Swallowing the Stars: Only in my later years did I come to the life-spending panel.

Hong surveyed the room and announced in his voice, "The second matter today is to nominate Zhou Mu for promotion to a councilor of the War God Palace and to serve as the prospective speaker."

This time, the discussions in the virtual space were even louder.

Reaching the planetary level automatically grants one the qualification of a councilor, and promotion to councilor is a matter of course.

But the prospective speaker?

The position of Prospective Speaker is extremely special within the order of the Ares Palace. It lies below the five Speakers but above all ordinary members. It possesses the speaking and proposal rights of a Speaker, and enjoys voting power second only to the Speaker in major decisions.

"Zhou Mu awakened his domain on the day he broke through to the Planetary level, making him far stronger than others of the same level. He killed a second-level Planetary with the power of a first-level Planetary, so his combat strength is beyond doubt." Hong's voice was unhurried. "More importantly, he has decades of practical experience, has trained countless outstanding martial artists, and has profound insights into the training system for human martial artists. He is undoubtedly worthy of the position of prospective Speaker."

Thor immediately chimed in, "I fully support you!"

After the two speakers made their statements, the discussions in the virtual space gradually subsided, and everyone's attention focused on one person—

Third Speaker, Mohanderson.

Mohanderson remained silent for a long time.

He looked at Zhou Mu, his gaze deep and complex. Zhou Mu met his gaze calmly, neither humble nor arrogant, his expression serene.

He nodded slowly: "Okay. I agree."

Once the fifth speaker relented, the other members of parliament no longer hesitated.

"agree."

"agree."

"agree."

A chorus of agreement echoed in the virtual space.

Hong stood up, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "Let's begin the formal vote."

In the virtual space, all fifty-two members of parliament raised their hands.

Fifty-two votes, unanimously approved!

Hong surveyed the entire room and nodded slightly: "Fifty-two votes in favor, zero votes against, and zero abstentions. Now, as the First Speaker of the War God Palace, I hereby announce—"

"Effective immediately, Zhou Mu is officially promoted to the fifty-third member of the War God Palace Council, and will also serve as the pre-chairman."

A round of applause erupted in the virtual space, and many councilors bowed to Zhou Mu from afar. Upon seeing this, Zhou Mu stood up and returned the greeting, his expression calm.

"In addition," Hong raised his hand to suppress the applause, "there is one more thing I need to tell you all."

He looked at Thor, who nodded slightly.

"After discussing with Thor, we decided to integrate the global elite training camps of the Limit Martial Arts Academy and the Thunder Martial Arts Academy, merge them, and establish the [Peak Training Camp], with Councilor Zhou Mu serving as the head instructor, fully responsible for the training of the students."

These words, once uttered, caused ripples to spread as if a pebble had been thrown into a calm pond.

"The merger of two major martial arts training camps? This is an unprecedented opportunity for genius martial artists below the God of War level!"

"Will Zhou Mu be the head instructor?"

A middle-aged councilor frowned, his tone clearly skeptical. "I admit Zhou Mu is incredibly strong; he was able to defeat Tuoba Wu right after breaking through to a higher level. But teaching and combat are two different things. Isn't it a bit risky to entrust him with the world's top young talent?"

"What do you know?" A younger councilor next to him lowered his voice, a hint of mystery in his eyes. "I heard that back when Speaker Hong and Speaker Lei Shen hadn't risen to power, they were all trained by Zhou Mu! Not many people know this, but it's absolutely reliable."

"What?! He taught both Speaker Hong and Speaker Thor?" The questioning councilor's eyes widened, his voice trembling. "With that kind of experience... you won't find another like him anywhere in the world, let alone the War God Palace!"

"Indeed," the older senator stroked his beard and remarked with admiration, "Someone who can train the world's first and second strongest individuals would find training those young talents a piece of cake."

"If that's the case, this elite training camp will likely become a holy land for martial artists below the God of War level worldwide..."

Hong ignored the discussions and continued, "The Peak Training Camp is located on the former site of the Third Military Region in Jiangnan Base City, covering an area of ​​approximately 300 square kilometers. It was jointly funded and built by the two martial arts schools. The training camp operates independently, with administrative and logistical support handled by personnel dispatched by the two martial arts schools, while teaching affairs are decided entirely by Councilor Zhou Mu."

He looked at Zhou Mu, his gaze gentle: "Councilor Zhou Mu, is there anything else you'd like to add?"

Zhou Mu stood up and bowed to the assembled councilors: "I am not good with words, so I will only say one thing—"

"Having assumed this position, I will dedicate myself to cultivating more War God-level and even planetary-level warriors like you and me for humanity!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Thor clapped first, and the applause rang out again and lasted for a long time.

