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

Chapter 388 Virtual Universe Company
"Now!" Luo Feng unleashed his full power, this time using his true strength, his stellar-level power erupting instantly.

"Boom!" The enormous impact struck the robot's chest armor directly. The sturdy armor was as fragile as paper in the face of such power, and it was instantly torn apart, revealing the control core that was gleaming inside.

"Core system damaged, emergency protection activated," the robot's voice began to become intermittent, clearly indicating that it had been severely damaged.

"Finish him off!" Rowan seized the opportunity and launched a precise strike on the exposed control core.

This attack completely destroyed the robot's core system. The tall mechanical body immediately stopped all movement, then crashed to the ground, never to react again.

"Finally solved," Luo Feng breathed a sigh of relief, "but we don't have much time left; the sound of engines outside is getting closer and closer."

"Get on the spaceship quickly!" Rowan rushed towards the spaceship's hatch. "We have to take off before they arrive."

The two rushed into the spaceship, and Rowan immediately began activating its systems. Fortunately, the Black Shark Mercenary Group used a standard military spaceship with a relatively simple interface, and Rowan, with his experience, quickly mastered the basic operations.

"Start the engine, check system status," Rowan quickly operated the console. "Thankfully, all systems are running normally."

"They're here!" Luo Feng saw the situation outside the canyon through the porthole; three small aircraft were rapidly approaching.

"It's too late, prepare for takeoff!" Rowan activated the thrusters, and the spaceship began to slowly ascend.

Just then, an angry roar came from outside: "Damn it! Those two thieves stole our spaceship!"

That was Carl's voice; clearly, they had spotted the ship taking off.

"Fire! Stop them!" Karl gave the order to attack.

Several laser beams shot out from the pursuing aircraft and struck the spaceship that was taking off. Fortunately, the transport ship's armor was quite thick, and although the attacks caused some damage, they did not affect the ship's basic performance.

"The hull is damaged, but it doesn't affect flight," Rowan said, reviewing the damage report. "We must leave the forbidden area of ​​the mist as soon as possible."

"They're still in pursuit," Luo Feng observed the situation behind them, "and they don't seem to intend to give up."

“Then shake them off,” Rowan sneered. “Let them see what real flying skills are like.”

The spaceship began to accelerate, weaving through the complex terrain under Rowan's skillful control. The terrain of the Misty Forbidden Zone was extremely dangerous for ordinary pilots, but for an experienced space adventurer like Rowan, it provided the best cover.

"Damn, how are their flying skills so good?" came the team members' exclamations from the pursuing aircraft.

"No matter who they are, we can't let them escape today!" Karl roared. "Pursue them with all our might! We must recapture the spaceship!"

However, under Rowan's control, the cumbersome transport ship transformed into agile fighter jets, navigating freely between canyons and mountains. In contrast, the pursuers behind appeared much clumsy, nearly crashing into the mountainside several times.

“They’re falling behind,” Luo Feng said excitedly. “We’ll be able to shake them off soon.”

"We can't let our guard down yet," Rowan cautioned. "We must remain vigilant until we are completely out of the Misty Forbidden Zone."

After a half-hour chase, the spaceship finally broke through the boundary of the Misty Forbidden Zone. The thick mist gradually dissipated, and the clear starry sky reappeared before their eyes.

"Finally out," Luo Feng breathed a long sigh of relief. "This adventure was truly thrilling."

“Yes, although we didn’t get the treasure we expected, at least we made it out alive,” Rowan said, feeling fortunate. “And we even unexpectedly got a pretty good spaceship.”

Looking back, Karl and his crew's aircraft had already stopped at the edge of the Misty Forbidden Zone, clearly no longer daring to pursue. In the vast universe, their small aircraft were no match for a large transport ship.

"Where do we go now?" Luo Feng asked.

“Let’s find a safe place to dock first, then formulate our next plan,” Rowan pondered. “Although we didn’t achieve our expected goal this time, we’ve gained valuable experience. Next time we encounter a similar situation, we’ll know how to handle it.”

"What about the legacy of ancient civilizations?" Luo Feng was still somewhat unwilling. "Silas said we'll have a chance to go back in the future."

