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

Chapter 306 A Precious Opportunity!
Thor's attention was completely elsewhere, however. He stood on the edge of the high ground, gazing at the even more intense thunderstorm in the distance, his body trembling slightly with excitement.

“I can feel it,” he whispered, “that pure, primal power of lightning. Purer than any artificially created energy I’ve ever encountered. The lightning here seems to have its own will and laws; it’s not generated randomly.”

Ying and Luo Wen exchanged a glance, both seeing the curiosity in each other's eyes.

“You mean, the lightning here has some kind of pattern?” Shadow asked.

Thor nodded. "It's not just patterns. I feel like they're dancing, following some rhythm I don't yet understand. If I could capture that rhythm, it might greatly improve my control over lightning energy."

“Then let’s give it a try,” Rowan encouraged. “We’ll set up a camp nearby, and we can call for help anytime there’s an emergency.”

Thor nodded gratefully, activated the energy guide on his protective suit, and then carefully walked towards the more distant thunderstorm area.

The remaining three began setting up a temporary camp. Ying carried several automatically deploying protective tents from the landing craft; these tents were lightning-resistant and provided comfortable living conditions. Hong was responsible for setting up various monitoring devices and collecting planetary data.

After helping set up camp, Rowan decided to explore the area. He strolled along the edge of the plateau, observing the unique landscape of this unfamiliar world. The distant sky was illuminated by continuous lightning, creating a spectacular natural light show. On the horizon, a massive wall of thunderclouds moved slowly, occasionally unleashing huge bolts of lightning that connected heaven and earth.

After walking for about half an hour, Rowan discovered a peculiar terrain—a small canyon, about twenty meters wide, with an unknown depth. The canyon's sides were smooth as a mirror, exhibiting a glassy texture, as if it had been melted by some extremely high temperature and then rapidly cooled.

“Shadow, Hong,” Rowan called through the communicator, “I’ve found something interesting. A canyon that looks like it was struck by lightning.”

“Send me your coordinates,” Shadow replied. “We’ll come take a look.”

A few minutes later, Ying and Hong arrived at Rowan's location. Hong immediately took out the analyzer and began scanning the canyon.

“It was definitely caused by lightning,” Hong exclaimed, “but not ordinary lightning. Judging from the degree of melting and the cooling pattern of the rock, this place was struck by one or more super lightning bolts, with temperatures reaching at least 10000 degrees Celsius.”

Ying walked to the edge of the canyon, carefully observing its interior: "It looks like this canyon goes quite deep. Perhaps we can go down and take a look; we might find more."

Rowan asked with some concern, "Is it safe for us all to leave the camp while Thor is out alone?"

Shadow pointed to the device on his wrist: "I've set up comprehensive monitoring. If anything happens to Thor, the alarm will sound immediately. And he's already activated the location beacon, so we know his location at all times."

The three decided to explore the canyon. Shadow took out three lightweight flight devices from his equipment bag—small anti-gravity devices that could be attached to protective suits, providing short-distance flight or hovering capabilities.

"Fasten your safety rope," Shadow instructed. "Even with the flight device, it's always better to be cautious."

The three secured themselves with safety ropes, activated the flight device, and slowly descended into the canyon. As they increased in depth, the surrounding rock walls revealed even more peculiar signs of melting, with some places even forming complex spiral patterns, as if recording the dance of lightning.

“These marks,” Hong said in surprise, “are not randomly formed. These spirals and curves follow some kind of mathematical law, too precise to seem like a natural phenomenon.”

Ying nodded: "It certainly doesn't seem like it. It's more like some kind of deliberate creation."

Rowan suddenly felt a strange resonance, as if something was calling to him. This feeling was similar to the call from the core of the Heavenly Star King, yet different, more primal and ancient.

"Did you feel anything?" Rowan asked in a low voice. "A...calling feeling?"

Both Ying and Hong shook their heads, but Ying's expression became wary: "You heard that sound again? Like before with the core?"

