Swallowing the Stars: Providing a Loan to Luo Feng Begins

Chapter 55: The Battle of Geniuses Begins! (First Subscription via 3.5k Loan!)

"Nine Universes Chaos Stele, come!"

Chen Qi quickly transmitted the previously set plans to the system one by one.

[The design is currently being searched based on loan requirements...]

The item is proposed to be named 'Nine Universes Chaos Stele', replicating the first three images of the Nine Universes Chaos Stele, with its effects reduced proportionally to its value, remaining at 85% of the current total loan amount.

At this point, the system displayed an agreement.

Chen Qi made some modifications and adjustments to the settings.

Finally, a loan agreement that Chen Qi was relatively satisfied with was presented:

【——Loan Agreement——】

[Loan Project: 'Nine Universes Chaos Stele' - Low-End Version]

[The low-end version of the 'Nine Universes Chaos Stele': Based on its value, the Nine Universes Chaos Stele is expected to be far less valuable than the original. However, its advantage lies in the smaller number of users, eliminating the need to share cultivation with others. While its effectiveness is certainly lower than the original, it remains an invaluable treasure for the borrower, 'Luo Feng,' to aid in cultivating the 'Laws of Space'!]

[Click to expand for more details...]

[This loan will utilize 85% of your credit limit]

[The loan amount must be repaid within one hundred years (based on the time flow in the borrower's region), and interest will be charged for each overdue payment (within one hundred years)...]

"a hundred years."

Chen Qi glanced at the loan term; as the loan amount increased, the repayment period would gradually become more flexible.

Chen Qi had noticed this when he repeatedly increased his credit score.

The "profiteering" system is somewhat reasonable in this respect.

Otherwise, if you borrow a "supreme treasure" and are then required to repay it within a month, or you'll be charged interest.

That's just too perverted.

The system's interest rate isn't too high; it's generally manageable. However, if the rate increases too frequently, it becomes unbearable.

"Thirty years is enough to repay the loan. If I unfortunately fail to repay it, a little more interest at that time is acceptable." Chen Qi decided to take out this loan.

He shouted:
"Luo Feng, take a look at this."

"'Nine Universes Chaos Stele'..." Luo Feng read through it bit by bit, quite satisfied with the description of its effects.

Chen Qi then introduced:

"The Nine Universes Chaos Stele is one of the 52 Chaos Steles of the human race..."

Among all the Chaos Steles, the Nine Universes Chaos Stele is considered to be among the top. Chen Qi remembered that the original plot description stated that it was within the top five.

The Skybridge also has a total of 27 floors.

Chen Qi didn't know who exactly created it.

However, the competition among Chaos Monuments is not really that important. In the original story, Uka, one of the "Three Heroes of the Primordial Era," cultivated the strongest Chaos Monument, the Giant Axe.

In the end, the dish was still just a dish.

"Borrow it! Borrow this one!"

Luo Feng was quite satisfied and went through the process smoothly.

Mars.

In a desolate and lifeless place, three small mountain peaks were hidden deep in the vast loess soil. With a 'whoosh,' the mountain peaks trembled violently.

Those were three ferocious and terrifying golden horns pointing skyward.

Golden Horned Beast Luo Feng!

Of the three golden horns, the third one has now grown to near its full potential, and the Golden Horned Beast is now a sixth-order cosmic-level being.

In the inner world.

A massive 'Chaos Stele' stands there, with only one-third of it containing content, consisting of 'three images'.

The first picture shows nine raindrops.

The second picture shows 36 raindrops.

The third picture shows 108 raindrops.

The loan cost for the remaining six drawings was too high, and Chen Qi felt it was completely unnecessary, as Luo Feng wouldn't need such advanced techniques for the time being.

"This is a simplified version of the Nine Universes Chaos Stele?"

Luo Feng, the Soul Devouring Domain Beast in disguise, gazed at the three images from afar. In terms of spatial law perception, the Soul Devouring Domain Beast's clone, having continuously absorbed souls to enhance its abilities, now possessed a spatial law perception that far surpassed that of humans and the Golden Horned Beast.