“Indeed, if we have the chance, we must go back and complete those trials,” Rowan nodded in agreement. “The knowledge of ancient civilizations is indeed very helpful for our cultivation. But right now, the most important thing is to ensure our safety; we can deal with the rest later.”

The spaceship cruised smoothly through space, and the sense of security of being far from the forbidden fog zone made both of them relax considerably. After confirming their location by looking at the star map, Luo Wen set the automatic navigation mode, then turned to look at Luo Feng, who was organizing his equipment.

"This adventure has come to an end," Rowan said, leaning back in his cockpit seat, a hint of weariness in his voice, "although the outcome wasn't quite what we expected."

“Indeed, who could have imagined encountering so many unexpected events?” Luo Feng put down the equipment he was holding, walked to the porthole, and gazed at the starry sky. “However, it wasn’t entirely without gains. At least we witnessed the ruins of an ancient civilization and acquired a decent spaceship.”

"Speaking of which, this spaceship's performance is indeed quite good," Rowan patted the control panel. "Although the Black Shark Mercenary Group isn't exactly known for its character, they're quite willing to invest in equipment. This transport ship's navigation system and protective armor are all military-standard; you can't buy them on the market."

"So what do you plan to do with this spaceship?" Luo Feng asked curiously. "After all, it's our 'spoils of war.'"

“Let’s keep it for now; we might need it later,” Rowan thought for a moment. “Besides, trading this spaceship could cause unnecessary trouble. The Black Shark Mercenary Group still has considerable influence in the universe; their ships definitely have special markings.”

“That makes sense,” Luo Feng nodded in agreement. “So, where do we go next?”

This question made Rowan ponder deeply. This adventure had given him a clearer understanding of his own thoughts. While exploration and treasure hunting were thrilling, he also realized he couldn't continue wandering like this forever. "I'm thinking, maybe it's time to end this vacation," Rowan said slowly. "This adventurous life has certainly been exciting, but I am ultimately a core member of the Virtual Universe Corporation and can't keep wandering around."

"You're going back to work at Virtual Universe Company?" Luo Feng was somewhat surprised. "I thought you'd continue this carefree life."

“It’s certainly tempting, but one must always have a sense of responsibility,” Rowan smiled. “Besides, Virtual Universe Corporation has given me a lot of resources and opportunities; I can’t keep enjoying the benefits without fulfilling my obligations. Furthermore, there are many interesting research projects at the company, which might not be worse than an adventurous life.”

“That’s true,” Luo Feng said, recalling the formidable power of Virtual Universe Company. “In an organization of that level, the things they encounter are definitely far more advanced than our small-scale adventures.”

“Most importantly, I feel my current strength is still insufficient,” Rowan frankly stated. “This experience in the Forbidden Mist Domain made me realize that there is still so much I don’t understand about the universe. If I want to explore the mysteries of the universe at a higher level, I must first improve my own strength.”

“That’s true,” Luo Feng agreed wholeheartedly. “While our current strength may seem formidable to most, it’s still insufficient against truly powerful individuals. Silas from that ancient civilization—just a simple projection of him put immense pressure on us.”

"So I decided to return to the Virtual Universe Company to properly study those profound cultivation methods," Rowan said. "The company has many precious scriptures and mentors; these resources cannot be obtained outside."

"When do you plan to go back?" Luo Feng asked.

“We’ll go back once we find a suitable transit point and settle things with this spaceship,” Rowan replied. “It should take a few more days.”

At this point, Luo Wen suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Luo Feng: "By the way, what are your plans? Want to come with me to the Virtual Universe Company? With your talent, if you're willing to join, the company will definitely offer excellent conditions."

Upon hearing the suggestion, Luo Feng's face showed a thoughtful expression. He was certainly aware of the reputation of Virtual Universe Company; it was one of the top forces in the universe, and joining it would be a great honor for any martial artist.

“Virtual Universe Company is indeed very tempting,” Luo Feng said slowly, “but now I have another idea.”

"What are your thoughts?" Rowan asked curiously.

