The Vast Universe

Ji Yun followed the Black man in the red robe and entered the same quiet room as before.

Hong, the black-haired man, sat cross-legged on a cushion. He gestured toward the cushion across from him. "Sit!"

"Yes, Dojo Master." Compared with the dazed panic of their last meeting, Ji Yun was much calmer this time. Perhaps breaking through to War God Level had eased his fear of Hong's overwhelming aura.

Hong looked at Ji Yun and spoke warmly, with a hint of emotion. "To be honest, you've surprised me more than anyone. You became a High-Level War God after about half a year at the Training Camp, then broke through to Planetary Level on the Australian Continent!"

"Planetary Level?" Ji Yun asked in confusion. "Dojo Master, what does that mean?"

"You've reached Planetary Level, so you're qualified to learn a few things about the universe." Hong's expression grew serious, his face full of solemnity.

"The universe?" Ji Yun was deeply shaken. Had humanity been wrong all along to believe that humans were the only intelligent life? Was there other life beyond Earth?

Hong gestured around the room, then swept his hand through the air. A three-dimensional projection appeared. "What do you think of the Limit Dojo Global Headquarters?"

"From the outside, it looks like a huge spaceship. It seems indestructible, with incredibly strong defenses. Even a King Rank Monster couldn't break through." After becoming a Councilor, Ji Yun had once tried attacking the ship's walls, but they hadn't suffered a scratch. The recoil had even knocked him back.

"Could it be...?"

"That's right," Hong said gravely. "This is a real spaceship."

A spaceship!

Ji Yun was stunned.

What kind of civilization could build a spaceship like this and travel between stars? Earth's technology was nowhere close. Perhaps it could manage something like this in a hundred years, but now?

The civilization that had built this spaceship had to be incredibly advanced.

"On Earth, anyone who surpasses War God Level is a Planetary Level Martial Artist," Hong continued.

"I'll show you a video." Hong entered a series of commands. A video began loading on the electronic screen in front of Ji Yun.

It showed two Martial Artists fighting on a White Dwarf Star!

"What?" Ji Yun's eyes widened. "Humans can survive on a White Dwarf Star?"

The video showed two powerful Martial Artists landing on a blazing white star and fighting each other. Text beside the footage explained that the star's surface gravity was three hundred million times that of Earth.

"Of course they can. A Planetary Level Martial Artist wandering the universe can barely make a living," Hong said, emphasizing each word. "Above Planetary Level is Star Level! Star Level experts are divided into nine ranks. And above Star Level is Universe Level!"

"Planetary Level Martial Artists can fly within a planet. That's the level of those who surpass War God Level."

Hong waved his hand, shutting off the video. He waited for Ji Yun to collect himself, not wanting to overwhelm him further.

"To us on Earth, Universe Level experts are gods we can't resist. Even Thor and I would be like ants before them. A single breath from one could easily wipe us out. They can fight interstellar fleets in space, and each one is incredibly powerful."

"Ji Yun." Hong suddenly fixed his gaze on him.

"Are you willing to work hard for Earth's future, even fight to the death? To keep Earth from being bullied and its people from living in fear? So that we can roam freely through the universe instead of becoming slaves?"

The questions rang in Ji Yun's ears like a thunderclap. He was a little lost. He hadn't yet processed all the information he'd just received, and his mind was still reeling.

"I..." Ji Yun opened his mouth, but no words came out.

"Take your time. I won't force you. You're the most talented Martial Artist I've ever met. Even Thor and I don't match your potential. You're only nineteen, yet you've already reached Planetary Level. You'll definitely break through to Star Level one day. And even that distant, powerful, mysterious Universe Level is within your reach."

"Earth is our home. If one day a nation from the universe discovers us, the stronger we are, the safer we'll be."

Hong's lips were pressed tight. His gaze never wavered as he stared at Ji Yun, as though trying to see right through him.

"Then, Dojo Master..." Ji Yun came back to himself and looked at Hong.

"What are you doing now?" Ji Yun looked into Hong's eyes, as if searching for an answer.

A light seemed to flow through Hong's eyes. Energy surged around him, enveloping the room.

"Doing what needs to be done," Hong replied.

"Then I'll do what I need to do, too." Ji Yun smiled. He had made his decision.

He had family and the person he loved on Earth, as well as brothers, friends, and countless other good people. He would never allow aliens to enslave them, bully them, or slaughter them at will.

"Good. I knew you wouldn't disappoint me." Hong smiled gently. "Now, let's talk about what you should do next."

"Although you weren't the one who discovered the Vegetation Spirits on Mist Island, you helped Luo Feng escape Fal's pursuit and protected the Vegetation Spirits. And since you've reached Planetary Level, your strength amplification must be twenty. So I'll consider the earlier contract fulfilled."

