Ruins No. 9

The bald crystal being waved a hand, and several items deep within the palace were carried over by a beam of colorful light—five items in total: a black armguard-like Black God Set, a silver armguard, a book with cyan patterns, and a hexagonal metal token. These four objects floated before the bald crystal being.

"This first item, which you call the Black God Set, you should already know of." The bald crystal being pointed at the black armguard.

Ji Yun nodded.

"The second, this silver armguard-shaped item, is an Auxiliary Optical Computer!"

"The third is a book on the explanation of force amplification in spear techniques."

"The fourth is the Falling Ink Star entry token."

The bald crystal being stroked the last hexagonal metal token, which bore two complex characters, and sighed: "I am following the procedures set by my master. Unfortunately, even if you obtain the Falling Ink Star Token, you cannot have the people of Falling Ink Star come to fetch you or allow you to enter Falling Ink Star."

"So Falling Ink Star is no more, huh." Ji Yun remained silent. Babata had said his master had fallen, meaning his master was the master of Falling Ink Star. Since the master of Falling Ink Star had fallen, it was highly likely that Falling Ink Star itself had been annihilated.

"Falling Ink Star is a mysterious place within this vast universe." The bald crystal being looked at Ji Yun and explained: "Unfortunately, I can no longer contact Falling Ink Star, so you cannot rely on the token to reach it either. But according to the base's existing procedures, I must grant you this token."

"As for this Auxiliary Optical Computer, every Genetic Warrior and Psychic Master desires it. It will be of great use to you." The bald crystal being said, "Besides having all the functions of your Communication Watch, it has many other features. The most important one is measuring a target's strength."

"Measuring strength?" Ji Yun was slightly taken aback.

Ji Yun put on the silver armguard and permeated it with his Mental Power. The silver armguard quickly conformed to his skin, and a large number of pictorial characters surfaced on its surface—all in Chinese.

"The Auxiliary Optical Computer also has a translation function." The bald crystal being said, "The translation software on your Communication Watch would leak many secrets here, so I have deleted much of the information related to this place from your watch. You can discard your Communication Watch. The Auxiliary Optical Computer can automatically connect to your planet's network."

"You can also look up your secret manuals within this optical computer."

Ji Yun nodded.

"Point the optical computer at a person, press the button, and you can test their strength. However, there are limits to testing strength. To test higher levels, you need a more powerful optical computer, or even a more powerful intelligence—an intelligent life form."

Ji Yun activated the optical computer's testing function and aimed it at himself. The optical computer displayed—Combat Power, Genetic Origin Energy, Planetary Level, First Stage.

"Quite accurate." Ji Yun praised.

"May I ask, what are the levels of most Planetary Level fighters on Earth?" Ji Yun stopped looking at the Auxiliary Optical Computer, turned to the bald crystal being, and asked.

"Their combat power is overwhelmingly Planetary First Stage, with a few at Planetary Second Stage! There are two at Planetary Third Stage." The bald crystal being said, "The strongest, 'Hong,' is at Planetary Sixth Stage, while 'Thor' is at Planetary Seventh Stage. The two of them are far stronger than the others."

"Indeed." Ji Yun nodded, indicating his understanding.

"However, Hong is currently the strongest on Earth."

"Is it because Hong possesses a domain?"

"Correct," the bald crystal being revealed a human-like smile and said, "You have also comprehended a domain. Your insight is truly extraordinary."

"That strongest person on your Earth, Hong, has combat power that is practically invincible at the Planetary Level. If you also rise to around Planetary Fourth Stage, you can unleash considerable power within the Planetary Level and suppress ordinary Planetary Eighth or Ninth Stage fighters without much issue."

Ji Yun understood. Although he still wasn't entirely clear on how domains were classified, he had confirmed that domains greatly enhance a warrior's strength. Previously, he hadn't fully grasped how much his own domain allowed him to fight above his level, but now he had a clearer understanding.

"The long spear in your hand is a standard weapon manufactured in Falling Ink Star for Planetary Level warriors. It can withstand battles against Star Level warriors without breaking. For now, it is sufficient for you." The bald crystal being pointed at the spear in Ji Yun's hand.

"The spear technique amplitude explanation stored in your Auxiliary Optical Computer—the chapters on Planetary Level warriors using Genetic Origin Energy for force exertion—are the culmination of countless years of refinement by Falling Ink Star. They are far superior to the force exertion methods on your Earth."

The bald crystal being was the core control AI of the entire Ancient Civilization Ruins. This was not the so-called AI of 'Hong,' but a true AI with human intelligence, even possessing a trace of human emotion! Its most fundamental program was loyalty to Falling Ink Star, so it considered itself a member of Falling Ink Star!

"I am essentially an intelligent program, loyal only to the commands of Falling Ink Star. Even if Falling Ink Star suffers calamity, I must fulfill my duties." The bald crystal being said, "I hope you can surpass yourself and grow stronger."

