Chapter 14 A Month

Xu Jingming sat cross-legged at the edge of the protective shield, one hand extended beyond its range. In the terrifying environment of the neutron star, his right hand remained in the 'energized' state. With his seventh-order Star Sky life's mental consciousness, controlling just one hand to be 'energized' was still possible.

"Energizing the body?"

Xu Jingming pondered, "I don't have much experience, but the first part of *Hua Guang* does have records of energizing the body." After all, the first part of *Hua Guang* was an eighth-order inheritance. Each stage, from first to eighth order, was recorded in detail.

"According to the description in the first part of *Hua Guang*, mastering the energization of the body only requires accumulating strength for a breakthrough?" Xu Jingming frowned slightly. Xuan's method was simple.

After reaching the eighth order! Put all your thoughts on the mental aspect. When your mental strength is strong enough to leverage the power of the 'Cosmic Source,' it will be extremely easy to master the energization of the body and raise it to the eighth-order limit.

"What Xuan pursues is sufficient mental strength! Everything will be smooth!"

"And the test I'm facing is to control the energized body at the eighth-order limit with my current mental consciousness," Xu Jingming thought. "Xuan's method is not very applicable." Xuan, the Cosmic Legend.

He valued 'accumulating strength for a breakthrough' very much, and he also had enough patience.

For example, he once studied for a thousand years, and in order to prove his insights from reading, he practiced for more than ten thousand years! The solid accumulation also allowed him to break through to the tenth order!

Of course, his ultimate achievement was reaching the level of 'Cosmic Legend.' Swoosh.

Xu Jingming disappeared from the fifth planet.

Virtual World Network, Xu Jingming's personal space.

"Xuan's idea of accumulating strength is good, but it won't allow me to pass the test." Xu Jingming reviewed the eighth-order inheritances. "I need to buy a few more eighth-order inheritances and learn more from the experiences of cosmic powerhouses."

Energizing the body was a problem that eighth-order Star Sky lifeforms had to face. Xuan had actually temporarily put the problem aside, and when his mental strength became extremely powerful, dealing with the problem was naturally easy.

But for most people, improving their mental strength was very difficult. "How to use relatively weak mental strength to control the energization of the body?" Xu Jingming read the introductions to these inheritances and then began to purchase them.

The price of eighth-order inheritances generally fluctuated around 5 million cosmic coins.

For example, the first part of *Hua Guang* was 6 million cosmic coins.

The first part of the inheritance left by Ambro, *Domain*, was 5 million cosmic coins.

"So expensive." Xu Jingming first bought five eighth-order inheritances, spending 23 million cosmic coins, including Ambro's, of course. "Start learning."

Xu Jingming devoted himself to reading.

After reaching the seventh-order Star Sky life, the brain's thinking speed was extremely fast. Photographic memory and multitasking were the most basic abilities.

"Incredible."

While reading, Xu Jingming couldn't help but exclaim. The creators of these five inheritances included three Cosmic Legends in history and two tenth-order powerhouses!

Reading the descriptions in the inheritances, he could feel the wisdom of these five great beings. Even after a long time, Xu Jingming was amazed and admired them.

"Xuan and these five have different styles." Xu Jingming pondered, "Practice is the best way to prove understanding." Fifth planet, 'Neutron Star,' Xu Jingming stretched out a hand outside the protective shield, his entire arm fully energized.

"Using layers of control to achieve terrifying control," Xu Jingming shook his head slightly. "But his method is too complicated. Ambro has extremely high academic qualifications!"

Ambro's different control methods made Xu Jingming feel like he was reading a heavenly book. Ambro's cultivation method was more like that of a 'scholar.'

"I can simplify his method." "Just barely control it."

Xu Jingming learned and tried, and finally, he walked out of the protective shield completely. Under the impact of various rays, high-temperature penetration, and terrifying gravity, Xu Jingming's entire body was energized! His whole body was glowing slightly.

"Ambro's framework is really amazing. I can stabilize the entire energized body just by imitating his framework," Xu Jingming praised. He walked slowly step by step.

The ray storms of the neutron star were unstable, and occasionally, a certain area would erupt.

Xu Jingming took his ninth step, and the heat under his feet suddenly increased greatly. The density of the rays increased, impacting his body.

