The Fourth Grandee

That very day, Luo Feng began his breakthrough. Both his Golden Horn Beast clone and Demon Killer Clan clone had prior experience with breakthroughs, and since the Golden Horn Beast and his Earth human true body were both 'flesh and blood lifeforms,' the process of this evolutionary breakthrough was almost identical. Soon, a Life Core condensed within Luo Feng!

Inside the Life Core, a Soul Crystal and an Origin Force Crystal were stored.

Of course, this 'Life Core' wasn't too important for Luo Feng.

The Life Core corresponded to his Earth human true body.

The Life Crystal Core corresponded to his Demon Killer Clan clone.

It was the Primal Core, containing his inner world, that was the true core of all three bodies!

...

Half a day later.

Personnel from the Virtual Universe Company stationed on Wuchen Continent immediately arrived at Luo Feng's location.

“His Highness Luo Feng, the Virtual Universe Network detected through your network connection device that you have entered the Domain Lord level. According to company regulations, we need to confirm this in reality.” Three black-clad stewards respectfully stood before Luo Feng. Luo Feng, however, showed a slight smile. Whether it was the consciousness induction helmet or intelligent optical computers, most devices equipped with network connection settings also came with 'body examination' functions.

Those devices were quite ordinary, and their accuracy wasn't very high, so a real-world check was necessary for confirmation.

“I understand,” Luo Feng nodded.

“Please release your Spirit Energy and Origin Force, Your Highness,” the leading black-clad steward respectfully requested.

“Alright.”

Luo Feng smiled and released a pure stream of Spirit Energy. It swept across the surrounding area before retracting back into his body. Afterward, Luo Feng extended his right hand, and a dazzling golden light shot out.

“Beep!”

“Beep!”

“Beep!”

The instruments in the hands of the three black-clad stewards chimed. The stewards looked down and nodded slightly. The intensity of the Spirit Energy and Origin Force Luo Feng released indeed reached the 'First-tier Domain Lord level.'

“Please provide us with a drop of blood, Your Highness, so we can test and confirm if your body's genes have undergone a leap,” the leading black-clad steward said.

“Mm.” Luo Feng nodded, and a drop of blood seeped from his fingertip, then flew towards the black-clad steward.

Checking Spirit Energy, Origin Force, and blood was a very accurate method to confirm strength.

Spirit Energy could determine a person's soul level.

Origin Force could determine the physical body's level.

Blood could determine the level of genetic leap in the body.

Of course, there was another very precise method: having a powerful individual directly infiltrate Luo Feng's body with Spirit Energy for a detailed examination to check for a Life Core! However, this method was highly insulting and dangerous. The Life Core was a person's core. If someone used the 'examination' opportunity to destroy the Life Core, wouldn't a His Highness fall? Moreover, with His Highness's status, how could he tolerate such a detailed examination?

“Blood gene testing confirmed. Your Highness's body can undergo significant enhancement, strengthening to the Ninth-tier Domain Lord level.” The leading black-clad steward smiled at Luo Feng. “Your Highness, all this test information has been simultaneously transmitted to the Virtual Universe Network. Congratulations, Your Highness, on entering the Domain Lord level!”

“Thank you,” Luo Feng nodded.

“Since Your Highness has been confirmed as a Domain Lord, according to regulations, you first have another opportunity for physical enhancement.” The leading black-clad steward smiled, his purple eyes filled with friendliness. “We have already brought the nutrient cabin. It contains enough nutrient solution to allow Your Highness to strengthen to the Ninth-tier Domain Lord level.”

Luo Feng nodded.

The Virtual Universe Company operated this way: every His Highness didn't need to waste time accumulating energy. Upon stepping into the First-tier Domain Lord level, they could directly strengthen to the Ninth-tier Domain Lord level through a nutrient cabin!

“Whoosh!”

A nutrient cabin, entirely rock-gray in color, appeared out of thin air before Luo Feng. The seemingly ancient nutrient cabin was clearly not cheap to produce. Of course, the 'nutrient solution' inside the cabin was truly precious!

“Your Highness, this nutrient cabin can only be used by you alone,” the leading black-clad steward smiled. “Besides the nutrient cabin, there's a second matter we need to inform Your Highness about.”

Luo Feng stood there, listening.

“The second matter is that since Your Highness has reached the Domain Lord level, you must be assigned to an external post!” The leading black-clad steward looked at Luo Feng. “According to convention, one is usually assigned to their home region. Your Highness's home is in the 'Ganwu Universe Nation.' We would like to know if Your Highness is willing to return to the Ganwu Universe Nation to serve in an important position at our Virtual Universe Company's Ganwu Branch. If not, Your Highness can choose any other universe nation.”

“I am willing to go to the Ganwu Universe Nation,” Luo Feng nodded.

“Your Highness!”

The leading purple-eyed black-clad envoy smiled. “Because you are a member of the Primal Secret Region, the position you will be assigned to at the Virtual Universe Company's Ganwu Branch will be very high, involving significant influence. Therefore, it will require a decision from a high-level meeting… after which the appointment will be issued. This process usually takes at least one month, and at most half a year.”

Luo Feng nodded.

“With our task complete, we shall not disturb you further.” The purple-eyed black-clad envoy bowed slightly, and the other two black-clad envoys behind him also saluted respectfully.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The three envoys transformed into three streaks of light and flew away directly.

...

Luo Feng watched the three fly off, then sat back down in his living room chair.

