Marvel: The other side of the double-passing door is Devouring the Stars

Chapter 279 They split up to make preparations!

He stood up, indicating that the audience was about to end. "Rest in the palace tonight; I have arranged rooms. Tomorrow you are free to tour the palace or return to the Virtual Universe Company—the decision is entirely yours."

The four men bowed to the King again to express their gratitude. After the audience, court attendants led them to the VIP area of ​​the palace. The furnishings here were luxurious yet tasteful, with each person having a private suite equipped with various high-end amenities.

After settling in, the four gathered in Rowan's suite to discuss their experiences that evening.

"I never expected the King to personally receive us and give us such a valuable gift," Luo Feng said, still somewhat incredulous as he held the golden law crystal. "This thing must be worth at least several million cosmic coins on the black market, right?"

Luo Wen nodded. "At least tens of millions. Law Crystals are not only rare, but they also greatly aid in comprehending the laws. With these, our cultivation speed can increase at least threefold."

Thor clapped his hands excitedly, "Haha, I never imagined there would be such benefits to representing the Black Dragon Mountain Empire in the competition! I wish I had participated more times!"

Hong remained calm. "The king's intentions are quite clear."

“Yes,” Rowan sighed, “these rewards seem generous, but they’re actually paving the way for recruiting us. The Black Dragon Mountain Empire has always been adept at using incentives to attract talent.”

"Should we accept the invitation?" Luo Feng asked hesitantly.

Luo Wen shook his head. "Our roots are in Xia Universe Country; our family and friends are there. Besides, we joined the Virtual Universe Company to pursue higher cultivation levels and a broader perspective, not to depend on a particular universe country."

Thor nodded. "That's right. Although the Black Dragon Mountain Empire is powerful and rich in resources, I still prefer the feeling of freedom."

“However,” Rowan continued, “we don’t need to refuse outright. After all, maintaining good relations with the Black Dragon Mountain Empire won’t do us any harm.”

"Then shall we... hold off on making a decision for now?" Luo Feng asked.

Rowan nodded. "Just tell them we need time to consider it and will make a decision after the challenge ends. By then, the situation might have changed."

The four reached an agreement to accept the king's reward, but would not consider joining the Black Dragon Mountain Empire's invitation for the time being.

The next morning.

The four of them gathered early in the lounge assigned to them. It was a spacious circular space with a transparent dome above, offering views of the virtual universe company's simulated azure sky and slowly drifting white clouds. The interior was simply yet comfortably decorated, with pale blue walls inlaid with luminous crystals that provided soft lighting. A round conference table sat in the center, surrounded by four ergonomic chairs. One side of the room was a rest area, while the other side featured a dedicated tactical analysis area equipped with holographic projection equipment.

Rowan stood before the conference table, his finger swiping to bring up the detailed rules for the fourth round of the competition. A holographic projection unfolded in the air, displaying the newly updated announcement from Virtual Universe Corporation.

“The situation has changed,” Rowan said calmly, but with a hint of surprise. “The planned team competition has been canceled; the fourth round will still be individual.”

Luo Feng frowned in confusion. He was wearing a casual gray training uniform, and his short black hair was slightly disheveled, clearly indicating he had just finished his morning training. "Why the sudden change in the competition format? Is it due to the number of participants?"

“Not entirely,” Rowan’s finger traced across the holographic projection, enlarging a section of text. “The official explanation is 'to more comprehensively assess the participants’ individual abilities, while avoiding unfair competition caused by excessive disparities in team strength.'”

Thor grinned, revealing his signature hearty expression. He wore a sleeveless black vest that showed off his muscular arms, the veins of which were faintly visible, exuding immense power. "Ha! I thought I could finally stop facing those troublesome opponents alone!"

Hong leaned quietly against the wall, as silent as ever. Today, he wore a plain white robe, making him appear exceptionally elegant and refined. Unlike usual, however, a rare excitement flickered in his eyes, as if he were filled with anticipation for the upcoming challenge.

Rowan closed the holographic projection and turned to face the other three. He wore a dark blue, fitted robe with delicate silver embroidery on the collar and cuffs, exuding an aura of composure and wisdom. "According to the new schedule, the fourth round will begin in three days. We need to use this time to further improve ourselves."

