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

Chapter 307 Approaching the Original Camp Location!

Next, the topographic map changed to show another location, about eighty kilometers to the southeast, where there is a huge rift valley.

"There, ancient lava erupts from the earth, flowing—the perfect place for those who seek the laws of fire."

Finally, the topographic map changed again, revealing a peculiar structure in the western region that looked like some kind of naturally formed tower-like structure.

"That place, a land of accumulated knowledge, is where ancient civilizations left their mark, most valuable to those who seek knowledge."

Rowan relayed this information to Shadow and Hong, and all three were both surprised and excited. This seemingly barren planet actually hid such a wealth of secrets and opportunities!

“We need to contact Thor,” Rowan said, “and tell him about that coal-fired power plant confluence.”

Shadow nodded and immediately called Thor via communicator. To his relief, Thor responded quickly. Upon hearing that there was a more suitable place for training, he immediately said he would return to camp to rejoin the group.

"So, what's our next plan?" Hong asked. "The three locations are all quite far apart; we can't explore them all at the same time."

Shadow pondered for a moment: "I suggest we split up. Thor will head to the confluence of fire and electricity, Rowan will explore the area where the subterranean fire erupted, and Hong and I will investigate the ancient ruins to the west. We'll meet at the camp in three days, just in time for communication with the Empire."

Rowan and Hong both agreed to the arrangement. With the help of the planet's consciousness, they recorded the exact coordinates of the three locations, then left the crystal cave and returned to the surface.

When they returned to the camp, Thor was already waiting there, his body radiating a faint electric light, clearly having begun the initial energy absorption.

"I've heard there's an even better place?" Thor asked excitedly. "Where? What kind of place?"

Rowan told Thor everything about their discoveries and communication with the planet's consciousness, including the so-called "confluence of fire and electricity."

"I can't wait to go there!" Thor clenched his fist, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "If it really is as the planetary consciousness says, it will be of immense help to my cultivation!"

The four quickly gathered their equipment and prepared to split up. Shadow provided each person with enough supplies and emergency equipment for three days to ensure everyone could safely complete their respective exploration tasks.

“Remember, return to camp on time in three days,” Shadow instructed. “If you encounter any unusual situation, contact us immediately via the emergency channel.”

The four said their goodbyes and each boarded a small aircraft to head to their respective destinations. Rowan flew southeast, his target the so-called "earthquake eruption" area.

As the spacecraft continued its southeastward advance, Rowan noticed that the landscape was changing. The previous blue-green vegetation was gradually decreasing, replaced by reddish-brown rocks and black basalt. The number of ionized particles in the air was also decreasing, but the temperature was gradually rising; even through his protective suit, Rowan could feel the increase in heat.

After flying for about two hours, Rowan finally saw his destination—a massive rift valley, several kilometers wide and bottomless. Red flashes of light occasionally appeared within the rift, accompanied by slight tremors on the ground. According to the spacecraft's scans, the temperature there was unusually high, and the surface was covered with large amounts of fresh volcanic rock, clearly indicating recent lava activity.

Rowan found a relatively flat area on the edge of the rift valley and landed. As soon as he opened the hatch, a wave of scorching air hit him. Even with the temperature regulation system of his protective suit running at full power, Rowan could still feel the almost tangible heat.

Walking cautiously to the edge of the rift, Rowan looked down. Inside, a spectacular yet terrifying sight unfolded—several rivers of molten lava meandered along the valley floor, bubbles occasionally bursting on the surface, spewing out small jets of magma. Even more astonishing, several enormous rocks floated above the lava rivers, neither falling nor melting, suspended atop the scorching lava as if supported by some unseen force.

“This can’t be a natural phenomenon,” Rowan muttered to himself. “There must be some special mechanism at work behind these suspended rocks.”

He activated the scanning function of his protective suit, analyzing the surrounding environment. The data showed that a powerful and complex geomagnetic field existed throughout the rift valley region, forming countless magnetic vortices. The suspended rocks were precisely located at the center of these magnetic vortices, held up by a delicately balanced magnetic force.

“This is incredible,” Rowan exclaimed. “This geomagnetic field structure could not have formed by chance; it must have been intentionally created by the planet’s consciousness.”

Just then, Rowan felt that ancient voice echo in his mind once again:

"Come here and feel the essence of fire."

Rowan closed his eyes, sensing the voice: "You mean, these floating rocks and lava rivers are helpful in understanding the Laws of Fire?"

"Yes and no," the planetary consciousness responded. "Rocks and lava are merely forms; true fire transcends matter and exists in energy itself."

Rowan seemed thoughtful: "You mean, what I need to feel isn't the physical form of the flame, but the energy essence behind it?"

"Exactly. Go down to the bottom of the valley and stand on the platform I prepared for you. Feel the real fire."

Rowan looked around and saw a narrow, rocky path on one side of the rift valley, winding downwards to the bottom. The path looked unusually smooth and even, clearly not naturally formed, but rather carefully sculpted by humans or some other force.

"Is that the path you prepared for me?" Rowan asked.

"It's safe and secure to move forward," the planetary consciousness confirmed.

Rowan took a deep breath, activated the advanced heat protection function of his protective suit, and began walking along the rocky path towards the valley floor. As he descended, the temperature rose sharply, and the air became distorted and blurry. Rowan could feel the protective suit operating at full capacity, insulating the outside heat.

After walking for about twenty minutes, Rowan finally reached the bottom of the valley. Before him was a circular platform, composed of some kind of black crystal, about ten meters in diameter. Lava rivers surrounded the platform, but strangely, the platform itself maintained a suitable temperature, as if an invisible barrier was insulating it from the heat.