"I want to go back to Earth," Luo Feng said, a hint of longing in his voice. "I've been away from my hometown for so long; I just want to go back and see it."

"Back to Earth?" A similar sense of nostalgia flashed in Rowan's eyes. "I haven't been back in a long time either. Since joining the Virtual Universe Company, I've spent most of my time at the company headquarters or on missions on various planets. It's been a long time since I've been home."

"You miss home too?" Luo Feng noticed the change in Luo Wen's expression.

“Of course I want to,” Rowan frankly admitted. “Although I’ve witnessed many wonders in the universe, Earth will always be our root. That familiar blue sky and white clouds, that unique cultural atmosphere, and…”

“And then there’s the food of Earth,” Luo Feng continued, a knowing smile spreading across his face. “I still remember the aroma of Peking duck, the spiciness of Sichuan hot pot, and the exquisite taste of Cantonese dim sum.”

"Haha, now that you mention it, I miss it even more," Rowan laughed. "I remember when I was little, my favorite things were my mom's dumplings and the New Year's rice cakes. After eating nutrient solutions and synthetic foods in space for so long, I always feel like something's missing—the taste of home."

“Yes, and the atmosphere of traditional festivals,” Luo Feng added. “The mooncakes of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the zongzi of the Dragon Boat Festival—each one carries a profound cultural heritage. On other planets, although there are various festivals, it always feels like something is missing—that familiar warmth from childhood.”

"It's not just the food and festivals, but also those familiar places," Rowan's eyes gleamed with reminiscence, "the waves of the Yangtze River, the sea of ​​clouds at Huangshan, the landscape of Guilin—every scene has its unique charm. Although there are countless beautiful planets in the universe, Earth's beauty will always be the most special."

"Speaking of which, I really want to go back and see," Luo Feng said, his voice filled with longing for his hometown. "I want to see if anything has changed, I want to taste those familiar flavors, and I want to chat with my old friends."

"Then why don't you consider postponing your return to the Virtual Universe Company?" Luo Feng suddenly suggested. "Let's go back to Earth together; the company isn't in a rush anyway."

Upon hearing this suggestion, Rowan did waver somewhat. It would be a lie to say he didn't want to return to Earth, but he had his own considerations.

“I would love to go back with you,” Rowan said after a moment’s thought, “but I really need to get back to the company as soon as possible. This long vacation has already made me miss a lot of important projects, and delaying any longer might affect my work schedule.”

“That’s true,” Luo Feng nodded understandingly. “The work at Virtual Universe Company certainly can’t be neglected.”

“But what you said has reminded me,” Rowan said, a glimmer of hope in his eyes, “that I might be able to apply for a short leave to visit my family, and after I’ve dealt with the urgent matters at hand, I can go back to Earth for a while.”

"That would be wonderful," Luo Feng said happily. "Then we could travel all over the world together and taste all the delicious food from different places."

“I’m really looking forward to it,” Rowan chuckled. “But before that, you should go back first. You can scout things out for me and see what the situation is like on Earth right now.”

“No problem,” Luo Feng readily agreed. “I can find out what’s going on when I get back, and then I can be your guide when you return.”

“Then it’s settled,” Rowan said, extending his hand. “Once I’ve finished dealing with company matters, I’ll contact you to return to Earth together.”

“It’s a deal,” Luo Feng said, shaking Luo Wen’s hand. “I promise you’ll taste the most authentic flavors of your hometown.”

Just as the two were chatting, the spaceship's navigation system beeped, indicating that there was a large transit station ahead. This was a commercial site located in the asteroid belt, where merchants and travelers of various races would stop to resupply.

“Perfect,” Rowan said, looking at the information on the screen. “We can part ways there. You can transfer to a flight to Earth from there, and I can find a way back to Virtual Universe Corporation.”

“That transit station looks quite large,” Luo Feng observed the gradually clearing complex of buildings. “We should be able to find everything we need there.”

The spaceship began to decelerate, preparing to enter the transit station's docking area. Through the porthole, one could see this enormous complex built on the asteroid, with spaceships of various shapes moving back and forth, indicating the area's bustling activity.

(End of this chapter)