Chapter 182: The Throne!
It wasn't just about giving the three ministers time to prepare for his arrival—Jiang Zhe himself needed time to prepare.
As the newly appointed Marshal with real authority, he would soon meet not only the management of the Qianwu Branch Military Department under the Virtual Universe Company, but also fifty titled Marquis Undyings.
These were to be his direct subordinates in the near future.
Anyone could guess how suffocating it must feel for powerful Marquis Undyings—commanders who wield enormous power—to be placed under the thumb of a mere Domain Lord. Even if that Domain Lord had heaven-defying potential and a boundless future, that was the future. Right now was still now.
Jiang Zhe knew very well that this political chess game began at the very first meeting. Either he would suppress them, or they would suppress him.
"Anna, start the 'Deep Symbiosis.'"
"Yes, Master."
Tiny crimson threads of blood rooted deep into Jiang Zhe's body, raising his strength from the peak of Domain Lord level to an even higher threshold. At the same time, a strange force poured into his soul core, enveloping his soul crystal. His soul and consciousness rapidly strengthened, granting him partial power over the world itself.
This final change was Jiang Zhe's true goal.
This was—
Innate Secret Technique: [Symbiont]!
"Anna, once you break through to immortality and symbiose with me again… what will that look like?"
"Mmm… at that time, I'll evolve into a God-Body lifeform. As for what symbiosis will be like… forgive me, Master, I don't know."
"There's nothing to apologize for. I'm just curious."
In the Virtual Universe — Qianwu Continent, Zijing Island
Zijing Island was entirely built from violet crystals. Its size rivaled Heilongshan Island. The buildings of the island were also constructed from amethyst-like crystal, refracting dazzling rainbow light under the sun.
This was the administrative office of the Virtual Universe Company's Qianwu Continent Branch.
At this moment, inside the grandest amethyst palace on the island, three major figures had gathered:
Minister of Commerce: Marquis Zidian, the ape-man Zhen Qian.
Minister of Military: Marquis Jinyu, the eerie man Effer.
Minister of War: Marquis Heiyan, the veiled girl Visa.
Ever since receiving the joint visiting notice yesterday afternoon, these three giants had been staying together, dealing with the rot and scandals festering in each of their departments.
At one point, driven half-mad by their troubles, they'd even considered more underhanded ideas—like getting rid of whoever discovered their problems. Fortunately, reason prevailed. Jiang Zhe's astonishing performance on the Tongtian Mountain had jolted them awake. They dared not try anything reckless.
If their dirty dealings were exposed, the worst that would happen was imprisonment in a starfield prison. But if they tried to kill Jiang Zhe and Luo Feng? That would mean truly walking into the abyss.
So, the three summoned the branch's senior staff and waited for the arrival of the two new nobles.
In truth, they were somewhat relieved these two would be arriving together—especially since they were from the same race and had supported each other when they were weak. This likely meant they shared the same attitude.
At least, they wouldn't be dragged into a power struggle between two inspectors.
Sigh… sigh… sigh…
Life was hard. The three giants could only sigh.
Of course, there was a silver lining: the troubles might be resolved all at once. Serving two inspectors together was better than being wrung dry by them one after another.
Little did these pitiful giants know—Hong and Thor had also joined the Virtual Universe Company this time, not the Giant Axe Dojo as in the original story. And since the Qianwu Universe Nation was under the Virtual Universe Company's control, these two would eventually take up the same roles that Jiang Zhe and Luo Feng now held.
A few centuries down the line, the three ministers would have more "fun" awaiting them.
Alarms and Arrival
Beep! Beep! Beep—
Shrill alarms echoed through the great hall. The three leaders jumped up, plastering on practiced smiles as they hurried outside to welcome their distinguished guests.
On Zijing Island
Jiang Zhe and Luo Feng arrived via teleportation.
Luo Feng gawked like a country bumpkin at the dazzling violet island, while Jiang Zhe stretched his limbs, carefully adjusting the pressure of his mental force in preparation for the possible "battle" ahead.
He shot a glance at the dazed Luo Feng and shook his head with a sigh. This kid wouldn't face much trouble. The inspectors of the Commerce and Military departments were too slick to make things hard for Luo Feng—they'd only try to curry favor.
Meanwhile, he himself had to tackle the hardest bone to chew: the War Department.
After all, even the Minister of War didn't have absolute control over her department. The relationship with the various legions was more of a partnership than subordination. How could Marquis Heiyan, just a Marquis Undying, truly rein in fifty other Marquis Undyings?
