The Mysteries of the Domain

By the time Shen Mu returned home with Tang Yongqing, Chen Wen and the Tang couple had been chatting fairly happily.

However, once Shen Mu entered, the previously natural atmosphere became somewhat restrained again. Of course, it was much better than the earlier awkwardness.

"Ah Mu, come over here." Chen Wen beckoned to Shen Mu.

Shen Mu sat down beside Chen Wen. After chatting idly with several elders of the Tang family for a while, Chen Wen rose with Shen Mu and took her leave.

Above the Base City, a dark blue King-Class Fighter tore through the sky like a streak of light.

The 3D virtual projection was activated, allowing them to directly observe the scenery outside.

"Ah Mu, what do you think of Xiaoqing?" Chen Wen withdrew her gaze from the wilderness area and looked at her son.

Shen Mu nodded lightly. "Sister Yongqing is quite good. She is devoted to her ideals. I imagine we will be able to treat each other with mutual respect in the future."

Having experienced true life and death, Shen Mu had long since lost any desire to pursue love. He only wanted to live well, see more distant sights, and walk to the end of the universe.

Originally, Shen Mu had not even planned to get married. It was simply that he happened to meet Tang Yongqing, whose appearance and temperament were both exceptional, and who also had ties to Luo Feng.

"Since you think she is alright, then get married. Mom will make the arrangements for you."

"Thank you, Mom."

Chen Wen looked at Shen Mu with some emotion. "I suddenly feel like you have grown up. Back when your father and I told you to train hard in martial arts, you were unwilling in every possible way."

"People always have to grow up."

At the King-Class Fighter's speed of over Mach 10, crossing from one end of the Base City to the other took only a minute.

After returning home, Shen Mu decided to go into seclusion. He instructed his mother, Chen Wen, not to let anyone disturb him, no matter who came.

Inside the underground meditation chamber, Shen Mu sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion.

Invisible spiritual power filled the entire chamber, pulsing at a special frequency. The Genetic Force within Shen Mu's body also surged, resonating with his spiritual power.

His soul and body became increasingly harmonious and unified during this process.

Splash!

Faintly, waves seemed to echo through the meditation chamber. This was the sound made when spiritual power stirred the air as it evolved into Artistic Conception.

The entire seclusion lasted three full days. When Shen Mu opened his eyes again, disappointment appeared in them.

"I didn't expect that even reaching Harmony of Man and Nature wouldn't allow me to break through to the Planet-Level directly."

Shen Mu's physical fitness and spiritual power had now reached the limit beneath the Planet-Level. No matter how diligently he cultivated or absorbed cosmic energy, they would not improve by even the slightest bit.

"It's already August. There are still fourteen months until January of Year 60."

Shen Mu slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, took out his phone, and dialed a number.

Beep, beep—

"Hello."

The call connected, and Hall Master Hong's steady, deep voice sounded.

"Hall Master, I've broken through to the realm of Harmony of Man and Nature, but I still can't directly break through to the Planet-Level."

After returning to the martial hall from hunting the Mountain Giant Ape, Shen Mu had spoken with Hong and Thunder God. They had explained the divisions between realms such as the Apprentice-Level and Planet-Level to him.

Hong had even said directly that if Shen Mu could one day reach Harmony of Man and Nature, like Thunder God, he could teach him the mysteries of the Domain.

"You've reached Harmony of Man and Nature?"

Shen Mu actually heard an emotional fluctuation in Hong's voice. That was rare.

"I was fortunate enough to make a breakthrough. After reaching Harmony of Man and Nature, it feels as though I am constantly cultivating in the Five Hearts Toward Heaven posture, and I can vaguely sense the outside world and cosmic energy."

"I'm at the martial hall. Come over."

After saying that, Hong hung up. He gazed at the prosperous Base City beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, recalling Shen Mu's journey so far.

In just three months, his spear technique and movement technique had entered the realms of perfection and consummation.

If the first three levels belonged to technique and could be compensated for through hard work, then the Artistic Conception Level had nothing to do with effort. Without comprehending the mysteries of heaven, earth, and nature, it was impossible to enter the Artistic Conception Level.

In just one month, Shen Mu's movement technique and spear technique had both reached major accomplishment in Artistic Conception.