Xu Jingming's energized body completely collapsed, and countless light spots dissipated.

"Ambro's method is good, but to achieve something, one must have extremely high research in science." Xu Jingming changed another method, "Try the method of another senior, 'Zhou Wu.'"

Zhou Wu was a very ancient Cosmic Legend, almost one of the greatest beings in the earliest stages of human civilization in the universe.

"Zhou Wu is a Cosmic Legend. It is said that his academic qualifications should have exceeded level 150, making him the most academically accomplished human in the universe at that time."

"But his teachings are surprisingly simple and easy to understand?"

Xu Jingming walked out of the neutron star again, his whole body energized. Xu Jingming gained a lot of understanding from the way Senior Zhou Wu taught, walking more than five hundred meters before his body collapsed under a violent burst of rays.

Ambro, Zhou Wu, Saint Chalen, Kong Wang, and Min Yang—these five were all famous figures in the history of human civilization in the universe, either Cosmic Legends or outstanding tenth-order powerhouses.

Each person's inheritance was remarkable, and the five had their own methods for controlling 'body energization.'

"Zhou Wu, Saint Chalen, and Min Yang—these three people's methods seem more suitable for me," Xu Jingming thought. "On the first day, I can walk close to a kilometer! I believe I can pass the test."

******

On the first day, by learning from the inheritances of his predecessors, Xu Jingming made great progress and was full of confidence.

The second day, the third day...

"It's been a month, why can't I walk two kilometers?" Xu Jingming was a little dazed. In a month, he had many ideas! But the farther he walked, the more ray bursts he experienced. He would collapse if he couldn't withstand one.

"The destination is on the other side of the neutron star, nearly 20 kilometers away. I'm struggling so much with even one-tenth of the distance." Xu Jingming felt it was too difficult.

Was he going to stop here?

"No matter what, try hard for ten months, and then look for opportunities for the remaining time."

Xu Jingming maintained his energized state again, radiating light, and continued walking on the neutron star.

June 25, 2083.

Under the witness of the Virtual World Network, representatives of Blue Star Civilization and Black Moon Civilization jointly signed an agreement on the mineral development of Blue Star Civilization.

Blue Star Civilization sent six representatives: Secretary-General Angus and representatives of the five major permanent member states.

Black Moon Civilization also sent two representatives: a high-level official of Black Moon Civilization and Captain Enno.

"Phew."

After the six representatives of Blue Star Civilization signed the agreement, their moods were complex. After spending more than a month, they finally negotiated and signed the agreement!

Blue Star Civilization had put a lot of thought into this agreement, and Xu Jingming's Crimson Star Medal was also a key negotiating factor.

"Congratulations," the high-level official of Black Moon Civilization said, rising and looking at the six representatives of Blue Star Civilization with a smile. "As a newly advanced cosmic civilization, the terms of this agreement you have signed are already very favorable. Our Black Moon Civilization rarely makes such big concessions."

"Thank you for the tolerance of Black Moon Civilization," Secretary-General Angus said humbly.

"Mm."

The high-level official of Black Moon Civilization nodded and then left.

"The development agreement has been signed," Captain Enno also said. "Our Black Moon Civilization's pioneering team will immediately move in, and we will also send troops to be stationed in Blue Star Civilization's pioneering area. Without our permission, Blue Star Civilization is not allowed to enter the pioneering area."

"That's natural. Everything will be carried out according to the agreement," Secretary-General Angus and the other six representatives nodded.

Xu Jingming's home. Neighbor Pang Ze visited.

"Mr. Pang," Xu Jingming greeted him.

"The agreement has just been signed. You know about it, right?" Pang Ze said. Xu Jingming nodded, "I just received the news."

"The development period agreed upon is 60 years," Pang Ze said. "For the next 60 years... Blue Star Civilization's territory will have Black Moon Civilization troops stationed long-term."

Xu Jingming frowned, "I saw the contents of the agreement. The Black Moon Civilization troops are limited to the 'pioneering area'?"

"After all, the pioneering area occupies 9.2% of the entire solar system," Pang Ze said. "The area is very large! The power of the Black Moon Civilization troops can attack any part of the solar system." Xu Jingming nodded.

Many weapons have a wide range of attack. With the Black Moon Civilization troops in the development area, the attack range could easily cover the entire star system.

