Meeting Luo Feng and Refusing to Take a Master (An Explanation of Draw Prices)
What? Luo Feng wants to see me?
On the second day after breaking through to Planetary Level, Li Jing received the news.
Wu Tong had come to deliver the message and was now accompanying Li Jing to Luo Feng's West Lake Villa, beside West Lake. As they went, Li Jing pondered the matter.
Shouldn't Luo Feng be busy out in the universe right now, buying survival bases and setting them up across Earth's continents,
so that he could preserve some of humanity's elites when the Nolanshan Family Fleet arrived,
then look for an opportunity to break through to Star Level and buy Earth?
Why would he suddenly want to see Li Jing now?
Could it be Babata?
Li Jing suddenly remembered that Babata had a way to monitor what happened inside Ancient Civilization Ruins No. 9.
The Core Inheritance of the Yunmo Star Lineage was for Spirit Readers.
And at Ancient Civilization Ruins No. 9, Li Jing's Brain Domain Width had been measured at a staggering 32, far surpassing Luo Feng's back then.
Perhaps Babata had sent Luo Feng to recruit him into the Yunmo Star Lineage.
Yeah, that's probably it!
When Luo Feng brought it up, he could just refuse.
If he really joined the Yunmo Star Lineage, given his identity as a Spirit Reader and the talent he had displayed, Babata would surely devote a portion of his intelligence to him.
But Li Jing had the Card Draw System and too many secrets. He was not suited to staying under Babata's watchful eye.
Even now, Babata had not fully acknowledged Luo Feng as his master. His old master, Hu Yanbo, still came first in his heart.
To Li Jing, he was an unstable factor.
For now, the Auxiliary Optical Computer the Crystal Man Intelligent Life had given him was enough.
As for a more advanced intelligence, or even an Intelligent Life, he would have to see whether he could obtain one through card draws later.
If he couldn't, he could always spend money to buy one.
"Hello, Li Jing. I'm Luo Feng."
In the reception room of West Lake Villa, Li Jing met Luo Feng, who had already become a legend on Earth.
Luo Feng treated him warmly, but Li Jing sensed a faint, almost imperceptible pressure coming from him.
It had nothing to do with anything else; it came from the level of his life itself.
Could Luo Feng have reached Star Level more than two months early?
The thought crossed Li Jing's mind, but his expression remained unchanged.
"Hello, Chairman Luo Feng. You're an idol to many students at the Limits Dojo in Yi'an District. I've heard Instructor Jiang Nian talk about you plenty of times.
"By the way, I haven't thanked you yet, Chairman Luo Feng, for the hundred-million purchase allowance you gave me back then."
While Li Jing was privately startled that Luo Feng had already broken through to Star Level,
Luo Feng, having noticed that Li Jing had broken through to Planetary Level, was also marveling inwardly at the strength of his future junior brother's talent.
From Advanced Martial Arts Student to Planetary Level had taken him no more than two weeks, including the days he had spent waiting for the practical combat assessment.
That talent was simply unreasonable. It was anyone's guess how many times greater it was than Luo Feng's had been.
If Li Jing's life from childhood onward had not been traceable, Luo Feng would have genuinely doubted whether he was even an Earthling.
Given the talent of an Earthling's ninth-tier bloodline, this made no sense!
At that moment, Babata, who was in the virtual space, once again began shouting like someone who had never seen the world.
"Th-this-it's only been a few days, and he's broken through from Apprentice Level to Planetary Level! Luo Feng, quick, hurry up and recruit him into the Yunmo Star Lineage!"
In response to Babata's urging, Luo Feng replied through his thoughts and made his move.
"Those are just empty titles. Compared with what you've accomplished now, Li Jing, I'm still far behind.
"Now that you've become a Councilor Level expert and visited Ancient Civilization Ruins No. 9, perhaps you've had other opportunities as well.
"You should know something about the universe, shouldn't you?"
Li Jing was not surprised that Luo Feng had seen through his Planetary Level strength. He nodded and said, "I do know quite a bit. We Earthlings are just an incomparably weak race in the universe. Once we're discovered, we're very likely to become slaves for generations to come."
Luo Feng breathed a slight sigh of relief when he saw that Li Jing knew something. He had been afraid Li Jing would be a hotheaded youngster who knew nothing.
With the talent to become a Planetary Level expert in less than two weeks, he was likely full of pride.
