Ruins No. 9

The Bald Crystal Being waved a hand, and several items deep within the palace were carried over by a streak of rainbow light. There were five items in all: a black armguard-shaped Black God Set, a silver armguard, a book marked with blue patterns, and a hexagonal metal token. The four items floated before the Bald Crystal Being.

"The first item is what you call the Black God Set. You should already know about it." The Bald Crystal Being pointed at the black armguard.

Ji Yun nodded.

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

"The third is a book explaining force amplitudes for spear techniques."

"The fourth is a token for entering Falling Ink Star."

The Bald Crystal Being stroked the final hexagonal metal token. Two complex characters were engraved on it. With a sigh, he said, "I'm following the procedures my master set, but unfortunately, even if you obtain the Falling Ink Star Token, you won't be able to summon anyone from Falling Ink Star to come get you and take you there."

"So Falling Ink Star is already gone." Ji Yun fell silent. Babata had said that his master had perished, so his master must have been the Master of Yunmo Star. With the Master of Yunmo Star dead, there was a good chance Falling Ink Star had been destroyed as well.

"Falling Ink Star is a mysterious place in this vast universe." The Bald Crystal Being looked at Ji Yun and explained, "Unfortunately, I can no longer contact Falling Ink Star, and you'll have even less chance of reaching it with the token. But the procedures governing this base require me to give it to you."

"This Auxiliary Optical Computer is something every Gene Warrior and Psychic Master wants. It'll be very useful to you," the Bald Crystal Being said. "It has all the functions of your Communication Watch, along with many others. Most importantly, it can measure a target's strength."

"Measure their strength?" Ji Yun was slightly taken aback.

Ji Yun put on the silver armguard and let his Mental Power seep into it. The armguard quickly fitted itself to his skin, and a mass of pictures and text appeared on its surface—all in Chinese.

"The Auxiliary Optical Computer also has a translation function," the Bald Crystal Being said. "The translation software in your Communication Watch would reveal a lot of this place's secrets, so I've deleted much of the information related to this place from it. You can stop using that watch. The Auxiliary Optical Computer can automatically connect to your planet's network."

"You can also look up your manuals on the computer."

Ji Yun nodded.

"Point the Optical Computer at someone and press the button to test their strength. There are limits to what it can measure, though. To test someone at a higher level, you'll need a more powerful computer, or even a more powerful intelligence—an Intelligent Life."

Ji Yun activated the computer's testing function and pointed it at himself. The screen displayed: Combat Strength, Genetic Origin Energy, Planetary Level One.

"It really is accurate," Ji Yun said in admiration.

"May I ask what levels most of the Planetary Level fighters on Earth have?" Ji Yun stopped looking at the Auxiliary Optical Computer, turned to the Bald Crystal Being, and asked.

"The vast majority have the strength of a Planetary Level One, and a few are Planetary Level Two. Two of them are Planetary Level Three," the Bald Crystal Being replied. "The strongest, 'Hong,' is Planetary Level Six, while 'Thor' is Planetary Level Seven. The two of them are far stronger than everyone else."

"Just as I thought." Ji Yun nodded, indicating he understood.

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

"Is that because Hong has a domain?"

"Exactly." The Bald Crystal Being smiled in a humanlike way. "You've also comprehended a domain. Your insight is truly remarkable."

"Your Earth's strongest man, Hong, is practically invincible at the Planetary Level. If you also reach around Planetary Level Four, you'll be able to unleash impressive power at the Planetary Level and suppress ordinary Planetary Level Eight or Nine fighters without much trouble."

Ji Yun understood. He still wasn't entirely sure how domains were classified, but he had confirmed that a domain greatly increased a warrior's strength. He hadn't known how far his own domain could let him punch above his weight, but now he had a clearer idea.

"The spear in your hand was manufactured on Falling Ink Star as a standard weapon for Planetary Level warriors. It can withstand combat with Universe Level warriors without being damaged, so it'll serve you well for now." The Bald Crystal Being pointed at the spear in Ji Yun's hand.

"The explanation of spear techniques and force amplitudes stored on your Auxiliary Optical Computer, along with the section on how Planetary Level warriors use Genetic Origin Energy to generate force, are all the product of countless years of refinement on Falling Ink Star. They're far better than the force-generating methods on Earth."

The Bald Crystal Being was the Control Core of the entire Ancient Civilization Ruins. This wasn't a mere computer like the one Hong called an Optical Computer. It was a true intelligence with human wisdom—and even a trace of human emotion! Its most fundamental programming was to serve Falling Ink Star, so it considered itself one of its people.

