The New Year

This was a festival observed by the Human, Barbarian, and Demon races alike.

The Divine Capital was adorned with lanterns and festive decorations. On the morning of the first day of the New Year, children in new clothes dashed excitedly through the snow, while the adults busied themselves exchanging New Year's greetings.

The Warriors' General Guild in the Divine Capital had become exceptionally lively during the New Year season these past few years, seeing a steady stream of visitors throughout the entire first lunar month.

However, on the first day itself, very few, if any, merchant associations or similar groups would pay a visit. Everyone knew that this day was reserved for Gan Jing and his friends to gather and converse.

They all remembered the first day of the New Year when the dull-witted Zhen Ce ascended the throne—the same day the Humans, Demons, and Barbarians revised the armistice agreement. Duan Feng Bu Er had posted a simple note on the guild board stating that Gan Jing would receive guests starting from the second day, and before that, they—his friends—were to be attended to.

Upon seeing the memorandum regarding the Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline warriors, everyone took this arrangement to heart.

Gan Jing sat by the hearth, taking out a letter recently sent by Checkfort. The Regent King was currently so swamped with matters in the Demon territory that he had very little time to wander about, dedicating much more time to corresponding with Gan Jing.

Initially, Commander Che's letters were just a few curt words to conclude.

As time wore on, Checkfort transformed completely into a chatterbox. Now, Gan Jing could tell if a letter was from Commander Che simply by the thickness of the envelope, even with his eyes closed. Any letter falling short of a hundred pages was definitely not from Commander Che. This great Demon Regent King now sent correspondence exceeding a hundred pages, half of which was dedicated to complaints, demanding to be replaced by someone else—or some demon—as Regent King. He claimed he was going stir-crazy and threatened to cleave every demon in the Demon race with his sword just to reclaim some peace if the replacement wasn't made soon.

“Alas… Poor Regent King,” Li Dongfeng sighed, shaking his head after reading Checkfort’s letter. “But why do I feel like he’s getting stronger just by reading his letters?”

“Government affairs are an excellent whetstone for honing his swordsmanship,” Gan Jing murmured, shaking the letter in his hand. “He’s treating the court as a training ground for his sword path. This fellow is becoming genuinely terrifying.”

“Speaking of you, Fenghua,” Li Ba said from the side, sipping aged wine, his drunken gaze fixed on Jiuyang Fenghua, “You aren't getting any younger. Why aren't you married yet? Haven’t you found anyone suitable? Our Li family has many fine men, perhaps…”

“To be my man, you must first be able to defeat me,” Jiuyang Fenghua’s beautiful eyes drifted towards Gan Jing.

These days, Jiuyang Fenghua visited the Warriors' General Guild almost daily to spar with Gan Jing. As for the exact results of those sparring sessions, only the War Goddess herself knew the truth.

Rumble!

The ground beneath the War Fortress suddenly shook with a massive roar that shattered the tranquility of the room.

Gan Jing, being the strongest person alive in this era, who dared cause such a disturbance here? Several new warriors who had just entered the fortress exchanged confused glances—who was tired of living?

Hearing the tremor, Gan Jing repeatedly rubbed his forehead. “I’ll go check on Huang Quan. You all carry on.”

The mysterious potion laboratory in the War Fortress had been almost razed to the ground. The broken walls swayed gently in the wind. Huang Quan stood quietly in the ruins, clad in white, deep in thought. Her magic shield had protected her from any harm.

“Sister… Are you alright?”

A girl identical to Huang Quan rushed out of the room, but she carried an air of persistent shyness and timidity on her face.

“Biluo, I’m fine.” Huang Quan looked up and saw Gan Jing. “Husband, take me to the Endless World. I need to discuss the formula for this mysterious potion with Oulala.”

