Swallowstar’s Four Heralds

Upon hearing of the threat posed by Galactus, Reed decisively expressed his willingness to lend a hand and temporarily join the Avengers’ research team, working together to prepare for the fight against the evil alien god.

At this, Li Congxin sincerely declared, "I’m deeply gratified!"

Our Aven… our Avengers Alliance needs talent like this!

As for Human Torch and the others… they could go cool their heels wherever it was coolest!

In fact, among the Fantastic Four, the only thing that interested Li Congxin was Mister Fantastic’s reputedly number-one intelligence in the Marvel universe. As for the abilities of the four of them, Li Congxin thought they were nothing special.

Therefore, when the time truly came, Reed’s clever mind would actually be enough. As for his rubber-transforming superpower, Li Congxin considered it completely dispensable. He didn’t believe Doctor Doom could develop his rubber ability to the fifth gear.

Even taking a step back, so what if he really could develop it to the fifth gear? Could he beat Galactus, or Silver Surfer?

Those who conducted scientific research should obediently stay in the rear and provide technical support for the team. That was the proper way for a scientist to operate.

After discussing the plan to oppose Galactus with the Fantastic Four—mainly Reed—Li Congxin returned directly to Avengers Base, to his own laboratory.

The moment he teleported in, the scene before him startled him. "Daisy, how did you get in here?"

It turned out that sometime after Li Congxin had left, Daisy had entered his laboratory. She was currently sitting in front of the computer, fiddling with something.

When she saw Li Congxin return, a meaningful smile appeared on Daisy’s face. "I’d like to know how I got in here, too. Originally, I made a breakthrough in my technology and finally completed the draft of the interstellar network coverage plan. I was going to have you look over my research results."

At this point, Daisy’s expression grew even stranger. "To give you a surprise, I originally planned to use hacking methods to break through Mingyue’s defense system and sneak in to wait for you. But when I arrived, Mingyue actually said I had permission to enter. By the way, isn’t this your private studio and bedroom? How did I get permission?"

How had Daisy obtained permission?

Of course, Li Congxin himself had set it up!

In fact, Li Congxin had always harbored a few improper thoughts about Daisy. As the saying went, a beautiful and virtuous woman was a gentleman’s desire. There was nothing shameful about that.

The problem was that from the moment he met Daisy, he had already become entangled with Hill, and later Ava had joined the picture as well.

Under such circumstances, when Li Qianhuan called him a scumbag, she wasn’t wronging him at all.

Even he himself had to admit that he was a scumbag!

As a self-aware scumbag, although Li Congxin had always possessed the desire, he had refrained from taking the initiative to tease Daisy out of the noble principle that rabbits did not eat the grass beside their burrows. Still, while setting the entry permissions, he had unconsciously added Daisy’s name, thinking that perhaps he might succeed one day.

Of course, he could never admit that. Thus, he pretended not to care and moved over to the computer, staring straight at the monitor. "You’ve finished the theoretical data for constructing the interstellar network? Let me see. This will be a giant step forward for human civilization. You’re truly a genius. Your name is bound to go down in history! Oh my God!"

Received Impression Points from Daisy Johnson +6666!

Daisy still refused to let him off so easily, so she steered the topic back to the key issue. "Aren’t you going to explain the entry permissions?"

"Your data is extremely precise and has been effectively integrated with the alien technology I brought back…" Li Congxin kept his eyes fixed on the computer screen and rattled on without pause, refusing to pick up Daisy’s cue.

At the same time, he used his incomparably powerful mental strength to control his heartbeat, breathing, and the degree to which his skin pores contracted, doing his best to make everything appear natural and leave not the slightest flaw.

Received Impression Points from Daisy Johnson +6666!

Seeing that he was definitely putting on an act, Daisy blinked and said smugly, "Originally, I was thinking that if you admitted it, I might consider staying today…"

Li Congxin: o(TヘTo)

His heart was itching unbearably, yet he still had to put on an indifferent expression.

As expected, caring too much about one’s pride could be fatal…

What a sin!

In the end, because of someone’s stubborn refusal to swallow his pride, the delightful event did not happen. After the two of them exchanged detailed views on network technology, Daisy took her leave, leaving behind Li Congxin, burning with frustrated desire and doomed to spend the night alone.

The ospreys cried, on the islet in the river.

The graceful and virtuous maiden was a gentleman’s desire.

He sought her but could not attain her; awake or asleep, he yearned for her.

He missed his chance while showing off, tossing and turning restlessly.

He wanted to cry but had no tears, and felt utterly miserable.

