Chapter 436: The auction begins Ethan stood in the center of the time field, the air still vibrating from the departure of Erebus. His existence was now a paradox: he was a humanoid universe, a collection of 10^{100} cells that had transcended the biological to become stellar engines. The Law of Infinity, though only five centimeters long, pulsed within him like a needle of pure, concentrated authority. It was a slender thread that outweighed the weight of all other laws combined. Despite this god-like elevation, Ethan felt a coldness that was not physical. It was the absolute lack of emotion. Having separated his Omega Clones, specifically the one carrying his happiness, he was a being of pure logic and cosmic will. He looked at his hands. The skin was a map of constellations. The blood flowing beneath was a river of golden runes. He realized that if he stepped back into the lives of his family in this state, he would be a stranger. He would be a statue of logic, incapable of the warmth they needed after the tragedy of Zara. He understood that while power was necessary to protect, emotion was necessary to live. "Yumiko," Ethan said, his voice flat and devoid of the melodic resonance it usually carried. "The clones." [Master, they are ready. The six remaining Omega Clones await your command. The Happiness Clone is also on standby.] Ethan waved his hand. From the folds of the distorted space, seven figures emerged. They were identical to him, yet each carried a different facet of his soul. The Happiness Clone stood at the front. Its eyes were bright and its aura vibrant, a stark contrast to the others who represented colder aspects of his law and logic. Ethan reached out. "Merge." The Happiness Clone did not resist. It stepped forward, dissolving into a mist of golden light that surged into Ethan’s chest. A sudden, violent rush of warmth flooded his being. The cold, mechanical calculation of his mind was instantly tempered by the return of his feelings. The memories of Zara’s sacrifice, the love for his family, and the burden of his path hit him with the force of a collapsing star. He gasped. His eyes softened. The human returned to the god. Now, he looked at the remaining six clones. They stood like sentinels of pure power. "You six are no longer needed as separate entities," Ethan murmured. "But I have a purpose for you. You shall be my hand in the Neutral Plane. You shall be the foundation of the empire." He gestured again. The six clones walked toward each other. As they touched, the space around them groaned. This was not a simple fusion. It was a compounding of authority. Six fragments of an infinite law were being forced into a single vessel. Boom! A shockwave of power erupted, contained only by Ethan’s sheer will. When the light faded, a single figure stood there. This Mega Clone was terrifying. Its presence was so dense that it seemed to pull the light from the surrounding air. Ethan checked the status immediately. [Combat Prowess: Grade 3 Absolute Continuum] Ethan blinked in genuine surprise. "Grade 3? It has surpassed my own combat power by a level." It made sense. While Ethan held the Law of Infinity in its pure, seed-like form, this clone was a concentrated weapon of six combined authorities. "Take the Sword of Infinity," Ethan commanded, manifesting a blade that looked like a sliver of the night sky. "Find Erebus. Establish our domain in the Neutral Plane. Protect my sister-in-law. Let the name of the Human Empire echo through the void." The Mega Clone took the sword. Then it vanished into a portal that tore through the dimensions, following the faint trail of Erebus. Ethan stepped out of the space cube and reappeared in the Dragon World, specifically within the high-reaching spires of his tower. The atmosphere was heavy. In the main hall, his family members were gathered. Rose, the sisters, and the others were sitting in a circle of grief. The loss of Zara hung over them like a thick shroud. Tears were still fresh on many faces. Ethan walked into the room softly. His footsteps did not make a sound. But his presence was like a warm sun rising in a dark winter. "Please don’t worry," he said, his voice rich with comfort. "Lady Zara will return soon. I have set things in motion that cannot be stopped." They looked up, startled. Rose wiped her eyes. Her gaze lingered on Ethan. He looked different somehow. But he was still the Ethan they knew. Ethan’s eyes moved to Rose’s wrist. He saw the familiar, slightly worn wristband. To anyone else, it was a simple accessory. To Ethan, it was a dormant anchor. "Lady Rose," Ethan said gently. "Can I have that wristwatch of yours? I can trade it with anything you want. Resources,weapons. Name it." Rose looked at the band, then at him, puzzled. "This? Ethan, this is just an old trinket. It has no power. If you want it, you can just have it. I don’t need anything in return. You’ve already done so much for us." She unclipped the band and handed it to him. "Thank you, Rose," Ethan said. "This is worth more than you know. Also, on the 60th floor, I have opened a special market. It is part of the tower’s internal dimension. Take everyone there. Buy whatever you like. Explore the wonders there. It will help clear your minds." As they left, Ethan retreated to his private chambers. He held the wristband in his palm. "Po," he whispered. "It’s time to wake up." He sent a microscopic thread of the Law of Infinity into the device. For a moment, nothing happened. Then the metal began to glow. A holographic projection flickered into life. A round, fluffy shape materialized. A fat, cartoonish panda appeared in the air. It rubbed its eyes and yawned widely. "Is it morning already? I told you I needed five more minutes..." The panda suddenly stopped. It looked at Ethan. Its eyes went wide. It began to tremble. "Boss? 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦 Is that really you?" Po, the AI, did not act like a machine. It let out a wail of joy. It jumped at Ethan. Its holographic form gained enough mass through Ethan’s law to feel like a real, soft panda. It clung to his neck, snuggling into him. "I missed you so much! It was so dark in there! I thought everyone forgot about me!" Ethan smiled, patting the panda’s head. "I didn’t forget. I needed you to rest until I was ready. Now, I have a mission for you." Po pulled back, suddenly serious despite his chubby face. "Anything for the Boss! What are we doing? Deleting a galaxy? Hacking a god?" "Better," Ethan said. "I want to create a virtual world. A replica of this entire cage of existence. A place where everyone can communicate, trade, and live without the fear of the outer void. A hub for all information. But for that, you need to evolve." Po scratched his chin. "To make a world that big and that real, I need data. Lots of it. Boss, we need to travel. We need to gather information from every corner of the universe." "We will," Ethan promised. "But first, we have an auction to attend." Two days passed in a blur of preparation. The Dragon World, once a secluded and dangerous realm, had become the center of the positive plane. The sky was no longer blue. It was filled with the shimmering hulls of cosmic ships and the glowing auras of flying palanquins. The word had spread. Ethan Hunt was holding an auction. The scale of the event was unprecedented. The tower was now open. The first 50 floors were dedicated to the guests. The 60th floor remained a private sanctuary for Ethan’s allies. Inside the auction hall, the air was thick with the scent of ancient incense and the humming power of thousands of high-level cultivators. The seats were arranged in a massive amphitheater. Space-folding technology allowed everyone to fit comfortably. In the center of the hall, a platform stood empty. Up in his private room, Ethan watched the monitors. He saw the prideful demons. The stoic titans. The elegant vampires. They did not realize they were sitting inside a being that could erase their concepts with a thought. "Are you ready, Po?" Ethan asked. The panda, now wearing a small tuxedo, nodded eagerly. "The system is live, Boss. Every bid. Every word. Every heartbeat in this hall is being recorded. This is the best data harvest ever!" Ethan stood up. He was not wearing golden armor or flashy robes. He wore a simple black suit. The doors to the stage opened. The chatter of ten thousand races died instantly. The pressure in the room dropped to zero. It was not suppression, it was his presence. Ethan stepped onto the platform. He looked out at the sea of legends, gods, and monsters. "Welcome," Ethan said.