Swallowing the Stars: Level 1, One Talent, Invincible Chaos Origin

Chapter 192, The Earth Quartet Reunites
"A lot is missing."

Jiang Ming muttered to himself, his fingers unconsciously tracing the outline of the missing star field.

The star map provided by the Terrans meticulously marks known Zerg strongholds, resource points, danger zones, and approximate troop distributions. For most warriors on the outer battlefields, it is precise enough and can even be considered a strategic treasure.

However, compared to the star map of the Lord of Bilong and the star map of the Zerg commanders that originated from the perspective of the Zerg high command, the star map of the Terrans seemed to be covered by a thick veil.

What's missing isn't just a few hidden Zerg nests or resource points.

"It's not that the human intelligence department is incompetent, but rather that my authority is insufficient!"

Jiang Ming knew very well that such confidential information could not be given out casually.

His access to the Virtual Universe Company might allow him to access many core secrets, but in the realm of extraterritorial battlefields, especially the newly opened Zerg battlefields involving the highest strategic objectives, many of the most advanced and in-depth intelligence reports would inevitably have extremely high barriers to entry.

This threshold is very likely directly linked to 'military merits' and 'battlefield authority'!
Military merit not only represents a contribution to the community, but also symbolizes seniority and trust.

Only with sufficient military merit can one unlock the corresponding battlefield intelligence permissions and access the deepest secrets of the tribe in this war.

"It seems that in order to see the full picture of this Zerg battlefield and to see the hidden 'unknowns,' I must obtain higher authority."

In Jiang Ming's vision, if the two star charts were matched together, he could gain insight into all the Zerg's plans, as well as all the arrangements made by the human and Zerg races on the extraterrestrial battlefield.

This will undoubtedly make his actions more convenient.

"Speaking of which, I estimate I'll receive notification from the 'Hongmeng' soon after I kill the King."

Jiang Ming thought to himself.

The 'Hongmeng' is a loose alliance established by humans using their own racial influence to gather a large number of other races.

Although the 'Hongmeng' is a relatively loose alliance, its entry threshold is extremely high due to the influence of the human race's top race.

The officially recruited members must be the true powerhouses of their respective groups.

The title of King and Immortal is the entry threshold for the 'Hong Alliance'.

Just as Jiang Ming was pondering this, an email was sent to his inbox.

"It's an email from Hong. It's probably related to his being taken in as a disciple by the strongest axe master and the secrets of Earth."

Jiang Ming pulled up the email and read it in a moment.

Virtual universe, Jiuxing Bay, Heilongshan Island.

In a quiet courtyard.

Luo Feng, Hong, and the white-robed, bald-headed Thor gathered together.

The next moment, Jiang Ming's iconic golden-red armored figure stepped into the courtyard.

"It's been a long time since we've gathered like this. The last time we had a gathering like this was when Luo Feng took office as the Special Envoy of the Qianwu Universe Kingdom."

Upon seeing Jiang Ming arrive, Hong smiled and said.

"Yes, it has been a long time indeed."

Thor also sighed, even though there was a virtual universe, he could contact them anytime he wanted.

But if there's nothing important, no one would bother to gather everyone together.

"Is something wrong this time? Brother Jiang is here too, you should tell me now."

Luo Feng was also curious; Hong's sudden gathering of everyone couldn't have been just a casual chat.

"There's something wrong."

Hong said with a sigh.

"Back then, I participated in the elite training camp and was eventually recruited into the core layer of the Giant Axe Arena. At the same time, I went to Chaos City to cultivate and comprehend."

"After leaving Chaos City, I also followed the established training program at the Giant Axe Arena."

"Just yesterday, on a whim, I decided to venture into the Illusionary Sea. And that venture has caused quite a stir."

Upon hearing this, both Luo Feng and Lei Shen held their breath.

The four of them from Earth all knew that Hong had an extraordinary state of mind, or rather, none of the four present had a bad state of mind.

"I'll venture out to each island one by one."

Hong sighed.

