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

Chapter 445: Quite a harvest!

“Not bad,” Rowan nodded approvingly, “You’ve improved a lot since you left.”

"It's all thanks to the cultivation resources and guidance you provided, Third Brother," Luo Feng said modestly.

“Resources are just an aid; the key is your own effort,” Hong said. “I see you have a very solid foundation, and your future achievements will be considerable.”

Hearing his three older brothers' praise filled Luo Feng with motivation. He secretly vowed to work even harder and catch up with his three brothers as soon as possible.

They continued onward, passing through dense forests and climbing over several small hills. The scenery gradually became more spectacular, with majestic mountain peaks beginning to appear in the distance.

"Look, that's the Kunlun Mountains," Rowan pointed into the distance, "the roof of the world, the dragon vein of China."

The Kunlun Mountains stretch across the sky like a giant dragon. Their towering peaks pierce the clouds, their summits perpetually covered in snow, radiating a sacred light.

"It's magnificent!" Luo Feng exclaimed, gazing in awe at the sight before him. "This is the power of nature."

“Yes,” Thor remarked, “even though we are very powerful now, we are still insignificant in the face of nature.”

“That’s one of the reasons we’re here,” Rowan said. “When we’re conquering the universe, we only experience human-made forces. But true power lies in respecting nature and drawing wisdom from it.”

After traveling for another two days, they finally arrived at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains. Up close, the peaks appeared even more majestic. The air had thinned, and the temperature had dropped noticeably.

“Shennong Peak is over there,” Hong pointed northwest. “According to the data, that mountain is over 8,000 meters above sea level, and its slope is almost vertical. It is considered one of the most difficult mountains to climb on Earth.”

“Perfect,” Thor said, rubbing his hands together. “It’s only fun when it’s challenging.”

“We’ll rest here for the night before we start climbing,” Rowan said. “We’ll set off early tomorrow morning.”

They found a natural cave at the foot of the mountain to use as a temporary campsite. Hong used the power of the law to start a campfire inside the cave, and the four of them sat around the fire, roasting the food they had brought.

"Third Brother, why did you choose Shennong Peak?" Luo Feng asked curiously.

“Because of legend,” Rowan said, looking at the flickering flames, “it is said that in ancient times, Shennong, the legendary emperor, gathered herbs on this mountain and comprehended the principles of creation. Although this is just a legend, I believe this mountain must have something special about it.”

"Something special about this place?" Hong asked thoughtfully. "You mean, there might be some kind of special energy field here?"

“Very likely,” Rowan nodded. “Although Earth is just an ordinary life-bearing planet, it also has its unique features. Some ancient locations often contain special energies.”

“Then we’ll explore this thoroughly tomorrow,” Thor said excitedly. “We might just stumble upon something amazing.”

"Don't have too high expectations," Hong cautioned. "The main thing is to relax and, incidentally, temper your will."

As night deepened, the four of them entered a meditative state. In this secluded place, far from the hustle and bustle of the world, the spiritual energy seemed exceptionally abundant, making cultivation particularly comfortable.

The next morning, the four were awakened by the clear chirping of birds. Pushing open the cave door, they were greeted by a golden sunrise. The sunlight bathed the snow-capped mountains, turning the peaks golden, a breathtaking sight.

"It's so beautiful," Luo Feng couldn't help but exclaim.

“Let’s go, let’s begin our mountain climbing journey,” Rowan said, slinging his simple backpack over his shoulder and heading towards the summit.

The vertical distance from the foot of the mountain to the summit of Shennong Peak exceeds eight thousand meters. For an ordinary person, even with professional equipment, it would take several days or even weeks to reach the top. But for the four martial artists, this height was nothing.

“We won’t use any laws or external forces,” Rowan proposed the rule, “we’ll just climb in the most primal way and experience the joy of climbing itself.”

“No problem,” the other three agreed.

They began their climb. The first few thousand meters were relatively easy; although the mountain was steep, there were still places to hold onto. As they ascended, the air became thinner and the temperature dropped.

Upon reaching an altitude of 5,000 meters, Luo Feng began to feel some strain. Although he was a planetary-level martial artist, this pure physical exertion still left him feeling exhausted.

"Hang in there," Rowan encouraged from ahead. "Climbing is not only a test of physical strength, but also a test of willpower."

