"Easy Is... Dying by My Hand."

The voice of the god echoed throughout the universe. "Before the arena combat begins, I have three matters to announce."

"First, the Myriad Heavens Forum is now open! All High Sapient Lifeforms from civilizations participating in the arena combat may register an account, watch every match live at any time, and use it to communicate."

In an instant, a virtual fluorescent screen appeared before every Earth Human.

With only the slightest recollection, they understood how to use it—activate it with thought, type with their minds. No physical device was needed; from any corner of the universe, they could enter the forum with a single thought.

This was clearly the "Myriad Heavens Forum" the god had mentioned.

As for how many information-industry giants across countless civilizations would go bankrupt because of this forum, that was none of the god's concern.

It had always acted with such reckless abandon.

In just two months of Cosmic Arena Combat broadcasts, quite a few planets had been personally destroyed by it for performing too poorly.

"Second, all lifeforms of civilizations such as the Alpha Star System, Beta Planet, Ke Qiu, Ao Fa Star, the Chihe Interstellar Federation, and the Dongcang Cultivation Star Circle."

The god's voice remained as ethereal as ever, without the slightest hint of emotional fluctuation. "Do not call me 'god' again."

"The word 'god' does not suit me."

"From a backward, weak primitive civilization, I discovered a name that is more interesting and more fitting for me..."

"The source of all change, neither born nor dying; without form or image, without beginning or end, embracing all things. Great, with nothing beyond it; small, with nothing within it. Passing through change, yet eternally unchanging."

"At its beginning, it had no name. Forced to name it: 'Dao.'"

"From now on, you may call me 'Dao'!"

Its existence paused for a moment before speaking. "As for the third matter..."

"From now on, in every Cosmic Arena Combat event, I will select the two most interesting contestants as the finale and have them duel alone."

With the three announcements complete, the Cosmic Arena Combat began at once!

Before every Earth Human, no matter where they were or what they were doing, more than five hundred virtual fluorescent screens instantly appeared.

This meant that over a thousand contestants from the universe's major civilizations had begun fighting to the death at the same time!

People could freely choose any match to watch.

As for...

Thinking it was too bloody and cruel, and refusing to watch?

Impossible!

No one could refuse Dao's "kind invitation."

Those who did not know when to accept a favor had long since been erased by it in the river of time.

If, after watching one swiftly concluded match, other duels had yet to end, they could watch a few more—Dao did not force that point.

More than a minute had passed since the god announced the completion of the Myriad Heavens Forum.

Over seventy percent of Earth Humans had already registered their forum accounts.

Zhang Miaoran, who was at Yanbei University, was one of them.

"Zhou Zhe's arena combat hasn't started yet... Could he be the finale?"

Zhang Miaoran sent another viewing request, but it vanished like a stone sinking into the sea. She could only enter the Myriad Heavens Forum first.

"The forum interface is so plain..."

She blinked, looking at the black-and-white Myriad Heavens Forum on the virtual screen before her. She quickly found the Earth section and entered under the ID "Zhe is the most powerful."

The hundreds of thousands of freshly created posts left Zhang Miaoran dizzy.

The top trending post in the Earth section was titled: "Why didn't Dao mention Earth when announcing the second matter?"

A classic case of the title being longer than the content.

The content consisted of only two letters—RT, as titled.

Below it were the replies from the silly netizens.

"Lan Zhou Shao Bing. Are you fucking blind? It clearly mentioned Earth! If your eyes are useless, donate them to someone who needs them!"

"Blow your mother's air! What nonsense are you spouting? Where did it mention Earth?"

"Dawa Lishi on the second floor, did you drink too much vodka? Are you hearing things?"

"Free America, gunfights every day! From now on, Earth's gladiators cannot use guns when entering the arena. This is the greatest injustice to our country's contestants! We strongly condemn this! We strongly protest! Dao has made an extremely stupid decision!"

"American bro upstairs, are you still alive? Your avatar went dark. Were you erased?"

"Don't ask. He's dead as dead can be."

"What fucking era are we in, and there are still idiots this oblivious who dare provoke that one!"

"Watching American netizens get erased, I'm laughing while eating kimchi, indeed!"

"Don't go off-topic! We Earth Humans should unite and support each other. No matter what, at a time like this, we absolutely shouldn't be fighting among ourselves!"

"What the brother from China, the second floor's suzerain state, said is actually right. Dao said—the Alpha Star System, Beta Planet, Ke Qiu, Ao Fa Star, the Chihe Interstellar Federation, the Dongcang Cultivation Star Circle, and other civilizations. Earth is included in that word 'other'!"

"Has no one noticed the forum's registration count? There are statistics on the main interface. I just looked at it—the string of numbers made my eyes spin, and now I feel like throwing up..."

"Good heavens! The Myriad Heavens Forum has already reached ninety-three million trillion registered users! Are there really this many people in the universe?"

"An elementary school math genius with perfect scores has come to explain?"

"No, no, no—not 'people,' but 'High Sapient Lifeforms'!"

Seeing this, Zhang Miaoran silently exited the Myriad Heavens Forum and focused on the Cosmic Arena Combat livestream. She sent another request to watch Zhou Zhe, and this time, she received a reply.

Earth contestant Zhou Zhe and Sigma Star contestant Roxstar have been selected as the finale of this Cosmic Arena Combat event. Please wait patiently.

In truth, it could not be called a reply.

It was a universal announcement.

All intelligent lifeforms received the message.

Starry Dragon Bone Arena.

Standing atop the dragon's skull, Zhou Zhe looked at his alien opponent in the distance and activated his Self-Configuration talent.

Self-Configuration—battle-hardened, reveling in life-and-death combat, without mercy, fear, or sympathy; a killer with extraordinarily powerful combat instincts!

In an instant, Zhou Zhe's entire aura began to transform.

He was still the same person, his features unchanged in the slightest, yet the subtle shifts in his gaze and microexpressions draped him in a hazy crimson veil.

"Meeting again."

Zhou Zhe made a throat-slitting gesture at Roxstar, the Sigmaian in the distance. His smile was dazzling. "Your corpse will be put to great use."

"Damn it!"

The three-meter-tall Roxstar instantly transformed into a streak of black light and charged forward. "I'll kill you! Tear you apart! Eat you!"

However...

With a bang, he seemed to crash into an invisible wall. He staggered back two steps and fell onto the dragon bone.

This was the barrier Dao had set up.

Before the finale arena combat began, any attack was like a dream bubble, unable to inflict even the slightest damage.

"The EX Gene from the Rare Beast Blood Scale gave you great strength, but it also dragged down your intelligence."

Zhou Zhe cast Roxstar a sidelong glance, tilted his head, and said seriously, "Your attempt to provoke Dao was courageous, but behavior like your brain having been soaked in sulfuric acid is not worthy of appreciation."

"Let me give you some advice."

"?"

Roxstar's expression went blank. He had no idea what bullshit this short Earth Human, who was not even two and a half meters tall, wanted to say.

Besides, when had he ever provoked "that one"?

Zhou Zhe glanced at him, his tone low and distant. "Trying to kill me is difficult."

"What's easy is..."

At this point, he paused for a moment.

Reason and past experience told Roxstar that he should not waste words on this foul-mouthed Earth Human, but his emotions made him unable to stop himself from pondering deeply.

Easy...

What was easy?

Zhou Zhe cracked his knuckles. The messy black hair over his forehead swayed slightly as he said calmly, "Dying by my hand."

He recalled that imposing line: "Die by my hand, coward!"

When the wind was at his back, he could talk big. When it was against him...

He would wait until the wind was against him to say it again!