Seeing Babata receiving the information transmission,
Luo Feng immediately understood what had happened. He cursed Babata for being underhanded and stealing the spot of his own first core member.
"Brother, transmit it to me too," Luo Feng urged anxiously.
"Okay."
When Babata didn't respond, Shi Fen sent Luo Feng the same "application form" through his consciousness.
Seeing the crystal-clear "application form" in his mind, Luo Feng's body trembled. Overcome with excitement, he chose to accept.
"Shi Fen's inheritance is truly heaven-defying. I used to think I could surpass him, but now it looks like I'll never manage it in this lifetime. Just this Soul Contract Inheritance alone is something Teacher Hu Yanbo can't compare to at all.
"But that doesn't matter anymore. There's no point comparing myself to someone with luck this heaven-defying. It's much better to just follow along and reap the benefits. This is great!
"Shi Fen really is my brother.
"He gave me exactly what suits me best right from the start. Hahaha."
Luo Feng sat quietly on the floor of the Cultivation Room, receiving the information inheritance and sorting through the secret manuals he had obtained.
Babata's consciousness-processing ability was astonishing. In just a few minutes, he had received all the information and organized the secret manuals, placing them in the library where they were stored.
"These are top-tier techniques."
After reading the secret manuals, Babata was truly stunned. In terms of level, these three manuals were far superior even to the best manuals his master, Hu Yanbo, had possessed. They had to be techniques created by the most powerful Immortals—or even stronger experts.
There was no denying it: these three techniques gave Babata a thoroughly unsettling shock.
By the habits he'd developed while roaming the universe, Babata would definitely have "let greed get the better of him" and tried to seize them.
But to his astonishment, he found he couldn't feel any malice toward Shi Fen. He immediately understood: the Soul Contract Inheritance had a hidden restriction. As a core member of Shi Fen's inheritance, he couldn't harbor ill will toward Shi Fen.
It made Babata feel like he'd been tricked—and that he'd willingly chosen to be tricked.
Babata's feelings at that moment were a complicated jumble.
"I hope I haven't boarded a pirate ship."
Shi Fen noticed the subtle change in Babata's expression and said softly, "There aren't any resources in the inheritance that you can use for now. Once my treasure-refining skills are good enough, I'll make you an Evolution Heart."
Babata's gloomy expression vanished. The moment he heard the words "Evolution Heart," all the complicated feelings in his heart were flung out of his mind.
"You know how to make an Evolution Heart?" Babata asked urgently.
"Yeah. What about it?" Shi Fen pretended not to understand, his face full of confusion.
"What about it?" Babata's voice immediately rose an octave as he let out an incredulous shriek.
"Wouldn't an Evolution Heart be pretty useful to you? Why are you looking at me like you don't believe me?" Shi Fen still looked utterly perplexed, pretending not to understand why Babata was reacting so strongly.
In truth, Shi Fen was already laughing inside. Nice try. If you could stir up trouble under my nose, then my past life was wasted.
Babata's voice trembled with barely contained tension. He asked in a flustered whisper, "The Evolution Heart you're talking about—is it the one that lets sentient life evolve into the Machine Race? Are you sure you know how to make one?"
"Yeah. Why else would I bring it up?" Shi Fen acted as though Babata was hopelessly ignorant, his tone dripping with mockery. With a disdainful look, he said casually, "It's just an Evolution Heart. You do know they come in different grades, right?"
Babata was taken aback. For the sake of his dignity as a powerful being in the universe, he forced himself to nod, though it went against his conscience.
Shi Fen didn't pay particular attention to Babata's reaction. He simply continued, "I know how to make Evolution Hearts of every grade. The methods are nearly identical, but the materials differ greatly.
"Different grades of Evolution Heart determine the cultivation talent of the sentient life that becomes a member of the Machine Race.
"With the poorest-grade Evolution Heart, a member of the Machine Race can easily grow to Peak World Lord. With the best one, becoming an Immortal is only a matter of time, and their future potential is immense.
