"This feeling?" Xu Jingming felt the changes within himself at the same instant he thrust out with his spear.

His perception of every cell in his body became clearer. When he mobilized his entire body with every action, each cell responded faster and more efficiently! His reactions were quicker, his attacks were slightly faster, and his strength was somewhat greater.

It seemed that everything was only slightly faster.

But when all aspects were combined, his strength clearly improved.

"Is this what's described in the classics? As the mind grows stronger, the control over the body becomes greater?" Xu Jingming murmured. He had read the first part of "Hua Guang" (Transformation of Light) and clearly understood the extent of the mental strength of those Tier-8 Star Cluster lifeforms. They could achieve 'one mind, billions of uses'; each cell was like having its own independent will.

When released, mental power could interfere with reality.

Xu Jingming returned to the house with his spear, closed the door, and quietly logged off to return to his personal space.

Virtual World Network, personal space, inside the spaceship hall.

Xu Jingming sat on the sofa and opened his personal combat strength panel:

Gene Evolution Method: *Tian Mang* (Heavenly Python) Evolution Method (Mid-stage Star Cluster lifeform 92%)

Body: 2.1 million

Skills: *Hua Hong* (Rainbow Transformation) Spear Technique (Tier-7 1%), Star Cluster Spear Technique (Tier-6 99%), Footwork (Tier-6 97%), Shield Technique (Tier-6 85%)

Base Combat Strength: 1.05 billion

Energy: 210 million

Actual Combat Bonus: 2250%

Combat Strength: 29.6 billion

"Indeed, I've broken through to Tier-7." Xu Jingming didn't care about the combat strength and energy data because the Planet Safety Defense System on Earth forbade energy release beyond 9.8 meters.

Before reaching Tier-9, no matter how powerful an individual was, they would be unable to resist a cosmic civilization's elementary "Planet Safety Defense System."

Only by breaking through from Tier-8 to Tier-9, from a Star Cluster lifeform to an Origin lifeform, could one achieve a true qualitative change and suppress an entire civilization with individual power.

In other words,

Before becoming an Origin lifeform, individuals couldn't contend against civilizations.

"I've reached Tier-7, but the *Tian Mang* Evolution Method is still at the mid-stage of Star Cluster lifeform. I can also try cultivating and attempting a breakthrough." Xu Jingming stood up and began practicing the evolution method in the spaceship hall.

Having reached Tier-7, there should be hope of breaking through to the high-stage of Star Cluster lifeform.

******

After becoming a cosmic citizen, many civil rights were protected by the 'Cosmic Human Alliance,' such as the right to privacy. Even though Xu Jingming was a member of Earth's civilization, Earth's civilization couldn't monitor Xu Jingming; it could only understand the most basic information.

Earth's civilization knew that Xu Jingming's evolutionary level was Tier-6 or Tier-7.

However, Earth's civilization couldn't know the more detailed percentages of evolution in spear techniques, footwork, and shield techniques.

"Cosmic Citizen Xu Jingming (Hunter Cosmic Domain, Wu Gou Star Alliance, Earth Civilization), male, Tier-7, account balance: 192.62 million cosmic credits." A message was naturally synchronized by the Virtual World Network to Earth's civilization.

At the instant of synchronization, the 'Civilization Intelligence' of Earth's civilization also synchronized the message to the Earth Alliance and Xia Country.

The reason for knowing the account balance change was that, as the home civilization, it had the right to tax cosmic citizens, so it naturally needed to know their financial flow. Of course, the vast majority of elementary civilizations exempted cosmic citizens from taxes.

"Tier-7?"

The Earth Alliance Council and the Xia Country high-level officials were shocked upon receiving the news.

*Hua.*

In the virtual world, the Earth Alliance Council convened an emergency meeting! Only Alliance Secretary-General Angus and representatives from the five member states attended the meeting.

"With only 47 days left until the end of the civilization protection period, we have received good news that invigorates the entire civilization," Secretary-General Angus said, beaming. "Our Earth's number one genius, Xu Jingming, has just broken through to become a Tier-7 Star Cluster lifeform."

The five council representatives were also invigorated.

With the protection period for the new civilization nearing its end, the various countries of Earth's civilization were under great pressure! In 47 days, envoys from other civilizations would arrive on Earth!

At a time when everyone was most anxious, Xu Jingming broke through!

"He is our Earth's first Tier-7 Star Cluster lifeform," Secretary-General Angus said, his eyes moist.

"He has only been cultivating the evolution method for over a year and has become a Tier-7. His potential is amazing; becoming a Tier-8 is also possible."

As an ultra-limited planetary lifeform genius, Xu Jingming already had extremely high potential, but becoming a Tier-7 in just over a year was still much faster than the previous predictions of Xu Jingming's growth by the Civilization Intelligence.

The five council representatives also showed joy.

"We must increase investment," the Xia Country representative said. "I think we need to give Xu Jingming more support."

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

The five council members made a joint decision. Xu Jingming's growth rate was too surprising for them. He was the greatest hope for the weak Earth civilization on the path of evolution in the vast cosmic family! Earth civilization naturally had to support him vigorously.

They also hoped that this sapling of hope would grow into a towering tree, providing shelter for more people of Earth civilization.

The training grounds in the personal space of the Virtual World Network simulated a 'Starry Sky Scene.'

In the vast starry sky, on the surface of a small planetoid, Xu Jingming was practicing his spear techniques.

"Hmm?" Xu Jingming received a notification message, looked at it, and was somewhat surprised. "Director Zhou?"

With a light tap,

Director Zhou, having obtained permission, appeared from nothingness and arrived on the surface of the planetoid.

"Practicing spear techniques?" Director Zhou looked at the surrounding environment with a smile. The planetoid was only a few hundred meters in diameter, composed of gray rock, and the surface was relatively flat.