"The universe is vast and boundless, with countless powerful beings."

"For your Earth, Universe Level experts are gods you cannot resist. Even 'Hong' and 'Thor' are like ants before them. A single exhaled breath, forming a shockwave, could kill Hong. They can battle interstellar fleets in space, each one immensely powerful."

"Only by reaching Universe Level can you have enough strength to protect your homeland. So, strive hard."

The bald crystal being smiled.

"Universe Level!" Ji Yun's heart trembled.

Previously, Dojo Master Hong had also said that only by reaching Universe Level could one protect their homeland. The bald crystal being said the same. So to protect Earth, he must reach Universe Level!

Ji Yun set his goal.

"That Psychic Master kid who came in with you is undergoing a trial. The deadline is three years. If he hasn't come out after three years, it means he is dead." The bald crystal being said.

Three years? Ji Yun noted the time.

Whether Luo Feng could come out or not, Ji Yun could ensure his family would not be disturbed.

"Alright, the passage has been opened. You may leave."

The bald crystal being suddenly dissipated, its body turning into specks of drifting light that vanished within the space. At the same time, at the end of this palace, a large mass of black twisted into a door.

The end of this passage was the mirror Ji Yun had passed through when he arrived.

In the 9th Ancient Civilization Ruins, underground base.

Only a single night had passed.

Crack, crack, crack~~~

All the members in the base hall turned their heads toward the large door—the passage door leading to the 9th Ancient Civilization Ruins. Unless actively opened, the door's sensing system would automatically open it when it detected a warrior who had previously entered walking out.

"Could someone be coming out?!"

"Impossible, this batch only went in yesterday. How could it be so fast? The fastest before took at least seven or eight days to come out."

The large door slowly finished opening, and a cleanly dressed Ji Yun walked out calmly.

"Beep!"

A beam of light swept across Ji Yun's body, and immediately a cheerful, pleasant voice rang through the hall—Welcome back, Councilor Ji Yun.

"Ah! It's Councilor Ji. He came out so quickly."

"It's Councilor Ji." Everyone crowded around, peppering him with questions.

***

"Councilor Ji, the Dojo Master instructed me to inform you to report to headquarters immediately!"

After chatting for a while with the staff in the underground hall, the red-robed elder who had previously received Yao Rao and Ji Yun strode quickly over to Ji Yun and spoke respectfully.

"Alright, I understand." Ji Yun nodded.

"Everyone, I'll be going now." Ji Yun waved at the crowd below, smiled, and turned back into the elevator.

"Wow, Councilor Ji Yun is so handsome," a woman said dreamily.

"And so young too," the young woman beside her added. "Only nineteen years old."

"Wow, wow, ahh!"

Inside the massive ship-like building of the Limit Dojo's global headquarters.

It was the same quiet room as before, as if Hong had a particular fondness for it.

Told that Hong was inside, Ji Yun entered and sat down across from Hong.

"A-Yun, you came out so quickly this time. What did you get?" Hong waved his hand, and a small tea table rose before him, bearing a steaming cup of clear tea.

Ji Yun directly unfastened the arm guard from his arm and handed it to Hong, while holding the newly acquired arm guard—the Black God Set—in his other hand.

"Brother Hong, have you seen both of these before?"

"Mm." Hong nodded slightly.

"One is the Black God Set, and the other should be what the universe calls a Smart Optical Brain. But yours seems to be a personal model."

"Yes." Ji Yun spoke. "I also obtained a Force-Generating Manual, but I can't pass it on to others."

"Normal." Hong smiled faintly and said, "Many major powers don't allow their manuals to be spread outside."

"I've summarized the experiences of many martial artists who obtained the Black God Set and found that this 9th civilization relic is a selection-type relic, meant to pick out talented martial artists or Psychic Masters."

"However." Hong paused, as if recalling something.

"When I entered that relic back then, I didn't have a domain yet, so I only got a set of the Black God Set."

"A-Yun, I have no right to demand you contribute what you've obtained, nor can I ask you to teach the manual you acquired. But I hope that after you gain some insights, you can create a manual of your own, for the sake of Earth's humans. My manual, World Destroyer, was also created by me based on what I gained back then." The black-haired man Hong looked at Ji Yun.

"I understand." Ji Yun nodded slightly.

"You've set a record for entering the relic."

"Then, Brother Hong, I'll head home."

"Go on back. This time, you've basically had a one-day tour of the relic," Hong said with a hearty laugh. "Tsk, a half-day tour."

Ji Yun withdrew from the quiet room.

The black-haired man Hong closed his eyes and murmured, "Keep striving. The stronger we are, the safer Earth will be, and eventually we can even safely integrate into the universe."

In response to the readers' requests, a VIP membership ad-free feature is now available.