Is This Little Thing Intelligent? It's Pretty Cute

Above Fog Island.

A dark-blue triangular Smart Fighter sliced through the night sky in the dead of night.

Without a doubt, Luo Feng had gained the most from the battle for Fog Island. Having obtained the Yunmo Star Inheritance, he was now truly capable of taking off.

After returning to Bright Moon District, Luo Feng spent some time with his family, then headed to Zhou Ze's place.

"Xiao Feng, you look refreshed. Seems like you got quite a lot out of your trip to Fog Island," Zhou Ze said with a faint smile.

Luo Feng chuckled. "Teacher, you really missed out by not going to Fog Island this time..."

"You gain some, you lose some. What's there to regret?" Zhou Ze replied calmly.

Luo Feng took out ten Muya Crystals. A rich fragrance immediately filled the air, but he locked it down with his Psychic Power before the entire neighborhood could smell it.

"These Muya Crystals are treasures that even Hong and Thunder God fought over. Teacher, I brought you ten!" Luo Feng used his Psychic Power to float the box containing the crystals onto a table near Zhou Ze.

Zhou Ze looked at Luo Feng in surprise. "Luo Feng, it's only been a few days, and somehow you've become so obsequious. This isn't like you."

"You don't come here without a reason. Just say what you want. Why beat around the bush?" Zhou Ze stretched languidly.

Luo Feng scratched the back of his head. "Teacher, that power you've mastered should be the same Domain Power that the Hall Master and Thunder God possess. That's how you were able to knock Yan Hai's cane away. I want to learn Domain Power too!"

"Domain Power? Haven't I been teaching you already?" Zhou Ze drawled, sprawling in his chair.

"Ah!" Luo Feng cried out. "You can master Domain Power just by cultivating your state of mind?"

Luo Feng was astonished.

"That's only a prerequisite..." Zhou Ze replied indifferently.

Luo Feng was about to say something when Babata suddenly appeared. Through a Consciousness Projection visible only to Luo Feng and Zhou Ze, Babata showed up right before Zhou Ze.

"Zhou Ze, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Babata, the great Demon Babata!" Babata floated in the air, her nearly perfect proportions on full display. Her exposed, starry-sky skin gave her an unusual beauty.

Babata looked even more striking in person than in the anime. Her little face was cute and exquisitely beautiful, and her delicate metal wings made you want to reach out and touch them.

"Is this little thing Intelligent Life? It's pretty cute..." Zhou Ze chuckled.

"..."

At his words, both Luo Feng and Babata froze.

"Zhou Ze! That's so rude! Do you know who I am? I'm the great Demon Babata, Lord Babata, who followed my master across the universe!"

Babata roared, nearly exploding with rage. In an instant, she appeared right in front of Zhou Ze, almost nose to nose with him.

"Apologize! Apologize to me right now!"

Zhou Ze's gaze drifted downward. What incredible skin—and those exposed shoulders. Damn, he really was starved for it.

"Zhou! Ze!"

Babata practically snarled his name through clenched teeth.

Since becoming self-aware, Babata had never been so insulted. She had never met such an outlandish human being, either!

"Babata..."

Luo Feng was at a loss, weak, pitiful, and helpless.

"Huh, Luo Feng, where'd you get this little one? She's pretty cute..." Zhou Ze stroked his chin. "Hmm, her level of consciousness is quite high. She seems even more advanced than the Intelligent Life in the No. 9 Ancient Civilization Ruins."

Babata flew into a complete rage. Ignoring the fact that she was only a consciousness, she launched into a furious beating of Zhou Ze.

"Damn it, Luo Feng, get your Intelligent Life under control! Why is she hitting people?" Zhou Ze covered his head with both hands.

His body in the real world wasn't hurt at all, but it really did hurt on the level of consciousness.

After a bout of chaos, Babata finally let him off with a huff once Zhou Ze surrendered and offered a sincere apology.

"Luo Feng, you're quite the little schemer, aren't you? You actually set your teacher up like this..." Zhou Ze complained.

Luo Feng didn't answer. He'd long since gotten used to his teacher's eccentricities. Seeing him get a beating from Babata was actually kind of satisfying.

Zhou Ze looked at Babata. He hadn't expected the sensations in the realm of consciousness to feel so real. He'd heard that Babata had an energy body, too. He really wanted to ask on behalf of his old online friends whether an energy body could get pregnant...

"One shouldn't... at least, one can't... Ahem..."

Zhou Ze put on a serious face. "Luo Feng, tell me what happened. How'd you bring back this little cu—little demon?"

Seeing Babata beside him, silent and glaring at him, Zhou Ze decided to play it safe.

Luo Feng laughed helplessly. "Teacher, this is Babata. I met her beneath Fog Island..."

Luo Feng briefly explained how he had become a disciple beneath Fog Island, then emphasized, "Teacher, she isn't an ordinary Intelligent Life..."

"Really? She does seem a lot more advanced than the Intelligent Life in the No. 9 Ancient Civilization Ruins!" Zhou Ze said in sudden realization.

"Not just a lot more advanced!" Babata folded her arms across her chest and corrected him indignantly. "There's no comparison!"

"Those simple logic-processing programs on Earth aren't even qualified to be called intelligent! To be called intelligent, one must at least be able to think as well as a human!"

"First come logic-processing programs, then Intelligent Life whose logic rivals that of a real human, then Intelligent Life with emotions, and finally Intelligent Life with life! I'm an Intelligent Life!"

Babata pointed at herself with her thumb. "Just like you humans, and some animals and plants, I'm a living being!"

Babata's voice grew impassioned. "I have all kinds of emotions—happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy—and I have the insight to cultivate and evolve!"

"Then can you get pregnant?" Zhou Ze really wanted to ask, but he was afraid he'd get beaten to death...

"And back then, my master prepared a body for me. With that body, I made the name 'Demon Babata' known across countless star systems in the vast universe!" Babata said smugly.

Zhou Ze replied with utmost seriousness, "So that's what you're like, Demon Babata. You're amazing!"

Babata sensed something was off, but couldn't quite put her finger on it. After all, as an Intelligent Life who had once served an Immortal Marquis, she'd hardly ever encountered anyone speaking to her in that tone.

"Enough, Zhou Ze. I'm formally asking you now: are you willing to become my master's nominal disciple?" Babata asked urgently. "Of course, that's because my master prepared only one Inheritance Soul Seal, and these are unusual circumstances."

"Even as a nominal disciple, you'll still receive everything except the Inheritance Soul Seal!"

Zhou Ze spread his hands. "Babata, you're looking down on me. I admit my cultivation talent is a little lacking, but based on the records I've found in some ruins, my ability to comprehend a Domain at the Apprentice level would make the Five Great Powers take me very seriously, wouldn't it?"

"You have to understand: in the universe, what matters least to those great powers is cultivation talent. What matters is comprehension of amplification, Domains, laws, and Secret Arts!"

Babata was frantic now. She hadn't expected Zhou Ze to know anything about the universe. How was she supposed to persuade him now?