High Martial Arts: Slay enemies to become stronger, forge invincibility from billions of corpses.

Song Chen's heart raced instantly. Lal had actually seen through all his combat skills, but thankfully he hadn't seen through the system.

Eternal Body, Void Travel, Star Core Thunder Prison, and Star-Splitting Slash—these four Star Core-level combat techniques are clearly recorded in the Cangxing Alliance's system, and Lar recognized them at a glance.

However, the system itself was outside his perception range; Lar couldn't see the system shop, kill points exchange, or attribute points.

His brain completed all the deductions in a fraction of a second, and then he explained:

"Lord Ral, I had a strange encounter on Earth."

"Once, while I was practicing in the wild, I saw a meteor fall from the sky. I chased after it, but I couldn't find a crater or any fragments."

"But these things were added to my mind, like some kind of inheritance, directly engraved in my consciousness. I practiced according to them, and I mastered it."

After he finished speaking, the signing room was silent for a full three seconds.

Lars stared at him, his purplish-red pupils devoid of any expression, and then he suddenly laughed.

The laughter was not loud, but it was full of energy, and it echoed slightly on the curved wall of the signing room.

"Meteor Legacy?" Ral asked with a smile.

"You're quite lucky, kid. Such things are rare in the universe, but you can encounter a few every now and then. A powerful being from an advanced civilization happened to be passing by and casually tossed away a seed of inheritance."

"Fragments of memories left over from an ancient war drifted to this planet."

"It's even possible that some ancient will wandering in the universe chose you. Individuals in newly emerging civilizations who receive such an opportunity are all lucky."

As he spoke, Lar's gaze swept over Song Chen once more.

"However, good fortune alone is not enough. Being able to master all four Star Core-level combat techniques to the second level at the age of nineteen shows that your talent is also quite remarkable."

"Your newly developed civilizations always produce some geniuses. I've met several from different star systems. Some have received ancient inheritances, some have figured out their own unique paths, and some have broken through their limits on the edge of life and death. Each one of them is a treasure."

At this point, Lars's tone became more serious.

"The league likes to invest, and I like to invest too."

"However, the Alliance voted for a civilization, while I voted for an individual. The probability of a genius like you emerging from a Level 1 civilization that has only been around for less than a hundred years in the psionic era is lower than the probability of a black hole exploding."

"I'll take this investment."

Then he turned to Arthas and said, "List the Earth civilization as a new civilization with the highest authority."

Arthas was shocked. He opened his mouth as if to say, "This level requires the director's approval," but he swallowed the words back.

Lal continued, "From today onwards, the repayment agreement of the Blue Star civilization will be amended as follows."

"First, the debt owed by the Blue Star civilization will be permanently interest-free. The 10,000-year interest-free period will be changed to permanent interest-free, and no more interest will be charged."

"Second, the descent of the Punisher is permanently exempted. Unless the Blue Star civilization launches an attack on the Alliance, the Punishment Department shall not initiate the Heavenly Punishment procedure against Blue Star for any reason."

"Third, the principal of 1.2 million cosmic crystals still needs to be repaid, but there is no upper limit to the repayment period. You can repay it whenever you are able to, and if you are not able to, you can just owe it for now."

Arthas's face was grim. He had been the head of the Contract Management Office for thousands of years and had never seen such a clause before.

"Permanent interest-free"—these four words alone are enough to cause a collective uprising among tens of thousands of subordinate civilizations in the Milky Way. He can already imagine the scene where Blue Star can do it but we can't.

But he dared not ask, for the dark golden flame mark on Lar's forehead represented the authority of the highest level in the investment department.

The investment department has a strict, almost harsh, hierarchy. Since Lars has spoken, it is the final decision.

Lal came to Song Chen's side and patted him on the shoulder: "The principal still needs to be returned. This is a hard rule of the league. I can't change it, and I don't want to."

"Investing is not charity; it's a business transaction. If the principal isn't returned, the accounts won't balance."

"I understand." Song Chen nodded.

He had already recalculated the accounts in his mind: the principal was 1.2 million cosmic crystals, with no repayment deadline, no interest, and no debt collection.

What does this mean?

This means that the debt exists legally, but in practice it is practically non-existent.

It's fine to return it after 10,000 years, 100,000 years, or even 1 million years.

Given the current rate of development of Earth, given enough time, 1.2 million cosmic crystals would be no problem at all.

He can accumulate 5.5 billion kill points by killing alien beasts every day. Once he gets to the universe, there will be even more ways to make money.

This is not a contract of servitude; it is an indefinite, interest-free loan.

"Lord Ral, what do I need to give in return?" Song Chen asked Ral.

He knew that good things don't just fall from the sky, and even if they did, they wouldn't land on the head of someone he'd only known for three minutes.

Lal smiled, a hint of appreciation in his eyes.

He sat down in the chair next to Song Chen, a move that caused Arthas's pupils to dilate again.

According to the rules of the investment department, the main seat in the signing room is reserved for the investor's representative. By sitting down, Lars meant that he had placed himself on an equal footing with Song Chen.

"The way returns are negotiated between investors and investees cannot be determined by signing a contract."

"Just remember these things I'm giving you."

"When you grow up and reach a certain point in the future, it might be when you break through to the eighth rank, or when you become a high-ranking member of the alliance, or it might be in some unexpected situation."

"When I need you, just remember the favor I did for you today, and that's enough."

He extended his right hand, palm facing up.

"In the universe, some things are more effective than treaties, such as human relationships."

Song Chen looked down at the hand and thought for a moment.

Then he extended his right hand and shook it.

Lal's palms are colder than human palms, yet they feel surprisingly soft, unlike their appearance which suggests they are hard.

"Thank you very much, Lord Ral. I will remember this kindness."

Lars released his grip, stood up, and turned to leave.

As Song Chen watched his retreating figure, she was thinking about something else: the Punisher.

It seems that Lal values ​​himself highly, so...

Song Chen spoke up: "Lord Ral, please wait a moment, there's something I'd like to ask you for help with."

Ral stopped in his tracks: "Speak."

"I want to be a punisher."

The signing room fell silent again.

Arthas's expression had shifted from shock to numbness. He felt he had already witnessed enough unconventional things today, and one more wouldn't matter.