Domain of Fire

"As for Force Amplitude, after learning Flowing Fire Blade, I can now reach eighteen times my normal strength, but I'm still far behind those people. I'll need to reach at least thirty times to be considered strong."

"As for weapon mastery... I haven't used weapons much before, but I can make up for my lack of experience in the Killing Field."

"My movement technique is the weakest, though. I have almost no talent for Law of Space, and I still haven't even begun to learn Thousand Shadows. Otherwise, things wouldn't be this difficult."

Su Zhe said helplessly.

Lack of awareness and experience could be remedied.

But the weakness in his movement technique was hard to overcome quickly.

Unless Su Zhe could find and devour a life-form with a high talent for Law of Space, then inherit its talent.

But... the only one on Earth with high talent seemed to be the Golden Horned Beast.

Su Zhe had considered devouring it. After all, the Golden Horned Beast had Clone Talent, and as long as its Origin Core remained, it would never truly die. Even if Su Zhe devoured it, Luo Feng would be fine.

He only had to wait until Luo Feng had produced a clone.

Right, that would take another two years.

The fastest way to improve now was probably to master a domain, Su Zhe thought to himself.

He was only one step away from mastering Domain of Fire.

But that final step had held him back for some time.

Su Zhe shook his head and logged out of the Virtual Universe.

In the real world.

On a small island in the Pacific Ocean.

Su Zhe opened his palm. A wisp of deep-black flame leaped out and coalesced into a lazy little black cat, curling up in his hand as it purred softly.

Spirit of Nihility Devouring Flame.

Su Zhe teased it with a finger for a while. As time passed, its sentience grew increasingly clear.

"Meow?"

The little black cat seemed to sense its master's thoughts. It raised its head and rubbed affectionately against Su Zhe's finger.

"This little thing's getting more and more lifelike," Babata said, leaning closer to inspect it with curiosity. "The energy it contains is of an extremely high quality. If it works in tandem with your Law Comprehension, it might help you grasp a domain."

Babata and Luo Feng had seen Spirit of Nihility Devouring Flame before. After all, Su Zhe was right here, so it would have been difficult to keep it hidden.

"It already has a mind of its own. What do you mean, lifelike or not?"

Su Zhe shook his head and recalled Void Devouring Flame. Though Spirit of Nihility Devouring Flame had some intelligence, it was still a long way from being able to communicate.

He stood and walked to the edge of the island, gazing down at the deep Pacific Ocean.

His powerful Psychic Power spread below like invisible tentacles, easily covering the waters. The currents surging along the seabed, the migrating schools of fish... everything appeared before Su Zhe's eyes. Star Level Psychic Power had a perception range far greater than that of Planetary Level.

Watching the changing seawater, Su Zhe felt a vague stirring within him.

Just then—

The communicator on Su Zhe's wrist vibrated. It was Atkin.

"Master!"

Atkin's voice carried unmistakable excitement. "I'm reporting in! The initial framework for the Earth Federation is complete!"

"Oh?"

Su Zhe was curious.

It was now May 2061.

Nearly three months had passed since Su Zhe had ordered Atkin to unify Earth. Su Zhe had been cultivating in seclusion and had barely kept track of Atkin's progress. He had only received the news today.

"America, the European Union, India, Soviet Russia, and Huaxia have all officially signed the merger agreement and joined the Earth Federation," Atkin reported.

"To make administration easier, the former countries have been dissolved and reorganized. The Earth Federation Council is now the highest governing body. Each former country has a fixed number of seats, and the remaining seats will be filled by election or recommendation."

"We've spoken with the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. They'll remain on Earth, but only as an 'educational institution' to train warriors. They'll no longer hold any special power or status."

"The Thunder Martial Arts Hall was even easier to deal with. They had no leader and were in disarray, so we sent in forces to bring them under control. After removing a few stubborn holdouts, the remnants fell in line."

"...In short, Master, the Earth Federation has now unified the entire planet!"

Atkin spoke excitedly.

"Good."

Su Zhe nodded. Atkin had done a fine job.

With the help of those Planetary Level Nine slaves, no force had been able to resist.

"I'll leave the administration to you from now on."

Su Zhe simply handed it all off. He didn't expect the Earth Federation to bring him any benefits anyway.

Once Luo Feng produced a clone, he would leave the Earth Federation to him. Su Zhe had no plans to become Earth Lord, and he didn't even intend to take part in the Genius Tournament. He'd leave that to Luo Feng.

The Genius Tournament... Su Zhe had been somewhat interested before, but after his experience in Decisive Battle Space, he'd lost all interest.

He'd grow faster by devouring than by training little by little!

Strength was what mattered.

"Yes! Thank you for your trust, Master! Atkin won't let you down!"

Atkin had no idea what Su Zhe was thinking and spoke with excitement.

The call ended.

On the sea, the massive head of Luo Feng in his Golden Horned Beast form slowly emerged from the water. His dark golden eyes turned toward Su Zhe.

"Don't look at me. You can buy the rights to all of Earth later. The position of Earth Lord will still be yours," Su Zhe said casually.

"...All right."

Luo Feng paused. He hadn't expected Su Zhe to bring it up, but it made sense.

Only Luo Feng could inherit Hu Yanbo's account, so naturally, he was the only one with the funds to buy a planet.

"Still haven't mastered a domain?"

Luo Feng asked.

He hadn't mastered one either. His understanding of the Essence of Metal was much like Su Zhe's: just one step away. So he understood how Su Zhe felt.

"Mm."

Su Zhe nodded.

"I'm going back to clear my head," Su Zhe said.

"Sounds good." Luo Feng knew where he meant.

Yangzhou City.

The place where they had grown up together.

Although Luo Feng had never met Su Zhe in Yangzhou City, that didn't matter.

As fellow countrymen, they shared a natural sense of closeness.

"Mastering a domain also has a lot to do with your state of mind," Luo Feng said. "As far as I know, Thunder God naturally mastered a domain after reaching the state of unity between heaven and man."

"Mm."

Su Zhe nodded and flew toward Yangzhou City.

Clear his head? Unity between heaven and man?

Watching the sea shrink below him and the scorching sun overhead, Su Zhe seemed to feel something stirring within him.

A domain.

What was a domain?

It was an understanding of the laws, along with an extension of a part of one's will!

There was no need for him to make it so complicated.

Su Zhe felt as though he had touched the threshold of a domain.