Yangzhou City, Bright Moon District.
The mornings in August were cool. Quite a few residents strolled around the neighborhood, and some warriors were out training.
"In theory, it feels right, but putting it into practice is difficult. Do I really have to wait until I reach the Planetary level to comprehend a domain?"
Zhou Ze had ended his retreat. He lay back in a chair on the rooftop, gazing up at the stars.
Before long, he spotted Luo Feng approaching from outside and waved for him to jump straight up.
"Luo Feng, what brings you here so early? Having trouble with your training?" Zhou Ze smiled as usual. Glancing at the briefcase in Luo Feng's hand, he teased, "Well, look at that. What has our Inspector come to deliver this time? I won't stand on ceremony. If you're giving it to me, I'll take it."
"By the way, when your mom and I used to chat, she told me all sorts of embarrassing stories about you. I could dine out on those secrets for ten lifetimes."
Luo Feng was long used to Zhou Ze's manner when he wasn't teaching, so he wasn't at all surprised. When he'd first become Zhou Ze's disciple, there hadn't even been any kowtowing or tea-serving.
If there was one difference, it was that before Luo Feng became a warrior, Zhou Ze had always seemed listless. Afterward, though he was still as lazy as ever, he carried himself with a little more confidence.
That made Luo Feng happy, too. He felt it was because he'd done well.
"Teacher, I bought this Water of Life for you. You've already used the Dragon Blood and Millennium Willow Heart, right? How did they work?"
Luo Feng took out the Water of Life and offered it to Zhou Ze with both hands.
"You're supposed to drink the Water of Life."
Zhou Ze shook his head. "Give it to your younger brother. He needs it more. Even with you around, he still seems a little insecure."
"Teacher, I've already gotten in touch with people in America. They'll send over another Water of Life in a while," Luo Feng explained.
Zhou Ze smiled. "Exactly. So there's even less reason for me to rush. I'm old. The future belongs to you young people."
"Besides, Psychic Power is much more convenient than using your hands..."
Zhou Ze remained lying in his chair. The Water of Life floated out of Luo Feng's hand and back into the open briefcase.
The briefcase closed by itself, then floated into Luo Feng's hand.
"Teacher..." Luo Feng hesitated.
Before he could finish, Zhou Ze glanced at him. "You're too arrogant, Luo Feng."
"It's only two or three hundred billion. If I went out and killed a few Lord-level Monsters, I could earn enough to pay for the Water of Life."
For a moment, Luo Feng forgot why he'd come. He scratched the back of his head and asked curiously, "Teacher, what's your physical fitness level now?"
Zhou Ze pushed himself lightly off the chair and stood across from Luo Feng. "Luo Feng, hasn't it been a long time since we sparred?"
Luo Feng looked up and thought for a moment. "We really haven't sparred since I joined the Elite Training Camp."
"Then let's spar again today." Zhou Ze was itching for a fight. He hadn't fought anyone in a long time.
"Teacher, you said it! Don't blame me when you lose!" Luo Feng grew excited.
That damned competitive spirit of men knew no bounds, no matter their age...
The Wilderness Zone outside Jiangnan Base City.
"Heh, Teacher, I'll go easy on you." Luo Feng was getting carried away. Memories of Zhou Ze "humiliating" him without restraint flashed through his mind.
He didn't know why Zhou Ze had played such a twisted game with his own disciple, but today he could finally "get revenge."
"Forget it. I'd better go easy on my teacher and let the old man enjoy himself. No point getting scolded afterward..."
Zhou Ze smiled at Luo Feng, bringing back the fear of being under his thumb. Luo Feng felt his scalp prickle despite himself.
"Here I come."
Zhou Ze kindly gave him a warning. The next instant, he appeared behind Luo Feng as if he'd teleported.
So fast!
Luo Feng's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Clang!"
The shrill metallic ring made his scalp tingle. Luo Feng's body shot backward, carving three long, deep gouges into the ground as if it had been plowed.
"Teacher, what's with that movement technique?" Luo Feng gripped the hilt of the blade embedded in the ground with both hands. He was genuinely shocked. It didn't make sense to him.
It was too fast. If his neural reaction speed hadn't been quick enough, he would've been taken out instantly.
Zhou Ze knew what Luo Feng wanted to ask and smiled. "Just think of the curve as a straight line."
"Young people's minds are even more rigid than this old man's!"
A flash of inspiration struck Luo Feng, and he immediately understood what Zhou Ze meant.
The sixth level of the Ninefold Thunderblade!
Now that he knew his teacher's strength, Luo Feng's muscles tensed. Seven bursts of Hidden Force erupted at once. Like Zhou Ze, he traced an arc through the air, but his speed was comparable to a straight line!
"Clang!"
Luo Feng was sent flying again. It took him a long time to come to a stop.
"Good speed, but your strength is too low," Zhou Ze commented calmly.
"Teacher, how many times your strength were you using?" Luo Feng asked curiously.
"How many times were you using?" Zhou Ze asked, glancing at him.
"Everything I've got," Luo Feng replied.
"About the same, then." Zhou Ze smiled.
"Wait, Teacher, you're a Senior War God?" Luo Feng's eyes widened.
"Thanks to your Dragon Blood and Spirit of Plants. I may have absorbed them a little better than you did." Zhou Ze grinned.
"Without using Psychic Power, you can't beat me." Zhou Ze chuckled softly.
"A Senior War God needs at least two hundred and fifty-six thousand kilograms of punching force. Add ninefold Force Emission, and..." Luo Feng sucked in a breath, warming the globe ever so slightly.
Luo Feng had been soundly defeated!
Against the overwhelming advantage in speed and strength, his throwing knives were like they'd fallen into a swamp. Zhou Ze only had to flick them lightly to knock them aside, costing Luo Feng a moment's control. That moment was all he needed.
In a battle between Invincible War Gods, a single blink could cover a distance of a thousand meters. Dozens of weapon clashes could happen in an instant. Even in a War General's eyes, they were nothing but afterimages—impossible to follow.
"Teacher, with your strength, once your physical fitness improves, even a weaker Councilor might not be your match." Luo Feng looked at him reproachfully.
"Not even close," Zhou Ze replied calmly. "The foundation is what matters. Against the overwhelming suppression of a higher life level, no amount of Force Emission will help. Besides, Force Emission has its limits, too."
"By the way, since you like going out and stirring things up, keep an eye out for a Double-Horned Azure Python for me..."
Luo Feng nodded. He had a few guesses, but didn't ask.
"Teacher, you're already as strong as an Invincible War God. Why haven't you let anyone know?"
Luo Feng slung the Blood Shadow Battle Blade over his back.
"What would be the point? Once you're strong, everyone comes knocking with problems, and it's hard to turn them down. It's too much trouble. I prefer a quiet, free life."
Zhou Ze stretched. "Let's head back. Remember to give me the Water of Life when it arrives."
Luo Feng blinked. "Teacher, didn't you say you'd earn the money and buy it yourself?"
Zhou Ze rolled his eyes. "I just wanted you to know I wasn't in a hurry. And to show off a little."
Luo Feng stared at him, speechless.
After returning to the villa aboard Luo Feng's Smart Fighter, Zhou Ze sent him a message: "Going into seclusion. Don't contact me, whether it's important or not." He then set up automatic replies on his Communication Watch and phone before beginning his retreat.
His fight with Luo Feng had given him plenty of ideas, and he wanted to test some of them.
Before you continue