Two streaks of shadow were rapidly sucked in: one, the tumbling Heavenly Wolf; the other, the 'Mo Hu Beast,' a scaled creature with a triangular head and three tails. One was the Lord of Heavenly Wolves, the other the Lord of Mo Hu—both figures akin to true ancestors of their respective great demon races, yet here they were, imprisoned.

"Not good." The Lord of Heavenly Wolves blinked, only just shaking off the preceding illusion, and immediately roared out.

Beside him, the Lord of Star Hu also panicked.

"Heavenly Wolf, what do we do? We... we've been locked inside the Supreme Treasure Black Prison Tower," the Lord of Mo Hu exclaimed, distressed.

"The Black Prison Tower? Ah, the Black Prison Tower?" The Lord of Heavenly Wolves looked around. The spatial fluctuations were completely isolated from the outside world. Teleportation? Divine Kingdom transmission? There was no chance of escape.

"I... I don't have a clone," the Lord of Heavenly Wolves cried out in agitation.

It was over!

This was truly a nightmare. Forget the two of them; even the strongest beings in the universe would have no chance of escape once confined within a 'Supreme Treasure Palace.' If they had clones, it would be one thing. But neither the Lord of Heavenly Wolves nor the Lord of Mo Hu held high status among the Universe Masters of the Demon Race, and neither possessed a clone.

Had they possessed clones, their status would naturally be different.

Even if suppressed into a Supreme Treasure Palace, those with clones could immediately self-detonate! While this would mean forfeiting precious treasures and artifacts, it would at least save their lives!

"Wait," the Lord of Heavenly Wolves managed to roar. "We wait for an opportunity. Dream Demon Ancestor is still outside; we still have a chance. Believe that Shock Demon Ancestor will arrive soon as well. When that happens, as long as we take this Black Prison Tower back from the Humans, we can get out."

"Yes, yes." The Lord of Mo Hu could think of no other solution; this was the only path. "Dream Demon Ancestor, Shock Demon Ancestor—they will surely save us!"

"No!"

"Damn it!"

As the Universe Masters of the Demon Race roared in fury, and the Dream Demon Ancestor, speeding towards them at ultra-high velocity, screamed in anger, their hostile counterparts—'the Humans'—were naturally overjoyed. Lord Peng Gong, Lord of Darkness, Luo Feng, along with a large contingent of Universe Masters, all smiled, feeling an immense sense of relief and happiness.

"The primary objective has been achieved! We have eliminated one Universe Master and captured two, and those captured are none other than the Lord of Heavenly Wolves and the Lord of Mo Hu—beings without clones. They have absolutely no way to escape," Lord Peng Gong sounded ecstatic in the virtual universe.

"Over such a long age, it is rare to see a Universe Master perish. Today, the Demon Race has lost three at our hands in one go. When the news spreads, those minor factions whose strength is far inferior to the Demon Race... will naturally be terrified. If we can inflict such losses on the Demon Race while their strongest, like Dream Demon Ancestor, are present, then dealing with minor factions, wiping them out in one sweep, becomes trivially easy!"

"Agreed."

"The primary objective is met. Now, just kill and capture as much as possible. The more we kill, the more we capture, the better the effect."

Luo Feng, Peng Gong, and Darkness were all excited.

With the Black Prison Tower, the Yan Jun Rod, and Luo Feng's own treasures, the Human Race now possessed three sixth-tier Universe Masters. Although they suffered a disadvantage in mobility, overall, when facing the Demon Race forces alone, they held a distinct advantage. However, Luo Feng and the others were acutely aware...

The inheritance of the Duandong River lineage!

It was destined to attract forces from all sides. The Human Race would face more than just the Demon Race; thus, the pressure on humanity was immense. A single Dream Demon Ancestor was already terrifying. If three came? Five Universe's Strongest Beings? Perhaps a coordinated sweep could even lead to the suppression and sealing of Lord Peng Gong himself.

