The City Lord of Chaos frowned as the other Universe Masters disagreed. "Back then, my Virtual Universe Company took the lead and acquired ownership of Earth's oceans for only 50 billion Yuan units, and that wasn't even a lump sum—it was paid in three installments. Now, exchanging it for a Qijing Stone... I think it's a fair trade."

"Chaos!"

"Chaos!"

Two Universe Masters spoke up simultaneously. After exchanging a glance, one, a giant covered in scales with three sharp horns, spoke in a low voice. "Back then, Luo Feng was just an insignificant figure; 50 billion Yuan units was already an astronomical sum to him. While your Virtual Universe Company initiated the contract with him... the Universe Mercenary Alliance and other parties had an agreement with you too! The ownership of Earth's oceans, airspace, and everything above it is jointly held by the five factions! All five of us can send our descendants to reside on Earth, and after one hundred thousand years, you know how special Earth is. What a marvelous planet! The potential nurtureability of children born there is so much greater. Initially, their progress speed was the same as the descendants of other planets, but the longer they cultivate, the faster their progress surpasses that of others."

"The incredible Sitting Mountain Guest—to think he could create such a planet. I wonder what cost he paid back then to alter the very souls of infants. That is truly unfathomable."

"Sitting Mountain Guest, truly worthy of being the oldest powerhouse in the universe," the giant sighed in admiration.

As the highest echelon of the Human Race, they were all aware of Sitting Mountain Guest's existence.

Although the Human Race had Universe Masters, when the universe was first born... humanity was like a stumbling toddler just beginning to multiply. The undisputed supreme beings dominating the universe back then were the Special Life Forms, beings born inherently powerful, like the Eight Great Beast Gods, and so on...

And Sitting Mountain Guest was an independent powerhouse who attained Universe Master status in the most ancient period, right when the universe began.

"Earth continuously births powerhouses," the giant stated grimly. "It is capable of nurturing an entire major branch of the Human Race, its value not inferior to a peak domain-type supreme treasure. I absolutely will not agree to exchange it so easily!"

"I disagree as well."

"Disagree."

The leaders of the Universe First Bank and the Universe Star River Bank also voiced their objections, causing the City Lord of Chaos's brow to furrow slightly.

"What about the 'Qijing Stone'?" The Giant Axe Founder, seated at the head, spoke with a powerful voice. "If you are unwilling to return Earth, Luo Feng will not hand over the Qijing Stone either."

"Our Human Race lacks Supreme Supreme Treasures! As for peak domain-type supreme treasures... at that level, our Human Race already possesses several," the giant countered directly. "Moreover, the Qijing Stone merely represents one chance to obtain a treasure of that tier. How often do we encounter such opportunities? Take the Universe Sea... if one dares to fight desperately, a peak domain-type supreme treasure can be obtained at any moment."

"A one in thirty-six chance to obtain a peak domain-type supreme treasure! You think that's enough to trade for Earth? Impossible."

"Indeed."

"I concur with what Huang Jian said."

The three leaders of the Universe Mercenary Alliance, the Universe First Bank, and the Universe Star River Bank all shared their viewpoints.

"Esteemed sirs, my disciple Luo Feng," the City Lord of Chaos began. "His current strength should be at the level of a top-tier Universe Overlord."

Whoosh!

All the Universe Masters, including the Giant Axe Founder, turned their gazes toward him.

"Chaos, are you joking?"

"How long has Luo Feng been cultivating? A top-tier Universe Overlord?"

"Did you witness it yourself?"

"Must be false."

"Impossible."

Not a single Universe Master could believe that Luo Feng, having cultivated for only a hundred thousand years—and only reaching the Immortal level twenty thousand years ago—could now possess the strength of a top-tier Universe Overlord. Few in the vast universe would dare believe it.

"Chaos, is this true?" Even the Giant Axe Founder couldn't help but ask.

The City Lord of Chaos swept his gaze across the surroundings and nodded slightly. "I have not verified it personally, but based on the ten thousand years of master-disciple relationship between Luo Feng and me, and my understanding of him... if he dares to say it, it cannot be false!"

