North America, America, former New York State.
Just as Huaxia Country's Demon Sea connected to the East China Sea, New York connected to the Atlantic Ocean. So America had built a War Base nearby, more than 500 meters long.
It housed multiple Laser Cannons, and several War Gods were stationed there. Even an ordinary King-level Monster would have a hard time escaping unscathed.
At that moment, the peaceful night passed without incident, seeming much like most other nights.
Most of the soldiers were resting or enjoying themselves in the camp.
Suddenly, an enormous beast more than 180 meters long appeared in front of the War Base, closing in at an astonishing speed.
Its body was covered in scales, each one the size of a house. Its wings, spanning a full 200 meters, were covered in black scales.
Most striking of all, a black horn grew from its head. Golden patterns wound around the horn, spreading down its neck and across its entire body.
Most chilling were its dark golden eyes. As indifferent as a heavenly god's, they looked down upon all creation.
Faced with a beast that was unmistakably a "King-level Monster," the American War Base immediately activated its Laser Cannons.
But what drove them to despair was that even three blasts at maximum power couldn't harm it in the slightest—not even leaving a mark.
Suddenly—
The beast opened its mouth...
With a deep, rumbling growl, the sky darkened. The space around the beast's mouth warped, and the entire War Base lifted into the air, flying toward its jaws!
As the War Base drew closer to its mouth, it kept shrinking. In the end, the base, which had been more than 500 meters long, shrank to less than five meters.
The beast closed its mouth, swallowing the War Base whole!
Meanwhile, in the East China Sea off Huaxia Country, Hong, who had been easily defeated by Thunder God, looked incredulous!
The main thing was that he had lost so cleanly and decisively, in one seamless motion.
He had barely been able to fight back from start to finish. He'd been suppressed the whole time, forced to defend passively, without even a chance to counterattack. Then he'd lost.
"Uh (⊙o⊙)..." To be honest, even Thunder God hadn't expected this result.
He naturally knew his own strength. After a year of settling into his cultivation, he'd had some confidence that he could defeat Brother Hong, but he hadn't expected it to be this easy.
It made him wonder if Hong had gone easy on him.
"Brother Hong, did you let me win on purpose?" Thunder God rubbed his bald head.
"No." Hong shook his head indifferently and said, "You've been staying with Zhou Ze this whole year, haven't you?"
"Yeah. I didn't have much to do, and when I did, it was usually to see you..." Thunder God said with a grin, then immediately understood.
"Besides, I think Zhou Ze's advice is really good, so I just ended up staying at his place."
"Besides cultivating the Fallen Ink Star Martial Artist Secret Manual, I spent most of my time training my Body Amplification, as Zhou Ze suggested."
Thunder God said cheerfully, "Brother Hong, I'm telling you, Zhou Ze's approach to Body Amplification is truly one of a kind. Do you know how high my Force Emission has reached now?"
A hint of curiosity appeared in Hong's indifferent eyes. "How high?"
"Fifteen times Body Amplification!" Thunder God declared, watching eagerly for Hong's reaction.
And just as he'd expected, Hong's pupils suddenly contracted. He was clearly shocked.
"How did you get it that high?"
Hong couldn't believe it. He knew how important Body Amplification was, but after a year, he'd only managed to increase his by a single level.
That meant his Body Amplification was now a full six times lower than Thunder God's. Before, the difference between them had only been one level.
Thunder God put his hands on his hips and laughed. "I knew you'd ask that!"
Thunder God didn't intend to hide anything. "After joining the Fallen Ink Star, did you keep practicing its secret saber techniques?"
Hong looked at Thunder God. "You've been practicing them too, haven't you? Your saber techniques are completely different from before."
Thunder God smiled. "Of course I practiced the Fallen Ink Star's saber techniques, Guidance Technique, and movement techniques... Well, I still prefer to call it Force Emission. But I learned my Force Emission from Zhou Ze."
Hong fell silent.
Thunder God rubbed his bald head and laughed. "Maybe I don't overthink things as much as you guys. You probably figured that after inheriting the legacy of an Immortal God like the Fallen Ink Star, you should naturally focus on its secret manuals!"
"But I simply felt that learning Zhou Ze's approach to Force Emission suited me better and helped me improve faster!"
"Brother Hong, his original method of Force Emission is perfect for people like us who've made some progress in cultivating our state of mind. Once you use your mind to observe, the secrets of the Internal World are laid bare!"
"According to Brother Zhou Ze, Force Emission and Body Amplification are about activating the body's potential and awakening its dormant, sluggish cells."
"Ordinary people can't learn his method at all. The bar is incredibly high! You practically need to reach the First Level of Mind Realm just to get started!"
Hong remained silent. In truth, he'd been the first to take Zhou Ze seriously, but Zhou Ze was simply too extraordinary, practically a miracle!
Thunder God said excitedly, "Brother Hong, I'm telling you, according to Brother Zhou Ze's cultivation theory, as long as you reach the First Level of Mind Realm before you practice his Force Emission, it's practically like having a cheat!"
"You know I've never admired anyone but you. Brother Zhou Ze's far weaker than us, but I've gotta say, I'm impressed. He's incredible!"
Hong was at a loss for words. Just then, a distinctive alert sounded.
Hong and Thunder God exchanged a glance almost simultaneously.
Trouble had arrived!
Meanwhile.
At Bright Moon District, Zhou Ze received a notice from the War God Palace summoning him to a meeting at the highest level.
At a meeting of this level, every councilor and speaker in the world, senior government officials, and War Gods with special status would attend.
Zhou Ze remained calm. The day had finally come.
Faced with a world-ending crisis like this, even someone with a highly cultivated state of mind couldn't help feeling shaken. But feeling shaken didn't mean they couldn't accept what was happening.
Regulate the mind in all things, and remain undisturbed by what comes from within or without.
This didn't mean that someone with a high state of mind had no emotions, felt no inner turmoil, and was like a robot. It meant that no matter what happened, they could adjust in time and maintain their best state.
"The Golden-Horned Giant Beast... One of Luo Feng's most important early advantages..." Zhou Ze's gaze remained calm.
"But I'd like to see how the world-correcting force of Swallowing Starry Sky works."
Zhou Ze thought of Luo Feng's life. Even with Zhou Ze's interference, things had ultimately returned to their original course.
That brought a saying to mind: "Small things can be changed, but major events cannot be reversed."
Since he wanted to test his conclusion, Zhou Ze wouldn't hesitate or keep second-guessing himself. A Martial Artist needed a certain fearlessness: once you'd made up your mind, you didn't turn back.
"Babata, forget it..."
Zhou Ze thought it over and decided to use the helmet after all.
He put on the helmet. In a flash, Zhou Ze, dressed in a long robe, appeared in a room in the War God Palace.
Before you continue