Ye Zhongming chewed on dried meat, quietly waiting for his body to recover fully.
Earlier, when he killed the level nine lifeform, it might have seemed like everything was under his control, but in reality, it was an extremely risky endeavor. Had even one aspect not met his expectations, the battle would have stalled into a deadlock.
Of course, the rewards after victory were substantial.
Materially, Ye Zhongming wasnât particularly concerned. He wasnât some inexperienced kidâon the contrary, he was likely one of the few on Earth with a relatively clear understanding of the Cosmic Races.
Not only had he actively sought information from allied forces, but he himself had undergone the trials of the Sky Ladder and had even served as an agent for the Taros Red Dwarvesâa race renowned throughout the cosmos for their craftsmanship.
When it came to technology surpassing Earthâs level, even if Ye Zhongming didnât possess it, he had at least seen it.
Take, for example, that Scorpion Crystal Armor.
Having witnessed the equipment of the Taros Red Dwarves, seeing this Mimicry War Deviceâlikely crafted by the Star Eye Raceâdidnât excite him nearly as much as he pretended.
He knew this thing was mediocre at best.
But Ye Zhongming still let the Star Eye clansmen believe he was desperate for it, ecstatic evenâall to integrate faster.
Being valuable while knowing his place. These two points were enough to make them treat him with caution.
âŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠ
Color Man, Masked Man, and Aslan returned to headquarters. With an improved ability technique in hand, they had to report in person, even though the method had already been recorded via transmission.
Inside a conference room, nearly twenty people sat, half of them wearing masks.
Cheng Liuji, despite his status as a Gold Commander, took a lower seatâclearly, the head of the table was reserved for a higher-ranking figure in the Star Eye Race.
Color Man, as the overseer of the garbage training camp, sat at the main table, while the supervising Masked Man and Aslan were relegated to the second row.
Aslanâs bloodline was extraordinary, but that didnât translate to rank here.
Soon, the light door dimmed, and an elder entered.
If Little Tiger had been here, he wouldâve blurted out, "Wow! What an immortal-looking old man!"
This Star Eye clansman looked strikingly similar to an Earthlingâexcept for his four-pupiled eyes, which were slightly eerie.
The elder walked in, followed by another manâa towering figure with a ring of bony plating around his neck, shielding that vital area. The same feature appeared on the backs of his hands, as if covered in bone armor.
As the two entered, everyone stood and greeted them. The elder naturally took the head seat, while the burly man sat opposite Cheng Liujiâindicating a status on par with the Gold Commander.
Among the Star Eye Race, the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Masked Warriors were the backbone. As the leader of the highest-ranking Gold Masks, Cheng Liujiâs position in the clan was evident. These two newcomersâone above him, one equalâwere undoubtedly high-ranking leaders.
The elderâs gaze swept the room, softening briefly when it landed on Aslan before turning stern again.
"Whereâs Pao Bai?"
This question was directed at Cheng Liuji. Pao Bai, the Silver Commander, wasnât his subordinate, but both belonged to the combat division.
"Still on the Kill List."
Cheng Liuji shrugged helplessly.
"That little lunatic." The elder chuckled. "Tell him to be carefulâdonât get himself killed."
Cheng Liuji smirked. "You tell him. If I say it? Heâd just laugh in my face."
The room erupted in laughterâeven the stoic, bone-armored man cracked a smile.
Pao Bai was the Star Eye Raceâs most infamous battle maniac, obsessed with combat above all else.
In the Cosmic Racesâor at least in Darkstripe Cityâthe most famous figure from the Star Eye Race wasnât their two leaders, Star Lord and Eye Lord, but this Silver Commander, Pao Bai.
His achievements overshadowed elites from major races, dominating multiple leaderboards.
As for Cheng Liujiâs quip that made everyone laugh? It stemmed from their "rivalry."
Cheng Liuji hadnât become Gold Commander by chanceâhe was one of the clanâs strongest warriors in the past hundred cosmic years, ranking in the top five aside from the two lords.
But Pao Bai? The guy was a madman. When not fighting outsiders, his favorite pastime was challenging Cheng Liuji. Initially, out of concern for the clanâs rising talent, Cheng Liuji humored himânot to crush him, but to mentor him, helping him accumulate experience.
Pao Bai didnât disappoint, improving rapidly and soon earning the Silver Commander title.
Yet even after becoming one of the Star Eye Raceâs three combat leaders, Pao Bai never abandoned his goal of defeating Cheng Liuji. He kept challenging him, and though he still lost every time, the fights grew longer, fiercer, and deadlier.
Eventually, Cheng Liuji decided these sparring sessions had to stop and began refusing. But Pao Baiâs persistence was⊠legendary.
Whether Cheng Liuji was eating, working, training, or even sleeping, he risked an ambush.
Finally, Eye Lord intervened, forbidding Pao Baiâs childish antics. The rule was simple: no more fights unless Cheng Liuji agreedâor until Pao Bai was confident enough to challenge for the Gold Commander title in an official duel.
Pao Bai wasnât ungrateful. Though many now believed his strength matchedâor even surpassedâCheng Liujiâs, he never formally requested a promotion duel, content with his Silver Commander position.
But he still seized every chance to fight Cheng Liuji, much to the latterâs exasperationâand the clanâs amusement.
Once the laughter subsided, the elderâs words steered the meeting back on track.
"Iâve reviewed the dialogue and the skill modification. Though untested, Iâm certain the method works."
The room grew solemn, though inwardly, everyone was pleased.
This was a boon for the clan.
"What did you offer that kid?"
The elder suddenly turned to Color Man.
While Cheng Liuji could answer seated, Color Man wasnât granted that privilege. He stood immediately, detailing the training campâs protocols and the Mimetic War Device given to Ye Zhongming.
The elder fell silentâthen laughed, tossing a small light-projecting pen onto the table.
"Youâve all been fooled. If my deductions are correct, he only revealed half of the techniqueâs modification."
The entire room stared at the elder in shock.