"I can hold on," Luo Feng gritted his teeth and continued climbing.

At an altitude of 6,000 meters, they entered the clouds. Everything around them was a vast expanse of white, with extremely low visibility. A biting wind howled, and the temperature had dropped to minus thirty degrees Celsius.

“The environment here is indeed harsh,” Thor said, “but it’s alright for us, just the visibility isn’t very good.”

“Use your senses,” Hong reminded him, “close your eyes and feel the texture of the mountain, feel the direction of the wind.”

Following Hong's instructions, the four closed their eyes and relied entirely on their senses to move forward. This was a completely new experience, making them more acutely aware of their surroundings.

At an altitude of 7,000 meters, the mountain becomes almost vertical. Ordinary rock climbing skills are no longer sufficient; precise control of every point of contact and every exertion of force is required.

“That’s getting interesting,” Thor said excitedly. “It wouldn’t be fun if it were too easy.”

Luo Feng encountered a real challenge at this height. He nearly slipped and fell several times, but fortunately, his three older brothers came to his rescue in time.

“Luo Feng, you need to learn to regulate your breathing,” Luo Wen instructed. “At this altitude, oxygen is scarce, so you must make the most of every breath.”

“Also, don’t just rely on brute force; learn to leverage other forces,” Hong added. “Look at this rock; although it looks unstable, if you can find the right points of leverage, it can become the best support.”

Under the guidance of his three older brothers, Luo Feng gradually mastered the skills of high-altitude climbing. His movements became smoother and less strenuous.

Finally, after a full six hours of climbing, the four of them reached an altitude of 7,500 meters. There was a relatively flat platform there where they could rest.

“Take a break,” Rowan said. “The last 500 meters are going to be the hardest part.”

The four sat on the platform, looking down from this height at the rolling sea of ​​clouds, a breathtaking sight. The distant mountain peaks, like islands in the sea, appeared and disappeared in the mist.

"Looking at the world from this perspective feels completely different," Luo Feng remarked.

“Yes, altitude changes perspective, and perspective changes mindset,” Rowan said. “That’s why many cultivators like to practice on high mountains. The higher you stand, the farther you see, and the more open your mind becomes.”

"Moreover, in such an extreme environment," Hong added, "human potential is unleashed. Bottlenecks that might be encountered during normal training are actually easier to overcome here."

After resting for half an hour, the four began their final sprint. The 500 meters between 7,500 and 8,000 meters was the most treacherous part of the entire mountain. The slope was almost vertical, and in some places even at a negative angle, requiring them to climb upside down like spiders. "Be careful," Rowan warned, "Some parts of the rocks here are covered in ice and snow, and they're very slippery."

The four climbed cautiously. Every step required extreme concentration; any mistake could lead to a fall. Although with their abilities, a fall wouldn't be life-threatening, it would defeat the purpose of the climb.

Luo Feng nearly failed several times, his fingers already red from being rubbed against the cold rocks. But he gritted his teeth and didn't give up. This feeling of challenging his own limits gave him an unprecedented sense of fulfillment.

Just a hundred meters from the summit, an accident occurred. A seemingly stable rock suddenly loosened, and Luo Feng lost his footing, his body beginning to fall.

"Luo Feng!" Luo Wen reacted quickly and grabbed his younger brother's arm.

But this movement also caused Rowan to lose his balance, and the two of them slid downwards simultaneously. At the critical moment, Hong and Thor acted at the same time, each grabbing one of them, thus preventing them from falling.

"That was close," Luo Feng said, still shaken.

"It's good that you're alright," Rowan checked on his younger brother. "Can we continue?"

"Yes!" Luo Feng's eyes gleamed with determination. "We've come this far, how can we give up?"

“Very good,” Rowan patted his younger brother on the shoulder, “Remember this feeling: never give up in times of crisis. This is the most important quality for becoming strong.”

The four resumed their climb. This time they were much more careful, each movement carefully considered. Finally, after another hour, Rowan was the first to reach the summit.

"We've arrived!" Rowan stood on the summit, arms outstretched, enjoying the sense of accomplishment.

Following closely behind, Hong, Lei Shen, and Luo Feng also reached the summit. The four stood atop Shennong Peak, overlooking the world below.