There was no way around it.

With the fleet strength of the Black Moon Civilization, they could destroy the entire solar system even from outside the solar system.

"From now on, we'll have to depend on their mood," Pang Ze said. "We'll have to look at the Black Moon Civilization's face everywhere! But this is already the best contract."

"Yes," Xu Jingming nodded. "The Black Moon Civilization has many civilians responsible for developing the mines! The contract stipulates that those civilians can only be active in the pioneering area and are not allowed to enter Blue Star. Although it can't restrict cosmic citizens, the number of cosmic citizens the Black Moon Civilization sends is very small."

"Even if a few cosmic citizens enter Blue Star, the impact will be much smaller," Xu Jingming said.

"After formally integrating into the universe," Pang Ze said, "the arrival of foreign cosmic citizens can't be stopped. As a new civilization, many cosmic adventurers and cosmic tourism enthusiasts will come to Blue Star Civilization."

Xu Jingming nodded.

There was no way around this. Cosmic citizens and ordinary planet civilians inherently had different rights.

Cosmic citizens were protected by the laws of the entire 'Cosmic Human Alliance' and had much greater power! Planet lifeforms had much lower status.

"Blue Star will eventually integrate into cosmic civilization step by step," Pang Ze sighed.

"I heard that the profit split for this development contract is 50%?" Xu Jingming said.

"50% of the profits," Pang Ze shook his head. "It looks like a very fair contract, but the Black Moon Civilization has various ways to steal the profits. For example, paying their Black Moon Civilization employees high salaries, or giving the companies that refine the minerals high fees... As long as they want to, they can reduce the profits to 0!"

Xu Jingming was stunned.

"So the key to the contract is the guaranteed minimum revenue share," Pang Ze said. "If I'm not mistaken, the guaranteed minimum income..."

"...is Blue Star's final real income."

"The guaranteed minimum share they gave is pretty good," Pang Ze said. "I estimate that Blue Star will get about 25% of the real income from the minerals."

"25%," Xu Jingming shook his head slightly. "We can only get a small part of our own minerals."

"If it weren't for your Crimson Star Medal, it probably wouldn't even be 5%! And their civilians would probably live on Blue Star!" Pang Ze said. "Millions or even tens of millions of Black Moon people living on Blue Star would have a big impact. If Black Moon Civilization residents committed crimes, they would probably have to be handed over to the Black Moon Civilization to deal with themselves. Then the lives of Blue Star people would be miserable. Fortunately, the contract stipulates that they are not allowed to come to Blue Star."

Xu Jingming nodded, "But I think that the contract is only beautifully written. When it comes to actual implementation, the Black Moon Civilization won't be so clean."

"That's for sure," Pang Ze said. "When their troops are stationed in the solar system, we'll have to listen to them obediently for the next 60 years. Fortunately, there's a contract to bind them, and the Virtual World Network is witnessing it! The days are still a bit hopeful."

Xu Jingming nodded slightly.

"If we really encounter some tricky matters," Pang Ze looked at Xu Jingming, "we may need you to take action personally."

"Me take action?" Xu Jingming's heart stirred.

"You, who possess the Crimson Star Medal, are the only cosmic citizen on the entire Blue Star that the Black Moon Civilization doesn't dare to touch!" Pang Ze said. "Sometimes, only you can stand up."

Xu Jingming nodded slightly.

Tiano had foreseen today and gave him the Crimson Star Medal! This had greatly improved his situation.

"Of course, the most important thing is our own strength," Pang Ze said. "Only when we are strong enough will the Black Moon Civilization and some other foreign forces not dare to bully us."

"Yes," Xu Jingming nodded. "Now is the growth period of Blue Star Civilization. In this growth stage, it is inevitable that we will suffer a bit. We have to get through it," Pang Ze nodded.

As the most academically accomplished cosmic citizen on Blue Star, Pang Ze had once felt lonely and tormented. But now, Xu Jingming's rapid rise! Even becoming a seventh-order Star Sky lifeform in less than two years, made Pang Ze even more confident in the future.

He saw hope!

Mysterious place, fifth planet, neutron star.

After signing the agreement, Blue Star Civilization would have to endure the presence of the Black Moon Civilization troops for the next sixty years.