"The Training Camp contract?" Ji Yun nodded. He wasn't especially concerned about it.

The only thing in that contract that had interested him was the Black God Set. But he could get one himself from an ancient civilization relic, so he'd almost forgotten about the contract.

"I'll give you one percent of the Vegetation Spirits from this haul. That comes to one Millennium Willow Heart. Converted into stars, it's worth one star." Hong waved his hand, and the screen appeared again, displaying rows of options and various items.

"Stars are a unit I made up," Hong explained.

"There are many treasures on Earth that no one but me knows about, so I've estimated the value of each one myself."

"Look." Hong pointed toward the virtual exchange list. Prices appeared beside each item in the enormous projection: "1 star," "1.5 stars," "3 stars," "2 stars"... Most were worth around two stars.

"Counting your Training Camp contract, you have four stars in total. You can exchange them for some treasures here."

"Four stars?" Ji Yun studied the list carefully.

The exchange list divided its items into categories: spirit medicines, weapons, battle suits, and more.

At a glance, Ji Yun spotted the Black God Set. But since the Limit Dojo was honoring the Training Camp contract, he would get a set for free, so he skipped over it.

Weapons...

As Ji Yun examined the weapons on the list, one long spear caught his eye!

The spear was a dark blue-green, with a streak of deep red at its tip. Simple patterns ran along its shaft, as though drawing on some kind of power.

"Dojo Master, what about this spear?" Ji Yun looked at its price. It was exactly four stars.

"Good eye, Ji Yun." Hong nodded. "As I understand it, this is a Tier 1 Weapon, suited for Planetary Level Martial Artists. It came from an ancient civilization relic. I already have a weapon I'm comfortable with, so I put it away."

"I actually recommend exchanging for it. Its worth can't be measured in stars."

It was hard for a Martial Artist to find a weapon that suited them, especially for Planetary Level Martial Artists on Earth. Most Councilors still used SS-Level Weapons, and some even fought barehanded.

Only Hong, Thor, and a few other Councilors had encountered special opportunities that gave them weapons they could use comfortably.

"Four stars. The Dojo Master must have put this here specifically for me to choose," Ji Yun thought. "He must have his reasons."

"Then I'll take the spear." Ji Yun pointed to it and nodded.

"Good." Hong waved away the screen.

"The spear and the rewards from your Training Camp contract will be delivered to you after you leave. You can take them back to the Training Camp."

"Now, we need to decide on your position."

"I originally planned to have you graduate after you'd been through life-and-death trials, then send you to Kyoto Base City as its Supervisor. But since you've broken through, we can't do that."

"At the Limit Dojo, you can become an Inspector. Or you can focus on training without taking a position and simply become a Councilor." Hong's hair stirred slightly, but he didn't hesitate at all.

"Which will you choose?"

"Me?" Ji Yun answered without hesitation. "I choose not to take a position."

An Inspector had to make decisions about the dojo's operations and deal with countless trivial matters. Ji Yun preferred the freedom to focus on training.

"Good." Hong nodded. "To become a Councilor, you'll need to verify your identity in the War God Palace. But you've never entered it before, so go there after you return. You already know what the War God Palace is, right?"

"Yes," Ji Yun replied firmly.

"Do you have any other questions? You can ask me." After getting Ji Yun's answer, Hong first confirmed a few details, then sent his information to the higher-ups in the War God Palace. And so—the entire War God Palace Council learned that a new Councilor had appeared on Earth.

"Dojo Master, may I ask you about cultivating a domain?" Ji Yun hesitated, but asked anyway. Hong knew about domains, so he must have mastered one. This was a rare chance to ask him in person.

"A domain?" Hong was taken aback. "You're not at the level where you can work with domains yet, are you?"

"I watched Long Vine and learned a few things. I feel like I'm close," Ji Yun replied.

"Oh? Really?" Hong grew interested. He considered it, then said, "All right. I've already told you so much today; a little more time won't hurt. Listen carefully."

"In my view, a domain is..."

At the entrance to the massive spaceship building that housed the Limit Dojo Global Headquarters, Ji Yun walked out accompanied by a white man in a red robe.

"Councilor Ji," the white man in the red robe said respectfully. "As the Dojo Master instructed, your belongings have been delivered to a hotel room in Hongning Base City. The place is completely secure. You can go check on them whenever you like."

"As for your plans afterward, the Dojo Master said you're free to do as you wish. You can go home or stay at the Training Camp until your friends return."

"Take me to pick up my things," Ji Yun said. After the man in the red robe assured him, Ji Yun got into a car and headed for the hotel.