"The master also left behind a psychic weapon called the Arc Blade Disc—it's suited for Planet-level use!"
As Babata said this, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly. "But since you're already Planet-level Ninth Rank, it's not all that suitable for you anymore."
Jiang Li nodded indifferently.
Seeing that calm expression, Babata almost wanted to scream. "The most important thing my master left behind was his cultivation inheritance! He deposited three accounts for his direct disciples in the Cosmic Galaxy Bank!"
"One can be accessed upon reaching Star-level, one at Universe-level, and one at Domain Lord-level!"
"Those treasures and wealth are more than enough to make you grow rapidly!"
"So? Changed your mind yet?"
Babata's eyes gleamed with anticipation—but Jiang Li only smiled and shook his head. "Leave those to your master's personal disciples."
"Fine."
At this point, Babata was already certain that Jiang Li had some eccentric super-being backing him. That meant he himself could only be Huyanbo's registered disciple, not a true one.
Feeling a bit helpless, Babata thought hard, but nothing seemed good enough to entice Jiang Li further.
Finally, he pulled out a bracelet-like device and tossed it over. "Here, wear this!"
"Hm?"
Jiang Li caught it and slipped it onto his wrist. It looked similar to a space ring, but its function was different—it allowed his consciousness to enter Babata's private virtual space.
"Inside the Yunmo Starship, your safety is absolutely guaranteed!"
This time, Babata's voice directly entered Jiang Li's mind.
Jiang Li knew very well—if Babata ever wanted to harm him, all it had to do was activate the ship's defense systems.
Soon after, Jiang Li's consciousness entered the virtual world. Clad in a white combat suit, he appeared out of thin air on a strange mountain peak.
Below lay a sea of clouds that seemed endless. Overhead hung a massive planet—so large it filled half the sky at a glance.
"Marvelous, isn't it?"
Babata's blood-red eyes swirled as he circled Jiang Li proudly. "Cultivating fast is one thing—but if your foundation isn't solid, reaching greater heights is impossible!"
As he spoke, Babata waved a small white hand.
A massive blood-red castle materialized in front of Jiang Li.
"Follow me!"
As he flew toward the castle, Babata explained, "Think of it like this—on your planet, if there are two Planet-level warriors, one at the seventh stage, one at the sixth…"
"By theory, the seventh stage should be stronger!"
"But in reality?"
"The sixth-stage one might be far more powerful!"
Jiang Li immediately understood—Babata was referring to Hong and Thor.
In rank, Thor was a level above Hong. Yet in true combat strength, Hong completely outclassed him.
Realm was only part of it—techniques, movement skills, soul power, combat experience—all these factors determined real strength.
Just as when Jiang Li had still been a mid-tier War God, his terrifying soul power and secret arts had let him utterly crush high-tier War Gods.
Boom!
The gates of the blood-red castle swung open.
"Master!"
Eighteen stone giants, each over eight meters tall, stood respectfully at the entrance and saluted Babata.
"These eighteen towers were once my master's followers," Babata explained as he flew. "Unfortunately, when Yunmo Star was destroyed, they perished as well."
"Besides these eighteen, I also recreated thirty-six beautiful maidens…"
"But those are just virtual projections."
At that, Jiang Li couldn't help but roll his eyes. What are you even thinking?
"Here we are!"
Babata led him to a training chamber on the castle's second floor. With a flick of his hand, rows of books appeared along the shelves—tens of thousands in total.
"These are all the cultivation texts left by the master!"
He pointed to the highest shelf. "That top layer is for warrior cultivation. Even if your soul is powerful, you still need a strong body to bear that spiritual force. Those books teach methods of exerting power, strengthening the body, and more."
"You've reached Planet-level Ninth Rank, but your true combat power likely isn't even equal to a Planet-level First or Second Rank genius of the wider universe!"
Hearing that, Jiang Li remained calm, offering no rebuttal.
How strong were the so-called geniuses of the universe?Even he couldn't define it.
"You'll soon see for yourself how vast that gap truly is!"
Babata grinned slyly and waved his hand again.
The virtual scene instantly changed—Jiang Li found himself standing in an arena-like space.
In front of him stood five towering stone statues, each with a different form.
"They were my master's five Undying followers. Three of them were also spiritual force wielders!"
Babata bared two tiny fangs in a mischievous smile. "And Doyi here will show you just how small your world really is!"
Jiang Li: "…"
Inside the virtual space, the statue Babata called Doyi began to shed its gray hue. Its eyes lit up with a lifelike glow, as if it might come alive at any moment.
"Jiang Li, Doyi belongs to one of the myriad cosmic races—the Crystal Clan. They pursue strength above all, and Doyi was among their most exceptional!"
Babata's little devil tail swished with delight, his tone smug. "Don't worry—the great Babata will suppress her power to match your level… though she's existed for tens of millions of years. Her combat experience is far beyond your imagination!"
"Now, let me copy your weapons… the Black God Set, hmm, a war blade…"
In the virtual realm, Babata's fingers danced like they were typing on an invisible keyboard.
Jiang Li's combat suit and Black Dragon War Blade appeared instantly—
Then Babata froze.
"What's this?"
He continued operating rapidly, but—no matter what he did—he couldn't replicate Zhuxian.
"Data error?!"
"Unable to access?!"
"Copy failed?!"
"How can that be?!"
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
Babata clawed at his head in frustration. He simply couldn't reproduce the runes engraved on Zhuxian. Clearly, the scarlet longsword contained elements beyond the scope of his current intelligence.
Seeing Babata on the verge of madness, Jiang Li felt a flicker of surprise himself.
When Hong had priced Zhuxian even higher than the Escape Shuttle, it was already clear he considered the sword more valuable.
And the Escape Shuttle was a creation of the Yunmo Star Master himself.
By that logic, Zhuxian was very likely the work of another super-existence—perhaps a being even greater than an Undying.
Of course, that was only Jiang Li's speculation.
"Babata, I told you—some existences, you can't even speak their true names."
Jiang Li casually summoned his war blade, his tone unhurried as he spoke.
"Hmph!"
Babata huffed twice. If he had doubted before, now he was completely convinced—there was indeed some unfathomable power behind Jiang Li!
"Babata."
Just then, a clear, melodious voice rang out. "You're still alive?"
"Sorry to disappoint you!"
Babata spread his hands and pointed at Jiang Li. "He's the master's registered disciple. I now order you to fight him!"
"Registered disciple?"
Doyi's gaze turned cold. She looked at Babata, the corners of her lips curling into a faint, icy smile.
"Babata… if I kill you, does that mean I won't have to follow your orders anymore?"