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

Gravity chamber.

Luo Feng sensed Zhou Mu's arrival, ended his cultivation, and strode out.

He was shirtless, and the pale golden glow on his skin had not yet completely faded, making him look like a sculpture cast in gold.

"Master!"

Luo Feng's face beamed with undisguised excitement. "I've broken through!"

Zhou Mu smiled and nodded. Thanks to his influence, Luo Feng became a planetary-level being a year earlier than in the original storyline. He truly deserves to be called the future cosmic tyrant.

He remained silent for a moment, then looked calmly at Luo Feng and suddenly said, "Now that you have broken through, it's time to settle some things."

Luo Feng was taken aback, then realized what his master meant.

His eyes sharpened instantly, and his fists clenched involuntarily.

"Li Yao, Vinina..."

He murmured the two names, his voice filled with months of suppressed rage and murderous intent.

From the moment he was accepted as a disciple by his master, the 150 billion bounty was like a Damocles' sword hanging over his head. Under his master's protection, Li Yao and his wife dared not make any rash moves.

But he never forgot this debt. Those spying eyes, those greedy people who coveted his family because of the bounty, were all thanks to that couple.

"Let's go."

Zhou Mu turned around and walked out of the spaceship. "I'll go with you."

Luo Feng nodded emphatically and followed. The two transformed into streaks of light, soaring into the sky from the misty island and heading towards the European continent.

......

The Bolenas family residence.

The old manor house, nestled at the foot of the Alps, appeared exceptionally quiet under the moonlight.

Ever since Zhou Mu brought Luo Feng to "recognize the place" last time, the manor has been quiet and peaceful. The servants walk with extra caution, afraid of offending their master.

Deep within the manor, in a secluded chamber, Li Yao and Vinina sat facing each other. The flickering light cast their long shadows on the cold stone wall.

Months later, Li Yao's hair had turned mostly white, his once sharp eyes were now bloodshot, his eye sockets were sunken, and he had lost a lot of weight.

Vinina wasn't in much better shape. Her once exquisite and alluring face was now haggard, and her nails dug deep into her palms, leaving bloody marks.

"Yao..."

Vinina spoke, her voice hoarse like sandpaper rubbing against a stone, "The seventh one."

Li Yao didn't speak, but just stared intently at the holographic screen in front of him.

The screen displays a series of communication records, each line representing a request for help, but each one ending in failure.

The first person was Isadora, the president of the HR Alliance Council. As soon as she heard the name "Zhou Mu," her tone immediately changed from calm to indifferent. She said that this matter was a private matter and the HR Alliance could not interfere.

Is it inconvenient for me to intervene?

Vinina laughed, laughing until tears streamed down her face. They had done so much dirty work for the HR Alliance over the years, and now they were just dismissed with a simple "it's inconvenient to get involved"?

Every powerful person they had ever befriended, every powerful figure they thought they could rely on, would immediately hang up the communication upon hearing the name "Zhou Mu".

Some exchanged a few polite words, while others didn't even bother with such formalities.

In the end, even the Paulines family...

"The family sent someone today."

Vinina's voice sounded like it was being squeezed out of her throat, "The chieftain said... he said that from this day forward, we have nothing to do with the clan anymore. The clan knows nothing about what we've done and will not take any responsibility."

As she spoke, she took out a badge from her bosom. It was the emblem of the Bolenas family, with ancient patterns engraved on its dark gold metal surface. She had worn it for over thirty years and had never taken it off.

Today, the badge has a shocking crack that almost splits it in two; it was broken off by brute force.

"They even sent a message to Zhou Mu, saying... saying... that we, my husband and I, were completely unaware of what we had done, and hoped that Zhou Mu would not hold a grudge against them."

Vinina's voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible. She pointed at the broken badge, her fingernails scraping the broken edges with a faint, grating sound.

Li Yao took the badge and held it in his palm. The cold metal pressed against his hand, making him feel cold inside.

The family abandoned them.

Those relationships they once thought were unbreakable turned out to be as fragile as paper in the face of Zhou Mu's name.

An old man who had broken through to the planetary level in less than a year easily drove them to a dead end.

Even without Zhou Mu's personal approval or intervention, as long as that name remains, no one will dare to help them.

Li Yao suddenly laughed, his laughter dry and hoarse, like that of a crow on an old tree.

"Thirty years!"

He said in a low voice, "We've been operating within the alliance for thirty years, serving the family for thirty years, shedding countless blood and doing countless things. In the end, we're nothing more than pawns they casually discard."

Vinina didn't say anything more, she just held Li Yao's hand, which was cold and trembling slightly.

"What else can we do? If we bow down to Luo Feng, will they let us go?"

Vinina's voice came from Li Yao's shoulder, muffled and tinged with tears.

Li Yao remained silent for a long time, so long that Vinina thought he wouldn't answer.

"Given Zhou Mu's style of doing things, even if Luo Feng agrees, he will still eliminate us completely afterward. He will not let go of anyone who is his enemy."

Li Yao finally spoke, "We'll wait."

"Let that little bastard come. If he wants to do it himself, let him. We won't die alone!"

When he said this, there was no fear in his eyes, only hatred.

That hatred burned for months, consuming all his reason and hope, leaving only a sliver of obsession.

Just then, a terrifying aura suddenly descended from the sky, enveloping the entire manor.

Li Yao and Vinina's expressions changed drastically at the same time. That aura was as sharp as a divine weapon unsheathed, and its sharp energy almost pierced their skin.

The walls of the secret room began to crack, gravel fell down, and the candlelight flickered wildly before finally going out.

"It's Luo Feng!"

"Venina screamed, her voice filled with fear."

She gripped Li Yao's arm tightly, her nails digging deep into his flesh.

Li Yao didn't speak. He looked up at the ceiling, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate the layers of stone walls and see the two hovering figures outside.

He finally arrived.

Li Yao slowly stood up, patted the dust off his clothes, looked down at Vinina, saw her terrified eyes and her trembling lips, and suddenly felt that nothing else mattered.

Fear, resentment, and despair all become insignificant in the face of death.

"Walk!"

He took Vinina's hand and pulled her up from the ground. "Let's go through the secret passage!"

Vinina was taken aback. "Yao, what about you?"

Li Yao didn't answer, but just pushed her. Vinina staggered a few steps, turned around and looked at Li Yao, her eyes full of tears.

"I won't leave, and even death cannot separate us!"

Li Yao looked at Vinina, "Alright, let's die together today!"

The two strode out of the secret room.

Just then, a clear, cold voice came from the sky.

"Li Yao, Vinina, come out!"