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

The opponents in Chapter 311 will only get stronger!
“We’ve arrived, gentlemen,” the driver said respectfully, parking the car in front of a three-story building. “This is the accommodation prepared for you by the Third Prince. All necessary living and training facilities have been provided. If you need anything, you can contact the butler service through the indoor communication system.”

The three got out of the car and stood in front of the villa, momentarily stunned. Although this building wasn't the largest or most luxurious in the Royal Gardens district, its exquisite and noble aura was still impressive. The building combined classical and modern styles, and the exterior walls were made of a rare blue-white crystal that shimmered softly in the sunlight.

"This is where we'll be staying for the next few days?" Thor asked incredulously. "It's more luxurious than all the places I've stayed in before combined."

Rowan smiled. "It seems the Third Prince truly values ​​us. However, let's not forget our original intention—we're here to utilize the resources to improve ourselves, not to indulge in a life of luxury."

The three used their access cards to open the gate and entered the villa. The interior decoration was even more astonishing; high-end materials were used from floor to ceiling, and every piece of furniture and decoration was exquisite. What surprised them most was that the villa's basement contained a fully functional training ground, equipped with various advanced cultivation aids, including some rare devices that were hard to find even in the Virtual Universe Company.

“This is practically a paradise tailor-made for cultivators,” Hong exclaimed, inspecting an energy regulator. “With these devices, we can make the most of every day we have here.”

The three quickly settled in, each choosing a room. As well-trained cultivators, they possessed few personal belongings, mainly just essential equipment and cultivation supplies. After settling in, the three met in the living room to discuss their next plan.

“I suggest we go to the Central Archives first,” Rowan proposed, “to quickly familiarize ourselves with the resources and rules there, and then selectively look up the materials we each need.”

Hong agreed, saying, "As far as I know, the Central Archives' materials are categorized on a cosmic level, covering everything from the most basic laws of matter to profound mysteries of space and time. We should first understand the overall framework before delving into specific areas."

Thor rubbed his hands together, eager to learn: "I'm particularly interested in finding deeper research materials on the laws of lightning. Since my new insights on that planet, I feel there's still a lot of room for improvement in my understanding of lightning."

Just as the three were discussing, the villa's communication system suddenly lit up, and a respectful voice came through: "Respected guests, a gentleman claiming to be Shadow requests a visit. May he be allowed to enter?"

The three exchanged glances, all somewhat surprised. Shadow had disappeared after the mission; they assumed he was busy reporting to the intelligence agency, not expecting him to visit so soon.

“Please let him in,” Rowan replied.

A moment later, Shadow appeared in the living room doorway. He had changed out of his combat armor and was wearing a simple gray uniform, looking more like an ordinary Imperial official than a secret agent.

"Long time no see," Ying said with a smile as she walked in. "I'm so glad to see you've all recovered so well."

Rowan gestured for Ying to sit down: "We're also very happy to see you. To be honest, we thought you'd be busy with mission reports and follow-up matters, so we didn't expect you to visit so soon."

Ying sat down on the sofa opposite them, her expression turning serious: "Actually, I've come with important news. It's about the follow-up situation regarding Aster and the Heavenly Star King's core."

The three immediately sat up straight, their expressions serious. Although they had safely returned to the Empire, the threat posed by Aster remained a shadow over their minds.

Ying took a deep breath and began to explain: "First of all, the good news is that Mo Chenhou has successfully subdued Aster. After a fierce battle, the unstable energy structure within Aster's body finally collapsed, and his transformation failed."

"He's dead?" Thor asked bluntly.

Shadow shook his head: "No, he's not dead, but he's no longer the original Aster. The remnants of the Celestial King's consciousness and energy have somehow mixed with his original body, and he's currently in a state between lucidity and chaos. The Empire has imprisoned him in a special energy prison for in-depth research and monitoring."

"What about the core of the Star King?" Rowan asked, recalling the mysterious being with whom he had once communicated.