Now, in such a short time, he had reached the level of consummate Artistic Conception and Harmony of Man and Nature. Even Hong was curious about just how deep Shen Mu's understanding of the ocean was.

A faint smile suddenly appeared on Hong's face. Then he directly used the optical computer on his wrist to leave Thunder God a message.

"Thunder Baldy, that kid Shen Mu has already reached Harmony of Man and Nature. Look at his talent, then look at yourself. Stupid."

Who knew what Thunder God's reaction would be when Hong inexplicably called him stupid.

Not long afterward, a dark blue King-Class Fighter arrived at Hongning Base City. Shen Mu had come to Hongning Base City once again.

Inside the giant spaceship-like building of the Limit Martial Hall Global Headquarters.

In the spacious room on the top floor was Hong's cultivation chamber. Apart from Thunder God, Shen Mu was the second person in the world to enter it.

At a small table by the window, Shen Mu sat facing Hong.

"You must have many questions now, right?" Hong wore a smile, and the appreciation in his gaze toward Shen Mu was undisguised.

Shen Mu nodded. "Hall Master, I've already reached the limit of the War God Level. What method is there for breaking through to the Planet-Level?"

Hong shook his head slightly. "I thought you would ask directly about the mysteries of the Domain. In truth, breaking through to the Planet-Level should not be difficult for you."

"Not difficult?"

Hong gave a sound of acknowledgment. "There are actually three methods for breaking through to the Planet-Level."

"The first is to wait for an opportunity, or encounter some particular circumstance, and you may break through directly. Of course, you might also wait three to five years without making a breakthrough."

"The second is to use powerful consciousness to push either spiritual power or genetic energy to its limit, breaking through to the Planet-Level in one stroke."

"As for the third, it requires a special breakthrough secret technique. This is only information I obtained from an ancient civilization relic. There are no similar secret techniques on Earth."

After explaining the three methods of breaking through to the Planet-Level, Hong looked into Shen Mu's eyes. "And your consciousness is already incomparably powerful. It is not even weaker than that of the Planet-Level Mentalist, Fourth Speaker Ister."

Push spiritual power to its limit?

He could try that later.

Shen Mu then asked again, "Then, Hall Master, what exactly is a Domain?"

"First, experience what a Domain is."

As Hong's voice fell, a black Domain rapidly spread out. Like the territory of a god, it instantly expanded to fill the entire room.

At once, Shen Mu felt a powerful oppressive force. It was like an ordinary person entering a space with ten times gravity, yet also like falling into the depths of the sea, where countless tough strands of seaweed entangled all four limbs.

Within this Domain, Hong seemed to receive some kind of enhancement. His entire presence was as deep as an abyss and as oppressive as a prison, like a heavenly being who ruled over all living things.

"This is the power of a Domain."

After speaking, Hong withdrew the Domain and looked at Shen Mu. "Did you sense how I was different just now?"

Shen Mu nodded slightly. "I did feel the change. It seemed as though Hall Master controlled the entire space."

"Correct. In essence, a Domain is a state where the body, soul, will, and energy are driven by Artistic Conception into an incomparably wondrous state of harmony.

"In that state, one's own power merges and gives rise to a force field. Through that force field, one controls the surrounding cosmic space. That is a Domain."

Just as he had guessed. Although the original work had not described Domains in much detail, and Shen Mu had mostly forgotten it, he could still infer from his own condition that a Domain was control.

"In other words, from consummate Artistic Conception to possessing a Domain, the only barrier is elevating one's soul, body, will, and energy from resonance into a state of perfect harmony. Then one can wield a Domain."

Hong nodded approvingly. "You are teachable. As for how to break through the Domain bottleneck, that can only be understood, not explained. All I can do is let you experience the power of a Domain more often and comprehend it yourself."

"Thank you, Hall Master."

Shen Mu stood and intended to take his leave. His top priority now was to first break through to the Planet-Level.

Seeing that Shen Mu intended to leave, Hong spoke. "Go on. If you gain any insight, you may come find me anytime to experience the Domain."

Being so generous with his own insights was likely the bearing and vision of Earth's strongest person. Their gaze was already fixed upon the stars.

After leaving the Limit Martial Hall, Shen Mu piloted the King-Class Fighter straight toward Kyoto Base City.

Next, it was time to break through to the Planet-Level.