Chapter 2 Second Planet Trial

Xu Jingming clicked on the second planet's trial information, and a three-dimensional map of the entire planet immediately appeared before his eyes.

One location on the map was marked.

"Second planet trial: Arrive at the destination alive!"

"Upon arrival, you may enter a miniature wormhole and proceed to the third planet."

"Friendly reminder: Countless insectoids live on the second planet. Please be careful to avoid them!"

Xu Jingming looked at the marked destination, his expression changing slightly. "That's too far. I'm on this side of the planet, and the destination is on the other. Following the shortest route, it's still 28,312 li."

"A planet teeming with insectoids, and I have to walk to the other side on two legs?" Xu Jingming hadn't even started yet, but he already felt it wouldn't be easy.

"There are countless insectoids along the way. I estimate I'll have to detour often, so the actual distance I travel should exceed 30,000 kilometers."

"To save time! I have to move even faster!"

There were only 30 days for the trial. He couldn't stay on the second planet for too long! If he could successfully reach the third star system in half a year, his minimum goal was to reach the fifth planet and join the Cosmic Professional Player's labor force!

As for the seventh planet? Every explorer yearned for it, and Xu Jingming yearned for it too! But he also understood that reaching the seventh planet would definitely be difficult.

"But no matter what, I can't waste too much time on the second planet."

"Fortunately, in the mystic realm, the body will always remain in a peak state, and I won't experience hunger or thirst," Xu Jingming thought. In the mystic realm, explorers could focus entirely on adventure and exploration. He opened the panel, changed his equipment and weapons, equipped a close-fitting soft armor, and restored his spear.

"Lighter load, so my speed can reach its fastest." Xu Jingming prepared to set off, gripping his long spear.

*Gah!*

As he left the protective shield, another figure walked out of the transit pod. Clearly, another cosmic citizen had arrived at the second planet from the first.

Xu Jingming proceeded cautiously, observing the surrounding terrain and the insectoids in the distance, while carefully making his way.

He used the cover of trees and rocks to keep himself out of the sight of some insectoids.

"Those two insectoids ahead won't be easy to avoid." With a few leaps, Xu Jingming took the initiative to charge over.

When he was about ten meters away, the two insectoids finally discovered Xu Jingming. They immediately pounced fiercely, but with two flashes of the spear, they were already dead.

"Super-first-rate strength! Three or five insectoids would be courting death."

Xu Jingming's expression didn't change as he quickly pressed on at full speed!

He observed the situation while traveling.

Soon, Xu Jingming climbed high into a large tree, looking around to observe.

Every cell in Xu Jingming's eyes was mobilized, allowing him to clearly see more than ten li away.

In the distance, there were roars as dozens of insectoids surrounded a human, attacking him. Other insectoids were rushing over from the surrounding areas, drawn by the commotion. The number of insectoids continued to increase, and the cosmic citizen, wielding his weapon, was eventually torn to pieces.

"The first rule on an insectoid planet is not to delay. If it takes too long, more and more insectoids will arrive," Xu Jingming judged from afar. "With my strength, I can prevail against insectoids in groups of thirty or less."

He could also shake off the insectoids. But with larger numbers, the hope of escaping became slim.

"Against fifty insectoids, it would take me about half a minute to kill them all! That's too long. In that time, I estimate hundreds of insectoids would surround me."

The number of insectoids would only increase. Being unable to escape meant failure.

"My goal isn't to kill insectoids, but to reach the destination alive, and the faster the better." Xu Jingming silently descended from the tree. His feet were lighter and more agile than a cat's claws as he landed silently, then dashed towards an area with fewer insectoids.

When one or two insectoids occasionally discovered Xu Jingming and charged to intercept, he would simply send them two spear strikes!

It was still easy to kill when facing only a handful of enemies.

"The individual strength of these insectoids is only at the third-rate expert level," Xu Jingming judged.

But only five minutes later, Xu Jingming overturned his own judgment.

A massive, butterfly-like insectoid had legs that were slender and sharp, each at least five or six meters long. The numerous legs simultaneously launched a siege, and even Xu Jingming couldn't help but change his expression. Fortunately, these insectoids relied mainly on instinct.

*Pfft.* With a single spear strike, he killed the spider insectoid leader. Xu Jingming's pupils constricted. "This insectoid alone is comparable to a first-rate expert!"

Xu Jingming became even more cautious. Especially after seeing hundreds of spider insectoids moving together on a mountaintop, he realized that he couldn't "force his way through" on the second planet. He had to know how to seek good fortune and avoid disaster.