"You haven't verified it personally."

"So it hasn't been confirmed yet."

The Universe Masters who hadn't truly interacted with Luo Feng all smiled and shook their heads.

"Chaos," the leader of the Universe Mercenary Alliance, Master Huang Jian, laughed directly. "Perhaps Luo Feng is simply trying to gain extra leverage in the Qijing Stone and Earth negotiation, using your master-disciple bond and deliberately saying this, believing that you, his teacher, would trust him."

"Huang Jian, do you think my disciple... would be like your disciple?" A trace of anger flashed in the eyes of the City Lord of Chaos.

Huang Jian smiled and dared not say more.

The City Lord of Chaos was, after all, the top authority in the Virtual Universe Company. In terms of strength and status, perhaps only the Giant Axe Founder could truly overshadow him! Moreover, even the 'Prime Universe' was under the City Lord of Chaos's control, which elevated his standing considerably above Huang Jian's.

Internally, the Human Race comprised four major powers: the Giant Axe Martial Arena and the Virtual Universe Company were the strongest, while the Universe Mercenary Alliance, the Universe First Bank, and the Universe Star River Bank lagged slightly behind.

"Even if Luo Feng is a top-tier Universe Overlord, let him try to pass the Qishen Temple; let him suffer a small setback. As for trading for Earth... the Qijing Stone is nowhere near enough."

"The Qijing Stone cannot be traded for Earth ownership."

Seeing this, the City Lord of Chaos sighed inwardly. These great beings who had become Universe Masters had varied temperaments—some were cold and arrogant, others untamed and rebellious, and some utterly ruthless. As long as they didn't cross the bottom line, the Human Race would tolerate these super-beings; super-beings enjoyed certain privileges, provided they didn't violate fundamental limits!

Among the Universe Masters, the City Lord of Chaos generally managed the major affairs of humanity and was the one who valued the overall picture the most.

In his view, while Earth was important, allowing other factions to cultivate geniuses versus allowing the Earth lineage to cultivate geniuses were fundamentally different, yet both ultimately served the Human Race. The overall strength of the Human Race would remain robust, and moreover, it would earn Luo Feng's gratitude and loyalty. Furthermore, the Human Territory was vast... even if the Earth lineage rivaled the Yan God Race, it would only be a tiny fraction of the Human Race's total strength.

"Once personal interests are involved, none of them are willing to yield easily," the City Lord of Chaos sighed inwardly.

"This matter ends here."

The Giant Axe Founder, seated at the main seat, commanded sharply. The other Universe Masters quieted down and all turned their attention to him.

"Chaos." The Giant Axe Founder looked toward the City Lord of Chaos.

The City Lord of Chaos inclined his head slightly in respect, listening carefully.

"Go tell Luo Feng that trading the Qijing Stone for Earth ownership will not pass. As for his Qijing Stone... if he refuses other solutions, the faction will not force him." The City Lord of Chaos smiled faintly. "As for Earth ownership... tell him that as long as he achieves sufficient strength, anything is possible."

"Understood." The City Lord of Chaos smiled gently.

The other Universe Masters, however, were slightly stunned.

"Giant Axe."

"Giant Axe, this..."

The Giant Axe Founder’s gaze turned cold. "When Luo Feng is able to sit alongside us here, that will be the time Earth ownership is returned to him."

The dozen or so Universe Masters could only lower their heads in acknowledgment and compliance.

If the Giant Axe Founder truly issued an order, no one in the Human Race could defy it.

Luo Feng soon received the news.

Hearing it from his teacher made Luo Feng feel both angry and slightly expectant. The anger stemmed from the fact that Earth's partial ownership, purchased for a mere 50 billion Yuan units back then, was now worth tens of thousands or even millions of times more, yet it still couldn't buy it back! The expectation came from the Giant Axe Founder's promise!

"So Earth is that important; no wonder they aren't returning it easily."

"Sit together with them?" Luo Feng murmured to himself.

