Chapter 101

Chapter 101: The Golden Horned Beast and the Yun Mo Inheritance

"The advantage of the Golden Horned Beast lies in its core and its inner world. To possess an inner world at the planetary level—it's simply perfect for the Swarm! It's practically a natural-born mothership for the Zerg. Its inner world can accommodate numerous nests. A single Golden Horned Beast is akin to an entire Zerg fleet. I could even modify its genes to allow its inner world to naturally nurture a massive nest."

As Qin Mu's consciousness withdrew from the inner world of the Golden Horned Beast, his expression was one of exhilaration.

Cosmic Beasts were capable of traversing the universe with their physical bodies alone. Their massive forms, extraordinary talents, and rapid growth potential, coupled with their inner worlds, made them the pinnacle of existence in every aspect. Aside from their immense resource consumption, they had virtually no flaws.

After directing the Swarm to allocate some metal resources for the Zerg Golden Horned Beast to consume and grow, Qin Mu took the original Golden Horned Beast to a newly established military base in the former City 003. This particular Golden Horned Beast had not been infected or controlled by the Zerg. Qin Mu had deliberately kept it intact, merely knocking it unconscious, analyzing its life structure, and extracting its inherited memories.

He planned to use its body to strike a deal with Babata in exchange for the Yun Mo inheritance.

Yes, the deal was with Babata, not Luo Feng.

At this point, Luo Feng was still too weak, and Babata had not yet recognized him as its master. It merely saw him as a potential inheritor. The Yun Mo inheritance was still firmly in Babata's hands.

Although Qin Mu had access to the Zerg and Golden Horned Beast inheritances, neither contained human cultivation methods. Moreover, Qin Mu needed the coordinates of Earth's dark universe and various other planets in the cosmos. Without them, it would take thousands of years to fly out of the region enveloped by Huyan Bo's secret techniques!

In the military base, the sixteen-meter-long Golden Horned Beast was placed in a one-way transparent room. Qin Mu then dialed Luo Feng's communication channel.

Luo Feng's progress had been rapid. He was now a Level 2 Planetary Warrior and a Level 4 Planetary Spirit Master, placing him among the second tier of high-ranking officials in the United Government, just below Qin Mu, Hong, Lei Shen, and Jia Yi.

"Luo Feng, it's Qin Mu. There's something important I need to discuss with you. Come to the base."

Once the call connected, Qin Mu got straight to the point and sent his coordinates.

"Understood. I'll be there right away."

Luo Feng, who had been training in the base city, didn't dare delay when he saw it was Qin Mu calling. Ever since obtaining the Yun Mo inheritance and hearing Babata's warnings, Luo Feng had been on edge, though he didn't fully believe Qin Mu had been compromised. While Earth had indeed experienced a full-scale war, it had been against the monsters. Now, with the terrestrial monsters largely driven out and the United Government ruling the planet, Earth had entered an era of rapid development.

Leaving his villa in Yangzhou City, Luo Feng walked through bustling streets filled with people. Everyone seemed busy, yet their faces radiated smiles, a stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere during the monster infestations. Children played on the sidewalks, their laughter filling the air with vitality.

On the billboards lining the streets, a prominent slogan caught Luo Feng's eye: 

"The Second World is now live! With just a virtual helmet, you can live a second life!"

Under the United Government's promotion, virtual spaces had become a global phenomenon, no longer limited to elite circles. When Luo Feng first became a Wargod, the Palace of Wargods still existed, though its presence had waned. Now, it had been officially disbanded and integrated into the United Government. If one wanted to communicate with other Warriors, they could simply enter the Second World.

"The current state of Earth is largely shaped by Qin Mu. The entire planet is thriving. How could someone like him destroy Earth? It's impossible." 

Luo Feng communicated with Babata in his mind.

"Perhaps I misjudged him. But Qin Mu is... peculiar. I can't quite figure him out." Babata's tone was less tense now.

"I wonder what Qin Mu wants to discuss. Something important? A special mission?" As Luo Feng left the streets, he soared into the sky, pondering.

Qin Mu had met with Luo Feng a few times before, but those meetings were always about military assignments, never personal matters.

With his speed, it didn't take long for Luo Feng to reach the military base in City 003. There, a military personnel led him to a control room where Qin Mu was waiting.

