“The universe is fair.”
“It grants them bodies that are eternally alive by nature, but it also ensures that they can never improve through cultivation. If they want to cultivate, they can only abandon their original bodies and possess another.” Babata said. “Although they cannot cultivate, the attraction of an eternal body is obvious if you think about it, Luo Feng. For example, the children of some Undying experts may only be at the Universe Level, with a lifespan of perhaps ten epochs. Naturally, they would be willing to let their children’s souls obtain eternal bodies.”
Luo Feng nodded.
Even if their strength could never increase, living for a thousand epochs, more than ten million years, was still immensely tempting.
“In the universe, Undying experts and certain powerful nations have used all sorts of methods to study the eternal bodies of those races. Eventually, they extracted a strange genetic substance from those eternal bodies. They then sealed it within ‘Cold Silver’, creating those silver plaques, the extremely expensive treasure known throughout the universe as ‘Eternal Love’. After all, one eternal body can only produce one dose.” Babata said.
Luo Feng immediately understood.
Races born with eternal bodies were probably quite pitiful in the universe.
“There are many people in the universe with power and influence.”
“Countless people pursue longevity.”
“The body possession secret technique is one option, but firstly it is extremely precious, and secondly it is very difficult to master. Luo Feng, you were only able to use it because your teacher’s ‘Inheritance Soul Seal’ transformed your soul, and because you inherited your teacher’s legacy.” Babata said. “Obtaining and mastering the possession technique is no easier than purchasing a dose of Eternal Love.”
“And the possessed body is usually weaker than one’s original body.” Babata added.
“Most importantly, possession carries risks. You could very well end up destroying yourself.”
“How can it compare with Eternal Love? A single dose can directly transform your original body into an eternal body. Of course, once you become an eternal body, you can never cultivate again.” Babata said. “If you wish to cultivate, you must abandon the eternal body and enter another body.”
“That strange genetic substance can only be extracted from naturally born eternal bodies. An artificially transformed eternal body like Xu Xin’s cannot be used for a second extraction.” Babata said.
Luo Feng nodded slightly.
That made sense.
Otherwise, someone transformed into an eternal body could live for ten million years, and when they were about to die, others could simply extract the genetic substance again. That would be absurd.
“You mean Xu Xin now has a lifespan of a thousand epochs?” Luo Feng could not help asking.
“That’s right. Furthermore, her body is immortal. To kill her, one would have to destroy her soul.” Babata said. “Although Eternal Love is precious, given your teacher’s status, storing a few doses was not difficult. Having you carry Eternal Love was actually arranged by your teacher before his death.”
“Even if your physical body is shattered, Eternal Love can reconstruct and reform the fragments into a complete body again. It is an ultimate life saving trump card.”
“However, I was worried that if you relied on Eternal Love, you would lose your sense of danger and fail to temper yourself properly. That is why I never told you about its effects.”
“But I never expected that in the end you would abandon your body and launch a soul attack. Not even Eternal Love could save you then.”
Luo Feng smiled and finally relaxed.
Fortunately, misfortune had turned into a blessing.
Luo Feng knew very well that Xu Xin had never become a martial artist. Even if she relied on Spirit of Grass and Wood treasures, Mu Ya Crystals, and countless other treasures to force her way to the Planetary Level, that would have been her limit. Now, although she could no longer cultivate, she possessed an eternal body.
Mingyue District, Yangzhou City, Luo Feng’s home.
Xu Xin sat before her desk, completely bewildered.
“What is going on?”
Her thoughts were in chaos.
Suddenly, a notification appeared on her open laptop screen, indicating a new email.
Even more strangely, the email opened automatically.
“Xu Xin, it’s Luo Feng.”
The very first line caused Xu Xin to freeze.
Then she frowned slightly.
She knew that many of Earth’s top figures possessed intelligent systems, and Luo Feng had one as well. Messages, phone calls, and videos were difficult for her to trust because her brother Xu Gang had used similar tricks before.
“I know you are suspicious, but you just committed suicide. The safety charm I gave you should have taken effect, so you are alive again. The charm should also have disappeared.”
Xu Xin froze.
She immediately touched her chest and looked down.
Sure enough, the safety charm was gone. Only the clasp remained.
Shock and joy appeared on her face.
The sender knew she had committed suicide and had somehow known she came back to life.
Could it really be Luo Feng?
Had Luo Feng not died?
“I know you doubt it, but in six months, I should be home. Seven months at the latest.”
“That’s all. Remember, don’t do anything foolish.”
“Luo Feng.”
After reading the email, Xu Xin felt as though a dried up heart had been filled with a spiritual spring. Her once black and white world instantly became colourful again, and the future was suddenly full of hope.
“Maybe it’s true. Maybe it’s true.”
The fact that she had died and come back to life made her more inclined to believe it.
“Six months, seven months at the latest?”
“I have to tell Father and Mother, and Luo Hua. I have to tell them this wonderful news.”
Xu Xin was overwhelmed with excitement.
…
That same day, after Luo Feng’s family read the email, they were all shocked to learn that Xu Xin had attempted suicide.
They all comforted her.
Yet the contents of the email filled the entire family with hope.
Although they wondered whether it was merely a fabrication created by an intelligent system, they still waited for six months later.
9 March 2061, evening.
Night had fallen.
Luo Feng’s family sat together having dinner, laughter filling the house.
“Dad, Mum, stop urging me already. I rarely come home for a meal these days and you start nagging immediately. Fine, I’ll tell you. This summer, Zhen Nan and I are going to register our marriage.” Luo Hua said with a grin.