Gan Jing looked at Huang Quan with another helpless, wry smile. Two years ago, he had used every means possible, combining everything he had learned to create a physical body for Huang Quan. Since then, Huang Quan no longer needed to share a body with Biluo and became a completely independent entity. In return for this, Biluo had uncharacteristically taken the initiative to provide Gan Jing with the most complete set of services, executed with a boldness and heat that left Gan Jing quite intrigued.

Later, Gan Jing learned that the strange poses and techniques were taught to Biluo after she studied them from books by Lucifer Liushui.

Yet, Gan Jing hadn't anticipated that the body he made for Huang Quan would share a unique spiritual link with his own mind; when he entered the Endless World to spend time with his teachers, she would be brought along as well.

This magical prodigy was quickly favored by Hong Yun, and subsequently, Oulala insisted that Huang Quan possessed even greater talent than Gan Jing. From then on, Huang Quan became enamored with the concoction of mysterious potions. The War Fortress nearly required a new building to be constructed every day. One construction team even moved into the fortress permanently, figuring that since new construction was always imminent, why bother looking for work elsewhere? Work was guaranteed here every day.

“It’s the New Year today,” Gan Jing said helplessly to Huang Quan. “Tonight, we’ll discuss it tonight.”

“You’re not free tonight,” Huang Quan sighed. “Tonight is Jiaying’s turn. I guess it will have to be tomorrow.”

“Sister…” Biluo tugged hard on Huang Quan’s sleeve. “Tomorrow’s Gan Jing is mine.”

“Yours?” Huang Quan rested her chin on her hand. “You take the first half of the night; I’ll take the latter half.”

Pfft!

Gan Jing almost spat a mouthful of old blood upon hearing Huang Quan’s fiery words.

“Gan Jing! Where is your cellar? Hurry and let me hide!” The dull-witted Zhen Ce charged into the courtyard, speaking rapidly, “Quickly! Open the secret chamber for me!”

Gan Jing looked at Mu Ne Zhen Ce with immense exasperation. “It’s the first day of the New Year. Shouldn’t you be feasting the court officials at the Imperial Palace? Why have you run out again today? You do this every year; the officials will freeze in the cold.”

“It’s much livelier here! Those court fellows have too many rules; I can’t stand it! Hurry up and give me the key to the secret chamber! If the Black Dragon Guards catch up, I’ll have nowhere to run!”

Gan Jing shook his head helplessly. The Regent King did not act like a Regent King, and His Majesty the Emperor did not act like an Emperor.

“Thanks!” Mu Ne Zhen Ce snatched the secret chamber key and vanished quickly.

Not long after, the Black Dragon Guards arrived in the courtyard.

Gan Jing paused when he saw the leader of the Black Dragon Guards: Pan Mengcheng! This kid had undergone his Ultimate Awakening last year and had unexpectedly become the commander of the Black Dragon Guards.

“Boss Gan Jing,” Pan Mengcheng bowed deeply to Gan Jing before stating with a grave expression, “Boss, I apologize for the trouble, but please hand over the Emperor. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for me to explain to the Fourth Prince. This time, the Fourth Prince has flipped the table; we must grant him some face.”

Gan Jing pointed towards the secret chamber. Pan Mengcheng bowed deeply once more. “Thank you, Boss Gan Jing.”

A few minutes later, Mu Ne Zhen Ce’s roar echoed across the courtyard: “Gan Jing! You bastard! Selling me out! Do you even consider me a friend anymore?”

“Your Majesty, please mind your language,” Pan Mengcheng said while restraining Mu Ne Zhen Ce to prevent him from fleeing, trying earnestly to correct the Emperor’s address. “You should refer to yourself as ‘I’ (Zhen), not…”

“Nonsense! I and Gan Jing never use ‘Zhen’! Gan Jing, just you wait, I’m coming back on the second day of the New Year! Next time we gamble, I swear I’ll win everything you have, down to your underwear, to avenge this day!”

“I’m the Emperor! Can you give me some freedom?”

