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

The entire room fell silent.

Li Yao stood there, his face ashen, his fists clenching and unclenching repeatedly.

In all his years in the industry, he has never suffered such humiliation.

When someone comes to your door and yells at you in front of everyone, you don't dare to say a word in response.

Vinina stood beside him, her long, white neck drooping, no longer daring to raise it. Her lips trembled, her eyes filled with resentment, but she gritted her teeth, not daring to make a sound.

Because she knew that the man in front of her really would kill.

Zhou Mu's gaze swept across the three faces, finally landing on Li Yao, and he asked calmly, "What? Didn't you understand?"

Li Yao took a deep breath and slowly lowered his head.

"I understand."

These four words seemed to have exhausted all his strength.

Zhou Mu's lips curled into a smile, a smile full of amusement: "Very good, it seems you know what's good for you."

He turned around and patted Luo Feng on the shoulder: "Let's go, we've familiarized ourselves with the place."

The two transformed into streaks of light and returned to the silver-white fighter jet hovering high in the sky. The fighter jet changed direction and quickly disappeared into the clouds.

On the open ground in front of the manor, Li Yao raised his head and looked at the receding streak of light, his eyes almost overflowing with resentment.

"Yao..." Vinina finally spoke, her voice hoarse and trembling, "Are we just going to let Awei's matter go like this?"

Li Yao remained silent.

Yan Hai slowly walked to his side and sighed, "Li Yao, listen to my advice."

Li Yao turned to look at him.

"That person is someone you can't afford to offend." Yan Hai's gaze was deep and complex. "At least not right now."

Li Yao clenched his fist again, his knuckles turning white.

"I know."

His voice was low and suppressed, as if squeezed out from between his teeth, "But I'm not reconciled, my son just died in vain?!"

Yan Hai was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Do you know why Zhou Mu came today?"

Li Yao was taken aback.

"He didn't come here to kill anyone today."

Yan Hai slowly explained, "With his strength, he could have easily wiped out your entire family today, and not a single one of the Bolenas family's residents would have escaped, but he didn't."

Why?

"Because he's giving you a chance."

Li Yao frowned: "Give me a chance?"

Yan Hai nodded, his gaze profound: "He took Luo Feng as his disciple, knowing full well that he has a grudge against you, yet he brought Luo Feng here today to 'recognize your sect.' There's only one purpose—"

"That means he's using you, Vulture Li Yao, as a whetstone for his disciple Luo Feng!"

A whetstone?!

Li Yao's voice suddenly rose, "He's using me, Vulture Li Yao, as a whetstone?!"

"That's right." Yan Hai sighed. "Luo Feng is only a beginner-level War God now, but his mental strength should have reached the level of a high-level War God. He's probably only one step away from the peak of the high-level War God."

"He needs a strong opponent to hone his skills and push his limits."

"And you, Vulture Li Yao, a fearsome high-level war god with the Black God Set, ruthless and powerful, and with a grudge against him, are the perfect whetstone."

Li Yao's face turned extremely ugly.

Whetstone.

He, Li Yao, the head of the Bolenas family, the Vulture who once struck fear into the hearts of the entire East China region, was actually being used as a whetstone?!

"He really looks down on me that much?"

Li Yao's voice trembled, "Isn't he afraid that the whetstone will break the knife?"

"He was afraid too, so he came to properly teach you how to be a qualified whetstone."

Yan Hai sighed, "But he has confidence in his disciple and believes that you can hone his skills, so he hasn't taken any other action."

Chapter update reminder: Chapter 31 Whetstone, read here.

Li Yao fell silent.

After a long silence, he suddenly asked, "Elder Yan, what should I do now? Wait for his disciple to come and kill me?"

Yan Hai looked at him and said, word by word, "Breakthrough."

"breakthrough?"

"Yes." Yan Hai's gaze turned serious. "You are now a high-level War God, only one step away from reaching the planetary level—the condensation of a micro-planet. If you can break through to the planetary level before Luo Feng grows up, then the situation will be reversed."

"Given the current situation on Earth, Hong will not allow planetary-level powerhouses to kill each other. This is the general trend, and even Zhou Mu needs to be careful."

"Once you break through to the planetary level, Zhou Mu won't be able to kill you. At that point, whether Luo Feng lives or dies will depend on your own abilities."

Li Yao's eyes gradually brightened.

"But if you fail to break through..."

Yan Hai paused, his tone turning heavy, "Then you're doomed. Zhou Mu won't kill you himself; you're not worthy of his personal attention."

"However, he will send Luo Feng to kill you. Given Luo Feng's growth rate, he could break through to the planetary level as early as tomorrow, or as late as one or two years or even longer."

"By then, do you think you can stop him?"

Li Yao's face turned ashen again.

He recalled the black-haired youth who had stood silently behind Zhou Mu earlier. His eyes were calm, his aura steady, and he showed no fear in the face of thousands of people watching him. Such a person, once he matured, would definitely be a formidable opponent.

"One or two years..." Li Yao murmured, "I still have one or two years."

Yan Hai patted him on the shoulder, "Cultivate diligently. Break through to the planetary level as soon as possible; it's your only way to survive."

Li Yao took a deep breath and nodded slowly.

He raised his head, staring in the direction where the fighter jet had disappeared, a fierce fire burning in his eyes.

Zhou Mu, do you intend to use me as a whetstone for your apprentice?

Alright, let's see if it's me, this stone, that can wear down your knife, or your knife that can shatter my stone!

......

In the silver-white fighter jet.

Luo Feng sat by the porthole, gazing at the clouds rushing past outside, remaining silent for a long time.

Zhou Mu was leaning back in his chair, resting with his eyes closed.

After a long silence, Luo Feng spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse: "Master."

"Um?"

"thank you."

Zhou Mu opened her eyes, glanced at him, and a smile played on her lips: "What are you thanking me for?"

Luo Feng paused for a second, then said seriously, "From childhood to adulthood, no one has ever protected me like this."

He genuinely didn't know how to express his feelings at that moment.

Since becoming a martial artist and leaving the Fire Hammer Squad, he has always been alone.

He explored alone, fought alone, and faced all dangers alone.

He was used to bearing everything alone, used to suppressing all his emotions, and used to distrusting everyone.

But today, someone stepped forward.

Some people even stormed the gates of the Bolenas family for his sake.

Someone made a domineering declaration in front of everyone, saying, "Luo Feng is my disciple. Anyone who touches him will die."

He didn't know how to describe that feeling.

Zhou Mu looked at Luo Feng, a hint of gentleness flashing in his eyes.

"Silly boy." He reached out and ruffled Luo Feng's hair. "You're my disciple, who else would I protect if not you?"

Luo Feng's eyes were slightly red, but he held back his tears.

"Alright, there's one more thing I need to tell you." Zhou Mu patted Luo Feng on the shoulder, his expression becoming serious.

Luo Feng's expression turned serious: "Master, please speak."

"I have received information that the No. 9 ancient civilization site will be opened soon."

Read Le En's masterpiece, "Swallowing the Stars: Only in My Later Years Did I Start Paying for My Life," now!