"Qin Mu, it's been a while." Luo Feng quickened his pace and greeted Qin Mu with a smile.

"It has. I called you here today because I wanted to talk—not just with you, but also with Babata."

At Qin Mu's words, Luo Feng's mind went blank. It felt as though his deepest secret had been exposed, and a chill ran through his body. In his consciousness, Babata panicked, letting out a shrill cry.

"Haha, no need to be nervous. I'm not going to eat you. After observing for so long, haven't you reached any conclusions?" 

Qin Mu's smile carried a hint of mischief. It was rare to see the future City Lord Luo so rattled.

Seeing Qin Mu's expression, Luo Feng, who had nearly fled, relaxed slightly.

"Qin Mu, you know about Babata?" 

Luo Feng's face was a mix of disbelief. According to Babata, the Yun Mo ship had been buried underground for fifty thousand years, and he was the first to enter it. How could Qin Mu possibly know?

"Of course I do. Is that so strange? Did you think the Yun Mo inheritance was Earth's only secret? While Babata was monitoring the planet, do you think nothing else was monitoring Babata?" Qin Mu chuckled.

The Earth, transformed by the MountainSittingGuest, had influenced the evolution of life within its sphere for thousands of light-years. Even if Earth were shattered, its remnants would eventually reform over time. In its long history, Earth had been destroyed twelve times, yet it always reconstituted itself. It had birthed Lords and even Undyings, though its name had changed over the ages. "Earth" was merely its current designation. Compared to its ancient history, Huyan Bo was but a recent arrival.

"So, there are even stronger inheritances on Earth? And Babata has been monitored all this time?" 

Luo Feng's expression stiffened, a bitter smile forming on his face. He had thought he was operating in the shadows, only to realize that Qin Mu had been in control all along.

"Impossible! How could I have been monitored?" On Luo Feng's shoulder, a small black-robed figure—Babata—gesticulated wildly, its voice filled with indignation.

Seeing Babata finally reveal itself, Qin Mu smiled.

"Why not? I went to Misty Island to find you before, but you hid and refused to meet me. You've been hiding in the Yun Mo ship, thousands of meter below Misty Island, for fifty thousand years. Did you think I didn't know?" Qin Mu's tone was light, almost teasing.

"You really do know!" 

Babata's expression was a mix of shock and disbelief. Qin Mu's knowledge of the Yun Mo ship's exact location and its history left Babata with no choice but to accept the possibility that it had indeed been monitored. The feeling of being completely exposed filled Babata with dread.

"Was my mission to Misty Island also arranged by you, Qin Mu?" 

Luo Feng's smile turned bitter. He hadn't expected that his greatest opportunity had been orchestrated by Qin Mu.

"Exactly. Aside from me, you have the highest brain width on Earth. You're also a prodigy of the United Government. Why would I let such a valuable inheritance fall into someone else's hands?" Qin Mu didn't deny it.

"So, after obtaining your inheritance, you took control of the Bug Queen in Ruin No. 31. That had me worried for a long time." Luo Feng composed himself, his expression calm once more.

"Indeed, the Zerg Queen in Ruin No. 31 is under my control. Hong, Lei Shen, and Jia Yi are all aware of this." Qin Mu nodded.

"I see." 

Luo Feng finally understood. Everything had been arranged by Qin Mu. His earlier ignorance was simply due to his lack of strength and clearance.

"It seems you truly know everything. So, what do you want to discuss with me?" Babata, having calmed down, asked.

"Do you know about the Golden Horned Beast among the Cosmic Beasts?" Qin Mu didn't answer directly but instead posed a question.

"The Golden Horned Beast? Yes, it's one of the strongest bloodlines among the Cosmic Beasts. It's one of the most powerful bloodlines in the universe." Babata replied.

"Correct, but that's not the full picture." Qin Mu smiled.

"A newly hatched Golden Horned Beast is already at the Planetary level. After consuming its eggshell and a large amount of ordinary metal, it can reach the Star level in just one year. Unlike ordinary lifeforms, they possess an inner world from birth and can grow simply by consuming metal. If fed ordinary metal, it would take a hundred years to go from Star Level 1 to Universe Level 1, a thousand years to reach Domain Lord Level 1, and ten thousand years to become a Sector Lord. With special methods, this process can be accelerated. For instance, specific metal combinations can speed up the growth of its inner world, allowing for faster power progression. Such talent is among the rarest in the universe, even among billions of races."