It is at least several times that of the Demon Slayer Clan of the same level.

And this is far from the limit of its development...

The arrangement of the raindrops in the three pictures was quite wondrous. The Soul-Devouring Beast stared at the first picture for a long time, gradually becoming more and more aware of it.

He sensed a certain charm.

Time slowly passed...

After some time.

"Chen Qi, I feel like this is not easy to comprehend." Luo Feng, the Soul Devouring Beast, stopped cultivating.

Chen Qi responded:

"It's normal that it's not easy. The difference between this and the original in Chaos City is huge. However, the original has a cultivation time, but you can keep studying this Chaos Stele here. Just treat it as a tool to assist your cultivation."

"And there's no need to rush to fully understand them."

"To be able to comprehend the first three images, that's not just the level of the top student in the genius battle, that's just too heaven-defying."

The 52 real Chaos Steles within Chaos City.

It is shared by the entire human race, and the time for enlightenment is only seven days. The manufacturing and maintenance costs must be unimaginable.

The cost would probably be on par with some powerful 'treasures'.

"My low-end version is only worth about five or six immortal corpses of the mechanical race, and it can't compare to the original."

Chen Qi was well aware of this.

However, it is a low-end version of the "Nine Universes Chaos Stele" with a spatial law comprehension far exceeding that of the Demon Killer Clan.

In this timeline, Luo Feng certainly wouldn't need to fear Bolan.

In the original timeline, Luo Feng hasn't even started developing his Demon Slayer Clan clone yet, and Chen Qi remembers that the development time for a Demon Slayer Clan clone is quite long.

"There's still some loan amount left."

"What should be improved?"

"Should we continue to enhance our perception of spatial laws, or should we enhance our will?" In fact, Chen Qi leaned towards enhancing his will.

Whether one's willpower is sufficient plays the most significant role in Luo Feng's growth trajectory!

The Star Tower that recognizes its master.

It requires a level of willpower far exceeding one's own realm. The higher the realm, the more difficult it is to recognize a master. Moreover, the Star Tower is not simply a supreme treasure.

This treasure is definitely not to be missed.

'Lieyuan Technique'.

It's a secret technique of willpower that can be extremely useful even on the Origin Continent. (Enhancing Willpower)
That is the key point in Luo Feng's growth trajectory.

"In the current timeline, if we don't continue to invest in the laws of space, Bolan won't be worthy of being compared to the future Luo Feng."

"There's no need to chase time too much anymore. The key is to take each step firmly! Willpower is also an important part of the later 'Blood Crystal' fusion."

"Let's ask Luo Feng for his opinion. Tempering one's will is impossible without suffering. I can't and shouldn't force him to cultivate."

Chen Qi went to talk to Luo Feng, who gave a brief description, saying that improving one's will is equally important for the path to becoming a strong person in the future.

A glint of madness flashed in the golden-horned behemoth's cold eyes.

He said calmly:

"Chen Qi, then I'll leave it to you!"

Luo Feng was well aware of one thing: without Chen Qi, he would have had a hard time dealing with threats like the 'Golden Horned Beast' and the 'Nolan Mountain Family' on his own. Chen Qi had told him that he could do it even without Chen Qi.

Regarding this, Luo Feng couldn't imagine how he had accomplished all of this on his own.

But he felt that if he did that, he would have to pay a much more terrible price, and things would definitely not be going so smoothly as they are now.

"My smooth sailing is all thanks to Chen Qi's help."

"He was able to get me some treasures in advance so that I could cultivate and improve before solving the problem. This kind of help is immense."

"But."

"What if one day Chen Qi can't help me anymore, and instead needs my help?"

"In the end, you still have to rely on yourself!"

Chen Qi doesn't have mind-reading abilities; he doesn't know what Luo Feng is thinking. If he heard it, he would only think it's amazing.

He began to design the loan program.
After devising a secret method that he felt was enough to torment himself and temper his will, he presented it to Luo Feng.

"not enough."

"In that case, the effect of boosting willpower is too weak."

"Chen Qi, you can increase your investment. Don't worry about me. As long as it doesn't cause me irreversible damage or affect my life, you can come with peace of mind." The eyes of the Golden Horned Beast Luo Feng were filled with madness.

