After his excitement had subsided, Lu Ming gradually calmed down. Only then did he remember that several people were still waiting outside.
"Azure Kite."
The phantom of the intelligent life, dressed in palace attire, immediately appeared and bowed respectfully. "Master."
"Have Mo take those youngsters to the family council hall to wait."
Lu Ming spoke calmly.
"Yes, Master."
Azure Kite's phantom dissipated.
Lu Ming took a single step, his figure blending into space like a ghost. The next moment, he had appeared inside the magnificent and solemn council hall, the symbol of the Lu Family's highest authority.
He walked straight to the black throne suspended above the nine-tiered steps and sat down without hesitation.
A short while later, the sound of somewhat disorderly footsteps came from outside the hall.
Led by Mo, four young talents followed behind him. All five kept their heads down and stepped cautiously across the threshold.
They had only just recovered from the terrifying pressure that had swept across the entire planet. Still shaken, they scarcely dared to breathe.
Yet the moment they entered the hall and involuntarily raised their eyes—
Buzz!
An aura far clearer and more profound than the unconscious pressure that had spread earlier—and far more soul-shaking—instantly enveloped them!
It wasn't deliberate oppression, but a natural intimidation born of the absolute gap in their very essences of life!
It was like ants gazing up at a dragon, or mortals standing before a god!
Mo, at the front, felt it most strongly!
As a Universe Level Third Order, his perception far surpassed that of ordinary people. At that moment, he clearly sensed the figure seated high upon the throne!
Compared to before, he was now—
Hundreds, even thousands of times more powerful!!
A thought exploded in Mo's mind like a thunderclap!
Domain Lord!
The ancestor... had broken through to Domain Lord Level?!
No wonder!
No wonder that aura had been so terrifying, sweeping across the entire planet!
It hadn't been a failed breakthrough at all. The ancestor had successfully reached Domain Lord Level, and his power had naturally spilled out because he couldn't control it!
Utter shock and joy instantly overwhelmed Mo.
Almost instinctively, he—
Dropped to one knee with a heavy thud, bowed his head deeply, and cried out in a trembling voice, "Your subordinate Mo congratulates the ancestor on breaking through to Domain Lord, gaining a million years of life, and approaching immortality!!!"
Although the four talents behind him hadn't sensed it as clearly as Mo, their instinctive awe and Lord Mo's earth-shattering words of congratulations instantly made them understand what had happened!
Domain Lord!
This ancestor, who had lived for more than ninety thousand years, had defied the heavens and broken through to Domain Lord at the very end of his lifespan!
This was a Domain Lord!
A powerful figure even across the entire Black Dragon Mountain Star Sector!
And within the Qing Yang Empire, only the Qingyang Sovereign had reached this level!
The four were astonished and frightened, yet immensely excited. They hurriedly dropped to their knees in unison with a thud.
"This junior congratulates the ancestor on breaking through to Domain Lord!"
Their hearts were already churning with shock.
"Domain Lord! The ancestor actually became a Domain Lord!"
"Heavens! From now on, our Lu Family has a Domain Lord Level powerhouse watching over it!"
"That pressure just now... It was caused by the ancestor's breakthrough! Terrifying! Is this the power of a Domain Lord? If only I could become a disciple of a Domain Lord..."
These thoughts made the four young people's hearts pound wildly, as though they might leap from their chests!
From atop the throne, Lu Ming looked down at the five kneeling figures, taking in their shock, reverence, and joy.
He smiled faintly to himself.
Domain Lord?
If they knew that he wasn't merely a Domain Lord, but a Domain Lord Ninth Stage with a Hundredfold Gene, what expressions would they make?
Still, there was no need to publicize that.
He spoke slowly, his voice calm.
"Rise."
The group felt as though a great burden had been lifted and quickly got to their feet.
Lu Ming's gaze first settled on Mo.
Mo had had a tragic past. Several tens of thousands of years ago, when Lu Ming had just established the Lu Family and lacked manpower, Mo had been one of the slaves he purchased.
But Mo's talent was genuinely remarkable, so Lu Ming had often guided him in his cultivation and eventually even granted him his freedom.
That was why Mo had devoted himself so completely to Lu Ming. Under Lu Ming's guidance, he had successfully broken through to Universe Level.
Among Lu Ming's subordinates, he could be counted as one of the strongest!
"Universe Level Third Order. Not bad. You're only a little over fifty thousand years old, aren't you? If you cultivate diligently, you still have a chance to break through to Domain Lord in your lifetime."
Mo nodded respectfully.
"Yes, Ancestor. This disciple will cultivate with all his strength and won't let down the ancestor, who has nurtured me for tens of thousands of years."
Lu Ming nodded and said no more. There was no need to question Mo's loyalty.
Now that he had awakened his golden finger, he would be able to provide some resources in the future.
At the very least, he could help Mo break through to Domain Lord.
Lu Ming shifted his gaze from Mo to the four young talents, who were still so nervous that they didn't know what to do with their hands and feet.
"You four are the most outstanding youngsters of this generation?"
"Yes, Ancestor!"
The four hurriedly bowed as they answered.
Lu Ming's divine sense swept over them, and he immediately saw through their backgrounds.
Two were Stellar Level Seven, and two were Stellar Level Eight. All were under a hundred years old, and their talents truly ranked among the best in the Qing Yang Empire.
However, by his current standards, their talent was merely passable.
Before, he might have considered taking one or two as nominal disciples. But now... as a Domain Lord Ninth Stage with a Hundredfold Gene, his standards had long since changed.
Unless someone was a peerless prodigy seen only once in countless ages, an ordinary talent could no longer catch his eye.
"Not bad."
Lu Ming offered a mild assessment.
"Mo."
"Your subordinate is here."
Mo hurriedly stepped forward.
"Assign them to the family's Elite Training Camp and give them the highest level of resources and treatment."
Lu Ming instructed him.
"Tell them the rules and train them well. If their performance is impressive enough..."
He paused slightly, looking at the four below, who had instantly held their breath, before continuing.
"This seat may consider personally guiding them."
Though he hadn't accepted them as disciples outright, the words "personally guiding them" carried immense weight coming from a Domain Lord Level powerhouse!
It gave them a clear goal to strive toward!
"Yes, Ancestor! This subordinate will make sure they meet the highest standards!"
Mo answered loudly, then signaled to the four youngsters with his eyes.
The four snapped out of their daze. Their faces flushed with excitement, and they dropped to their knees again in unison. "Thank you for your grace, Ancestor! This junior will cultivate diligently and won't disappoint you!"
"Good. You may leave."
Lu Ming waved his hand, his tone once more indifferent.
"Your subordinate (this junior) takes his leave!"
Mo led the others out of the hall respectfully.
Once more, Lu Ming was alone in the spacious hall, seated high upon the throne.
He closed his eyes slightly and felt the surging power within him.
"Domain Lord Ninth Stage... This is only the beginning."
"The system still gives me one offering opportunity each year... What should I offer next time?"
He shook his head.
"No need to rush into another offering. I'll have to wait another year before I can make one."
Earlier, when he had repeatedly attempted to break through to Domain Lord Level, he had borrowed quite a lot from the Cosmic Galaxy Bank to improve his chances.
A full five hundred billion Ganwu Coins.
Before, that had truly been no small sum for Lu Ming.
But now—
To him, having already broken through to Domain Lord Level, that amount was nothing much.