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

Chapter 347 Completely powerless to fight back
His admission shocked the entire conference room. The other two elders stood up angrily, while the Martial God Teacher's eyes burned with cold fury.

"Why?" The Martial God Teacher's voice was as cold and sharp as ice. "The Giant Axe Arena has treated you well, why would you betray it?"

Sak's eyes were filled with hatred: "They've treated me well? Ha! Do you know what I've endured all these years? My abilities are clearly no less than Emperor Yan's, so why does all the honor go to him? Why does everyone only remember Emperor Yan and forget me, Sak?"

Emperor Yan shook his head and said, "Sak, you're just making excuses for your jealousy."

“Jealousy?” Sack’s voice sharpened. “I’m not resigned to this! I’m not resigned to living in your shadow forever! So I’m going to destroy you and take your place!”

Upon hearing this, the Martial God Teacher's anger reached its peak: "Sak, you have disappointed me. To betray your comrade for personal gain is unforgivable!"

Knowing he was completely exposed, Sak decided to throw caution to the wind: "Hmph! So what if you've found out? Those forces' plans have already begun; the death of the Flame Emperor is just the first step. Soon, the entire Giant Axe Arena will..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a mental attack from the Martial God Teacher. Sak screamed and collapsed to the ground unconscious.

"Immediately detain Sak and await further processing," Master Martial ordered.

Soon, guards entered and took Sack away. The meeting room returned to silence, but the atmosphere remained heavy.

The Martial God Teacher turned to Emperor Yan: "Emperor Yan, I feel deeply ashamed of this incident. If we had discovered Sak's betrayal sooner, you wouldn't have suffered so much."

Emperor Yan shook his head and said, "Teacher, this is not your fault. Sak was very good at hiding his true nature; even I didn't realize it."

"But regardless, the arena has truly wronged you," the Martial God Instructor said apologetically. "From today onwards, all your positions and powers will be restored. Furthermore, I will grant you greater authority, allowing you to thoroughly investigate the internal issues."

Lei Ming then stood up: "Teacher Martial God, Sack just said that those forces' plans have already begun. Should we take immediate action?"

The Martial God Teacher nodded: "Indeed necessary. Emperor Yan, you know these forces best, and I hope you can lead this counterattack."

Emperor Yan accepted the task: "I will formulate a plan as soon as possible to wipe out these traitors in one fell swoop."

“There’s one more thing,” Teacher Martial Arts said, looking at Rowan. “This young man played a crucial role in this incident. Without the evidence he gathered, we might never have known the truth.”

Luo Wen quickly replied, "Teacher Martial God, you flatter me. It's all I should do."

Teacher Wu Shen's words eased the atmosphere in the conference room somewhat. He looked at Luo Wen with admiration in his eyes.

"Rowan, your performance this time has exceeded everyone's expectations." The Martial God Instructor stood up. "Without the crucial evidence you collected, that traitor Sack might have continued to lurk, causing even greater losses to our arena."

Luo Wen humbly replied, "Martial God Teacher, this is all I should do. Besides, without Senior Emperor Yan's guidance, I wouldn't have been able to find this evidence."

Emperor Yan looked at Luo Wen with satisfaction; the young man's performance had truly impressed him.

"Humility is a good quality, but merit is merit." The Martial God Instructor walked up to Rowan. "According to the tradition of our Giant Axe Arena, those who make significant contributions must be rewarded accordingly."

Lei Ming added from the side, "Luo Wen, this time you not only exposed the internal traitor, but also prevented a potential catastrophe for the arena. According to the merit ranking system, this has already reached the standard of a first-class merit."

"First-class merit?" Rowan was somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected his actions to be praised so highly.

The martial arts instructor nodded in confirmation: "That's right, a first-class merit. And the reward for a first-class merit is that you can choose any three treasures from our arena's treasury."

Upon hearing this, even Emperor Yan showed a surprised expression. The treasure vault of the Giant Axe Arena contained countless precious items, including treasures that even immortal powerhouses would covet. Being able to choose three items was indeed a very generous reward.

"Master Martial God, isn't this too expensive?" Rowan asked somewhat uneasily. "I just did what I was supposed to do."

