Chapter 189: Ruins Reward

After one year and three months of arduous cultivation, he finally managed to break through the crystal chamber.

The crystal chamber, with a large hole blasted through its wall, suddenly emitted a hissing sound, then completely dissolved into dreamlike beams of light, merging into the dark brown, entangled roots on the ground.

“XXXXXXXX…” A familiar voice echoed through the labyrinth.

“One year and three months… finally, I hear this voice again.” Luo Feng quickly glanced at the communicator on his wrist. The device soon translated the words:

“Congratulations. You have successfully completed the deadly trial.”

“Please proceed forward along the passage ahead and come see me to receive the reward for completing the trial.”

As the voice still echoed, the tough wall of dark brown roots in front of Luo Feng began to rapidly shift aside, forming a passage wide enough for three or four men abreast. The passage was deep and mysterious, with dazzling, illusory lights shimmering at its end—the same kind of light that had formed the crystal walls.

“Finally succeeded, and now I can claim the reward?” Luo Feng turned, slung his backpack onto his back, and summoned the Dark Cloud Shuttle.

“Let’s go!”

With a leap, he landed atop the shuttle.

Whoosh! The shuttle sped forward along the passage, swiftly passing through the deep corridor and soon arriving at a grand hall bathed in surreal, colorful lights. It was like a palace fit for immortals, with the radiant hues swirling and lingering. The palace itself stretched dozens of meters in both length and width—about the size of a stadium.

“See it? Where is it?” Luo Feng looked around.

The chamber was empty!

Suddenly—

A surge of colorful light gathered, quickly forming a tall, indistinct humanoid figure. It solidified into the shape of a bald, crystalline being.

“Light forming into a person?” Luo Feng felt a twinge of nervousness. Everything happening within this ancient civilization’s ruins had already surpassed the technological understanding of Earth’s people. Even the strongest warriors were insignificant before such ancient relics. Naturally, Luo Feng felt uneasy in the presence of this crystal being.

“XXXXXX…” The bald crystal being spoke with a smile, its features exquisitely detailed. Were it human, it would have been considered very beautiful.

Luo Feng’s communicator immediately translated the words: “Hello, Luo Feng.”

The crystal being glanced at the communicator, and instantly a beam of light from the palace shot into the device. Luo Feng was startled to see the screen rapidly displaying a series of operations—this ancient relic was deleting a large amount of translation data from the communicator.

“Don’t be alarmed,” the crystal being said, its voice slightly metallic.

Mandarin?

Luo Feng stared at the figure in shock.

“Don’t be surprised. The development of humanity on this planet has all been under my observation. The evolution of your language, culture, and history has been fully monitored. Of course, I understand your language and writing. To make it easier for you to accept, I have taken on this humanoid form to speak with you,” the crystal being explained with a smile.

Luo Feng calmed himself.

Indeed, this ancient ruin had existed for untold millennia. It was not strange that it had such thorough knowledge of Earth’s development.

“Your civilization is still in its infancy,” the crystal being continued. “I know everything about you, which is why I can call you by name—Luo Feng. I called you once when you first arrived.”

Luo Feng was shaken.

Yes, one year and three months ago, when the deadly trial had first begun, he had been addressed as “Elite Apprentice Luo Feng.” At the time, he had assumed it was due to the translation software. Now, it was clear—the ancient ruins truly knew his name.

“Because you initiated the deadly trial, I addressed you directly by name,” the crystal being said. “Had you failed the trial, you would have died, and the secret would not have been compromised. But since you succeeded, you have earned the right to enter the Mosha Clan and become one of its members. You now have the privilege of knowing that I monitor this planet.”

“Mosha Clan?” Luo Feng was puzzled.

The crystal being slightly shook its head. “Knowing the name is as good as not knowing it at all.”

“Now, I shall grant you the reward for successfully completing the trial.”

With a wave of its hand, the crystal being summoned several objects from the depths of the palace. They floated forward, carried by a beam of colorful light—four items in total: a black vest, a silver bracer, a book shimmering with starlight, and a hexagonal metal badge. These four items hovered before the crystal being.

“The first item is known among your kind as the Black God Suit,” the being pointed to the black vest.

“The second is an auxiliary cyber-brain, shaped like a silver bracer.”

“The third is the attack method for Controllers, titled ‘Dark Cloud.'”

“The fourth is the badge granting access to the Mosha Clan.”

The crystal being gently touched the final hexagonal badge, which bore two complex characters. With a sigh, it continued, “I am following the master’s pre-set program, but unfortunately, even if you obtain the Mosha Clan badge, you will be unable to summon anyone from the Mosha Clan to come for you and grant you access.”

