When the Purple Moon was grinding its teeth in fury, within the ‘East Emperor Holy Land Universe’—the other great holy land of the Sea of Universe—the East Emperor Ancestor remained remarkably calm.
Across the boundless lands.
The East Emperor Ancestor walked alone, observing the clansmen living upon the earth.
“Unexpectedly, Luo Feng couldn't even kill that Jie Beast this time,” the East Emperor Ancestor murmured softly. “This was merely one Jie Beast emerging from the Jie Beast Lair; it shouldn't be the strongest. If even this one is so difficult to slay… what about more Jie Beasts? When the Jie Beast Kings eventually arise…”
“Still, I cannot ask for too much.”
“I was never the most talented, yet I advanced step by step to become a True God, reaching the Void level… Purple Moon’s fortune was better than mine, yet his miniature universe is inferior to mine.” The East Emperor Ancestor shook his head and smiled faintly.
Recalling the numerous events throughout his long years of growth, the East Emperor Ancestor couldn't help but break into a smile.
“Facing the Jie Beasts…”
“I cannot stop them! I can only pin my hopes on Luo Feng, just as the Origin Will pins its hopes on Luo Feng.” The East Emperor Ancestor chuckled lightly. “If Luo Feng wins, I still have a chance… If he loses, then so be it; birth implies death. Who can flourish eternally? Even the powerful nations of ancient civilizations face a day of ruin.”
“Luo Feng…” the East Emperor Ancestor silently wished.
…
The East Emperor Ancestor, having lived for countless epochs, was the most tranquil, whereas the comparatively short-lived Purple Moon Ancestor was restless and anxious. As for the various races across the Sea of Universe… facing this apocalyptic disaster, their reactions varied wildly.
The True God Universe of the Divine Eye Race.
The five True Gods of the Divine Eye Race were gathered here.
“Teacher, we must consider the clan, we must consider the future.” While the five of them were anxious over the news that the Jie Beasts were hard to kill, a Universe Master, from the group that had been listening quietly nearby, finally spoke up.
Shen Yan True God and the other four True Gods all turned their heads to look.
“Mo Long, what do you mean?” Shen Yan True God frowned. Mo Long was a newly promoted Universe Master who had gained considerable benefit from tempering himself in the World of Jin.
Mo Long Master, who also bore a monocle-like phantom behind him, spoke anxiously, “Teacher. We are of the First Reincarnation Era. Once this reincarnation era ends, if we haven't transcended reincarnation… then we will be annihilated forever!”
Silence fell over those present.
The crisis of annihilation was, in fact, hanging over all races of the First Reincarnation Era.
“Even if we fight and win against the Jie Beasts, so what?” Mo Long Master fretted. “Won’t we still ultimately need to strive to transcend reincarnation? Time is running out for our Divine Eye Race! Since the Jie Beasts are currently so troublesome… perhaps we should learn from King Zhenjia, learn from Ancestor God Qiu Yan!”
“Silence!”
“Mo Long, what are you saying!” Shen Yan True God and two other True Gods roared simultaneously.
Mo Long Master tried to interject, “Teacher—”
“Silence,” Shen Yan True God commanded coldly.
“Shen Yan,” the Third True God beside him said slowly, “Mo Long does have a point.”
Shen Yan True God couldn't help but turn angrily toward the Third True God, but the Third True God also held a high status within the clan; he couldn't easily silence him either.
“Can we truly fight the Jie Beasts?” the Third True God questioned. “They are beings representing destruction, entities even the Origin Will of the Primal Universe fears. Even the World of Jin was created… precisely to seek a sliver of life. The Origin Will has been relaying messages through the three Ancestor Gods—Luo Feng is the strongest in the Sea of Universe. Why is the Origin Will like this? Because the Origin Will knows… relying on us, we simply cannot stop the Jie Beasts. We can only rely on Luo Fang. Luo Feng is currently a Universe Master, meaning he absolutely surpasses any of us True Gods. If he becomes a True God, there is hope for success.”
Shen Yan True God looked at him. “You say Mo Long has a point, and you also say that River-Bound holds hope…”
“But that is if he becomes a True God,” the Third True God countered. “He hasn't broken through yet, and no one knows when he will! He couldn't even kill a single Jie Beast. Can he really manage this crisis? Even if he becomes a True God, it’s only hope. To the Jie Beasts, the threat is Luo Feng, not us. Furthermore, the Jie Beasts have never attacked the miniature universes of King Zhenjia or Ancestor God Qiu Yan.”
Shen Yan True God continued listening.
“If we submit to the Jie Beasts! Then, the Jie Beasts will not attack us… and within our miniature universes, forces like Luo Feng won’t be able to touch us either. The Origin Will of the Primal Universe? It can only act by borrowing the power of other experts. King Zhenjia and Ancestor God Qiu Yan—aren’t they still living well to this day? As long as we don't act foolishly like Star Master Haolei and provoke Luo Feng, we won't perish,” the Third True God reasoned. “We should ignore the Jie Beast crisis, focus on our cultivation, and seize the remaining time to strive for transcendence from reincarnation. Once we transcend reincarnation, that is permanent victory!”
“Whatever sacrifices we make now, whatever allegiance we pledge… it is all worthwhile for the future transcendence. If we can't transcend reincarnation, then any brutal fighting against the Jie Beasts is just a joke,” the Third True God concluded.
Shen Yan True God surveyed those around him.
