Devouring Stars: Master of Evolution

Chapter 105 Dragon Star

Inside the control room of the Heilongshan X81 spacecraft.

Having completed a round of arduous training, Hong, Thor, Jia Yi, and the others looked radiant and full of anticipation for their upcoming encounter with the universe.

Qin Mu was no exception to this kind of anticipation.

At this moment, Qin Mu was wearing black armor formed from the Moyun Vine. Inside the chest of this black armor was a transparent crystal sphere with a diameter of more than 20 centimeters, covered with countless mysterious golden patterns.

This transparent sphere is called the Protocore, also known as the "Starry Sky Protocore," "World Protocore," or "Soul Protocore," and is the source of the only Golden Horned Beast in the swarm.

Inside the primordial core, the space is as vast as the starry sky, and at its center is a dazzling sphere that shines like a star.

This star is the core of the soul, representing the star-level strength of this golden-horned behemoth.

That's right. After three months of absorbing precious metals, its strength has reached the first level of the Hengxing level.

The vast space within the primordial core seemed to be connected to another world by an invisible link.

The world inside the body.

This is a continent made of pure metal, about ten kilometers long and wide. Ten kilometers above the continent, there is a golden mist, and the continent itself is also surrounded by endless golden mist.

On this metallic continent stands a pyramid-shaped mother hive, five hundred meters high, a star-level Zerg mother hive.

Near the mother nest, the golden-horned behemoth, whose size had swelled to over two hundred meters, lay sprawled out, devouring the mountains of metal piled up on the metal continent.

While devouring metal, the Golden Horned Beast was also diligently researching secret techniques suitable for it, namely "Original World" and "Absolute Space".

When choosing the Golden Horned Beast Secret Technique, Qin Mu did not select any other types, as these two techniques were very suitable for the insect swarm.

Besides the Golden Horned Beast, hundreds of towering Zerg warriors slumber on the creep covering the entire metal continent.

These Zerg warriors are over 30 meters tall, their entire bodies covered by an incredibly thick carapace. On their heads are oval compound eyes, which are completely protected by the carapace. Their heads are as well-protected as if the warriors were wearing helmets.

The front of its chest is covered with menacing spikes, and its thick, powerful, and bent hind legs support its body.

At first glance, this Zerg warrior gives off a solid and fierce feeling, exuding a brave and valiant aura. Its carapace is entirely fiery red, and even its well-protected compound eyes are fiery red.

This is the Flame Tank Clan of the Tiger Beetle Clan, known for its strength and powerful defense.

These are all newly hatched Flame Tank insectoids, with strength at the first level of the Constant Star level.

Beside the Flame Tank insectoids were ten Fire-Eyed Insectoids, much smaller in size, only 3 meters tall. But in terms of strength, aura, and power, they were far stronger than the seemingly massive Tiger Beetle Insectoids. Each one was a level nine Hengxing!

Furthermore, to conceal their identities, they all wore full-body black vine armor, revealing only three blood-red eyes.

The Fire-Eyed Insects resemble humans in appearance and are encased in Cloud Vine Armor, making them inconspicuous.

Even so, until the issue of their identities is resolved and they can be released in a reasonable manner, Qin Mu will not use them unless in a crisis, but rather as a trump card.

On the surface, there are three Silver Guardians protecting them, and they themselves possess the power of a Level 3 Psychic Master, which is generally sufficient to handle the situation.

"Your strength has already reached the Hengxing level?"

Hong, dressed in black and with black hair, sensed Qin Mu's powerful aura the moment he saw him and asked a question.

"It's achieved, as expected."

From mid-July to the end of December 2057, the Queen Mother's Hive was hacked, and the Zerg heritage was obtained. The Hive's upgrade from a planetary level to a celestial level was not particularly fast.

With the mother nest reaching the Eternal Star level, it's perfectly normal for Qin Mu's strength to naturally reach the Eternal Star level as well.

Not only Qin Mu has reached the Eternal Star level, but Thor has also reached the Eternal Star level!

Thor's strength was originally at the seventh level of the planetary level. With the inheritance of Meteorite Star and enough Wood Crystals to support his cultivation, his strength exploded in a short period of time, and he broke through to the Heng level in one fell swoop.

Hong also experienced an explosive increase in strength, and was only one step away from reaching the Hengxing level.

Compared to the original timeline, although they came into contact with the universe earlier, their strength is actually greater.

In the original timeline, they had to fight the Golden Horned Beast, burning their souls and falling into a soul slumber, which not only wasted a lot of time but also damaged their souls.

This had a significant impact on their later improvement in strength.

If it weren't for that soul-burning incident, perhaps they could have achieved even better results in the later battles of geniuses.

Jia Yi's strength has also greatly improved. Although he is not as strong as Hong or Thor, he is still at the seventh level of the planetary level.

Overall, there has been a qualitative change compared to three months ago.

In addition to Qin Mu, Hong, Lei Shen, and Jia Yi, this group also includes fifty top talents selected from among China's elite in economics, politics, diplomacy, and business.

Regardless of their abilities, they are absolutely loyal to China and are among the true core members of China.

With abundant resources, their strength was forcibly elevated to planetary level one, reaching the minimum requirement for citizenship in the universe.

These people, led by Jia Yi, were the first elite personnel from China to come into contact with the universe.

"Hehe, finally we're going into space! I'm so excited!"

