Hong's guidance

The Limit General Hall in Northern Frontier Base City.

An entire floor of the building had been cleared out. Apart from Dongguan, who was waiting there, everyone else had left.

Light gathered in the center of the hall, forming a full-body projection of Hong.

Short hair, black shirt, black trousers.

"The Black God Set." Dongguan recognized it.

Still, with or without it, Hong was invincible on Earth thanks to his domain. The set was simply convenient.

After a brief glance, Dongguan fixed his gaze on Hong's face.

"I have some time today. If you have any questions, ask away," Hong said.

Dongguan had prepared quite a few questions, such as how to overcome the influence of "Distracting Thoughts" on his state of mind, and how to take his comprehension of intent a step further.

But he asked a different question first.

"What exactly does it take to break through to the Planetary Grade?"

Hong looked a little surprised to hear the term Planetary Grade, but then understood.

Warriors, War Generals, War Gods, and the Councilors and Chairmen above them—those were Earth's terms. The actual classifications were Apprentice Level and Planetary Grade.

Given Dongguan's standing, and the opportunities he might have encountered, it was perfectly normal for him to know these things.

"There are two ways to break through to the Planetary Grade."

"First, after reaching Ninth-Order Apprentice, focus on gaining insight and find the right opportunity. The breakthrough will happen naturally."

Dongguan knew that explanation, but this talk of finding the right opportunity was far too vague.

"A fighter's genetic origin energy has an attribute. There are eight in total: the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, along with light, wind, and lightning. These determine the special abilities gained after breaking through to the Planetary Grade."

"Although the attribute of origin force only manifests after reaching the Planetary Grade, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist at the Apprentice Level. It's merely hidden. Visit a corresponding location and observe the corresponding sights, and you may find the opportunity to break through. For fire, go to a volcano. For wood, go to a forest."

Dongguan felt he understood something. He didn't know his own attribute, but he could simply try them all. It had to be one of them, after all.

Committing this to memory, he continued looking at Hong.

"The second method is simple."

Hong smiled.

"You know about treasures like dragon blood, jade marrow, and even spirits of plants and trees, right? They all contain cosmic energy, but most only work at the Apprentice Level and have no effect at the Planetary Level. If you can find a treasure that works at the Planetary Level, consuming it will naturally let you force a breakthrough."

"However, with this method, you must watch the amount you use, and you must already be at the ninth order of the Apprentice Level. Otherwise, one careless mistake could make your body explode and kill you."

Dongguan naturally knew of such treasures. Wood bud crystals were one example.

"It's just that using such treasures this way is rather wasteful."

Hong sighed.

Such treasures were useful even to him, but they were far too rare.

"Actually, according to the information in the Ancient Civilization Ruins, there's a third method. The major powers in the universe possess Secret Arts. Follow their instructions, and you'll naturally be able to break through."

"Unfortunately, Earth has none."

If it did, Earth wouldn't have so few Planetary Grade fighters—only fifty-two—when there were several hundred High-level War Gods.

"An opportunity, a treasure, or a Secret Art. Those are the three methods of reaching the Planetary Grade. Perhaps there are other methods in the universe, but unfortunately..." Hong shook his head.

Compared to the universe, Earth was simply too insignificant.

Dongguan did know that Ruins No. 9 should contain such a Secret Art, but it required a brain domain width above eighteen and completion of the death trial.

However, that was a Secret Art for Psychics. His fighting abilities had reached the peak of High-level War God, but his spiritual force still fell a little short.

"Is there anything else you'd like to ask?"

Hong's time was precious, so Dongguan immediately asked his next question.

"I'd like to ask how to keep my mind calm amid constant interference."

Hong frowned. "What sort of interference?"

"Well..." Dongguan described what he felt.

"Without experiencing it myself, I can't say for sure." Hong frowned, avoiding a direct answer. "Still, try reading some books on ancient philosophy. You might gain some insight."

Seeing the disappointment in Dongguan's eyes, Hong thought for a moment before asking, "Does that recent bounty in Northern Frontier Base City have something to do with what you just described? Is there really an Ancient Civilization Ruin?"

"I can't be certain." Dongguan shook his head. "It's just that my headaches grow worse when I approach that area."

"This could be an opportunity meant for you. Don't you feel it's a waste to tell me so freely?"

"Just an opportunity I can't grasp." Dongguan was quite philosophical about it.

"All right. I'll send someone to take a look." Hong didn't attach much importance to it, since the information was still uncertain.

"Any other questions?"

"There's also the matter of improving my comprehension of intent..." Dongguan continued asking the questions he had prepared.

Time gradually passed.

Half an hour later, their time was nearly up. Hong was preparing to end the call, and Dongguan was thinking about sorting through what he had learned.

"By the way, Dongguan, when are you planning to visit Ruins No. 9?" Hong asked.

Normally, one of his subordinates should have brought this up, but since the opportunity was there, Hong asked himself.

"Ruins No. 9?" Dongguan frowned. "Not until I've resolved my 'headache' problem, at least."

Under normal circumstances, the only reward for completing the trial in the No. 9 Ruins was a Black God Set.

But even High-level War Gods risked death inside. Unless a fighter had already received a Black God Set in advance, entering was entirely voluntary.

