"He probably isn't a God King, and he isn't in Canglan Domain. If he's Saint-level, Morosa can break through to Saint level at any time. I might not have to fear him." Luo Feng shook his head, suppressing the unease that had stirred within him. Then he looked at the spoils Evil Eye's self-destruction had scattered, and a smile appeared on his face.
"The Domain Lord Token." Among the scattered items, he spotted a golden token at once. The words "Azure Domain" were inscribed on it. It was the Domain Lord Token.
Luo Feng had learned about the token before, so he recognized it immediately.
Whoever refined the Domain Lord Token became lord of the Azure Domain.
Luo Feng sent his divine power into the token and refined it with ease. A flood of information about the You Mountain Empire and the Azure Domain poured into his mind.
"I'll collect the spoils first and go through it all when I get back."
He swept everything away, including Evil Eye's staff, and stored it in the World Ring he carried.
Just then...
"Hm?" Luo Feng looked toward the spectator stands.
Blood Witch Lord was being surrounded.
"I got the Azure Nether Demon Lord's treasures first. What, are you going to rob me here in Azure City?" Blood Witch Lord smiled at City Lord Jing, the lord of Demonstone City, Zhan Tianxing, and the others. Each was a renowned powerhouse of the Azure Domain, some even more famous than Blood Witch Lord himself, yet he showed no fear.
The instant Evil Eye self-destructed, Blood Witch Lord, who had been sitting not far from the Azure Nether Demon Lord, noticed the demon lord suddenly drop dead. He had been among the first to react and had taken the entire corpse.
What outsiders did not know was that the Azure Nether Demon Lord had been one of Evil Eye's Soul Slaves. When Evil Eye died, he had died with him.
Blood Witch Lord had been lucky enough to be sitting nearby.
"Hmph. You think you can lay claim to the Azure Nether Armor? We may not dare attack you in Azure City, but once you leave, are you sure you can keep it?" the lord of Demonstone City said with a cold snort.
The Azure Nether Armor was the Azure Nether Demon Lord's Supreme Treasure, an impressive suit of armor that was apparently close to Saint level. The demon lord's own cultivation had fallen short of even Brand's, who ranked fifth on the Azure Rankings. Yet with the armor, he had forced his way to second place.
"What a joke. With the Azure Nether Armor, why would I fear any one of you?" Blood Witch Lord remained utterly fearless. "If you have the nerve, make your move. If you don't, get out of my way."
He glanced at City Lord Jing and the others, sneered, and walked straight past the lord of Demonstone City.
No one dared fight in Azure City. Anyone below Saint level who did would be killed by the city's formation.
"Cowards." Blood Witch Lord looked back with a grin, then took a step and vanished from the stands.
"That Blood Witch... Hmph. He'd better hope I don't meet him outside the city," City Lord Jing said coldly before turning to leave.
Outside the battle arena.
Apart from Blood Witch Lord, who had already left, City Lord Jing, Zhan Tianxing, the lord of Demonstone City, and a group of veteran Eternal True Gods stood quietly outside the exit. Other Eternal True Gods who had watched the fight were waiting there too.
They naturally had to greet the new domain lord as a sign of respect.
And if they could establish a connection with him, all the better.
"City Lord." As Luo Feng emerged from the arena, several officials hurriedly bowed, their manner deeply respectful.
The old had given way to the new. From now on, they answered only to the new city lord.
"Lord Galaxy." City Lord Jing, the lord of Demonstone City, and the others hurriedly bowed when they saw Luo Feng approach.
They had witnessed the battle with their own eyes. Its outcome had defied every expectation and left them with even greater respect for Luo Feng. Evil Eye's power had been enough to drive them to despair, yet Galaxy was the truly terrifying one. Beneath the Saint Realm, there was likely no one who could shake him.
Even someone as powerful as Evil Eye had fought with everything he had and still failed to leave a scratch on Galaxy. The implication was clear.
"I am Jing of Jing City. Greetings, Lord Galaxy." City Lord Jing stepped forward slightly and cupped his fists.
"I am Moshi of Demonstone City. Greetings, Lord Galaxy."
"Pamir of Yuanzhou City. Greetings, Lord Galaxy."
"I am..."
"Zhan Tianxing of the Celestial Star Pavilion. Greetings, Lord Galaxy."
"Brand. Greetings, Lord Galaxy."
Those who came forward to introduce themselves were almost all prominent figures in the Azure Domain. Unlike Evil Eye, the human Galaxy had truly won their respect. For one thing, his close-combat ability placed him among the strongest Eternal True Gods. For another, his resistance to soul attacks was terrifying. Evil Eye's failure to harm him even after exhausting every means was proof enough.
They might covet the domain lord's seat themselves, but Luo Feng had the strength to hold it. They had no choice but to accept him.
"Domain lords come and go. Carry on as you always have. As long as you don't cross me, I won't make trouble for you. If there's nothing else, you can all go." Luo Feng smiled faintly, then sent a private message: "City Lord Jing, please stay a moment. There are a few things I'd like to ask you."