“Stand in the center, close your eyes, and feel,” the planetary consciousness instructed. Rowan followed the instructions, walked to the center of the platform, and closed his eyes. At first, he felt nothing except the faint sound of flowing lava around him. But gradually, he began to feel a peculiar energy fluctuation, like countless tiny sparks dancing around him.

"This is..." Rowan was surprised to find that he could sense every bit of heat energy and every energy vibration in the surrounding space, and could even track the trajectory of energy flowing in space.

"The essence of fire is not combustion, not heat, but the transformation of energy," the planetary consciousness explained. "All fire is the process of energy transforming from one form to another."

Rowan seemed to have received some kind of revelation and began to understand the concept. At the essential level of the universe, flame is not the combustion of matter, but rather the violent transformation of energy between different states. This transformation releases enormous energy fluctuations, which manifest as the flames we see.

“I understand,” Rowan said softly. “The core of the Law of Fire lies not in controlling the flame itself, but in mastering the process and laws of energy transformation.”

“Exactly. Continue to experience deeper levels,” the planetary consciousness encouraged.

Rowan concentrated, trying to perceive the flow of energy around him more deeply. As his consciousness deepened, he seemed to see a brand new world—in a dimension beyond the reach of ordinary vision, countless energy particles danced, collided, and transformed with each other. Each collision, each transformation, followed a subtle law, forming a magnificent symphony of energy.

“It’s so beautiful,” Rowan exclaimed, deeply impressed by the sight.

"This is the true universe. On the energy level," the planetary consciousness explained. "All laws, all powers, originate from this. What you see now is merely the tip of the iceberg."

Guided by the planetary consciousness, Rowan began to try to interact with these energies. He discovered that through specific mental fluctuations, he could influence the trajectory of those energy particles and even induce them to transform in specific directions.

"This is the true mastery of the Laws of Fire," Rowan suddenly realized. "It's not simply about creating or controlling flames, but about understanding and guiding the transformation of energy at an energy level!"

"You're beginning to understand. But this is only the first step," the planetary consciousness said. "True mastery requires a deeper understanding and more precise guidance."

In the time that followed, Rowan engaged in intensive training on that special platform. The planetary consciousness provided guidance from time to time, helping him gradually understand the deeper mysteries of the Law of Fire. Rowan learned how to perceive and influence energy transformation at the microscopic level, how to guide energy to flow along specific paths, and how to establish transformation channels between different forms of energy.

As his cultivation deepened, Luo Wen discovered a qualitative leap in his control over flames. He no longer needed an external fire source; instead, he could directly absorb energy from the environment, transform it within his body, and then release it in various forms. These flames were purer and more powerful than ordinary flames because they originated directly from the transformation of energy, rather than the combustion of matter.

“This is amazing!” Rowan exclaimed, looking at the ball of blue-white flame floating in his palm. It burned steadily without any fuel. “I never imagined that the Law of Fire could have such profound meaning.”

"All laws have a deeper level," the planetary consciousness responded. "Superficial understanding is merely an introduction; the true mystery lies in its essence."

The cultivation lasted for two full days. During this time, Rowan barely rested, completely immersed in exploring and comprehending the laws of fire. He experimented with various energy conversion methods, creating flames with a variety of special effects—some capable of penetrating almost any substance, some able to exist stably in a vacuum, and some even able to affect the flow of time.

By the end of the second day, Rowan felt his mind was nearing its limit. He sat cross-legged on the platform and entered a deep meditative state, allowing his body and mind to rest and recover.

"You've made rapid progress," the planetary consciousness commented, "but don't rush it. Cultivation takes time and requires accumulation."

Rowan nodded: "I understand. This experience has been incredibly beneficial, far exceeding my expectations. Thank you for your guidance."

"No need. Mutual respect and mutual help are the way of symbiosis," the planetary consciousness responded.

On the morning of the third day, Rowan decided to end his training and return to camp to rejoin the others. The planet's consciousness pointed him to a more convenient path that would allow him to quickly return to the surface.

“I will come back to visit again, if I have the chance,” Rowan said before leaving. “This place has been incredibly helpful to my cultivation.”

"Welcome, Seekers of Fire, at any time." The voice of the planetary consciousness gradually faded, but left a deep impression on Rowan.

The aircraft started up and flew towards the camp. Rowan leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes, and once again felt the energy flowing through his body.

"I wonder how Thor and the others fared," Rowan mused. "If other places are as wondrous as this, our unexpected landing might be a rare opportunity."

The aircraft sped through the high sky, passing through shifting clouds and occasional flashes of lightning. The landscape below gradually transitioned from reddish-brown rock to blue-green vegetation, indicating that it was approaching its initial camp location.

After flying for about an hour and a half, Rowan finally spotted the camp in the distance. To his surprise, Thor, Shadow, and Hong seemed to have returned, and the three of them were discussing something on a makeshift platform in the center of the camp, looking quite animated.

Rowan landed the aircraft and walked towards the three. Thor was the first to notice him and immediately waved.

"Rowan! You're finally back!" Thor shouted excitedly. "You'd never guess what we've each discovered!"

Rowan approached and noticed the changes in Thor—his skin was faintly crackling with electricity, his eyes were flashing with a strange blue light, and his entire aura had become sharper and more energetic, clearly indicating that he had made considerable gains in that "place where fire and electricity meet".

"It seems your cultivation is progressing smoothly," Rowan said with a smile. "Is that place really as magical as the planetary consciousness described?"

Thor nodded vigorously, almost incoherent with excitement: "It's simply amazing! There's a huge lightning vortex there, directly connected to the magma layer at the Earth's core! Lightning and subterranean fire converge there, forming a special energy field that allows me to directly sense the source of lightning! Now I can not only control external lightning, but also generate pure lightning energy within my body!"

(End of this chapter)