Chapter 56: Thunder Crystalline Matrix

Chapter 56: Thunder Crystalline Matrix

After waiting nearly an hour, two triangular fighter jets arrived one after another at the valley where Jiang Zhe had parked his ship.

Seeing the brand-new spacecraft below, Hong and Lei Shen felt uneasy, as if facing a formidable enemy.

"Visitors from the Universe?"

After confirming Jiang Zhe's identity through a video call inside their fighters, the two men felt slightly reassured. Fortunately, Jiang Zhe had laid groundwork two years prior, and both Hong and Lei Shen understood he harbored secrets. This gave them the courage to fly into the spacecraft's hangar.

About two hours later, the two left the ship with faint smiles, their expressions lighter as if a great weight had lifted, even showing hints of ambition.

They returned to their respective fighters and departed together.

The Jiang Clan and the two councilors had reached a consensus: for now, they wouldn't let Earthlings make contact with the Universe. After all, the entire Earth had only about fifty Stellar-Level beings qualified as Universe citizens.

(Jiang Zhe only revealed the existence of Stellar-Class "slaves" to the two.)

Both agreed that since the coordinates to Earth's region had been sealed by Jiang Zhe's mysterious master, preventing anyone from finding this place for millennia, Earth should simply lie low and develop quietly.

During subsequent conversations, Jiang Zhe informed them that a great opportunity benefiting all Universe humans would arise between 2060 and 2070. He encouraged them to cultivate diligently and seize this chance to ascend rapidly.

The Genius Competition occurred every 5,000 years, and anyone with basic intelligence could calculate its timing—it wasn't a secret in the Universe. Jiang Zhe thus spoke openly without hesitation.

For the remaining time, Jiang Zhe explained Universe cultivation concepts and the Genius Competition's requirements:

Prioritize comprehension over energy accumulation;

Master and cultivate Domain abilities;

Beyond Domain lies the Law—using Domain as a ladder to cross the threshold of Law;

Stellar-Class beings possessed Domain, making it the Genius Competition's entry ticket;

To achieve rankings and exchange them for opportunities, one needed Domain and to cross the threshold of lower-tier Law.

Jiang Zhe's words left the three men boiling with excitement. Even Grandmaster Jiang, usually appearing aged, straightened his back, eager to test his skills against geniuses from various Universe races.

Remember, Elder Jiang was barely a century old. If he participated in the Genius Competition, he'd be among the youngest contenders.

After Hong and Lei Shen departed, Jiang Zhe activated the spacecraft, carrying Elder Jiang back to Lanling Base City. Guiding Hong and Lei Shen, Jiang Zhe sincerely hoped they'd break into the top thousand rankings to join the Virtual Cosmos Corporation. Even if Earth's existence was exposed, having four Earth-born elites within Virtual Cosmos would weaken the Axe Combat Arena's influence over Earth, as the corporation's power surpassed the martial arts arena.

Earth could become a direct affiliate of Virtual Cosmos Corporation!

If Luo Feng became the Chaos City Lord's disciple, Earthlings would likely avoid oppression.

As for himself?

Jiang Zhe shook his head. He couldn't predict his future, but he prepared contingencies. Even if he fell, the Jiang Clan and Earth's lineage might still survive.

If he allowed Hong to join the Axe Combat Arena, those morally bankrupt elites would claim Earth as their own, bringing disaster to Earthlings. The Axe Combat Arena's Earth Garrison Faction consisted entirely of Cosmic Sovereign family scions—reckless nobles who had even conspired to assassinate Luo Feng and seize control of Earth.

The Axe Combat Arena's Garrison Faction were the cruelest oppressors of Earthlings!

When Luo Feng's son was imprisoned, the Jiang Clan couldn't escape suffering either.

Hong passed the Illusionary Sea trials, enjoyed the privileges of being the Axe Combat Arena's founder's honorary disciple, and left Luo Feng to handle the resulting troubles.

"Back then, you knew how to act properly when finding a girlfriend, fearing her master would kill you in anger. Now that you're in a powerful organization, you don't even pretend—you're selling out your own people for wealth and status?"

Of course, the best scenario remained hiding Earth's uniqueness. Thus, Jiang Zhe dared not let Hong roam freely, preferring to send him to Virtual Cosmos Corporation and monitor him closely.

As long as their heart-mind cultivation remained hidden, Earthlings wouldn't seem special. Even if all four entered the top thousand rankings, no one would notice Earth's anomaly.

The Chaos City Lord and other discerning experts would realize the first two had separate opportunities, while the latter two appeared ordinary.

Once Luo Feng and Jiang Zhe broke through to Immortality, Earth would be secure.

Jiang Zhe pondered with hidden concerns, returned to his courtyard, and resumed closed-door cultivation.

"The Nine Mysteries on the Time Law Impression Plate—mastering one secures a top thousand ranking. Mastering all nine might even surpass Bolan's victory."

"Sixteen years to achieve what Luo Feng accomplished in thirty years at Chaos City... Can I really do it?"

"Let's do it! I believe I can!"

Jiang Zhe's face cleared of worry, his youthful vigor returning to his nineteen-year-old handsome face.

He had Orianna seal him into the World Bracelet, appearing in the Spire Summit's hall.

Silver Robe Yuan Shen, sitting cross-legged on the alloy floor, opened his eyes. His heavy black Domain expanded, dark currents surging within.

Jiang Zhe ignored the Domain's spatial restrictions and oppressive weight, harmoniously merging into it while curiously observing this third Domain he'd encountered.

This only worked because Hong and Silver Robe Yuan Shen's Domain mastery was weak. Against a ninth-stage Domain expert, Jiang Zhe wouldn't dare such recklessness.

"Earth Attribute Domain, first stage? Not bad."

Their minds connected, and Silver Robe Yuan Shen silently conveyed his request.

"Special lifeform tissue with Earth and Space attributes? Buddy, if that exceeds ten Genetic Tiers, it's beyond our current reach."

"How about a Chasm Colossus instead?"

"I'll check auction houses for Earth, Fire, or Water-type Starlight Beast tissue. If I can copy its inheritance memory too, that'd be great!"

"You think I'm dreaming? You got it."

Jiang Zhe stretched. "Don't chase impossible dreams!"

"Master, preparations are ready", Orianna reported.

The ceiling above lifted again, revealing stairs to the attic.

Orianna hesitated. "Master, if you feel bored, talk to me. Hearing you mutter alone worries me about your mental state."

"Aha... Right", Jiang Zhe chuckled awkwardly, flying up to the attic.

He raised the platform display case, took out the metallic case for the third time, and stared at the Thunder Crystalline Matrix inside, licking his lips.

"Anna, can you open it?"

"Rest assured, the Mechanical Race provided opening methods. Otherwise, we'd need a Thunder Domain Lord to smash the Matrix forcibly."

Orianna removed the Thunder Crystalline Matrix from the case, finding a thumb-sized vial beneath it.

Applying the silver ointment around the sphere, Jiang Zhe felt oddly reminded of cracking monkey brains, mentally apologizing twice.

Half a minute later, Orianna easily snapped off the circular lid.

Zizzling—crackling electricity sounded from within, a pungent acidic smell stinging his nose.

Jiang Zhe suspected the starlight-infused viscous liquid inside might be sulfuric acid.

"Master, drinking just one-tenth is your limit—the maximum effective dose."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end