Giving Babata a Shock

Luo Feng heard what Shi Fen said.

His mind went completely blank with shock. His body instinctively shifted back a little, and he cried out, "How did you know?!"

Shi Fen took a small step back, giving Luo Feng a little sense of security, then explained with an awkward chuckle, "Heh heh, don't be scared. I discovered the crimson triangular spacecraft beneath Mist Island at the end of last year.

"Back then, I guessed the ship came from an extraterrestrial civilization. I'd planned to take advantage of you asking me to go to Mist Island and let you get the spacecraft while we were at it.

"Once I reached Mist Island, I found the sentient lifeform Babata inside the ship, so I simply left things alone. I didn't stop paying attention to the ship until I was sure you'd obtained the inheritance.

"Well, what do you think, brother? Wasn't that decent of me?"

Shi Fen explained things from a different angle, trying to convince Luo Feng that he meant no harm.

After hearing Shi Fen's explanation, much of the fear in Luo Feng's heart eased.

As Shi Fen was explaining, a figure suddenly appeared beside Luo Feng.

The figure was about 1.45 meters tall, with the stature of a child. Two horns sprouted from his forehead, his eyes were bloodred, and he wore a black robe. It was none other than Babata.

As soon as Babata appeared, he demanded, "Then why didn't you go underground and explore the inside of the ship?"

Shi Fen showed no surprise at Babata's appearance.

Through the Eight Trigrams Reincarnation Mirror's detection function, Shi Fen had personally seen Babata's voice and his "mosaic-quality" appearance. He'd already prepared himself for this.

Now that the little demon-like Babata was standing right in front of him, Shi Fen was merely curious about what he really looked like. He felt nothing else in particular.

Shi Fen stared at Babata and replied unhurriedly, "I have an inheritance of my own. Another one would be useless to me, so I'd rather leave it to another Earthling. Besides, I had Luo Feng in mind at the time."

"So you really do have an inheritance! No wonder I've felt like something was watching me lately." Babata was clearly astonished.

Shi Fen's confirmation swept away all of Babata's previous doubts. Learning that Shi Fen had discovered the Black Ink Star Ship, could investigate everything inside, and even knew his name still left Babata rather shocked.

It was like...

A modern mercenary group on Earth, armed with state-of-the-art equipment, attacking an isolated tribe—only for the tribe to pull out a nuclear bomb and wipe out every last mercenary.

The absurd contrast and reversal...

Babata wasn't just shocked. He even felt a little unsure of himself.

There's no way this Earthling Shi Fen could have managed all this on his own. Once that thought occurred to him, it sank deep into Babata's mind, impossible to erase.

Shi Fen waved his hand casually. "Now that we've laid everything out, we might as well be frank with each other. The important thing is figuring out how to get into the universe as soon as possible."

Luo Feng had a strong mind. After a brief moment of panic, he had already recovered.

He ignored Shi Fen's remark and studied his eyes curiously. "Brother, when did you get your inheritance? Thinking about it now, you've been different from other people since you were little. Did you get it when you were young? Can you tell me?"

Babata also stared at Shi Fen curiously, waiting for his answer.

"Haha." Shi Fen didn't dodge the question and answered them directly.

"My inheritance probably took an interest in my forging talent, which I showed from a young age. I stumbled upon it when I was very little."

Luo Feng praised him in surprise. "I've known you for so many years, and I never noticed a thing. You're really good at keeping secrets."

"So he really did get it as a child." Babata was greatly reassured. He'd guessed correctly. Having confirmed his suspicions, Babata asked another question. "It took an interest in your forging talent? Could your inheritance be the universe's most precious Treasure Refining Inheritance?"

Shi Fen didn't hide it. He simply nodded.

"!"

Overcome with excitement, Babata blurted out a stream of Universal Language.

Babata was so furious he could have exploded on the spot.

He and his master had watched over Earth for countless years, yet they'd failed to discover this Treasure Refining Inheritance. If they'd found it, his master would never have died!

Babata's heart was bleeding... The wound he least wanted to mention had just been reopened.

"If only I could have obtained this inheritance..."

Babata didn't know that the inheritance hadn't originally been here. In his excitement, he'd misunderstood.

Luo Feng glanced at Babata in confusion, unsure what he was thinking. Then he stood up and punched Shi Fen hard in the chest, complaining, "No wonder you'd always crush me when we were kids. And there I was, stupidly trying to catch up to you. Now that I think about it, I feel like an idiot. Trying to catch up with someone who had an inheritance—I can't believe I did that!"

Luo Feng's eyes shifted. He suddenly continued, "No, you have to make it up to me! You didn't touch my inheritance, so you must have something even better! Come on! Hand it all over!"

"Haha, you'll get plenty of good stuff." Seeing Luo Feng return to his old self, Shi Fen started joking and roughhousing with him.

Babata watched the two of them play around, feeling terribly envious.

He and his master had been just as happy together back then.

Babata unexpectedly noticed that Shi Fen easily dodged Luo Feng's sneak attacks as they played. He immediately realized what that meant. Since neither of them was using a domain, he controlled a detector to scan Shi Fen's strength.

Martial Artist: Planetary Level, Rank One

Spiritual Master: Planetary Level, Rank One

Babata couldn't believe his eyes. The scans had failed every time before, but this time they'd succeeded. Shi Fen had reached Planetary Level as both a Martial Artist and a Spiritual Master.

"Shi Fen, can you tell me what your special ability is?" Babata couldn't help asking again.

Babata realized that ever since he'd met Shi Fen and started studying him every day, he'd become intensely curious about him. Normally, with Earthlings, Babata had always been dismissive.