Convincing Li Jing to join the Yunmo Star Lineage would have taken some effort and persuasion.
Since he knew how cruel the universe was, things would be easier. He probably wouldn't refuse.
Though it was somewhat irreverent to say so, Teacher Hu Yanbo had died long ago.
Joining the Yunmo Star Lineage came with no obligations, only benefits.
At most, when one became strong enough in the future, one could help Teacher Hu Yanbo take revenge.
If he truly had the strength by then, he wouldn't mind taking revenge while he was at it. If he didn't, he could only offer an apology in his heart.
That was far better than joining some other ordinary faction in the universe!
Luo Feng smiled and said, "Li Jing, you should know that there are many so-called ancient civilization ruins on Earth. They're actually traces left behind by civilizations from the universe.
"I once received the Yunmo Star Inheritance from an Immortal Expert who was powerful enough to roam the universe unhindered in his lifetime. This lineage accepts only Spirit Readers. Hong and Thunder God, being warriors, only became nominal disciples.
"I see that you're a Spirit Reader too, and your talent is so outstanding. Would you like to join Yunmo Planet as well?
"Then, once you enter the universe, you'll be assured of secret techniques and treasures for your adventures, and you won't have to take on many additional obligations. Are you willing?"
Under the expectant gazes of Luo Feng and Babata, who was hiding in the virtual space, Li Jing shook his head. "Thank you for your kindness, Chairman Luo Feng, but I have another opportunity of my own, so it wouldn't be appropriate for me to switch to another inheritance. Let's drop the matter."
"Th-th-he actually refused? Does he know how precious the Yunmo Star Lineage's inheritance is?
"No matter how talented Li Jing is, he only has a chance of becoming an Immortal!
"Master was an expert among Immortals! He had a full nine Immortal Servants under him alone!!!
"If Master hadn't fallen, who knows how many geniuses would have wanted to join the Yunmo Star Lineage? There would certainly have been no shortage of those whose talent matched or even surpassed Li Jing's."
In the virtual space, Babata was so angry that he lost his composure and shouted.
The more confident he had been before, the harder the refusal now slapped him in the face.
"All right, Babata, everyone has their own ambitions. Since Li Jing isn't willing to join the Yunmo Star Lineage, we can't hold his head down and force him to join. Perhaps he'll change his mind someday."
Luo Feng comforted him through their mental link.
"Hmph! Luo Feng, from now on, you have to stay a step ahead of Li Jing at all times. Better yet, leave him so far behind that he can't even see your back."
"Make him understand that not joining the Yunmo Star Lineage is the greatest loss of his life!"
"No matter how much of a genius he is, without a good inheritance, he can only let the years slip away!"
Babata said angrily.
Luo Feng had no idea what to do with Babata, who had lived for tens of millions of years yet still had the temperament of a child, so he could only placate him.
"All right, Babata, I promise I'll stay ahead of Li Jing from now on. Is that good enough?"
"That's more like it!"
Babata folded his arms across his chest, his devil tail standing upright.
Luo Feng is a decent man!
After leaving West Lake Villa, Li Jing looked at the Space Ring in his hand and couldn't help feeling moved.
Even though he had not joined the Yunmo Star Lineage, Luo Feng had still given him the gift he had prepared in advance for taking him in as a disciple.
The Space Ring measured a hundred meters in length, width, and height, and contained a small C1-grade spaceship.
There was also an Auxiliary Intelligence, preloaded with basic knowledge of the universe, including the Universal Language and star charts needed for interstellar travel. Even the coordinates for returning to Earth were included.
Apart from those two things, there was the Sky-Escaping Shuttle, a low-grade tier-three telekinetic weapon, along with some Wood Bud Crystals and Azure Wave Marrow.
The former went with the Sky-Escaping Secret Technique obtained from Ancient Civilization Ruins No. 9, while the latter were cultivation resources for Planetary Level.
Apart from the coordinates for returning to Earth, none of these things were essential to Li Jing, who had earned a great deal of Huaxia Currency after leaving No. 9 Ancient Civilization Ruins, drawn from the Apprentice Level card pool countless times, and obtained start-up capital for Planetary Level.
But Luo Feng didn't know that. His character really was admirable.
Without a cheat, building a good relationship with Luo Feng would guarantee becoming an Immortal in the future.
With the Card Draw System, however, Li Jing had no need to cling to anyone's coattails. For all he knew, Luo Feng might end up clinging to his someday.