Swallowing the Stars: Starting with the Battle of Geniuses

Chapter 104 Loan Upgrade, War Game

"Mr. Xingluo, the reaction was a success! The purification rate has exceeded 80%, a new record!"

"Yes, Mr. Xingluo, now the other A-level members should have nothing to say. You have proven your ability! I am absolutely certain that your research direction is the future!"

In a research room at the institute, several researchers in white lab coats surrounded Xingluo, their faces full of admiration.

More than three years have passed since Hunzhen "broke through" to become a Domain Lord.

A genius who could escape from a seventh-level Domain Lord at the cosmic level has now broken through to become a Domain Lord.

With someone willing to work as a researcher's assistant, naturally no one dares to mess with them, and their path is unobstructed.

Xingluo holds a high position, but in reality, most people in the research institute don't really have any impression of this "high" status.

Because it involves a "scandal," this information was naturally concealed.

Seeing Xingluo being ostracized, the lower-level staff in the research institute naturally dared not approach or get close to her.

But now that a domain lord-level expert is serving as Xingluo's assistant, all these concerns have naturally lessened.

Gradually, people began to show goodwill to Xingluo and his companion, which made it easier for Xingluo to actively seek support from others.

Once given the opportunity, Xingluo, the young researcher, was able to quickly gain a large following of fans thanks to his extraordinary research abilities.

"Hey, Hunzhen, this is freshly purified Demon Fruit, won't you try some?"

Xinglu waved his hand, ignoring the flattering crowd, and tossed a red Demon Fruit to Hunzhen, who was bored out of his mind.

"Please don't."

Hunzhen rolled his eyes and quickly threw the fruit back.

Xingluo's main research subject was the Demon Fruit, and as his assistant, he was naturally familiar with its properties.

The value of the Moro Fruit increases hundreds or thousands of times depending on its color grade.

Above gray and white are silver and black, with silver and black belonging to the same grade and having similar value. Above that is bright red.

According to Xingluo, there is a pure and transparent fruit on top of the bright red color, which is like crystal. However, with the current level of technology, it is impossible to purify and produce it.

In terms of energy density alone, the rate of increase in color level transition is basically the same. The reason for the increase in value is due to the difference in energy utilization and digestion efficiency, coupled with the fact that some flesh and blood technologies require higher-density Moro Fruits.

The supply couldn't keep up with demand, which led to research projects that involved purifying the Moro fruit, even at the cost of energy.

The value of these purified Moro fruits, obtained through technological means, is the lowest among those of the same color grade, yet it is still equivalent to the annual salary of a research institute assistant, amounting to several thousand or even tens of thousands of yuan.

A single purification experiment costs enough money to hire hundreds or even thousands of new assistants, making Hunzhen lament the exorbitant cost of research.

Because of the enormous profits at stake, it is common for individuals to line their own pockets and vie for power.

Xingluo can use the Demon Fruit produced in the experiment for subsequent experiments, but giving it away to subordinates and friends so openly will obviously result in punishment and compensation.

"With my current research progress, one Red Devil Fruit is not a big deal."

During their break, Xingluo once again sought out Hunzhen for a casual chat.

He clearly knew this, but he just responded with a nonchalant smile.

"Oh? Is it going well?"

Hunzhen asked curiously, "Then... what about 'that' you're most concerned about?"

Upon hearing this, Xingluo shook his head with a hint of regret: "This bottleneck can't be broken through in a day or two. Hehe, but if that day ever comes, I'll definitely show it to you first!"

"good!"

Hunzhen responded with a bright smile.

The term "that" naturally refers to a spaceship that is not popular in the abyss.

Xingluo had briefly mentioned to him that after these two projects were completed, he planned to use the institute's funds to indirectly develop mechanical technology under the guise of "upgrading the feather ship" and "testing the feasibility of the feather ship's space travel capability".

The next step in Xingluo's plan to break through the sky is to enable their spaceship to travel through space in the abyss.

Hunzhen had neither the stance nor the ability to offer advice, so he could only offer his silent blessings.

Xinglu patted Hunzhen on the shoulder, then changed the subject, saying, "Hunzhen, you've already fulfilled your promise. With your current abilities, you probably don't need much extra help from me, right? But if there's anything you need, please feel free to ask. There's no need for formalities between us."

Xingluo has basically established a firm foothold. The implication behind these words is that even without Hunzhen, the remaining details can be handled by his personal abilities.

Hunzhen looked at Xingluo intently for a long time before speaking.

