Chapter 530
A Serious Problem!
Chapter 530 A Serious Problem!
This time, he entered a meditative state even faster than before. Although the thorn was still bothering him, its influence had diminished considerably.
"Keep going," Rowan told himself. "As long as I persist in practicing the Mind-Stabilizing Technique, one day I will be able to completely suppress that will."
He entered a meditative state, and his consciousness gradually became blurred.
Just as he was about to fall asleep, the voice rang in his mind again.
"Do you think you can get rid of me like this?"
"Stop dreaming... The connection between us has been established... The more you resist, the more attracted you will be..."
"Give up... surrender to me... I will give you endless power..."
Rowan suddenly opened his eyes.
I told you, get out!
He mobilized all his mental energy to suppress the voice.
The sound gradually faded away, but Rowan knew it would come back.
For several days in a row, Rowan was silently fighting against that will.
Every night, when all was quiet, that voice would appear on time, whispering, enticing, and threatening in his mind. The images became clearer and clearer; he could even see the outline of an ancient star beast—an unimaginably enormous being, curled up at the bottom of the abyss, surrounded by endless darkness.
Although the calming mantra was useful, its effect was not as ideal as he had expected.
That will was like a tide. Although the dam he built with the Mind-Stabilizing Technique could hold it off for a while, it would quickly come back after the tide receded, and each time it was more intense than the last.
That morning, Luo Wen sat up in bed, looking at the gradually brightening sky outside the window, his eyes filled with exhaustion.
It was another night in which I barely slept.
He walked to the bronze mirror and looked at himself. In just a few days, his face had become noticeably haggard; his eyes were sunken, his cheeks were thin, and his lips were chapped. If Lin Feng and Zhao Xue saw him now, they would probably be shocked.
“This can’t go on,” Rowan said in a low voice.
The resources he could find on Blue Star were far too limited. Although Elder Xuanqing was erudite, he was helpless against beings of the level of ancient star beasts. The Mind-Stabilizing Technique could only slow down the erosion, but it couldn't solve the problem at its root.
If this continues, he will eventually be completely defeated by that will.
“We must find stronger assistance,” Rowan decided.
He thought of his spaceship.
The spaceship was parked in a secluded valley in the Dragon Vein Mountains; it was the means of transportation he used to arrive on Earth. The spaceship was equipped with communication devices from the Virtual Universe Company. Although it couldn't conduct real-time communication over extremely long distances, it could contact headquarters through relay stations.
Virtual Universe Corporation is one of the five superpowers in the universe, possessing countless powerful individuals. In terms of mental strength, there are certainly beings more powerful and experienced than him. If he could obtain their guidance, perhaps he could find a way to exorcise the will of the Star Beast.
With that in mind, Rowan no longer hesitated and began packing his things.
He didn't bring much with him, only a few books borrowed from the Secret Library and some essential items. After everything was ready, he left his residence and headed towards the headquarters of the Mysterious Bureau.
The city of Tianqi was still shrouded in a thin mist in the early morning. There were few pedestrians on the streets, with only a few early-rising vendors setting up their stalls. The air was filled with dampness and the faint smell of cooking smoke.
Rowan walked through several streets and arrived at the headquarters of the Mysterious Bureau.
The guards at the headquarters entrance saw him and quickly saluted.
"Mr. Luo, you're here so early?"
“I need to see Deacon Chen,” Rowan said. “Is he in?”
"Yes, Deacon Chen just arrived."
Luo Wen nodded, walked into the headquarters, and headed towards Chen Yuan's office.
Chen Yuan was sitting behind his desk working when he heard a knock on the door and looked up.
"Rowan?" He was somewhat surprised. "What brings you here so early?"
"Deacon Chen, I would like to request a period of leave," Luo Wen said bluntly.
"Are you taking leave?" Chen Yuan put down his pen. "Why? What happened?"
Rowan paused for a moment, then said, "I haven't been feeling well lately and need to find a quiet place to recuperate for a while."
Chen Yuan carefully examined Luo Wen, noticing his haggard face and sunken eye sockets, and his brows furrowed slightly.
“You do look very unwell,” he said. “Are you ill? Should we have the medical officer at headquarters take a look?”
