Zhou Wu, Saint Charon, and Min Yang’s methods seem to suit me better. Xu Jingming thought to himself, I can walk nearly 1,000 meters on the first day! I believe I can definitely pass the test.

******

On the first day, through learning the legacies of his predecessors, he improved greatly, which boosted his confidence.

The second day, third day…

It’s been a month. Why can’t I walk two kilometers? Xu Jingming was a little stunned. He had many ideas in the past month, but the further he went, the more he experienced all kinds of radiation eruptions. He collapsed at the first attempt.

My destination is on the other side of Neutron Star. It’s nearly 20 kilometers away, but it’s still so difficult for me to cover even one-tenth of it. Xu Jingming was stumped.

Could it be that this was all he could achieve?

No matter what, I’ll try my best for ten months. I’ll seek out the opportunities the rest of the time.

Xu Jingming maintained his body’s Energy Manifestation and continued walking on the neutron star as he glowed.

…

June 25, 2083.

Under the witness of the virtual world, the representatives of Earth and Black Moon jointly signed an agreement regarding the mining excavation of Earth.

Earth sent six representatives—Secretary General Angus and the representatives of the five council members.

The Black Moon civilization had also sent two representatives. One was a high-ranking official of the Black Moon civilization, and the other was Captain Ennor.

Whoosh.

After Earth’s six representatives signed, they felt mixed emotions.

After more than a month, they finally reached an agreement and signed it!

Earth had spent a lot of effort on this agreement. Xu Jingming’s Redmond Medal was also a key factor in the negotiations.

“Congratulations.” The high-ranking official of the Black Moon civilization got up and looked at Earth’s six representatives with a smile. “As a new cosmic civilization, the terms of the agreement you signed are already excellent. It’s rare for our Black Moon civilization to make such a huge concession.”

“Thank you for your tolerance.” Secretary General Angus took a very humble approach.

“Mm.” Black Moon civilization’s high-ranking official nodded and left.

“In accordance with the excavation agreement,” Captain Ennor said, “our excavation will immediately set up camp. We will also send troops to guard Earth excavation areas. Earth is not allowed to enter these areas without our permission.”

“Naturally. Everything will be executed according to the agreement.” Secretary General Angus and the other five representatives nodded.

…

At Xu Jingming’s house.

His neighbor, Pang Ze, paid a visit.

“Mr. Pang.” Xu Jingming welcomed him.

“The agreement has just been signed. You are aware of it, right?”

Xu Jingming nodded. “I just received the news too.”

“The excavation period for the agreement is 60 years,” Pang Ze said. “In the next 60 years… the Black Moon civilization’s army will be permanently stationed in Earth’s territory.”

Xu Jingming frowned. “I saw the contract. The Black Moon civilization’s army will be restricted to the excavation areas?”

“The excavation areas occupy 9.2% of the solar system after all,” Pang Ze said. “It’s a huge area! The strength of the Black Moon civilization’s army can attack anywhere in the solar system.”

Xu Jingming nodded.

Many weapons had a very wide range. The Black Moon army’s coverage easily blanketed the entire stellar system from the excavation areas.

There was nothing they could do about it. With the strength of the Black Moon fleet, they could wipe out the entire solar system even from outside the solar system.

“We can only live at their mercy,” Pang Ze said. “We have to listen to the Black Moon civilization in almost everything! However, this is already the best contract.”

“Yes.” Xu Jingming nodded. “There are many commoners in charge of mining in the Black Moon civilization! The contract stipulates that those commoners can only operate in the excavation areas and that they aren’t allowed to enter Earth. Although it can’t restrict cosmic citizens… the Black Moon civilization didn’t send many cosmic citizens.”

“Having few cosmic citizens will have a much smaller impact even if they enter Earth,” Xu Jingming remarked.

“After officially integrating into the universe,” Pang Ze said, “the visit of foreign cosmic citizens can’t be stopped. As an emerging civilization… many cosmic adventurers and cosmic tourists will come to Earth.”

Xu Jingming nodded.

This couldn’t be helped. Cosmic citizens and ordinary planetary commoners had different rights and interests.

Cosmic citizens were protected by the Cosmic Human Alliance’s laws, and they had many more rights! The status of planetary lifeforms was much worse.

“Earth will eventually have to fully integrate into cosmic civilization.” Pang Ze sighed with emotion.

“I heard that our share in the excavation contract is 50%?” Xu Jingming asked.

“50% of the profits.” Pang Ze shook his head. “It looks like a fair contract, but the Black Moon civilization has all kinds of ways to pilfer the profits. For example, giving their Black Moon employees a high salary or paying high fees to the mineral-mining companies for their services… As long as they are willing, they can reduce the profits to zero!”

Xu Jingming was stunned.

“Therefore, the key to the contract is the guaranteed income,” Pang Ze explained. “If I’m not wrong, the lowest guaranteed income is Earth’s final true income.”

“Having guaranteed income is not bad,” Pang Ze said. “I reckon 25% of the true revenue from the minerals will reach Earth’s hands.”

“25%.” Xu Jingming shook his head slightly. “We can only share a small portion of our minerals.”

“If it weren’t for your Redmond Medal, it probably wouldn’t have reached 5%! Moreover, many of their commoners would’ve probably lived on Earth!” Pang Ze said. “Millions to tens of millions of Black Moon citizens living on Earth… The impact will be huge. The crimes committed by the Black Moon commoners will probably require us to extradite them to the Black Moon civilization for judgment. Then, the lives of Earthlings will be miserable. Thankfully, the contract forbids them from coming to Earth.”

Xu Jingming nodded. “But I think that the contract was only written up nicely. The Black Moon civilization’s actual implementation won’t be so clean.”

“That’s for sure,” Pang Ze replied. “When their army is stationed in the solar system, we have to listen to them obediently for the next 60 years. Thankfully, there are contractual constraints—the virtual world has bore witness! There’s still some hope.”

Xu Jingming nodded slightly.

“If we really encounter something difficult,” Pang Ze looked at Xu Jingming, “we might need you to step forward.”

“Me?” Xu Jingming’s heart stirred.

“With the Redmond Medal, you are the only cosmic citizen on Earth that the Black Moon civilization doesn’t dare to touch!” Pang Ze said. “Sometimes, only you can step forward.”

Xu Jingming nodded slightly.

Tejano had predicted such a day. He gifted the Redmond Medal, making his situation much better.

“Of course, the most important thing is that we are strong ourselves,” Pang Ze commented. “Once we are strong, the Black Moon civilization and other foreign factions won’t dare to bully us.”

“Yes.” Xu Jingming nodded. “This is Earth’s growth period. It’s inevitable that we have to suffer a little during our growth.”

“We just need to tide through it.” Pang Ze nodded.

As a cosmic citizen with the highest educational level on Earth, Pang Ze had once felt the torment of loneliness. Now that Xu Jingming had rapidly risen, becoming a Lv. 7 cosmic lifeform in less than two years, it gave Pang Ze greater confidence in the future.

He saw hope!

…

The mysterious land, Planet Number Five, Neutron Star.

After signing the agreement, Earth would have to tolerate the existence of the Black Moon army for the next 60 years.

The feeling of being a weak civilization wasn’t good.

The weak are prey to the strong. From the animal world to countries and countless civilizations in the universe… This is a universal rule. Xu Jingming walked out of the protective shield again and stood in the neutron star’s environment. His entire body emitted light, and he was already in his Energy Manifestation state.

In this world, everything has unspoken rules. Many Origin lifeforms study science because science studies these rules.

Xu Jingming sensed his body of energy. As for my Energy Manifestation, what are the rules?