"Regardless of the final outcome of this war," Luo Feng mused silently, "from the very beginning, we must exert our utmost effort. This battle against the Demon Race... is only the first engagement, a battle of deterrence. We must perform optimally to make the other major powers hesitate to act, to keep them all thinking of being the oriole waiting behind the mantis."

If humanity appeared weak? Other major powers would fear humanity being swiftly defeated and forced to submit, worried that if they delayed, there would be no benefit left, and instead, they would all surge forward.

But if humanity displayed terrifying strength?

Those factions would be unwilling to pay too great a price, and secondly, they would not worry that the Demon Race, Mechanical Race, or Bug Race could completely defeat humanity in a short time. Naturally, they would watch from the sidelines. As long as the Human Race was given a breath of respite... then anything was possible! After all, regarding the transition from Universe Master to Universe's Strongest, Luo Feng had explained this to every Universe Master.

Perhaps, at a crucial moment, Lord of Darkness, Lord Peng Gong, or City Lord of Chaos would have a breakthrough.

Once a breakthrough occurred.

The Human Race's chances would increase exponentially.

"If I could break through to the Universe Master level, the situation would also be vastly different," Luo Feng thought secretly. "Currently, only my Earthling true body and my Golden Horned Beast clone possess supreme combat power."

"But once I break through to Universe Master..."

"My Demon Kill Race clone and my Nether Ocean clone... will all possess sixth-tier combat strength."

"At that time, the situation for our Human Race will greatly improve."

Peak sixth-tier.

In the Original Universe, this represented the absolute limit of combat power! Reaching peak sixth-tier was extremely difficult, generally requiring a peak fifth-tier Universe Master combined with a Supreme Treasure. The Human Race only had three peak fifth-tier Universe Masters (Darkness, Peng Gong, Chaos). Therefore, even if they acquired two or three more Supreme Treasures and gave them to beings like Lord Ice Peak or Lord Dragon Walk, they could not exert the might of peak sixth-tier. Just like when Luo Feng's law comprehension was lacking, even possessing the Star Tower, he could only utilize a small fraction of its true power.

The Strong and the Supreme Treasure—both are indispensable! Only then could sixth-tier combat power be formed.

Luo Feng was different; having created the Nirvana Rebirth, a secret technique at the Universe's Strongest level, he could achieve peak sixth-tier combat strength even without a Supreme Treasure!

"Dream Demon Ancestor is killing its way here."

"Old fellow."

The Human Race faction noticed the Dream Demon Ancestor approaching with terrifying speed.

"I will stop him," Luo Feng stated immediately. "Peng Gong, Darkness, you continue to deal with that group of Demon Race Universe Masters. Strive to capture a few more."

"Good."

"Good." Peng Gong and Darkness had witnessed Luo Feng's previous strength and were filled with confidence in him.

Hmph~~

The silver four wings behind Luo Feng suddenly expanded, vast and majestic, seeming to shroud half the starry sky. He floated suspended in the cosmos, grasping the Blood Shadow Saber, watching the ultra-high-speed assault of the Dream Demon Ancestor, who appeared crazed, letting out sharp, angry roars: "Luo Feng!!!"

"Go!" Luo Feng willed it.

Boom!

A massive Tomb Boat materialized out of thin air in the mid-air. The Tomb Boat directly collided with the decelerating Dream Demon Ancestor. Because the Tomb Boat had just been deployed, its internal mechanisms were only just engaging, so it was violently pushed back slightly. Luo Feng instantly waved his hand and recalled the vessel.

"Damn Human!" The Dream Demon Ancestor, after the collision, continued to charge maniacally toward Luo Feng; it was too enraged.

"Hwah!" The Dream Demon Ancestor's snake head violently opened its maw.

Whoosh!

A cyan phantom sliced across the void, heading toward Luo Feng.