“He's been sent to the Empire's highest-level research institution,” Shadow replied. “There, he will be under the strictest protection and the most cautious research. The Marshal personally ordered that no one is allowed to attempt necromancy conversion like Astor did.”

Hong asked thoughtfully, "Has anything been decided regarding that lightning planet?"

Shadow's expression relaxed slightly: "This is another piece of good news. Based on my suggestion and with the support of the Third Prince, the Empire has officially designated that planet as a special protected area, prohibiting any form of development or interference. Only a select few specially approved researchers are permitted to conduct non-invasive observation and research under strict restrictions."

This news brought a sigh of relief to all three. Their promise to the planet's consciousness had been fulfilled; that unique life form would continue to exist peacefully in the universe, unaffected by excessive interference from civilization.

“There is one more thing,” Shadow continued, his voice becoming more formal, “The Empire highly commends the three of you for your performance in this incident, especially for the courage and wisdom you displayed when facing an enemy far superior to yourselves. Therefore, the Marshal has specially approved the conferment of the title of ‘Imperial Honor Guardian.’”

Ying took out an exquisite box from her bosom, opened it, and inside were three badges shimmering with a silver-blue light: "These are not only a symbol of honor, but will also provide you with many conveniences for your activities within the Empire."

Rowan, Thor, and Hon were both surprised and honored. "Imperial Honor Guardian" was a title rarely awarded to outsiders, usually reserved for those who had made significant contributions to the Empire.

“We… don’t know what to say,” Rowan said, taking the badge and sensing the faint energy fluctuations within it. “This title is far too great an honor for us.”

Ying smiled slightly: "You fully deserve this honor. And, to be honest, this is also a strategy of the Empire—to forge closer ties between you and the Empire, paving the way for potential future cooperation."

“At least compared to the Third Prince’s direct recruitment, this method is more gentle and respectful,” Hong commented.

Ying nodded: "Exactly. The Empire knows that talents like you are most vulnerable to being bound and controlled. Providing honor and convenience, but without imposing too many conditions, often yields better results."

The three accepted the badges, feeling both grateful and wary. They knew that both the Third Prince's enthusiastic recruitment and the Empire's bestowal of honors had their own underlying purposes and considerations. In this complex interstellar political environment, maintaining clarity and independence was paramount. "So, what are your plans next?" Rowan asked Shadow. "Will you continue with similar missions?"

“I will be temporarily leaving the central region of the Empire to carry out a special mission in a border system,” Shadow’s expression became inscrutable. “The specifics cannot be disclosed, but they are related to our discovery on Thunder Planet.”

Rowan nodded, understanding the confidential nature of espionage work: "Anyway, I wish you success in your mission. Please feel free to contact us if you need any assistance."

“Thank you,” Ying stood up, preparing to take her leave. “Oh, and there’s one more thing I’d like to remind you—someone might be coming to see you soon.”

Thor raised an eyebrow: "Who?"

Ying revealed a mysterious smile: "Someone you all know very well. He recently got rid of a problem that had been bothering him for a long time."

The three exchanged a glance, almost simultaneously thinking of the same person: "Luo Feng?"

Ying didn't answer directly, but said meaningfully, "Rest well and make good use of this time to improve yourselves. The later stages of the challenge will be even more difficult, so you need to be fully prepared."

After speaking, he nodded to the three of them, then turned and left. Only after Shadow's figure disappeared through the doorway did Thor breathe a sigh of relief: "That guy is always so mysterious; he's really hard to figure out."

“But his reminder was valuable,” Hong pondered. “If Luo Feng has truly recovered, that would indeed be good news. If the four of us can prepare for the next stage of the challenge together, our chances of winning will greatly increase.”

Luo Wen stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the magnificent view of the capital city outside: "Yes, it feels great to have our four-person team reunited. However, before Luo Feng arrives, we should definitely make good use of the resources here, especially our access to the Central Archives."