"Soon."

"Earth... ultimately belongs to us Earthlings," Luo Feng thought silently. For nearly a hundred thousand years, he had strived relentlessly to cultivate and strengthen himself, precisely for the day he could single-handedly shoulder the sky for the Earthling lineage! Because he was the strongest of the Earthling lineage, the 'God' worshipped by Earthlings, the spiritual leader of the Earthling faction!

In fact, ever since Luo Feng first entered the universe, especially when, as Earth's lord, he shielded the planet from danger time and again, the Earthlings had developed an immense reverence for him.

Personal adoration!

An extreme worship of a hero!

And as time passed—day after day, year after year—those Earthlings who ventured out into the universe felt even more keenly the benefits Luo Feng brought them, naturally increasing their worship. After a hundred thousand years of reverence, passed down through generations, Luo Feng had completely become the symbol and leader of the Earthling lineage!

"My strength will soon be sufficient to fully safeguard the Earthling faction." Luo Feng mused quietly.

In the distant Northern Frontier Alliance, within the magnificent palace of the Star River Master.

"Star River Master."

Both heads of Lord Fanguang were filled with deference.

"The Alliance Master has resurrected you," a voice echoed from the dark void in the great hall. "And yet you claim... the one who killed you back then was Luo Feng?"

"Yes," Lord Fanguang replied respectfully. "He killed me with a single strike, just one!"

When Luo Feng returned to the original universe after leaving the Beast God Realm, various alien powerhouses regarded him as a mobile treasure trove. The very first being to encounter Luo Feng then was Lord Fanguang! But Lord Fanguang was slain by Luo Feng in a single move.

"Are you certain it was Luo Feng? And only with one strike?" The dark void spoke again.

"Star River Master, I am absolutely certain. This is the footage of him killing me back then!" Lord Fanguang said respectfully, simultaneously using his divine power to replay the memory image—Luo Feng's sharp, cold strike... transforming into a dazzling golden light that cleaved through Fanguang's ordinary supreme treasure armor, instantly destroying him.

Silence reigned.

The Star River Master also fell silent. When he had previously resurrected a large batch of Universe Venerables, some had claimed they were personally killed by Luo Feng... which already indicated Luo Feng possessed Universe Overlord strength.

But Lord Fanguang himself was a Universe Overlord! Killing him in one strike... that absolutely meant he was a top-tier Universe Overlord.

"Having only cultivated for twenty thousand years since becoming Immortal..." the voice in the dark void was filled with shock. "Send the order."

The voice reached the ears of the numerous Universe Venerables scattered throughout the palace complex, all of whom listened respectfully.

"The Human Luo Feng possesses the strength of a top-tier Universe Overlord, comparable to the Human's Palace Master Tian Shi. Spread this news! Spread it throughout the universe... let all factions in the universe know, especially the Bug Clan, Demon Clan, and Machine Clan, who harbor the deepest enmity toward humanity! They will certainly exert every effort to eliminate Luo Feng as soon as possible. Reaching the level of Palace Master Tian Shi so quickly—if given a few hundred thousand more years, will the Human Race gain another City Lord of Chaos?"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

The Universe Venerables in the palace complex accepted their orders.

Soon, the news began to disseminate through various channels of the Northern Frontier Alliance. The Northern Frontier Alliance was a superpower containing the largest number of races and Universe Venerables in the universe. Once they deliberately released the information... in almost a single day, the nine great superpowers of the universe and numerous top-tier factions...

The vast universe, almost every party, became aware.

The news naturally returned to the Human Race. The Universe Venerables of the Human Race also learned of this development on the same day. Figures like Venerable Zhen Yan, Venerable Niu Zhou, Venerable Nine Swords, Lord Qian Wu, Palace Master Tian Shi, Venerable Undying, and Venerable Gui Yi all received this universe-shaking news simultaneously.

Luo Feng, a heaven-defying and unbelievable existence, truly shocked the high echelons of every race in the universe.

PS: Chapter One is complete!