Luo Feng's Possession

"What kind of deal do you want to discuss?" Luo Feng asked.

Babata existed only virtually, and they had not prepared any of the special equipment Qiong used.

So Luo Feng had to negotiate on Babata's behalf.

"A tremendous opportunity in exchange for a Space Secret Technique," Dongguan said calmly.

"A tremendous opportunity? What opportunity on Earth could I, the great Babata, possibly not know about? And he wants a Space Secret Technique for it? Luo Feng, tell him that I, the great Babata, will never sell out any part of Meteorite Star's inheritance! A Space Secret Technique, no less! Does he have any idea how precious those are? Some tremendous opportunity!" Babata ranted in the Virtual Space.

"Brother Guan, Babata declined the deal," Luo Feng relayed to Dongguan.

"Declined? Without even hearing what it is?" Dongguan asked.

"Go on, have him explain. Let's see what tremendous opportunity could possibly be worth a Space Secret Technique." Babata did not believe it.

Actually, Babata believed there were tremendous opportunities worth more than a Space Secret Technique. What Babata did not believe was that someone would offer such an opportunity in a trade.

"Come with me." Dongguan turned into a streak of light and flew away, though he kept his speed low, clearly waiting for Luo Feng.

The Crescent Moon Disk was a round disk that could separate into many crescent-shaped flying daggers.

Luo Feng rode the Crescent Moon Disk after Dongguan.

Even with their speed reduced, they traveled at over ten times the speed of sound.

Dongguan hovered above the Wilderness Zone and looked down. Luo Feng caught up with him.

Then they descended into a valley.

Even after humanity ventured beyond the base cities, reclaiming Earth would be a lengthy process. This valley was one of the places still untouched.

Even in the past, most of the monsters around Jiangnan Base City had gathered in the cities. There had been few in this valley.

With no lord-level monsters here, the troops and warriors conducting sweeps had overlooked it.

"What are we doing here?" Luo Feng landed after him and surveyed their surroundings. It was just a desolate valley, with nothing special about it.

Then he saw Dongguan summon an enormous disk thirty meters in diameter out of thin air. An enormous monster lay on it.

"Is he inviting me to eat this unusual monster?"

Seeing the pitch-black monster arranged on the disk like a dish on a platter, Luo Feng made a guess.

He also looked toward the monster's lower abdomen.

This was a King Level monster, so it must be highly nourishing. Still, Xu Xin was pregnant now. He could consider saving it until after she gave birth.

But he did not seem to see the thing he had imagined.

"Is it female? Or is it hidden?"

The Golden-Horned Behemoth suddenly found itself somewhere else. Although it could not move, it was puzzled.

Then it saw the Star Level human who had captured it appear before it with another Planetary Grade human.

In particular, the Planetary Grade human was looking at it in a way that made its skin crawl.

He wants to eat me? Drawing on its inherited memories, the Golden-Horned Behemoth quickly pieced everything together. When he looked toward its lower abdomen, it felt an especially intense chill.

According to its inherited memories, captured Golden-Horned Behemoth cubs could be enslaved or subjected to Possession. But being eaten was never mentioned.

Am I going to become the first Golden-Horned Behemoth eaten by a human? The Golden-Horned Behemoth felt an urge to preserve this memory in its inherited memories.

Then realization struck. It understood why there was no information about Golden-Horned Behemoths being eaten.

A Golden-Horned Behemoth that had been eaten no longer existed, so how could it leave anything behind? Even the accounts of those subjected to Possession or enslavement were experiences preserved by other Golden-Horned Behemoths that had witnessed them. Those beasts themselves had left no inherited memories.

Besides, it had an Origin Core. As long as its Origin Core remained intact, it could keep recovering.

That thought made it even more miserable.

Try eating me, and you'll break your teeth, the Golden-Horned Behemoth thought as it glared viciously at Luo Feng. A mere Planetary Grade human wanted to eat it? But the inherited memories say humans cook their food before eating it.

Ignoring the Golden-Horned Behemoth's rich inner turmoil, Dongguan looked at Luo Feng and pointed at it. "This is the tremendous opportunity I mentioned."

"Hm?" Luo Feng was baffled. How could a monster be a tremendous opportunity?

Seeing Luo Feng's blank look, Dongguan prompted him, "You can ask Babata."

Babata had fallen into a daze. Only when Luo Feng asked did Babata reply, "Heavens! How could a Golden-Horned Behemoth appear on Earth?"

