Guardian

Only one of the two could be chosen!

Luo Feng's eyes instantly hardened: "I have no choice!"

For everything he guarded in his heart, even sacrificing his life would be worth it, let alone just his miniature universe. Even if his miniature universe was destroyed, it would only mean he could no longer advance.

***

In the Virtual Universe, within the floating divine palace, all the True Gods of the Original Universe gathered.

The Cosmic Ocean map, suspended high above, displayed everything.

Jiuyou True Master, Starry Sky Ancestor, Shi Hua Island Master, and other True Gods all stared at the dense points of light on the map, each filled with worry.

"The Beast Horde is divided into two parts?"

The True Gods worried.

The white-robed Luo Feng, seated above, did not conceal anything. Facing a life-or-death crisis, there was no point in hiding: "Everyone, the Beast Horde is currently divided into two parts. Four hundred and fifty thousand Beast Horde members are encircling my miniature universe, ready to approach and devour it at any moment. The other four hundred and fifty thousand Beast Horde members are in the distant region where the miniature universes of the First Reincarnation Era once were. They are pairing off, fighting, and devouring each other. The victors continue to pair off and fight... If this continues, incredibly terrifying Beast Horde members will evolve from those four hundred and fifty thousand. Once they reach the Sixth Tier, even I will have no hope."

A Sixth-Tier Beast Horde member can create countless avatars.

No matter how strong he was, he could only kill one. Under the restrictions of invisible rules, Moluosa would also be forced out to fight and be killed by that Sixth-Tier Beast Horde member. Once that Sixth-Tier Beast Horde member became a king, it would directly breed a vast number of warriors. Those warriors would be even more terrifying than the Sixth-Tier Beast Horde member, and their mighty army would absolutely sweep away everything.

"Pairing off to fight?"

"If this continues, super Beast Horde members will evolve very quickly."

"Only Lord Yinhe has hope of disrupting all this, but if Lord Yinhe goes there, the four hundred and fifty thousand Beast Horde members surrounding his miniature universe will immediately devour his miniature universe."

The True Gods below transmitted messages and discussed anxiously.

For a time, no one had a solution. This was a dilemma. The Beast Horde members were inherently arrogant; each one aspired to become a king. Yet, this current method of pairing off was not truly fair. For example, a Second-Tier Beast Horde member would typically fight other Second-Tier Beast Horde members to continuously grow. But now, if forced to pair off, it would have to fight a Third-Tier Beast Horde member. Even knowing it was a suicide mission, it would have to go.

Furthermore, the four hundred and fifty thousand Beast Horde members responsible for besieging Luo Feng had a lower chance of producing a Sixth-Tier one.

Therefore, this distribution was not fair.

If there wasn't enough threat, the Beast Horde members would absolutely not use this method to determine the final king! But Luo Feng was too terrifying... forcing each of them to obey and choose this cruel elimination by combat.

Though cruel, it was effective. It immediately plunged Luo Feng and the various races of the Cosmic Ocean into despair.

***

Luo Feng looked down, as the True Gods below discussed amongst themselves.

"Luo Feng," Chaos City Lord, seated beside Luo Feng, transmitted. "Their thoughts don't need to be asked; they all hope you will go and fight... even though it will lead to the destruction of your miniature universe. But whether your miniature universe is destroyed or not, the other races simply don't care. They just dare not say it, fearing they might anger you."

Luo Feng nodded, understanding this point.

"I have no choice," Luo Feng transmitted to his teacher.

Chaos City Lord sighed softly. Indeed, there was no choice.

"Everyone," Luo Feng said, looking down.

All the numerous True Gods below looked up, listening attentively.

"Surviving the Beast Horde catastrophe is paramount... I will immediately head to the First Reincarnation Era region and do my utmost to counter the Beast Horde threat," Luo Feng stated.

"Teacher."

"Yinhe."

"Luo Feng!"

Immediately, human True Gods cried out. True God Huo Qiong and Hong were even more anxious. If Luo Feng chose to depart, given the size of his miniature universe, it would be incredibly difficult for other True Gods to help guard it. It was almost certainly destined to be devoured by the Beast Horde, which would cut off Luo Feng's future, preventing him from ever advancing further.

"No need to persuade me," Luo Feng said. "My miniature universe is large enough; perhaps it can hold out longer."

"But that's four hundred and fifty thousand Beast Horde members," True God Huo Qiong said anxiously.

Luo Feng shook his head: "I have no choice!"

The human True Gods who had intended to persuade him fell silent. Even the True Gods of the Monster Race, Insectoid Race, and other races, who couldn't help but feel a hint of schadenfreude, suddenly felt their hearts sink. Indeed, there was no choice. Even Lord Yinhe had no choice. Their own races were even more tragic; they could only hope Lord Yinhe succeeded, otherwise, they were destined for annihilation.

"This time, my departure is not without absolute certainty," Luo Feng shook his head. "Among the four hundred and fifty thousand Beast Horde members in the First Reincarnation Era region, many have already died in their mutual slaughter. They are scattered individually. Only when pairing off to fight will the two closest Beast Horde members battle each other. This means that even if I want to kill them, I cannot resolve the situation on a large scale..."

The True Gods below felt their hearts sink once more.

