Return to Earth, Master and Disciple Reunited

At the exit of Primal Star, the spatial rift remained open. Qin Yuan flew all the way out from the central region, encountering several groups of Alien Race Universe Masters along the way. But after sensing the lingering aura of the Lord of Sky Wolf on him from afar, they all tactfully kept their distance.

Even the Lord of Sky Wolf, a peak sixth-tier Universe Master, had died at this human's hands. Wouldn't third- and fourth-tier Universe Masters like them just be throwing their lives away if they went after him?

Qin Yuan couldn't be bothered with those little fish and shrimp. All his thoughts were on Earth now, on the disciple he had been separated from for several months.

After flying out of Primal Star and returning to the vast starry sky of the Primal Universe, Qin Yuan immediately contacted the system.

"System, teleport me directly to Earth."

[Target located: Milky Way Galaxy · Solar System · Earth. Approximately 300 million light-years from current location.]

[Recommended: use Concealed Teleportation for 300 points to completely conceal teleportation fluctuations.]

[Current points: 4,400. Confirm use?]

"Confirm."

[300 points deducted. Remaining points: 4,100.]

[Concealed Teleportation activated. Teleportation countdown: 3, 2, 1...]

The familiar light of teleportation flashed, and Qin Yuan vanished from the void outside Primal Star.

The next moment, a figure appeared out of thin air beyond Pluto's orbit at the edge of the Solar System.

Qin Yuan hovered in space, looking down at the blue planet. After several months apart, Earth was still silently revolving around the sun, its surface covered by white clouds and blue oceans, like a sapphire set in black velvet.

His divine sense surged out like a tide, covering the entire Earth in an instant.

Planetary Level, Star Level, Universe Level... With his current strength, scanning the life auras on a planet was effortless. Before long, he locked onto a familiar aura in Yangzhou City, Jiangnan Base City.

Luo Feng.

To Qin Yuan's delight, Luo Feng's aura was more than dozens of times stronger than when he had left. Once at Planetary Level First Stage, he had now firmly reached-

Star Level!

[Disciple Luo Feng detected completing a realm breakthrough!]

[Breakthrough details: Planetary Level First Stage → Stellar Level One]

[Master-Disciple Cashback System triggered!]

[Cashback multiplier: 4× (current bond level: level 4 · deep bond between master and disciple)]

[Cashback: Luo Feng's Law Comprehension from this breakthrough ×4, Genetic Origin Energy purity ×4, soul strength increase ×4, Law of Metal comprehension ×4, Law of Wood comprehension ×4!]

[Receive?]

A pleased smile appeared at the corner of Qin Yuan's mouth. Luo Feng had indeed not disappointed him. Not only had he broken through to Star Level, but he had also comprehended both the Law of Metal and the Law of Wood. This was even a step ahead of his progress in the original story.

"Receive."

A vast, pure energy poured into Qin Yuan's divine body. The sharpness of the Law of Metal, the unceasing vitality of the Law of Wood, and Luo Feng's new understanding of Genetic Origin Energy gained during his breakthrough to Star Level all merged into Qin Yuan's consciousness at four times their original strength.

Although the energy and comprehension contained in a breakthrough from Planetary Level to Star Level were not much for a Universe Master like him, they made up for it in purity and solid foundations. The comprehension of the Laws of Metal and Wood in particular filled a gap in his understanding of the Five Element Laws. He had previously focused on cultivating the two higher laws of time and space and had not delved deeply into the Five Element Laws. Now, thanks to this cashback, he had gained a rudimentary understanding of them.

[Side quest "A Great Master Produces a Fine Disciple" completed!]

[Rewards obtained: Gene Level Upgrade Card (500×) ×1, System Points ×2,000, Ultimate Secret Technique Comprehension Card ×1.]

[Claim rewards?]

"Claim."

[Gene Level Upgrade Card used.]

[Host Gene Level: 2,700× → 3,200×!]

[System Points: 4,100 + 2,000 = 6,100.]

[Ultimate Secret Technique Comprehension Card delivered to system space. It can be used at any time.]

A Gene Level of 3,200 times!

Qin Yuan clenched his fist, feeling the surging power coursing through his divine body. Before leaving Primal Star, his Gene Level had been 2,700 times, and with his various methods, he had already been able to kill the peak sixth-tier Lord of Sky Wolf. Now that his Gene Level had broken through the 3,000-times threshold and reached 3,200 times, his overall combat strength had risen another notch.

If he faced the Lord of Sky Wolf again, he was confident he could finish the fight within three moves.

Concealing his aura, Qin Yuan flashed through Earth's atmosphere without a sound and landed in the abandoned industrial district on the outskirts of Yangzhou City.

The warehouse was still the same warehouse, unchanged from when he had left. There were even traces of Luo Feng's training on the ground-fist prints, footprints, and furrows carved into the earth during his Spiritual Force training.

Qin Yuan did not enter the warehouse. Instead, he found a clean rock outside, sat down, and waited quietly.

It was the weekend, and from what he knew of Luo Feng, he should come here to train around this time.

Sure enough, less than half an hour later, a figure came speeding from the direction of Yangzhou City. The figure moved so quickly that an ordinary person would see only a blurry shadow flashing past, unable to make out his appearance at all.