Enter the Giants
Jiang Zhe suppressed his mental pressure and mused,
This body is only at a standard apprentice-level physique, with consciousness strength at 3010 times peak World Lord, and willpower at the Venerable level… more than enough inside the Virtual Universe.
He'd already filed a report with the Virtual Universe's master system to avoid being mistakenly flagged as breaking through to World Lord and purged from the Domain Lord member roster of the Original Secret Realm.
As for Orianna and the secret technique [Symbiont], these were no secrets. Even the Lord of Darkness knew. In fact, during their first meeting, he'd taken some of Orianna's "flesh samples" for analysis. They only found extremely high life-level signatures—nothing else. The leftover samples were added to the race's treasure vault for future split-body applications.
Even the Original Ancestor had personally appeared in the Virtual Universe at Jiang Zhe's teacher's request, using his unmatched soul expertise to observe Jiang Zhe and Orianna's state—without them ever realizing it.
This was the Original Ancestor, a man more like the protagonist than even Luo Feng or Hong. Not long after becoming a True God, he already possessed willpower at the Eternal True God level!
A Grand Welcome
Jiang Zhe and Luo Feng flew across over a hundred thousand kilometers to reach the center of Zijing Island, where they found a vast square packed with countless figures. At the head stood three with particularly extraordinary auras.
"Welcome, His Highness Inspector Marshal Jiang Zhe!"
"Welcome, His Highness Inspector Luo Feng!"
"Welcome, both of you, to our Qianwu Branch!"
The veiled girl, Marquis Heiyan, exuded a bewitching aura as she gave them an enthusiastic welcome. Marquis Zidian and Marquis Jinyu nodded along, flashing their most affable smiles.
Then—
Whoosh!
Countless figures fell to their knees in unison, their voices booming:
"Greetings, Your Highness Jiang Zhe! Greetings, Your Highness Luo Feng!"
Hundreds of Undying Gods bent low in respect.
Luo Feng was stunned by the display, eyes blank, before he instinctively glanced at his senior brother. But Jiang Zhe's gaze was utterly calm, as if looking at a field of cabbages. Influenced by this, Luo Feng's own courage swelled.
Suddenly, he recalled the scenes his brother had shown him in the Abyss World.
My earlier comparison wasn't wrong at all… These figures, so lofty within the Qianwu Universe Nation—how long would it take my senior brother to kill them all? A minute? No, that underestimates him. One Thunder Star smashed down, and only perhaps these three Marquises would survive—and even they are just slightly larger ants in his eyes.
Power and authority—both give a hero courage. I must grow stronger!
Luo Feng's once-uncertain eyes turned cold and sharp, returning to the ruthless, icy state shaped by the Golden Horned Beast.
The three giants felt their hearts skip a beat.
We didn't intimidate them? These two youngsters seem rather hard to handle…
Split Paths
After the grand welcome, Marquis Heiyan introduced the branch's key leaders. Once the formalities on the square concluded, it was time to move on with the inspection.
The countless star region and galactic heads dispersed. Jiang Zhe and Luo Feng also split ways according to their respective powers.
Luo Feng went off with Marquis Zidian and Marquis Jinyu into the main palace. Jiang Zhe followed Marquis Heiyan to the War Department's territory to review its operations.
The War Department
"Your Highness, the War Department's affairs here on Zijing Island are quite light. The real core lies with the fifty legions. Soon, I'll take you to meet their commanders," Marquis Heiyan said respectfully.
She used honorifics throughout. After all, she clearly understood that Jiang Zhe was not the same as Luo Feng. Passing the sixteenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge at the Domain Lord level—what did that mean?
It meant that once he broke through to immortality, he would immediately stand at the Marquis level!
So long as Jiang Zhe chose to advance, it wouldn't be long before he equaled her. She didn't dare put on airs.
"But you must be aware, Your Highness," she continued carefully, "while we're all under the Qianwu Branch's War Department on paper, it's more of a cooperative relationship than a strict hierarchy. We handle intelligence, task assignments, planning, logistics, and reviewing war results. They're only responsible for execution."
"So, before you meet them, please prepare yourself mentally…"
She gave Jiang Zhe a cautious warning, then quickly added her allegiance. "Rest assured, Your Highness, I stand fully with you! All forces under my control will look only to your command."
Jiang Zhe gave a dismissive hum through his nose, glancing at the veiled girl. "Visa, the news should have reached you by now, right? I, Jiang Zhe, have conquered the Domain Lord-level Original Tongtian Mountain."
"So you should be well aware of how the upper echelons see me. Do you think they would send me here to be some clown?"
"My position as Marshal equals that of a Supreme Legion Commander. In their eyes, I obviously have the power to control those fifty commanders."