"A Golden-Horned Behemoth?" Luo Feng did not understand.

"It belongs to one of the twelve supreme bloodlines among Starry Sky Behemoths. It reaches World Lord Level just by maturing."

"Could Dongguan's inheritance have included a sealed Golden-Horned Behemoth? But that doesn't make sense. This Golden-Horned Behemoth is only Planetary Grade. Was it preserved through some special method?"

Although anyone in the universe who failed to reach immortality had a limited lifespan, there were still ways to live longer, such as being placed in a Time Deceleration space or being preserved through freezing.

Babata could not understand why anyone would leave a Golden-Horned Behemoth cub as part of an inheritance.

"This is a Golden-Horned Behemoth?" After hearing Babata's explanation, Luo Feng asked Dongguan as well.

"Exactly. A supreme Starry Sky Behemoth bloodline that reaches World Lord Level upon maturity—a Golden-Horned Behemoth." Dongguan smiled.

"It came with your inheritance?"

"No." Dongguan shook his head. "Its egg arrived on Earth a little over a year ago, in the Pacific Ocean. I caught it while dealing with the Thunder Dragon Emperor."

He made it sound effortless, but this creature had worried Dongguan for more than a year, from the time he recovered his memories until he obtained the Qiongluo Ship's inheritance.

Inside the disk-shaped containment device, the Golden-Horned Behemoth listened in bewilderment as the two humans discussed something.

Its inherited memories contained no Earth languages, only, at most, the Human Race's Universal Language.

It was not that it could not learn. It had simply been captured before it even finished eating its eggshell. When would it have had the time?

Still, their occasional glances at it allowed the Golden-Horned Behemoth to guess that they were discussing it.

Luo Feng froze at Dongguan's explanation. "Thank you. On behalf of all Earthlings, thank you for helping us avert a world-ending crisis."

Although he did not know exactly how quickly the Golden-Horned Behemoth grew, its potential was obvious from the fact that it reached World Lord Level upon maturity.

Babata had said it would take fifty years to help him reach Star Level. But what about the Golden-Horned Behemoth?

It would not need fifty years. Besides, a Star Level Golden-Horned Behemoth was not the same as a Star Level human.

"No need to thank me. I count as an Earthling too. I was born and raised here. Compared with that place, Earth feels more like my home," Dongguan said.

Luo Feng instinctively glanced at Dongguan's forehead. He was still wearing his forehead guard.

However, Luo Feng also understood that Dongguan already knew he had learned his identity: an alien visitor born on Earth.

Since Dongguan knew about Babata and Hu Yanbo, he could naturally deduce Babata's detection capabilities.

"What did you mean by that tremendous opportunity?" Luo Feng could not help asking.

"Enslavement, of course!" Babata said. "Your teacher built his illustrious reputation as the Master of Yunmo Star by enslaving nine immortals. If you enslave the Golden-Horned Behemoth, its innate gifts will be enough for you to roam the universe unchallenged. Once you cultivate the Soul Seal and enslave it, it won't be able to resist even if its cultivation surpasses yours."

"But why wouldn't he enslave it himself? Why give it to you? For a Space Secret Technique? Or does he lack an enslavement technique?"

Babata was puzzled. Meteorite Star's Space Secret Techniques had their unique strengths, but while the Yunmo Star Inheritance as a whole might rival the Golden-Horned Behemoth in value, a single Space Secret Technique certainly was not enough.

"Do you mean enslaving it?" Luo Feng asked as well.

"Not enslavement. Possession," Dongguan answered.

"Possession of the Golden-Horned Behemoth?" Luo Feng frowned. That meant turning himself into a monster. The Golden-Horned Behemoth might look imposing, but it was not human.

"After taking Possession of the Golden-Horned Behemoth, you can naturally grow to World Lord Level, though you may encounter some problems when trying to become immortal. But that isn't the most important part. The Golden-Horned Behemoth has three Innate Secret Techniques. One of them is cloning. At Planetary Grade, Universe Level, and World Lord Level, it can nurture one clone each. The Clone Secret Technique is practically the best means of survival in the entire universe. And different clones have other marvelous uses for cultivation."

"A Clone Secret Technique?" Luo Feng still did not understand, but Babata was already shouting.

"Luo Feng, you don't need to worry about no longer being human! With the Clone Secret Technique, you can reserve one clone slot for a human body. You'll still be able to travel the universe as a human!" Babata urged him repeatedly.