There were even eligibility requirements for visiting the ruins.

Previously, Dongguan had been required to formally join the Limitless Martial Arts Hall before he could go.

Before recovering his memories, his incomplete personality had also instinctively rejected such an unknown risk of death.

After recovering his memories, he suspected his brain domain width would be sufficient to trigger the death trial.

But he couldn't be sure whether the ruins could block the influence of the "noise."

If they couldn't, there was a very good chance he would fail the death trial.

Thus, he had decided to wait until the noise problem was resolved.

"You can't enter Ruins No. 9 after breaking through to the Planetary Grade. Keep that in mind," Hong reminded him.

Although every Councilor on Earth had a Black God Set, it was still extremely precious. After all, aside from the Councilors, most High-level War Gods didn't have one, Dongguan included.

"If I can break through, I'd rather forgo that Black God Set," Dongguan replied with a smile.

"Suit yourself." Hong's projection vanished.

Dongguan left the hall.

"How did your talk with the Curator go?" Zheng Yuqiao asked.

"Very well. I learned quite a bit."

"Then I won't disturb you."

Dongguan's villa in the Oasis Residential Complex.

In the courtyard, a spear repeatedly sliced through the air.

Whoosh!

Bang!

With a single knife-hand strike, Dongguan knocked the spear aside.

The vibration traveled from the spearhead down the shaft. The force was so strong that Zhang Gui lost his grip, and the spear fell to the ground.

"Are you trying to kill your father?"

Dongguan smiled, clearly not particularly angry.

"It's not like I can hurt you anyway."

Zhang Gui curled his lip and picked up the spear.

"When are you planning to go to the Limitless Martial Arts Hall's Elite Training Camp?" Dongguan asked.

Although he could teach Zhang Gui, he couldn't provide facilities like a Gravity Chamber.

He was an Invincible War God, but he might well have been the poorest Invincible War God on Earth.

From the start of his cultivation until now, things like jade marrow and dragon blood had become useless to him before he ever had a chance to enjoy them. As for resources like spirits of plants and trees, he had never even seen one.

He had relied solely on absorbing cosmic energy to advance from a newly minted fighter to the verge of the Planetary Grade.

"When do you think I should go?" Zhang Gui asked.

"The sooner, the better."

After all, three years from now, the Golden-Horned Behemoth crisis would arrive. After that, Earth would come into contact with the universe.

The Elite Training Camp allowed a maximum stay of five years, so naturally, the sooner he went, the better.

"But if I go now, I'll definitely be at the bottom." Zhang Gui was a little reluctant.

The Elite Training Camp had rankings too, and those at the bottom certainly received fewer resources than those ranked higher.

"You'll have no problem passing the A-rank test. As for the rest, if you don't want to be at the bottom, you'll have to work hard yourself."

It was already late March 2057, two months after Zhang Gui had passed the fighter assessment.

During that time, Dongguan had mainly focused on teaching Zhang Gui.

His fundamentals had been solid from his time at the martial arts hall. After two months of instruction, he had mastered the first level of 《World Destruction》, and his movement technique had reached the Microscopic level.

As for his genetic origin energy, his strength had exceeded 1,500 kilograms from the outset. His first absorption of genetic origin energy had brought him close to Advanced Warrior, and now he was already a Primary General.

In that short time, he had easily caught up with his mother's twenty years of "hard work," even though Zhang Yu's talent for absorbing energy was quite good too.

Dongguan had taken Zhang Gui to the Wilderness Zone to hone his skills.

The process had been much the same as with Li Wei: choosing monsters and fighting them.

But that had only been at the beginning. Later, he had let go, concealing himself as he watched Zhang Gui venture through the Wilderness Zone. Unless Zhang Gui faced a life-or-death crisis, he wouldn't intervene.

To Dongguan's surprise, Zhang Gui had a real talent for combat and adapted well to life in the wilderness.

With that, Dongguan finally felt comfortable letting him go to the Elite Training Camp.

"Let me wait a few more days." Zhang Gui still refused to leave for the Training Camp immediately.

Once he entered the Elite Training Camp, he would only be able to come home during the January and February holidays each year. It was March now, so his next holiday would be a year away.

"Suit yourself. I've already submitted your name anyway. Whenever you want to go, head to the Limitless Martial Arts Hall. Someone will take you there."

With that, Dongguan walked into the house.

Zhang Yu came toward him and slipped her arm through his.

In the courtyard, Zhang Gui continued practicing with his spear.

Evening.

Inside the bedroom.

Looking up at the stars gradually appearing beyond the window, Dongguan let out a long sigh.

If not for the intermittent noise and stabbing pain in his head, he would almost have lost himself in this peaceful life.

A hero could indeed be buried in the comforts of love.

After that day, he had asked Zhang Yu, Zhang Gui, and Li Shilan to move into his villa. After all, his was a detached house, while theirs was a townhouse.

"Hm?"

His Communication Watch rang.

He opened it and saw that it was from Yang Bei.

"Come to the Limitless Martial Arts Hall right away. Someone has come to claim the bounty. They've found ruins in the Despair Oasis."

In an instant, Dongguan, who had just been lost in melancholy, perked up.

He rose from the bed and used his spiritual force to change his clothes.

Then he set off for the Limitless Martial Arts Hall.