Why are you wearing a councilor's clothes?

Hong had risen to the position of Strongest on Earth through his domain, and this was the first time in all these years that he had encountered such a situation.

It could be compared to the Honor of Kings game Jiang Zhe had loved playing in his Past Life.

Clearly, Mozi or Zhong Kui's ultimate had already trapped the opponent, yet they were completely unaffected and could "swim" around within the range of your ultimate.

Hong held Li NanSheng's corpse in one hand and looked at Jiang Zhe in silence.

Jiang Zhe held the sixteen-inch spearhead aloft in one hand while rubbing his chin with the other, still savoring the mystery he had glimpsed earlier. "Mr. Hong, domains are quite remarkable. It truly is hard to fathom how they are formed."

Jiang Zhe was the first to break the stiff atmosphere, but Hong did not respond. Instead, he questioned him, "Didn't you hear me tell you to stop?"

"I heard you." Jiang Zhe shrugged. "He was Li NanSheng. He came to the Australian Continent to steal my family's treasure. I knew everything."

"Must I only be allowed to let others kill me, while being forbidden from killing anyone myself? What kind of logic is that?"

"If I hadn't possessed Planetary Level Power, and if you hadn't discovered Li NanSheng's plan in advance, today would have ended differently."

"Besides, this is already the second time!"

"If there is a first and second time, should I wait for a third and fourth?"

"Is Earth's order made of paper? Can councilors simply disregard the rules you established? Can they stand above the order and do whatever they please?"

"On this vast Earth, there should be a blade hanging above the councilors' heads, taming the savagery bred by their strength!"

At this point in time, Hong still placed humanity's fate above all else and was quite tolerant of the councilors. Yet Jiang Zhe's words finally made him steel his resolve completely.

A minor ailment would sooner or later become a serious threat!

In truth, while following Li NanSheng earlier, he had repeatedly considered whether to kill Li NanSheng to make an example of him.

It was not because he was indecisive.

After all, that was a Planetary Level fighter. One person could protect an entire Base City and give humanity another place to live. How could one simply kill such a person on a whim?

Yet more than twenty years of peace had caused people's hearts to stir. Hong knew clearly that it was time to use iron-fisted measures once again to intimidate them and ensure that the fate of Earthlings would not stray onto the wrong path.

Hong nodded. "I understand your thoughts. Come back to Limit Martial Hall headquarters with me first. I will convene a meeting in the War God Palace, make your name known, and impose stricter rules upon the councilors."

If someone in the universe had invited him like that, Jiang Zhe would definitely have hesitated.

Go to your lair? Was this Invite the Lord into the Jar? Would they smash a cup as a signal upon arriving at martial hall headquarters, and five hundred axemen leap out at once?

But this was Hong. Though he had been an assassin in his youth, his conduct over the past few decades had been upright and aboveboard.

The two of them flew into the Blood Red Triangular Fighter Jet one after another.

The hatch closed, and the fighter jet turned into a streak of light as it headed north.

Hong casually tossed Li NanSheng's corpse into the cabin, then turned and ordered the intelligent program to send messages to councilors, War Gods, and national leaders around the world, telling them to gather at the War God Palace.

When he turned back around, he saw Jiang Zhe "getting handsy" with Li NanSheng's corpse, tearing open the Combat Suit and removing a Black Stone Bracelet from the corpse's right wrist.

Jiang Zhe pocketed the bracelet with a perfectly natural expression, then shrugged. "It's my Spoils of War. I'm taking it."

"I still owe my family a Black God Set. I also missed the opening of Site Number 9 this year, so now I won't have to wait until next year. This is just enough to repay my family's 'debt.'"

"Li NanSheng, Randolph, my good brothers!"

Jiang Zhe smiled amiably and gave a thumbs-up in front of his chest, looking just like the boy next door.

But Hong had personally witnessed his ferocious side when he controlled fifteen flying knives. He had practically blown Ister's ass apart and ascended to the throne of Earth's Number One Psychic Master.

The problem was, this BUG had not even broken through to the Planetary Level yet!

Hong ignored Jiang Zhe's antics and said pointedly, "You seem to know a great deal."

"What? Domains? Or... the universe?" Jiang Zhe did not play dumb, and an enigmatic smile appeared on his face.

"You can tell me everything you know." Seeing that Jiang Zhe intended to open up, Hong was delighted and eagerly anticipated some surprises.

Those unwilling to share information and determined to keep everything for themselves were the hardest to deal with.

"It is what I know, but not what the Jiang Family knows." Jiang Zhe emphasized this point.

Hong understood and nodded slightly.

Jiang Zhe hoped that he would not become wary of the Jiang Family. Everything he was about to say was an opportunity Jiang Zhe had obtained elsewhere.

