Deep within an impossibly remote and dangerous region, floating suspended amidst endless currents of cosmic energy, a solitary palace radiated a faint azure glow.
Inside this palace, servants moved with practiced efficiency, every single one of them at the level of Universe Venerable, yet serving as mere attendants.
"Hmm?" On the throne within one of the palace's main halls, a towering old man over 90,000 kilometers tall sat listening to his servants' respectful reports. Suddenly, his expression shifted slightly, and he turned his gaze toward a certain direction, seemingly peering through endless space and time directly at the Star Tower itself.
"The Star Tower's most basic recognition as master has lasted so long... that Earth youth actually persisted."
"Haha..." A deep rumble of satisfaction echoed through the vast chamber.
"After billions of years of waiting, the most outstanding being has finally been born from the Earthling lineage."
"However..." The towering old man hesitated, his ancient eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
"Whose work is this peak bloodline appearing on Earth?" he murmured to himself.
The events on Earth were truly beyond his control. Although the Earth lineage he'd created still existed on that small planet and had even developed far better than before, the current leader of the Earth lineage was no longer from his original bloodline!
However, his third disciple must become the leader of the Earth lineage!
The imposing old man suddenly stood, his massive frame radiating barely contained power.
Swoosh!
He vanished into thin air.
Luo Feng slept for over nine years!
He hadn't dreamed in a very long time. Now Luo Feng lay in the main hall of the Star Tower, a slight smile playing across his lips, as if experiencing something profoundly joyful in his dreams.
His eyes slowly opened.
"Child..." A warm and comforting voice, identical to the voice that had spoken from within the black metal plate all those years ago, made Luo Feng immediately sit up and turn his head.
Two figures stood before him.
One was the familiar Universe Master 'Puti,' who now sat discreetly to one side, his aura completely restrained. At the very center of the hall stood a colossal figure over 900 meters tall, clad in seemingly ordinary blue armor, with transparent horns on his forehead, looking down at Luo Feng with an unreadable expression.
An endless aura enveloped the entire hall.
Under this overwhelming presence, Luo Feng felt as comfortable as an ordinary human basking under the sun, experiencing no pressure whatsoever. He instantly realized this wasn't oppressive force, but rather the natural life aura emanating from this super being. This presence alone... surpassed Puti, and even surpassed the Primal Chaos City Leader...
"The fundamental laws of the universe... I can't sense them anymore!" Luo Feng's eyes widened in shock.
"How is this possible?"
"How can I not sense the laws?"
Powerful cultivators advanced precisely because they could sense the fundamental laws of the universe. The clearer one's perception, the faster one's cultivation. But neither his Earthling true body, nor the Demon Slayer Clan avatar, nor even the Golden Horned Beast avatar within his inner world could sense the operation of the universe's fundamental laws. It was as if...
The life aura of this super being before him permeated the entire area, causing even the fundamental laws of the universe itself to retreat.
"Is this the power of the strongest beings in the universe?" Luo Feng stared at the towering old man over 900 meters tall, his heart trembling. "Even the fundamental laws of the universe cannot manifest in his presence? No wonder he could create the terrifying secret technique 'Nine Tribulations Secret Manual,' which violates the laws of the universe's operation. It's just too... too..."
Words failed him.
"Congratulations! From this moment on, you are the leader of the Earth lineage, qualified to be among the super-strongest beings in the universe!" The towering old man's voice boomed, penetrating deep into Luo Feng's heart.
Beside him, Universe Master 'Puti' smiled at Luo Feng, genuinely happy for him. "Third Junior Brother, congratulations."
"Earth's leader?"
Luo Feng was genuinely puzzled.
The current leader of Earth should be Han Jue!
Luo Feng was already quite satisfied with his current position. Han Jue didn't concern himself with the minutiae of the Luo family's affairs, and Luo Feng didn't need to worry about Earth's future development, those matters were handled by others. He and the other powerful individuals only needed to focus on becoming stronger and advancing their cultivation!
"The two clans I guided and nurtured are destined to have leaders, and the disciples I accept will certainly be leaders of their respective clans," the imposing elder said, his tone allowing no argument. "If you perish on your path to becoming a super-strong individual, I will select another candidate from Earth's lineage to receive the life-and-death inheritance again, and find another third disciple."
The imposing elder's gaze was unwavering. "A leader doesn't necessarily span only one generation. You will be the leader of Earth this generation, and hopefully, you will remain the leader forever."
"Why?" Luo Feng couldn't help but exclaim.
"I know you have many questions, but Han Jue is a variable," the imposing elder shook his head slowly. "I can't see through his future. He possesses an extremely special bloodline, the Six-Eyed Bloodline. Although he also has the soul of an Earthling, I won't consider him the leader of the Earth lineage."
There were too many mysteries surrounding Han Jue.
Even Han Jue himself didn't understand why such a miraculous thing as the Six-Eyed Bloodline existed, let alone Sitting Mountain Guest.
Sitting Mountain Guest was deeply worried. Was Han Jue the work of the Primal Universe Consciousness? Or perhaps the handiwork of other God Kings from the Origin Continent, such as the three God Kings of the Food Kingdom?
Even he could reincarnate in the Universe Ocean and the Primal Universe, other God Kings might possess similar capabilities.
Therefore, Sitting Mountain Guest couldn't gamble his hopes for revenge on Han Jue. Luo Feng had now passed the Star Tower's recognition, giving Sitting Mountain Guest renewed confidence. Next, as long as he properly nurtured Luo Feng, there was still hope!
"Han Jue, a variable?" Luo Feng murmured, his thoughts racing.
Sitting Mountain Guest's words carried a hint of discord-sowing, but Luo Feng knew in his heart who was more trustworthy.
Even if one argued that Sitting Mountain Guest was the guide of the Earth lineage, arguably the 'creator' of the Earth lineage itself, and that without Sitting Mountain Guest there would be no Earth lineage at all...
But,
Without Han Jue, when the Golden Horned Beast appeared and the Nuolan Mountain family descended, Earth might have already been destroyed!
It was true that Sitting Mountain Guest created Earth's special lineage, but he had never truly cared for it. Over countless eras, Earth had undergone more than ten mass extinctions and reorganizations. Both in the Origin Star Era and the Mountain and Sea Realm Era, successors had been born.
Sitting Mountain Guest only valued those who could accept the Star Tower's inheritance.
Luo Feng understood this perfectly well.
Observing Luo Feng's expression and recognizing that the youth didn't completely trust him, Sitting Mountain Guest sighed inwardly.
What exactly is this variable?
Will it affect my plans?
"Disciple Luo Feng, you haven't called me 'Teacher' yet," Sitting Mountain Guest said, looking down at Luo Feng expectantly.
Luo Feng hesitated slightly, but still respectfully knelt down and called out with genuine emotion, "Teacher!"
All of this was observed by Sitting Mountain Guest, though he didn't point out the subtle reluctance.
"Alright."
"You are my disciple, and I, as your teacher, will naturally fulfill my duty." Sitting Mountain Guest's voice boomed as he looked down at Luo Feng. "I have three habits when teaching my disciples. First, I like to prepare resources that can be described as the most superior in the universe for them. Second, I will not personally teach any secret techniques. Third, whether you live or die, I will not interfere, much less reverse time to resurrect you after your death."