me, who still has to train the "Hibernating Dragon Method" and accumulate bit by bit in dreams, waiting for that breakthrough.
But we both have bright futures.
"Master, in half a minute it'll fly over. Get ready." Orianna's voice broke through Jiang Zhe's thoughts via their mental link.
Jiang Zhe waved his hand, dropping a giant egg from his storage ring onto the metal floor of the factory.
"Luo Feng, guess what this is?"
The enormous oval egg stood twelve meters high. A heavy aura radiated from it, making Luo Feng intensely curious.
Babata began shrieking in Luo Feng's mind, giving him the answer.
"A starry sky behemoth? Luo Feng, that's a starry sky behemoth's egg!"
"It's of the earth element. With that size, it's definitely not a mere Gen; it's probably a Qiuhe Behemoth — one of the twelve peak bloodlines!"
"But... it seems lifeless?"
"It's a dead egg. What a waste!"
Luo Feng turned to Jiang Zhe, confused by what his senior brother meant.
"Luo Feng, I'm showing you this so you understand starry sky behemoths better."
"Now look over there."
Following Jiang Zhe's finger, a small black dot grew larger.
When Luo Feng saw it clearly — a lion-like creature with wings, about 200 meters long —
that familiar, hateful shape was unmistakable.
Wasn't that the Golden-Horned Beast that got its head blown off just the other night?
How could it possibly still be alive?
The creature hovered above, circling them, letting out a roar full of submissive intent. Its wings stirred up fierce winds that swept across the ground.
"Senior Brother, what is this?"
"Luo Feng, it's a beast controlled by an illusionist," Babata explained.
"Babata, I know, but... its head exploded that night."
Babata fell silent, unable to answer.
"Luo Feng, you want to know why it's not dead?"
Luo Feng nodded.
"Ask Babata about a Domain Lord's life traits."
"The Golden-Horned Beast developed those traits early. If I and the slave guards hadn't stepped in, even with advanced weapons, unless you struck its vital point, Earth's people couldn't have killed it."
Babata had already informed him about life cores. Luo Feng couldn't help breaking into a cold sweat thinking back to that battle.
Thank heavens for Senior Brother Jiang Zhe's wisdom.
"Luo Feng, from today on, you are the third-generation master of Ink Star. This Golden-Horned Beast is my gift to Ink Star."
"The task of avenging Teacher Huyanbo now falls on your shoulders. If you can't do it, and I'm still alive, I'll honor my agreement with Babata and take revenge myself."
"Babata, shall we amend our agreement to that?"
Tomorrow the extra chapters will resume!
The MC won't follow them to Thunder World — he'll go nurture his clone instead, then it's the Genius Battle.
Next up, a bit about Silver-Clad Soul's side.
The Genius Battle will only last two or three chapters, then we enter Chaos City.
---
A/N: Want to read more chapters in advance?
Check out my P@treon at "DigitalToons" for early access and exclusive content! 💥📚
You can read 100+ chapters there in advance.
And free members can read 2 chapters ahead of WN.