Luo Feng remained reluctant and communicated with Babata mentally. "But we have to exchange a Space Secret Technique for it. Didn't you say you would never agree?"

"Right, a Space Secret Technique..." Babata hesitated. "How about asking him which Space Secret Technique he wants?"

Luo Feng realized that this Golden-Horned Behemoth, especially its Clone Secret Technique, was extraordinarily tempting.

Hearing Dongguan call it the best means of survival in the universe had also given him some insight.

Although he did not want to take Possession of a monster, Luo Feng still asked, "Babata wants me to ask which Space Secret Technique you want."

"The Secret Art immortal Hu Yanbo used to conceal Earth's coordinates in the Dark Universe. Of course, what I need most is the method for returning to Earth through the Dark Universe," Dongguan said frankly.

Apart from that and the Possession Secret Art, his inheritance contained equivalents to everything else.

Even if some lacked the distinctive strengths of Hu Yanbo's techniques, they were not things Dongguan urgently needed.

And since he did not intend to take Possession of the Golden-Horned Behemoth, he was no longer so eager to obtain a Possession Secret Art.

The monster crisis had been resolved, and the Golden-Horned Behemoth was already in his grasp. To deal with the Universe Adventurer Nolan Mountain, he had to enter the universe.

He had a full ten million cubic meters of universe crystals, more than enough to buy Earth.

Thus, his only need was a way to return after leaving.

"Agreed." After wrestling with the decision, Babata finally consented.

On Earth, the Zerg Mother Nest and the Machine Race spacecraft might exceed the Golden-Horned Behemoth in value, but they certainly meant less to Luo Feng.

"No." Luo Feng refused.

Although he personally trusted Dongguan, he would never gamble with Earth's safety.

"Luo Feng, that's a Golden-Horned Behemoth! If you take Possession of it, you're guaranteed to become a World Lord, and you'll have the Clone Secret Technique too. Otherwise, even with your teacher's inheritance, I can only guarantee you'll become a Domain Lord. Reaching World Lord will depend on your own efforts!" Babata grew anxious. Babata had finally agreed to divulge part of the inheritance, only for Luo Feng to refuse.

"I won't take Possession of the Golden-Horned Behemoth," Luo Feng told Babata. "Reaching World Lord upon maturity is certainly tempting, but I can become a World Lord without taking Possession of it. And even if I can't, so what? You said my bloodline has very little potential, and even with Teacher Hu Yanbo's inheritance, you can only guarantee I'll reach Domain Lord. But becoming a Domain Lord and seeing more of the universe would be enough."

"Still, I'll keep working hard at cultivation. As long as I live, I'll keep advancing. If I fail to achieve my goal, it will only be because I fell along the way. As long as I give cultivation everything I have and keep a clear conscience, I'll have no regrets. But selling out Earth? Sorry, I can't do that."

In the real world, Luo Feng looked at Dongguan. "Sorry, Brother Guan. I've disappointed you. We can discuss anything else, but not Earth's coordinates. Besides, I don't want to take Possession of the Golden-Horned Behemoth. I don't want to become a monster, no matter how great its potential or how bright its future."

After glancing at the Golden-Horned Behemoth, Luo Feng turned to leave.

The Golden-Horned Behemoth looked utterly confused. This human isn't going to eat me anymore?

"Wait." Dongguan stopped Luo Feng. "It's fine even if you won't sell Earth's coordinates. At worst, I can leave with you, or leave first and contact you again after you enter the universe."

Luo Feng stopped and turned back toward Dongguan. "Brother Guan, I don't understand. Why are you so determined to have me take Possession of the Golden-Horned Behemoth? If it's such a wonderful opportunity, why don't you take Possession of it yourself?"

"Because this truly is an exceptionally rare opportunity." Dongguan glanced again at the bewildered Golden-Horned Behemoth cub. "Besides, do you think I don't want to? It simply isn't suitable for me. Right now, you're the only person on Earth best suited to taking Possession of the Golden-Horned Behemoth. And for certain reasons, my inheritance happens to lack a Possession Secret Art."

"Why me?" Luo Feng asked, puzzled.

"Do you know how difficult Possession is? It also comes with quite a few restrictions. First, you need a Secret Art. Right now, you're the only person on Earth with a Possession Secret Art. And since you have Hu Yanbo's inheritance, you should have an Inheritance Soul Seal, right? With that, your chances of successful Possession will be very high. Then there's the restriction imposed by your Origin Force's attribute."