“Damn it! Why are you holding me so tight? I can walk myself.”

“Your Majesty, you will escape, I know you will. Allow your subject to escort you back…”

“Subject my foot! Pan Mengcheng! I appointed you as the Black Dragon Guard leader to help me, but you’re siding with my Fourth Brother! Think about whose salary you are receiving!”

“The Fourth Prince is the Minister of Finance… He promised me a raise if he could get you back safely.”

“Damn it! I’m the Emperor…”

Mu Ne Zhen Ce’s powerless wails echoed down the long street. The warriors who had arrived only a few days prior watched the scene unfolding with great curiosity. Was this truly the Emperor of the Zhen Ce Dynasty? This was… too undignified.

“You’ll get used to it, just get used to it,” an old warrior who had been stationed at the War Fortress for several years patted the shoulder of a new recruit. “Stay a few more years, and you’ll be accustomed to it. There might be even livelier events later.”

“Dad, when will your Time-Traveling Magic Device be ready?”

Two cherubic children ran out of the room, clinging to Gan Jing’s legs, asking repeatedly. One clearly had purely human blood, while the other boy exhibited traits of Human-Demon mixed heritage.

“Husband, instead of chatting here, you should focus on finishing the Time-Traveling Magic Device sooner,” Lucifer Liushui emerged from the room. “I want to see what the world looks like eight thousand years from now too.”

“Yes, yes, Dad! We want to see too!”

Gan Jing lifted each child up by an arm, smiling wryly as he looked at Lucifer Liushui, noticing that Gu Yue Jiaying, standing not far behind Liushui, was nodding slightly as well.

Ever since learning about the device capable of traversing time, Gu Yue Jiaying had become extremely invested. This device could not only travel to the future but also to the past. Although one could not alter past events—only watch silently, lest the future descend into utter chaos—the mere prospect of glimpsing Fabredius was enough to satisfy Gu Yue Jiaying. Seeing her birth mother, even just once, was Gu Yue Jiaying’s greatest dream now. Gan Jing had been ceaselessly busy these past few days precisely for this matter.

“Comrade! Has the condensation of your Heart of Divinity finished? Brother here is waiting for your experience,” Duan Feng Bu Er entered the courtyard, pulled over a stone stool, sat down, and lazily observed Gan Jing. “Achieving godhood! That’s what I’m most interested in right now.”

Gan Jing looked at Duan Feng Bu Er speechlessly. This fellow contemplated how to attain godhood every day, practicing far more diligently than anyone else. Yet, the first words out of his mouth upon seeing Gan Jing were always to discuss the matter of condensing the Heart of Divinity.

“That…” Gan Jing sighed. “I mentioned it yesterday; condensing the Heart of Divinity will take me at least another five years. As you can see, I am incredibly busy.”

“That’s true…” Duan Feng Bu Er shot Gan Jing a mischievous look. “Only you, being the strongest warrior with the best physique, could handle this. Otherwise, with this many wives, you’d probably be completely overwhelmed.”

“Is that brat Fen Tu Kuang Ge still on his honeymoon with your sister, Qian Nian Cheng? Where are they now? Are they coming back this year?” Duan Feng Bu Er scrutinized the surroundings with curiosity. “Has Mu Ne Zhen Ce arrived yet, or was he captured by my little brother?”

“Little Six was taken back,” Gan Jing rocked the two children in his arms. “There’s still no word from Kuang Ge.”

“Guild Master, your mail.”

Outside the courtyard, a newly joined warrior presented a freshly delivered letter to Gan Jing.

“Thanks.” Gan Jing handed the children over to Liushui and Jiaying, then opened the letter sent by Fen Tu Kuang Ge. Upon reading the description, he burst out laughing. “Kuang Ge and Nian Cheng went to the Ancient Barren Sand Sea. He sent this letter back via a military falcon trying to tell me he’s lost… He described the surroundings for us, asking us to retrieve him.”