Silence reigned.
Many of the Universe Masters present shared the same thoughts as Mo Long, while just as many felt they should fight the Jie Beasts. Shen Yan True God looked at each face, and then at the other four True Gods. From their expressions, he understood their intentions.
There were opposers, and there were approvers.
“Although I don't think submitting to the Jie Beasts is appropriate,” the Sixth True God said in a low voice, “what Third Brother said does hold some truth.”
“Shen Yan, you decide.”
“We listen to you.”
Shen Yan True God frowned, his face contorted in agonizing indecision. He waved his hand, “All of you leave. Let me think this over properly.”
…
“The Jie Beasts are simply too powerful; killing them truly is too difficult! If the Jie Beasts really are willing to spare us, then we have no need to become their enemies.”
“The real fear is whether the Jie Beasts will accept us. After all, Jie Beasts also need to devour the source of miniature universes… accepting one means one source of a miniature universe they cannot consume.”
“If we submit, they might not accept us. If I possessed the strength of the River-Bound Lord, and I willingly submitted, the Jie Beasts would certainly be thrilled to accept.”
…
“River-Bound Lord, you must succeed.” True God Mohua stood within his own miniature universe, gazing toward his kinsmen in the distance, praying inwardly.
…
“No wonder the Origin Will trusts the River-Bound Lord. The current Jie Beasts are unstoppable by anyone, and only the River-Bound Lord might succeed.” The True Gods of the Monster Race gathered in the Primal Universe. As beings of the Primal Universe, they dared not submit to the Jie Beasts.
It was evident.
The Primal Universe and the Jie Beasts were inherently adversarial factions.
To pledge allegiance to the Jie Beasts meant opposing the Primal Universe. They could at least survive for two more reincarnation eras; they had no desire to be branded enemies of the Primal Universe!
…
Restlessness spread across the Sea of Universe.
After all, the races of the Sea of Universe held no inherent enmity with the ‘Jie Beasts’ themselves. If the Jie Beasts were genuinely willing to accept them and refrain from attack… knowing the slim chances of defeating the Jie Beasts, many races naturally entertained the thought of submission.
But the races from the Primal Universe era held numerous reservations.
Far away in the Ancestor God Palace.
The three Ancestor Gods had also received messages transmitted by the Origin Will.
“Jie Beasts… servants…”
“Difficult…”
“Disaster…”
Message after message arrived. After a long while, the three Ancestor Gods opened their eyes.
“Undoubtedly, many races are currently considering submission to the Jie Beasts,” the Youth Ancestor God scoffed, shaking his head. “But how would those foolish ones know… that becoming a servant of the Jie Beasts is merely the beginning of true disaster!”
The Aged Ancestor God beside him remarked, “The Origin Will is asking us to disseminate this information precisely so these True Gods won't regret it later. Regardless, the races from the other two reincarnation eras in the Sea of Universe are also children nurtured by the Primal Universe.”
“There’s actually no need to worry too much,” the Dual-Faced Ancestor God stated calmly. “The Origin Will has already informed us that becoming a servant to the Jie Beasts is not easy. After all, the Jie Beasts will eventually come to devour the source of miniature universes one by one. If a submitting True God lacks sufficient strength and is useless to the Jie Beasts, why would the Jie Beasts accept them and forgo devouring a miniature universe source?”
To seek submission would be difficult.
If submitted, regret would surely follow—and it would be a catastrophe.
…
The three Ancestor Gods immediately began spreading the message. Their Ancestor God Cult also had a cohort of True Gods, making it easy to broadcast the news throughout the entire Sea of Universe. Once the message spread, it instantly shocked many races that had been wavering. Although they suspected this might be the Origin Will trying to deceive them, a seed of apprehension was planted in their hearts.
They would not gamble easily!
“The Origin Will is far too impatient,” Seat Mountain Guest remarked, sitting on the outer wall of his Universe Boat, holding a communication token. He shook his head. “Whether those True Gods live or die has no bearing on the grand scheme. When the great catastrophe truly descends, and the Jie Beasts truly reveal their terrifying nature… these True Gods will naturally understand. This is a genuine, massive calamity, and trying to hide from it is impossible!”
“It’s just uncertain… when exactly my disciple will break through to become a True God.”
Seat Mountain Guest showed worry on his face. “Although that Jie Beast has temporarily vanished, once it starts, the influx will be endless. What follows will be increasingly brutal. If Luo Feng still hasn't become a True God…”
…
Messages from the outside world streamed in one after another. Luo Feng was aware of every external change, yet he remained calm.
He had never considered submitting to the Jie Beasts.
Because from the traces he found in the World of Jin, no nation had ever submitted to the Jie Beasts. It was clear that submitting to the Jie Beasts would truly be a disaster, just as the Origin Will had conveyed.
“I’ve returned.”
Luo Feng stood within the Star Tower, looking outward. He could already see the boundless membrane wall of the Primal Universe in the distance; the chaotic energy flows could no longer obscure his vision.
This was the first time Luo Feng had returned to the Primal Universe using the Star Tower after the appearance of the Jie Beasts. This was necessary because he had to transport the ‘Jie Beast Blood’ to the Boundless Nether Sea so that the Boundless Nether Sea could utilize its talent ‘Creation’ to research and meticulously comprehend the life structure diagram.
“I hope that with this aid, I can break through in one fell swoop and become a True God,” Luo Feng hoped.