Planet Number Five, Neutron Star, in the mysterious land of the virtual world.
Xu Jingming stood in the area enveloped by the protective shield, unaffected by the neutron star’s harsh elements like gravity and temperature as he quietly experienced the constant improvement of his body.
This is to let me experience every stage of the advancement of a Lv. 7 and Lv. 8 cosmic lifeform in advance. Xu Jingming could sense every cell constantly strengthening. The energy in his cells became more and more terrifying.
Improvement, improvement, and more improvement!
When the cells became stronger and possessed more and more cosmic energy, reaching a certain limit—
Boom!
He had finally broken through that limit. His body also underwent a qualitative change!
This is a Lv. 8 cosmic lifeform? Standing inside the protective shield, Xu Jingming’s entire body emitted light uncontrollably. His hair stood on end, and a terrifying aura surged in all directions in an unrestrained manner.
His entire body was like an artificial star that could go nova at any moment! This also meant that Xu Jingming couldn’t restrain his strength.
The body is energy, and energy is the body. He could clearly sense his body’s state.
After planetary lifeforms became cosmic lifeforms, every cell in their bodies contained cosmic energy, allowing them to unleash cosmic energy that could destroy everything.
Cosmic lifeforms were divided into four stages: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and Perfected! In the first three stages, the body constantly became stronger, and the cosmic energy contained in every cell became greater and greater.
But the last stage, a perfected cosmic lifeform, required the body to completely convert into energy. A terrifying body could be converted into energy, and vast energy could also be converted into a body.
Energy Manifestation was a characteristic of Lv. 8 cosmic lifeforms. Only by reaching this step could one’s body become stronger and have a lifespan of 10,000 years!
Only via Energy Manifestation could one walk on a neutron star!
I have to have a sufficiently strong mind and consciousness to perfectly guide my body and manifest it as energy, Xu Jingming thought. And now, the virtual world is forcefully upgrading my body.
My body is still getting stronger. He silently took it in.
The cultivation of a Lv. 8 cosmic lifeform was divided into two aspects. One was the physical body, which could be turned into cosmic energy with a thought. However, there were all kinds of cosmic energy, so there were naturally differences! And every Lv. 8 lifeform pursued Cosmic Force.
Cosmic Force could be approached, but it couldn’t be attained at Lv. 8.
On the other hand, one’s mind and consciousness had to strengthen constantly! It would be considered a success when they were raised to an unimaginable level that allowed the stirring of Cosmic Force.
He used his psychic force to stir the Cosmic Force and assist his body, allowing his body to truly transform into a Force manifestation!
When he attained Force manifestation, he became an Origin lifeform!
Lv. 9 Origin lifeform!
My body is becoming stronger, and the energy I have is becoming stronger and thicker. Xu Jingming gradually had a stately feeling! Then, he felt heavy! His body gave him greater and greater pressure.
I can feel how heavy this body is even while standing inside the protective shield? Xu Jingming’s expression changed.
Bang!
Xu Jingming couldn’t help but kneel down. He placed his hands on the ground, and his entire body erupted with light!
Another five minutes passed.
It has stopped. I’ve finally reached the limit of Lv. 8. Xu Jingming kneeled and supported himself with his hands. He gritted his teeth and sat cross-legged.
He felt exhausted just sitting cross-legged on the ground! His body was as heavy as a towering mountain, and every cell was trembling.
Just controlling my body feels tiring, much less cellular control. Xu Jingming felt too much pressure—this was the pressure brought about by his terrifying body. Thankfully, he was a Lv. 7 cosmic lifeform! If his mind and consciousness were any weaker… they might end up breaking down!
Just as he was familiarizing himself with his body at the limits of Lv. 8—
A man appeared out of thin air beside him. He was 2.1 meters tall, had silver hair, and had an exquisite hairstyle. His skin was as white as snow, and his eyes were jade-green. He wore a constant smile as he grinned at Xu Jingming, who was sitting cross-legged. “Greetings, Moru Star Alliance. I’m Vic.”
The cross-legged Xu Jingming barely said, “Wu Ming of Oohook Star Alliance.”
“Don’t be in a rush. You’ve just arrived on Planet Number Five.” Vic—who had a very exquisite hairstyle—smiled and said, “It’s a rare opportunity to be able to sense the body at the limit of Lv. 8 in advance. Get used to it slowly! First, you have to be able to walk freely inside the protective shield. After all, the environment outside the protective shield… is a neutron star. Walking on a neutron star is much harder.”
“Thank you.” Xu Jingming nodded.
“The key to walking on a neutron star is Energy Manifestation. Controlling the energy in the body is a new field of study for all of us,” Vic said.
“Energy Manifestation?” Xu Jingming nodded slightly.
“The neutron star has a diameter of about 12 kilometers. We can see many things while standing inside the protective shield,” Vic said. “We can see many opportunities on the neutron star! Even if we can’t pass the neutron star’s test, we can still take a look at the opportunities. It can be considered a gain.”
Xu Jingming did notice it.
Planet Number One to Planet Number Four were very large. Many places outside the testing grounds hid opportunities that needed to be slowly sought out.
But Planet Number Five—the neutron star—was too small, and opportunities were easy to find! The only problem was… it was very difficult to reach the opportunities! Typically, one would stand in the protective shield and blankly stare at the opportunities in the distance.