"You can only incorporate one, so I'll do my best to gather the necessary resources when the time comes and make you a top-tier one, for Luo Feng's sake."
The Evolution Heart was a World Lord Level treasure recorded in Treasure Refining. Shi Fen only needed to make the most ordinary Evolution Heart to complete his task.
The requirement was low, but Treasure Refining recorded methods for making Evolution Hearts of several grades, each with a different level of talent. These were additional treasures listed in the inheritance, not ones Shi Fen was required to make.
There were many such extra treasures in Treasure Refining. Nearly every World Lord Level treasure had additional treasures recorded alongside it.
For instance, the World Lord Level treasure—the Multi-functional Ray Gun.
Several additional Ray Gun weapons were listed under it.
Therefore,
the actual number of treasures recorded in Treasure Refining was far greater than 11.1 billion.
Treasure Refining was extremely intricate and complex. But once Shi Fen completed every refining task, his foundation in treasure refining would be unrivaled!
By then, Shi Fen would be the most versatile, powerful, and accomplished Treasure Refiner.
After hearing Shi Fen's explanation, Babata was so excited he could barely contain himself. He rushed over, grabbed Shi Fen, and exclaimed fervently, "It's a deal! As you people on Earth say, once you've said it, you can't take it back!"
Babata firmly believed Shi Fen was a native of Earth. Strictly speaking, there was no way Shi Fen could know about a top-tier treasure from the universe like the Evolution Heart.
But as soon as Shi Fen explained the Evolution Heart, Babata believed him without the slightest hesitation.
"Uh, it's only an Evolution Heart. Is it really that big a deal?" Babata had grabbed his hand with such enthusiasm that Shi Fen looked troubled and genuinely baffled.
"'It's only an Evolution Heart'—what a thing to say! Shi Fen, I've made up my mind! From now on, I'm with you!" Babata bowed and saluted Shi Fen like a subordinate, speaking loudly.
His voice brimmed with excitement and exhilaration, along with a tremor of relief now that some of the pressure had been released.
Babata did something completely out of character: he set aside the pride he held as a powerful being in the universe and made a rather shameless decision.
"Master, I'll do whatever it takes to avenge you. You told me to find an heir, and I did. I'll make sure to raise him well. But you never said I couldn't join a faction. If I join Shi Fen's faction, I may have the chance to avenge you personally one day. Just wait, Master. I'll keep cultivating, and one day I'll kill Demon Hand King with my own hands!"
Babata's hatred for Demon Hand King was etched into his bones, a raging obsession.
When Babata realized he had a chance to take revenge with his own hands, he chose without hesitation to follow Shi Fen, who possessed a powerful inheritance.
Strictly speaking, Babata didn't actually have a "master" at that time. After Hu Yanbo died, Babata was an unbound sentient lifeform. Luo Feng hadn't yet taken him as his own, so Babata could decide his own actions.
Out of subconscious loyalty to Hu Yanbo, Babata had always followed Hu Yanbo's last wishes and searched for an heir. If Babata had possessed a usable mechanical body, he could have left Earth and actively searched for one.
But the reality was that Babata could only stay aboard the spaceship.
And wait for an heir to come to him.
Because of that, Babata had waited in bitter solitude for 50,000 years.
Babata's actions seemed reckless. But deep down, he had thought things through for a long time and found plenty of "reasons" to justify his choice.
First, the level of Shi Fen's inheritance was absurdly high.
Shi Fen's inheritance contained the methods for making Evolution Hearts, whose production had been restricted by the Machine Race—and there were several different methods. From Shi Fen's tone, Babata felt the Evolution Heart was just a minor trinket in his inheritance. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so dismissive of it.
The Treasure Refining Inheritance also possessed the methods of a supreme Soul Master. Babata had roamed the universe with Hu Yanbo and knew how terrifying Soul Masters could be.