“No need,” Rowan shook his head. “This isn’t an ordinary illness; the physician can’t treat it. I need to handle it myself.”
Chen Yuan didn't press the matter. He knew Luo Wen was a sensible person, and if he said he needed to handle it himself, he must have his reasons.
"How long of leave do you want to take?" he asked.
"It's uncertain; it could take ten days to two weeks, or even longer."
“Alright,” Chen Yuan nodded, “I’ve approved the leave. Take good care of yourself, and don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything.”
"Thank you, Deacon Chen," Luo Wen said, clasping his hands in thanks.
"There's one more thing," Chen Yuan added, "What are your plans for Lin Feng and Zhao Xue? They've been training with you for a while now, and suddenly losing their master's guidance might make them a little uncomfortable."
Luo Wen thought for a moment and said, "Let them train on their own for a while. I've already taught them enough; now they need time to digest and consolidate it. If they encounter any problems, they can consult Senior Xuan Qing."
"Okay, I'll pass it on to them."
Rowan thanked him again, then turned and left.
After leaving the headquarters of the Mysterious Bureau, he did not return to Qingfeng Lane, but headed directly out of the city.
The sun had risen, the mist was gradually dissipating, and the streets were becoming more crowded. Rowan walked through the bustling crowd, out of the city gate, and headed towards the Dragon Vein Mountains.
His spaceship was hidden in a valley on the western side of the Dragon Vein Mountains, about 500 miles from Tianqi City. At his speed, he could arrive in half a day.
Along the way, that will constantly launched harassment attacks.
Sometimes it was a sudden image flashing in his mind, sometimes it was a whisper in his ear, and sometimes it was a sudden headache. Rowan suppressed it with a calming spell as he traveled, and although he was a bit disheveled, he could still manage.
About four hours later, Rowan finally arrived at the valley.
This is a very secluded place, surrounded by towering peaks, with only a narrow path leading into the valley. The valley is overgrown with dense trees and weeds, making it impossible to see what's hidden inside from the outside.
Rowan walked along the path into the valley, pushing aside layers of vines and bushes, and arrived at the center of the valley.
There was a huge rock there, its surface covered with a thick layer of moss and fallen leaves. But Rowan knew it wasn't a real rock; it was the camouflage shell of his spaceship.
He walked forward and found a hidden button on the side of the rock, then pressed it gently.
"drop--"
With a soft sound, the surface of the rock began to change. The moss and fallen leaves rippled like water, revealing a silvery-white metallic shell beneath. It was a small spaceship, streamlined in design, about three zhang long and two zhang wide, looking incredibly futuristic.
The spaceship's hatch slowly opened, and Rowan stepped inside.
The interior space is not large, but it is fully equipped. It includes a cockpit, rest area, storage compartments, and a complete communication system. This spaceship is standard equipment for Virtual Universe Corporation; while not the most advanced model, it is sufficient for daily mission needs.
Rowan entered the cockpit, sat in the pilot's seat, and began activating the spaceship's various systems.
"System self-check in progress..."
"Energy system is normal..."
"Propulsion system normal..."
"Communication system is normal..."
"Life support system is functioning normally..."
"All systems are functioning normally; takeoff is permitted."
The spacecraft's intelligent system reported various data in a mechanical voice.
Rowan nodded and slowly steered the spaceship into the air.
The spaceship flew higher and higher, piercing through the clouds above the valley. Soon, the surface of Blue Star transformed into a giant arc, then into a complete sphere. Azure oceans, verdant land, and pristine white clouds—from space, this planet appeared as beautiful as a dazzling gem.
Looking at the scenery outside the porthole, Rowan felt a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.
He had lived on this planet for several months and had gradually integrated into life here. Lin Feng, Zhao Xue, Chen Yuan, Elder Xuanqing... Although these people were just ordinary beings on Blue Star, their kindness and sincerity warmed his heart.
“I’ll be back,” Rowan said softly. “I’ll come back as soon as I’ve resolved this.”
He maneuvered the spaceship to continue ascending, leaving the atmosphere of Earth and entering outer space.
Space was an endless darkness, with only distant stars twinkling faintly. The spaceship appeared so small in this darkness, like a tiny boat on a vast ocean.
Rowan adjusted the spaceship's attitude and then activated the communication system.
