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

Chapter 446 No one can stand against him!
So the four decided to camp on the summit of Shennong Peak for a while. They found a sheltered spot on the summit and used the power of the laws to carve out a temporary cave as their dwelling.

In the days that followed, the four of them cultivated individually during the day and sat together in the evenings to exchange their insights. In this place far removed from the world, their minds became exceptionally peaceful, and their understanding of martial arts deepened continuously.

Luo Feng reaped the greatest rewards. Under the guidance of his three older brothers and with the support of a special energy field, he broke through a minor realm in just a few days, advancing from the fifth to the sixth level of the planetary stage.

"Congratulations, Luo Feng," Luo Wen said sincerely.

"It's all thanks to my three older brothers," Luo Feng said modestly. "If you hadn't brought me here, I wouldn't have been able to break through so quickly."

“This is all your own effort,” Hong said. “We only offered some assistance.”

A week later, the four decided to descend the mountain. Although they had gained a lot from their cultivation at the summit, they also knew that cultivation could not be achieved solely through seclusion; it also required real combat experience and training.

The descent was much easier than the ascent, and it only took three hours to get back to the foot of the mountain.

"This trip to Shennong Peak was very rewarding," Luo Wen summarized. "Not only did it improve my strength, but more importantly, it elevated my state of mind."

“Yes,” Thor agreed, “cultivating in that pure natural environment feels like a complete purification.”

“Furthermore, we’ve discovered the existence of natural magic arrays,” Hong said. “It seems there are still many secrets on Earth waiting for us to uncover.”

“Then let’s explore other places next time,” Luo Feng said excitedly. “The Earth is so big, there must be many other similar special locations.”

“Yes,” Rowan said with a smile. “We still have six months of vacation left, enough time to explore the Earth properly.”

After descending from Shennong Peak, the four hiked for a full day, finally arriving at the nearest town—Yuncheng—at dusk. It was a medium-sized base city, not as prosperous as the base cities in China, but still considered one of the most important strongholds near the Kunlun Mountains.

"Finally back to civilized world," Thor stretched. "While training in the mountains was great, it's still more comfortable in the city."

“That’s right,” Luo Feng agreed. “Right now, I really want to take a hot shower and then have a good meal.”

"Let's go eat hot pot then," Rowan suggested. "I've been eating dry rations for a week on the mountain, and I'm missing normal meals."

"Hot pot? Great idea!" Thor's eyes lit up. "I know a really famous hot pot restaurant in Yuncheng called 'Shuxiangyuan.' We ate there once when we passed by before, and it was absolutely delicious."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go," Hong said with a smile. "It's my treat today."

When the four arrived at Shuxiangyuan Restaurant, it was the peak dinner time, and the restaurant was packed. However, when the owner recognized Luo Wen and his companions, he immediately greeted them warmly.

"Oh my, isn't this Master Luo Wen?" The shop owner, a middle-aged man in his fifties, beamed. "And Master Hong and Master Lei Shen! What an honor!"

"The boss still remembers us?" Thor asked, somewhat surprised.

"Of course I remember!" the owner exclaimed excitedly. "You are heroes of our Earth! Everyone here knows about your deeds in purifying the Lord of Darkness. Please, please come in, I'll arrange the best private room for you!"

Under the warm hospitality of the owner, the four were seated in a luxurious private room on the second floor. The room was decorated in a unique style, with murals of the Kunlun Mountains hanging on the walls, and snow-capped mountains visible in the distance through the windows.

“This environment is nice,” Hong nodded with satisfaction.

Soon, the waiter brought out the hot pot broth and various ingredients. The spicy broth was bubbling with red oil, the mushroom broth was clear, and the table was piled high with beef, lamb, seafood, and vegetables.

"Let's eat!" Thor eagerly threw a large handful of fatty beef into the pot.

The aroma of steaming hot pot filled the private room, and all four men wore satisfied expressions. Having spent years traveling and eating delicacies from countless planets, what they missed most was the simplest hot pot on Earth.

“Food on Earth is still the best,” Rowan said, picking up a slice of cooked beef and dipping it in a sesame oil sauce. “The fancy dishes we eat in space, while highly nutritious, always feel like something’s missing.”

