The Earth remained tranquil, as it always had; the war between the two great factions of the Primitive Universe had not caused the slightest ripple among the common populace on the countless life planets.
Along the broad avenues, martial artists in training suits could be seen everywhere, just leaving their dojos, alongside numerous galactic magnates discussing business as they walked.
“The Luo Family?”
A figure in a purple robe stood before an ancient mansion.
This ancient mansion was the Luo Family’s old residence, holding special significance even on Earth. Guards stood before the entrance, barring ordinary people from trespassing or peering in. Yet, the figure in the purple robe stood there… as if completely invisible to the passersby and the guards alike.
“Mom, is this Luo Feng’s home?”
“Yes, this is Luo Feng’s home. Haven’t you been clamoring to visit Earth, to see the greatest leader of our Earth lineage? Mommy delivered. Once we return to Yu Hua Star, you must study hard at the dojo.”
“Mm-hmm, Mom, I heard Luo Feng was born during our Earth lineage’s distant Base City Era. There were many ruined cities back then. I want to see them.”
“Don’t worry, we have enough time on Earth this trip; we can see all the scenic spots in Yin Duo.”
A mother and son, both with black hair, black eyes, and yellow skin, watched the Luo Family mansion from a distant street. After talking for a long while, they departed.
Every day, every hour, many people came here. Even during the Base City Era, when Luo Feng and his comrades risked their lives fighting the Devouring Beasts… Luo Feng’s status had already reached the heights of an absolute hero. Later, when the Nuo Lan Shan family descended upon Earth, Luo Feng once again stood against them…
Luo Feng’s stature grew ever higher, and the propaganda on Earth naturally elevated him further.
Moreover, Earthlings venturing out into the universe benefited greatly from Luo Feng, which fueled their gratitude toward Luo Er… Thus, over more than a hundred thousand years, through the oral tradition passed down through generations of Earthlings, Luo Feng completely became the most magnificent leader of the ‘Earthlings entering the Cosmic Era,’ the deity known as the ‘Shihua Island Master.’ A voice rang out.
The figure in the purple robe turned to look.
Amidst the bustling crowds on the distant street, a black-haired youth clad in a silver-white outer robe strolled forward. People nearby couldn't see him at all, as if he existed in a different space. On this street, many people from the Earth lineage, having traveled from distant planets specifically to trace the steps of Luo Feng’s growth, were utterly unaware that Luo Feng was walking right past them.
“Luo Feng!” the figure in the purple robe said with a smile.
“I didn’t expect Island Master Shihua chose this place to meet,” Luo Feng replied, approaching the mansion entrance and looking up.
“I wished to see for myself how the most rapidly rising, exceptionally talented, peerless expert among the younger generation of the Human Race truly emerged, and what kind of environment fostered him,” Island Master Shihua spoke softly.
Luo Feng smiled.
He glanced at Island Master Shihua; his features were so exquisitely handsome they seemed both male and female. However, this ‘Island Master Shihua’ was a special lifeform, so perhaps gender was irrelevant altogether.
“Among your humans, the one I respect most is the Primal Ancestor,” Island Master Shihua sighed softly. “Especially the Virtual Universe created by the Primal Ancestor. That Virtual Universe instantly made human culture… a thousand, ten thousand times more brilliant! Even cultures scattered across the distant universe can collide within the Virtual Universe, sparking new insights. Everything imaginable can be realized in the Virtual Universe… Even I often visit the Virtual Universe to experience your human culture.”
Luo Feng nodded.
Having the Virtual Universe versus not having it truly made a difference.
“I have watched your Human Race’s Genius Battles in the Virtual Universe many times. But for the Genius Battle of your generation… I was adventuring and exploring in the Sea of Chaos and dared not be distracted, so I forgot to watch,” Island Master Shihua lamented, shaking his head. “If I had watched then, and been moved, taking you as my disciple, how wonderful that would have been. I would have easily obtained the Duan Dong River Inheritance then, wouldn’t I?”
“Even if Island Master Shihua had watched that Genius Battle, he wouldn’t have taken me as a disciple; I wasn't the most outstanding of that batch,” Luo Feng stated.
“Indeed,” Island Master Shihua sighed, shaking his head. “The future, no one can speak of with certainty. Even if I had watched, I couldn't have guessed your future destiny. Nor could I have imagined—a mere child from an indigenous race—could grow to the point of conversing with me as an equal.”
Luo Feng frowned slightly. “Island Master Shihua, you didn't come here just for a chat, did you?” Island Master Shihua’s expression instantly changed.
“Luo Feng!” Island Master Shihua fixed his gaze on him. “The purpose of my visit is very simple… Right now, all the major powers in the Primitive Universe are watching the final choice of my Freedom Alliance. It can be said that whichever side the Freedom Alliance joins, that side is guaranteed victory.”
Luo Feng nodded slightly.
“And currently, opinions within the Freedom Alliance are split.” Island Master Shihua continued, “A portion wishes to join your Human Faction. The other portion demands more! I belong to that second group.”
“My visit today…”
“Has only one objective: for your Humans to pass on the ancient civilization cultivation experience—the experience of cultivating to the limit of the Universe’s strongest beings—to me.” Island Master Shihua looked at Luo Feng.