Sob, sob, sob, sob… boohoo, boohoo…

Li Congxin truly regretted it a little now. Why had he insisted on being a scumbag? If he hadn’t been such a scumbag, could he have openly taken Daisy… Ahem, ahem, ahem.

But then again, given his looks, if he didn’t become a scumbag, wouldn’t that be letting down this face he had strengthened with My 72 Changes for more than a decade?

Being a sweet, devoted man would have been such a waste of resources…

Deep in the universe, within an unknown region of space.

A silver streak tore through the void at a terrifying speed surpassing light, racing toward the location of a mass of dreadful energy straight ahead.

That mass of energy seemed both solid and insubstantial, both real and illusory. It was a special existence beyond the limits of ordinary understanding.

Well, such existences were not rare in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Basically, anyone whose strength reached Multiversal Level could transcend ordinary understanding to a certain degree. Li Congxin was the same.

As for the being before Silver Surfer, even his appearance was not fixed. Instead, he manifested before the world in an indescribable special form. His appearance differed in the eyes of different people. For example, in the eyes of an Earthling, he appeared as an Earthling wearing imposing mechanical armor.

This person was none other than Galactus, one of the five Cosmic Creator Gods of the Marvel universe!

Galactus, whose given name was Galan, whose courtesy name was Swallowstar, and whose title was Big G, had been born before the primordial chaos, emerged from the chaos before creation, shared the lifespan of heaven and earth, and fed on stars. Thus it was said: First came Swallowstar, then came heaven.

No one knew how powerful Swallowstar truly was. He was one of the top benchmarks for strength in the Marvel universe. Under his command were four heralds: Stardust, Flame Emperor, Tyrant, and Silver Surfer.

Stardust was Swallowstar’s die-hard fan. She was female…

All right, I can’t make this up anymore!

Simply put, Swallowstar was ridiculously awesome!

In the blink of an eye, Silver Surfer arrived before Galactus. After respectfully bowing, he said leisurely, "Master, I’ve investigated the problematic planet and accurately determined its location. However, there is a powerful guardian on that planet. I’m completely outmatched by him. Before him, I didn’t even have the ability to resist."

"It’s not your fault." As a steady voice rang out, Galactus suddenly opened his eyes directly ahead of Silver Surfer. Blinding divine light shot from his eyes like two brilliant stars, casting a unique radiance over the entire surrounding star system. "The opponent’s strength is indeed far above yours. He is beyond your ability to defeat. The fact that you knew when to retreat means you’ve actually done very well."

Silver Surfer bowed again. "Thank you for your understanding, Master."

At this moment, Galactus suddenly extended his enormous palm, covering Silver Surfer’s head. Silver Surfer was startled, but he did not attempt to dodge. Since becoming Swallowstar’s herald, he had lost every emotion, including fear. All that remained was his loyalty to Swallowstar.

At this moment, he even raised his neck to await death with the mindset that "when the lord orders a subject to die, the subject cannot refuse."

Contrary to Silver Surfer’s expectations, after Swallowstar’s huge palm was raised high, it did not come crashing down. Instead, it simply hovered in midair. Then an immense, pure divine power enveloped Silver Surfer and drew an orange divine power out of his body.

Seeing this divine power, Silver Surfer froze. "Master, what is this?"

"This is divine power containing the universe’s origin soul laws, a kind of divine power you were unable to detect." Galactus slowly explained, "As I said before, the opponent’s strength is far above yours. Not only could you not resist his power, you couldn’t even detect the divine power he concealed within you."

Under Silver Surfer’s frightened gaze, the orange divine power in Galactus’s hand was eroded by his own divine power. It gradually merged with it and became part of his body.

He had refined the divine power that originally belonged to Li Congxin into his private possession while chatting and laughing. Clearly, what he could devour was by no means limited to planets.

The name Galactus truly lived up to itself!

After completely refining the divine power Li Congxin had attached to Silver Surfer, Galactus continued, "It seems the opponent does not intend to sit around and await death, or hole up in one corner. Our current location has already been completely exposed to his sight. He could appear at any moment and launch an attack against us."

Silver Surfer hurriedly said, "It was my negligence. Please punish me, Master."

"I already said that this is not your fault." After a slight pause, Galactus continued, "The opponent comes with hostile intent, and his strength far exceeds our previous expectations. We must make full preparations for this battle. It seems we need to summon everyone and prepare for a hard-fought battle."

As he spoke, a burst of intense light suddenly erupted from Galactus’s fingertip. The light split into three beams, shooting toward different directions in the universe.