# Chapter 2338: Holding Humanity Back
This was also the question on everyone's mind—mastering such terrifying power in just the second phase of transcendence, even being called the Fifth Calamity!
Up close, one could better appreciate the horror of a black hole. Could Boss Nan Shen really withstand it?
And he'd even used it twice in a short period of time!
Just then, Jiangnan scratched his head with a constipated expression:
୧(◦⁼̴～⁼̴) "To be honest, I initially thought using Black Hole Devouring Star would cost me my life!"
"Last time I used it at Tiantang Zhijing, my cell activity decreased by about three years' worth!"
Hearing this, everyone's hearts skipped a beat. So there really was a price to pay?
Reduced lifespan? That terrifying?
So Boss Nan Shen was using HP to activate Black Hole Devouring Star?
Xia Yao bit her lower lip hard. She knew it couldn't be that simple!
Wang Youzhi looked utterly confused:
(๑•̌～•̑)ˀ̣ˀ̣ "Using Black Hole Devouring Star reduces lifespan? What's up with that? What does your lifespan have to do with anything?"
"Besides, only three years lost? That's nothing, not even a big deal, right?"
Jiangnan rolled his eyes: (꒪ั～꒪ั*) "Hey hey hey! Three years less to live, damn it! We humans don't live very long anyway, not like you who can casually live for tens of billions of years?"
Chong Feiyu propped her chin, frowning deeply:
(｡･ˇกˇ･) "Reduced lifespan? Indeed, there are many abilities in the starry sky that come at the cost of reduced lifespan—like blood sacrifice techniques or self-immolation methods."
"But three years isn't an unacceptable price, considering how terrifying Black Hole Devouring Star's power really is."
"Although lifespan-extending treasures are extremely rare in the starry sky, they're not nonexistent—things like Incense Beads, Life Source Fruits, and the like. At our level, we have channels to obtain such things."
"I also have some unorthodox methods to extend lifespan, which can be used in desperate situations."
Chong Feiyu's assessment was fairly reasonable. Compared to being able to use the power of Black Hole Devouring Star, losing three years of life per use wasn't an unacceptable result, though it was still somewhat unpleasant.
Jiangnan smiled bitterly: (◞‸◟) "If that were really the case, it wouldn't be a big deal. But since I understood this ability, I've used Black Hole Devouring Star three times total."
"Yet only the time at Tiantang Zhijing reduced my lifespan. Right, Mila?"
Mila's eyes shimmered with golden light as she nodded like a chick pecking rice:
(◦ᵒ̴̶̷◠ᵒ̴̶̷) "After this regression, Brother Jiangnan's cell activity hasn't decreased. It's still the same as before!"
Wu Liang's eyes bulged:
(。•ˇ口ˇ•。) "What the heck? Is it random? No price this time? Then can he just open his domain whenever he wants from now on?"
Jiangnan shook his head: "Although Black Hole Devouring Star is my domain, there are too many things about it I don't understand. I did a controlled experiment."
"This time, I didn't teleport while in the black hole state. But the time at Tiantang Zhijing, I did teleport. Based on my speculation, the lifespan reduction is probably related to teleportation. If I don't use any skills while in the black hole state, I probably won't lose lifespan."
Chong Feiyu's eyes lit up:
(͡°ꇴ͡°)✧ "Then..."
But Jiangnan still shook his head: "It's not that simple. Besides lifespan, I've lost something else, but I can't figure out what it is."
"I can't think of anything I've lost, but I've definitely paid some kind of price for using Black Hole Devouring Star. Three uses, and I've lost it three times."
"Especially after coming back this time—I still have that feeling of losing something. Ah... I can't remember."
Jiangnan scratched his head in frustration, feeling irritable. The unknown is frightening.
That feeling of wanting to know but not being able to is maddening!
What could be confirmed was that using skills in the black hole state reduces lifespan. The other lost thing was probably related to the sea of energy.
Was it because he'd looked at the book pages? Or something else?
Couldn't he even look at the past?
What was the purpose of those book pages? He couldn't figure it out.
Zhong Yingxue gently squeezed Jiangnan's hand, softly comforting him: "If you can't figure it out, don't force it for now. Before you understand the price, it's best to keep Black Hole Devouring Star hidden as a trump card."
"Otherwise, if something goes wrong, it'll be too late to regret. Now that the ceasefire agreement has been reached, the deterrent effect has been achieved. The reputation of the Fifth Calamity has spread."
"It's already given the outside world a strong impression. At least now we're holding a gun. That's enough."
Jiangnan nodded heavily. This was a serious matter—he couldn't just rush into it.
Seeing the atmosphere turn somber, Xia Yao leaned in and cleared her throat twice:
(๑ಡกಡ) "About that price... are you really sure you've checked everything? Could it be some hidden price like losing the ability to have descendants?"
"Like becoming impotent, all bark and no bite, unable to make little ones?"
Jiangnan's eyes widened as he shuddered violently:
∑(°口°๑) "Damn! What kind of devilish price is that? That's way too brutal!"
Xia Yao grinned mischievously: (〃ಡ̫ಡ) "How do you know it still works if you don't test it? What if it's broken? Right, right?"
Jiangnan's expression turned serious: (˵ಠĹ̯ಠ˵) "I think this is also very necessary to do a controlled experiment, right?"
Zhong Yingxue's pretty face flushed as she looked away shyly.
(⑉Ծ﹏Ծ⑉)
But just then, Chong Feiyu flashed over to Jiangnan's side and directly performed a "backhand grab"!