Luo Feng immediately let out a cold sneer.
“Don’t rush to refuse,” Island Master Shihua said. “I am here representing myself alone. This means… the experience of cultivating to the limit that your Humans give me will be mine alone. If you pass this knowledge to me… I will not pass it on to any other member of the Freedom Alliance. Furthermore, I will guide the faction I can influence to urge the Freedom Alliance to join your Human Faction.”
Luo Feng’s eyes lit up: “You mean…”
“Precisely.”
“That is exactly what I mean. The terms your Humans offer the entire Freedom Alliance remain the same meager amount! As for the cultivation to the limit… you only need to give it to me! I will help your Humans. Currently, the Freedom Alliance is split into two factions, and I have considerable influence in the second part. If I assist you, the stalemate will end quickly, and the Freedom Alliance will join your Human Faction. Besides, I am not foolish; once I obtain it, I won't foolishly pass it on to other experts—wouldn't that be cultivating enemies?” Island Master Shihua looked at Luo Feng. “What do your Humans think?”
Luo Feng was moved.
If the experience of cultivating to the limit of the strongest beings from the ancient civilization were only passed to Island Master Shihua, the Humans truly wouldn't worry about him spreading it externally. Not unless Island Master Shihua had lost his mind.
“Exchanging the experience of cultivating to the limit of the strongest beings for the allegiance of over 400 Universe Masters?” Luo Feng nodded inwardly.
Although his previous plan was clever, it carried risks.
If the Freedom Alliance joined willingly, there would truly be no risk whatsoever.
“Wait a moment,” Luo Feng said.
At the same time.
On the peak of Thunder Island in the Virtual Universe, Luo Feng, City Lord of Chaos, Master Peng Gong, and Master of Darkness met.
“This is his demand: to give him the ancient civilization experience of cultivating to the limit of the strongest beings. He will then help us!” Luo Feng stated. “Teacher, Dark, Peng Gong, what do you think?”
“Only to him?” Dark pondered.
Master Peng Gong nodded slightly: “The Freedom Alliance currently has two voices: one willing to join us, the other unwilling and demanding more. Island Master Shihua is the leader of that second voice. If he helps us from within… it could indeed cause the Freedom Alliance to unify its position quickly.”
“Giving just one is acceptable,” City Lord of Chaos said slowly. “One Universe’s Strongest Being cannot influence the overall situation.”
“Exactly. And the inheritance information we give him can be kept as simplified as possible!” Master of Darkness sneered. “He has no idea what our obtained inheritance truly entails. Give him a simplified version… tell him that is all we have, what can he do?”
Luo Feng also nodded.
The four most powerful figures in the Human Race, faced with the prospect of securing the allegiance of over 400 Universe Masters by giving Island Master Shihua only the information, all felt this transaction was viable.
“Besides, we will give him one part before the war, and another part after the war,” Luo Feng smiled. “Giving him a portion beforehand will whet his appetite. After the war, if he feels it was too simple… the war will already be over. What recourse will he have then?”
“Mmm.”
“Agreed.”
“We can agree to his terms.”
The Human Race leadership quickly nodded. City Lord of Chaos had even contacted the Primal Ancestor once, and the Primal Ancestor had also agreed to the matter.
Firstly, they were only giving it to one person. Secondly, even if Island Master Shihua obtained the simplified inheritance information, breaking through to the limit of cultivation would still be incredibly, incredibly difficult.
On Earth.
“Our Human Race has deliberated,” Luo Feng said, looking at Island Master Shihua before him. “Regarding this matter.”
Island Master Shihua breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.
“Before the war, our Humans will give you one-third of the information. If the Freedom Alliance joins our Human Faction to fight, after the war concludes, we will give you the remaining two-thirds.”
“Good,” Island Master Shihua nodded. “When will you give me the information?”
“Soon,” Luo Feng replied.
“Once your Human Faction gives me a portion of the information, I will quickly work to have the Freedom Alliance join your Human Faction,” Island Master Shihua stated directly.
The Human Faction indeed prepared a segment of the inheritance information that very day and handed it to Island Master Shihua. Upon viewing it, Island Master Shihua was greatly stirred and overjoyed; this portion alone provided him with enlightenment… making him even more eager for the subsequent ‘two-thirds’ of the information. However, that had to wait until after the war.
The Humans waited anxiously.
“What if Island Master Shihua takes the information and then refuses to help our Humans?”
“Don’t worry. Why did Island Master Shihua invest so much effort to establish the Freedom Alliance and become its leader? Wasn’t it all for the inheritance? If the other Universe Masters in the Freedom Alliance obtained it, it would be of no benefit to him. It is enough that he obtains it himself… he will manage the situation.”
Luo Feng, Master of Darkness, City Lord of Chaos, and the others waited anxiously.
They also worried that unforeseen accidents might occur mid-process.
After all, the Freedom Alliance was an alliance packed with formidable experts; even with Island Master Shihua’s assistance, there was no one hundred percent guarantee.
Half a month after providing Island Master Shihua with the partial inheritance experience, a message arrived from him: “The internal thoughts of the Freedom Alliance have been unified; the decision has been made… to join the Human Faction!”