Interstellar Convoy Mission

"Give us some time to discuss it," Hong said.

"Of course." Brolin nodded. "But be quick. Luo Feng’s condition can’t be delayed."

After the three left, they found a quiet place to discuss the matter.

"What do you think?" Hong asked.

"We have no choice." Thor gritted his teeth. "Luo Feng’s injuries can’t wait. We need to get the medicine as soon as possible."

"But the risks of an interstellar convoy mission…" Luo Wen frowned. "Especially in the Chaotic Star Region. That place is notoriously dangerous."

"Fortune comes from taking risks." Hong took a deep breath. "For Luo Feng, this risk is worth taking. And with our strength, we should be able to handle it."

In the end, the three reached an agreement and returned to Brolin.

"We accept your terms," Hong said.

"A wise choice." Brolin nodded in satisfaction and took an exquisite jade box from his robes. "This is the Ice Soul Cleansing Pill. Hurry and give it to Luo Feng."

Hong accepted the jade box and could feel the chill emanating from within.

"I’ll tell you the specific mission details after the competition ends," Brolin added. "Remember, this matter must be kept secret."

The three nodded and hurried back to the medical bay.

The doctor took the pill, delight appearing in his eyes. "Excellent! With this, Luo Feng’s fire poison can be completely purged."

Under the doctor’s treatment, the Ice Soul Cleansing Pill transformed into a cool stream of energy that slowly entered Luo Feng’s body. Visible to the naked eye, the black patterns on his right arm began to fade.

"The effects are incredible." Thor breathed a sigh of relief.

But Hong’s expression remained grave. "The price isn’t small either. An interstellar convoy mission, and to the Chaotic Star Region at that…"

"When soldiers come, generals block them; when water comes, earth dams it." Luo Wen reassured him. "The four of us working together should be able to manage."

A few hours later, Luo Feng finally woke up. Though he was still weak, his mental state had clearly improved.

"Thank you," he said weakly.

"Don’t mention it." Thor waved a hand. "Get some rest. We still have tough battles ahead."

Luo Feng nodded. He could feel the fire poison inside him being purged, but he also noticed the grave expressions on the other three’s faces.

"What happened?" he asked sharply.

The three exchanged glances before finally telling him about the interstellar convoy mission.

"So that’s what it is." Luo Feng fell silent for a moment. "Sorry for causing you trouble."

"What are you talking about?" Hong patted his shoulder. "We’re a team."

"Once you recover, we’ll go together." Thor smiled. "It’ll be a good trial by fire."

The next day.

The final day of the fifth round.

Luo Wen’s opponent was Gusu Jin of the Silver Blue Empire.

"Gusu Jin, a collateral descendant of the Silver Blue Empire’s royal family. They say she displayed astonishing talent in the Law of Darkness from a young age." Luo Feng leafed through the information on his opponent. Though still recovering, he insisted on coming to support Luo Wen.

"Her weapon is a staff?" Thor was somewhat surprised. "Darkness cultivators rarely use weapons like that."

"That’s what makes her special." Hong pointed to the battle footage in the holographic projection. "Look. Her staff can change form at will—sometimes soft as a whip, sometimes hard as iron."

In the footage, Gusu Jin wore a dark-blue battle robe and held a completely black staff. Her movements were light and graceful, and every attack carried a strange beauty. Most striking of all, her shadow seemed to possess a life of its own, changing in different ways with her movements.

"Shadow Manipulation." Luo Wen narrowed his eyes. "That’s an advanced application of the Law of Darkness. It allows shadows to make tangible attacks."

"Not only that." Luo Feng added, "Look at her footwork. Every step lands on a specific point in her opponent’s shadow. This is the Shadow Step technique of the Law of Darkness. It can lock onto an opponent’s position through their shadow."

The next day, the Star Arena was once again packed with spectators. This was the final match of the fifth round, a long-awaited showdown.

"Fifth Round, Tenth Match: Black Dragon Mountain Empire’s Luo Wen versus Silver Blue Empire’s Gusu Jin!"

Luo Wen slowly walked onto the battlefield, the Starlight Sky-Rending Blade trembling slightly in his hand. The flame patterns on its blade radiated scorching light. After the battles of the previous rounds, his understanding of the Law of Fire had deepened even further.

Across from him, Gusu Jin approached with measured grace. She had delicate features, with a trace of melancholy between her brows. Her long dark-blue hair fluttered in the wind, while the black staff in her hand appeared ordinary yet emitted a profound shadowy aura.

"I heard your Law of Fire is powerful." Gusu Jin’s voice was cool and clear. "Perfect. I want to see whether flame can dispel darkness."

Luo Wen smiled faintly. "Then let’s find out."

"Begin!"

