Swallowing the Stars: Equipment Slots, Starting with a Genius Battle

Chapter 83 Returning to the Barracks Base, Feelings

Base No. 008, Shuttle Port.

A large, bird-shaped spaceship pierced through the layer of defensive light curtain that shimmered with vibrant colors and landed steadily on the cold alloy ground.

The moment Ye Feng's combat boots touched the solid ground of the base, a long-lost, heavy sense of security surged from the soles of his feet throughout his entire body.

Safe.

Inside this divine fortress, the nerves that had been taut for decades could finally relax.

No longer need we be constantly on guard against soul attacks that might come from the void, no longer need we worry about surprise attacks from alien races. This is the solid base of the human race on the battlefield beyond the realm, a safe haven.

"Sword Blaze Marquis, that's enough for now." Illusion Star King put away her beautifully sculpted bird-shaped spaceship, turned around and smiled brightly at Ye Feng, her smile carrying a hint of nonchalance after experiencing life and death. "This time, thanks to you, otherwise, I would have been in real danger."

If fate allows, we'll meet again, on a battlefield beyond our borders or in the primordial universe.

Ye Feng smiled and nodded, waving to the super-rich woman, "See you again, Illusion Star King."

After more than a month of getting to know each other, their relationship gradually changed from that of "sugar daddy and thug" to that of friends.

The two parted ways at the crossroads of the shuttle port. One headed towards the Star Fragment Manor, which was suspended in the inner space of the base, while the other went to the standard rest area island in the outer area.

The treatment of the Illusion Star King was far superior to that of Ye Feng, the Sword Blazing Marquis.

The base's interior passageways were wide and bustling with people. Newly teleported warriors lined up at the immortals' command, while veteran World Lords hurried past, carrying the scent of gunpowder. The hum of various spaceships taking off and landing, the deep rumble of energy flowing, and the conversations in different languages ​​mingled together, creating a scene of a military base brimming with both iron will and vitality.

Ye Feng walked through it with a leisurely pace.

As they passed a huge recruit assignment plaza, a short, stout military lord-level immortal was shouting orders, "Cosmic-level recruits, follow team three. Domain lord-level recruits, go to the left and find the black-armored instructors to assemble. World lord-level powerhouses, those who want to form elite squads, come and register—"

He caught a glimpse of Ye Feng passing by out of the corner of his eye, his voice abruptly halting. His face instantly broke into an incredibly enthusiastic, even somewhat respectful, smile. He jogged forward a couple of steps, bowed respectfully, and said, "Lord Swordfire Marquis. Commander Kosolo, paying my respects."

Ye Feng stopped and looked at the unfamiliar, short, stout immortal with a hint of doubt. He was certain he didn't recognize the man.

Solo quickly explained, his tone full of gratitude, "Sir, you may not remember. More than 30 years ago, at the edge of the Shattered Star Ring in the Qiyi Starfield, it was you who appeared in time to save my junior brother, Kosofie."

He was being hunted down by the Zerg's "Muraku-no-Kou" at the time; if it weren't for your intervention, he would have certainly died.

He rubbed his hands together, his face full of sincere gratitude. "Sir, when would be a convenient time for you? My junior brother and I would like to invite you for a drink."

Ye Feng suddenly realized that it was the Immortal he had casually saved many years ago, whom he had long forgotten.

With a slight smile and a calm tone, she said, "It was nothing, don't worry about it. Let's talk about it another time."

After saying that, he nodded to Kosolo and continued walking towards his rest area.

Similar scenes occurred several more times along the way.

Immortals he had once saved bowed respectfully from afar, while Realm Lords whom he had casually rescued during a skirmish cast admiring glances at him.

Ye Feng only had a vague impression of most of these people, or didn't even know them at all.

But in their eyes, "Sword Blazing Marquis" was a trustworthy powerhouse in that dangerous star field, a savior, and an object of admiration and pursuit.

