The Calm Before the War

Mechanical Race territory. “Originally, the plan was for our three races to join forces and capture a group of human Cosmic Overlords in one fell swoop, thereby pressuring the human race… But now, it seems that even if our three races alone could achieve this, the losses would be immense. It appears we’ll have to rely on our vassal races.” “Hmph, vassal races! Without benefits, it’s impossible to make them fight to the death.” “There’s no other way… Vassal races are, after all, inferior to our own. Giving them benefits will keep them within our control in the future. If the legacy were to be further dispersed… allowing races like the Prison Race, Crystal Race, and Starry Sky Behemoths to obtain it, then our race would lose much of its advantage.” “Indeed.” … The Monster Race, Mechanical Race, and Insectoid Race all have vassal races. Just like humanity, which also has vassal races, forming the Hong Alliance! However, at the beginning of the conflict… none of the four peak races utilized their vassal races. This was because deploying vassal races naturally meant deploying the ‘Cosmic Overlords’ among them. And these Cosmic Overlords are not fools; they wouldn’t willingly become cannon fodder. Without conditions, they wouldn’t fight to the death. The Monster Race and the other two races believed that once they obtained the legacy, there would be no need to share it with their vassal races. But one battle… the outcome of that battle made all three races wary, and they immediately began to rally forces as much as possible. “Dream Demon Ancestor, Shocking Demon Ancestor, the results of this battle have spread, and humanity’s strength is formidable… As for us Cosmic Overlords from vassal races, perhaps each race only has one, two, or three Cosmic Overlords. Regardless of who falls, it would be a disaster for their race, so we cannot afford to be anything but cautious. Therefore, we have four conditions.” “Speak,” said Shocking Demon Ancestor. “First, if we participate in the war, we must be allowed to gather together and not be separated.” “Second, if any of us fall, the Monster Race must treat their race kindly, and their racial territory must not be reduced, nor shall external powerhouses interfere with their race’s development.” “Third, after the war, if the Duan Dong River legacy is obtained, we do not ask for much, only for the cultivation experience and information on how to become a Cosmic Ultimate Expert.” “Fourth, if the Monster Race can create a Sacred Land Universe in the future, one-tenth of its space must be reserved for our vassal races.” Clearly, the vassal races had already discussed this. The conditions they proposed were carefully considered, and they dared not ask for too much. For instance, regarding the legacy experience, they only requested the cultivation experience for ‘becoming a Cosmic Ultimate Expert,’ because for them, as long as one Cosmic Ultimate Expert is born, their race would have a true foundation! “Very well! I agree,” Shocking Demon Ancestor replied directly after a brief contemplation. … The Monster Race, Insectoid Race, and Mechanical Race began to offer conditions to win over their vassal races, compelling the Cosmic Overlords of these vassal races to join this terrifying war! … In the human territory, on an ordinary life planet, billions of humans lived in immense prosperity. Technology was advanced, and skyscrapers soared into the heavens. On the rooftop of a skyscraper. Whoosh! A blurry figure gradually condensed and solidified, transforming into a person clad in a magnificent purple robe, with flowing silver hair. Their face was exquisitely handsome, appearing neither male nor female, and their eyes shimmered with starlight, each point seemingly a universe in motion. With a wave of their hand, three figures instantly appeared behind them. One was a rock lifeform as towering as a mountain, another a cute yellow-furred exotic beast, and the third a being whose entire body shimmered like coalesced water. “Island Master,” all three powerhouses called out. “Choose a place and settle down for now.” The purple-robed figure gazed into the distance, their sight piercing through the atmosphere and layers of space-time, observing the immensely vast continent suspended in the cosmic starry sky far away—the Virtual Universe Headquarters. “The Monster Race suffered a loss. Now, the Monster Race, Insectoid Race, and Mechanical Race will undoubtedly exert their full strength, daring not to slack off in the slightest… However, secretly, my friends are probably all unwilling to remain idle, and most have likely entered human territory. Giant Axe is dead, and now the human race’s greatest foundation is—the Initial Universe! The purple-robed figure chuckled, ‘And to travel from the Original Universe to the Initial Universe, one relies on the cosmic passage! This cosmic passage was established when the Original Ancestor was still active. The Original Ancestor is now permanently suppressed… unable to construct new cosmic passages. Thus, the passages connecting the Initial Universe and the Original Universe are incredibly important.’ ” “If the passages were destroyed.” “Then, for the human race to return from the Initial Universe to the Original Universe, they would have to rely on Cosmic Overlords as transporters every time.” “To my knowledge, there are two passages connecting the Initial Universe and the Original Universe: one at the Virtual Universe Headquarters, and another in the Original Secret Realm.” “Based on the level of defense.” “The first major battle will be at the Virtual Universe Headquarters.” “The second major battle, and the final war, will be in the Original Secret Realm,” the purple-robed figure murmured. … Across the entire Original Universe, the nine great super forces combined were not much stronger than the lone Cosmic Ultimate Experts. And this group of lone Cosmic Ultimate Experts, facing this great storm, naturally had their own plans. Clearly, the astonishing outcome of humanity’s first battle had given these lone Cosmic Ultimate Experts much to ponder. … In the human territory, within the Original Secret Realm. Luo Feng, Dark Master, and Peng Gong Master were seated together, drinking wine. “The Monster Race, Insectoid Race, and Mechanical Race are all quiet now!” Dark Master abruptly set down his wine cup, his voice deep. “When the war first began, those three races acted, and we went to battle the Monster Race… Unexpectedly, all three races retreated. Half a month has passed since that retreat, yet there’s still no movement.” Peng Gong Master shook his head and chuckled, “The outcome of our first battle! It put pressure on those three races… With this preparation, the news spread, and all races became aware. Given this, the Insectoid Race, Monster Race, and Mechanical Race naturally no longer need to rush.” Luo Feng nodded, “Indeed. Before, they wanted a quick victory, to sweep through us and achieve success in one go. Now that hope is gone, they are naturally more cautious, unwilling to pave the way for other races.” “Yes, other races!” Dark Master’s brow furrowed. “It’s not just other races, but also those lone Cosmic Ultimate Experts.” Luo Feng also set down his wine cup. “The Original Ancestor informed us that, according to his surveillance… there should now be several Cosmic Ultimate Experts within our human territory. However, none have made a move, likely because they are lone Cosmic Ultimate Experts.” “Lone Cosmic Ultimate Experts!” Peng Gong Master and Dark Master also frowned. They are formidable existences. Only Cosmic Ultimate Experts can force the Virtual Universe’s surveillance to retreat. Through this… information can be easily monitored. In the past, the Original Ancestor was generally too lazy to monitor anything. But now, with the fate of the human race at stake, he naturally monitors constantly, keeping abreast of the movements of all forces across the entire Original Universe. “Fortunately, the outcome of the previous battle has greatly improved our situation. Many forces have now come to pledge allegiance,” Luo Feng said softly. “Indeed.” Peng Gong Master also smiled. “The Piaofeng Alliance and Thorn Ring Alliance are two relatively strong forces. There are also weaker forces… various scattered races, etc. But any race daring to pledge allegiance must at least have Cosmic Overlords. The total number of Cosmic Overlords who have now joined us has reached 92!” “The situation is much better,” Dark Master also nodded. Before the first battle. Even the vassal races of the Hong Alliance itself, their Cosmic Overlords were very cunning and wouldn’t easily fight to the death for humanity. They feared that humanity lacked the strength to resist, and that even if they charged in, it would be suicide! So, before the first battle, the human race simply didn’t invite those vassal race Cosmic Overlords. But now it’s different. The outcome of the first battle gave the vassal races of the Hong Alliance a sense of reassurance; at least there’s still a fighting chance! The Hong Alliance itself, plus the 92 Cosmic Overlords who have pledged allegiance. “Although we are still weaker compared to the approaching allied forces, we now have the strength to contend!” Luo Feng stated solemnly. “According to our estimations, the Monster Race, Mechanical Race, Insectoid Race, Prison Race, and Crystal Race will likely all move against our race.” “In this war, the key lies with the Northern Territory Alliance, Ancestral God Sect, Starry Sky Behemoth Alliance, and the lone Cosmic Ultimate Experts. If any of these forces can stand on humanity’s side… then our chances of victory will increase!” “The leader of the Northern Territory Alliance is a lone Cosmic Ultimate Expert. Without his help, the Northern Territory Alliance probably wouldn’t have the confidence to participate. It mainly depends on the Northern Territory Alliance Leader,” Dark Master mused. “The Ancestral God Sect and Starry Sky Behemoth Alliance… their attitudes are hard to gauge. These two forces have always been relatively detached.” “Detached? Can they remain detached when faced with the temptation of transcending reincarnation?” Peng Gong Master scoffed. “The Ancestral God Sect, while seemingly powerful now with the support of the cosmic origin, will have to leave the Original Universe once this reincarnation era ends! Without the Original Universe’s support, the Ancestral God Sect’s strength will undoubtedly diminish greatly. Don’t the Cosmic Overlords of the Ancestral God Sect, those three Ancestral Gods, have to consider transcending reincarnation? And there’s the Starry Sky Behemoth Alliance; that old Beast God is quite ruthless, we must be vigilant. If they truly intended to help humanity, they should have contacted our race by now, but they haven’t made a single move.” Luo Feng also frowned. Indeed. Thanks to the first battle, some secondary forces and scattered races were willing to take a gamble and stand with humanity. But ultimately, none of the true super forces… not a single one has helped humanity, nor has any Cosmic Ultimate Expert. Humanity’s disadvantage remains significant. … Just as Luo Feng, Dark Master, and Peng Gong Master were discussing. “Hmm?” Luo Feng suddenly flipped his hand, and a token appeared. Dark Master and Peng Gong Master also looked at Luo Feng. “Ah.” Luo Feng showed a hint of joy, looking up at Dark Master and Peng Gong Master. “Dark Master, Peng Gong Master, I have something to attend to. If this matter is handled well, it will be of great help to this war. If anything urgent arises, contact me directly through the Virtual Universe.” “Alright, go,” Dark Master said. “Helpful? Go quickly!” Peng Gong Master urged even more. Luo Feng immediately stood up, joy in his heart. As soon as Giant Axe fell, he had contacted Teacher Zuoshanke. Now, Teacher Zuoshanke had finally arrived in human territory and wished to see him.