“It’s missing something that feels like home,” Hong said with a smile. “The deliciousness of food lies not only in the food itself, but also in the mood and environment in which you eat it.”

“That’s right,” Thor nodded as he ate. “Even the most exquisite cosmic cuisine couldn’t compare to the joy of having hot pot with my brothers on Earth.”

Luo Feng also enjoyed the meal. Although he had never been to space, he felt proud to see his three older brothers enjoying Earth food so much.

"Oh, right," Luo Feng suddenly remembered something, "Third Brother, what do you eat in space?"

“Well,” Rowan thought for a moment, “the Virtual Universe Corporation’s cafeteria is quite well-stocked, offering dishes from various civilizations. For example, the Kree’s energy crystal dishes, although they look like stones, do provide a quick energy boost.”

“And then there’s the photosynthetic meal from Planet Melo,” Hong added. “It’s a food developed by a purely plant-based civilization, and it’s said to make people feel good.”

"They all sound very strange," Luo Feng asked curiously. "How does it taste?"

“Well,” Thor scratched his head, “they each have their own unique characteristics. But to be honest, after getting used to Earth food, eating alien cuisine just feels a bit strange.”

“That’s the difference between cultures,” Hong said. “Every civilization has its own food culture; what we find strange might be considered a delicacy there.”

“But then again,” Rowan chuckled, “what I miss most is my mother’s home-cooked meals. Dishes like Kung Pao Chicken, braised pork belly, and scrambled eggs with tomatoes—simple, but truly delicious.”

“Haha, me too,” Thor agreed. “My mom’s sweet and sour pork ribs are absolutely amazing. No matter how fancy the cuisine is in the universe, it can’t compare to my mom’s.”

The four of them ate and chatted, enjoying a pleasant atmosphere. The private room was filled with laughter and lively conversation. Outside the window, the night deepened, the city lights began to illuminate, and the distant snow-capped mountains shimmered silver in the moonlight.

Just then, the TV in the private room turned on automatically. This was the restaurant's smart system, which automatically played the news on the hour.

"We now have an urgent news briefing," came the anchor's serious voice from the television.

All four of them instinctively looked up at the screen. The anchor was a middle-aged woman with an unusually solemn expression, an expression rarely seen in peacetime.

"According to the latest news released by the Earth Federation government," the anchor continued, "our astronomical monitoring system has detected a disturbing situation."

A video of space monitoring appeared on the screen. Against the dark backdrop of space, dozens of points of light could be seen moving towards the solar system. "After repeated verification, these points of light are a fleet from an extraterrestrial civilization," the anchor's voice became more serious. "According to analysis, this civilization's technological level is slightly higher than ours, roughly equivalent to a Type II civilization in the universe."

Rowan's hand froze in mid-air, and the slice of meat on his chopsticks fell back into the pot.

"Their target is Earth," the anchor continued. "Based on their trajectory, this fleet will arrive in the solar system in three months. Currently, the Earth Federation government has activated its highest-level emergency response plan."

The screen switched to a press conference scene. A general in military uniform stood on the podium, his expression stern.

"Fellow citizens, this is General Justin, Commander-in-Chief of the Earth Federation Forces," the general's voice was steady and powerful, "I have an important announcement to make. Our astronomical department has detected an alien fleet heading towards Earth."

The reporters at the press conference began to stir, and their flashbulbs went off incessantly.

“Please remain quiet,” General Justin gestured. “I know you are all worried, but please trust that we have the capacity to handle this crisis.”

"According to intelligence analysis, this fleet comes from a planet called the 'Kara Civilization'," the general said, tapping on the screen behind him to display detailed information. "The Kara Civilization is located in the Kara Galaxy, 37 light-years away from us, and is a Type II civilization. Their technology is more advanced than ours, but the gap is not insurmountable."

"General, why are they coming to Earth?" a reporter asked loudly.

“Based on our analysis of the intercepted communications,” General Justin said, “the Kara civilization is undertaking interstellar expansion, searching for suitable planets for colonization. Their probes discovered Earth several years ago and considered it an ideal colony.”

“Colonialism?” another reporter exclaimed. “Wouldn’t that put us in danger?”