"This Illusionary Sea is indeed powerful. The further you go, the more difficult it becomes, and the pressure of consciousness is terrifying!"
Even I was pushed to the limit, and it was incredibly difficult and dangerous to reach the 21st island, but unfortunately, I failed there.

Luo Feng was stunned. "Big brother, you actually failed?"

Thor asked, puzzled.

"Second brother, what do you know?"

Luo Feng gave a low shout, then looked at Hong in disbelief.

"You've made it to the 21st island? Just one last step and you'll be all set?"

"Ah."

Hong nodded.

"How could that be? Absolutely impossible."

Luo Feng shook his head repeatedly.

"That pressure of consciousness is getting more and more terrifying. The tenth island was already the pressure of an immortal god, and the twenty-first island was even more like the pressure of a cosmic venerable. Brother, you are only at the cosmic level, how can you withstand the pressure of the twentieth island?"

Hong smiled.

"Third brother, I have a question for you."

Hong countered with a question.

"When you were at the cosmic level, which island did you venture to when you entered the Illusionary Sea?"

"Failed to reach the tenth island."

Luo Feng said.

"Even peak Realm Lords might not be able to pass through the ninth island, but you, a Universe-level expert, passed it. Why?"

Hong pressed for an answer.

"Leaving aside the illusions that followed, how did you withstand that pressure on your consciousness?"

Luo Feng replied.

"Will is the general, and consciousness is the soldier. Will commands consciousness. My heart is like a knife, so naturally my will and consciousness are solidified like a rock, able to withstand the pressure of consciousness."

Hong smiled.

"Faced with overwhelming mental pressure, you also know how to solidify your consciousness like a rock. This belongs to the first level of the three realms of cultivating the mind."

But why did you fail to resist the pressure from the tenth island? Because you were too extreme, too rigid; the too rigid are easily broken!

"If you can cultivate your mind to the level of Thor, reaching the point where yin gives rise to yang and yang gives rise to yin, then it will be different."

The so-called harmony of Yin and Yang gives rise to the Dao. Faced with overwhelming pressure, the balance of Yin and Yang, the combination of strength and gentleness—resisting when necessary and yielding when appropriate—will naturally increase your ability to resist pressure significantly.

"Of course, once you reach the second level of 'harmony between man and nature, childlike heart, and perfect state of mind,' you'll probably be able to reach the fourteenth or fifteenth island. The pressure will only get more terrifying as you go further."

"The third level is 'an infinitely large heart that can encompass everything.' No matter how strong the pressure is, I can contain it. Since my heart is infinite, it is impossible for me to be oppressed and collapse."

Hong smiled and shook his head.

"Unfortunately, I have only just entered the third level and have not yet truly perfected it. That is why I failed on the twenty-first island."

Jiang Ming had remained silent since entering the courtyard, but upon hearing Hong's explanation of his state of mind, he suddenly spoke up.

"No, cultivating the mind is far more complex than that."

Although Jiang Ming hadn't spoken, who could ignore his presence?
Therefore, as soon as Jiang Ming spoke, everyone's attention was drawn to him.

Seeing everyone looking at him, Jiang Ming didn't speak directly.

Instead, it was the will of the whole body spreading out!

Although it was just a simulation of a virtual universe, Jiang Ming's will seemed to be able to trigger some kind of rule in the dark.

Luo Feng, Hong, and Lei Shen instantly felt that everything around them had changed.

They felt as if they were no longer in a familiar courtyard, but had been thrown into an endless starry sky.

Above and below, in all directions, was a vast and boundless sea of ​​starlight, dazzling yet heavy as an abyss. Boundless pressure pressed down from all sides, as if to crush their will and their souls into dust.

This pressure is not real, yet it penetrates to the very essence of the soul!
Luo Feng felt as if his heart was being stabbed and was wailing!
Thor felt his 'yin and yang harmony' crumbling!

This pressure pushed Hong's boundless sense of tolerance to its limit, as if the universe, though vast, has boundaries, and this pressure was about to break through his infinity!
(End of this chapter)