"First Tier—I've regressed to the First Tier, what should I do?" The World Beast Morosa was in agony. He was an extremely ambitious World Beast, standing at the apex even within the World Beast Lair. The only one he feared was the strongest World Beast, 'Beidi'; beyond that, he feared nothing.

Beidi understood perfectly that the only beings who could threaten it were Morosa and a few others who had also reached the Third Tier, so it naturally targeted these Third Tier beasts for pursuit and consumption!

"I've dropped back to the First Tier, and all the immense power I possessed has vanished, forcing me down to the First Tier—though I am at the peak of the First Tier!" World Beast Morosa mused. Although severely wounded by Luo Feng, the residual power remaining from that grave injury still far exceeded the scope of the First Tier. Unable to bear it, it naturally dissipated.

Currently, this beast was at the peak of the First Tier. In the World Beast Lair, this was the absolute bottom rung of strength!

"I still have a chance, one last sliver of opportunity..." World Beast Morosa thought secretly. "Only a very small minority in the Lair reach the Third Tier; most are Second Tier. As for those at the peak of the First Tier? Perhaps there are some, perhaps not. Even if there are, they are likely hiding, merely surviving."

"My strength is very close to the Second Tier."

"And I, Morosa, am a World Beast who once stood at the pinnacle... A mere faint trace of my aura would send them into fear! They don't know I am weakened." World Beast Morosa immediately cycled through numerous scenarios. For instance, two lesser World Beasts engaged in a fatal duel; as one was about to win, the other projected a faint aura from afar, scaring off the victor. Then, the weakened beast would move in to consume the loser.

But even the losing party, in its heavily wounded state, might still be slightly stronger than the current Morosa.

"I must take a gamble."

"I am currently at the peak of the First Tier. If I devour just one Second Tier World Beast, I can immediately ascend to the Second Tier. While it might be impossible to contend for the ultimate kingship... I might gain the potential to threaten the Undying Sea." World Beast Morosa rapidly mapped out a plan. "If I fail, I will quickly leak the secret regarding the origin energy of the Miniature Universe and how it rapidly enhances strength!"

"Galaxy Lord... I will return!" World Beast Morosa directed both of its heads toward the direction of the Original Universe, then vanished in a flicker of instant travel.

After battling World Beast Morosa, Luo Feng also began his return to the Original Universe aboard the Star Tower. After all, he had obtained 'World Beast Blood' from the fight, which naturally needed to be sent back to the Original Universe for 'Endless Nether Sea' to analyze and study. Perhaps this could enable him to take that final step and push his divine body's life gene limit beyond ninety thousand times.

"Sigh!" Luo Feng, clad in white robes, sighed softly while standing within the Star Tower.

Beside him were Hong and Huo Qiong.

The two of them had just witnessed the entire battle. Afterward, Luo Feng had shared some detailed information with them, so they were perfectly clear on the sequence of events.

"This is going to be troublesome," Luo Feng shook his head. "After this fight, news has likely spread among the countless True Gods of the Undying Sea via my Star Tower path. For all races in the Undying Sea, this is a blow they can hardly afford. But this time, I failed to kill the World Beast, which might cause the races of the Undying Sea to collapse."

Hong advised, "Luo Feng, don't worry too much. You've already done excellently. Besides, didn't you say that beast, after being beaten from the Third Tier back to the First Tier, is now extremely weak? And it probably can never recover its strength. Any slightly strong True God could eliminate it."

"My saying it can't recover strength is merely my deduction," Luo Feng countered. "I surmise it must devour other World Beasts to reach the Second Tier, or even the Third. But these are just conjectures! Although that World Beast is easy to kill now, it won't show itself while vulnerable. It will definitely hide and slowly regain its strength, figuring out a way to improve. By the time it reappears, it will certainly be formidable!"

Hong and Huo Qiong both nodded slightly in agreement.

Indeed.

Anyone with a shred of intelligence would do the same: when weak, one must hide.

"Teacher, regardless, at least for the short term, that World Beast won't appear again," Huo Qiong offered.

Luo Feng nodded faintly, then sighed. "Alright, I need to convey this news. I truly don't know... what reaction the numerous True Gods of the Undying Sea will have when they learn of this."

In the Original Universe, within the private dimension reserved for Luo Feng, on the vast plaza before the floating palace.

Over fifty True Gods from the Ancestral God Sect, humanity, the Hong Alliance's alien races, the Star Beast Alliance, and others had already gathered. The True Gods communicated via telepathic whispers, daring not to speak aloud for fear of disturbing Luo Feng, who sat cross-legged in meditation.

"The battle against the World Beast this time involved the Star Tower path. This path is far superior to the Fleet path; they surely killed the World Beast."

"Yes, that World Beast deserved to die."

The True Gods waited, filled with apprehension.

They felt as if they were facing life and death—no, more tense than facing death itself! Because the threat of the World Beasts jeopardized everything they guarded in their hearts... If no one could stop the World Beasts, then transcendence of reincarnation, the protection of their races, their dearest friends—everything would be utterly annihilated.