Chen Qi paused, but he was willing to cooperate with Luo Feng's choice.

Second edition.

Luo Feng continued speaking after reading it:

"That's still not enough. Let's just max out the loan amount."

"Are you sure?" Chen Qi asked again.

"Sure!"

Luo Feng's resolve was unwavering.

He continued:

"If we weren't so obsessed, this universe would be teeming with powerful beings: immortals, cosmic venerables, and even the cosmic lord you mentioned, Chen Qi..."

"I want to stand higher, to protect everything I want to protect, and I also want to see the view from a higher vantage point."

"it is good."

Chen Qi chose to respect this decision. He kept only a small portion of the loan amount for emergencies, and devoted the rest to a secret method that was purely about torturing himself and tempering his will.

Once the loan agreement was finalized, Luo Feng did not hesitate and immediately chose to complete the process.

【——Loan Agreement——】

[Loan Project: 'Candlelight and Heart Lamp']

[The effect of 'Candlelight Heart Lamp': Deep within the sea of ​​consciousness, a heart lamp can be lit at any time, fueled by the soul's consciousness within the sea of ​​consciousness. When the lamp is lit, the soul feels as if it is being slowly roasted over a low flame, producing indescribable intense pain and a persistent sense of weakness and exhaustion... The heart lamp can also be extinguished at any time.]

[This loan will utilize 13% of your credit limit]

【…】

Earth's Chinese Calendar.

December 2066, 3.

A long time passed, and due to the existence of the 'Nine Universes Chaos Stele', the spatial law talent of the Soul Devouring Domain Beast continued to improve.

Luo Feng's cultivation progressed at an increasingly rapid pace.

He is now determined to win first place in the Genius Battle!
In the Black Dragon Mountain Island region of the virtual universe, Lady Manlu summoned Luo Feng to her side. Also present were 'Hong' and 'Thor'.

These two were already top geniuses on Earth.

Chen Qi and Luo Feng then gave the two some leftover cultivation resources that they no longer needed, such as some cosmic coins.

It looks like scraps.

But these are still very good conditions for their cultivation.

Whether in the original storyline where the two sacrificed themselves for Earth to fight the Devouring Beast, or in this altered timeline, the two also saved Earth during the Great Nirvana era.

Both of them are highly respected seniors on Earth.

Luo Feng was happy to give the two some resources that he didn't need and that were almost worthless to him.

After receiving the inheritance of the 'Lord of Kabu', Thor's strength greatly improved.

However, in the original storyline, 'Hong' and 'Thor' couldn't keep up with Luo Feng's growth rate, and in the current timeline, they are destined to fall behind as well.

Chen Qi and Luo Feng will definitely prioritize their own interests.

The control over 'anonymous accounts in the virtual universe' on Earth has gradually loosened, allowing some top-tier powerhouses to access these accounts after verification.

Access to the virtual universe has been granted.

With Manluo as his backer, and with the Genius Battle starting soon, Luo Feng will be unstoppable and his status will gradually rise.

No more worrying about Earth's treasures attracting space pirates.

Not long ago, Luo Feng attended an auction and, at Chen Qi's instruction, bought some combat techniques from the universe, as well as a 'divine weapon'.

Chen Qi could actually get a better loan.

However, these are all things that need to be demonstrated in the battle of geniuses. If Luo Feng uses many powerful but unknown combat techniques, it may attract the attention of some powerful individuals. Humanity as a whole is united, but there are also selfish and self-serving people.

The 'Moro' of the Primal Secret Realm, the top-tier second-generation 'Nightmare Candle King', and the 'Flame Emperor' all spent a long time among the human race.

While waiting.

suddenly
Above Black Dragon Mountain Island, a massive black notice appeared. The notice was entirely black, but it contained characters that emitted a white light.

"..."

"Battle of the Ultimate Geniuses!"

"..."

"This event will be jointly hosted by Virtual Universe Company and various intergalactic nations!"

"It's open."

Both Chen Qi and Luo Feng had excitement in their eyes.

(End of this chapter)