Rowan nodded: "It's somewhat similar, but not exactly the same. This time, the feeling is more primal, more connected to the planet itself."

Ying thought for a moment: "Continue the descent, but remain vigilant. Inform us immediately if the situation changes."

The three continued downwards, the canyon widening until it suddenly opened up—they had arrived at a massive underground cavern. The cavern was several hundred meters in diameter and nearly a hundred meters high. Most astonishingly, the entire cavern wall was covered in countless crystals, shimmering with a blue-purple light under the illumination of their helmet lights.

"What kind of crystals are these?" Rowan asked curiously.

Hong approached a wall of crystals and carefully scanned it with the analyzer: "This is a crystal structure I've never seen before. They seem capable of storing and conducting extremely high levels of electrical energy, and," he paused, looking at the reading in surprise, "they're still alive!"

"Alive?" Rowan and Ying exclaimed simultaneously.

Hong nodded, his expression serious: "These crystals exhibit energy fluctuations and reaction patterns similar to those of living organisms. They are not lifeless minerals, but some kind of crystalline life form!"

Rowan felt the call grow stronger. He walked involuntarily to the center of the cave, where there was a particularly large crystal, shaped like a throne.

"Rowan, wait!" Shadow warned, but Rowan seemed to be in a daze and continued walking forward.

As Rowan approached the central crystal, the entire cavern suddenly lit up. All the crystals began to glow simultaneously, creating a spectacular interplay of light and shadow. Even more astonishingly, electrical currents began to pulse between the crystals, as if they were exchanging information.

Rowan stood before the central crystal, feeling a peculiar energy field envelop him. The voice echoed in his mind again, this time clearer:
"Welcome, Seeker."

"Who are you?" Rowan asked instinctively.

"I am... the Guardian," the voice replied haltingly, "the soul of this planet."

Ying and Hong also sensed something was wrong and quickly came to Luo Wen's side.

"What happened?" Shadow asked alertly, one hand already on the weapon at his waist.

Rowan raised his hand to signal him to calm down: "There is a consciousness communicating with me. It calls itself the 'Guardian,' the soul of this planet."

"The soul of a planet?" Ying and Hong exchanged bewildered glances, their surprise evident. This phenomenon is extremely rare in the known universe—planetary consciousness usually only exists on extremely ancient or special celestial bodies, and the vast majority of planets are merely unconscious celestial bodies.

Rowan closed his eyes, focusing on the ancient and mysterious voice in his mind. The voice seemed to come from a distant time and space, yet it lingered clearly in his heart, carrying an indescribable majesty and vicissitude.

“I can hear you,” Rowan responded in his mind, “but I don’t understand, how can a planet have consciousness?” “All that has existed for a long time will eventually awaken,” the voice replied slowly and haltingly, as if struggling to organize its thoughts, “I have existed for billions of years. Lightning and fire gave birth to me, and now you have arrived.”

Rowan felt a strange energy flowing towards him from the crystal, but it wasn't aggressive; it was more like an attempt to establish a deeper connection.

“I can sense you’re trying to establish some kind of connection with me,” Rowan said, “but why me? Why not Shadow or Flood, or even Thor?”

"You have a special ability to hear. You can also sense my presence, even the voice of the sleeping," the voice replied. "Your essence is different."

Shadow watched the situation intently, one hand never leaving his weapon: "Rowan, tell us what happened. What does it want?"

Rowan opened his eyes and gently shook his head: "It doesn't seem to have any ill intentions. It said it's a consciousness that formed over billions of years of evolution on this planet, born from lightning and fire."

“Flames?” Hong frowned. “But we only saw lightning; we didn’t observe any obvious volcanic activity.”

Just then, the crystals in the cave suddenly brightened dramatically, and thousands of tiny electric currents danced and leaped between them, forming a three-dimensional holographic image—a diagram of the planet's internal structure. The image revealed that beneath the surface thunderstorms, massive magma activity raged deep within the Earth's crust, with countless magma channels crisscrossing to form a complex network.

