As expected of the U.S.'s largest public library, the palace-style building was magnificent, grand, and beautiful. Rather than a library, it was more like a museum of knowledge and culture.
Mike sat among the teak-colored bookshelves.
His spirit was focused.
In his consciousness space, black mist writhed, slowly rotating, its speed gradually increasing.
A black vortex.
Mike could feel that as the vortex spun faster and faster, his mental power was being drawn into it.
He tried to resist.
However, it was useless.
Everyone possesses mental power, some strong, some weak. People with stronger physiques generally have stronger mental power. But some people are born with powerful mental power, which paradoxically leads to weaker physiques.
Therefore, there is no necessary logical connection between the strength of mental power and physical prowess.
Under normal circumstances, people cannot perceive the existence of mental power, let alone use it, much like the vagus nerve in the human body; it exists within you but cannot be actively controlled.
There are roughly two types of people who can control mental power: innate and acquired.
The innate type mainly comes from being born with it or a sudden mutation. Among Mutants, Professor X, Phoenix, and White Queen are among the best.
The acquired type refers to those who cultivate powerful mental power through practice or unwavering faith, such as enlightened martial artists, ascetics, fanatics, sorcerers, and magic users.
Physical strength and mental strength are not superior or inferior to each other. One of the main reasons most people think mental power is more awesome is humanity's limited understanding of it. It can be said that humanity's research into mental power is still in its infancy.
After the mental energy entered the vortex, it did not disappear. On the contrary, Mike's perception became clearer. If before it was an elusive mass of air, now it condensed into a small, crystal-clear glass bead.
"It's too small, completely not my style."
What was Mike's style?
Four words: Big and good.
From the glass bead condensed from mental power, Mike perceived a sensation similar to fetal movement.
The feeling was wonderful.
It brought peace of mind, and then—
Bang!
The glass bead exploded, and Mike's head buzzed.
"Exploding the fetus" without a word?
At least give a warning!
Before he could complain further, a needle-like pain surged over him like a tide.
"Ah!" Mike gritted his teeth, but a scream still squeezed through them.
Mental pain, like some nerve pain—you can't say where it hurts; where you think it hurts, it doesn't hurt anymore. Where you think it doesn't hurt, it hurts like hell.
Generally speaking, when the pain reaches a certain level, the brain, out of a protective mechanism, either goes completely numb or simply passes out.
That's why there's the phrase "happily passed out."
However, Mike's consciousness became increasingly clear, as if he himself had merged with his surroundings.
He "saw"—the security guard in the security room, startled awake from his sleep, wiping the drool from the corner of his mouth, muttering groggily, "What was that sound?", then lying back down to continue his dream tryst with a beautiful woman.
He "saw"—high above in the sky, a bald woman in a shit-yellow wizard robe was looking over. Upon realizing that Mike had detected her presence, the woman merely smiled faintly, her eyes full of wisdom.
He "saw"—deeper in the Universe, benevolent gazes and malicious peeks were converging on this small blue Planet.
Earth… how could it be worthy of so much attention from so many powerful beings.
He "saw"—the cells, bacteria, and viruses within his body, like tiny independent lives.
A flower a World, a leaf a Tathagata.
He "saw" that after the mental power glass bead exploded, it did not vanish but transformed into specks of starlight, dotting the black vortex.
Like galaxies in the Universe, emitting a captivating mystery.
After an unknown amount of time, Mike came to his senses.
The pain receded, and fatigue disappeared.
The World, in his eyes, became clearer.
"I've gotten stronger again?"
That's good.
Mike wasn't being coy.
This time, the strengthening was more inclined towards the mental aspect.
He stared at a hardcover book on the bookshelf; the book wobbled, then stopped moving. Mike wasn't annoyed; after all, it was only his first attempt.
"Tsk tsk, this ability could be used to lift skirts… Wait!" Mike almost slapped himself.
Such a high-end ability, and all he could think of was lifting skirts… Have some ambition, alright! You use your hands to lift skirts, but this ability can… Hehe heh.
LSP!
Mike took out his phone, ready to search for information.
After thinking for a moment, he put the phone back in his pocket.
Since he had come to the U.S.'s largest public library, it would be a shame not to experience it. While phones were convenient, a library had more of a sense of ritual, right?
He was idle anyway.
Soon, Mike found a row of curved bookshelves, all filled with astronomy-related books.
He found a book about galaxies and constellations and pulled it out.
"Found it."
In the galaxy of his consciousness space, Mike saw some familiar things, but he didn't know much about astronomy. He had spent some time with a girl interested in astrophysics when he was in school; he didn't learn much astronomy, but he practiced the great harmony of life under the stars quite a few times.
The experience was novel and very enjoyable.
Mike remembered her vividly. Firstly, there weren't many girls interested in physics, especially astrophysics. Secondly, she was very beautiful—that was the main point.
Susan Stone… Mike remembered the name; he occasionally saw her in the news recently.
"Virgo, I really didn't misread it." Mike matched the image he saw with the information in the book.
Virgo symbolizes beauty and purity.
So… was this the system's discerning eye, seeing Mike's true nature beneath his unruly exterior?
"Gold, it shines wherever it goes. Tsk tsk… symbolizing beauty, purity, truly worthy of me, hahaha!" Mike laughed like a complete beast on the spot.
His phone had a bunch of unread messages.
Skye, Old Earl, Stark, they sent messages periodically, wanting to know the situation but afraid of disturbing Mike.
Mike replied to each with: [Done.], then attached a selfie from the library.
Fat Jerry sent a screenshot of his account balance—over three million U.S. dollars, with the caption: [Bro, don't die, otherwise this money is mine.]
Tsk tsk, a bounty of thirty million U.S. dollars, assassins fighting tooth and nail. Fat Jerry made over three million just by selling information…
Mike replied.
A thousand words condensed into a few: [Get lost, dream on!].
And Winston, his message had just arrived. Clearly, he had just learned the news of the Continental Hotel assassins' unexpected defeat. As for Magneto… the Continental Hotel had no standing to invite Magneto; he was the type to come uninvited. So he didn't know about Magneto and Professor X's matter.
Winston first congratulated Mike, then warned him that the matter wasn't over.
Previously, it was the Continental Hotel's assassins who were dispatched.
Next would be assassins hired externally by the organization, whose individual hiring price might exceed thirty million U.S. dollars.
Therefore, it was time to "talk" to the people behind the organization and make them understand one fact: no matter how rich or powerful you are, you cannot stop me from standing before you and taking your life at any time.
When a person dies, money and power are but fleeting clouds.