“Alright, I’ll head out. I hope you and I can reach Planet Number Six.” Vic smiled and tapped his personal interface, instantly reaching the limit of Lv. 8.
Only the first attempt required them to slowly improve from weak to strong. In later attempts, they could choose to slowly improve or instantly reach the limit of Lv. 8 through their personal interface.
“I hope we can all reach Planet Number Six,” Xu Jingming said.
Vic then walked out of the protective shield’s range.
Chi!
The temperature on the surface of the neutron star—which was like a huge metallic ball—was terrifyingly high, and the gravity distorted space. Vic’s figure—which was visible to the naked eye—began to glow faintly and distort, but he still walked slowly step by step.
…
Xu Jingming took a short while before getting used to it. He then stood up in the protective shield.
Since my mind and consciousness are too weak compared to such a body, I can’t pursue minute control, he thought. I have to get used to fuzzily controlling my body and guide my body via instincts!
Ever since he stepped onto the evolutionary path, he was used to cellular control. Now, he had to change his habits!
It feels pretty good. Xu Jingming walked around the protective shield without losing any energy, so his walking was considered normal.
I’ll change my clothes first. Ordinary clothes aren’t suitable for walking on a neutron star. Xu Jingming tapped his personal interface and changed into a silver-gray robe. It wouldn’t be damaged in a neutron star environment, and it would be very light.
Let’s begin. Xu Jingming walked to the edge of the protective shield and immediately took a step forward.
How did it feel to walk out of the protective shield and truly enter the environment of a neutron star?
Boom! Boom! Boom!
There was the terrifying high temperature, all kinds of radiation, and the unimaginably powerful gravitational force.
Of course, with his body at the limit of Lv. 8, Xu Jingming could ignore the high temperatures that exceeded a million degrees and the impact of a few radiation blasts. However, this gravitational force that was probably billions of Gs still caused Xu Jingming’s body to tremble…
Crack!
Xu Jingming’s body suddenly couldn’t withstand it, and his entire body collapsed, turning into a piece of paper that stuck to the neutron star’s surface.
At this moment, Xu Jingming remained conscious.
I’ve been flatten into a piece of paper? Xu Jingming was still alive. But immediately after, the piece of paper completely disintegrated, turning into infinite points of energy that dissipated in all directions.
Xu Jingming’s consciousness remained on the energy for a few seconds. As the energy scattered in all directions, his consciousness completely dissipated.
Whoosh!
Xu Jingming appeared in the protective shield again.
This gravity is too strong. Xu Jingming nodded slightly. A Lv. 8 cosmic lifeform walks on a neutron star by relying on Energy Manifestation. The effects of the neutron star’s gravity are greatly reduced when using Energy Manifestation.
Xu Jingming tapped his personal interface and instantly raised his body to the limit of Lv. 8.
Again.
Xu Jingming walked out of the protective shield.
Crack!
He was reduced to a piece of paper!
…
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Every time he walked out, he became a piece of paper that dissipated.
Xu Jingming tried other methods—Charging out! Jumping out! Flying out!
…
I don’t have any experience in Energy Manifestation. Vic is right—Energy Manifestation is a new field for all of us. Xu Jingming sat cross-legged at the edge of the protective shield and carefully extended his index finger, extending it beyond the protective shield.
Buzz!
The other parts of his body were still in the protective shield, and only one finger was outside, affected by the neutron star’s environment. It was exposed to all kinds of radiation and the high temperature. Moreover, the terrifying gravitational force acted on the finger.
The finger trembled and emitted light; the entire finger had manifested as energy. It appeared to be maintaining the form of a finger, but it was actually a convergence of energy.
After it manifested as energy, the gravitational effects became much weaker.
We cosmic lifeforms are used to controlling bodies. Xu Jingming nodded slightly. And the key to Planet Number Five’s test is to control the energy in our bodies.
Xu Jingming gradually extended two fingers, three fingers… and finally his entire right hand, slowly experiencing the new sensations.
How magical. This is actually how it is after the body undergoes Energy Manifestation. Xu Jingming’s eyes lit up as a brand-new world appeared in front of him. After all, he had never had the experience of Energy Manifestation all these years.
He was now learning in advance the problems that Lv. 8 cosmic lifeforms encountered—how to more effectively control his body’s Energy Manifestation!
With the mind and consciousness of a Lv. 7 cosmic lifeform, one had to at least fuzzily gain control of a peak Lv. 8 body’s Energy Manifestation…
It was extremely difficult! However, those who could reach Planet Number Five were all geniuses from the various Star Alliances in the universe.
******
In the observation space.
“Hey, what’s that rookie from your Oohook Star Alliance doing?” The short fatty watched Xu Jingming from afar. “He only extended one hand to get a feeling of the neutron star? Is he roasting his palm?”
“He doesn’t have any experience with the body’s Energy Manifestation, so he naturally will have to familiarize himself with it slowly,” Observer Chang said. “Regardless, being able to reach Planet Number Five means that his mental potential is high enough. He can at least become a Lv. 8 cosmic lifeform and won’t be weaker than you, Observer Gru!”
“You are comparing him with me?” The short fatty snorted. “I’m not far from the limit of Lv. 8. How can he compare to me?”
“Why can’t he? Perhaps he will reach the limit of Lv. 8 before you,” Observer Chang said.
The two chatted casually and observed the explorers from their Star Alliances.