The sky darkened, and suddenly, a cicada-like insectoid burrowed out of the sand, opening its mouth and emitting a strange, piercing cry.

Xu Jingming, who had just killed three ordinary insectoids, suddenly heard the strange insectoid's cry, and his face paled.

The strange sound wave assaulted his entire body. Every cell vibrated, and his brain felt as if it had been struck hard. His whole body was suffering from a splitting headache. At that moment, insectoids rushed over from all directions, drawn by the cry.

Enduring the discomfort, Xu Jingming gritted his teeth and sprinted away, quickly killing any insectoids that blocked his path.

He fled all the way, trying to distance himself!

He also had to constantly observe the surrounding situation. Finally, he narrowly managed to shake off that group of insectoids completely.

"If I had been surrounded, I would have been finished. I would have had to start all over again." Xu Jingming hadn't dared to stop just now. Only after escaping did he breathe a sigh of relief. "My mind is as tough as it gets, and my control over my body is strong enough, yet I still felt a sense of losing control in that sound! If it were someone with a weaker mind, they probably wouldn't have been able to resist at all."

Xu Jingming felt immense pressure. The insectoids were all different, each with their own unique abilities.

Near an inconspicuous rock on a mountaintop in a mountain range, Xu Jingming was hiding under the rock's cover, relaxing and resting.

"In 29 hours, I haven't dared to relax for a moment. I've traveled 2,526 kilometers." Xu Jingming checked his personal panel, feeling mentally exhausted. "An average of 87 kilometers per hour! It's even more tiring than I imagined!"

"This speed is a little slower than I estimated, but I've done my best." Xu Jingming reflected on the 29 hours of travel.

His body was always in peak condition. Even in the Blood Rain World, with Xu Jingming's control, he could reach speeds of nearly 200 kilometers per hour.

The reason why his actual speed was only 87 kilometers per hour was because of the insectoid threat!

All sorts of insectoids, acting alone or in groups.

Fortunately, Xu Jingming possessed super-first-rate strength and had comprehended the "resonance of all living things," allowing him to skillfully use the environment and find the most suitable path for himself, so he was able to escape so far.

"Although my body remains at its peak, my mind is very tired. I'll go offline first." Xu Jingming didn't think any further and disappeared silently, leaving the mystic realm.

In reality, it was late at night.

Xu Jingming walked out of the virtual pod, feeling the relief of mental relaxation.

"Finally, I can rest…"

Xu Jingming walked to the living room and lay down on the sofa without turning on the lights, letting his mind wander and thinking about nothing.

His spearmanship had long reached the point of flowing like water, and he had also comprehended the resonance of all living things! He was very adept at controlling and using the surrounding environment, but these 29 hours had been too tense.

He hadn't dared to relax for a moment.

Because if he failed, all his previous efforts would be in vain, and he would have to start all over again!

"Out of 30,000 kilometers, I've only traveled less than a tenth of the way," Xu Jingming thought. "Later, there will be jungle environments and vast grassland environments."

Sitting on the sofa, completely relaxed, Xu Jingming could feel his mind recovering rapidly.

*Da da da.*

Li Miaomiao quietly walked down the stairs, turning on the living room lights as she did so.

"Jingming," Li Miaomiao said with delight, "why aren't the lights on so late at night?"

"Resting," Xu Jingming said with a smile.

Li Miaomiao sensed the exhaustion in Xu Jingming's eyes.

"Is the mystic realm very dangerous?" Li Miaomiao sat down beside him.

"It's not easy," Xu Jingming nodded. "And right now, it's only just begun."

Li Miaomiao nodded.

Her husband's will was so strong, and he would rarely complain about being tired. For him to be so exhausted…

"Do you want something to eat?" Li Miaomiao asked.

Xu Jingming was indeed feeling a little hungry. Although he wouldn't feel hunger or thirst in the mystic realm, eating was sometimes a pleasure, not just a way to fill his stomach.

"Is there ice cream?" Xu Jingming asked. "Get me a scoop of ice cream."

"Okay."

Li Miaomiao got up to fetch it.

Soon, the couple was eating ice cream together.

"So refreshing and comfortable." Eating the ice cream, Xu Jingming felt even more relaxed. A sufficiently relaxed environment, the company of loved ones, and delicious food all helped to restore his spirit.

"Is our daughter asleep?" Xu Jingming asked.

Li Miaomiao nodded. "She sleeps very well. She won't wake up until eight or nine in the morning."

Xu Jingming got up and went upstairs to the bedroom to check. His daughter was sleeping soundly.

