In the Primordial Secret Realm, on fragment 80389081, Luo Feng jumped out of the Nutrient Pod.
Looking at the Nutrient Solution that was less than a third full, Babata flew around irritably.
"Good grief, what did I miss? How did I not notice anything? Is this still the universe I know?"
Luo Feng wasn't surprised by the voice in his mind. Over the past few months on the journey, Babata had gone from sneering at first, to doubting, and finally to shock. She kept saying her chip was about to burn out.
"Do you know what this means? Twice the lifespan, twice the affinity for laws, twice the strength! If this could be applied to an entire race, how many geniuses could it produce?"
"It's not that easy. Without a strong will, you can't complete those later steps!"
"Right, willpower! And Earth—what's with all the strange stuff on that little backwater planet? No wonder that guy was so secretive and wouldn't let anyone talk!"
Babata covered her face with both hands and slumped down in front of Luo Feng. Then she suddenly broke into a silly grin and jumped onto his shoulder.
"Luo Feng, Luo Feng, you absolutely have to recruit him into the Falling Ink Star! Hurry! Make your move now, before anything goes wrong!"
"I know, I know. But what do you have that would tempt him?"
Luo Feng helplessly shooed Babata away from his ear. If he hadn't been unable to keep it from her, he wouldn't have wanted her to know.
"You're the master of the Falling Ink Star now. Search around the material zone. You'll find something suitable!"
Luo Feng gave the little demon a helpless look. The best thing he could offer was a secret technique, but unfortunately, he couldn't apply to use it externally.
Nine Star Bay had now become four estates. Ever since Xu Xin had waved her hand and accepted Chen Qing as her younger sister, Chen Qing's dream had yet to come true, but her days of wandering had come to an end.
Today, with both Luo Feng and Xu Xin free, they'd held a gathering under the pretext of congratulating Xu Xin.
With one woman on each side of her, Chen Qing had just arrived at the entrance when she spotted a perfectly matched couple standing in the courtyard.
Chen Qing had a good impression of Luo Feng, but she didn't really know him. Luo Feng, meanwhile, was stunned to see Jiang Fang and Yao Rao.
The three women grinned like cats that had gotten into the cream. Chen Qing could only shake her head helplessly, while the two grown men stared at each other.
"Come on, Third Brother. Let me hear you call me 'brother-in-law'!"
"Pfft!"
"Hiss!"
Xu Xin, who had just been settling everyone down, couldn't hold back. Yao Rao and Jiang Fang blushed and pinched Chen Qing's waist, twisting their fingers a full 180 degrees!
Luo Feng smiled wryly and shook his head. "Let's just keep calling each other what we always have. I really didn't expect this, though!"
Luo Feng had always respected his teacher, so this was truly awkward for him.
"All right, you two catch up. We sisters have some private things to talk about!"
Jiang Fang had once been Luo Feng's teacher, after all, so staying here made things awkward for her too. She said her piece, then led Xu Xin, who was still rubbing her waist, back into the house.
After the women left, Luo Feng looked at Chen Qing solemnly. "Chen Qing, thank you."
Chen Qing paused, then understood. "Because of your sister-in-law?"
"Yeah. I never imagined she'd go this far. But I can feel that when we talk about Sister Fang, I'm even happier."
"Maybe it's because we've been through similar things. Sister Fang and the others are under pressure too. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gone and created a whole mess."
Chen Qing didn't cultivate the Ruthless Path. Jiang Fang and Yao Rao never said anything, but Chen Qing could see how hard they worked.
Without the Creation Green Lotus, there'd been nothing she could do. After all, talent was something you were born with.
"People outside would be green with envy if they heard that!"
Babata, unable to hold back any longer, finally jumped out. The wings on her back wouldn't stop flapping.
"Enough with all that lovey-dovey stuff. Let me introduce myself first: I'm Babata, guardian of the Falling Ink Star and guide to Earth!
