Lu Mingfei swam to a step where a black-haired boy stood, watching the text on the bronze pillar with great interest. He stopped behind the boy and spoke,
“Lu Mingze?”
“Brother.” Lu Mingze turned to look at Lu Mingfei, his Golden Eyes filled with a smile. In his hand, he held a dark green Dragon Scale, which only made him happier.
“Are you done with your business?” Lu Mingfei asked, “Then why didn’t you come when I called you earlier?”
“I’m pretty much done, it’s a draw,” Lu Mingze said. “Brother, if you want to leave now, there are two paths. First, you follow Ronald Tang, taking everything and returning fully loaded. I’ve already obtained the Inspiration, and Kassel College has the Seven Deadly Sins and the Dragon Cocoon. We all have gains, and we don’t have to leave anything behind. The only minor drawback is that you might be a bit disheveled when you board the ship.”
“Second, you kill that Next Generation Species outside to vent your anger, and then return fully loaded with Ronald Tang, looking down on them from atop the Next Generation Species’ bones.”
Lu Mingze’s tone suddenly deepened, and his words were full of sharpness as he spoke the latter part.
“Are you kidding? Am I a match for that Next Generation Species?” Lu Mingfei didn’t know what Lu Mingze’s confidence was for the second option.
“Of course, you can.” Lu Mingze chuckled, “Regarding this, there are also two methods. First, sign a contract with me, and I can help you clear all enemies in front of you, including the Dragon King; second, try the things within the Inspiration. For a first attempt, I can’t permanently solidify its enhancement to you, but its temporary boost is enough for you to kill that Next Generation Species outside.”
Lu Mingfei was speechless for a moment. To put it bluntly, it was like giving him a temporary cheat, no different from BlackSheepWall. “What’s the price? Such a powerful cheat must cost something, right?”
“A quarter of your life can help you clear all obstacles, and the Inspiration’s enhancement to you is my reward. Brother, I’ve always been very good to you,” Lu Mingze smiled.
A quarter of his life. Lu Mingfei was so startled by Lu Mingze’s smile that he took two steps back. “I treat you like a brother, and you actually want my life?”
“The price of powerful cheats has always been high, hasn’t it?” Lu Mingze shook his head, guessing that Lu Mingfei wouldn’t agree to his request. He had only said it to prepare Lu Mingfei mentally, so it could be used in a future life-or-death situation.
“So, Brother, your choice is the Inspiration?”
Lu Mingfei was stunned for a moment. Honestly, the second option Lu Mingze provided seemed even better than the best possible outcome. After seeing so many options, he now had a sense of how to distinguish between good and bad fortune.
Sneaking out with Old Tang in embarrassment was indeed not as satisfying as killing their way out with Old Tang.
To be honest, when he was being forced to flee in all directions by that monster, with no way to go up or down, he had indeed thought about simply pulling out the Seven Deadly Sins and cutting down the Next Generation Species.
But at the time, considering his insufficient strength, he might not even open the wooden box before being swallowed whole by the Next Generation Species to satiate its hunger, so he had to abandon that idea.
Now Lu Mingze had given him a promise, a springboard for strength. The Inspiration’s enhancement itself was the reward for him fulfilling Lu Mingze’s request, so there was no reason not to take it.
As if sensing Lu Mingfei’s thoughts, the smile in Lu Mingze’s eyes became incredibly deep, bright like a dazzling sun in deep water. He extended his hand to Lu Mingfei.
So, reflected in the clear Golden Eyes, their hands clasped together.
The scale in Lu Mingze’s palm slowly melted into Lu Mingfei’s hand.
“Old Tang, let’s go.”
Lu Mingfei’s voice clearly reached Old Tang’s eardrums, interrupting his hazy dream. Old Tang looked up in confusion, did someone just speak to him?
The world’s melody was incredibly clear in Lu Mingfei’s eyes. Many principles that he hadn’t understood were easily grasped under Lu Mingze’s guidance.
So he mimicked the melody of Rune · Snake and connected to Old Tang’s communication device.
“Oh, oh, okay.” Old Tang suddenly snapped back to reality, realizing it was “Mingming’s” voice. “You connected the communicator to me?”
He fumbled with his wetsuit but found nothing new.
“Rune · Snake, I’ve connected all of you together.” Lu Mingfei chuckled. Compared to a moment ago, when he was worried about being killed by the Next Generation Species, he now clearly had more confidence.
An unprecedented power filled his body. Lu Mingze was right; the temporarily enhanced power from the Inspiration was completely sufficient to kill that Next Generation Species outside.
His physical condition was completely transformed compared to a few minutes ago. This was truly the strength befitting an S-class level.
Lu Mingfei’s entire skeleton crackled and popped after receiving the Inspiration. Lu Mingze said this was the Dragon Bone State.
Once in this state, any hybrid’s physical abilities would greatly increase.
And his Dragon Bone State was even more unusual. Based on his understanding of fundamentals, the Dragon Bone State would also enhance his control over the world’s melody.
Specifically, Lu Mingfei now had full confidence in using Measure the Days to control a Three-Generations Breed for one second.
Lu Mingfei released the ribbon protecting his fingers. His skin was now tough enough to withstand a hundred meters of water pressure. The next thing to do was to pick a suitable weapon and then go out to slay the dragon.
The sharp ribbon cut a gash on his palm. Immediately after, he wiped it on the carved surface of the bronze box. The dragon runes greedily absorbed Lu Mingfei’s fresh blood.
Old Tang was momentarily startled by Lu Mingfei, slowly retreating two steps, thinking his good brother was about to turn into a monster. But seeing the girl still standing calmly beside Lu Mingfei, he relaxed.
The blood was completely absorbed into the grooves of the carved surface. The bronze box suddenly came alive. Its original black leather revealed its true dark gold color, and a faint heartbeat sound was transmitted to everyone’s ears through the connection of the Snake.
One, two, three… seven. Seven peak alchemical blades, carrying their revived heartbeats, excitedly welcomed their king. Crimson blood, through the bronze box’s veins, stained their surfaces. The sharpness accumulated over a thousand years was revealed at this moment.
Without needing to flip the hidden clasp, the bronze box opened on its own. Seven heartbeats amplified dozens of times echoed in the study. The Snake was startled away, but Lu Mingfei could still hear their heartbeats.
Like a bell, like a dragon’s roar, like a drumbeat…
They interwove and resonated, playing the most beautiful melody in the world.
Ancient and solemn alchemical blades lay within the box. The dark water could not diminish their radiance. From the Eight-Sided Han Sword to the Yatagan Scimitar, each weapon greedily breathed, like a storm brewing.
Lu Mingfei merely stared at them and felt their eager anticipation, like dragons about to emerge from their abyss.
Zero lowered her head, no longer looking at this fully activated set of knives and swords. Now she only had the right to tremble, not to use them. Her fair hand gently stroked these blades. Lu Mingfei was choosing his desired weapon. He felt that every weapon longed for him to wield it, so every weapon was restless.
Come on, Next Generation Species, now let’s see who is the hunter and who is the prey!