Hu—

As if a storm had formed from nothing, a dim phantom gradually took shape. It lacked facial features and bodily details, appearing as only a patch of shadow. Its form, however, was bizarre and unique, like a humanoid creature with countless twisted limbs. Its shape constantly shifted, emanating an indescribable aura of terror, causing one's sanity to plummet with a single glance.

"Meal… meal…"

Mental fluctuations spread out. There were no words, yet everyone could understand the meaning of this phantom creature.

A sense of inexplicable dread arose within everyone, including Han Xiao and the many guards, though to a lesser degree—this was the creature's inherent aura of fear.

"What is that monster?!"

Raymond, Cerl, and the others paled, their faces filled with horror. None of them knew that such a monster was hidden within the Box of Enticement!

Simply gazing at the phantom sent a shiver down their spines. The special fluctuations it emitted caused them to feel dizzy, their minds battered by wave after wave of impact.

"A special creature from a sub-dimension. They can be understood as parasites born alongside souls, feeding on the thought activities of the universal consciousness. They are one of the causes of the universe's mental undercurrents," Han Xiao said calmly.

This Boss was a special species from a sub-dimension, known as a Mind Devourer. The thought activities of all life in the universe formed the universal consciousness. These creatures latched onto the bottom layer of the universe, devouring the traces of activity within the universal consciousness. The thought activities and various thoughts of life were like sweet nectar to the Mind Devourers.

Their sub-dimension was named the Underlayer of Universal Consciousness. It was the Mind Devourers' lair, with an almost endless number of them. This Mind Devourer was a Lord-class, captured by a powerful esper who had ventured into the sub-dimension, sealed within this relic.

Han Xiao knew that the Mind Devourer Boss primarily attacked with mental abilities. Because it had devoured the thoughts of countless lives, it could inflict a lasting state of confusion on its enemies. It possessed powerful multi-resistance, being almost immune to mental attacks. Most mental attacks were simply food for it, not only failing to deal damage but also restoring its health, making it difficult to deal with.

Precisely because of this characteristic, the remains of a Mind Devourer were a great tonic for mental abilities, but the side effects were explosive. Only psychics and some spiritual mages could consume them without side effects. They could comprehensively improve mental attack and defense, and even allow their every mental attack to have a chance to inflict the [Confused] state… and the more Mind Devourer remains they consumed, the higher the chance of triggering the effect.

However, Mind Devourers were difficult to capture. They only dwelled in the Underlayer of Universal Consciousness and could not leave. They could sense all outsiders, and even the three great civilizations found it difficult to establish long-term collection outposts in this sub-dimension. Therefore, Mind Devourers rarely appeared in the universe and were very rare.

The moment this thing broke free, the panel reacted, popping up a corresponding Boss mission.

[【Exterminate the Mind Devourer】]

[Mission Introduction: Mind Devourer, a highly dangerous sub-dimensional creature that feeds on the thoughts of life. For some reason, this Mind Devourer was brought into the universe. If left unchecked, it will become a hidden danger, causing various mental disasters in the future.]

[Mission Requirement: Kill the Mind Devourer]

[Reward: 10,000,000 experience]

[Highest Output Reward (Unique): Talent【Mind Aegis】, Talent【Magic Resistance】]

[【Mind Aegis】: Mental Resistance +40%, you are immune to [Confused] and [Frightened] states]

[【Magic Resistance】: Your body has superior resistance to magic, Magic Attack Resistance +45%, you have a 5% chance to be immune to the next magic attack, this effect has a 10-minute cooldown]

Players usually teamed up to fight Bosses, with the highest output being considered the kill. Even in the eyes of the great technician Han, these two talents were quite good, and even more powerful for players. Han Xiao was here to get these two abilities.

The box itself was a sealed container. The Mind Devourer had been trapped inside for who knows how long, unable to contact the outside world at all. At this time, it was very weak, in a state of extreme hunger. As soon as it broke free, it briefly observed its surroundings and couldn't wait to rush towards the Punisher Alliance and others, its mental fluctuations conveying an extremely hungry emotion.

In its eyes, these people were walking, talking meals.

"Quick! The monster is coming!"

Raymond, Cerl, and the others tightened their faces and hurriedly grabbed their weapons, not caring about destroying the spaceship. All kinds of attacks were thrown at the Mind Devourer.

However, these attacks had limited effect on the Mind Devourer. The Mind Devourer's defense was similar to that of the Star Wanderer. B-level attacks could barely break through its defenses.

Bearing a large number of attacks, the Mind Devourer was basically unharmed, twisting its strange body and quickly approaching Raymond.

