Sparring with Hong

After Lin Qingyu and Hong finished discussing how the inheritance within the Ruins should be divided,

just as Lin Qingyu had expected, Hong proposed a sparring match.

"On Earth, I have been exploring alone, and my progress has been slow. So I hope to spar and improve together with someone like you, who also possesses a Domain," Hong said.

Although Lin Qingyu was only fifteen, Hong understood that ambition was not limited by age.

After all, when Hong had been fifteen, he had already been a full-fledged assassin who had carried out missions! He would never underestimate Lin Qingyu simply because of his age.

"No problem." Lin Qingyu nodded directly.

Hong was Planetary level 6th stage, Domain 2nd layer, with an exertion multiplier of around five times.

Although Lin Qingyu was only Planetary level 1st stage, his fiftyfold Gene Level allowed him to rival a Planetary level 7th stage directly. Moreover, his exertion multiplier was ten times, and his Domain had reached the 3rd layer.

Though he was inferior to Hong in techniques and moves, his foundation was considerably stronger than Hong's.

Now, he also wanted to know just how powerful Hong, Earth's strongest person, truly was!

A plane from the Limitless Martial Arts School flew to a Wilderness Zone on the Eurasian continent. There were too many monsters in Australia, making it unsuitable for a direct sparring match.

Hong and Lin Qingyu stepped off the plane together and stood facing each other.

Then they exchanged smiles—and unleashed their Domains at the same time!

Hong's Domain was a patch of darkness. As it spread, all the surrounding light seemed to be swallowed by the black hemispherical Domain.

Lin Qingyu's Domain, meanwhile, was a lush green. One glance made it feel brimming with life, as though Myriad Things were sprouting and Myriad Phenomena Renew.

Black and emerald intertwined and influenced each other, forming an even larger region where the two colors mingled.

Lin Qingyu's Domain occupied seventy percent of the area, while Hong's took up thirty percent.

Being at a disadvantage in the clash of Domains did not disappoint Hong. On the contrary, seeing that Lin Qingyu's comprehension of Domains surpassed his own filled Hong with heartfelt delight.

"Good! Take this spear strike!" Hong held his spear, flicked its tip, and thrust straight toward the area under Lin Qingyu's control.

As Hong swung his spear, his Domain changed in an instant. The originally pitch-black region suddenly filled with bright white ripples, like an endless tsunami. Beneath that tsunami lay an entirely different Conception, like a bottomless ocean abyss!

The spear carried layer upon layer of force as it surged toward the area controlled by Lin Qingyu, wave after wave. The Domain changing alongside the spear seemed to become a deep sea, intent on swallowing Lin Qingyu whole.

The moment Hong unleashed his move, the proportions between their Domains instantly shifted. The green Domain, which had occupied a full seventy percent of the area, was suppressed until only half remained. Had Lin Qingyu's foundation not surpassed Hong's, he would have been the one at a disadvantage now.

Lin Qingyu did not possess moves as exquisite as Hong's, nor was he as skilled at utilizing his Domain.

But his foundation was stronger!

Lin Qingyu shouted, and Origin Force burst forth. Countless streams of Origin Force transformed into pillars of light that entered the suppressed Domain, like a massive tree extending countless branches to blot out the sky and sunlight.

If Hong's attack was like a blazing sun hanging overhead and scorching the earth, then Lin Qingyu's counterattack was Single Tree Becomes Forest, covering the sky and blocking out the sun.

Then Lin Qingyu swung his spear as well, thrusting toward Hong.

Unlike Hong, who combined his spear with his Domain, Lin Qingyu's spear was like a battle horn.

The horn sounded, and an army charged!

The countless surrounding flowers, grasses, and trees seemed to have been put on fast-forward, instantly crossing decades of growth. Like animals, they charged alongside Lin Qingyu's spear toward Hong's attack.

This was Lin Qingyu's special ability, Life Blood!

Hong's moves remained incomparably exquisite and perfectly suited to his Light Domain. With the support of his Domain, Hong's attacks were unceasing, as though they had no end.