“No way? Fen Tu Kuang Ge is the most outstanding soldier,” Duan Feng Bu Er chuckled wickedly. “This is too interesting! Let’s go! Let’s go pick him up!”

“Husband… hurry back quickly; we are still waiting for the Time-Traveling Magic Device.”

“Husband, hurry back quickly; I’m waiting to visit Oulala.”

“Gan Jing, I’ll come with you too,” this was Jiuyang Fenghua’s request.

Gu Yue Jiaying floated next to Gan Jing and sighed softly. “If you truly have feelings for her, this will truly be the last time.”

Gan Jing managed a strained smile. What was all this? He had imagined that married life would be like a fairy tale, but the life of the strongest person in this era, while joyful and happy, was undeniably tangled. Life was, after all, just life.

“It’s fine, it is happy and fulfilling,” Gan Jing looked up at the sky. “I am content.”

Lucifer Liushui watched Gan Jing’s broad back as he walked toward the door, suddenly recalling her own father. She wondered where the Great Demon King was now, and what he was doing.

Daoist Magic Continent…

The Great Demon King, dressed in a plain blue robe, walked down a bustling street, followed by a handsome, tall young man radiating a sharp, heroic aura. On each of his long sleeves was embroidered a flamboyant, calligraphic character for ‘Demon’ (Mo)! However, no one on the Daoist Magic Continent recognized this character.

“Master Great Demon King, we’ve been wandering the streets for ten days. Where exactly are we going?”

“No destination, just strolling around.”

“Doesn’t that waste time? Wouldn’t it be better to spend more time cultivating?”

“Strolling is also a form of cultivation. If your state of mind isn’t right, it’s useless. You must look outward, search for the Dao that belongs to you. You cannot always fixate on me, or on any single person; otherwise, your achievements will be limited.”

“Then when can I engage in combat with the person you call Gan Jing? I truly wish to know if he is as strong as you say?”

“There will be an opportunity,” the Great Demon King looked up at the sky and stated with faint confidence. “There will be an opportunity.”

“Right, Master Great Demon King, you always say you came here to fulfill a dream. What exactly is your dream?”

“My dream? Traveling and being a teacher.” The Great Demon King turned back and smiled at his excellent disciple. “Zhen Mo, I am realizing my dream right now. What about yours?”

“My dream?” Zhen Mo’s smile was bright and sunny. “My dream is to become the foremost person on the Daoist Magic Continent! To dominate the Daoist Magic Continent and eliminate wars between nations.”

“Is that so?” The Great Demon King smiled.

“What? Is there a problem with that dream?” Zhen Mo asked with a dash of arrogant ease mixed with curiosity.

“Very good,” the Great Demon King nodded, smiling. “But that dream is a bit tiring. And many people might vie with you for that dream.”

“A dream without competition isn’t a good dream,” Zhen Mo shrugged. “Perhaps those who share my dream can become my friends, and we can fulfill that dream together.”

“Friends…” The Great Demon King narrowed his eyes. Zhen Mo was intensely curious, trying to discern what the Great Demon King was thinking, but he found this Demon King truly inscrutable.

“It must be the New Year in our hometown now, right?” The Great Demon King smiled faintly. “They must be celebrating happily?”

“Gan Jing! Come with me, come with me! I found an area where the Undead haven’t been fully purged. We’re going together this time!” Pan Hongji excitedly blocked Gan Jing at the doorway, grabbing Gan Jing’s arm and pulling him out. “Playing with you always gives me new insights; I can’t miss this chance this time!”

“Uncle! Gan Jing was scheduled with me first…” Duan Feng Bu Er began to protest.

“I am your elder; you need to show respect to your elders.”

“Then elders should play with elders! Why don’t you go find Ba Huang Wu Sheng?”

“That old thing Wu Sheng went traveling; I can’t find him.”

“Then you can find Uncle Mu Gui Wu Xin to play with.”

