Cosmic Professional Gladiator

Chapter 670 - 670 Eight Directions Mapʼs Fourth Level

670 Eight Directions Map’s Fourth Level

In the fourth space of the book.

Feather Fire Lord’s light glimmered, casting a warm glow throughout the fourth space of the book. Xu Jingming sat attentively, listening intently to every word.

“The manifestation of emotions lies beyond the realm of the mind,” proclaimed Feather Fire Lord. “Desire, on the other hand, is a spark that ignites within. Every emotion is merely an extension of that inner desire.”

“Desire drives evolution,” he continued. “We strive to evolve and improve our lives because of a deep-seated desire to survive. Strong desires like greed, a thirst for power—these things all drive progress.”

“Unbridled desires can also push living beings to the brink.”

“All living beings have desires,” he stated. “Without desire, they are not truly alive, just mere puppets.”

Xu Jingming listened, hanging onto every word.

“Where does desire come from?” asked Feather Fire Lord. “If you seek its source, you will find… the body.”

“The body is the foundation of life, the vessel for the mind,” he explained. “There are many forms of high-dimensional life, some as large as celestial bodies, some just streams of information, and others are frightening flames.”

“Regardless of the form, all carry life, mind, and consciousness,” he added.

Xu Jingming nodded in agreement.

“Most bodies have senses like eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. This is why they are drawn to beauty, music, delicious food, sweet scents, and comfortable clothing,” Feather Fire Lord went on.

“But if you were a rock, with no eyes, ears, nose, or mouth, never having to eat or drink, you wouldn’t have desires. You wouldn’t appreciate beautiful scenery because you wouldn’t have the means to perceive it.”

“So you see, some desires stem from the body itself.”

“The fourth level of the Eight Directions Map is a test of one’s ability to control the two primal desires that drive all living beings—hunger and lust.”

“When living things arrive in this world, they must eat to survive. Whether they’re low-dimensional creatures or high-dimensional beings, they require energy to maintain their existence. Thus, they have an appetite.”

“And when they seek to reproduce, they are driven by lust. This ensures the continuation of their genetic line.”

“You must fully understand and control these two essential desires, using them to propel your evolution, not hold you back.”

“The more fundamental the desire, the greater the danger if it becomes an impediment,” warned Feather Fire Lord.

“For low-dimensional life forms, a voracious appetite can wreak havoc on their bodies and compromise their survival. For high-dimensional life forms, their excessive pursuit of precious evolutionary resources can lead to intense competition, resulting in their demise.”

“While high-dimensional life forms are theoretically supposed to have an infinite lifespan once they reach the Eternal realm, it’s a rare occurrence to live beyond ten Abyssal Eras,” continued Feather Fire Lord. “Many are destroyed by disasters, but most are felled by their competition for resources.”

“Control your desires, and you increase your chances of a longer life.”

Feather Fire Lord looked at Xu Jingming. “Living long is a resource in and of itself. Sometimes, all you need is a long stretch of experimentation, and you can still become stronger even if you don’t have access to precious treasures or legacies.”

“Unrestrained lust can lead to the destruction of a species or a nation, or even a catastrophe.”

Feather Fire Lord warned, “Controlling any desire requires an unyielding motivation. Once you lose control, the consequences are catastrophic.”

“And even if you reach the Intent realm and have a complete mastery of emotions, do you dare claim that you have fully grasped these two basic desires?” Feather Fire Lord asked with a smile. “If you’re confident, you may accept the fourth test—a test of appetite and lust.”

…

Xu Jingming was transported to an illusory realm.

He was a refugee, struggling to walk as he was consumed by hunger.

I’m starving. I’m starving, he thought as his mind was repeatedly tormented by his emptiness. The trees were stripped bare, and the refugees scoured for any scrap of food.

The river had long since dried up, and even the fish were gone.

Xu Jingming’s eyes locked onto two white buns nestled in the dry weeds. Hunger surged through him with a ferocity that threatened to swallow his consciousness whole.