Time flowed on in silence.
In the vast Nebula World, more than sixty years had passed since the Human Race's Great Alliance Venerable army first entered this newly opened secret realm. What had once been an unfamiliar and dangerous world had gradually been mapped, divided, and understood through blood, exploration, and countless cautious advances.
More importantly, the moment everyone had been waiting for was approaching.
According to the deductions jointly verified by multiple Universe Lords, the power of the secret realm wall at the first connecting node was rapidly weakening. At most, only a short period of time remained before it fell to a level that could be forcibly passed through with top-tier palace treasures.
When that happened, the Universe Lords of the Monster Race, Automaton Race, and Insect Race—who had been waiting patiently outside for decades—would inevitably enter the Nebula World in person.
And when Universe Lords entered, the true struggle would begin.
----=
Long before that moment arrived, a decision had already been made within the Human Race.
Based on Bai Yue's proposal and after repeated discussions among the upper echelons of the Human Race, a unified consensus was reached: the Nebula World would be fully occupied.
This was not a reckless declaration driven by greed, but a calculated strategic choice.
The Nebula World was too large, too rich, and too important. Once it fully connected with the Primordial Universe, it would become a long-term resource hub, a breeding ground for treasures, inheritances, and future powerhouses. Allowing the other Three Major Groups to freely compete here would inevitably weaken the Human Race's long-term advantages.
As the proposer and overall coordinator of this plan, Bai Yue naturally bore the greatest responsibility.
Before the fragile balance established by the Four Major Groups' early agreements completely collapsed, he had to personally restrain the Universe Lords of the other three races—preventing them from interfering with the Human Race's operations inside the secret realm.
To Bai Yue, the task itself was not difficult.
The three newly promoted Universe Lords were never truly in his eyes. Even if they joined forces, he was confident that he could suppress them so thoroughly that they would be unable to take even a single step inside the Nebula World.
However, killing them was another matter entirely.
----
Among the Human Race's high-level leaders, there was a rare moment of restraint.
The Human Race was currently in a critical period of explosive growth. Countless Universe Exalts were rapidly improving, and the number of potential Universe Lords was increasing at an unprecedented rate. Starting a full-scale race war at this moment would inevitably divert attention, resources, and time.
More importantly, true race wars were not like skirmishes on the Outside Territory Battlefield.
Once a race war erupted, all powerhouses below the Universe Lord level would be forced into Small Universes immediately. They would not even have the right to participate.
In such wars, Universe Exalts were not decisive forces. No matter how many Universe Exalts fell, as long as the opposing race's Universe Lords remained, Time Reversal could be used to resurrect them.
Victory was determined solely by the outcome at the very top.
Thus, the Human Race chose patience.
Bai Yue would restrain the three Universe Lords—but he would not kill them. He would allow the Universe Exalts of all races to enter the Nebula World and clash freely, letting the younger generation temper themselves in real combat.
Only through pressure could true growth occur.
----
Outside the secret realm node, the void trembled faintly.
Three massive palace-type treasures hovered in silence, each radiating an aura of ancient power and suppression. They belonged respectively to the Monster Race, Automaton Race, and Insect Race.
Inside these treasures, the three Universe Lords had already gathered all the Universe Exalts under their command.
Monitoring instruments continuously analyzed the fluctuations of the node, calculating its remaining resistance.
"The Human Race has been inside for over sixty years," Lord Meng Wan of the Monster Race said coldly from within his stone tower treasure. "They must have taken a tremendous amount already."
His gaze flickered with barely concealed hostility.
"That Lord of Hunyuan is far too dangerous," Lord Bilong of the Insect Race said softly, her voice carrying a trace of lingering fear. "If the three of us don't act together, we'll be suppressed one by one."
"Hmph," Lord Moyuan of the Automaton Race replied in a metallic tone. "Unless the Human Race wants to ignite a race war, Hun Yuan wouldn't dare to kill us. With the palace treasures granted by our races, we can hold on until reinforcements arrive."