Now, he was nothing like the proud, arrogant Babata who'd once roamed the universe. All that arrogance had been completely pulverized while the three of them on Mist Island comprehended their domains.

Babata now placed great importance on Shi Fen and Luo Feng. They were the hope of avenging his master in the future! Especially after learning that Shi Fen had the Treasure Refining Inheritance, Babata's attitude toward him had become not only friendly but even a little "fawning."

The more time one spent exploring the universe, the more one understood the importance of a powerful inheritance.

Of all the factors—inheritance, background, resources, luck, talent, and so on—the most important was inheritance! The more powerful the inheritance, the more heaven-defying the secret techniques it contained.

Without powerful secret techniques to guide them, the chances of becoming a strong fighter were close to zero.

Deep down, Babata had already given up on taking Shi Fen as his master's second direct disciple.

He only hoped Shi Fen would help Luo Feng out more. After all, Shi Fen had managed to evade his master's personal investigation. His "Treasure Refining Inheritance" had to be incredibly rich and powerful.

Hearing Babata's curious question, Luo Feng couldn't help glancing back at him. Why's Babata acting so strange today? Isn't he usually so lofty and proud?

Babata noticed Luo Feng's suspicious gaze and suddenly felt a little embarrassed. Remembering what he was planning, he steeled himself. Fine, I'll just fawn over him a little. Luo Feng, you're still too green to understand what this Treasure Refining Inheritance means. I'm doing this for your own good!

Having made up his mind, Babata's gaze grew resolute again.

I'm just being friendly. This is what being friendly looks like... Babata kept repeating to himself.

Shi Fen noticed Luo Feng had stopped, so he stopped play-fighting with him.

"My special ability is a little unusual. It's a soul-type ability called Consciousness Splitting." Shi Fen had prepared his explanation long ago. He answered without hesitation.

In reality, Shi Fen didn't have any special abilities in the "ordinary sense" after advancing to Planetary Level.

If he had to name one, he did have three innate talents related to clones in his Origin Core.

But that was far too shocking a secret. How could Shi Fen dare tell anyone? If possible, he didn't want any being in the Primordial Universe to learn about it.

Babata's eyes lit up, and he suddenly understood. "So that's it. I was wondering how you could control thirty-three flying knives so perfectly in battle on Mist Island. You must have the talent to back it up."

Luo Feng stumbled, staring at him in disbelief. "You could control thirty-three at the time? I could only control eighteen after breaking through to Planetary Level. You're ridiculously overpowered..."

Shi Fen smiled and waved a hand, signaling Luo Feng not to be surprised. Then he continued, "Luo Feng, close your eyes and focus. I'll transmit some secret techniques to you. You can compare them with the ones Babata gave you and see which are better."

Hearing that Shi Fen would give him secret techniques, Luo Feng didn't ask why. He simply sat cross-legged on the ground, ready for Shi Fen to transmit them.

"Focus your mind. I'll send a data-transfer request to your consciousness. Check the restrictions, and if everything looks fine, just accept it." Seeing how readily Luo Feng had agreed, Shi Fen immediately explained.

Babata interrupted, believing Luo Feng was acting recklessly.

"Shi Fen, your data transfer comes with restrictions?" Babata asked uneasily. He was afraid Shi Fen might give Luo Feng something like a Slave Chip. To protect Luo Feng, he had to speak up, even though he thought highly of Shi Fen.

"Yeah. Babata, how about I send it to you first? Once you've checked it, I'll pass it on to Luo Feng." Shi Fen knew Babata was just being cautious. He wasn't angry and explained himself seriously.

"Fine." Babata agreed.

Shi Fen used the transfer authorization for the Inheritance Hall within the Image World to connect with Babata's consciousness.

Babata's consciousness immediately received an "application form."

The "application form" was written in Huaxia Script.

"Would you like to receive the information inheritance of the Gold Law Combat Secret Technique, Immortal Foundation Blade Technique Chapter, and Immortal Foundation Spiritual Master Chapter?

"By accepting the information inheritance, you will become a core member of this inheritance and gain access to its resources.

"In the future, you will be unable to disclose any information related to this inheritance."

Sensing the special "application form" in his consciousness, Babata was swept by a storm of shock. What... what is this thing? I've never heard of anything like it.

Shi Fen's voice sounded in Babata's ear at just the right moment. "This is the Soul Contract Inheritance unique to my inheritance. It's a little like being a Soul Slave, except the restrictions aren't as severe. I'd originally planned to make Luo Feng the first core member, but you beat him to it."

After hearing Shi Fen's explanation, Babata accepted the information without a second thought.

As if! If anyone's going to be the first, it's going to be me!

Through the authorization, Shi Fen knew Babata had accepted. Reassured, he continued, "The master of my inheritance was not only a master of Treasure Refining, but also an expert on the level of a super Soul Master. It took both my forging and soul talents combined for me to barely earn his favor."

Standing where he was, Babata quickly sorted through the information in the secret techniques. He couldn't help exclaiming, "This inheritance is heaven-defying... I'd intended to take you as my master's disciple, but somehow I've ended up as your subordinate."

Shi Fen laughed triumphantly to himself. His initial plan to take control of the situation had gone smoothly.

Shi Fen continued, "You make it sound worse than it is, Babata. You're not my subordinate—you're simply a member of my inheritance. I haven't even founded an organization, so there's no question of any restraints."

Shi Fen's words let Babata keep his dignity in front of Luo Feng.

Babata was quite vain, actually. That simple bit of flattery from Shi Fen made his heart leap with joy. Although the Soul Contract Inheritance was heaven-defying, it really didn't come with any special restrictions.

Babata would still be the same Babata as before.

The Soul Contract Inheritance wouldn't turn him into Shi Fen's slave.