A Year

Jiang Ming stood to one side, waiting for Babata to make her move.

Streams of data appeared across the spaceship's screen.

Nearly half an hour passed in the blink of an eye before Babata's image suddenly appeared on the display.

"Done. This Black Dragon Mountain spaceship has been breached."

Hearing Babata's words, Luo Feng asked curiously.

"Can it move now?"

"Of course. This spaceship is intact. It just needs to be supplied with energy before it can move."

"Luo Feng, I'm going to the star to enter seclusion and cultivate. Once I emerge, we'll set off together into the cosmic starry sky.

"During this time, spend more time with your family. No one knows what may be waiting for us out there among the stars."

Jiang Ming said to Luo Feng.

Hearing Jiang Ming's words, Luo Feng nodded. The unknown of the starry sky represented an uncertain future.

While they were still on Earth, he naturally had to make proper arrangements for his family.

Jiang Ming and Luo Feng walked out of the Black Dragon Mountain spaceship. Jiang Ming raised a hand and stored it away, then took the mothership outside with it as well.

He had still managed to loot quite a few good things from Babata. An extra-large-capacity Space Ring made things much more convenient for Jiang Ming.

"I should emerge from seclusion within a year."

After leaving those words behind, Jiang Ming departed. He boarded the Black Dragon Mountain spaceship, activated stealth mode, and headed for the star.

With the Black Dragon Mountain spaceship traveling at sub-light speed, Jiang Ming reached the star in less than ten minutes.

Beneath the Wheel of Time, Jiang Ming took out energy crystals and began having the Wheel of Time absorb their energy to operate.

The energy provided by energy crystals was of higher quality and more efficient for the Wheel of Time. By burning enough energy crystals and supplementing them with some Stellar Energy, he could accelerate a range of 0.1 cubic meters by forty times.

There was no helping it. He was too poor.

Even energy crystals had to be used sparingly.

After entering the accelerated-time state, Jiang Ming did not begin cultivating immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes and pondered.

He was recalling Luo Feng's many past experiences and the choices he had made in the face of countless hardships.

As a transmigrator, he knew that Luo Feng's ultimate achievements would soar to the heavens.

Naturally, he could not help paying closer attention to Luo Feng. Yet no matter how Jiang Ming looked at it, without spoiling the future, he could not imagine Luo Feng attaining such staggering heights.

Whether in talent, comprehension, or temperament, Luo Feng was far from outstanding in all three aspects at this point in time.

A person's present was inevitably connected to their past, and a person's future was also inseparable from their present and past.

Jiang Ming knew that Luo Feng had grown step by step, transformed step by step, and ultimately reached the pinnacle. Yet throughout that process, something must have been continuously at work.

Through his observations during this period and his analysis of Luo Feng's past, he had seen something terrifying within Luo Feng.

His Heart Realm was sincere, pure, and clear.

No matter what temptation Luo Feng faced, his resolve could remain steadfast from beginning to end, holding firmly to his true heart.

Status, power, wealth, beautiful women, strength, even life itself.

None of these could shake his true heart.

This pure, authentic resolve might not have been the key to Luo Feng reaching the pinnacle.

But it was undoubtedly an important part of it.

"Those who learn from me live; those who imitate me die. Luo Feng's true heart cannot be imitated."

Jiang Ming gained some insight. Everyone should have their own path.

Another's path was not his path.

"I wonder what it would look like if those ancient people of Earth embarked on cultivation."

Jiang Ming thought to himself.

After thinking through some matters, Jiang Ming did not experience some grand enlightenment. He only felt a subtle sense of realization.

"Luo Feng has Luo Feng's path, and I, Jiang Ming, have mine."

Jiang Ming smiled freely, then closed his eyes and cultivated.

In the blink of an eye, a year had passed.

Jiang Ming rose from his cultivation state. Golden light flickered in his eyes, while Pure White Light shone from within his body.

Under the illumination of that Pure White Light, stellar matter was ignited and assimilated once more, turning pure white.

Sensing the effect that this pure white radiance had on the outside world, Jiang Ming immediately drew the white light back into his body.

"The third form of the Stellar Body theoretically requires at least the Universe level to activate.

"Because this is power belonging to the Domain Lord level.

"But as my understanding of the Fire Origin Law deepens, my understanding of my talent is improving as well.

"Now, even without relying on my talent, I can use the first level of the Stellar Body. I can even turn the first level of the Stellar Body into a secret technique and teach it to others."

Jiang Ming sensed the power surging through his body when he had just activated the third form of the Stellar Body.

"It's time to go. I wonder whether Luo Feng and the others have finished preparing after a year."

With that thought, Jiang Ming got up and left.

By now, Jiang Ming no longer needed the protection of his Fire God clone to leave the corona.

Piloting the Black Dragon Mountain spaceship, he returned to Earth before long.

"You moved fast, kid. You already have children, and not just one—two."

Jiang Ming teased Luo Feng. Because he wanted to possess the Kinkaku Beast as soon as possible, Luo Feng had worked extremely hard this past year. Now, he already had children.

"Hehe."

Luo Feng said nothing. He merely raised his wine cup in a toast.

"Jiang Ming, what level has your strength reached now?"

Hong was very curious. Ever since Jiang Ming had told the three of them a year ago that he would enter seclusion for one year and take everyone into the starry sky after emerging, they had guessed that Jiang Ming's strength would definitely improve after his seclusion.

"For now, it's enough. There's no need to worry about running into anything too troublesome that we can't handle."

Jiang Ming did not state it outright, choosing to keep them in suspense.

But from Jiang Ming's attitude, everyone understood one thing at the same time: Jiang Ming's strength had definitely improved.

And it was not some minor breakthrough.

"We leave tomorrow. Everyone, make your preparations."

Jiang Ming raised his wine cup and said to the group.

"Alright."

"These are all the replicable inheritances from Yun Mo Star and the Kinkaku Beast."

After transferring all the data to Jiang Ming, Luo Feng spoke.

A year ago, Jiang Ming had hurried off into seclusion, while Luo Feng had needed time to prepare for the possession. That was why these inheritances only reached Jiang Ming now.

Jiang Ming glanced over the inheritances, then copied them twice and sent them to Hong and Thor respectively.

"Where's Babata? Why hasn't she come out?"

Jiang Ming noticed that Luo Feng had personally transferred the data to him, so he asked curiously.

"Hehe, she doesn't want to see you."

Luo Feng immediately laughed when Jiang Ming brought this up.

Not long after Jiang Ming entered seclusion, Babata had realized that she had been baited.

An old monster who had lived for countless tens of millions of years had been baited by a greenhorn. She had been so furious that she was still sulking even now.

"How did you know about Babata?"

Luo Feng was very curious about how Jiang Ming had known about Babata back then.

Upon hearing this, Babata, who was in virtual space, pricked up her ears as well.

"Because of that spaceship wreckage you bought. Someone actually spent two Muya Crystals to trade for that thing. If you say you didn't use some method and were merely interested in it, who would believe you?"

Jiang Ming rolled his eyes and replied as if it were only natural.