“Mu Gui Wu Xin spends this time every year in Yong Liu, mourning Fabredius, and then cries there for a week. Going there is pointless for me.”

“Everyone, please wait a moment,” Gan Jing stepped back. “I think I need a moment alone. Please wait for me.”

Endless World

Gan Jing stood before Uncle Black’s door. The old blacksmith was still smoking, but the gloomy expression from before was gone; now, his smoking seemed quite contented.

“Uncle, Happy New Year.”

“The New Year in the Endless World is a month away,” Black looked at Gan Jing. “It’s a little early.”

“I should have five years left until I can condense the Heart of Divinity. Perhaps then I can connect the Endless World with the Zhen Ce Dynasty…”

“No need. I am very peaceful now. Why go out? Just let me know the method once you condense your Divinity Heart; that’s enough.”

“Okay, I understand.”

Ancient Barren Sand Sea

“Where on earth is this?” Fen Tu Kuang Ge looked at the environment overgrown with grass and flowers. “There’s a place like this in the Ancient Barren Sand Sea? It’s a miracle! I must let Gan Jing and the others come see this.”

“Brother Gan Jing will be here soon,” Qian Nian Cheng lay happily in a pile of straw, enjoying the moderate sunshine. Everything was so beautiful, so blissful.

End of Text

Author’s Note

I have never written a novel as long as forty-five volumes.

Thank you to everyone who stayed with Gao Lou and supported this journey for over a year. Without your help, I could not have brought this story to such a length, nor maintained such high levels of enthusiasm.

When I finished writing Domination and Power, I closed my eyes and recalled the lofty ambition I held when I first started this book, contrasting it with the cautious anxiety I felt writing the final hundreds of thousands of words.

I feared ending it poorly. Perhaps this conclusion isn't the most brilliant, but it is the limit of what Gao Lou could achieve at this time. On this journey of Domination and Power, I have learned a great deal and made some progress. I trust the next time will be even more perfect.

My friends, the moment you close this book, my greatest wish is that when you close your eyes, you see characters who are somewhat lively, flesh-and-blood beings, and not just a dry protagonist.

Although Gan Jing is the protagonist of this book, and I must portray his courageous and unwavering advance, in my view, this book does not belong to Gan Jing alone. It belongs to every character in this book; remove any single character, and the brilliance of this work diminishes.

Domination and Power was initially conceived as a series, comprising five continents. Only the Daoist Magic Continent can be revealed for now. The names of several continents involve concepts for potential future books; I hoped to create interaction between the continents, allowing a character from Domination and Power or a future work to visit another continent for minor interactions.

This was also one of my initial dreams: to create a relatively complete world where the characters and stories of the different continents differ, yet remain subtly interconnected.

Of course, the next novel will have little direct connection to Domination and Power; it will be an independent entity, a novel I have been preparing for over a year.

Gao Lou always says that the best book I have ever written is always the next one, because that reflects my progress. This time is no exception. I hope everyone will like and support Gao Lou’s new book.

After finishing Domination and Power, Gao Lou needs a period of rest.

In late March or mid-April, Gao Lou will announce the title of the new book and officially begin writing it then.

Naturally, you can also follow my Tencent Weibo and Sina Weibo to check the exact date I open the new book.

My Tencent Weibo name is: Gao Lou Da Sha (). It is very easy to search. It has a verified checkmark (V). Following my Weibo should allow you to know the opening date and title of the new book immediately.

Finally, Gao Lou must say, thank you all for your support over the past year and more. Without your support, I could not have persisted in finishing this novel that I myself love very much.

I hope everyone has a pleasant New Year holiday.

Oh! And!~ Gao Lou is an author with a poor memory, always intending to advertise a book but constantly forgetting to do so in the final grand finale. I hope this placement helps a little: [Link provided]. This book is called Wrath of the Crests (Wenzhang Zhi Nu). RO