"The restriction imposed by my Origin Force's attribute?" Luo Feng thought of his own metal attribute and the Golden-Horned Behemoth's matching attribute, and began to understand. But his Possession Secret Art had mentioned nothing about this.

"Ultimately, the body you gain through Possession isn't your own. There will be some incompatibility between soul and flesh, which makes attaining immortality more difficult."

"Nonsense! Master gained a Longke Clan body through Possession, and didn't he still become immortal?" Babata shouted.

"More difficult doesn't mean impossible. And if your original Origin Force attribute matches that of your Possession target, it reduces that obstacle." Dongguan stared at Luo Feng. "Are those reasons enough?"

"They are." Luo Feng nodded. "But I still don't want to possess it. I think being human, being an Earthling, is good."

"Luo Feng, he's willing to give it to you for free! With such an enormous benefit, can't you at least accept it first?" Babata kept trying to persuade him in the Virtual Space.

"In that case, forget it." Dongguan shook his head. "Only Possession can bring out the full value of this opportunity. For now, I'll keep the Golden-Horned Behemoth at Sand Sea Villa. You know the place—my residence. If you change your mind, come over. There's just one problem: this Golden-Horned Behemoth is on a hunger strike. I don't know how long it can hold out."

If it had been a Huisuo Giant Beast, enslavement and Possession would have been roughly equal in value. But with the Golden-Horned Behemoth's cloning ability, enslaving it instead of possessing it would be a waste.

"A hunger strike?" Luo Feng looked at the Golden-Horned Behemoth in surprise.

The man and beast met each other's eyes.

"Oooh..." The Golden-Horned Behemoth wanted to turn its head to show its disdain, but it could not move at all.

The two men parted.

Luo Feng returned to Jiangnan Base City.

Dongguan also went home, to Sand Sea Villa near Northern Frontier Base City.

Several more months passed, bringing them into 2059.

By the time Xu Xin told Luo Feng, she had already been pregnant for a while. She simply had not noticed it herself earlier, nor told Luo Feng.

In January 2059, her two children with Luo Feng were finally about to be born.

Jiangnan First Hospital.

Outside the delivery room, Luo Feng waited anxiously.

Although he was already Planetary Grade, these were his first children. On the verge of becoming a father, Luo Feng was overwhelmed by complicated emotions.

"Babata, Xu Xin is all right, isn't she?" Once again, he reached into the Virtual Space with his mind.

"She's fine," Babata answered wearily. "It's only been five minutes, and you've asked eight times."

"As long as she's fine. Oh, right, what do you think we should name the children? I want them to be safe and sound. How about calling one Luo Ping and the other Luo An? Do you think that's good?"

"Whatever you like. You're their father. You have the right to name them however you want."

"Or maybe Luo Shan and Luo Hai? Like mountains and seas. That's pretty good too. But since my name means mountain peak, wouldn't calling my child Luo Shan be a bit repetitive?"

Babata no longer wanted to respond.

Soon, a nurse emerged from the delivery room and looked at Luo Feng.

"Councilor Luo, the mother and both boys are safe. One weighs 3.8 kilograms, and the other weighs 3.05 kilograms."

Luo Feng immediately lost his composure and rushed into the delivery room.

"Councilor Luo, this is the delivery room! You can't barge in."

The nurse tried to stop him, but who could hold Luo Feng back?

First, he comforted Xu Xin. Only after she fell asleep did Luo Feng pick up the children.

In the end, after discussing it with his parents and Xu Xin, Luo Feng decided to name the children Luo Ping and Luo Hai.

Sand Sea Villa.

The outer wall was actually like the Great Wall, formed from a continuous series of small structures.

The entire villa felt like a city, a city standing in the desert.

Sitting atop the wall, Dongguan watched the great sun sink.

A lone plume of smoke rose straight above the vast desert; over the long river, the setting sun was round.

There was no lone plume of smoke or long river, only the desert and the setting sun, but Dongguan still thought of that line of poetry.

A purplish-red fighter aircraft flew over, identical to the one parked in his courtyard.

"You've decided?" Dongguan asked as Luo Feng stepped out.

"I have." Luo Feng nodded.

"No regrets?"

"No regrets."

After spending only a week with his family following the children's birth, Luo Feng told them he would enter secluded cultivation for at least a year. Then he came here.

"Then I'll leave it to you."

Dongguan took out the Golden-Horned Behemoth, along with the remaining eggshell.

In the end, Luo Feng had decided to possess the Golden Horned Beast.

One could only say that becoming a father changed a man.