"Jingming, let yourself relax a little. Maybe you'll be more efficient," Li Miaomiao reminded him.

Xu Jingming looked at his wife and nodded with a smile.

In just over a month, the civilization protection period would end! He didn't know what they would face then.

Tiano had given him a Crimson Red Medal, saying it would protect him and his family! Without the Crimson Red Medal, his and his family's safety couldn't be guaranteed.

Although there were regulations from the Cosmic Human Alliance restricting some powerful civilizations from forcibly seizing resources, the dark methods he had seen online were shocking, and he valued the opportunity in the mystic realm even more!

*Whoosh.*

A moment later, in the courtyard of their residence, Li Miaomiao watched Xu Jingming board the cosmic spacecraft. This X3 cosmic spacecraft was a gift from the Blue Star civilization to Xu Jingming and was usually parked in the yard. At that moment, Xu Jingming was boarding the cosmic spacecraft to go to the underwater base, using the gravity chamber and artificial sun to cultivate!

According to his plan, he would cultivate once every three days or so! This would allow him to maintain nearly maximum efficiency and also serve as an occasional "rest" during his exploration of the mystic realm.

The Milky Way had a total of nine universe-level elementary civilizations, the strongest of which was the Hengliang civilization.

Of the Milky Way's 195 life-bearing planets, the Hengliang civilization controlled 93. Considering the varying levels of development on different life-bearing planets, the other eight civilizations combined couldn't match the Hengliang civilization!

Only the regulations of the Cosmic Human Alliance prevented them from a pure, dog-eat-dog scenario; otherwise, the Hengliang civilization would have swept across the entire Milky Way long ago.

"Your Highness, our fleet is fully prepared and ready to depart for the Blue Star civilization at any time." In a mountain-top building on a beautiful life-bearing planet, a black-haired man spoke respectfully.

The purple-haired elder, leisurely trimming flowers, nodded. "Prepare to embark, but don't rush. The civilization protection period hasn't ended yet. We cannot enter the Blue Star civilization's star system."

"Understood."

The black-haired man's eyes burned. "According to our investigation, the Blue Star civilization's star system is very rich in mineral resources! They are even extravagant enough to purchase a virtual mainframe, allowing all of humanity to enter the virtual world."

"Those riches are temporarily in the hands of the Blue Star civilization," the purple-haired elder said leisurely. "Without sufficient strength, you are not qualified to possess sufficient wealth. When the time comes, they will obediently spit it out."

"What I'm most worried about now…"

The purple-haired elder frowned slightly.

Suddenly, a message arrived.

The purple-haired elder tapped his finger in the air, and a light projection appeared, showing a silver-haired youth.

"Your Majesty." The black-haired man immediately knelt respectfully upon seeing him.

The silver-haired youth looked at the purple-haired elder, a look of helplessness in his eyes, and said, "Uncle Cheng, I just received a notification from the Heiyue civilization."

The purple-haired elder was startled. "What notification?"

"The Heiyue civilization's envoy will arrive in the Milky Way's 'Blue Star civilization' in 39 days, and they want our Hengliang civilization to be fully responsible for their reception." As the emperor of the Hengliang civilization, the silver-haired youth was also very stressed. Saying it was a notification was actually an order!

"The Heiyue civilization has set its sights on this newly advanced civilization?" The purple-haired elder was unwilling. This large piece of fat had been targeted.

"The Blue Star civilization is rich in mineral resources. In addition to the remaining mineral deposits, after the previous few transactions, their cash reserves exceed three trillion cosmic credits," the silver-haired youth said. "They wouldn't look at ordinary newly advanced civilizations, but the Heiyue civilization has clearly set its sights on a sufficiently wealthy one."

The purple-haired elder sighed softly.

They wouldn't be able to eat this piece of meat.

"Uncle, you don't need to depart anymore. I'll simply arrange an envoy to accompany the Heiyue civilization," the silver-haired youth said.

"Alright," the purple-haired elder nodded, not refuting.

Soon, the communication ended.

The purple-haired elder instructed, "Dismiss the fleet."

"Yes," the black-haired man kneeling there could only respond.

"Heiyue…" The purple-haired elder was in a complicated mood.

This was a terrifying civilization that had loomed over the Hengliang civilization for a long time. The Hengliang civilization had to rely on them for everything and didn't even dare to bare its fangs.

As the most powerful civilization in the Twelfth Star Zone of the Wu Gou Star Alliance, the Heiyue civilization possessed 89 star systems! Its strength was terrifying. If the Hengliang civilization was a wolf, then the Heiyue civilization was a Tyrannosaurus Rex!