Made it just in time

Above Mist Island Lake on the Australian Continent.

After their owners spent some time searching and finally gave up, the fighters hovering over the lake departed one after another.

Inside the Smart Fighter Jet's cabin.

Yang Zheng looked out at the pristine blue sky, where white clouds drifted like silk along the horizon. He was not exactly in a wonderful mood, but it was nowhere near enough to cloud his judgment.

"Uh... huh?"

Just as he was about to order the fighter to return, a familiar figure burst out of the lake. It was Luo Feng, who had rushed over.

"Whew!"

"Made it just in time!"

Luo Feng looked around, quickly spotted Yang Zheng's Smart Fighter Jet, and slowly flew toward it.

"Luo Feng, take him in!"

"Take him in right now!"

Babata's rather ambiguous words kept ringing in Luo Feng's mind. While hurriedly responding inwardly, he used his Spiritual Force to transmit his voice.

"War God Yang Zheng, please wait!"

Fortunately, Luo Feng was not playing the role of Shen Gongbao. Otherwise, instead of stopping, Yang Zheng would have fled at once.

Inside Luo Feng's King-Level Intelligent Fighter.

Babata had just modified the Smart Fighter Jet's systems, making it considerably safer to talk inside.

"Yang Zheng, what do you think of the universe?"

Luo Feng gazed at Yang Zheng. Deep down, he did not quite trust him yet, but since Babata had decided to accept Yang Zheng into their lineage, their relationship would become much closer in the future.

"The universe?"

Playing dumb, Yang Zheng shook his head. "All I can say is that Earth Humans know far too little about the universe. We haven't even fully explored those Ancient Civilization Ruins yet."

He had a vague idea of what Luo Feng wanted to say. He had also somewhat underestimated his own talent as a Spirit Reader-or perhaps, while he had been unconscious, other changes had occurred that he still had not figured out.

"Exactly!" Luo Feng nodded in agreement.

"There's still so much of Earth's oceans that humanity hasn't explored. How could humans confined to Earth possibly pass judgment on a universe countless times vaster than those oceans?"

Humans were creatures who always thought they understood everything once they understood a little. Only when they progressed further would they discover just how outrageously wrong their earlier assumptions had been.

They had not even figured out Earth's own species or the principles governing them, yet they tried to construct a model of the observed universe using a few "simple principles." They even declared outright that humans were the only intelligent life in the Milky Way Galaxy, or across an even larger region.

"Frogs at the bottom of a well!"

Luo Feng shook his head, imitating Babata's tone. "The civilizations and races in the universe are incredibly complex and mysterious. Humanity's understanding is far too narrow."

"Yang Zheng, I've inherited a secret lineage that includes cultivation methods for Spirit Readers," Luo Feng said solemnly. "You have exceptional talent as a Spirit Reader. I'd like to invite you to join the lineage I cultivate."

Even if Babata had not brought it up, Luo Feng would eventually have suggested letting Yang Zheng join Yunmo Star. Once he had sufficient strength, he would even invite Hong and Thunder God.

Earth was simply too weak.

In the universe, primitive planets like Earth often met miserable fates. Once discovered by outsiders, the lucky ones became someone else's territory. The unlucky ones had their entire populations enslaved and sold.

Ever since learning more from Babata, Luo Feng had felt a constant weight on his heart.

As an Earthling, he naturally hoped that his home planet could thrive. For that, Earth needed enough powerful individuals-or a single individual who was powerful enough.

Otherwise, any random fleet traveling through space could plunge Earth into eternal doom.

"I'll join!"

After Luo Feng gave him a brief introduction, Yang Zheng asked no further questions. Faced with a legacy of this caliber, asking too much would only make him seem even more "out of his mind."

"Luo Feng, that Yang Zheng's talent really is extraordinary!"

Inside the Smart Fighter Jet, Yang Zheng had already left, leaving Luo Feng seated inside alone. Babata's voice rang out in his Sea of Consciousness.

"I just scanned him. Not only is his Brain Domain Width very high, but his Spiritual Force has already reached planetary level third tier, and his physical attributes are at planetary level too. Didn't you say he was still an apprentice just over ten days ago?"

A Spirit Reader with a Brain Domain Width of 45 would have more or less met the standard even when Babata's master was still alive.

"What?"

Luo Feng was stunned. What kind of cultivation speed was that? Yang Zheng had clearly been a War God before, and now he had simply gone and surpassed him?

A planetary level third tier Spirit Reader.

A planetary level first tier Gene Warrior.

Luo Feng himself was still only a planetary level first tier Spirit Reader, though cultivating various secret techniques and wielding the Sky-Escaping Shuttle gave him confidence in his strength.

But Yang Zheng had now joined the lineage too. Soon, he would learn those secret techniques and receive the weapons prepared for him.

"Don't get discouraged. You're fellow disciples now. The greater your talent and strength, the better you'll be able to support each other," Babata advised him in his mind.

"Oh, right. Once you've bound the Cloud-Touching Vine to yourself, give the Crimson Chaos Copper Mother Fragment to Yang Zheng!"

"I knew it. And you said I was the only direct disciple!"

Luo Feng felt as though his standing had slipped a little. He had gone from being the sole disciple to having another alongside him, although he was still the direct disciple and Yang Zheng was only a Named Disciple.

Still, grumbling was one thing.

He decided to give Yang Zheng the Crimson Chaos Copper Mother Fragment anyway. They would be close fellow disciples in the future, and the stronger they both became, the better equipped they would be to face future crises.

"What are you moping about?"

"That fruit I gave you earlier for the young Cloud-Touching Vine to devour was specially prepared by your teacher for your vine. It's worth far more than the Crimson Chaos Copper Mother Fragment."

"Babata, didn't you say those were all the things Teacher left me?"

"Shut up and focus on cultivating so you can surpass Yang Zheng."

Late that night, a deep-blue triangular Smart Fighter Jet flew over the Main Urban District of Northwest Base City.

The lights in Yang Zheng's home in the Canglan Residential Area were still on. His father, mother, younger brother, and younger sister all seemed to be waiting for him.

"Brother, you've become a Councilor?"

The moment Yang Zheng stepped through the door, his younger sister Yang Jing rushed over, staring at him with her large eyes.

Behind her, his parents and younger brother Yang Yi all watched him expectantly.

"That's right. I was lucky enough to break

through!"

Yang Zheng smiled and nodded. Yang Jing and Yang Yi immediately cheered, and even his father, Wang Jiu, could not help growing excited.

Councilor level!

Every one of them stood high above the rest. Any Councilor could stand as an equal beside presidents and other leaders of the Five Great Powers. Even as the head of the Wang Family, Wang Jiu had to treat them with the utmost respect.

Wang Jiu looked at Yang Zheng with deep pride. He still remembered him hunting monsters in the Wilderness Zone just a few months ago. Now, in those few short months, he had become one of Earth's strongest warriors.

"Oh, Zheng, which channel will broadcast your inauguration ceremony as Inspector tomorrow?" His mother, Yang Rong, also came forward.

"You can watch it on the dedicated channels for the Limit Martial Hall, the Thunder Dojo, the HR Alliance, and the national television network, among others."

After joining Yunmo Star inside Luo Feng's Smart Fighter Jet, Yang Zheng had been summoned by Hong for another meeting.

As for the position of Inspector, where "the capable hold office," it naturally fell into place. With Yang Zheng's strength at this level, there was no escaping the appointment.

It was only a position, after all.

The Limit Martial Hall had nurtured him all this time, and the support it offered truly left nothing to complain about. Never mind an Inspector's position-even if they gave him the Chief Hall Master's position, he could shoulder it.