"I just broke through, so I'm practicing more to consolidate my foundation," Xu Jingming said.

Director Zhou's eyes lit up, and he said with a smile, "Breaking through to Tier-7 is such a big deal, and you're still so low-key."

"Director, you already know?" Xu Jingming was surprised.

"Although you are a cosmic citizen, you are, after all, a member of our Earth civilization. The Virtual World Network still synchronizes your basic information to us," Director Zhou said. "We knew as soon as you broke through."

Director Zhou smiled happily. "You are our Earth civilization's first Tier-7 Star Cluster lifeform."

"Earth only opened up the evolution methods for over a year. I believe that later, there will be many Tier-7 Star Cluster lifeforms breaking through," Xu Jingming said.

"It's different."

Director Zhou shook his head gently. "They are still very far from you."

"By the way," Director Zhou said solemnly, "If you encounter any difficulties in your evolution, you must tell me at any time. If you hadn't broken through this time, I would have thought your progress in the virtual world was the same as in reality."

Xu Jingming smiled. "In reality, I can only slowly absorb solar energy, so my body's evolution is a bit slower."

"Our Earth civilization has long prepared r9-grade artificial stars and 100,000x gravity training rooms," Director Zhou said. "They are all prepared for Earth's future evolutionists. If I had known your situation earlier, you could have used them sooner."

"r9-grade artificial stars and 100,000x gravity training rooms?" Xu Jingming was shocked. This was a very luxurious configuration.

If he were to buy them himself, he wouldn't have been willing to spend so much, nor could he afford it.

"Together, they cost just over ten billion cosmic credits," Director Zhou said. "Compared to the virtual host and the virtual helmets covering all citizens globally... it's not worth mentioning."

"These two are basic equipment needed for Star Cluster lifeform evolution, enough for you to cultivate to Tier-8 Star Cluster lifeform. As for cultivation after Tier-8, Earth civilization has no way to help," Director Zhou said.

"It's enough," Xu Jingming said, very happy.

A 100,000x gravity training room was sufficient before becoming a Tier-8.

"I heard that after reaching Tier-8, the physical body can be cultivated to an incredible level, even approaching 'source-force transformation'," Director Zhou said with emotion.

"Yes," Xu Jingming nodded.

Cosmic source-force was the most fundamental energy in the universe.

All matter and energy were composed of cosmic source-force. Cosmic source-force was also incredibly small, the 'smallest existence' in the universe. Simply observing them was a major challenge.

At least, most of the technological equipment of elementary cosmic civilizations couldn't see cosmic source-force.

"Tier-8 Star Cluster lifeform," Xu Jingming said. "In terms of the physical body, the goal is to use various methods to make the physical body increasingly close to 'source-force transformation.' In the process of approaching source-force transformation, the physical body becomes even more terrifying, even able to walk on the surface of a neutron star.

"In terms of the mind, the requirements are ten to a hundred times higher than for the physical body. There is only one requirement for the mind: to be able to control cosmic source-force," Xu Jingming said.

His mental power could clearly probe desks, mosquitoes, and other objects at close range, but it became blurred at a slightly greater distance.

Becoming an Origin lifeform required mental power to control cosmic source-force, which was many orders of magnitude smaller than the atomic nucleus. "The mind leverages cosmic source-force, using cosmic source-force to propel the body to take the final step of breakthrough, completely 'source-force transformation,' to become an Origin lifeform," Xu Jingming said. "After becoming an Origin lifeform, even just standing there, many technological weapons can't harm them."

"Yes, I've also heard that only attacks that can annihilate cosmic source-force can harm an Origin lifeform."

Director Zhou sighed. "But the vast majority of elementary cosmic civilizations don't have weapons that can annihilate cosmic source-force. Even if they have such weapons, it's difficult to hit an Origin lifeform."

Xu Jingming nodded.

He had researched information on Origin lifeforms.

There was a case of an Origin lifeform criminal who destroyed eight life-bearing planets in retaliation against a civilization! Knowing that he was coming, the civilization had no way to resist! Origin lifeforms traversed the void too quickly. In a few minutes, all life on the eight planets was wiped out, except for those who were lucky enough not to be on their home planets.

Of course, that Origin lifeform's crime was made public because he was captured by the Cosmic Human Alliance and received due punishment.

After chatting with Xu Jingming for a while, Director Zhou took out a document and handed it to Xu Jingming. "Jingming, you are our Earth's first Tier-7 Star Cluster lifeform and also the most talented evolutionist. Earth will also do its best to cultivate you. This document records the resources that Earth can provide for you."

Xu Jingming looked down.

The document recorded a lot, the first item being 10 billion cosmic credits.

"Our Earth is a newly advanced elementary cosmic civilization," Director Zhou said, looking at Xu Jingming. "Resources are limited, and information is also limited. What we can help you with may not even be as much as a family in those powerful civilizations."

"It's already enough."

Xu Jingming was very grateful.

Director Zhou smiled. "By the way, you are now in the Virtual World Network, interacting with citizens of other cosmic civilizations! But you also have to occasionally visit the virtual world of your hometown, and by the way, go and challenge the Star Cluster Tower. Your strength is enough to pass the sixth floor of the Star Cluster Tower. If you don't challenge it, and others challenge it in the future, many people will feel it's unfair. After all, your strength far surpasses other cosmic citizens on Earth. You are the recognized number one evolutionist on Earth," Director Zhou said.

"Director, don't worry, I'll go challenge the sixth floor of the Star Cluster Tower today," Xu Jingming immediately assured.

Thus, on this day of breaking through to Tier-7, which was April 13, 2083, Xu Jingming entered the Earth's virtual world and arrived in front of the Star Cluster Tower.