"You said I fulfilled my promise, are you really sure you don't need my help anymore?"

"I have experienced assassination attempts by domain lord-level powerhouses, so I know very well that the enemy you are facing can easily use domain lord-level power."

"Those guys aren't holding back right now, not because they can't deal with you. They just might not have the time or resources to do so yet."

Hunzhen launched into a rapid-fire explanation of the disadvantages of leaving now.

Over the years, as his only friend in the abyss, Jun Zhenli naturally expressed his concern.

Xingluo shrugged and smiled, saying, "If what you say is true, such an enemy is not something you can deal with alone, Hunzhen."

Hunzhen was speechless for a moment.

"Okay, stop worrying about me."

Xingluo shrugged: "Although I haven't said it explicitly, you know my identity is extraordinary. They will only hinder my goals and make things difficult for me on my path to my dreams. Even if someone does attack me, it will absolutely not endanger my life. As for you, if you really get involved, even if you are now at the Domain Lord level, you will probably not escape death."

He sighed softly and patted Hunzhen on the shoulder: "Brother, you've already done enough to get me this far. You've risked your life several times to help me gain a foothold faster. I know you'll say that you also wanted to climb the ladder of power and influence sooner... but for now, I'm the real beneficiary. You're right, you're just a dragon that needs a little push to take flight. That push doesn't have to be me. Even without my help, you would have arrived here sooner or later. You've already repaid the small favor of bringing you to the ninth floor. The remaining difficulties shouldn't be your responsibility; I should face them myself."

Hunzhen stared at Xingluo, speechless for a long time.

Finally, he nodded.

The resignation procedures were completed quickly.

In Xingluo's high-class single room, the two were saying their final goodbyes.

"Hunzhen, you still haven't told me what your plans are? If you want to befriend the Abyss Nobles... I do have one or two ways, though not many."

"Following your path must have cost you a lot of favors, right? I doubt those Abyss nobles would look down on you."

"Haha, it's alright. So, it seems you're not planning to rely on that method?"

"Um."

Hunzhen nodded, clinked glasses with Xingluo, and said, "I want to participate in the Grand Martial Arts Festival."

"As expected?"

Xingluo, with an expression that seemed to have known everything, sighed and said, "This path is not easy to walk."

Participating in the Grand Martial Arts Festival means facing off against numerous Abyss Nobles.

In such situations, individual strength becomes less important. Of course, if you truly possess overwhelming power, that's a different story. If your fist is large enough to break the rules and directly alter the laws, you can naturally solve any problem head-on.

However, without this power, one would have to consider the issues that would arise after defeating those abyssal nobles during the Grand Martial Arts Festival.

The Grand Martial Arts Festival is said to be the only way for lower races to break through class barriers, but in reality, which of those participants did not have the support and background of the Abyss Nobles?

Most of those who did not choose to attach themselves or submit disappeared silently during the competition.

For a lower-class race of commoner origin to win a spot in the competition, they must brave countless dangers and face the sniping, targeting, and difficulties from numerous abyssal nobles.

Over time, Xingluo came to know his friend's personality; he was not one to willingly serve as a slave or a dog for the nobility.

"Aren't you the same?"

The latest novel is first published here!

Hunzhen couldn't help but roll his eyes and ask a question in return.

Xingluo immediately laughed: "Well, it seems we really are brothers in misfortune."

After exchanging a few playful words, Xingluo said, "There are mainly two ways to obtain a spot in the Grand Martial Arts Festival. Let me guess which one you chose... Heh, well, there's no need to guess. You're probably thinking of joining the army first, and then trying to get a winning spot in the Lesser Martial Arts Festival, right?"

Having his plan exposed, Hunzhen looked at Xingluo, who had a slightly smug expression, and clicked his tongue: "Tsk, I can't hide anything from you. What, judging from your expression, is there some special warning you're giving me?"

Xingluo nodded slightly: "I know you can't be dissuaded, so I won't try to stop you from joining the army. But before that, I'll tell you about the cruelty of the Abyss Battlefield. Otherwise, if I find out you died on the battlefield after hundreds of years of research, I probably won't be able to sleep for days."

"So you'll be sad for a few days after I die, just to be a little sad? What's the meaning of this?" Hunzhen couldn't help but complain.

"I've said everything I needed to say, but you still want to go and die. What can I do?"

Xingluo helplessly shrugged and finally got to the point.

"Hunzhen, do you know what those noble lords call the war in the tenth level of the abyss battlefield?"

"Wow, it seems there's a story behind this. What's it called?"

