Mist Island

Ancient Civilization Ruins No. 9, underground base.

This base had been jointly built by Earth's various powers. The five major nations, the two martial arts schools, and the HR Alliance were all qualified to send people into Ancient Civilization Ruins No. 9. Its members also came from different factions.

The moment Gu Ce arrived, he saw a figure whose entire body was grimy black, whose face was covered in beard, and whose clothes were filthy.

"Luo Feng!"

Gu Ce called out with a smile.

"Gu Ce!"

Luo Feng was so excited that he almost wanted to pounce on Gu Ce.

Then beat him up viciously.

He had been tricked into Ancient Civilization Ruins No. 9 and had spent more than a whole year there!

In order to complete the Bald Crystal Man's mission and see his family sooner, he had trained almost nonstop every day, with no time to rest at all!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

"Don't rush. Go take a shower first."

Gu Ce instructed the staff beside him to find Luo Feng somewhere to bathe.

By now, no one on Earth failed to recognize Gu Ce, just as everyone had once known Hong and Thor.

The staff quickly complied. Luo Feng did not object either; he knew his current appearance was indeed terrible.

After Luo Feng changed into clean clothes, the two met again.

"So, how were the gains?" Gu Ce asked with a smile.

"I carried out a Death Mission and got some rewards. Well, they're all for Spirit Readers." Luo Feng sounded helpless.

The Bald Crystal Man clearly did not want anyone else to know about Yinmo Star, so he could not speak carelessly.

"Wait, you're Stellar Level?" Luo Feng suddenly froze and looked at Gu Ce.

Hadn't the Bald Crystal Man said that the strongest people on Earth were only Planetary Level? Why had a Stellar Level suddenly appeared? And someone he knew, at that?

Gu Ce merely smiled without answering.

With the technology Yinmo Star had left behind, Rimuru only needed to make a slight move to block its source of information.

Coincidentally, the day before Luo Feng came out, Gu Ce had broken through to Stellar Level. He had not yet had time to purchase a more advanced Nutrient Pod.

Now that Luo Feng was out, Gu Ce also planned to venture into the universe to temper himself and try a Life-and-Death Adventure.

Before Gu Ce stepped into Stellar Level, Rimuru had already found him a place to train.

It was a Cosmic Secret Realm open to Stellar Level cultivators, controlled by Universe First Bank. Tickets could be purchased to enter. The training there was more effective than in ordinary World Lord worlds, and the resources within held some value as well.

"Come on. I'll take you home first. Your little girlfriend has been waiting for you. Then we can talk about cultivation." Gu Ce directly grabbed Luo Feng and flew toward his home.

At that moment, the others in the base also came to their senses and began sending messages to their respective factions.

Hong and Thor soon learned of the matter as well. They had already wanted to ask Gu Ce how to advance to Stellar Level, so now they could simply head straight to the Luo Family.

Jiangnan Base City, Yangzhou City, Luo Family residence.

"Brother?"

Seeing Luo Feng, Luo Hua cried out in surprise.

"Xiao Hua? Wait, you can stand up now?" Luo Feng asked in astonishment.

"It was Brother Ce." Luo Hua said, "You were gone for over a year. During the New Year, Brother Ce gave me and our parents each a Spirit of Plants and Trees. Not only can I stand now, I'm even a General Level martial artist!"

(I couldn't find Luo Hua's established age, so I set him as two years younger than Luo Feng and slightly younger than Gu Ce. It won't affect much.)

After saying that, Luo Hua flexed his muscles at Luo Feng.

Luo Feng's emotions surged. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly heard someone calling his name.

"Luo Feng!" A sweet female voice rang out.

Luo Feng froze in place, then slowly turned around and saw the woman he had longed for day and night.

"Xu Xin?" Luo Feng could hardly believe it.

"Go on." Gu Ce gave Luo Feng a push, then watched the show from behind with Luo Hua.