Babata's virtual form showed a hint of confusion. It knew the Golden Horned Beast was powerful, but it wasn't familiar with the specifics. What puzzled it more was why Qin Mu was sharing this information.

"The Yun Mo inheritance includes a soul possession technique. If Luo Feng were to possess a Golden Horned Beast, how far do you think he could go?" Qin Mu asked.

"Possess a Golden Horned Beast? Impossible! Such a top-tier Cosmic Beast is far too rare. In all my travels across countless star systems with my master, I've only encountered three Cosmic Beasts, none of which were of Golden Horned Beast's bloodline." 

Babata shook its head. Golden Horned Beasts were exceedingly rare. By now, Babata was almost numb to Qin Mu's seemingly endless knowledge of the Yun Mo inheritance.

"What if I could provide Luo Feng with a juvenile Golden Horned Beast, complete with its full inheritance? What would you offer in exchange?" Qin Mu's smile widened.

Although Qin Mu desired the Yun Mo inheritance, he didn't want to be the one to propose the exchange. If Babata made the offer, the dynamics would shift in his favor.

Seeing Qin Mu's expression, Babata seemed to realize something. Its virtual form even mimicked heavy breathing, its eyes gleaming with excitement.

Luo Feng, who had been listening intently, was equally stunned. A lifeform born at the Planetary level, reaching Star in a year, and capable of becoming a Sector Lord upon maturity? What kind of monstrous bloodline was this? Through his time with Babata, Luo Feng had gained a basic understanding of the universe, which only deepened his awe.

With a wave of his hand, Qin Mu opened a side door in the control room, revealing a sixteen-meter-long Golden Horned Beast to Luo Feng and Babata.

"This is a juvenile Golden Horned Beast, complete with its full inheritance. Its inherited memories contain an endless wealth of knowledge, including 18 special techniques and 3,199 ordinary techniques. Once possessed, Luo Feng wouldn't need to worry about cultivation methods. If he succeeds, he'll at least become a Sector Lord, with a strong chance of reaching Undying level. Your master may have been killed, but Undyings can be revived! Once Luo Feng becomes an Undying, he can accumulate enough merit within the human race to request a reversal technique and revive Huyan Bo!"

Qin Mu's words were like a siren's call, filled with irresistible temptation.

As Huyan Bo's intelligent lifeform, Babata's primary purpose was to ensure the Yun Mo inheritance was passed on. Under normal circumstances, it would guard the inheritance with its life. But Qin Mu's offer struck at its core.

Becoming an Undying and reviving Huyan Bo—this was more important to Babata than the inheritance itself. To achieve this, it was willing to pay any price.

"A Golden Horned Beast! A real Golden Horned Beast, and a juvenile one at that!" 

Babata's form floated closer, scrutinizing the beast. After a moment, it confirmed the creature's authenticity.

"I... I can't afford this." 

Babata's expression twisted in anguish. It had scoured its collections, but nothing it possessed could match the value of a living Golden Horned Beast with a complete inheritance. For a moment, it even entertained the idea of urging Luo Feng to seize the beast by force. But it quickly dismissed the thought—Luo Feng was no match for Qin Mu.

"I know you can't afford it. But you have something I need—the Yun Mo inheritance. I want it to serve as Earth's foundation. In exchange, I'll give you this Golden Horned Beast. Luo Feng is your inheritor, but he's also a member of the United Government. I'm willing to take a slight loss." 

Qin Mu's smile was warm, but his words were calculated.

"You want the Yun Mo inheritance? Impossible!" Babata's response was instinctive.

"Fine. If you don't want to trade, forget I mentioned it." Qin Mu's casual tone sent Babata into a panic.

"No, no! I'll trade! I misspoke earlier!" Babata quickly backtracked.

"Good. Besides the inheritance, I have a few additional conditions. They're not difficult—just Earth's dark universe coordinates, Mu Ya Crystals, and so on." 

Qin Mu handed Luo Feng a list for Babata to review.

"No problem!" 

Babata agreed without hesitation. Compared to the Yun Mo inheritance, these were mere trifles. To revive Huyan Bo, it would pay any price.

***

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