Only then did Jiang Zhe continue, "A domain is a level beyond Artistic Conception, a method that even many Cosmic Level powerhouses may not possess."

"The universe is vast and boundless. For martial artists, it is a road that leads to the heavens! Apprentice Level, Planetary Level, Stellar Level, Cosmic Level..."

Hong's breathing gradually grew heavier.

This was as far as Earth's information went. He was both concerned and eager to hear something new.

With a rather mischievous streak, Jiang Zhe paused before continuing, "Domain Lord Level, Realm Lord Level, and gods who are Eternal Life, whose full-force attacks can destroy planets!"

Hong's pupils shrank sharply, and his expression changed.

He was shocked by the divine Great Power Jiang Zhe described!

Whenever he unleashed his domain, Earth's martial artists revered him as a "god," yet compared to real gods, how laughable he was.

No wonder Jiang Zhe had recovered so quickly from the shock of his domain... though there was no explaining his strange behavior afterward.

"What I learned all came from her Inherited Memory."

Jiang Zhe snapped his fingers.

A Brass Core flew out from his chest. The gemstones embedded in the sphere projected an illusory image, which gradually solidified into a Brass Lady Doll.

In Jiang Zhe's view, he could tell Hong about Oriana's existence. If he needed to explain anything in the future, he could simply attribute it to Oriana.

An Affiliated Metallic Life Form was not some rare opportunity, but only so long as Oriana did not reveal the details of her Genetic Level and the Three Great Innate Arcane Techniques.

Simple things like devouring metal and replicating technology were still no big deal.

Creation from Nothing and technological deduction, though... those were out of the question. Even the Chaos City Lord would send her to the technology research department to benefit the Human Race.

Oriana released her Planetary Level aura without concealing it in the slightest.

Hong shot up from his seat. Wariness appeared in his normally tranquil eyes. He had actually sensed a trace of threat from this metallic doll.

Hong had already progressed very far at Planetary Level Rank 4.

In terms of power, he was 2^(n-1) times stronger than Planetary Level Rank 1—that was, eight times. His force amplification was roughly six times, making a total of forty-eight times the power of Planetary Level Rank 1.

That was all the power Hong could unleash.

Oriana, meanwhile, had a threefold Genetic Level and possessed twelve times Jiang Zhe's force amplification. At Full Burst, that was thirty-six times the power of Planetary Level Rank 1.

Though there was still a gap between them, without factoring in his domain, Hong would find it difficult to utterly overpower Oriana.

"An alien?" Hong's expression was grave.

Jiang Zhe hurriedly explained, "No, she is a Metallic Lifeform, an auxiliary Metallic Lifeform—one of the best partners martial artists could hope for."

"Oh, right, the Mayun Vine! Earth should have information on it, right? The Mayun Vine is an auxiliary Plant Lifeform. They are all part of a broader category."

Hong asked uncertainly, "Are you certain she is completely under your control?"

"Our lives are linked. Don't worry."

Hong relaxed. A hint of envy appeared in his eyes as he sat back down and continued discussing things with Jiang Zhe... though it was mainly Jiang Zhe talking about "Oriana's Inherited Memory," all of it common knowledge about the universe.

As for useful arcane techniques?

Sorry, he did not have any himself. What was he supposed to use to fool Hong?

But with Oriana backing him up, whenever he displayed familiarity with the universe in the future, no one would find it abrupt. He could attribute it all to Oriana.

Later, he would arrange for a Mayun Vine for Hong too, so Hong could be happy as well.

See? What I have, you have too. Then there is no difference between us. (Heavy sarcasm.)

War God Palace, top-floor Conference Hall.

More than half of the gold-robed councilors, white-robed War Gods, and suited national leaders had arrived one after another.

They sat in their seats, whispering among themselves and discussing what had been going on lately. In the past, there had not even been one such collective meeting every year or two.

Yet recently, they seemed to be held one after another, carrying the sense that a storm was about to break.

Jiang Zhe and Hong returned to Limit Martial Hall headquarters and found two Mind Sensor helmets, logging into the War God Palace one after the other.

In the past, Jiang Zhe had needed to worry about his safety while using the helmet. Now that he had Oriana, there was no need for him to pull off the sort of performance art Luo Feng had.

Dressed in a gold robe, Jiang Zhe followed Hong into the Conference Hall.

Hong headed toward the podium.

Jiang Zhe, meanwhile, went to the area where Hanxia's councilors and War Gods had gathered. Thunder God's bald head stood out especially prominently among them.

Everyone was surprised to see Jiang Zhe.

Thunder God rubbed his smooth head and said gleefully, "Kid, why are you wearing a councilor's gold robe?"