Luo Feng landed in front of the warehouse and was about to push the door open when his body suddenly went rigid.

He spun around and saw Qin Yuan sitting on a rock not far away.

"Mas... Master?"

Luo Feng's voice trembled slightly, as though he could hardly believe his eyes. His master had been gone for several months. He had trained here every day, hoping every day for his master's return. Now that his master really was back, he found himself at a loss.

Qin Yuan stood up, looked Luo Feng up and down, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad. Stellar Level One. You've grasped the basics of both the Law of Metal and the Law of Wood. You've done even better than I expected."

Luo Feng strode over to Qin Yuan, dropped to his knees, and respectfully kowtowed three times.

"Your disciple Luo Feng respectfully welcomes you back, Master!"

Qin Yuan reached out and helped him up, his eyes full of satisfaction. After several months apart, Luo Feng had not only grown stronger, but his temperament had also become steadier. The unruly youth of the original story, whose sharp edge had been on full display, had gained a measure of restraint and substance under his tutelage.

"Get up. Tell me what's happened these past few months."

The two entered the warehouse and sat facing each other on meditation cushions. Luo Feng recounted everything that had happened over the past few months.

It turned out that Luo Feng had reached Planetary Level Peak shortly after Qin Yuan left. He had continued cultivating the Fallen Star Technique Qin Yuan had left him, while hunting monsters in the Wilderness Zone to hone his combat skills. A month ago, during a life-and-death struggle with a Star Level monster, he had broken through in the midst of battle and successfully stepped into Star Level.

"When I broke through, I felt as though I touched two laws at the same time," Luo Feng said. "One was golden and very sharp, as though it could cut through anything. The other was green and full of vitality. Only later did I learn they were the Law of Metal and the Law of Wood."

Qin Yuan nodded. In the original story, Luo Feng had excelled in the Five Element Laws of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. In the end, he had even fused them to create the peerless secret technique Five Element Samsara. Now that he had comprehended the Laws of Metal and Wood ahead of time, he had taken the first step down the right path.

"Master, where have you been these past few months?" Luo Feng asked curiously.

"I went to a place called Primal Star," Qin Yuan said casually. "Killed a few people and picked up a few things."

He made it sound casual, but if Luo Feng learned that "killed a few people" meant slaying five Universe Masters in succession, including the peak sixth-tier Lord of Sky Wolf, who knew what he would think?

"Primal Star?" Luo Feng's eyes were full of yearning. "What kind of place is it?"

"A secret realm in the universe. Only experts at the Universe Master Level are qualified to enter." Seeing the desire flash in Luo Feng's eyes, Qin Yuan smiled. "There's no need to rush. Once you reach Universe Level, I'll take you to the Outer Domain Battlefield to broaden your horizons. The Outer Domain Battlefield may not compare to Primal Star, but for you at your current stage, it's already an excellent place to gain experience."

"The Outer Domain Battlefield!" Luo Feng's eyes lit up. He had heard Qin Yuan mention it before and knew it was a place where countless races in the universe fought, a place where true experts tempered themselves.

"But before you go, there's one more thing you need to do." Qin Yuan's expression turned serious.

"What is it?"

"Awaken another power within you."

Luo Feng froze. "Another power?"

Qin Yuan did not answer directly. Instead, he asked, "Do you know your origins?"

Luo Feng frowned. "My origins? I'm just an ordinary Earthling. My father is Luo Hongguo, and my mother is Gong Xinlan..."

"Those are your origins in this life," Qin Yuan interrupted. "But your soul doesn't belong to Earth."

Luo Feng's expression changed. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he said nothing.

Qin Yuan looked at him and spoke slowly. "Hidden in your soul is a mark left by an ancient mighty being. That mighty being is called Yuan. He is one of the existences standing at the very pinnacle of the entire universe. And you are the inheritor he chose."

Luo Feng was utterly stunned.

Yuan? An ancient mighty being? An inheritor? The revelations were so shocking that his mind went blank.

Qin Yuan did not rush him, instead waiting quietly for him to digest the information.

After a long while, Luo Feng finally spoke with difficulty. "Master... are you saying that the reason I have a talent for cultivation, the reason you took notice of me, is all because of that being called Yuan?"

"Yes and no." Qin Yuan shook his head. "The mark Yuan left behind did give you potential far beyond that of ordinary people. But potential is only potential. Whether you can turn it into strength depends on you. When I took you as my disciple, it wasn't Yuan's mark I saw value in, but you, Luo Feng-your will, your resilience, and your spirit of never giving up."

He paused, then continued, "Besides, Yuan's mark isn't some gift. It's a responsibility. Inheriting his power means taking on the corresponding mission. That mission is far heavier than you imagine."

Luo Feng was silent for a moment. Then he raised his head and looked at Qin Yuan with determination. "Master, no matter what that mission is, I'm willing to bear it. Because only by becoming stronger can I protect the people I want to protect-my parents, my younger brother, and... Earth."

Approval shone in Qin Yuan's eyes. This was the Luo Feng he knew, the Galaxy Lord who would do whatever it took to protect his home.

"Good." Qin Yuan stood up. "Then I'll teach you how to awaken Yuan's mark right now."