Xingluo put down his wine glass, paused, and replied meaningfully, "'War Game'."

Hunzhen raised an eyebrow.

Xingluo continued, "There are no rules in a true war between the two royal families, and they certainly don't set aside a layer as a battlefield, like a custom that lasts for millions, tens of millions, or even hundreds of billions of years... When a true war breaks out, it is always silent, and they use every means possible to weaken the other side's forces through underhanded tactics. The so-called Abyss Battlefield on the tenth layer is just a training ground used by the Abyss Royal Family to vent their bloodlust and hone the younger generation."

"But this training ground is only for the Abyss Nobles. For us lower races, the Abyss Battlefield is just a giant meat grinder. Countless fools brainwashed by their faith, who consider it an honor for nobles to die in battle, or ambitious individuals like you who yearn to climb to the pinnacle of power, rush into it one after another, yet they can't even make a ripple. To put it with high emotional intelligence, you are noble warriors and soldiers who die for honor; to put it with low emotional intelligence, you are just cannon fodder that no one cares about."

"Even so, are you still going? To participate in this group of nobles' war game?"

Hunzhen simply nodded slightly, his expression remaining completely unchanged.

"If you ask me, with your talent, you should focus on increasing your influence. There's no need to go to the Abyss Battlefield. You can simply wait for the next Grand Martial Arts Festival ten thousand years from now..."

Xingluo looked at Hunzhen's expression and scratched his head in distress: "Oh well, it's pointless to try to persuade him."

He sighed and pushed out a silver nameplate.

The silver plaque depicts a majestic silver demon, whose appearance would be considered handsome even by human standards. It exudes a captivating aura, and the depicted silver demon is so lifelike that it seems to possess life characteristics and is about to crawl out of the plaque.

It looks incredibly valuable.

Beyond its monetary value, Hunzhen also noticed the rhythm of spatial laws on the plaque, suggesting it might be a treasure capable of accelerating one's comprehension of spatial laws.

"This is an identity plaque imbued with my unique life force. Even if it were forcibly taken, it would be useless. Only when I actively release a wisp of my primordial energy can it serve as valid proof of identity. In the Abyss Battlefield, there is a certain Abyss nobleman with some connection to me. Seeing the plaque is like seeing the person; you can rely on it to contact him for help when necessary. However, unless you are truly in dire straits, it is best not to use it. Although that nobleman may help you once because of the plaque, it does not mean that he does not dislike me."

"this……"

How could Hunzhen not know the value of this thing?

Seeing Xingluo's sincere expression, he nodded and accepted it, and listened carefully to the information about how to use the identity badge and some information about the nobleman.

"Xingluo, I also have a parting gift for you."

Amidst Xingluo's puzzled gaze, Hunzhen lightly snapped his fingers: "A'Neng."

A mass of liquid metal then appeared.

"This is!?"

Xingluo stared at the metallic life form before him, his pupils dilating in shock, and blurted out, "An Abyss Beast?"

Hunzhen was no longer the ignorant outsider he once was.

The Abyss Beast was a monster he had heard of before, roaming the wild, even on the first level of the Abyss.

The truth is that they are abyssal creatures hatched from the Mara Fruit, lacking intelligence and possessing only a bloodlust.

"It is not an abyss beast."

Hunzhen paused, then explained, "Xingluo, I actually lied to you. That day, I didn't leave empty-handed at the location of the falling meteor. And that gain was this, a strange life form that had signed a soul contract with me."

With Xingluo's wisdom, as long as he spends some time with the Angel, he will be able to determine that it is definitely not an Abyss Beast.

The reason for the current surprise and speculation is simply that, even with Xingluo's extensive knowledge, he has never seen such a life form in this abyss.

In general, these types of creatures will eventually be identified as a new variant of the Abyss Beast.

Seeing such a strange life form, Xingluo could not resist his curiosity and tentatively reached out his hand towards the liquid metal.

Suddenly, the pool of liquid gurgled and revealed a large green eye, startling Xingluo, who withdrew his hand.

He asked doubtfully, "And now, you're going to lend it to me?"

Hunzhen nodded: "A'Neng specializes in defense, and can perfectly protect you even if you encounter an attack from an ordinary ninth-level domain lord."

Xinglu shook his head: "Since you chose to join the army, you should need it more than I do."

Hunzhen laughed and said, "You've given me such a generous gift. How can friends not reciprocate? Besides, I don't really need its protection anymore."

The powerful aura of a fifth-level Domain Lord was subtly revealed.

(End of this chapter)