"I will go all out against the Beast Horde. As for protecting your respective miniature universes," Luo Feng said, "that will be up to you. I cannot be distracted."

A profound silence fell.

The True Gods exchanged glances. Although they were unwilling to accept it in their hearts, they understood that if even Luo Feng couldn't protect his own miniature universe, it would be even harder for them to preserve theirs.

"Lord Yinhe, go. If you disregard the safety of your own miniature universe, what does it matter if we lose ours?"

"Indeed, our chances of transcending reincarnation are already negligibly low. Having a miniature universe or not makes no significant difference."

"Lord Yinhe, don't be distracted by us."

"In this Beast Horde catastrophe, we cannot contribute, so naturally, we cannot affect you, Lord Yinhe."

The True Gods of various races understood the gravity of the situation at this moment. Eradicating the Beast Horde was the top priority. As for everything else? Everything could be sacrificed! Even if they were unwilling to sacrifice, if the Beast Horde army truly besieged them, how could their miniature universes resist? They had to accept all this, while simultaneously hoping... that Luo Feng would succeed.

This was a true catastrophe!

Under the catastrophe, to survive was victory.

***

As the True Gods of various races discussed animatedly, Zuoshanke, seated in the furthest corner, silently watched it all, a faint smile playing on his lips: "Truly my disciple. One cannot discern his struggle or hesitation! He sees his true nature, directly pointing to his original heart... Even after becoming the Cosmic Ocean's foremost expert, his heart remains so clear, unblemished by dust."

Zuoshanke knew very well.

When one rises step by step from weakness, perhaps one can achieve seeing their true nature and pointing directly to their original heart, cutting off all temptations. But when one becomes the strongest existence... at that time, one can naturally demand more, possess more, and a person's heart will become increasingly greedy, wanting even more. At this point, it becomes difficult to maintain a clear original heart.

"Luo Feng," Zuoshanke transmitted.

Luo Feng, seated at the very top, couldn't help but look towards Zuoshanke.

"Teacher," Luo Feng transmitted back.

"You should depart and confront the Beast Horde threat. As for your miniature universe... you need not worry," Zuoshanke said. "I will immediately go to your miniature universe and temporarily reside within it. I possess a treasure that, with my utmost effort, should be able to protect your miniature universe from being devoured."

"What?" Luo Feng, seated above, was startled. Chaos City Lord, beside him, also sensed a change in Luo Feng's demeanor and couldn't help but glance at him.

"Teacher," Luo Feng asked, utterly shocked. "You said you can protect my miniature universe?"

"Mm," Zuoshanke continued transmitting, "Yes."

"Then what about your own miniature universe, Teacher?" Luo Feng pressed.

"I can only protect one," Zuoshanke replied directly. The implication was that when Zuoshanke entered Luo Feng's miniature universe to fully assist Luo Feng, he would be unable to spare any attention to protect his own miniature universe.

Luo Feng grew anxious: "Teacher, if your own miniature universe is devoured, then my miniature universe..."

"No need to say more," Zuoshanke said. "Even if I transcend reincarnation, it's of little use. Your survival is more important! I've expended endless effort cultivating you. You are even stronger and more promising than I imagined. How can your future be so easily cut short... wouldn't that make my endless years of anticipation come to naught?"

Luo Feng was stunned.

Indeed.

He could bear his own future being cut off. But had he considered Zuoshanke? If he, as Zuoshanke's disciple, could no longer advance, it would indeed make Zuoshanke's hopes come to naught.

"Don't overthink it," Zuoshanke said. "It doesn't matter if I don't become a Void-level being; your transcendence of reincarnation is what's most important. In the future, you will naturally learn all the secrets, and then you will understand why your teacher did this. Go, and wholeheartedly deal with the Beast Horde. Your miniature universe, your teacher... will protect it even unto death."

Luo Feng, seated on his lofty throne, glanced at Zuoshanke in the distant corner, then closed his eyes.

His heart trembled.

Perhaps Zuoshanke wanted to use him, or perhaps he had some other plan.

Yet, for billions of eras, throughout his journey of growth, Zuoshanke had never asked him for anything, but had always been helping him! Even now, Zuoshanke was still helping him... This immense kindness, one could even say his help far surpassed that of Zhenyan and Chaos.

It was only because he had always felt Zuoshanke had some plan that there was a barrier in his heart.

But no matter what, Zuoshanke had always been helping him, even willing to abandon his own miniature universe to help him!

"Teacher," Luo Feng silently vowed in his heart, "Once the Beast Horde catastrophe passes, and everything I guard is safe, I, Luo Feng, will repay your great kindness even if it costs me my life!"

***

Whoosh!

At the infinitely vast membrane wall of the Original Universe, a figure directly pierced through the membrane and flew out. He wore silver armor, and behind him were five pairs of wings.

"Beast Horde?" A fierce glint flashed in Luo Feng's eyes, and then he vanished directly into the endless chaotic currents.

***

As Luo Feng departed the Original Universe, outside the 'Cosmic Passage Gate' leading from the Milky Way Holy Land to Luo Feng's miniature universe, Zuoshanke, who had been sitting cross-legged on a mountain peak, drifted over. His eyes held a calm serenity, devoid of any joy or sorrow. The guards, who had long received their orders, naturally dared not obstruct him, allowing Zuoshanke to fly directly into the cosmic passage.