"Eh, he actually came..." Zhou Ze was delighted inside, but he looked over with confusion and caution on his face.
Flowing Light gathered, quickly forming a tall, blurry figure. Then it solidified, becoming the Bald Crystal Man Zhou Ze had been hoping to see.
"%!@￥#%..." The Bald Crystal Man smiled as he spoke. His features were exquisitely refined; if he were human, he would have been either very handsome or very beautiful.
Zhou Ze looked at his Communication Watch. "Hello, Zhou Ze."
The Bald Crystal Man glanced at the Communication Watch, and a beam of light immediately shot into it.
Zhou Ze knew it was deleting the translation data on his watch.
He deliberately put on a nervous expression.
"Don't be nervous." The Bald Crystal Man spoke in Chinese with a faint metallic quality to his voice, which struck Zhou Ze as rather extraordinary.
"There's no need to be surprised. I've monitored the development of humanity on this planet. I've kept track of the changes in your written language, your culture, and your history. Naturally, I understand your language..."
Zhou Ze grumbled inwardly. What's with that? You know I don't understand the universal language. Couldn't you just speak Chinese from the start instead of showing off?
Was he getting what he deserved for showing off so much himself?
No, that wasn't right. He'd only been stating the facts. How could that count as showing off?
"My Fallen Ink Star primarily focuses on Spiritual Psychics, but we also have a branch of warriors. You've grasped a Domain at the Apprentice level, so you're qualified to become one of Fallen Ink Star's members..."
As the Crystal Man spoke, Zhou Ze listened and pondered.
It seemed that when Hong had entered this place, he probably hadn't grasped a Domain yet. Otherwise, he would have joined Fallen Ink Star's warrior branch long ago.
Their Force Emission, blade techniques, and movement techniques might have been second to none on Earth, but they were nothing special to Fallen Ink Star.
"These are your rewards for passing the test and joining Fallen Ink Star..."
The Crystal Man waved a hand. Several items from the depths of the palace were immediately carried over by a beam of rainbow light.
A black vest, a silver armguard, and a hexagonal metal plate.
"The first item is the Origin Force undergarment you call the 'Black God Suit.'" The Crystal Man pointed to the black vest.
"The second item is this Silver Armguard, an Auxiliary Optical Computer."
"The third item is Fallen Ink Star's token."
Zhou Ze's eyes widened. The Crystal Man probably thought he was amazed, but inside, Zhou Ze was furiously complaining:
Where are the techniques? Where are the manuals? What happened to that huge manual I was supposed to get? Luo Feng even got an attack technique, Escape Heaven. I get nothing. I really must not be his own...
The Crystal Man caressed the last hexagonal metal plate and sighed. "I followed the procedures set by my master. Unfortunately, even if you obtain the Fallen Ink Star Token, you won't be able to summon anyone from Fallen Ink Star to come get you..."
"Why?"
Following the Crystal Man's lead, Zhou Ze continued their conversation, taking the opportunity to ask about the universe as well.
Meanwhile, Luo Feng was still waiting in the Black Hall, completely dumbfounded.
Wasn't my Brain Domain Width 21, greater than 18?
Wasn't I supposed to qualify for the Elite Passage?
Wasn't I supposed to wait just fifteen minutes? It's already been half an hour.
"You're the first member of Fallen Ink Star on Earth in five thousand years."
The Bald Crystal Man said, "But you mustn't get conceited. Although you've grasped a Domain at the Apprentice level, your talents aren't particularly impressive, whether in cultivating Origin Energy or Psychic Power."
"If you get the chance, you should enter the universe as soon as possible. Only there can you truly shine..."
"If possible, I hope you'll help me search for information about Fallen Ink Star..."
Something was wrong. A lot was wrong!
This Bald Crystal Man was definitely not the emotionless intelligence Babata had described, one who could only think like an ordinary person.
From its tone and emotions, Zhou Ze could tell that it wasn't a cold, mechanical intelligence. He even felt that this Intelligent Core already possessed some of the characteristics of an Intelligent Life.
That might be good news for him...
Zhou Ze asked respectfully, "Senior, I'm part of Fallen Ink Star now, too. More than anyone, I want to make contact with Fallen Ink Star. After all, Earth is so small..."
Zhou Ze paused, then made a sincere, cautious plea:
"But like you said, my talent for cultivation is poor. You know that..."
"But I have some confidence in my comprehension. Could you give me a manual for cultivating Psychic Power?"
"Since I'm a Spiritual Psychic, my Psychic Power has always held me back, making it difficult for me to break through to the Planetary level."
"That way, I'll be better prepared to explore the universe in the future..."
The Bald Crystal Man stared at Zhou Ze with its unusual eyes. It seemed to hesitate, but soon replied:
"Fallen Ink Star's inheritance can only be unlocked by going to Fallen Ink Star. I don't know either..."
"However, you have a point. How about this..."
In the underground base of the No. 9 Ancient Civilization Ruins.
Click, click, click—
The sound of the passage opening rang out, leaving the nearly hundred people in the base bewildered.
"What's going on?"
"Did something happen to the ruins?"
"It hasn't even been three hours..."
As everyone stood there stunned, the passage opened. Zhou Ze walked out looking exactly as he had when he went in.
"Welcome back, Zhou Ze, God of War!"
Unlike the thunderous surprise and welcome that Luo Feng would receive when he returned from the dead in the future, everyone present was stunned. Some even rubbed their eyes, unable to believe it!
Zhou Ze nodded in greeting and sent Hong a message.
Before long, a blood-red Smart Fighter appeared overhead.
"Hong, I didn't expect you to come in person."
Zhou Ze's opening words nearly scared the life out of Yaorao, who was brewing tea nearby.
No one in this world addressed the Hall Master by his name to his face. Even Thunder God called him "Brother Hong." Everyone else called him "Hall Master" or "First Speaker."
"Mm." A faint smile appeared on Hong's usually cold face.
"You came out so quickly. Did you gain anything?" Hong asked directly.
"It won't help you. It's related to Spiritual Psychics," Zhou Ze replied without beating around the bush. "I can't talk about the rest."
"All right." Hong was a little disappointed, but he didn't think Zhou Ze would lie to him.
They had both come a long way in cultivating their state of mind, and they were both broad-minded. They had never feared anyone surpassing them and had always been confident in themselves.
"Hong, you're getting greedy..." Zhou Ze smiled faintly.
"My Force Emission has already reached tenfold, but you haven't even reached Thunder God's former sevenfold. Your aptitude for Force Emission isn't any worse than Thunder God's. You've just been too focused on your Domain..."
"Remember, improving your Force Emission will also increase the power of your Domain. Since you've hit a bottleneck with your Domain, you could try looking at it from the perspective of your body, energy, and spirit, rather than the Domain itself."
Hong's expression turned solemn. After a thousand words, he replied with just one: "Mm."
After a moment of silence, he added, "Thank you. I understand."
Beside them, Yaorao poured tea, her hands trembling slightly as countless thoughts raced through her mind.
Good heavens. Was she even supposed to be hearing this?
Before you continue