“Why?” Luo Feng’s mind was in turmoil. “What exactly is the Mosha Clan?”

“The Mosha Clan is a mysterious place deep within the vast universe,” the crystal being explained. “Unfortunately, I can no longer establish contact with the Mosha Clan. You, of course, cannot reach them with the badge either. According to the program embedded in this base, I must grant you the badge. But it will be of no use to you.”

Luo Feng was deeply alarmed.

From the sound of it, the Mosha Clan must have been a mysterious and powerful force in the universe. This ancient ruin had been built long ago to monitor Earth, selecting elite members for the Mosha Clan. But now, contact had been lost.

Most likely, the Mosha Clan had suffered a catastrophe—or been destroyed.

Nothing lasts forever. Even the most powerful and mysterious forces cannot endure eternally. Since the ruins remain intact but communication has been lost, the Mosha Clan must have encountered some disaster.

“The Mosha Clan badge is useless to you now, and you already know the uses of the Black God Suit.”

“As for this auxiliary cyber-brain, it is something every genetic warrior and mentalist desires. It will be of great use to you,” the crystal being continued. “In addition to all the functions of your communicator, it has many other capabilities. Most importantly, it can measure the strength of any target.”

“Measure strength?” Luo Feng was surprised.

“Put it on,” the crystal being instructed, “and infuse it with your mental force.” The silver bracer flew toward Luo Feng.

“Alright.”

Luo Feng removed his original bracer from his left arm and put on the silver one. As a thread of mental force seeped into it, the bracer quickly bonded with his skin. The surface of the bracer displayed a flood of pictographs and text—all in Mandarin.

“The auxiliary cyber-brain also has translation capabilities,” the crystal being explained. “Many of the translation files on your communicator contain information that could reveal secrets of this place, so I have already deleted a large amount of data from your communicator—including the complete 312 basic forms of the Controller techniques.”

Luo Feng nodded.

So be it. What did it matter? He had practiced those 312 basic forms countless times during his year and three months of arduous training. He had already memorized them thoroughly.

“Press the button at the lower-left corner of the cyber-brain, and aim it at someone, and it will measure their strength,” the crystal being instructed. “You can also control it by voice.”

Luo Feng lowered his gaze. The “button” was in truth merely a sleek surface, bearing only faint engravings that traced its outline. With a gentle press on the lower-left corner, he directed the cyber-brain toward himself. In an instant, words materialized upon its surface:

“Combat Power: Mental Force (Apprentice Ninth Stage), Genetic Energy (Apprentice Ninth Stage)”

“What does ‘Apprentice Ninth Stage’ mean?” Luo Feng asked the crystal being.

“You are now a member of the Mosha Clan and have the right to know this information,” the crystal being replied. “Across the infinite universe, countless lifeforms exist. The vast majority are at the ‘Apprentice Level.’ In Earth’s terms, this means ordinary, unremarkable beings.”

Luo Feng was stunned.

Ordinary beings… was he considered unremarkable, just an average person?

“The Apprentice Level is divided into nine stages, with the first being the lowest and the ninth the highest. The first stage corresponds to what you call a ‘beginner warrior,’ while the ninth stage is equivalent to a ‘high-level war god,'” the crystal being explained with a smile. “The strongest being on this planet, ‘Hong,’ once received some ancient technological inheritance. That’s why he knows to divide power into nine levels. But he probably found the term ‘nine stages’ too crude, so he renamed them ‘warrior, general, war god.’ He doesn’t realize that in the vast universe, all these levels are collectively known as ‘Apprentice.'”

Luo Feng took a deep breath.

“Beyond the Apprentice Level is the Stellar Level. Only when reaching the Stellar Level can one be considered a true ‘genetic warrior’ or ‘mentalist.’ Before that, one is merely an apprentice, unworthy of those titles,” the crystal being said, leaving Luo Feng momentarily speechless.

He was hailed as an invincible war god, yet he wasn’t even considered a true mentalist.

“The Stellar Level is also divided into nine stages!”

“On your planet, those who surpass the war god level are Stellar-Level warriors!” the crystal being explained.

Luo Feng suddenly understood—the revered council members were all Stellar-Level warriors.

“What about their strength?” Luo Feng quickly asked. “How strong are they?”

He was curious about the strength of Earth’s super-war gods, especially Hong and Thunder.

“Their strength is mostly at Stellar First Stage, with a few at Stellar Second Stage. Two are at Stellar Third Stage,” the crystal being replied. “The strongest, ‘Hong,’ is at Stellar Sixth Stage, while ‘Thunder’ is at Stellar Seventh Stage. They are far stronger than the others.”