"How much can I improve in three days?" Luo Feng asked with some doubt.

"The key isn't the length of time, but the quality of training," Rowan explained calmly, a glint of wisdom in his eyes. "We just gained valuable experience from the third round of the competition. If we can summarize and absorb it in time, and transform it into our own abilities, we can make significant progress in a short period of time."

Thor slapped his thigh. "You're right! And we can make good use of those law crystals the king gave us, right?"

Rowan shook his head. "Absorbing the Law Crystal is a complex process that requires a specific environment and sufficient time. Rushing it will not only prevent you from fully absorbing its energy but may also harm you. I suggest waiting until after the fourth round of the competition before considering using it."

Hong rarely spoke, but his voice was low and firm: "Sparring."

The other three turned to look at him simultaneously. A hint of approval flashed in Rowan's eyes. "That's right, the most effective training method is sparring. Each of us has our own strengths, and sparring with each other allows us to quickly identify our own weaknesses and our opponents' vulnerabilities."

"How do we group them?" Luo Feng asked excitedly, his eyes gleaming with a desire for battle.

After a moment's thought, Luo Wen said, "We can group ourselves based on our abilities. I'm proficient in the laws of fire and telekinetic weapons, so I'd be suitable to team up with Luo Feng, who also uses telekinetic weapons. Thor's lightning abilities and Hong's light abilities are both geared towards ranged attacks, so we could form another group."

Thor scratched his head and grinned. "Isn't that unfair? Hong and I are both winners of the third round, while Luo Feng is still a newbie."

Luo Wen shook his head, a slight smile appearing on his lips. "That's precisely why I'm paired with Luo Feng. I can guide him to better utilize his telekinesis during practice. And you and Hong Du have already mastered quite advanced abilities, so you can spar with each other and find breakthroughs."

Luo Feng's eyes were filled with anticipation, "Great! Finally, I have a chance to ask Brother Wen for tips on using telekinesis!" Thor, feigning distress, turned to Hong, "Hey, Hong, don't be too ruthless! I don't want to be cleaved in two by your Light Judge before the fourth round!"

Hong's lips curled up slightly, which was already a clear smile for him. "No." Although it was only two words, there was a rare hint of humor in his tone.

Luo Wen looked around at the four of them. "I've already booked two advanced training rooms. Training room number one is equipped with a telekinetic amplification device, suitable for Luo Feng and me; training room number two has an elemental energy stabilization system, suitable for Thor and Hong's elemental law confrontation."

"When does it start?" Luo Feng asked impatiently.

Luo Wen checked the time. "You'll have one hour to prepare. Gather in your respective training rooms at 9:00 AM sharp. Remember, this isn't a life-or-death battle, but rather about helping each other and improving together. Keep it brief and to the point."

The four nodded to each other and then went their separate ways to make preparations.

An hour later, Luo Wen and Luo Feng stood in the center of Training Room Number One. It was a spacious octagonal room with metallic walls that were surprisingly soft to the touch, clearly designed for the safety of the trainees. The floor was covered with a special material that provided excellent grip and could cushion impacts when necessary. Several psychic amplification devices were embedded around the room; these devices resembled transparent crystal balls, with blue energy constantly flowing inside.

Luo Wen stood in the center of the training room, holding the Starburst Sky-Splitting Blade, the starlight on its blade shimmering faintly. He looked at Luo Feng, "Ready?"

Luo Feng gripped the black-patterned blade, took a deep breath, and nodded. "We can begin at any time."

“Alright,” Rowan smiled slightly, “Let’s not use our laws of power for now, just our telekinesis and weapons. This way, we can focus more on the techniques of using telekinesis.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Luo Wen's Starburst Blade suddenly flew out of his hand, drawing a graceful arc in the air, aiming straight for Luo Feng's left shoulder. The speed of this strike was moderate, and the force was just enough to stop at the right point, clearly giving Luo Feng time to react.

Luo Feng immediately released his telekinetic power, controlling his black-patterned blade to meet the attack. The two weapons collided in mid-air, producing a crisp metallic clang. Luo Feng's black-patterned blade was visibly pushed back slightly, but it still successfully blocked the attack.