After a brief exchange, the three reached a tacit agreement.
They would enter together.
=====
When the secret realm wall weakened to the critical threshold, the three palace treasures surged forward almost simultaneously.
God power poured into their cores like an unending torrent, forcibly driving them through the collapsing resistance of the secret realm wall.
The pressure was immense.
Even with top-tier palace treasures, the passage was anything but easy. It took more than three days of continuous advance before the three treasures finally broke through and emerged inside the Nebula World.
And the moment they did—
"Oh? I've been waiting for you three for a long time."
A calm, almost leisurely voice echoed through the void.
Before they could even stabilize themselves, the three Universe Lords felt a chill run through their consciousnesses.
Time and space—completely sealed.
Teleportation was impossible.
The misty gray Chaos Domain wrapped around their palace treasures like chains forged from the laws themselves. No matter how they struggled, moving even a fraction became agonizingly difficult.
At the bow of the Feiyuan Divine Boat, Bai Yue stood with his hands behind his back, smiling faintly.
"It wasn't easy getting through the secret realm wall, was it?" he said mildly. "Why don't you come have a cup of tea and rest?"
===
"Hun Yuan!" Lord Meng Wan roared, anger flaring. "Don't forget the agreement between our Four Major Groups!"
"Are you trying to provoke a race war?" Lord Bilong's voice sharpened.
Bai Yue merely chuckled.
"When did I break the agreement?" he asked calmly. "I'm just being hospitable. Don't mistake kindness for malice."
The pressure of the Chaos Domain subtly increased, causing all three Universe Lords' expressions to change.
Silence followed.
Privately, god power transmissions flickered between the three.
"He's trying to drag us here."
"Leaving the palace treasures is impossible."
"At least he hasn't attacked the Universe Exalts… yet."
After a brief deliberation, they chose to compromise—temporarily.
"Our Universe Exalts cannot waste time here," Lord Moyuan said stiffly. "Let them enter the secret realm."
"Universe Exalts aren't qualified to drink my tea," Bai Yue replied with a smile. "Do as you please."
----
One by one, small groups of Universe Exalts flew out from the palace treasures, choosing different directions and quickly disappearing into the depths of the Nebula World.
Bai Yue did not stop them.
Seeing this, the three Universe Lords finally relaxed—just a little.
What they did not know was that, from the moment those Universe Exalts left their treasures, they had already stepped into a meticulously prepared hunting ground.
====
Within the hidden layers of space beyond Bai Yue's sealed region, Human Race Universe Exalts were already lying in wait.
"They sent out two first," someone sneered softly.
"Testing Lord of Hunyuan's bottom line."
"The Monster Race sent Hua Kui and Ice Python… interesting."
At the mention of Hua Kui, a cold light flashed in Venerable Gong He's eyes.
"Our feud ends today," he said flatly. "Anyone object?"
Before anyone could respond, his figure vanished.
=====
At the edge of the sealed region, space suddenly trembled.
Buzz—
A powerful spatial seal snapped into place, locking down hundreds of millions of kilometers of void.
Hua Kui and the Ice Python Venerable stopped abruptly, their expressions changing instantly.
"Space seal," Hua Kui growled. "Visitors are not friendly."
Ahead of them, Gong He and another Human Race Venerable emerged, their gazes icy and indifferent.
There was no negotiation.
No hesitation.
"Kill."
====
Knife light erupted like a falling galaxy.
The battle began in an instant.
Hua Kui barely had time to raise his weapon before Gong He's blade tore through his defenses, shattering space itself. His massive divine body was split open, sent hurtling backward amid a storm of collapsing void.
The Ice Python roared, unleashing a devastating soul attack—but it washed over the Human Race Venerables like water against stone.
Treasures flared.
God power burned.
The advantage was overwhelming.
This was not a duel.
It was an execution.