In the endless darkness, faint starlight shimmered in the distance.
A plain yet solemn divine hall floated silently within the void. Before it lay an open plaza, and at its center stood a long stone table carved with ancient patterns. At the head of the table, the Great Axe Founder had already taken his seat. Compared to previous gatherings, there was now an additional stone chair placed at his right hand.
Along both sides of the table, towering figures sat in silence. Each presence carried a pressure so vast that even space itself seemed to bow slightly around them.
Swish! Swish!
Two figures appeared almost simultaneously—Primordial Chaos City Lord and Bai Yue.
"Chaos."
"Hun Yuan."
"Chaos has arrived."
Nearly every Universe Lord present greeted Primordial Chaos City Lord first. Within the Human Race, the highest authority had long belonged to the Great Axe Founder and the Origin Ancestor, the latter eternally suppressed by the universe's origin. Primordial Chaos City Lord, who had guarded the Initial Universe for endless ages, already commanded immense respect. Now that he had broken through, that respect had risen to a new height.
Primordial Chaos City Lord took the stone chair beside the Great Axe Founder. Bai Yue seated himself next to Youhou Lord, calmly returning the greetings of the others as he waited.
Swish!
"Darkness?" A surprised voice rang out. "You actually came as well?"
Darkness Master rarely attended such gatherings. Unless it involved the breakthrough of a Universe's Strongest or the birth of a new Universe Lord, he usually remained hidden. His arrival signaled that today's meeting was anything but ordinary.
With his appearance, all the high-level members of the Human Race were now gathered.
The Great Axe Founder rose slowly to his feet. His gaze swept across the plaza, and in an instant, all discussion ceased. Every Universe Lord straightened, expressions solemn.
"We are gathered today for two matters," he said calmly. His eyes shifted briefly toward Bai Yue. "The first concerns the message you all just received from the Virtual Universe. The second concerns the G547 Secret Realm, which is nearing full formation."
"So this meeting wasn't convened solely because of Hong," Bai Yue thought. "It just happened to overlap."
At the same time, he split a thread of consciousness to access information on the G547 Secret Realm through the Virtual Universe Network. With his current authority, such data was no longer restricted.
The Primordial Universe was still in its growth phase. As it expanded, vast empty regions gave birth to new starfields and secret realms. Each emergence triggered fierce contention among the great races. New starfields meant territory and population; new secret realms meant treasures beyond measure.
"First," the Great Axe Founder continued, "regarding Hong clearing the Illusion Sea. Chaos, Hun Yuan—you were present. Explain."
The Universe Lords affiliated with the Virtual Universe exchanged knowing smiles. After a brief pause, Primordial Chaos City Lord spoke.
"Hong and Thunder God originate from the same planet as Hun Yuan. Hun Yuan introduced them to Darkness, who tested them. None of us expected the result."
"And after the trial," Darkness Master added flatly, "I accepted both Hong and Thunder God as my personal disciples."
Immediately, several Universe Lords from the Giant Axe Fighting Arena bristled.
"Darkness, Hun Yuan, that's hardly fair," Lan Cang Lord complained. "Hong is a core member of our Giant Axe Fighting Arena. You took him without even a greeting!"
Lord Xu Jin snorted. "Exactly. He should have been cultivated by us."
"What's unfair about it?" Youhou Lord replied bluntly. "You've had him for thousands of years and achieved nothing remarkable. Hun Yuan simply introduced him to a more suitable path. Isn't that better for the race?"
Laughter rippled through the plaza. Several Universe Lords joined in, clearly enjoying the chance to tease the Giant Axe Fighting Arena.
Great Axe Founder and Primordial Chaos City Lord merely smiled, allowing the discussion to run its course.
"Enough," the Great Axe Founder finally said. "Hong and Thunder God are now Darkness's disciples. Let this matter rest."
Then his gaze sharpened slightly as it fell upon Bai Yue.
"Hun Yuan. Earth has produced you, Luo Feng, Hong, and Thunder God—four extraordinary figures in a single era. That planet is clearly not ordinary."
The gathered Universe Lords nodded. None of them were fools; they all sensed the anomaly.
Bai Yue did not evade the matter. Once again, he explained Earth's uniqueness, including the name that caused several expressions to darken.
"Zuo Shanke…"
Murmurs spread through the plaza.
"What scheme is that old monster planning?"
"First the Yan God Race, now Earth…"
Bai Yue spoke calmly, cutting through the unease.
"There's no need for excessive concern. Zuo Shanke has never harmed the Human Race. So far, his actions have only strengthened us. We can wait and see."
The Great Axe Founder nodded heavily.
"Hun Yuan is right. Even if there is a deeper motive, we now possess the strength to face it. Worrying prematurely gains us nothing."
With those words, the tension eased.
"Earth's uniqueness will eventually be exposed," the Great Axe Founder continued. "Hun Yuan, are you prepared?"
"I will station a clone to guard Earth's galaxy," Bai Yue replied. "No one will be allowed to interfere. The Beast God Dao will also be taught there."
"Good," the Great Axe Founder said. "If you require support, the race will provide it."
Bai Yue shook his head. He needed none.
The discussion then turned to the true focus of the meeting.
"The G547 Secret Realm," Primordial Chaos City Lord said, his voice echoing across the plaza. "It will fully integrate into the Primordial Universe in roughly one thousand years. According to the agreement between the four peak races, newly promoted Universe Lords will lead the joint exploration."
All eyes turned to Bai Yue.
"Originally, Youhou was to lead," the Great Axe Founder said, "but now that Hun Yuan has broken through, this responsibility falls to him."
"It is my duty," Bai Yue answered without hesitation.
"Be cautious," the Great Axe Founder warned. "Given our recent rise, the other races may join forces against you."
Bai Yue's eyes gleamed faintly.
"Even so, the secret realm will belong to us."
Far away, within the void near Earth, a blue planet drifted quietly in the starry sea.
It looked utterly ordinary.
Yet this planet had been reshaped by a Universe's Strongest, a world capable of transforming souls. Its existence alone had prompted a Giant Axe Meeting—an honor few worlds in history had ever received.
Earth had changed immensely. Outside protected historical zones, development was rampant. The population had surpassed forty billion, and Earthlings had spread throughout the Galaxy.
West Lake Manor remained unchanged, as though time itself had passed it by.
Walking across the familiar lawn, Bai Yue felt a rare calm.
Soon, figures gathered outside the manor—Earth's highest authorities. This place was sacred to them: the former home of Bai Yue and not far from Luo Feng's residence.
It was because of these two that Earthlings enjoyed their current status in the Universe.
"Come in," Bai Yue said softly.
The words carried effortlessly to those outside.
Xu Xin led the group forward. Time had forged her into a decisive leader, far removed from the gentle woman of the past.
"Bai Yue…"
"First Speaker…"
He smiled warmly.
"How have you all been?"
Laughter and conversation followed. For a brief moment, the weight of the universe seemed far away.
"Xu Xin," Bai Yue said sincerely, "you've shouldered Earth's burdens for thousands of years. You've worked hard."
"This is nothing compared to what you face out there," she replied softly.
Bai Yue looked toward the endless galaxy.
"From now on, Earthlings no longer need to restrain themselves. We are strong enough."
Xu Xin nodded.
"Understood."