“Their efficiency is really low. Just for an appointment, it takes at least a month, and at most half a year,” Luo Feng shook his head and sighed. Dilun, the Immortal Bald God who had been following Luo Feng, also sat beside him and smiled, “Your Highness, because you are a member of the Primal Secret Region, you will certainly be appointed to the highest position in the Ganwu Branch. This involves immense power and interests, requiring a series of procedures before the appointment can be issued.”

“Tell me, what kind of position can I hold?” Luo Feng asked curiously.

“The 'Ganwu Branch' of the Virtual Universe Company in the Ganwu Universe Nation normally has three grandees at its highest level,” Dilun explained. “The Ganwu Branch is divided into the Martial Department, the Commerce Department, and the Military Department. Those three grandees… are responsible for these Martial, Commerce, and Military Departments.”

“There's a Military Department too?” Luo Feng was surprised.

Because normally, it was only divided into the Martial Department and Commerce Department.

“Strictly speaking, the Ganwu Branch of the Virtual Universe Company is divided into the Martial Department and Commerce Department,” Dilun chuckled. “The Martial Department refers to the large number of powerful individuals directly managed by the Virtual Universe Company, as well as the collection and cultivation of geniuses throughout the Ganwu Universe Nation. These all fall under the Martial Department's purview. The Commerce Department… handles commercial aspects, employing billions of people and involving enormous interests.”

Luo Feng nodded.

He had known for a long time that the Martial Department and Commerce Department were the two main components of the Virtual Universe Company's various branches.

“However,” Dilun smiled, “the universe is vast, with billions of races. Our human race frequently engages in large-scale wars with other races. Therefore… in all 1008 universe nations, there are standing cosmic armies!”

“Cosmic armies?” Luo Feng's pupils contracted.

“Cosmic armies must be at least Universe level,” Dilun stated. “Perhaps in a single galaxy, Universe-level warriors are few and far between. But looking across the vast universe nations… it is possible to assemble a cosmic army of hundreds of millions of Universe-level warriors, millions of Sector Lords, and tens of thousands of Immortal Gods.”

Luo Feng held his breath.

A super army led by tens of thousands of Immortal Gods?

“Every cosmic army is an extremely important military force for each universe nation,” Dilun continued. “Therefore, the management of this army is very crucial.”

Luo Feng nodded repeatedly.

Indeed, for such a terrifying super army, who would manage it?

“It's impossible for cosmic armies to be completely controlled by the highest levels of the universe nations,” Dilun explained. “The army of each universe nation is generally co-managed by the high-level officials of the universe nation itself and the high-level officials of the Virtual Universe Company (or Giant Axe Martial Arena) stationed in the universe nation's branch!”

Luo Feng was startled: “Only the Virtual Universe Company and Giant Axe Martial Arena?”

“Exactly!” Dilun nodded. “Of the 1008 cosmic armies in the 1008 universe nations, 504 armies are managed by the Virtual Universe Company and their respective universe nations. The other 504 armies are managed by the Giant Axe Martial Arena and their respective universe nations.”

“The Virtual Universe Company and Giant Axe Martial Arena seem much stronger than the other three major forces,” Luo Feng said, utterly astonished.

There were five major forces.

Yet, the other three major forces couldn't interfere with the cosmic armies in the 1008 universe nations, clearly indicating their inferiority to the Virtual Universe Company and Giant Axe Martial Arena.

“Of course, they are much stronger,” Dilun smiled and nodded. “The five major forces have always been led by the Virtual Universe Company and Giant Axe Martial Arena.”

“Your home, the Ganwu Universe Nation, happens to be one of the 504 universe nations under the jurisdiction of the Virtual Universe Company,” Dilun chuckled. “Therefore… the cosmic army of the Ganwu Universe Nation is co-managed by our Virtual Universe Company's Ganwu Branch and the high-level officials of the Ganwu Universe Nation itself.”

“So!”

“The Ganwu Branch, in addition to the regular Martial Department and Commerce Department, has an extra Military Department!” Dilun laughed. “Of course… the Military Department only has partial management rights over the cosmic army. Unlike the two ministers of the Martial and Commerce Departments, who have absolute control over their respective departments. But even so… the Military Department is still a powerful department.”

Luo Feng nodded.

Yes, for a super cosmic army formed by the entire universe nation's military power, even partial management rights would make the 'Military Department' within the Ganwu Branch very strong.

“The three grandees of the Ganwu Branch are the Minister of the Martial Department, the Minister of the Commerce Department, and the Minister of the Military Department,” Dilun smiled. “The threshold for serving as a minister in a universe nation's branch is — a Marquis-level Immortal!”

“Three Marquis-level Immortals?” Luo Feng was secretly shocked.

“Your Highness, your strength is, of course, far inferior to theirs. However, your status and authority within the company are indeed equivalent to a Marquis-level Immortal,” Dilun smiled. “So, once Your Highness returns to the Ganwu Universe Nation… your position level will also be comparable to those three grandees.”

“Therefore… Your Highness, you will become the Fourth Grandee of the Ganwu Branch!” Dilun looked at Luo Feng.

Luo Feng held his breath.

The Ganwu Branch held immense power within the Ganwu Universe Nation, even having significant control over the most important cosmic army. Even the exalted 'Ganwu Nation Lord' had to obey the Virtual Universe Company. Naturally, this made the power of the Ganwu Branch absurdly vast.

“The Fourth Grandee? But the Ganwu Branch only has three departments in total,” Luo Feng wondered.