Luo Feng was stunned.

Hong was at Stellar Sixth Stage? Thunder was at Stellar Seventh?

“That can’t be right. Hong should be stronger than Thunder,” Luo Feng couldn’t help but protest.

“The levels I give are based on their physical condition, genetic energy, and mental force—not their actual combat strength,” the crystal being clarified. “Hong’s physical condition and genetic energy are indeed slightly inferior to Thunder’s. But actual combat strength isn’t solely determined by physical condition or genetic energy.”

“For example, you!”

The crystal being looked at Luo Feng. “Your mental force is at Apprentice Ninth Stage, but your amplification factor is sixteen times! Your genetic energy is also at Apprentice Ninth Stage, with an amplification factor of 3.5 times.”

At present, Luo Feng could control sixteen blades simultaneously to unleash his maximum combat power.

“Two beings at Apprentice Ninth Stage—one with double amplification, the other with ten times—would they be the same?” the crystal being asked.

Luo Feng was deeply shaken.

Indeed…

The cyber-brain only measured basic physical attributes. When he first arrived, he could control six flying blades, but now he could control sixteen. The difference in strength was immense, yet the test result remained the same—Apprentice Ninth Stage.

“Apprentice Ninth Stage with sixteenfold amplification.”

“Equivalent to Stellar First Stage with fourfold amplification,” the crystal being explained. “A typical Stellar-Level warrior can usually amplify their power three to four times. Therefore, your current combat strength should be comparable to an average Stellar First Stage warrior—the so-called ‘super-war god’ level you know.”

The crystal being pointed to the shimmering manual floating before them. “However, you also possess the Controller attack technique ‘Dark Cloud.’ This ‘Dark Cloud’ is the usage method for the Controller-exclusive weapon, the Dark Cloud Shuttle. You previously had no idea how to use the Dark Cloud Shuttle, treating it like an ordinary flying blade—an insult to such a rare weapon.”

“What is a Controller?” Luo Feng asked.

“Powerful beings in the universe are mainly divided into genetic warriors and mentalists. These are the two major categories, with genetic warriors further subdivided into various types, and mentalists also having several subcategories. You are a ‘Controller’ among mentalists—an Earth term for one who specializes in controlling objects.”

Luo Feng suddenly understood. It seemed the universe had long established a complete system for cultivation.

“Stellar-Level mentalists are eager to obtain an exclusive mental weapon! Yet you have obtained one,” the crystal being said. “That’s why you’re fortunate. Although ‘Hong’ recognized its value, he was neither a mentalist nor knew the technique for using the Dark Cloud Shuttle. That’s why he gave it to you.”

Luo Feng’s heart raced with joy. No wonder Hong had been so reluctant to part with it, even deliberately pricing it low at thirty celestial stones.

If even Stellar-Level mentalists coveted such an exclusive weapon, how lucky was he to have obtained it!

“Without an exclusive weapon, how much strength can one truly wield?”

“But with the Dark Cloud Shuttle and this manual ‘Dark Cloud,’ you can truly unleash its power.”

“Without the shuttle and the manual, you are comparable to a Stellar First Stage warrior.”

“But with them, you will be like a tiger with wings—greatly enhanced. The extent of your power will depend on how well you can utilize the Dark Cloud Shuttle!” the crystal being said.

Luo Feng’s heart pounded.

Although he had not yet broken through to the Stellar Level, with his high amplification factor, the Dark Cloud Shuttle, and the ‘Dark Cloud’ manual, even ordinary super-war gods would not be his match.

“Generally, one can break through to the Stellar Level once they can control twelve hidden weapons at maximum power.”

“But you have extraordinary talent, with a brain domain breadth of 21. Your breakthrough threshold is higher than average. You will only have a chance to break through once you can control sixteen hidden weapons,” the crystal being explained. “You may break through at any time. I have left the breakthrough techniques in the cyber-brain. Study them carefully when you return.”

Luo Feng was thrilled. No wonder the crystal chamber had been designed to require sixteen flying blades to break through. Once he reached that level, he could break through to the Stellar Level at any time.

“You are the first member of the Mosha Clan on Earth in five thousand years,” the crystal being said. “Therefore, you must not become arrogant. In terms of combat effectiveness, ‘Hong’ is far superior to you. He has already attained his own domain. Within the Stellar Level, he can be considered invincible.”

“As the first Mosha Clan member in five thousand years, although you can no longer reach the Mosha Clan, I still hope you can surpass them and become the strongest,” the crystal being said, gazing at Luo Feng.