Su Ming took out a cigarette from his carrier and placed it in front of Barry. This was 'imported goods' he brought from Marvel, a product of Wilson Enterprises, with a small black and yellow logo on it.
"Do you want to try this? These magical leaves can help clear your mind and focus on the present."
"Uh..... no, thank you."
Barry opened one eye, then quickly closed it again.
"Alright, take your time trying it. I think I've figured out what's going on." Su Ming put the cigarette in his mouth and lit it: "The Static Force has lifted the curtain, revealing the Invisible Light below, which embodies the force of regret and remorse, considered as the opponent's second step."
"Hmm, so what do you plan to do?"
"Although we don't know who the enemy is yet, his plan is linear, leading from the first step to the second and potentially many more steps. But if I can cut off the second step, the first step will be of no consequence, particularly since the user of the Static Force is already dead, isn't it?"
Su Ming calmly replied to Barry, having some ideas regarding this new Lantern Group of Invisible Light.
In dealing with the Green Lantern Corps, the martyrs who came before summarized a piece of advice with their lives: if you want to take down a Lantern Group, you must first destroy their Central Lantern Furnace.
Regardless of what color ring the Lantern Heroes wear or how much energy they draw from within, their essence is that of ordinary devices.
And the Central Lantern Furnace is their main power source.
The nineteenth stratagem of the Thirty-Six Stratagems is called "Removing the Firewood from Under the Cauldron." Right now, the Lantern Group's headquarters appear in the cosmos, seemingly unguarded except for some mysterious energies.
Not seizing the opportunity to attack them now would truly be unworthy of the title of Tactical Master.
If Barry can solve the Static Force, all the better; if not, it's not a big deal. Su Ming patted him on the shoulder, signaling him to continue his meditation slowly, while he went to check on the Green Lantern fool.
In the medical room, Su Ming sauntered in slowly with a cigarette in his mouth, while John was already plugged with all sorts of tubes and wires. A Black man with a T-shaped mark on his face was examining him.
That was Mr. Zhuoyue, a renowned medical genius known as the third smartest person in the DC Universe. The first is Batman, the second is Luthor, and the third is him.
However, regarding this claim of his, Su Ming disagreed, saying that it at most referred to the ranking of human scientists; in battle, Zhuoyue's exposed intelligence was not particularly impressive.
He channeled all his cleverness into avoiding fights.
In past instances, whenever Darkseid appeared, Zhuoyue would disappear; when Brainiac invaded, Zhuoyue was gone again; when General Zod came, Zhuoyue vanished once more; when the Omega Four Gods arrived, Zhuoyue vanished yet again...
Smart? Indeed, he was smart. He emerged unscathed from countless major events, but didn't this mean he was deprived of opportunities to shine?
The Justice League clearly knew what kind of person he was. So, nominally he was a member of the Justice League, but in reality, he was only responsible for logistical research and medical aid.
His medical skills were indeed top-notch. Along with Midnite Strange Doctor, he was among the strongest human doctors, then came Batman's butler, Alfred...
At that moment, he was responsible for treating John. Looking at the parameters of the equipment beside him, it seemed that the Green Lantern Hero would wake up soon.
Barry, perhaps feeling reassured with Su Ming as his backbone, didn't rush to continue his meditation but instead wandered into the medical room together.
Other than those who had gone out, everyone was present here.
A few minutes later, a significant peak appeared on the brainwave monitor, signaling John's awakening.
"Mr. Zhuoyue? What's going on?" John scratched his curly short hair, his expression puzzled.
"That's something we should ask you. You were the first to smash through the ceiling of the New Hall of Justice." Steel Bone grumbled, standing with his metallic arm folded to the side: "You've exhibited some very bizarre energy readings – a kind of light never seen before."
Diana stood beside Su Ming, rubbing her chin with discontent, "You need to clarify what that was, John, say it now."
Lying on the hospital bed, John gingerly touched the back of his head, even with the most advanced medical equipment of the Justice League, a lump bigger than a pineapple bun had formed there.
He paused, sighed deeply.
"....That is an Invisible Spectrum. Lantern Groups harness the power of the spectrum, while the Invisible Spectrum... it controls its user."
"Okay, the Lantern Group's crayon box has another color now." Barry muttered under his breath: "There's always some unknown Lantern Group popping up."
"You weren't there, Barry. Many years ago, I was with the Justice League on a planet called Zanshi to combat the 'Anti-Life Species,' and Ron was with me at the time."
John turned around, easing the pressure off his head from the pillow, and continued his narration.
"At that time, I acted with Ron, but I thought he was afraid of the flames... a burden, which is why I left him behind."
"I acted alone, driven by impatience and recklessness, and in the end... that planet was destroyed. It was all my fault. Countless lives were obliterated in flames."
John's tone gradually lowered, tears welled up in his eyes filled with remorse, but the willpower of the Green Lantern Hero allowed him to continue recounting his story at this critical juncture, providing the Justice League with more details.
"After that, I've been searching throughout the cosmos for a way to restore planet Zanshi, and finally, I found... a book even older than the Book of Oa. It recorded a spectrum beyond what we know - a warning, and it's a person's mission to prevent this book's information from spreading."
"Whose mission is it, John?" Wonder Woman inquired.
"Sinestro, he has been guarding this secret. The Invisible Light is a living Lantern Group of a phantom star galaxy, with a self-aware black sun providing the energy as the lantern furnace. It's called 'Eclipse Star.'"
The Green Lantern Hero struggled to sit up, projecting an irregular pattern consisting of four horizontal and three vertical lines with his ring.
"The Eclipse Star travels through the universe in another phase, heading for planets with the most severe self-destruction. Typically, it's those stars cast out of a galaxy. Afterward, it uses its power to develop a corps on them, pulling them into its own galaxy."
Sea King rubbed his beard, finally piecing some details together: "So, last month when we broke the Origin Wall, we essentially let it in?"
Su Ming sighed. Why even ask about such an obvious thing? But now that the Eclipse Star has reached the Solar System's edge, he certainly wants to try blowing up that lantern furnace.
John retracted the projection and continued: "But that's not all. Sinestro's records state that the Invisible Spectrum is linked with six other unknown forces, all encased by the 'Universal Stasis,' so we must first control that entity."
Su Ming looked at Barry, hooking his arm around Barry's neck and whispered: "Alright, Barry, it looks like you should continue your meditation and reverse the Divine Speed to close the door."