The instant the referee’s words fell, Gusu Jin’s figure suddenly blurred. No—more precisely, her shadow began splitting apart, turning into dozens of dark figures that pounced toward Luo Wen.

Shadow Doppelganger!

Luo Wen had long been prepared. The Starlight Sky-Rending Blade swept sideways, and a wall of fire rose in an instant. When the dark figures touched the flames, they let out hissing sounds. Yet they did not immediately disperse. Instead, like living creatures, they slipped around the fire wall and continued closing in.

"Interesting." Excitement flashed through Luo Wen’s eyes. His figure flickered, and he transformed into a streak of fire that charged directly toward Gusu Jin’s true body.

Gusu Jin remained calm, lightly tapping the ground with her staff. In an instant, the shadow beneath her feet spread outward, forming a domain of darkness.

Dark Domain: Eternal Night!

The entire battlefield was instantly shrouded in darkness, and even sunlight could not penetrate it. Within this darkness, Luo Wen felt his senses greatly weakened.

"Within my domain, light will have nowhere to hide." Gusu Jin’s voice came from every direction.

Luo Wen closed his eyes, and the Law of Fire within him began to circulate. A faint layer of firelight emerged over his body. It was not enough to illuminate the entire domain, but it at least allowed him to see several meters around him.

Suddenly, the sound of something slicing through the air came from behind him. Luo Wen instinctively twisted aside, and a black staff grazed his shoulder.

"Not bad reflexes." Gusu Jin’s figure appeared and vanished within the darkness. "But how long can you keep dodging?"

Her staff suddenly softened, coiling toward Luo Wen like a black serpent. At the same time, countless shadows surged in from every direction, trying to restrict his movements.

Law of Fire: Flame Dragon Burst!

Luo Wen stopped defending passively. The Starlight Sky-Rending Blade erupted with dazzling firelight. A gigantic fire dragon roared out from the blade, tearing apart the darkness and burning away the shadows everywhere it passed.

Gusu Jin’s expression changed slightly. She withdrew her staff and drew a circle before her. Darkness condensed into a shield, blocking the fire dragon’s impact.

Law of Darkness: Power of Devour!

The black shield suddenly warped into a massive vortex and began absorbing the fire dragon’s energy. The scorching flames were completely devoured the instant they touched the vortex.

"It can devour energy?" Luo Wen frowned. This ability was indeed troublesome.

"Not only that." Gusu Jin sneered. "The energy I devour can also be used by me."

With a sweep of her staff, the flame energy she had just devoured was released in reverse, transforming into black flames that shot toward Luo Wen.

Luo Wen’s pupils contracted. These flames, tainted by the Law of Darkness, were even more powerful and carried corrosive properties. He hurriedly used his Movement Technique to evade them while considering a countermeasure.

It looks like ordinary flame attacks are useless against her, Luo Wen thought. I need to use a higher level of power.

He took a deep breath. The Law of Fire within him began undergoing a qualitative change. The crimson flames gradually turned golden, emitting a sacred aura.

Law of Fire: Fourth Profound Meaning: Heavenly Flame!

Golden flames erupted from his body, instantly illuminating the entire dark domain. These flames differed from ordinary fire. They contained the power to purify all things.

Wherever the golden flames passed, the darkness melted away like ice and snow. Gusu Jin’s Dark Domain began to collapse, and those shadows turned to nothing before the Heavenly Flame.

Gusu Jin’s face changed drastically. "Heavenly Flame? You actually comprehended Heavenly Flame?"

Heavenly Flame was an advanced form of the Law of Fire. It was said that only those with an extremely profound understanding of the source of fire could comprehend it. Not only was its temperature terrifyingly high, but more importantly, it possessed the property of restraining all evil powers.

"It’s time to end this." Luo Wen raised the Starlight Sky-Rending Blade, its entire blade wrapped in golden flames. "Heavenly Flame: Judgment!"

A gigantic golden blade aura slashed forth, carrying the imposing might to pass judgment on all things. Gusu Jin tried to block it with the Power of Devour, only to discover that the Heavenly Flame could not be devoured at all.

At the critical moment, she gritted her teeth and unleashed her trump card.

Law of Darkness: Fifth Profound Meaning: Void!

Her body suddenly became transparent, as though she had merged into the void itself. The golden blade aura passed through her body without causing any harm.

"Intangibility?" Luo Wen was astonished. It was his first time seeing such an ability.

"While in the Void state, I am immune to all physical and energy attacks." Gusu Jin’s voice drifted unpredictably through the air. "Your Heavenly Flame may be powerful, but it cannot hurt me."

She raised her staff, gathering shadow power at its tip.

Law of Darkness: Annihilation Spear!