Seeing the strange monster about to latch onto him, Raymond's face changed drastically, and he retreated in panic.

Swish!

At this moment, a beam of light suddenly pierced through the Mind Devourer from behind. The Mind Devourer immediately stopped and began to tremble violently.

A spherical drone floated beside Han Xiao, its circular nozzle continuously releasing multi-dimensional energy, shooting out beams of light.

This was a multi-dimensional energy-driven weapon that Han Xiao created after obtaining the Ultimate Knowledge. It was quite useful for dealing with sub-dimensional creatures and could just happen to kill the Mind Devourer.

The light continued to spread within the Mind Devourer's body. Raymond and the others saw the monster that had withstood their attacks without injury, being severely injured by a thin beam of light, shaking violently, as if struggling frantically, like a fish that had been skewered but hadn't completely died yet.

The frequency of the Mind Devourer's mental fluctuations revealed a strong sense of despair and unwillingness, infecting everyone with this emotion, as if seeing a beast at the end of its road wailing and roaring, making them unable to help but feel sad for it.

Just out of the wolf's den, and into the tiger's mouth… this was too unlucky!

Everyone present watched as the Mind Devourer was filled with light, and finally burst like a bubble with a *pop*, disappearing without a trace, leaving only a black, irregular lump on the ground, only the size of a palm. This was the Mind Devourer's remains.

Han Xiao retracted the drone, casually sucked the remains into his hand, and threw it to Fording.

"Solved. You helped me find it, so I'll give you this thing. Figure out how to use it yourself."

Fording was stunned, "Give it to me? Don't you want it?"

"It's useless to me," Han Xiao shook his head. He was a mechanic, he couldn't use the remains of a Mind Devourer.

His goal was only the two talents. When he killed the Mind Devourer, the panel prompted him that the mission was complete, and he got the two talents, so he didn't need anything else.

Although the Mind Devourer's resistance was high, Super-A grades were a group of people standing at the peak of individual power. Falling into Han Xiao's hands was only a matter of being instantly killed. Even the former Star Wanderer was just a cannon fodder in front of Han Xiao.

Speaking of which, I'm already tougher than the Star Wanderer… Han Xiao couldn't help but mutter in his heart.

Glancing at the Punisher Alliance and others, Han Xiao didn't explain and strode off the spaceship. Fording shook his head and smiled, quickly following, step by step.

Having been together for so long, he found that he liked Han Xiao more and more.

As expected of a friend I'm willing to serve.

Raymond and the others subconsciously made way, watching the backs of Black Star and his party as they left. Cerl suddenly understood.

"Such a terrible monster is sealed in the Box of Enticement. If it breaks free one day in the future, we'll be in trouble…"

Hearing this, all the members of the Punisher Alliance suddenly realized and felt that they understood Black Star's intention.

Black Star knew of the existence of the Mind Devourer, so he came specifically to eliminate this monster that shouldn't appear in the universe?

Everyone had personally experienced the terror of the Mind Devourer just now. If they had been kept in the dark, they would have suffered heavy casualties when the Mind Devourer broke free in the future!

So, we were indirectly saved by Black Star?!

We actually misunderstood such a big shot…

Realizing this, Raymond and the others' mood suddenly became extremely complicated, with a burst of shame, and a strong sense of gratitude.

Cerl struggled for a while, made up his mind, and rushed out of the spaceship, wanting to catch up with Fording and apologize to him for his previous attitude.

However, as soon as he left the hatch, he found that the backs of Black Star and his party had disappeared without a trace, having already left.

Seeing this, everyone looked at each other and sighed complexly on their faces.

The difference between Black Star and our level is too great… I'm afraid we'll never have a chance to repay this kindness.

…

The sudden incident caused by Fording came to an end. Han Xiao learned his lesson and didn't let the fleet dock on any planets, lest Fording, this lucky charm, encounter any more opportunities and disturb his training.

Fortunately, after getting the Mind Devourer remains, Fording focused on studying in his room and didn't have time to run around picking up money.

After absorbing the remains, Fording's psychic power was further enhanced, and Han Xiao always had a strange feeling about this.

Suddenly getting a treasure, it looks like the treatment of the protagonist.

Although I also earned a talent, I always feel that Fording got the better end of the deal…

The fleet sailed for several days, and Han Xiao, who could finally concentrate on training, finally made up for the last bit of qi-force, using money to stack the qi-force limit to 120,000, reaching the qi-force realm of [Lv19].

The level 300 advancement mission, [Energy Sufficiency] and [Knowledge Profound], was finally completed!