The Freedom Alliance's Final Choice

Earth remained as tranquil as ever. The war between the two major factions in the Original Universe had not caused the slightest ripple among the ordinary populace of countless life planets. On the wide streets, martial artists in training attire, fresh from their Martial Arts Halls, were a common sight, as were many cosmic merchants discussing business as they walked.

“The Luo Clan?”

A purple-robed figure stood before an ancient mansion. This venerable estate was the Luo Clan's old mansion, holding special significance on Earth. Guards stood before its gates, prohibiting ordinary people from loitering or staring. Yet, as the purple-robed figure stood there, the passersby and guards seemed completely oblivious to his presence.

“Mommy, is this Luo Feng’s home?”

“Yes, this is Luo Feng’s home. Haven’t you been begging to come to Earth, to see the greatest leader of our Earth lineage? Mommy made it happen. When we return to Yuhua Star, you must study hard at the Martial Arts Hall.”

“Okay, okay, Mommy. I heard Luo Feng was born during our Earth lineage’s distant Base City era. There were many ruined cities back then. I want to see them.”

“Don’t worry, we have plenty of time on Earth this trip. We can visit many sights.”

A mother and son with black hair, black eyes, and yellow skin stood on a distant street, gazing at the Luo Clan mansion. After a long conversation, they departed.

Every day, countless people came here. Even during the Base City era, when Luo Feng and his comrades risked their lives battling Devouring Beasts, Luo Feng’s status had already reached that of an absolute hero. Later, when the Nuolanshan Family descended upon Earth, Luo Feng once again stood firm.

Luo Feng’s status continued to rise. Earth’s propaganda naturally elevated him further. Earthlings venturing into the cosmos also greatly benefited from Luo Feng, increasing their gratitude towards him. Thus, over hundreds of thousands of years, through generations of oral tradition, Luo Feng had become the most revered leader and deity of ‘Earthlings entering the cosmic era.’

“Shi Hua Island Master,” a voice called out.

The purple-robed figure turned to look.

Amidst the bustling crowd on the distant street, a black-haired youth in a silver-white robe strolled over. The people around him couldn’t see him at all, as if he existed in a different dimension. On this street, many Earthlings from distant planets, who had come specifically to trace Luo Feng’s growth, were completely unaware that Luo Feng was walking right past them.

“Luo Feng!” the purple-robed figure said with a smile.

“I didn’t expect Shi Hua Island Master to choose this place to meet,” Luo Feng said, walking up to the mansion and looking up.

“I wanted to see how the most rapidly rising, exceptionally talented young expert of the human race came to be, and what kind of environment nurtured him,” Shi Hua Island Master said softly.

Luo Feng smiled.

He glanced at Shi Hua Island Master, whose face was perfectly handsome, appearing neither distinctly male nor female. However, as Shi Hua Island Master was a special life form, they likely had no gender distinction at all.

“Among you humans, the one I admire most is Original Ancestor,” Shi Hua Island Master sighed softly. “Especially the Virtual Universe he created. This Virtual Universe instantly made human culture… a thousand, even ten thousand times more brilliant! Even cultures scattered across distant parts of the cosmos can clash within the Virtual Universe, sparking new ideas. Anything imaginable can be realized in the Virtual Universe… even I often immerse myself in your human culture there.”

Luo Feng nodded.

Indeed, there was a significant difference between having the Virtual Universe and not having it.

“I’ve watched many of your human genius battles in the Virtual Universe. However, during your particular genius battle… I was adventuring in the Universe Ocean, unable to be distracted, and forgot to watch,” Shi Hua Island Master said with a wistful shake of his head. “If I had watched then, and been moved, how great it would have been to take you as a disciple. Wouldn’t I have easily obtained the Duan Dong River inheritance?”

“Even if Shi Hua Island Master had watched that genius battle, you wouldn’t have taken me as a disciple. In that particular session, I wasn’t the most outstanding,” Luo Feng replied.

“Yes, that’s true,” Shi Hua Island Master sighed, shaking his head. “No one can predict the future. Even if I had watched, I couldn’t have guessed your destiny. And I certainly couldn’t have imagined… that a young fellow from a native race could grow to a point where he could converse with me as an equal.”

Luo Feng frowned slightly, saying, “Shi Hua Island Master, you didn’t come all this way just to chat with me, did you?”

Shi Hua Island Master’s expression immediately changed.

“Luo Feng!” Shi Hua Island Master stared at him. “My purpose here is simple… currently, all major powers in the Original Universe are watching the final decision of my Freedom Alliance. It’s safe to say that whichever side my Freedom Alliance joins, that side is guaranteed to win.”

Luo Feng nodded slightly.

“And right now, my Freedom Alliance is internally divided,” Shi Hua Island Master continued. “One faction wants to join your human camp. The other faction, however, wants more! I belong to the second faction.”

“My visit this time…”

“Has only one objective: for you humans to impart to me the ancient civilization cultivation experience that leads to the peak of Cosmic Ultimate Expert,” Shi Hua Island Master said, looking at Luo Feng.