“Good reaction,” Rowan praised, “but your telekinesis control isn’t precise enough. Telekinesis isn’t just a propulsive force; it’s an extended perception. You should integrate your telekinesis with your weapon, treating the knife as an extension of your arm, not just an object you control.”

Luo Feng nodded thoughtfully. "I think I understand a little bit. Let's try again!"

Instead of attacking immediately, Luo Wen guided Luo Feng through a series of basic telekinetic control exercises. He taught Luo Feng how to control his telekinetic output more precisely, how to maintain accurate control of his weapon at different distances and angles, and how to maintain the stability of his telekinetic power while moving at high speed.

After an hour of basic training, Luo Feng's telekinetic control had made significant progress. He could now make the black-patterned blade trace more complex trajectories in the air while maintaining precise positioning of the blade's edge.

“Very good,” Rowan nodded in satisfaction. “Now we can move on to more advanced training. Try controlling multiple targets simultaneously.”

After speaking, he took out five metal balls from his personal storage space and threw them into the air. These metal balls stopped in mid-air, hovering at different heights and positions, forming an irregular three-dimensional shape.

“Next, I want you to be able to control the Black-Patterned Blade and at least two metal spheres simultaneously,” Rowan explained. “This will train your multi-threaded thinking skills, which will be of great help in actual combat.”

Luo Feng swallowed hard, his expression turning serious. He took a deep breath and tried to divide his mental energy into three parts, controlling the black-patterned blade and the two metal spheres respectively. Initially, all three objects wobbled slightly under his control, but with continued attempts and adjustments, the control became increasingly stable.

“Very good,” Rowan encouraged. “Remember this feeling; it should feel as natural as controlling three objects with three hands at the same time.”

Just as Luo Feng was gradually gaining control, Luo Wen suddenly launched an attack. The Starburst Blade, like a silver lightning bolt, aimed straight for Luo Feng's chest. At the same time, the remaining three metal spheres, under Luo Wen's telekinetic control, attacked Luo Feng from different angles.

The sudden attack from all sides caught Luo Feng off guard. He instinctively increased the priority of his control over the Black Pattern Blade, making it block the Starburst Sky-Splitting Blade, but the two metal spheres went out of control due to insufficient psychic power and fell to the ground. At the same time, the three metal spheres controlled by Luo Wen had reached Luo Feng, but stopped at the last moment before they hit him.

“This is a situation you might face in real combat,” Rowan explained, recalling all the attack objects. “When you need to deal with multiple threats simultaneously, the proper allocation of your psychic resources becomes especially important.”

Luo Feng was panting, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "It's too difficult. I feel like my mental power has been torn into several parts, and none of them are enough."

“That’s normal,” Rowan said with a reassuring smile. “Mastering telekinesis requires a lot of practice to reach a level of proficiency. However, there’s a little trick that can help you allocate your telekinesis more effectively—the ‘Telekinesis Core.’”

"A telekinetic core?" Luo Feng asked curiously.

Rowan nodded. "It's about establishing a core point in your consciousness. All mental energy output originates from this core point and is then distributed to different targets. This ensures the basic stability of your mental energy and makes it easier to adjust the priority of each target."

Under Luo Wen's guidance, Luo Feng began to try to establish his own psychic core. This was a process that required intense concentration. Luo Feng closed his eyes and focused intently on feeling the flow of psychic energy within his body. Gradually, he felt that his psychic energy was no longer scattered, but rather flowing from a unified source and then branching out in different directions.

"I can feel it!" Luo Feng opened his eyes and said excitedly, "It's like there's a small sun in the center of my consciousness, and all my mental power is emanating from there!"

Rowan nodded approvingly. "Very good, you grasped it faster than I expected. Now try multi-target control again."

This time, Luo Feng's performance showed significant improvement. He was not only able to maintain stable control over the Black Pattern Blade and the two metal spheres simultaneously, but he was also able to quickly adjust the priorities of each target and make more reasonable defensive choices when Luo Wen launched a surprise attack.

After several rounds of practice, Luo Feng's telekinetic control has reached a new level. He can now control four targets simultaneously and make appropriate adjustments in different offensive and defensive situations.

(End of this chapter)