Ye Feng looked around at the diverse, hurried figures: the immortal military commanders who loudly reprimanded the new recruits, and the weary soldiers, dusty and exhausted, just returning from the battlefield—

A strange feeling stirred within him, like a pebble thrown into a lake, rippling through his heart.

"These military leaders who seem 'mediocre' in my eyes are immortal—"

Ye Feng's gaze swept over the short, stout Kosolo who was still diligently giving instructions. "Which of them wasn't a genius who rose from a planet? Which one of them didn't go through planetary struggles, star-level battles, and cosmic-level trials, overcoming countless obstacles and encountering numerous fortuitous events before finally breaking through to become an immortal god?"

"They are all the same, living beings with flesh and blood, souls, and stories. Among those weaker realm lords and domain lords..."

To cosmic-level soldiers, they are beings high above, like gods. Not—"mediocre ants that can be easily ignored" or "battlefield sustenance"—

A complex emotion flashed in Ye Feng's eyes.

"The Path of a Martial Artist—Just how strong must one become to be considered a true 'strongman'?"

A cosmic sovereign? Of course. He controls a vast cosmic kingdom, billions of star systems, and trillions of living beings, holding the power of life and death over them.

But before the Lord of the Universe? They are nothing more than larger ants, which can be reduced to ashes in the blink of an eye.

The Lord of the Universe? Naturally, he is an existence standing at the pinnacle of the universe. One person can support a powerful race, divide territories, and awe the world.

But what about before the true God? They'd probably only be able to flee in a sorry state.

Even the strongest person has an even stronger existence above them.

A sudden feeling stirred up a deep sense of emotion in Ye Feng's heart.

Why work so hard to cultivate and become stronger?

"Even after working hard for over 80 years, it's not as valuable as the resources that the Illusion Star King casually tosses aside."

If it weren't for the mission involving the two Chaos Monuments, he could have enjoyed the same treatment.

Even better, by relying on his foresight and clinging to Luo Feng, a future "golden thigh," he could live a comfortable life as a "second-generation rich kid." With the equipment slot as a cheat code, his future achievements might not be any less than what he has achieved through hard work now.

It's just a matter of a few eras earlier or later.

The Nine Tribulations Secret Manual, endless treasures, the corpses of world beasts, and even the inheritance of the God-King of Advancement that Luo Feng will acquire in the future—once he no longer finds them appealing, he can equip himself with them, and breaking through to the God-King, Emperor, or even the Chaos Origin realm doesn't seem so far-fetched after all.

"Is all this hard work and effort really meaningful?"

Ye Feng was filled with anxiety and uncertainty.

Ye Feng's steps became somewhat unconscious as his thoughts churned.

A passerby whispered in his ear: "Look, it's Lord Jianzhi."

"Lord Swordfire Marquis, I haven't had a chance to properly thank you for saving my life last time—"

"I'm so envious—I wish I could be as strong as Lord Swordfire Marquis someday—"

These sounds flowed into his consciousness like background noise.

Seeing this, Ye Feng's heart stirred. To be a person who just eats and waits to die, reaping the benefits without working—is that really what Ye Feng wants?

"Just like these people in front of me—they may never reach my current strength in their entire lives. Don't they know that?"

No, they knew it all too well. Yet they still chose to come to this meat grinder-like battlefield outside their territory, risking their lives for a bleak future—

"How similar this is to me back then—when I was fighting with all my might in the Genius Battle, eager to become stronger."

Ye Feng's thoughts seemed to flow backward: "During the Genius Battle, facing the Thirteen Divine Generals was like looking at a leopard through a tube; I only felt their might was like a prison, unfathomable—"

"Upon first entering Chaos City and seeing King Longyu, Senior Brother Qike, and other king-level beings, I felt like a frog at the bottom of a well gazing at the starry sky, its vastness beyond my reach—"

"Outside the Blood Luo World, feeling the aura of the Heavenly Eclipse Palace Master, which is as deep and impenetrable as a prison—one feels as insignificant as dust, and even looking up at him is suffocating—"