Luo Feng immediately showed a cold smile.

“Don’t be so quick to refuse,” Shi Hua Island Master said. “I am here representing myself. That is to say… the cultivation experience you humans give me, leading to the ultimate level, will be exclusively mine. If you give me this inheritance… I will not pass it on to any other member of the Freedom Alliance. Furthermore, I will guide the faction I can influence, pushing the Freedom Alliance to join your human camp.”

Luo Feng’s eyes lit up: “You mean…”

“Precisely.”

“That’s exactly what I mean. The conditions you humans offer the entire Freedom Alliance remain the same! As for the ultimate cultivation… you only need to give it to me! I will help you humans. Currently, the Freedom Alliance is split into two factions, and I have significant influence in the second. If I help you, the stalemate will quickly end, and the Freedom Alliance will join your human camp. And I’m not foolish; once I receive it, I won’t be so stupid as to pass it on to other powerful beings, would I? That would be cultivating enemies, wouldn’t it?” Shi Hua Island Master looked at Luo Feng. “What do you humans think?”

Luo Feng was swayed.

If the ancient civilization experience, leading to the peak of Cosmic Ultimate Expert, was only given to Shi Hua Island Master, humanity truly wouldn’t worry about him spreading it. Unless Shi Hua Island Master was truly foolish.

“Just giving it to him alone, in exchange for the allegiance of over 400 Cosmic Overlords?” Luo Feng secretly nodded.

His previous plan, while clever, still carried risks. If the Freedom Alliance joined, there would truly be no risk at all.

“Please wait,” Luo Feng said.

…

At the same moment.

At the peak of Thunder Island in the Virtual Universe, Luo Feng, Chaos City Lord, Peng Gong Master, and Dark Master met.

“His demand is this: to give him the ancient civilization experience that leads to the peak of Cosmic Ultimate Expert. He will then help us!” Luo Feng said. “Teacher, Dark, Peng Gong, what do you say?”

“Just give it to him alone?” Dark Master mused.

Peng Gong Master nodded slightly: “The Freedom Alliance currently has two voices internally: one willing to join us, and one unwilling, demanding more. Shi Hua Island Master is the leader of the second voice. If he helps us from within… it could indeed quickly unify the Freedom Alliance’s stance.”

“Giving it to just him is acceptable,” Chaos City Lord slowly said. “One Cosmic Ultimate Expert cannot sway the overall situation.”

“Exactly, and the inheritance information we give him can be as simplified as possible!” Dark Master sneered. “He won’t know the true extent of the inheritance we possess. Give him simplified information… and tell him that’s all we received. What can he do?”

Luo Feng also nodded.

The four highest-ranking human experts, realizing that giving information to just Shi Hua Island Master could secure the allegiance of over 400 Cosmic Overlords, all agreed that this deal was viable.

“Furthermore, we’ll give him a portion before the war, and the rest after,” Luo Feng smiled. “Give him a portion before the war to whet his appetite. Give him the remaining two-thirds after the war. He might feel it’s too simplified in the end… but the war will be over. What good would regret do him then?”

“Hmm.”

“Agreed.”

“We can promise him.”

…

The human high command quickly gave their approval. Chaos City Lord even contacted Original Ancestor, who also agreed to the matter.

Firstly, it was only for one individual.

Secondly, even with simplified inheritance information, it would be extremely difficult for Shi Hua Island Master to break through to the ultimate level.

…

Earth.

“My human race has discussed internally,” Luo Feng said, looking at Shi Hua Island Master. “We agree to this.”

Shi Hua Island Master breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

“Before the war, my human race will give you one-third of the information. If the Freedom Alliance joins my human camp to fight, then after the war, we will give you the remaining two-thirds.”

“Good,” Shi Hua Island Master nodded. “When will I receive the information?”

“Soon,” Luo Feng replied.

“Once your human camp gives me a portion of the information, I will quickly facilitate the Freedom Alliance joining your human camp,” Shi Hua Island Master stated directly.

…

The human camp indeed prepared a copy of the inheritance information that very day and handed it to Shi Hua Island Master. He was thrilled and excited upon reading it; even this partial information resonated with him, making him even more eager for the subsequent ‘two-thirds’ of the information. However, that would have to wait until after the war.

Humanity waited anxiously.

“What if Shi Hua Island Master takes the information but doesn’t help us humans?”

“Don’t worry. Shi Hua Island Master put so much effort into creating the Freedom Alliance and becoming its leader for what? Wasn’t it for inheritance? If all the other Cosmic Overlords in the Freedom Alliance get it, it won’t benefit him at all. He only needs it for himself… he’ll handle it.”

Luo Feng, Dark Master, Chaos City Lord, and others all waited anxiously.

They were also concerned about unforeseen complications. After all, the Freedom Alliance was an alliance with many powerful beings, and even with Shi Hua Island Master’s help, there was no 100% guarantee.

Half a month after providing Shi Hua Island Master with a portion of the inheritance experience, a message from him finally arrived:

“The Freedom Alliance has unified its internal thoughts and decided… to join the human camp!”