"It is precisely because you possess such character that I feel more comfortable bestowing this reward upon you," the Martial God Teacher said with a smile. "Furthermore, considering your current level of strength, I will recommend some treasures that are most suitable for your current stage."

Emperor Yan said from the side, "Luo Wen, don't refuse. This is indeed a reward you deserve. Besides, Master Martial God's judgment is always accurate; the treasure he recommends will definitely be of great help to your cultivation."

Luo Wen took a deep breath and bowed deeply to his martial arts teacher: "Then thank you very much, martial arts teacher."

"Very good." The Martial God Teacher nodded in satisfaction. "Emperor Yan, accompany Luo Wen to the treasure vault. With your experience, you should be able to help him choose the most suitable treasure."

The treasure vault of the Giant Axe Arena is located on the fifth basement level of the headquarters, a vast space protected by multiple layers of security. When Emperor Yan and Luo Wen arrived at the vault's entrance, the elder in charge of guarding it had already received instructions from their Martial God teacher.

"Elder Yan Emperor, Mr. Luo Wen, please come in." The guarding elder respectfully opened the treasure vault door for them.

Upon entering the vault, Rowan was immediately awestruck by the sight before him. It resembled a vast museum, with various precious items neatly categorized and displayed in specially made case. Some case was even surrounded by a faint glow, clearly indicating that it contained even more valuable treasures.

"This place houses precious artifacts accumulated over tens of thousands of years in our arena," Emperor Yan explained as they walked. "From weapons and equipment to cultivation techniques, from rare materials to auxiliary potions, it has everything."

Rowan's eyes were glued to the treasures around him, each radiating powerful energy fluctuations. But he wasn't swayed by their external brilliance; instead, he carefully considered what he truly needed.

"Senior Emperor Yan, what type of treasure do you think I should choose?" Luo Wen humbly asked for advice.

Emperor Yan pondered for a moment: "With your current strength, I suggest you focus on three aspects: First, cultivate secret techniques; good techniques can make your cultivation twice as effective. Second, acquire protective treasures, since survival is paramount. Third, acquire treasures to enhance your mental strength; I see you have great talent in this area."

At Emperor Yan's suggestion, Luo Wen began to select items more selectively. Ultimately, he chose three treasures:
The first item is a secret method for cultivating spiritual power called "The Void Refining God Technique." This technique is said to have been left behind by a legendary spiritual master and can greatly enhance the strength and purity of spiritual power.

The second item is a set of protective gear called the "Star Armor." This armor looks simple and unadorned, but according to Emperor Yan, it can withstand attacks from cosmic-level powerhouses, making it the most advanced protection available to Luo Wen at his current level.

The third item is a "Soul Crystal," an extremely rare natural treasure that can nourish the soul and raise the upper limit of spiritual power.

"Your choice is wise." Emperor Yan was very satisfied with Luo Wen's selection. "These three treasures combined are enough to elevate your strength to a whole new level." After completing their journey through the treasure vault, Emperor Yan and Luo Wen returned to their Martial God teacher's office. The Martial God teacher praised Luo Wen's choice and then gave him an unexpected surprise.

“Rowan, besides these three treasures, I also want to give you an extra reward.” The Martial God Teacher took out a special badge from his desk drawer. “This is the Honorary Advisor Badge of our Giant Axe Arena. Holding this badge, you can enjoy various privileges of the Giant Axe Arena, including the right to priority purchase of certain rare items.”

Rowan accepted the badge, sensing the special energy it contained. This badge was not only a symbol of honor, but also a tangible proof of power.

"Thank you, Master Martial God." Rowan solemnly put the badge away.

"Also, if you need any help in the future, please feel free to contact us," the Martial God Master said sincerely. "The Giant Axe Arena will never forget the kindness of its friends."

Emperor Yan also stated, "Luo Wen, this experience has made us true friends. If you encounter any difficulties in cultivation or other areas, feel free to contact me."

After bidding farewell to his Martial God teacher and Emperor Yan, Luo Wen embarked on his journey back to the Virtual Universe Company, carrying a generous reward. On the return spaceship, he carefully studied the "Void Refining God Technique," finding the secret art increasingly profound with each reading.