......

After the meeting, at the top floor of the Extreme Martial Arts Academy headquarters in Hongning Base City.

Hong removed his consciousness-sensing helmet, looked at Zhou Mu who had also removed his helmet, and laughed, "Big brother, from now on, you'll be a hot commodity in the War God Palace."

Zhou Mu waved his hand: "It's just an empty reputation. It's all thanks to you and Thor for supporting me."

"This is no empty reputation." Thor, who was standing next to him, also took off his virtual reality helmet and leaned over to say, "Big brother, do you know that right after Brother Hong announced the establishment of the Peak Training Camp, before the meeting officially ended, at least twenty councilors contacted me privately, asking if I could put their family members into the Peak Training Camp?"

"I've received more than a dozen messages too," Hong laughed. "It seems that you, the head instructor, are even more sought after than the two of us gym leaders."

Zhou Mu chuckled and was about to speak when Hong walked to the side and took out a small metal box.

Inside the box lay a palm-sized silver badge.

Hong turned around and handed the box to Zhou Mu: "Big brother, this is for you."

Zhou Mu took it, his gaze slightly narrowed.

The badge is streamlined, silver-white, and has a light blue crystal the size of a fingernail set in the center.

"This is?"

"The control core of the Qiankun-class intelligent fighter jet," Hong explained. "The fighter jet is parked on the helipad on the top floor of headquarters. Your biometric information has already been preliminarily recorded. Once the final activation and authentication step is completed, this fighter jet will belong to you."

Zhou Mu frowned slightly: "Hong, this is too valuable."

"Big Brother!" Hong interrupted Zhou Mu, his expression extremely serious: "If you hadn't taught me everything you knew back then, imparting the Seven Tribulations of Breaking the Sky to me without reservation, I wouldn't have been able to create the World Destroyer. If you hadn't saved us so many times, we might have died in the wilderness long ago! How could we be the world's strongest person today?"

"It's just a fighter jet. Compared to the kindness you showed us back then, it's nothing!"

Thor chimed in from the side, "Big brother, just accept it. Last year, Brother Hong salvaged a production line for intelligent fighter jets from the ruins. As long as there are enough materials, mass production is possible."

"The Qiankun-class fighter jet's fuselage can withstand attacks from any King-level monster, and its top speed can reach Mach 15. With it, your travels will be much more convenient."

Zhou Mu remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded and put away the silver badge: "Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony with you."

......

A moment later, a silver-white, sharply styled triangular fighter jet swept across the sky above Hongning Base City, instantly breaking the sound barrier and speeding towards Jiangnan Base City.

Inside the fighter jet, Zhou Mu leaned back in his comfortable seat, looking down through the porthole at the desolate wilderness rushing past.

With the vision of a planetary-level spirit reciting poetry, Zhou Mu could clearly see the monsters roaming in the ruined cities on the ground.

Memories of the original novel "Swallowed Star" flowed through my mind like water.

According to the original trajectory, humanity would gradually gain the upper hand in this war against the monsters, but at a heavy cost.

And that young man named Luo Feng will be the key to changing everything.

"That kid Luo Feng should have become a martial artist by now!"

Zhou Mu looked out the window and muttered to himself. He had experienced too much during this period, from the despair of his lifespan being nearing its end to the successful breakthrough and the beginning of his revenge. He no longer paid attention to Luo Feng's news.

As he was thinking, a mechanical notification sound suddenly rang out from inside the fighter jet:

"Master, we have received an urgent message from the military in Jiangnan Base City. A level-three rat infestation has broken out in County 0231. A large number of rat monsters have poured in, causing heavy casualties among the frontline warriors, who are unable to evacuate in time. We urgently request nearby experts to provide support."

Zhou Mu suddenly opened his eyes. "A rat swarm has broken out?!"

In the original storyline, Luo Feng was training in the wilderness area of ​​0231 County when he encountered a level three rat swarm. Lu Gang, a warrior of the War God level, would fight to the death in the endless rat swarm to cover Luo Feng's retreat!

At this time, Luo Feng had just broken through to the advanced warrior level. He was exceptionally talented and resilient, but as a newcomer, he lacked guidance from top-tier seniors and sufficient resources.

Zhou Mu's lips curled into a sly smile. As long as he could take this opportunity to display overwhelming strength in front of Luo Feng, save Lu Gang, and eliminate the rat horde, he could make Luo Feng remember his existence before this future cosmic bully rose to power. He could even recruit Luo Feng as his teacher and accumulate a period of lifespan.

"SilverAsh, change course, full speed ahead to County 0231!"