Thor, still dressed in a bald head and white robe, rubbed his hands together, his expression excited.

"How could I not be excited? The place we're going to is Qiulong Star, which is a hundred times more prosperous and powerful than the most prosperous capital of the Silver Blue Empire, a primordial civilization that controls eight star systems."

That's a planet many times more powerful than our Earth. How could we not be nervous?

Jia Yi was also somewhat nervous.

"Qiulong Star has a history of three million years. Compared to our China, it is far ahead in terms of both cultural heritage and strength."

Hong was no exception; he too was inspired.

"This is our first contact with the universe. As long as we can integrate into the universe, we will have succeeded."

Seeing that everyone was a little nervous and excited, Qin Mu smiled and said.

Just as everyone was talking, the spaceship's AI issued a notification.

"The spaceship is about to reach the speed of light and enter the dark universe. Passengers, please take note."

Thor was somewhat incredulous upon hearing this and said...

"That's light speed? I didn't even feel it!"

"Haha, this is a C-class spaceship, and a luxury item among C-class spaceships. It's normal that we don't sense anything unusual."

Qin Mu smiled.

"Ten seconds left to reach the speed of light"

"10!"

"9!"

"8!"

"7!"

……

As the spaceship's AI countdown began, the starry sky outside the spaceship started to blur and gradually darken.

"3...2...1!"

In the vast starry sky, a black spaceship that had become blurred suddenly—

The space rippled slightly.

The spaceship has disappeared!

"Is this what it means to enter the dark universe?"

Looking around at the spaceship, which had been completely plunged into darkness and whose exterior simulation had automatically shut down, Hong asked.

"This is also my first time piloting a spaceship into the dark universe, or so I think. According to the spaceship's AI, the spaceship is currently traveling at 1.2 times the speed of light."

Qin Mu shook his head. Although he had previously piloted his spaceship through the solar system, he had never entered the dark universe.

"Simulating the scenery of the dark universe."

Guided by the spaceship's AI, Qin Mu initiated the simulation.

When a spaceship travels at the speed of light, it is impossible to capture the external scenery, but according to the data in the database, it is still possible to model the dark universe scenery to satisfy curiosity.

On the screen in the control room, some magnificent scenery appeared. It was a vast space filled with countless points of light that glowed like fireflies. This was an ocean of 'points of light'. Apart from these beautiful points of light, there was nothing else in this vast space.

"According to the data in the spaceship, the coordinates of the dark universe and the 'original universe' we live in correspond, but the ratio between the dark universe and the original universe is 1:1008.1 times."

In other words, if the dark universe traveled at the speed of light for one year and returned to its original universe, it would be 1008 million light-years away.

Qin Mu looked at the information given by the spaceship's AI and simultaneously shared it with everyone.

In fact, these materials had already been sent to China, but the people present were all engrossed in cultivation and had no time to study them.

"1008 million light-years, that's incredible, the universe is truly vast."

As soon as they stepped off Earth, everyone was awestruck by the vastness of the universe.

"It is estimated that it will take about 10 days to reach Qiulong Star. During this time, you can familiarize yourselves with some knowledge about the universe, or cultivate yourselves."

Everyone's mastered the cosmic language pretty well, right? It would be really embarrassing to not be able to speak it once you enter space.

Qin Mu addressed the crowd.

As early as when he entered Ruins No. 9, Qin Mu obtained an auxiliary computer from the bald crystal man, which was equipped with a universal language tutorial.

With Qin Mu's massive swarm consciousness, learning a language would be a piece of cake.

When I was learning the universal language, I had already shared this tutorial with everyone.

"Of course, I learned it a long time ago."

Thor answered in the universal language.

The people present were all true geniuses; with a few months of preparation, learning a language wouldn't be difficult.

"The prerequisite for everyone entering the universe this time is that they must learn the universal language."

Jia Yi replied with a smile, using the universal language.

"Not only us, but the entire coalition government is preparing to include the universal language in the primary school curriculum."

While the information about the universe will not be made public immediately in the United Government's plan, some related preparatory work has already begun.

From the establishment of the Second World virtual space to the universal language tutorial, there are plans for every aspect.

This is a detailed and meticulous process, not a haphazard opening up. Otherwise, the newly established united government, facing the impact of the entire universe, could easily develop a lack of cultural confidence and engage in blind worship.

"Being prepared is enough."

Qin Mu nodded, quite satisfied with the current coalition government.

The spaceship flew through the dark universe. At first, everyone was very excited, but after a while, it became very boring.

The group dispersed and went off to cultivate themselves or learn about the universe.

Nine days later.

The spaceship's AI began broadcasting.

"We will be traveling through space and arriving at Qiulong Star in 30 minutes."

In fact, even without the spaceship's AI reminding them, the group of people entering space for the first time had already gathered in the spaceship's control room.

The spaceship gradually slowed down, from 1.2 times the speed of light, until it came to a complete stop!

Everyone felt a slight tremor in the spaceship beneath their feet, which lasted for about ten seconds before everything calmed down.

"Successfully traversed the universe and returned to the original universe."

Upon returning to space, the virtual exterior view of the spaceship automatically activated.

In the distant starry sky, a planet with two satellites, seemingly radiating colorful light, appeared in everyone's field of vision.

"Qiulong Star, we've arrived."

(End of this chapter)