City Lord Jing was among the foremost figures in the Azure Domain. If Evil Eye had not been so formidable in Soul Illusion, the domain lord's seat might well have been his.
"Lord Galaxy, I'll take my leave, then. I'll pay you a visit another day." The lord of Demonstone City glanced at City Lord Jing, then cupped his fists to Luo Feng with a smile.
"Lord Galaxy, I look forward to your answer." Zhan Tianxing also departed.
The Eternal True Gods dispersed, leaving only City Lord Jing and two Eternal True Gods of the Alien Race. The pair were stewards responsible for the City Lord's Residence's day-to-day affairs.
"You two may go for now. I'll call you later," Luo Feng told them.
Only after the two stewards had left did City Lord Jing turn to Luo Feng.
"What can I help you with, Lord Galaxy? I'll do everything I can," City Lord Jing replied. This was a fine chance to build a connection with such a powerhouse.
Luo Feng nodded and went straight to the question troubling him. "Only just before Evil Eye died did I learn that he had a teacher. I'd never heard of this before. Do you know who his teacher was?"
"Evil Eye's teacher?" City Lord Jing was startled. Clearly, this was news to him too.
"It seems you don't know either." Luo Feng could read the answer in his expression.
"I doubt anyone in the entire Azure Domain knows," City Lord Jing said, shaking his head.
"Evil Eye's rise was mysterious. Before he became domain lord, almost no one in Azure City had heard of him. It was only afterward that word of his deeds began to spread. His will had reached Saint level long ago, and he excelled at Soul Illusion. Among Eternal True Gods, few could stand against him."
"So during his tenure, only two Eternal True Gods with Saint-level wills challenged him. One died, and he enslaved the other. After that, no one dared challenge him again. His true strength remained a mystery, since no one had seen him fight—until you came along, Galaxy. As for his having a teacher, I've never heard a thing about it."
"But don't worry, Galaxy. I'll have my people investigate at once and tell you the moment they find anything," City Lord Jing said.
"Very well. Sorry for the trouble, City Lord Jing," Luo Feng said with a smile.
"Not at all." City Lord Jing smiled back. "I'll take my leave, then. I'll contact you as soon as I hear anything."
After City Lord Jing left, the two stewards came forward.
"City Lord, I'm Ma Fu, and this is Shi Fang. We're the two stewards of Azure City. Our main duty is to assist you with routine affairs." Ma Fu, an Eternal True God of the Alien Race, spoke with obvious apprehension.
Shi Fang looked just as uneasy beside him.
It had taken them countless Eras of Reincarnation to struggle their way to becoming Eternal True Gods. Advancing any further would be extraordinarily difficult. A position as steward was far better than becoming a bandit chief somewhere.
"Ma Fu, Shi Fang." Luo Feng looked at the two stewards. "Keep doing your jobs as you did before. But I don't want the people under me getting too greedy. Keep me satisfied, and life will be easier for both of you. Here's a list of supplies I need. I'll leave it to you to decide how much you can provide."
Luo Feng was blunt about it. These two had served as stewards for ages; he was certain they had amassed considerable wealth.
As he spoke, a list of items flew toward Ma Fu. They were materials Morosa needed to breed warriors.
"Yes." Ma Fu accepted the list, not daring to refuse.
"Come. Take me back to the City Lord's Residence and show me around," Luo Feng instructed.
There was no grand ceremony for the new lord's arrival, but the two stewards had assisted several domain lords before and knew what to do. They hurried to order the servants at the City Lord's Residence to make preparations and receive him. They also announced the change throughout Azure City and the entire domain.
...With Evil Eye's death, the battle had finally come to an end.
The moment Luo Feng refined the Domain Lord Token, the human Galaxy became the Azure Domain's new lord. The You Mountain Empire's leaders and the lords of the other eight domains all learned of it. To the empire's leaders, though, a change of domain lord was no great matter. The seat belonged to whoever was strong enough to claim it; that was the You Mountain Empire's rule of competition.
Only under such a system was there even a chance that a Saint-level powerhouse would arise within a domain. That was what the empire most hoped to see.
Far away, at You Mountain, the Imperial Capital of the You Mountain Nation, ten enormous planets revolved around the mountain.
The ten planets were territories directly governed by ten exceptionally powerful Saint-level experts of You Mountain. One of them belonged to Mu Lihua of You Mountain, a Saint Realm powerhouse. It was Muli Star.
On Muli Star, at its heavily guarded heart, stood Lihua Palace.
At that moment, inside one of its magnificent, dreamlike halls.
"Get out! All of you, get out!" A violent force swept out of the hall, carrying two strikingly beautiful women of the Alien Race with it. They tumbled out in a sorry state, as though they had been thrown from the hall.
"What's wrong with the Palace Mistress today? I've never seen her so angry."
"When she said the name 'Galaxy' just now, she was radiating killing intent. Who is this Galaxy? An enemy of hers?" The two women exchanged a glance, their expressions troubled.