A pitch-black spear took shape, radiating an aura capable of destroying everything. This was her strongest attack, capable of directly annihilating a target’s existence.

Luo Wen sensed an unprecedented threat, but he did not retreat.

"Then let’s see whose profound meaning is stronger!"

He gathered all the power of the Heavenly Flame into the Starlight Sky-Rending Blade, making the golden flames even purer.

Law of Fire: Ultimate Profound Meaning: Heaven Burning Earth Extinguishing!

Golden flames surged into the sky and formed a gigantic fire phoenix. The phoenix spread its wings and let out a clear cry, diving toward Gusu Jin with the force to burn everything to ash.

The Annihilation Spear collided with the fire phoenix, and the two utterly different powers wrestled in midair. Darkness and light, destruction and rebirth—they formed a stark contrast.

Boom!

The massive explosion shook the entire arena, and even the protective barrier cracked. When the dust settled, Gusu Jin was seen kneeling on one knee. Her staff had broken into two pieces, and her battle robe was badly damaged.

Luo Wen was no better off. He knelt on one knee, gasping heavily. Using the ultimate profound meaning had drained him enormously.

"I concede," Gusu Jin said with difficulty. "Your Heavenly Flame truly restrains my Law of Darkness."

"You let me win." Luo Wen slowly rose to his feet and saluted his opponent.

"Winner: Luo Wen of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire!"

The entire arena erupted in cheers. This clash of fire and darkness had been spectacular, leaving everyone thoroughly exhilarated.

As soon as Luo Wen stepped off the battlefield, his teammates surrounded him.

"Heavenly Flame? When did you comprehend that?" Thor asked in astonishment.

"During that battle just now." Luo Wen smiled. "Gusu Jin’s Power of Devour forced out my potential."

"As expected of you." Hong praised him. "Breaking through in battle—that is what a true genius does."

"But the cost was huge too." Luo Wen gave a bitter smile. "Right now, I feel like my whole body is about to fall apart."

"Go back and rest first," Luo Feng said. "The interstellar convoy mission begins tomorrow."

With Luo Wen’s victory, the fifth round officially came to an end. All four members of the Earth team advanced to the semifinals, making history.

That night, the four gathered to discuss the next day’s convoy mission.

"According to the information Brolin gave us…" Hong unfolded a star map. "We need to pass through three dangerous regions: the Meteor Belt, the Magnetic Storm Zone, and the Pirate Lair."

"That sounds exciting." Thor was eager to get going.

"Don’t let your guard down." Luo Feng reminded him, "The dangers of the Chaotic Star Region don’t just come from the natural environment. More often, they come from people."

"That’s right." Luo Wen nodded. "The most vicious pirates in the universe gather there. For profit, there’s nothing they won’t do."

The four discussed the matter until late into the night and ultimately formulated a detailed plan.

Early the next morning, they arrived at the designated location as agreed. The transport ship was ready, and Brolin’s butler was conducting the final inspection.

"Everything is ready," the butler said. "Good luck."

The spaceship slowly rose into the air, leaving Starry Sky City. Luo Wen stood before the observation window, watching the arena gradually recede into the distance, feeling somewhat sentimental.

"I never expected to travel through space this way," he said softly.

"Yeah. We thought we were going on a trial, but it turns out we became convoy guards." Thor teased him from the side.

As they spoke, a door inside the ship suddenly opened, and a middle-aged man in a black uniform walked in.

"Welcome aboard, everyone." The man gave a slight bow. "I am the leader of this mission, codenamed Ying. For the next ten days, we will be traveling together."

"Hello." Hong nodded politely. "May I ask if there are others aboard the ship?"

Ying smiled faintly. "Of course. How could a mission this important involve only the few of you? Come with me. I’ll introduce you to the other team members."

The four followed Ying through the corridor into a spacious lounge. Five people were already waiting inside.

"Let me introduce everyone." Ying pointed at a burly bald man. "This is Iron Wall, our defense specialist."

Iron Wall nodded. The muscles all over his body seemed forged from steel, radiating a powerful aura.

"This is Ghost, our infiltration specialist." Ying pointed to a slender woman.

Ghost smiled faintly, and her figure suddenly blurred, as though she might disappear into thin air at any moment.

"Wind Blade, close-combat specialist." He indicated a young man holding twin blades.

"Thunder, ranged firepower." He indicated a muscular man carrying a massive energy cannon.

"And Doctor, responsible for medical care and logistics." The last was a middle-aged man wearing glasses.

Luo Wen and the others were secretly startled. Though these people had not revealed their strength, judging from their auras, none of them were simple.

"It looks like this mission really is important," Hong whispered to Luo Wen.

"Yeah." Luo Wen nodded. "They’ve sent out so many experts."