Swallowing the Stars: Heart of the Martial God

Chapter 237 A Sensation in the Universe

In a virtual universe, within a palace, all the powerful beings who roam the cosmic sea gather, facilitating the exchange of information and the exchange of support.

Suddenly, Ling Xuan's eyes flickered slightly, and his voice, calm yet carrying an undeniable certainty, addressed the Giant Axe Founder and the Chaos City Lord beside him: "Teacher, City Lord, the Molten Mountain Demon God is about to collapse. His True God Heart has cracked, and his demise is imminent. We can immediately organize manpower to wait outside his miniature universe. Once it begins to collapse, we'll immediately enter and loot it, taking as much as we can, with a focus on the core treasures."

These words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky. Although everyone present knew that Ling Xuan's Void Blade Master clone was engaged in a fierce battle with the Molten Mountain Demon God in the Molten Core Path, they still felt a tremor in their hearts upon hearing such a definite and seemingly predetermined judgment.

"So fast?" The Lord of Void Gold couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. He looked at Ling Xuan with a questioning look in his eyes, "Ling Xuan, do you... need any help on your end?"

He knew that Ling Xuan's main body and other clones were unfathomably powerful, but the Molten Mountain Demon God was, after all, a veteran of the universe's strongest beings, and was protected by the supreme treasure armor, making him no easy opponent.

Ling Xuan shook his head slightly, even with a relaxed smile on his face: "No need. He's just a dying old tortoise struggling for his life. He can't cause any more trouble. It's just that his last stand has leaked the news, and I'm afraid quite a few old guys are already heading towards the Molten Core Path."

Upon hearing this, the founder of the giant axe raised a thick eyebrow. Instead of being worried, he laughed heartily, his voice shaking the heavens: "Well done! That old bastard, Molten Mountain, has been arrogant for countless epochs because of his tortoise shell. He deserved this calamity long ago! It is his 'honor' to die at your hands, Ling Xuan!"

His gaze toward Ling Xuan was filled with trust and admiration, showing no disbelief at Ling Xuan's swift defeat of a powerful expert possessing an ultimate treasure, as if it were only natural.

The Lord of Chaos nodded calmly and immediately began to make arrangements: "The collapse of a small universe belonging to the strongest being in the universe has resulted in a massive amount of internal resources, especially its core treasures, which are of immeasurable value. Peng Gong, Darkness, you two are currently resting nearby. Immediately head to the outer perimeter of the Molten Mountain small universe as quickly as possible and wait there!"

Peng Gongzhi's face lit up with excitement as he rubbed his hands together: "Don't worry, Chaos, I'm an expert at ransacking houses! I'll definitely plunder the lair of that Melting Clan!"

He could almost see countless precious materials and treasures beckoning to him.

Although the Lord of Darkness remained shrouded in black robes and spoke in a cold tone, a hint of eagerness was also evident: "The Molten Mountain Clan has accumulated over two and a half cycles of reincarnation, so their core treasures must be extraordinary. I will carefully examine them and bring back all the valuable items to the clan."

"Alright!" the founder of the giant axe declared. "Without further ado, you shall set off immediately! Safety is of paramount importance; if the situation turns unfavorable, retreat at once!"

Without further delay, the Lord of Penggong and the Lord of Darkness nodded to the crowd and their consciousnesses instantly withdrew from the virtual universe.

The founder of the giant axe looked at Ling Xuan and said boldly, "Ling Xuan, since the Path of the Molten Core is getting lively, this old fellow will also go and support you, so that some ignorant fools won't think that our human race is easy to bully!"

Ling Xuan smiled and did not refuse the giant axe's offer: "Teacher, you are welcome to come, but I guess by the time you arrive, it will be quiet here."

Watching the two chatting and laughing as if they were attending a regular gathering rather than participating in a chaotic battle that could engulf many of the universe's strongest beings, the Chaos City Lord couldn't help but marvel at Ling Xuan's rapid growth in strength, which had truly made him stand at the pinnacle of the universe.

He calmly said, "I will coordinate things within the tribe, so you can go with peace of mind. Be careful."

Suddenly, the cosmic sea was turbulent with undercurrents.

The two True Lords of the Divine Eye Clan, several Demon Lords of the Skeleton Clan, the strongest beings in the universe from the two Holy Lands, and some solitary strongest beings in the universe who had heard the news, all rushed out from their respective secluded cultivation places or exploration areas like sharks that had smelled blood. They transformed into streaks of brilliant or obscure light, tearing through layers of chaotic air currents, their target being the harsh Molten Core Path!
Everyone who can set off is at least at the level of the strongest being in the universe!

Lord of the universe?

They don't even have the right to get close to the core battlefield; they can only sense things remotely from a safer, more distant area through various means.

Deep within the Path of the Molten Core, a crimson torrent of destruction surges ceaselessly like a wound in the universe.

The Lava Mountain Demon God, whose lava body was tens of thousands of kilometers high, knelt in the void, and the surface of his supreme treasure armor, "Heart of the Molten Core," still shimmered with crimson-gold light.

But within the armor, his life force flickered like a candle in the wind.