Three days later, Rowan's spaceship landed on Virtual Universe Company's dedicated helipad. Stepping onto familiar ground again, Rowan felt a surge of belonging. Although his experience at the Giant Axe Arena was thrilling, Virtual Universe Company was his true home.

As soon as he disembarked from the spaceship, Rowan received an urgent communication. The message, from Hong, was brief: "Come to the Genius Building immediately, there's something important."

Rowan immediately headed to the Genius Building. The Genius Building was a living and training facility built by Virtual Universe Company specifically for the students of the Genius Training Camp, and Rowan had his own private room there.

Upon arriving at the top-floor conference room of the Genius Building, Luo Wen saw Hong, Thor, and Luo Feng all there. However, their expressions were somewhat serious, as if something unpleasant had happened.

"Rowan, you're finally back." Hong stood up to greet him. "How did your trip to the Giant Axe Arena go?"

"It went very smoothly, and there were even some unexpected gains." Rowan briefly introduced his experience, emphasizing the three treasures he had obtained.

After hearing this, Thor exclaimed, "How incredibly lucky! The treasure vault of the Giant Axe Arena is a place that countless powerful individuals dream of."

Luo Feng nodded and said, "Especially that 'Void Refining God Technique,' just from the name you can tell it's no ordinary secret technique."

"By the way, what urgent matter do you need me for?" Rowan noticed that the three of them still looked serious.

Hong and Thor exchanged a glance, then Hong spoke: "Rowan, I have some bad news for you. The cosmic-level genius challenge you participated in is over."

"It's over?" Rowan was taken aback. "Wasn't it still going on when I left? How could it be over so quickly?"

Thor explained, "The challenge is progressing faster than expected. The final stage began the day after you left."

Rowan's heart sank; a possibility occurred to him: "Then my match..."

"Because you failed to arrive at the competition venue within the stipulated time, you have been deemed to have automatically forfeited," Hong said apologetically. "We tried to contact you, but your communicator remained blocked."

The news struck like a bolt from the blue, leaving Rowan stunned for a long time. He had prepared for this challenge for so long, but unexpectedly, his absence caused him to lose his chance.

"Rowan, don't be too sad," Luo Feng comforted him. "Although you missed out this time, with your strength, you'll definitely have another chance next time."

Thor added, "And what you gained at the Giant Axe Arena might be even more valuable than winning the challenge."

Rowan took a deep breath, trying to adjust his mindset. Although disappointed, he knew complaining was pointless. And as Thor had said, his gains at the Giant Axe Arena were indeed invaluable.

"It's alright, what's done is done." Rowan forced himself to calm down. "So, how did your competition go? Did you make it to the finals?"

When this topic was brought up, the expressions of the three people became even more complicated.

Hong smiled wryly, "You might not believe it, but the three of us haven't had much luck either."

"What's wrong?" Rowan had a bad feeling.

Thor said helplessly, "Three days after you left, I encountered a very strong opponent in the semi-finals. That guy possessed an extremely rare and profound law; I was no match for him and ultimately lost."

“My situation was similar,” Hong continued. “Once I entered the finals, the level of my opponents was extremely high. Although I was quite skilled, I was ultimately outmatched at crucial moments and was eliminated in the quarterfinals.”

Luo Wen looked at Luo Feng: "And you, Luo Feng?"

Luo Feng's expression was the most complicated: "I...I've made it to the finals."

"That's great!" Rowan immediately expressed his joy for his friend. "How did the final go?"

"We lost." Luo Feng said simply, but the disappointment in his words was obvious.

Rowan was stunned. He hadn't expected that during his absence, the four-man team that had been on whom so much hope had been placed would be completely wiped out.

"Is the opponent in the final very strong?" Rowan asked with concern.

Luo Feng nodded: "Absolutely ridiculously strong. That guy named Bolan has mastered the laws of space, and his understanding of them is extremely profound. Compared to him, I'm like a child facing an adult, completely powerless."

Upon hearing the name "Bolan," Rowan's heart skipped a beat. In the original work, Bolan was indeed one of the top geniuses in the battle of geniuses, known as "Death God" Bolan, whose strength far surpassed that of other geniuses of the same period.

(End of this chapter)