"Lightning on the Earth's surface and fire in its core," Hong suddenly realized, "they interact to create a unique energy cycle! No wonder this planet can nurture such special life forms!"

Rowan closed his eyes again, continuing his communication with the planet's consciousness: "What do you want to tell us?"

"Warning. Request," the voice responded, "Many visitors have come; some have taken my children; some have tried to disrupt my balance."

“Children? You mean these crystals?” Rowan asked.

"Yes and no," the planetary consciousness replied. "Crystals. Carriers of energy. Every fragment of my thought is connected to me. They are all a part of me."

Rowan began to understand: "Are you worried that we'll do what past visitors did, collecting these crystals or disrupting the planet's ecological balance?"

"But that's not all," the planetary consciousness seemed to become clearer. "I sense... you carry an ancient being, a consciousness at my level."

Rowan suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Ying: "It knows the core of the Heavenly Star King!"

Shadow's expression turned extremely serious: "This is impossible. The core is protected by multiple layers of shielding; even advanced detectors cannot penetrate that energy barrier."

Rowan communicated with the planet's consciousness again: "How did you know?"

"The ancients, who perceive each other across space and time," the planetary consciousness replied. "That being, though slumbering, remains powerful."

"Is it harmful to us?" Rowan asked cautiously.

“No, unless it’s misused. Just like what Aster did.” Rowan was shocked by the “planetary consciousness” response.

"You even know about Astor?" Rowan asked in surprise.

“I can sense fragments of memory from those connected to me,” the planetary consciousness explained. “Your worries and your experiences all show me that memory.”

Rowan turned to Shadow and Hong: "It somehow read my memories and learned about the Heavenly Star King's core and Aster. But it said that as long as we don't misuse the core like Aster did, it won't harm us."

Shadow remained vigilant: "Ask it what it wants. Its proactive contact with us must have a purpose."

Rowan nodded, then closed his eyes again: "What exactly do you want? Why did you contact us?"

"A request. A promise," the planetary consciousness's voice grew firmer, "Respect. My existence will not be taken away. My fragments will not be destroyed. My balance will be restored. In return, I will guide and assist you."

"What does it guide us in?" Rowan asked curiously.

"Everyone who comes here seeks something," the planetary consciousness replied. "Your friend seeks the power of lightning; you seek the path of fire; the other two seek knowledge and truth."

Rowan was once again shocked—this planet's consciousness could not only read his memories, but also perceive the inner desires of each of them. Indeed, as a cultivator, Rowan had been trying to deeply understand the Laws of Fire, and this was one of his core pursuits.

"Can you help us achieve these goals?" Rowan asked.

"Yes, but it requires mutual respect and trust." The planetary consciousness's reply was full of wisdom: "You promise to protect me, and I will guide you."

Rowan opened his eyes and told Shadow and Hong about the planet's consciousness's request and promise. After a brief discussion, the three unanimously agreed to accept the conditions—after all, they had no intention of disrupting the balance of this unique planet, and the help offered by the planet's consciousness was undoubtedly a valuable opportunity for them.

“We promise,” Rowan said solemnly, “we will not take your crystal fragments, nor will we disrupt the planet's balance. We are merely temporary visitors, intending only to learn and observe.”

With Rowan's promise, the crystalline light in the cave softened and warmed, and a strange energy wave swept through the entire space, as if the whole planet had breathed a sigh of relief.

“Accept. Your commitment.” The voice of the planetary consciousness sounded clearer. “Now. Begin the guidance.”

The crystal lit up again, forming a more detailed map of the planet's topography. An area about fifty kilometers to their north was specifically marked, which appeared to be a mountainous region.

"That place, where fire and electricity meet," the planetary consciousness explained, "is the best training ground for those seeking the power of lightning."

"Thor!" Rowan thought of his companion who had gone to the thunderstorm zone alone to train. "Would this place be helpful to Thor?"

“Very helpful,” the planetary consciousness confirmed, “guiding him there.”

(End of this chapter)