"Heh...heh..." The Molten Mountain Demon God gasped for breath, his six crimson eyes filled with fear and disbelief.

He could feel that his true god heart was already riddled with cracks and on the verge of complete shattering under the relentless, bizarre, and domineering attacks.

What made him even more desperate was that the opponent's terrifying attack could actually penetrate the defense of the Supreme Treasure Armor and directly affect his True God Heart!

This exquisite and domineering control over power was completely beyond his comprehension.

Zhou Heng's clone stood silently in front of the Molten Mountain Demon God, his body exuding a Void Realm that made this raging star field "silent".

He held no weapon in his hand, but calmly looked at the dying Lava Mountain Demon God as if he were looking at a struggling ant.

"Lord of the Void Blade! Stop! Spare my life!" The Molten Mountain Demon God could no longer care about the dignity of a powerful being. He begged for mercy in a hoarse voice, his voice filled with unprecedented humility and terror, "I am willing to offer everything I have! My miniature universe, the accumulation of countless eras, all my supreme treasures, I can even swear an primordial oath, just please spare me!"

Ling Xuan looked at him indifferently, his eyes unwavering, like ancient, unyielding ice. Finally, he spoke, his voice clear and calm, yet carrying a judgmental authority: "I will accept everything you have. As for you..."

He paused slightly, his tone devoid of any emotion: "A dead man who dared to attack me has no right to negotiate."

These words were like a final verdict, plunging the Lava Mountain Demon God into utter madness and despair.

……

"Hahaha, you guys are still too focused on immediate gains and losses." Venerable Zhulong laughed loudly, his gaze falling on Luo Feng's figure in the light screen, his eyes full of praise. "This little fellow Luo Feng, don't underestimate him now, he will surely become a great man in the future. He seems to be lagging behind now, but that's only because he hasn't been cultivating for long enough. Moreover, this child is calm and composed, his temperament is far beyond his peers. Under the pressure of the Genius Battle, he can still hone his strength at his own pace. This kind of composure is not something that every genius has—in this respect, he is very similar to Ling Xuan when he was young."

"Ancestor!" Upon hearing this, Ling Feng immediately became anxious, abruptly standing up from his chair, even forgetting to use the honorific "old man." "You're giving him too much credit! You're actually comparing him to my father?"

Although Ling Feng usually speaks without much respect and shows less reverence for Ling Xuan, in his heart, his father, Emperor Yan, always holds the highest position. Having an Emperor Yan who can shake the universe is the proudest thing in his life, and he will never allow anyone to easily compare with him, not even the Ancestor Zhulong.

Seeing this, Venerable Zhulong smiled helplessly and patiently explained, "Why are you in such a hurry, child? Of course I know that a little guy at the Stellar level is far inferior to Ling Xuan. I'm just saying that their current circumstances are similar—when Ling Xuan participated in the Genius Battle, his cultivation time was not much longer than Luo Feng's, yet he was able to directly break through all the Trial Towers and achieve the fame of the Flame Emperor in just over five thousand years, shaking the entire universe. But Luo Feng's potential is also not to be underestimated."

He paused, then continued, "I've been following this kid for a while now, and I specifically retrieved his information from the virtual universe. In this year's Genius Battle, Luo Feng is the youngest, and much younger than everyone else—his total cultivation time is less than a fraction of Death God Berlan's. For others, reaching the Stellar level at this age would be considered quite good, but he not only made it to the fifth Trial Tower, but he's also steadily progressing on each level. Isn't this rate of progress something to look forward to?"

The square fell silent instantly after these words were spoken.

When everyone looked at Luo Feng's figure on the light screen again, their eyes became more solemn—the words of Venerable Zhulong had undoubtedly awakened them: to evaluate a genius, one cannot only look at their current achievements, but also at their underlying growth rate and mental fortitude. Just as they were talking, Luo Feng in the Trial Tower had already stepped into the seventh level of the fifth Trial Tower.

The space blurred for a moment, and Luo Feng entered the seventh floor. The scene before him made him frown.

"The seventh floor is much more troublesome than the sixth floor," Luo Feng muttered to himself. As a mentalist, the fighter has a great advantage when facing an "encirclement," because he can quickly escape and dodge, putting himself in a favorable position through mobile warfare.

But when the number of enemies is frighteningly large, everyone has a headache!

This is an endless desert. In the distance, on the green land, there are spheres, each 120 meters in diameter, with pitted and uneven surfaces. Some venom flows on their surfaces, faintly emitting poisonous gas, which sends chills down one's spine.

“This scene…” Ling Feng leaned forward slightly, gently stroking his chin with his fingers, “is the Zerg mother hive, and it’s at the level of the fifth trial tower. This kid is probably going to suffer.”

His tone carried a hint of schadenfreude, as if he could see the scene of the three brothers being eliminated by the Zerg Queen on this level back then, but his eyes were much more serious.

Venerable Zhulong smiled meaningfully, a glint of wisdom flashing in his dragon eyes: "Not necessarily. The more desperate the situation, the more a person's potential can be revealed."