"Hoo!" The Blood Shadow Saber in Luo Feng's hand swung out instantly, forming an extremely fine blade light that rapidly thickened, directly forming a massive black miniature universe that enveloped the cyan phantom. Then, the miniature universe cracked open... A thin flash of light vanished, and the cyan phantom swiftly flew back into the Dream Demon Ancestor's mouth.

In that single exchange, the Dream Demon Ancestor focused intently on Luo Feng.

"What formidable saber skills, a Supreme Treasure?" The Dream Demon Ancestor pondered how to counter Luo Feng. It discovered that Luo Feng's blade light possessed terrifying penetrative power! If the might of the Yan Jun Rod lay in the concept of 'Weight,' then Luo Feng's strike embodied 'Sharpness'—it was overwhelmingly keen!

Luo Feng spread his silver four wings behind him, facing the Dream Demon Ancestor.

Peak sixth-tier. This was indeed the limit achievable within the Original Universe.

"As I execute 'Nirvana Rebirth,' I already faintly sense a blockage," Luo Feng thought secretly. "I didn't expect that this so-called peak sixth-tier restriction applies not only to the Universe's Strongest but also to Universe Venerables and Universe Masters."

Before this, there had never been a sixth-tier Universe Master in the entire Original Universe.

Even if Supreme Treasures existed, they were always held by the Universe's Strongest Beings!

Now, Luo Feng, Darkness, and Peng Gong were all at the sixth-tier level, and all three felt that layer of obstruction.

"That makes sense."

"This peak sixth-tier restriction is imposed by the will of the Original Universe to suppress the Universe's Strongest Beings, preventing them from engaging in wanton slaughter," Luo Feng mused privately. "But it shouldn't be so restrictive as to make them weaker than Universe Masters! Therefore, even Universe Masters can only exert at most peak sixth-tier strength."

There had been many rumors before, but they lacked factual basis.

Luo Feng, Darkness, and Peng Gong reaching peak sixth-tier allowed them to clearly feel the inability to break through, as an immensely powerful resistance met them the moment they neared the limit.

"Truly, peak sixth-tier is the theoretical limit for a Universe Master," Luo Feng concluded. "The Original Universe's action in doing this is not inherently wrong. But I... am different from them; I've actually suffered a disadvantage."

Through successive cycles of reincarnation ages...

Luo Feng, this unique existence, emerged because he obtained the inheritance of the Duandong River lineage!

Because of this, he possessed the Blood Shadow Saber! This saber allowed his power to manifest at an even higher level!

The 'Duan Mie' created by the Third Generation Ancestor, once unleashed, could also elevate his strength further!

So, if there were no restrictions, Luo Feng, fighting with all his might and using 'Duan Mie,' could truly achieve seventh-tier combat power (the strength of the most common Universe's Strongest in the Sea of Chaos). If he reached the Universe Master level... he could achieve eighth-tier combat strength!

Unfortunately, while the Original Universe suppresses the Universe's Strongest, it does not suppress them to the point of being weaker than Universe Masters.

After all, the Dream Demon Ancestor, in the Sea of Chaos, possessed nearly eighth-tier combat strength. In the Original Universe, it was restricted to peak sixth-tier combat power.

"Human, you detestable fellow! If we were in the Sea of Chaos, you would stand no chance against me!" the Dream Demon Ancestor roared.

Luo Feng held the Blood Shadow Saber and sneered, "That's what the Illusionary True Demon God once told the Dual-Faced Ancestor God. But alas, this is the Original Universe!" Just as Luo Feng and the Dream Demon Ancestor had exchanged their first blows, a terrifying power suddenly erupted from the group of Demon Race Universe Masters being besieged in the distance. A monstrous beast with a serrated shell slowly crawled out from the Palace-level Supreme Treasure beside the Demon Race's 'Lord of Forbidden Annihilation.'

"Shock Demon Ancestor!" The Demon Race Universe Masters immediately shouted out in excitement.