He now owned another house in Mingyue District.
After all, his sister in law lived here, and it was not convenient for him to remain at home.
Besides, given his status, acquiring a property was easy.
He was also a martial artist.
“That’s more like it.”
Luo Hongguo and Gong Xinlan both smiled.
Meanwhile, the two babies in the pram were crawling around and giggling foolishly.
“Why isn’t Xu Xin back yet?” Gong Xinlan asked as she looked outside.
“It’s a good thing that Xiao Xin is focusing on work now.” Luo Hongguo said with a smile.
Gong Xinlan nodded repeatedly.
Yes.
If Xu Xin attempted suicide again, that would be terrible.
Suddenly.
The light vanished from Luo Hongguo’s and Gong Xinlan’s eyes.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Every bodyguard in the courtyard collapsed instantly.
The two housemaids in the kitchen also fell unconscious.
Luo Hongguo and Gong Xinlan lowered their heads onto the table and became completely motionless.
Silence filled the villa.
Only the sounds of the two babies remained.
“Who is it?” Luo Hua asked coldly as he looked outside.
“Hello, Mr Luo.”
Two men in black suits walked in with smiles, as though they were entering their own home.
One was white.
The other resembled a South Asian.
The South Asian man smiled and said, “Don’t worry. I merely hypnotised them instantly. I haven’t killed anyone.”
“Two Council Members visiting personally. May I ask what business brings you here?” Luo Hua asked in a low voice.
“Nothing much. We’re simply taking away some items that belong to Planetary Level martial artists. Ordinary mortals are not qualified to possess such things.” The South Asian man smiled. “Don’t worry, I won’t kill anyone. However, I hope you remain calm. The moment you command that metal robot, I will have no choice but to make all these people…”
“Bang!”
The South Asian man made an exaggerated gesture.
“Their souls will explode.”
“Saigo Nehru, you are now Earth’s only Planetary Level Spirit Reader. Is there really a need for this?” Luo Hua asked darkly.
He knew that no matter how fast the metal robot was, it could not match the speed of a Spirit Reader’s thoughts.
Saigo Nehru.
India’s genius Spirit Reader.
Since the deaths of Luo Feng and East, the recently advanced Saigo Nehru had become Earth’s sole Planetary Level Spirit Reader.
“There is. Of course there is.” Saigo smiled. “Mr Luo, you know something about the current global situation. Do you really think the Luo family can remain untouched simply because you possess treasures left behind by Luo Feng? Besides, keeping those treasures in your family’s hands is a complete waste.”
“Oh, Mu Ya Crystals?”
A smile appeared on Saigo’s face.
“So they are hidden beneath the basement?”
“Oh? Eighteen Mu Ya Crystals, and quite a few Spirits of Grass and Wood? What a fortune. As expected of treasures left behind by Luo Feng.”
Saigo sighed in admiration.
Luo Hua’s expression turned ashen.
He knew the man had located them through spiritual power.
“How is that metal robot controlled?” Saigo asked.
“No one can control it.” Luo Hua shook his head. “Not even I can. My brother ordered it to protect the Luo family. It will obey his command forever.”
“Oh.”
Saigo nodded slightly.
He could understand that.
Suddenly.
The basement door opened automatically.
A password protected case floated out.
Saigo reached out and caught it.
“Thank you.”
He smiled faintly.
“Let me give you some advice. You can only possess treasures equal to your strength. Otherwise… well. As for that robot, it is certainly powerful. But in the end, it is only a robot. Even from several hundred metres away, I can instantly destroy the souls of all your family members.”
“So don’t do anything foolish.”
“Vino, let’s go.”
Saigo turned and left.
Council Member Vino followed beside him.
Luo Hua watched the two men depart.
He dared not make any move.
The flying saucer fighter hovered only three hundred metres from his home.
Even from inside the craft, Saigo could instantly kill every member of the Luo family with a spiritual attack.
“Bastard!”
Standing by the window and watching the flying saucer depart, Luo Hua’s face looked grim.
Fortunately, he had divided the sixty Mu Ya Crystals into several batches and hidden them in different places.
Eighteen crystals alone were enough to shock the Council Members.
After all, even Hong and Thunder God had only obtained slightly more than ten crystals each.
“What happened? What just happened?”
“What’s wrong with me?”
The bodyguards, housemaids, Luo Hongguo, and the others gradually woke up.
Luo Hua hurriedly comforted them and never told them the truth.
There was no alternative.
He could only endure it.
Against martial artists, the metal robot could intercept attacks more quickly.
But against a Spirit Reader’s soul attack, the robot could not react in time.
Everything that had happened, including the conversation, had been monitored by the metal robot and automatically transmitted to Babata.
Naturally, Luo Feng learned about it as well.
“Vino? Saigo Nehru?”
The Golden Horned Beast, more than three hundred metres long, floated within the surging sea.
Rage burned in its dark golden eyes.
“Babata, you said they are working with the Fifth Speaker, Atkin? That coward Atkin always kept a low profile. During the Devouring Beast battle he never even showed himself. Now his ambitions are this great? I looked down on him before, and now…”
“Atkin! Nehru!”
Luo Feng was furious.
He had already felt guilty because he could not be with his family.
Yet now Atkin and his faction were threatening his family’s lives for the sake of their ambitions.
No matter how angry he was, Luo Feng had to endure it.
The days of suppressing his fury felt like years.
Finally.
The first body had finished gestating successfully.
2 June 2061.
The day Luo Feng would break free from the shell had arrived.