His gaze remained fixed on Luo Feng, as if he were expecting something.

On the surface of the enormous mother nest, which was about 40 stories high, suddenly emerged one after another triangular-headed, bluish-green insectoid creatures covered in bluish-green carapaces, covered in a little sticky substance.

They have two antennae, large compound eyes, and a muscular body. They support their bodies with two hind limbs and four forelimbs, which resemble battle swords. They also have two translucent wings on their backs that gleam dangerously in the sunlight.

Almost instantly, 1000 Zerglings surged out of the surface of the mother hive!
call!call!call!
In three consecutive rounds, approximately 3000 Zerg emerged, all of them "Blue Mantises." The sound of their wings flapping echoed across the desert like the whisper of death.

“3000 Green Mantises.” Ling Shuang frowned slightly, her slender fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. “This level is indeed quite difficult. Although Green Mantises are cannon fodder among the Zerg, even a cosmic-level powerhouse would have a headache if their numbers reached this level.”

His tone carried a hint of seriousness.

Within the light screen, Luo Feng's gaze turned cold, and he instantly transformed into eight illusory bodies, maintaining maximum speed to begin a terrifying slaughter, directly unleashing the limit of his current control: "Nine Golden Illusionary Swords".

Nine sword rainbows, like laser beams, traced brilliant trajectories in the air, piercing through the entire swarm of insects time and time again, causing one green mantis after another to fall to the ground.

"Eight illusory bodies, not bad," Ling Feng commented, tapping the armrest lightly with his finger. "However, it might not be enough to deal with so many Green Mantises." As soon as he finished speaking, the battle situation on the light screen changed.

Sure enough, Luo Feng soon found himself in a tough battle.

Those insectoids whose bodies had been severed in half by the golden illusion sword were actually biting into some of the other insectoid corpses nearby. As they devoured them, they quickly recovered and became completely intact. This scene caused a gasp of surprise from the spectators.

“That’s the annoying thing about the Zerg.” Ling Feng shook his head, a helpless smile on his lips. “If you don’t kill them completely, they can quickly recover by devouring their own kind. This kid is going to be in trouble.” His gaze became even more focused, clearly beginning to pay serious attention to the battle.

Twenty minutes later, Luo Feng's face turned pale, and he had a wound on his face with blood streaming down his cheek. There were still 682 Zerg left.

Just then, another 100 red-shelled insectoids surged out from the surface of the massive insectoid mother hive. Their shells gleamed with a blood-red sheen in the sunlight, making them look particularly ferocious.

The 682 surviving green mantises immediately split into 100 teams, led by the blood mantises, and began to systematically surround and strangle Luo Feng.

The 100 Zerg squads were like well-trained fighter jet detachments, launching a three-dimensional attack from the air, the ground, and underground in the desert, their coordinated efforts were terrifying.

"It's over, it's over." Ling Feng shook his head repeatedly, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest. "Under Blood Mantis's command, the combat power of these insectoids can be increased several times. This kid is probably going to stop here." His tone was tinged with regret, but his eyes gleamed with anticipation.

Within the light screen, Luo Feng found himself in a desperate situation.

Just five minutes later, his right arm broke off, blood gushed out, his face turned as pale as paper, and his mental energy was greatly depleted.

Of the original 100 teams, 82 remained, including 82 Blood Mantises and 353 Green Mantises. They surged in wave after wave, giving Luo Feng no chance to catch his breath.

"If I could reach the 'Nine-Line Flow' level, it would be a pity..." Facing the overwhelming horde of insectoids that were frantically attacking from all directions, Luo Feng seemed to see himself being devoured into dust.

A hint of resentment flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination.

"Even if they die, kill as many as possible!" Luo Feng's eyes turned red, and his aura suddenly surged.

"Zerg, die, die, die!!!" Luo Feng rode the Dark Cloud Shuttle, his speed soaring wildly. He clashed and fought against the 82 Zerg squads time and time again, occasionally killing a Green Mantis, and only with great difficulty managing to kill a Blood Mantis.

When Luo Feng had killed 76 squads, he went completely mad, covered in blood, and appeared insane.

"Hmm?" Ling Feng suddenly sat up straight, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

This bloodthirsty, relentless will and fighting spirit are unique to the descendants of the ancient Rock Peak clan, and only the most outstanding members of their clan can ignite it.

The three brothers wouldn't do it, but their father, Ling Xuan, would.

At this critical moment of life and death, an unexpected change occurred!

Even in his frenzied state, Luo Feng's heart remained extremely cold and calm, a characteristic brought about by the Golden Horned Beast.

Luo Feng sensed the familiar spatial origin fluctuations, but also vaguely felt that something was different.

P.S.: I finally finished reading Devouring 2 today. Thankfully, Old Tomato didn't write about the Wu Kingdom, which gave me a way out.

I thought that when I wrote about the Dark Heaven lineage, severing everything was a bit lame, and I was even a little afraid to face it. I didn't expect that Lao Fanqie would also sever everything when he wrote about the Hunyuan Blade Dao. Hahaha, at this moment I am Lao Fanqie.

(End of this chapter)