Even though the countless plants Lin Qingyu had accelerated into growth contained his massive wood attribute Original Force, they still could not block a single one of Hong's strikes. After all, they were merely ordinary plants.

They could not stop him, but they could interfere with the path of Hong's spear.

With Hong's skill, he quickly followed the fluctuations of his Domain and eliminated the interference caused by the accelerated plants. Still, he had ultimately fallen behind in terms of control.

Lin Qingyu had cultivated the World Ending Spear Art as well. He understood just how important "control" was in Hong's battles.

That was why he had chosen to use his Domain and special ability to compete with Hong for control over the surrounding environment.

Relying on a Domain one layer higher, his special ability, and his exaggerated foundation, he had indeed suppressed Hong's Domain and gained deeper control over the environment.

"So that's how it is!" Hong was clearly enjoying the battle. "There are still many flaws in my control over my Domain! My use of myself and the environment has not yet reached its peak!"

Thor had also relied on a foundation and strength one level higher to battle Hong, but fighting Thor truly yielded less than fighting another powerful expert who possessed a Domain.

What was more, Lin Qingyu's Domain was stronger than Hong's to begin with. A Collision between Domains was also Hong's best opportunity to learn.

Although Hong had not won this contest for control over the surrounding environment, he had discovered his own shortcomings, deepening his understanding of Domains by another layer.

"The 3rd layer! This is Domain 3rd layer!"

Genetic Force rippled from Hong's body, resonating with the Domain under his control.

In an instant, the black region that had been suppressed by Lin Qingyu's outburst expanded again, reaching the point where it could stand evenly against Lin Qingyu's green Wood Domain.

Hong's spear also changed its method of attack.

Just now, Hong's spear had been ocean waves, while his Domain had been an ocean abyss. The waves and the abyss had been separate.

But now, every thrust of Hong's spear carried the fluctuations and might of most of his Domain. The fierce tsunami and deep ocean abyss seemed to merge, becoming the complete sea itself, vast enough to encompass all things.

However, Lin Qingyu was no pushover either. If Hong became an ocean that submerged everything, then Lin Qingyu was a towering tree holding up the heavens, standing immovable.

As the two fought, the land within several kilometers was forcibly ground flat. Lord level monsters in the distance scattered in panic. Even the Monster King that had ruled this region avoided them outright, for it knew just how strong Hong was.

Their spears crossed once more, and Hong and Lin Qingyu each retreated more than ten meters. This time, neither of them advanced again.

Their sparring had gone far enough. Neither Hong nor Lin Qingyu increased their strength further, since the purpose of their battle had been mutual improvement, not deciding victory or defeat.

For Hong, being able to comprehend Domain 3rd layer through this exchange was already an immense surprise.

"Lin Qingyu, you should also be a Mental Master, right?" Hong looked at Lin Qingyu in amazement.

"Mm." Lin Qingyu nodded. He had not used his cultivation as a Mental Master during his sparring match with Hong.

"You are fifteen this year, yet your martial artist cultivation can already match mine, and you are also a Mental Master. Your future will certainly not be limited to Earth!" Hong said. "You have received an inheritance from an ancient civilization, or rather... an alien civilization. You should understand that humanity is not the only civilization in the Universe, right?"

"I do know something about alien civilizations." Lin Qingyu nodded. "The Universe is vast."

"That's right. The Universe is vast, but... it is also terrifying! Many times, intelligent beings do things even more cruel than mindless monsters. Although we stand at the very peak of Earth, we absolutely cannot let our guard down." Hong looked at Lin Qingyu seriously. "I do not want our Earth civilization to one day be directly conquered, or even enslaved, by an alien civilization descending from the heavens!"

"I understand," Lin Qingyu said. "I will cultivate diligently and strive to step into the Star level above the Planetary level as soon as possible, so that Earth can truly establish itself in the Universe!"

"Good, that's ambition!" Hong praised. "You are already a true powerhouse, and you possess a powerhouse's sense of responsibility and conviction. I think it is time for the War God Palace Council to add another Speaker."