Chapter 57: The Lineage of Fallen Ink Star

“Achen, I’m back.”

Luo Feng looked at Jiang Chen with a complex expression.

A few months earlier, when Jiang Chen had told him about this matter, Luo Feng hadn’t really believed it. It was only out of the trust born from their years of friendship that he agreed, thinking he might as well give it a try, and went to Mist Island in Australia.

He never expected that Jiang Chen’s talk of “inheritance” was actually real, and that he would obtain an extraordinary opportunity there.

Thinking about the origins of that inheritance, Luo Feng had an urge to ask Jiang Chen, “Do you realize what you’ve missed out on?”

Unlike the original story, this time Babata hadn’t made a big scene to draw the attention of all Earth’s strong men to Mist Island; Luo Feng had quietly obtained the inheritance.

But in the aftermath, Luo Feng once again lost contact with the outside world, vanishing for nearly three months.

Not only Luo Feng’s family, but also the Limit Martial Hall, Jiangnan Base City, and others, had all reached out to Jiang Chen to ask about him.

Jiang Chen had been equally confused, thinking perhaps his own interference had changed things, leading Babata to disregard Luo Feng, who might have died inside the Meteorite Star.

But thinking it through, even if Babata had no interest in Luo Feng, at worst he would have hidden the Meteorite Star, not killed anyone.

Besides, Luo Feng’s communication wristband and auxiliary optical brain had both gone dark, a clear sign that he had entered the Meteorite Star.

Having reviewed all this information, Jiang Chen hadn’t panicked, but waited patiently.

Sure enough, in less than three months, Luo Feng returned.

“You’re back?” Jiang Chen glanced at Luo Feng and smiled. “You’ve been missing for months. Your family thought something had happened again and called me several times.”

Before Luo Feng could reply, Jiang Chen continued, “From the look of you, you’ve gained a lot, haven’t you? Already at Planetary Level Three.”

Before heading to Mist Island, Luo Feng had only just broken through to Planetary Level.

After just a few months, he’d advanced to Planetary Level Three. Jiang Chen didn’t believe that Babata hadn’t played a part in this.

“I did gain quite a bit,” Luo Feng nodded, producing a space ring and handing it to Jiang Chen. “This is a large-capacity space ring. Inside there’s a treasure called ‘Wood Crystal’ that can enhance strength. It’s excellent for planetary warriors and spiritual masters.”

“I won’t stand on ceremony, then.”

Compared to the value of the Hu Yan Bo inheritance, this was just a trifle, hardly even a fraction. Jiang Chen naturally accepted it without hesitation.

He took the ring and let his spiritual power seep in, his eyes widening immediately. “What a vast space.”

Inside the ring was an irregularly shaped space, about 612 meters long, 521 meters wide, and 108 meters high—the exact size described in the original story for the space ring Luo Feng had acquired.

Such a huge space was enough to store a great many things—one could even fit several spaceships inside.

“If you’re giving this to me, what will you use?” Jiang Chen looked at Luo Feng.

Luo Feng raised his hand to show the ring on his finger. “I have one too, about the same size as yours.”

Jiang Chen considered this. A space ring of such size might be valuable to the average cosmic strongman, but to Babata it was probably nothing special, so he said no more and immediately imprinted his spiritual mark on the ring.

This was exactly the tool Jiang Chen had needed.

“I also received the inheritance of a powerful being, but many of the secret arts can’t be passed on—unless you become my teacher’s disciple,” Luo Feng said tentatively. “Achen, why don’t you become my teacher’s disciple too? We could be fellow apprentices.”

“Hey, Luo Feng! Even if you’re recruiting disciples, shouldn’t you get my approval first?!” Babata shouted in Luo Feng’s mind.

Luo Feng retorted immediately, “Achen is the same age as I am and even stronger. Doesn’t he deserve to be accepted as my teacher’s disciple?”

“This fellow is strange. His source power is only at Planetary Level Five, but his mind power is at Planetary Level Nine. In all my years traversing the cosmos with my master, I’ve never seen such a disparity between source and mind power. It defies all common sense!” Babata grumbled for a moment, then said, “For such a small Earth to produce a Planetary Level Nine spiritual master…it’s rare indeed. Let him be an outer disciple in the Meteorite Star lineage. That just barely qualifies.”

Jiang Chen, of course, had no idea about Luo Feng’s conversation with Babata, but he had no objection to becoming Hu Yan Bo’s disciple.

After all, Hu Yan Bo was long dead, and the Meteorite Star lineage was gone. Being a disciple placed no real constraints on Jiang Chen—and came with benefits.

The secret arts of the Meteorite Star lineage alone were invaluable.

Though Jiang Chen mainly relied on his system, strengthening himself through external means, there was no harm in studying the mainstream cultivation systems of this world.

Without much hesitation, Jiang Chen agreed immediately.

As soon as Jiang Chen agreed, Babata appeared and guided them through a simple apprenticeship ceremony.

“Jiang Chen, from now on, you are considered a disciple of the Meteorite Star lineage. Although you are only a registered disciple of my master, within the lineage you have the status of a core disciple and are qualified to study nearly all the secret arts of Meteorite Star,” Babata said, producing a smart optical brain from who knows where and handing it to Jiang Chen. “This contains all the secret arts core disciples may learn. As for the legacy of the master and his personal retinue, you can only view the directory. You may choose three secret arts from it to study. Once you’ve made your decision, come to me. But I advise you to wait until you are stronger and have chosen your future path before deciding.”

“Thank you.” Jiang Chen accepted the optical brain, not rushing to browse the secret arts, but instead studying the device’s performance, which left him amazed.

A computer strapped to the arm and used as a bracer, yet with computational power beyond imagination.

If this were compared to Earth’s most advanced supercomputers, you’d have to assemble a computer the size of a planet to match this device’s computational abilities.

“Jarvis, you have a new home now.” Jiang Chen tapped his wristband, pointed at the optical brain, and said, “Transfer your core and database here. Leave a backup in the server room.”

“Oh?” Babata, seeing Jarvis appear, couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Chen. “Where did you get this AI?”

“I designed it myself. Why? Is there a problem?” Jiang Chen looked at Babata.

“It’s a basic intelligence, but the self-evolving module design is interesting—lots of potential. Nurture it well, and one day it might become a sentient intelligence like me.” In the realm of electronic information, Babata’s abilities were formidable; he saw through Jarvis’s nature at a glance.

“Jarvis is indeed a great helper,” Jiang Chen smiled faintly.

Babata surely had other auxiliary intelligences.

Even if not, with Babata’s abilities, he could make a more powerful one at any time—far stronger than Jarvis.

But Jiang Chen had no intention of replacing Jarvis.

After all, Jarvis was his own creation; every code iteration was intimately familiar, entirely trustworthy.

Besides, after so much time together, there was a bond.

Not lingering on the topic, Jiang Chen looked at Babata and Luo Feng, and extended an invitation. “Babata, would you care to take a look at some of my little gadgets?”