"It's spectacular!" Luo Feng exclaimed, looking around in awe at the scene.

From this vantage point, the entire Kunlun Mountains unfold before your eyes. Countless peaks rise and fall like waves, a sea of ​​clouds flows among the mountains, and the distant horizon curves, showcasing the Earth's curvature. The sky is a deep blue, and the sun's rays are exceptionally bright.

“This is our home,” Rowan said softly. “Though it is tiny in the universe, it is the most precious thing to us.”

“Yes,” Hong also remarked with emotion, “no matter how far we go, this will always be our roots.”

Just then, Rowan suddenly sensed something. At the center of the summit, there was a peculiar rock emanating a faint but unique energy fluctuation.

"Did you feel it?" Rowan asked.

“I can sense it,” Hong nodded. “This rock is somewhat unusual.”

The four approached the rock. Upon closer inspection, they discovered that the rock's texture was very peculiar, as if it contained some kind of natural magic array.

"The legends were indeed true," Rowan said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "There really is special energy here."

“Moreover, this energy is very pure,” Hong sensed, “not a man-made magic array, but a naturally formed energy convergence point.”

"A natural magic circle?" Thor exclaimed in surprise. "There are places like this on Earth?"

"The wonders of nature are endless," Rowan said. "If we sit down and cultivate here for a while, we might gain some unexpected benefits."

The four sat down around the peculiar rock and entered a meditative state. Sure enough, with the blessing of this natural magic array, their understanding of the laws became much clearer.

Rowan felt the wind flowing; at this altitude, the wind was so pure, without a trace of impurity. He seemed to hear the wind telling its story, from the ocean to the land, from the plains to the mountains, the wind had witnessed the changes of the earth.

Hong was immersed in the insights gained from the Law of Metal. The hardness of rocks and the stability of mountains were both manifestations of the Law of Metal. He felt as if he had transformed into a mountain, standing firm and bearing all things.

Thor, meanwhile, was contemplating the essence of lightning. At this altitude, closest to the clouds, he was most vulnerable to lightning strikes. He could clearly sense the free-floating electrical charges in the air and the approaching thunderstorm.

Although Luo Feng had not yet begun to comprehend the laws, he felt his realm slowly improving in this special energy environment, and those martial arts theories that he could not understand in normal times suddenly became clear.

Time slipped away quietly during the cultivation. After an unknown amount of time, the sky suddenly darkened, and a thunderstorm was imminent.

“A storm is coming,” Hong said, opening his eyes.

“Perfect!” Thor stood up excitedly. “I want to train in a thunderstorm; I’m sure I’ll gain some unique insights.”

“Then be careful,” Rowan warned. “Although you have mastered the laws of lightning, the power of heavenly lightning should not be underestimated.”

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Thor said, walking to the edge of the peak and opening his arms to welcome the approaching thunderstorm.

Dark clouds loomed overhead, and a fierce wind howled. The first bolt of lightning ripped through the sky, striking Thor directly. An ordinary person would surely be charred black, but Thor remained unmoved, instead displaying an expression of enjoyment.

"Haha, awesome!" Thor laughed. "This is real lightning!"

Bolt after bolt of lightning struck, and Thor stood there, letting the lightning cleanse his body. In the process, his understanding of the laws of lightning deepened.

"This guy is a madman," Luo Feng said, shaking his head and smiling bitterly as he watched the scene.

“However, it is indeed a very good method of cultivation,” Hong said. “Comprehending the laws amidst natural lightning is far more realistic than simulating them in a training room.”

The thunderstorm lasted for half an hour before it ended. When Thor returned, his hair was standing on end, but his eyes gleamed with excitement.

"That's fantastic!" Thor exclaimed excitedly. "I feel like my control over the laws of lightning has reached a whole new level!"

"Judging from how happy you are, you must have had quite a haul," Rowan said with a smile.

“It’s not just small, it’s huge!” Thor said. “I even think that if a few more thunderstorms like this come, I might be able to break through my current bottleneck.”

“Then let’s stay a few more days,” Hong suggested. “We have plenty of time anyway, so why not cultivate here for a while?”

“Good idea,” Rowan agreed. “This is indeed a good place, far from the hustle and bustle, allowing us to truly calm our minds and cultivate.”

(End of this chapter)