“There is indeed some danger,” General Justin stated frankly, “but please do not panic. We are no longer the helpless Earth we once were. Having undergone the Great Rebirth, we now possess a powerful armed force.”

"Furthermore," the general continued, "we have already sent out distress signals to Virtual Universe Corporation, Giant Axe Arena, and other cosmic forces. We believe reinforcements will arrive soon."

The screen switched again, displaying a map of Earth's military deployments. It could be seen that major base cities were under emergency mobilization, and the space defense system was undergoing a comprehensive upgrade.

"I appeal to all citizens of Earth," General Justin solemnly stated, "to remain calm, to trust the government, to trust our military. We will surely defend our home!"

The news broadcast ended, and a brief silence fell over the private room. The hot pot was still bubbling away, but none of the four people felt like eating anymore.

"A Level Two Civilization." Rowan put down his chopsticks, his expression turning serious. "While not powerful, they are indeed a threat to Earth right now."

“Three months,” Hong frowned, “that’s too fast.”

"Damn it," Thor slammed his fist on the table, "we just got back on vacation and this happens."

"Third Brother, is the situation serious?" Luo Feng asked worriedly.

"It is indeed very serious," Rowan said frankly. "The military power of a Type II civilization can easily destroy a planet. Although Earth has developed rapidly after the Great Rebirth, it can only be considered a Type I.5 civilization at best, and there is still a considerable gap in technology."

"Then what should we do?" Luo Feng asked.

"First, we need to understand the specific situation," Hong calmly analyzed. "How many warships does the enemy have, what level of firepower do they possess, and do they have any experts at the World Lord level or above? This information is crucial."

“And it’s crucial to ascertain the other side’s true intentions,” Rowan added. “While it’s called colonization, there are many different methods. Some civilizations coexist peacefully, while others engage in ethnic cleansing.”

“No matter what, we can’t just sit here and wait to die,” Thor stood up. “We must prepare for battle.”

“Don’t rush,” Hong stopped him. “Let’s contact CEO Elena first to find out the Virtual Universe Company’s attitude. After all, Earth is a subsidiary planet of the company; they won’t stand idly by.”

Rowan nodded and immediately activated the communicator, connecting to Elena's private line.

“Rowan?” Elena’s holographic projection appeared quickly, her expression grave. “You already knew?”

"I just saw the news," Rowan said. "What's the situation?"

"Not very optimistic," Elena stated bluntly. "According to our intelligence, the Kara civilization has dispatched a large fleet, consisting of fifty main warships and hundreds of auxiliary vessels. Moreover, their fleet includes three ninth-tier Stellar-level powerhouses."

"Ninth-tier Stellar level?" Rowan frowned. "There's practically no one on Earth who can contend with a powerhouse of this level."

“Yes,” Elena nodded, “the strongest on Earth are me and the Flood Pearl Pavilion Master, but we’re only at the sixth rank of the Stellar level. There’s a clear difference in strength.”

"When will the company's reinforcements arrive?" Hong interjected.

“That’s a problem,” Elena said helplessly. “The company will indeed send reinforcements, but the nearest branch fleet is fifty light-years away from Earth. Even at the fastest speed, it will take four months to get there.”

"Four months?" Thor exclaimed anxiously. "Isn't that too late? The enemy will arrive in three months!"

“So the situation is very passive right now,” Elena said. “We must find a way to stall them, or significantly improve Earth’s defenses within these three months.”

“CEO Elena,” Rowan said earnestly, “our vacation can be terminated. Please feel free to ask if you need anything from us.”

“I knew you’d say that,” Elena smiled with relief, “but not yet. I need you to remain on standby on Earth, ready to join the battle at any time.”

“Understood,” the three replied in unison.

“Furthermore,” Elena continued, “I’ve contacted other cosmic powers. The Giant Axe Arena has indicated they will send a team of strong fighters to provide support. The Cosmic Mercenary Alliance is also coordinating, which should be helpful.”

"That's good," Rowan breathed a sigh of relief. "It seems there's still some hope."

“But we can’t put all our hopes on foreign aid,” Elena said seriously. “Earth must demonstrate its strength and let them know that we are not to be bullied.”

(End of this chapter)