Her pupils shimmered with celestial light as she propped her chin and studied intently:
(*¯ㅿ¯*)ԅ(ଵกଵ๑) Hmm~
Zhong Yingxue: Σ(っ°⌂°)っ
S-she... she was doing that in broad daylight in front of everyone?!
Jiangnan instantly petrified on the spot, then let out a scream and teleported far away!
(⑉⁰̷̴﹏⁰̷̴) "Y-you... what are you doing? Snowy, Lang Mie, you both saw that, right? I didn't do anything. She grabbed me first!"
Chong Feiyu pouted: (￢⇀￢) "What are you so nervous about? I've seen everything there is to see, Your Majesty. I have more experience than the number of women you've met! Hmph—I was just helping you analyze whether your functions are intact!"
"Based on my observation and analysis, Jiangnan's ability among humans should be at the very pinnacle level. No functional deficiency detected."
"However, if we judge by the average of the humans present..."
Her gaze swept over Wu Liang, Wang Youzhi, Pang Badi, Xiong Er, Omega, and the others one by one.
Especially lingering a bit longer on Pang Badi and Wang Youzhi!
(≖﹏≖٥) "You two... you're kind of holding humanity back, aren't you?"
Pang Badi's face flushed red as he shamefully lowered his head.
Wang Youzhi, however, got agitated: (งᵒ̌皿ᵒ̌)ง "Bullshit! What do you know? This can't be judged by normal standards! The two of us are rare specimens among all of humanity!"
"Old Pang! Hold your head up! There's nothing to be ashamed of. This old woman just doesn't understand!"
Pang Badi covered his face. Where the hell do you even get that confidence?!
Jiangnan's mouth twitched. So he actually believed what I told him?
Jiangnan tilted his head:
(︶.̮︶〃) "Hmph! Whether my abilities are okay or not doesn't need your verification, alright? I can handle two by myself! I think you just wanted to grab me!"
"I've been walking the starry sky for many years. When have I, Jiang Peach-Grabber, ever suffered a loss? You grab me once, I have to grab you back. That's only fair!"
Zhong Yingxue: (≖_≖)...
Chong Feiyu's face immediately turned red. Grab back? That would mean...
(⑉ᵒ̴̶̷﹏ᵒ̴̶̷) "Ptoo... ptoo! Kindness mistaken for ingratitude! I was just trying to help you inspect the goods! Grab my... no way!"
She flashed away, putting distance between herself and Jiangnan, as if afraid his sinful little hands might reach out.
Xia Yao propped her chin, looking amused.
(ಡกಡ๑) Oh ho?
Weren't you saying you're experienced? That reaction seems a bit off, huh?
Pang Badi quickly changed the subject, which was so unfriendly to him.
"Now that we've secured 241 mining areas, we need to organize development as soon as possible. Every second counts. The resources mined from these areas will become the bones and foundation of human development."
"But with humanity's current strength, even mobilizing everyone wouldn't be enough to work a single mine. And slave labor is out of the question. Manpower is the problem..."
Chong Feiyu rolled her eyes:
(꒪ั～꒪ั*) "Have you forgotten who I am? As long as it's a manpower problem, it's not a problem for me."
"My Feiyu Insect Swarm is still parked over at Tiantang Zhijing. Although we suffered heavy losses, the core is still intact. It won't take long to rebuild. For mining work, I can just send my mining insects to do it!"
"Also, I need to rebuild my insect nest. After evolving, my swarm's strength hasn't caught up yet. I'll focus on shaping it properly to achieve an overall upgrade in strength. With me plus the Feiyu Insect Swarm, my power will reach another level!"
"With that, I'll have no less confidence than other Star Devourers when facing them."
Listening to Chong Feiyu, Pang Badi, Wu Liang, and the others' eyes lit up.
A Star Devourer! With Chong Feiyu's joining, humanity finally had its own Star Devourer!
In the starry sky, they now had a reliable backing. For many matters, they would have a voice.
Though she was "lured back," she was still one of their own.
Among Star Devourers, Chong Feiyu wasn't some weakling. Although she was the only one for now, it was enough to help humanity through this difficult period of rapid development.
Jiangnan grinned: (≖◡≖) "Have you chosen a location for your nest? Still setting it up here in Northern Crown Star Capital?"
Chong Feiyu shook her head like a rattle-drum: "No way! What's so good about this place? Since I've chosen to sit guard for humanity, of course I'll build it right at the headquarters!"
"The Milky Way Star Domain wouldn't have no place for me to settle down, would it?"
Jiangnan laughed heartily: "Of course there is! How could there not be? You can choose anywhere you want!"
Once Chong Feiyu built her nest in the Milky Way Star Domain, the defensive level of the entire domain would be elevated to a first-class degree.
A star domain with a Star Devourer stationed was completely different from one without!
With Chong Feiyu plus her Feiyu Insect Swarm, the Milky Way Star Domain territory would truly become humanity's domain!
And the Solar System's return to the starry sky could finally be put on the agenda.
Jiangnan stretched vigorously: "Let's go! Although we've sent the Sacred Law Council packing, there's still plenty to do!"
"Now that we've secured 241 mining areas, half of the resources mined will go to fulfilling promises I've made!"
"Promises must be kept properly!"
With that, he looked at Jiu Lan with a smile in his eyes. Jiu Lan swallowed hard, her spirits lifted.
Were the Netherworld Race finally going to live well too?
Did Nan Shen really intend to give half to the Netherworld Race?
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