"The Galaxy Lord is rising."

"Galaxy!"

A sudden wave of murmurs swept the area.

Luo Feng, who had been sitting cross-legged, now stood up. His gaze swept over the assembled True Gods before he spoke slowly, "Esteemed sirs, after this battle, that World Beast will not reappear for some time."

Silence ensued, followed by stunned confusion.

"Galaxy Lord, what does that... what does that mean?"

"Does it mean the World Beast died, and after a while, another will emerge from the Lair? Regardless, as long as we can kill one, we can kill more!"

The True Gods spoke, filled with yearning for at least one beast to be slain, which would give them some measure of confidence.

Luo Feng gestured toward the open air beside him. As his thoughts formed, the scene of the previous battle materialized: "Please watch closely. After watching, you will know everything." The entirety of Luo Feng's battle with the World Beast was displayed, and his 'Vortex World' technique was publicly revealed.

For Luo Feng, now the foremost being in the Undying Sea, revealing this meant no one could possibly harm him.

The dialogue between Luo Feng and the World Beast was omitted. Instead, Luo Feng offered brief explanations on the side.

"It was forced back from the Third Tier to the First Tier, becoming so fragile that no True God needs to fear it; any slightly stronger True God could dispatch it," Luo Feng stated. "Therefore, it won't show itself again anytime soon!"

A profound quiet settled.

After witnessing the entire combat sequence, the True Gods were complex in their emotions. They marveled at Luo Feng's true power, yet were shocked by how terrifying the World Beast's escape mechanism was—an ability akin to a teleportation tunnel that allowed it to vanish instantly, even under spatial lockdown. Although the World Beast seemed to pay a heavy price for using this move, it had survived.

If the enemy is not killed, once it recovers its strength, it will surely return!

"That is the situation."

Luo Feng said no more, then directly entered the palace.

He had said what needed to be said.

He had revealed what needed revealing.

If the True Gods of the Undying Sea descended into despair and some defected to the World Beasts, that would be their own choice.

High above the clouds concealing Earth, a figure sat observing.

"It didn't succeed?" Sitting atop the clouds, Zuo Shan Ke frowned. "The World Beast is this tenacious? This World Beast calamity is even more terrifying than I anticipated. The World Beasts are still growing; the final moment has not arrived. In the future... I wonder if my disciple can truly stop them."

"I invested endless effort..." A flicker of anxiety appeared in Zuo Shan Ke's eyes.

In the Purple Moon Holy Land Universe.

The Purple Moon Ancestor sat upon his throne, deep in silent contemplation. He was awaiting news, waiting for word of the battle between Luo Feng and the World Beast.

"Luo Feng, though I wish you dead,"

"The World Beasts, however, must be dealt with by you! No matter how much you hate me, you must face them—for your humanity, for the lineage of your home, Earth, you must confront this... You must win, you absolutely must win!" The Purple Moon Ancestor chanted silently in his heart. "I have cultivated for endless eras and transcended reincarnation, and now I have gained a great opportunity... I can become even stronger, but my Miniature Universe absolutely cannot be devoured. Once devoured, everything will truly be over."

"And my race..."

"This is my only tether."

Even with his eyes closed, the Purple Moon Ancestor could clearly 'see' every space within the Purple Moon Holy Land Universe. He saw children being born, saw them growing, saw them tempering themselves in fire and blood, or falling... That was his race, the race that nurtured him.

Long, long ago, he too was merely a member of that race, only rising continuously to become the strongest of the entire lineage. Only after establishing the Holy Land Universe was he truly revered as the Ancestor.

"They are my kin."

"And the effort of my endless years, the path I strive for... Everything will end if the World Beasts devour my Miniature Universe and cause it to collapse."

"Luo Feng..."

"I cannot kill you; you are my greatest threat."

"But this time, you must kill the World Beast, you absolutely must!" The Purple Moon Ancestor prayed silently.

Suddenly—

A voice arose from the powerful figures gathered below: "Ancestor, there is news."

The Purple Moon Ancestor snapped his eyes open, looking down. "Did Luo Feng slay the World Beast?"

"No, the World Beast escaped; it wasn't killed," the subordinate replied.

The Purple Moon Ancestor's face drastically changed.

What?

This was merely one World Beast emerging from the Lair, and Luo Feng couldn't even kill it?

"According to the reports, Luo Feng held the absolute advantage, dealing heavy damage to the World Beast. But in the end, the World Beast paid a massive price to use a technique, similar to a teleportation tunnel, and instantly vanished!" the subordinate said respectfully. "Its current strength is likely no match for any True God."

"Nonsense!" The Purple Moon Ancestor snapped, his face livid. "If the World Beast were weak, would it let you see it? That beast will hide to recover its strength!"

"A World Beast, a single World Beast is this difficult to handle."

"And who knows how many more are in that Lair!"

"This Luo Feng, truly useless," the Purple Moon Ancestor ground out, his heart wracked with pain and terror.

—(To be continued)