Second, from a young age, Shi Fen had shown far more than ordinary levels of composure, intelligence, maturity, wisdom, foresight, cultivation talent, and forging talent, among other qualities. He also treated his family and friends well. Following Shi Fen would definitely pay off.
Third, Shi Fen had an unusual relationship with Luo Feng. Babata actually felt that he was the one benefiting from his connection to Luo Feng. Without that connection, it would have been very difficult for him to get close to Shi Fen.
After all, Shi Fen had once treated the Black Ink Star spaceship as if it were nothing. That proved Shi Fen didn't care for its inheritance at all. If Luo Feng hadn't been the one to obtain it, Babata seriously doubted he would ever have been able to contact Shi Fen.
Fourth, Babata's own intense desire for revenge drove him. He didn't want to remain trapped inside the spaceship, watching everything unfold with no power to act. He wanted to take action himself.
Fifth, Babata had the same unwavering determination as Luo Feng.
The two of them had similar personalities, which was why they got along so well. Babata's 50,000 years of solitude aboard the spaceship had given him an intense thirst for revenge and an almost fanatical desire to cultivate. When an opportunity appeared, how could he let it slip away?
Sixth, after putting together all the clues he had discovered, Babata was willing to make a bold gamble.
And finally, there was Babata's own selfish motive.
With a super backer this promising, I should attach myself to him early. Then I can be one of the heroes who helped him expand his territory and secure a good position by Shi Fen's side.
After learning the hard way from Hu Yanbo's excessive individualism, Babata was eager to join forces with a big organization. With someone as promising as Shi Fen, all he had to do was guide and help him patiently. How could Shi Fen fail to become a major figure?
What was more, Shi Fen's domain might very well be a "soul-type" domain. Babata had never seen such a rare domain before, but he dared to guess—and he had guessed right.
Babata still wasn't certain of his choice. Since he had already formed a connection with Luo Feng, he had a way back. Even so, he boldly gambled on his future!
What Babata didn't know was that his gamble had paid off!
Seeing Babata bow to him, Shi Fen looked intensely shocked, unable to believe his eyes.
The salute Babata had performed was the ancient Huaxia Country ritual used by generals and ministers when paying respect to their ruler. It carried great significance: it was a gesture of submission.
"Wasn't Babata supposed to be a proud alien powerhouse? How come he's so easy to deal with? I haven't even brought out my trump cards yet! This is unbelievable!" Shi Fen stared at Babata with a strange expression, unable to figure out what he was up to.
"Heh, I think I performed the ritual correctly. It should be the same as the ancient ritual in your country, right?" Babata looked perfectly calm. A hint of relief showed at the corners of his mouth, and he didn't feel the slightest embarrassment at Shi Fen's exaggerated reaction. He teased him calmly.
"It does look pretty similar." Shi Fen nodded without thinking.
"Heh, I only managed it after searching through your historical records," Babata said calmly.
Shi Fen was clever and immediately thought of a few possibilities.
I must have let something slip in my everyday behavior, leaving clues for Babata to find. Could he have seen me using the Eight Trigrams Reincarnation Mirror? That shouldn't be possible. I was always careful when I used it.
Shi Fen had no idea what had given him away. He had too many secrets, and he didn't dare ask Babata.
Whatever. I achieved my goal. I'll ask him once I've grown stronger.
Shi Fen was very reluctant to make that decision. For someone as obsessive as him, this was like a thorn in his heart, and not asking left him unbearably frustrated. Only his reason allowed him to hold back.
Shi Fen furrowed his brow and considered the matter briefly before asking seriously, "Babata, I'm asking you sincerely. When you said you wanted to follow me, did you truly mean it? Are you genuinely willing to become my subordinate?"
Babata answered without hesitation. "Yes. You'll be my master from now on. Even if Luo Feng takes me as his own one day, you'll still be my master."
"Good! I don't know why you made this decision, but I'll tell you this: one day, you'll be glad you made it." Shi Fen laughed heartily as he replied.
Before you continue