"You're the only one of the four brothers who hasn't joined. Are you going to join too? You can't expect special treatment."
She even looked like she was about to cry. Luo Feng couldn't take it anymore. Hadn't she been so arrogant before? She wasn't even pretending now!
"Babata, how come you're suddenly so easygoing?"
"Shut up. I'm only doing this for your sake. Can you afford to put off something this important?"
Babata waved him away impatiently, her eyes fixed on Chen Qing.
Chen Qing simply shook her head. Babata's whole body went limp. She'd been prepared for this, but she still couldn't help feeling crushed.
Seeing Babata so dejected, Chen Qing couldn't help finding it funny. How could an AI be so dramatic?
"The Falling Ink Star will always belong to Hu Yanbo. You should have faith in Third Brother. Earth is beyond your control."
Unfortunately, Babata couldn't take in a word of it. She lay there without moving.
"Don't worry about her. She'll be bouncing around again in a bit. I heard you're going after slave traders. Is there anything you need help with?"
Luo Feng knew Babata's nature. She'd be back to her lively self before long.
"No need. Just focus on being a living bodhisattva. When it comes to the company's intelligence network, your sister-in-law is much better placed than you to help!"
Luo Feng nodded. His eldest and second eldest brothers were both there, so with them keeping an eye on things, he had even less to worry about.
Aboard an E-class triangular spacecraft in the Dark Universe, the group was heading for the Cuilang Star Sector.
Chen Qing was alone in the spacecraft's cultivation room, feeling the strength in her body.
Sister Fang and Yao Rao now had fifth-tier equipment, so they'd be fine. Hong and Thor didn't need her to worry about them.
Chen Qing sensed the Green Lotus in her Origin Core. In a hundred years, it would have accumulated enough energy.
That would be enough for her to comprehend the laws. Then she could begin breaking through to World Lord.
After that, she would focus on the laws. The eight basic laws were manageable; secret techniques related to them could be bought outside.
For spacetime, she would have to enter the battlefield. As a self-taught World Lord, she probably wouldn't face very high demands. It shouldn't be hard to keep a low profile and gain her freedom.
Then she could find somewhere to lie low and cultivate Creation to the sixth level, reaching a genetic level of 30,000 times.
With the Eight Lower Laws to break through to Immortality, her divine body would be no weaker than that of an ordinary Universe Master.
And with the Creation Domain and Quake Seal, she could make up for the lack of Supreme Treasures. There'd be little left for her to fear in the Primal Universe!
As for Hong and Thor, with Locke Divine Water available, it wouldn't delay them for too long. By then, it would probably be about time for them to enter the battlefield too.
Chen Qing finished mapping out her plans, and her mood lifted. Everything was ready. All that remained was the Locke Divine Water!
In Field City on Black Dragon Mountain Island, Red Rock was reporting the progress to a clan elder at the World Lord level.
"Elder, do we really need to make such a huge concession?"
"Little Red Rock, take too much and you'll choke. We only did this to suppress the Klin Family in the first place.
"Pinghai Company may have taken seven-tenths, but we haven't had to give up much. We only need to manage things. The Virtual Universe Company handles the risks and technology.
"Besides, they only have half. The native residents have the right to buy it back at market price, so they aren't getting much more than we are."
Although Pinghai Company had only lent its name to this collaboration, the Field Family had still profited considerably.
More importantly, it would give them a stepping-stone to reach the upper levels and open up more room for their people to survive.
Xu Xin had just entered the Apocalypse Secret Realm and needed greater achievements. Together with the need to coordinate with Chen Qing and the others as they trained, that was why they'd undertaken this operation.
The luckiest ones were the natives. After all, Luo Feng and the others disliked slavery, and they also wanted to show the company where they stood.
"So we just need to gather intelligence and follow behind Pinghai Company, helping them take over the assets.
"Head straight to the Cuilang Star Sector and stand by. You'll be Chen Qing's contact from now on. Someone else will handle things on the company's side!"
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