And so, for the next three days, the three of them visited the Imperial Central Archives each day, delving into their respective areas of interest. The archives far exceeded their expectations, covering an area equivalent to a small city, and housed a treasure trove of knowledge accumulated over thousands of years of the empire's history. From the most basic laws of matter to the unfathomable mysteries of the universe, from ancient combat techniques to the latest theories of energy utilization, everything was there.

Rowan primarily studies the deeper applications of the Law of Fire, especially how to apply his understanding of the essence of energy learned on the Thunder Planet to actual combat; Thor focuses on the control and guidance of lightning energy, seeking more precise and efficient methods; Hong has the broadest range of interests, encompassing everything from the application of energy in ancient civilizations to the integration of modern combat systems.

On the morning of the fourth day, as the three were conducting their daily training in the villa's training grounds, the communication system beeped again: "Respected guests, a gentleman claiming to be Luo Feng requests a visit. May he enter?"

The three immediately stopped training, looked at each other and smiled.

"Please let him in!" Rowan responded excitedly.

Less than a minute later, a familiar figure appeared at the entrance of the training ground. Luo Feng, their partner in the Virtual Universe Company Challenge and an outstanding representative of Earth's martial artists, was standing there with a bright smile on his face.

"Brothers!" Luo Feng strode over, grabbed Luo Wen, the closest man, and patted him hard on the back. "I missed you guys so much!"

Luo Wen, Lei Shen, and Hong Du stepped forward and warmly embraced Luo Feng. The four-person team had fought side by side in the challenge and forged a deep friendship; Luo Feng's injury had always been a concern for them.

"It seems the special medicine is working," Hong said happily, looking Luo Feng up and down. "You look much more energetic than before."

Luo Feng nodded, his eyes filled with gratitude: "Thanks to the special medicine you risked your lives to obtain, the fire poison in my body has finally been cleared away. The doctor said that if it had been two weeks later, the toxin would have spread to the core of my life, and then it would have been truly dangerous."

“Seeing you recover makes it all worthwhile,” Rowan said sincerely. “Come, sit down, we have so much to talk about.”

The four sat down in the rest area next to the training field. Luo Feng looked around curiously: "This place is really nice. How did you get it? It took me a lot of effort to find you guys. I only found out you were in the capital through the Virtual Universe Company's emergency contact channels."

The three exchanged a glance, and then Rowan briefly recounted their eventful journey: accepting the Third Prince's mission, encountering Shadow, transporting the stone box, confronting Astor, escaping to Thunder Planet, and ultimately being rescued by the Empire. Of course, some details involving Imperial secrets were omitted, but the overall outline and key events were truthfully recounted.

Luo Feng listened, dumbfounded, his expression shifting between surprise, worry, and admiration: "My God, this wasn't just a mission, it was a life-or-death adventure! The remains of an immortal king? Planetary consciousness? These things only exist in legends on Earth, and you actually experienced them firsthand!"

"To be honest, although the process was thrilling, the gains were considerable," Thor said with a smile, a faint crackle of electricity flashing in his hand. "Especially the training on that lightning planet, which allowed me to reach a new level of understanding of the laws of lightning."

Rowan nodded. "Similarly, my understanding of the Laws of Fire has also undergone a qualitative leap. The way I understand and control flames from the perspective of their essential energy is something I had never imagined before."

Luo Feng looked at Hong: "And you? Did you have any special gains?"

Hong smiled slightly: "I found some valuable knowledge in the ruins of ancient civilizations, especially theories about energy conversion and spatial perception. Although it didn't result in a significant power boost like Rowan and Thor's, it was extremely helpful in my understanding of the nature of the universe."

“Speaking of which,” Luo Feng’s expression turned serious, “there are less than two months until the next stage of the challenge. We need to carefully plan our training direction, especially considering that the opponents will only get stronger.”

The four of them became serious. The challenge was their shared goal and an important stage to test their abilities. Especially for them, coming from a less advanced civilization like Earth, they needed to work even harder to stand out among so many geniuses.

(End of this chapter)