"There are quite a few people here." Thor and Hong had arrived as well, and both witnessed the scene.

"Luo Feng?" Hong was somewhat surprised.

"Mm." Gu Ce nodded. "Didn't I tell you there was another inheritance ruin on Earth that had yet to be discovered? That ruin required a Spirit Reader to inherit its legacy. He's the most gifted Spirit Reader on Earth that I found."

"His talent is indeed good." Hong nodded in agreement.

"How nice." Thor said enviously.

Gu Ce glanced at him, unsure whether he envied the inheritance or Luo Feng's happy family.

As far as Gu Ce knew, Thor did not have a good relationship with his daughter.

Soon enough.

Luo Hongguo came out. When he saw such a large group, he immediately beamed and hurriedly invited everyone inside to sit.

Fortunately, the room was large enough, or it would not have fit so many people.

To entertain so many guests, he and Luo Feng's mother, Gong Xinlan, had specially prepared a table full of delicious dishes.

Unable to refuse their warm hospitality, Hong and Thor sat down as well. Everyone ate, drank, and chatted together.

Though the dishes were not rare delicacies, everyone enjoyed them immensely.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill.

Everyone dispersed. Luo Hua returned to work, while Luo Feng escorted Xu Xin home and arranged to meet her again that evening.

The four of them finally had a chance to speak alone.

Inside the spacecraft.

"Hall Master Hong, Hall Master Thor!"

Seeing that the auxiliary optical computer had detected both men as ninth-rank Planetary Level, Luo Feng was slightly restrained.

He was still only ninth-rank Apprentice Level. Facing these two men who had long been famous, he was naturally weaker in presence.

"Relax." Hong spoke to Luo Feng gently.

He had a favorable impression of Luo Feng, who had come from the Limitless Martial Arts School. Besides, he had just eaten at Luo Feng's home.

Thor looked at Gu Ce and asked, "Are we taking Luo Feng to that ruin now?"

"Mm." Gu Ce nodded. "Once Luo Feng inherits that ruin, I'll probably go into the universe to train. You two should wait until you break through to Stellar Level before heading out."

Stellar Level was difficult to break through, but not exceptionally so.

Yet for Earthlings' bloodline, it was difficult.

If not for the various rare resources from the universe, Hong and Thor would not even know how long it would have taken them to reach ninth-rank Planetary Level through cultivation alone.

Of course, with Gu Ce's support, it would not take them long to break through to Stellar Level. It would probably happen soon.

"Stellar Level is really hard to break through." Thor was somewhat dejected. He had wanted to become a Cosmic Mercenary for a long time.

"You said the same thing when you were learning a domain." Hong reminded him.

"Didn't I learn a domain?" Thor argued confidently. "Brother Hong, once we break through to Stellar Level, let's take the Cosmic Trainee Mercenary Assessment together. When the time comes, the two of us will definitely make a name for ourselves."

"Alright." Hong laughed.

"...What is a domain? And what is a Cosmic Mercenary?" Luo Feng asked cautiously.

Luo Feng felt as though being shut away for a year had caused him to miss something. Why had so many terms he did not understand suddenly appeared?

The three of them laughed, nearly forgetting that Luo Feng did not know about these things yet.

"Someone will explain them to you later," Gu Ce said.

"We're here. This is the place."

Gu Ce gestured for Rimuru to stop the spacecraft.

Australian Continent, Mist Island!

"This is... where that Cloud-Piercing Vine was found?" Hong asked in surprise.

Just as in the original story, Babata could not hold back and had thrown out a Cloud-Piercing Vine, creating many Spirits of Plants and Trees here to attract attention.

Students from the Elite Training Camp of the Limitless Martial Arts School had discovered the place, and Hong had naturally obtained that Cloud-Piercing Vine from the universe, making Thor envious for quite some time.

"The ruin is here?" Thor asked.

"That's right." Gu Ce nodded slightly.