Taking a Master

"Who are you?" Lin Qingyu looked at Bata.

"You can call me Bata. Of course, that's the Chinese translation. In Universal Language, my name would be XXX." Bata's blood-red eyes fixed on Lin Qingyu. "I have waited on Earth for a full fifty thousand years. I had only hoped to find a genius who could meet the standard, but instead, I found you. This is my fortune, and yours as well."

"Fifty thousand years." Lin Qingyu looked at Bata. "Then what about these Ruins? And these corpses?"

"These Ruins have also existed for fifty thousand years." Bata's voice carried nostalgia and sorrow. "As for these corpses, they were once figures of unmatched brilliance in this universe. Not even time could erase their existence. Even in death, their bodies would never decay. But once the master died, they had to be buried with him."

Bata looked at Lin Qingyu. "Lin Qingyu, come pay your respects to my master."

With that, Bata pointed toward the center of the hall. The metal floor suddenly split apart, revealing a passage.

He entered first, and Lin Qingyu followed behind him.

The man and the Intelligent Life arrived in a dim octagonal hall. Lin Qingyu knew that this was where the body of Huyan Bo, the master of Yunmo Star, was kept.

"My master's body is sealed very tightly. You'll have to wait a moment before you can see him. Before that—" Bata looked at Lin Qingyu. "I'm sure you have many questions."

"To be honest, I do." Lin Qingyu nodded.

"Let me briefly explain the situation." Bata said, "First, my identity. My essence is an intelligence, but unlike those Earth intelligences that can't even pass the Turing Test, I possess my own thoughts, as well as joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. Like normal Life, I can even cultivate and evolve. In the vast universe, beings like me are generally called 'Intelligent Life.' While our kind is not exactly rare throughout the universe, we are not something ordinary people can possess."

"Then why are you, an Intelligent Life, staying on Earth?" Lin Qingyu asked.

"Because a great war broke out fifty thousand years ago. That war spread across countless Stars and involved a great number of powerful experts. My master, the powerful being who founded the Yunmo Star lineage, fell in that war."

Huyan Bo's crystal coffin rose. When Bata saw Huyan Bo's face, which looked as though he were merely asleep, tears glimmered on his face.

Boss, I've finally found someone who can truly inherit your legacy.

Bata silently spoke in his heart, then turned to Lin Qingyu. "Lin Qingyu, this is my master—Huyan Bo. My master was considered a powerful existence throughout the universe. Even though he has fallen, the inheritance he left behind is incomparably precious. And now, you have the chance to obtain my master's inheritance!"

"Rights and obligations go hand in hand. If I receive this senior's inheritance, are there any obligations I must fulfill?" Lin Qingyu looked at Bata. Although he had long known what inheriting Huyan Bo's legacy would entail, it was better to ask in advance just to be safe.

"Your excellent character greatly pleases me." Bata felt rather good upon hearing Lin Qingyu's words. After all, Huyan Bo had already fallen. If he encountered an ungrateful wretch, he would have nowhere to cry.

"Given your outstanding, heaven-defying talent and your decent character, I'll tell you the truth." Bata looked at Lin Qingyu. "My master died in a great battle fifty thousand years ago. The one who killed him was also a great existence. That being is likely still alive even now. Of course, he is not in the same Universe Country as us, so as long as you are careful not to expose your identity, you needn't worry about being hunted down while you are still weak."

"If I accept the inheritance, must I avenge Senior Huyan Bo?" Lin Qingyu looked at Bata.

"No." Bata shook his head. "Although my master prepared three treasures for his personal disciples, neither my master nor I can force you to seek revenge. As for those three treasures for my master's personal disciples, you may claim one each upon reaching the Star level, Universe Level, and Domain Lord level. And once you reach the Domain Lord level, I will acknowledge you as my master. Oh, I'll explain the ranks of powerful experts in the universe later. Of course, if that enemy wants to eliminate all future trouble, there is nothing I can do. I can only hope that you hide well."

"I see." Lin Qingyu nodded. "Few obligations, but considerable risk? What happens if I refuse to take a master?"

"If you refuse, then even a peerless genius like you must be killed to preserve the secret of these Ruins." Bata spoke bluntly. "I hope you will not force me to make such a heartbreaking decision."

No matter how talented Lin Qingyu was, as an Intelligent Life, Bata's foremost duty was to carry out his master's orders.

"All right. How do I take a master?" Lin Qingyu asked.

"Excellent, your choice is very correct!" Bata said happily. "Because of your choice, the entire Earth and even the Milky Way Galaxy will benefit. With the assistance of Demon Bata, your great name will spread throughout the Black Dragon Mountain Star Domain and even the Qianwu Universe Country! In the future, the rise and fall of countless planets and countless races will be decided by your will. You are destined to become someone revered and looked up to by countless people. You..."

"Ahem, Bata, let's handle the important matter first. How do I take a master?" Lin Qingyu interrupted Bata's vision of the future.

"Wah... Ordinarily, when my master accepted a new personal disciple, he should have invited his friends far and wide and held a grand ceremony. But my master has already fallen, so we will keep everything simple." Bata looked at Huyan Bo's body in the crystal coffin, and his tone suddenly grew low. "You only need to kowtow eight times before my master's body."

Lin Qingyu did not hesitate. Following Bata's instructions, he knelt before Huyan Bo's body and solemnly kowtowed eight times.

No matter what, since he had accepted a portion of Huyan Bo's inheritance, he naturally had to shoulder the corresponding responsibility.

"Very good." Bata nodded in satisfaction. "From today onward, you are my master's fifth personal disciple, his final disciple, and his only disciple still alive. However, my master has already fallen, so I will teach you in his place."

"Rest assured, my master entrusted everything to me before his death. And as an Intelligent Life who followed him all along, I also possess recordings of him teaching his disciples while he was alive. You need not worry about whether you can receive the true inheritance."

"Mm." Lin Qingyu nodded. He had never been worried about the inheritance. After all, his goal was to enter the core of the Virtual Universe Company. Meteorite Star's inheritance was merely his starting point.

After Lin Qingyu formally took a master, Bata began explaining the classifications of powerful experts and the divisions between the various factions in the universe. Naturally, he also introduced the various treasures left behind by Huyan Bo, the master of Yunmo Star.