"In essence, I'm an intelligent program, and I obey only the commands of Falling Ink Star. Even if Falling Ink Star faces disaster, I must fulfill my duty," the Bald Crystal Being said. "I hope you can surpass your current limits and grow stronger."

"The universe is vast beyond measure, and strong warriors are countless."

"To you Earthlings, Universe Level warriors are gods you can't resist. Hong and Thor would be like ants before them. Even a breath of theirs could create a shock wave powerful enough to kill Hong. They can battle interstellar fleets in space, and every one of them is incredibly powerful."

"Only by reaching the Universe Level will you be strong enough to protect your home. So work hard."

The Bald Crystal Being smiled.

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

Dojo Master Hong had said before that only by reaching the Universe Level could he protect his home, and now the Bald Crystal Being was saying the same thing. To protect Earth, he had to reach the Universe Level!

Ji Yun set himself that goal.

"The Psychic Master who came in with you is undergoing a trial. It will last three years. If he hasn't come out after three years, it means he's dead," the Bald Crystal Being said.

Three years? Ji Yun took note of the time.

Whether or not Luo Feng made it out, Ji Yun would make sure his family was left in peace.

"All right, the passage is open. You can leave now."

The Bald Crystal Being abruptly vanished, its body dissolving into specks of light that scattered through the space. At the same time, a mass of blackness at the far end of the palace twisted into a doorway.

At the end of this passage was the mirror Ji Yun had passed through on his way in.

Inside the underground base of Ruins No. 9.

Only one short night had passed.

Clack, clack, clack...

Everyone in the base's main hall turned to look at the great door. It led to the passage into Ruins No. 9. Unless it was opened manually, it would open automatically only when the system detected that a warrior who had entered earlier was coming out.

"Is someone coming out?"

"That's impossible. This group only went in yesterday. There's no way they'd be out so soon. Even the fastest before them took seven or eight days."

The great door finished opening, and Ji Yun emerged at an unhurried pace, looking spotless.

"Beep!"

A beam of light swept over Ji Yun, and a cheerful voice immediately rang through the hall: "Welcome back, Councilor Ji Yun."

"Ah! It's Councilor Ji. He's out already?"

"It's Councilor Ji." Everyone crowded around him, firing questions at him.

"Councilor Ji, the Dojo Master asked me to tell you to head to Headquarters immediately!"

After chatting for a while with the staff in the underground hall, the red-robed elder who had earlier greeted Yao Rao and Ji Yun hurried over to him and spoke respectfully.

"All right, I understand." Ji Yun nodded.

"Everyone, I'm heading out first." Ji Yun waved to the people in the hall below, smiled, and turned back into the elevator.

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

"And so young, too," the young woman beside her added. "He's only nineteen!"

"Wow!"

At the Global Headquarters of the Limit Dojo, inside the enormous spaceship-like building.

It was the same quiet room as before. Hong seemed especially fond of it.

After being told that Hong was inside, Ji Yun entered and sat down across from him.

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

Ji Yun immediately took off the armguard he was wearing and handed it to Hong, while holding the Black God Set he had obtained.

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

"Mm." Hong nodded slightly.

"One is the Black God Set. The other should be what they call an Intelligent Optical Computer in the universe. Yours is probably a personal model."

"That's right," Ji Yun said. "I also got a Force-Generating Manual, but I can't share it with others."

"That's normal." Hong smiled faintly. "Many major powers don't allow their manuals to be shared."

"I've put together the accounts of many warriors who obtained Black God Sets. Ruins No. 9 is a selection trial, meant to find talented warriors or Psychic Masters."

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

"When I first entered these ruins, I hadn't yet developed a domain, so all I got was a Black God Set."

"A-Yun, I have no right to demand that you hand over what you obtained or teach others the manual you found. But I hope you can learn from it and create a manual of your own for the sake of Earth's people. My manual, World Destroyer, is one I created based on what I gained back then." Hong looked at Ji Yun.

"I understand." Ji Yun gave a slight nod.

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

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

"Go on. You've practically taken a one-day tour of the ruins," Hong said with a hearty laugh. "Tsk, more like half a day."

Ji Yun left the quiet room.

Hong, the black-haired man, closed his eyes and murmured, "Work hard. The stronger we are, the safer Earth will be, and one day, we may even be able to join the universe without fear."

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