"Connecting to the transfer station..."
"Searching for signals..."
"Signal search in progress..."
After a few minutes, the communication system issued a notification tone.
"Connected to the nearest relay station, distance: 3.7 light-years. Signal delay: approximately 12 seconds. Establish communication?"
“Establish communication,” Rowan said.
The communication channel was turned on, and a patch of static appeared on the screen before gradually becoming clearer.
A young woman in a blue uniform appeared on the screen. She looked to be in her early twenties, with delicate features and bright eyes; she was clearly a communications officer at the transit station.
"This is Relay Station 7394 in the Milky Way. Please report your identity and mission code," she said in a businesslike manner.
"Virtual Universe Company, Space Mercenaries, Mission Code Name: Rowan. Mission: Monitoring Blue Star," Rowan replied.
The communications officer made a few moves on the console to verify Luo Wen's identity, and then his expression became friendly.
"Hello, Mr. Rowan. How can I help you?"
“I need to contact headquarters,” Rowan said. “There’s an emergency to report, and I need to request backup.”
"Please wait a moment, I'll transfer you."
The screen turned to static again, followed by a waiting sequence.
A few minutes later, a new face appeared on the screen.
He was a middle-aged man with a resolute face and sharp eyes. He wore a black military uniform with several gold stars on his shoulders, clearly a high-ranking officer.
“Rowan,” the middle-aged man’s voice was deep and powerful, “I am Zhou Heng, the deputy commander of the Galaxy branch of Virtual Universe Corporation. What emergency do you need to report?”
“Commander Zhou,” Rowan saluted, “I discovered a serious problem while conducting a monitoring mission on Blue Star.”
He gave a concise report on the situation in the Demon Suppression Abyss, the signs of the ancient star beasts' awakening, and his own being corrupted by the star beasts' will.
Zhou Heng's expression gradually became serious.
"You mean, you made contact with the consciousness of that ancient star beast?" he asked.
“Yes,” Rowan nodded, “it was just a fleeting glance, but its will invaded my mind. Ever since then, I’ve been constantly tormented by it, unable to rest or cultivate properly.”
Zhou Heng was silent for a moment, then said, "This is indeed a serious problem. The spiritual power of ancient star beasts is extremely strong; even a King-level expert would find it difficult to resist its erosion of will. It's already quite remarkable that you've held on this long."
"Commander Zhou, I'd like to request backup," Rowan said. "Headquarters said they would send people to deal with the ancient star beasts on Blue Star. What's the progress?"
Zhou Heng sighed.
“I must tell you the truth about this,” he said. “Headquarters did arrange support, but for some reason, the team’s journey has been delayed.”
"Delay? How long was the delay?"
"The original plan was to arrive within two years, but now it seems it may take five years or even longer."
Rowan's expression changed slightly.
"Five years?" His voice was somewhat hoarse. "Commander Zhou, the seal on Blue Star probably won't last five years. And in my current condition, it's difficult for me to maintain that long."
“I know,” Zhou Heng said, “so I will do my best to secure more resources for you. Although we can't send anyone to Blue Star, communication is not a problem. You said you were being disturbed by the will of the Star Beasts; I can help you contact an expert on that.”
"expert?"
“Yes,” Zhou Heng nodded, “The Virtual Universe Company has a master of mental power named Xuan Lingzi. He is a powerful figure at the Immortal Realm, proficient in various methods of cultivating and utilizing mental power. I can ask him to guide you through communication, helping you resist the erosion of the Star Beast's will.”
A glimmer of hope flashed in Rowan's eyes.
"Then I'll have to trouble Commander Zhou."
“You’re welcome, it’s what we should do,” Zhou Heng said. “You provided the company with valuable intelligence during your mission on Blue Star, and we won’t stand idly by while you’re in danger. Wait a moment, I’ll contact Master Xuan Lingzi right now.”
The communication screen switched to a waiting state.
Rowan leaned back in his seat and let out a long sigh of relief.
There was finally a glimmer of hope. If Master Xuanlingzi could truly help him, perhaps he wouldn't have to worry about that invading will anymore.
About half an hour later, the communication screen lit up again.
This time, the face of an old man appeared on the screen.
(End of this chapter)