Visa's eyes flickered. She slowly realized the deeper meaning behind this appointment, looking after Jiang Zhe's retreating back with a complicated expression.
This is going to be interesting… those proud commanders may soon have quite the shock.
Her mind already buzzing with the anticipation of drama, the rest of the inspection sped by quickly.
Jiang Zhe didn't mind. Orianna had already infiltrated the branch's entire system. After all, she once boasted that upon becoming a Universe Master, she could seize even the Mechanic Race Universe Master's data privileges!
The [Mechanical Pioneer] hadn't disappeared—it evolved into the [Queen of All Life].
Mechanical and AI lifeforms were part of "all life," after all.
From the moment Jiang Zhe stepped onto Zijing Island, he'd seen right through the filth within the War, Military, and Commerce departments.
He merely glanced over it. As long as it didn't involve betraying the race, he didn't care. Later, he'd have Orianna compile a list of those skating the edge of treason and hand it to the three ministers to clean up themselves.
To the Universe Army Headquarters
"Your Highness, that concludes the War Department's situation on Zijing Island. Any further commands?"
"Tell me about the universe army."
"Of course. The core of the Qianwu Universe Nation's forces consists of over ten thousand Undying Gods—half from our company, half from the nation itself—mixed across the legions."
"At the top is the Supreme Legion Commander, a King-level expert and the personal confidant of the Qianwu Monarch. Beneath him are three Deputy Commanders, also Kings, two of whom are our company's elites."
"Then there are a hundred Marquis-level 'Army Chiefs,' identified by numbers instead of titles—like the First Army Chief, Fourth Army Chief, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth… Half of them are our company's members."
"In function, they are all under your command. Military rules are extremely strict—they wouldn't dare skip out on greeting you."
Jiang Zhe nodded. "Where are they now?"
"They've already gathered at the Universe Army Headquarters on Heiying Island. I've just received word that they await your inspection."
"Good. Take me to them."
"Please, Your Highness—take my hand, and I'll teleport us over."
The Throne Awaits
Virtual Universe — Qianwu Continent, Heiying Island
Unlike the dazzling, luxurious Zijing Island, Heiying Island was built entirely of dark crystalline stone. It still sparkled with grandeur, but carried a deeper, more orderly and forbidding atmosphere.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz—
Inside a magnificent hall, alarms hummed. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh— Figures began to appear out of thin air.
Fifty-two in total, quickly taking their seats in strict hierarchical order. The atmosphere immediately turned icy and oppressive, overflowing with the murderous intent of the military.
If a mere Universe level being were to step inside, their mind would be crushed to death by the overwhelming willpower.
Fifty Marquis-level "Army Chiefs" sat on either side of the hall.
At the top of the stairs within the hall stood a solemn, empty throne. On either side of this throne were secondary seats, already occupied.
Pride of the Commanders
The King seated on the left said quietly, "He's coming. Are we really doing this?"
The King on the right snorted coldly. "Why not? A mere Domain Lord becoming our Marshal—are you content with that? It's an insult to us!"
"But he's a noble of the company's core. We can't disobey."
"Humph. Are we disobeying? Titles and power are built on strength. He's been given the title. That should satisfy him. If he wants power, then let him prove his strength!"
Voices of agreement immediately rose from the Undyings below. They were all proud beings and completely approved of this logic.
The King on the right raised a hand, silencing them with a smirk. "Hehe… If he can't even walk into this hall under our pressure, he can slink back home to suck milk. We'll still cooperate to fulfill his 'homework,' but he'll never get to order us around by waving his Marshal badge."
The King on the left laughed. "And if he does walk in under this crushing force, and takes that throne?"
The King on the right's eyes gleamed. "Then I'll admit it. Anyone who conquered the Original Tongtian Mountain deserves it. During his term as Marshal, he'll be my father!"
The hall filled with laughter and shouts of assent.
The Doors Open
"Quiet! He's here," the left King ordered.
Creaaak—creaak—
Two massive, hundred-meter-tall bronze doors slowly swung open, flooding the hall with light that formed a brilliant path leading straight to the throne.
Outside the Hall
Marquis Heiyan landed with Jiang Zhe in front of the tightly shut bronze doors. Even here, they could feel the terrifying oceanic pressure within.
In the Virtual Universe, everyone had mere apprentice-level bodies—but the difference in will and spirit among levels was enough to drown lesser beings on the spot.
---
Thanks "Ethan Epifanie" for supporting us on patreon
[A/N: Want to read more chapters in advance?
Check out my Patreon at "DigitalToons" for early access and exclusive content!
You can read 100+ chapters there in advance.
```And consistent chapter update everyday , 2 chapters every day
``` ]