Brat, I...

"Lord Light Ancestor, aren't you..."

The one who spoke was a rugged-looking female Universe Master.

The reason she was described as rugged was not meant as a slight, but rather as a literal observation.

With her hair disheveled and her body draped in animal skins, if not for the prominent curves of her chest, who would have guessed that the person before them was actually a woman?

Of course, after stepping into the Immortal realm, gender effectively loses its meaning; only upon reaching the True God realm, where divine power fully unifies, can one regain a distinct gender identity.

(Note: A personal setting added by the author, feel free to criticize if you don't like it!!!)

"If I had not 'died,' would you all still be willing to fight to the death for the human race today?" Noah said with a slow smile. "If Original Ancestor hadn't taken that risk, would you, the princess of the human race, still be willing to take that next step?"

That's right, this rugged woman before them was none other than the direct descendant of Original Ancestor, and the only relative he still had alive after endless eons.

"This..."

"Child, your talent has never been inferior to your senior brothers, but now...

I have advised you more than once, but Original Ancestor's doting on you has seeped into his very bones.

Likewise, his doting on the human race has also seeped into his bones, so! I had to 'die' once!"

As Noah spoke, a flash of ruthlessness crossed his eyes.

As a founder revered alongside Original Ancestor as the forefather of humanity, he was no soft-hearted saint.

For the sake of the race, he did not care about the innocent lives lost during a major upheaval.

Of course, all of this was predicated on his strength being sufficient to settle everything, and he happened to possess exactly that ability.

"I understand!"

Upon hearing this, the woman's expression quickly turned desolate.

Every person present knew this fact, but...

"Then, why have you appeared now..."

Chaos City Lord spoke, his tone filled with doubt, though he had always held no objections to the arrangements made by Noah and Original Ancestor.

Otherwise, he would not have refrained from dissuading Original Ancestor when he was executing his own plan.

"I simply feel that the time is ripe."

Noah stood in the highest hall of the Virtual Universe, his gaze sweeping over the more than forty human Universe Masters present.

These forty-plus powerhouses represented the foundation accumulated by the human race over three hundred epochs; they were the pillars cultivated by the hands of Original Ancestor and Noah.

"Teacher, are you finally going to..." A flash of excitement crossed Peak's eyes.

"Yes, and no!" Noah said slowly. "My appearance today is not to personally step in and resolve the crisis.

On the contrary, I intend to turn this crisis into a litmus test for the human race."

"What?" Chaos City Lord's expression shifted. "Light Ancestor, the Monster Race, Bug Race, and Machine Race have joined forces, and the Prison Race is lurking on the sidelines. If we do not respond with our full strength, humanity will face the danger of extinction!"

"Chaos, do you truly believe the human race is in danger of extinction right now?" Noah countered.

Chaos City Lord was stunned, then fell into deep thought.

It is no exaggeration to say that, based on the current strength of the human race, they are effectively a formidable power even within the Universe Sea.

Others might not be aware, but as the de facto helmsman of the human race, he was well aware of the many arrangements made by Noah and Original Ancestor.

An extinction crisis?

For them, as long as they wished, they could resolve this seemingly turbulent crisis in an instant, but...

The human race has been stable for too long, and for a race—especially one that hopes to transcend the cycle of reincarnation—that is never a good thing.

"It is not!" Chaos City Lord said in a low voice.

"So, why would I need to expose myself?" Noah said with a smile. "Remaining behind the scenes allows those fellows to underestimate us.

Besides, there are some things not suited for someone as radiant as me to handle, but it is much more convenient for a lone traveler!"

Upon hearing this, the reactions of the others were not obvious, but a look of astonishment clearly flashed across Peak's face.

He knew exactly what Noah was talking about.

Noah's method of creating clones was something his disciples had almost all studied, though most had made little progress.

Currently, only Tiga, Belial, Hikari, and Tregear—who was still at the level of a Universe Overlord—had achieved any real results.

Among them, only Tiga possessed three clones in addition to his true body; the others had at most two.

"Are you planning to..."

"That's right, and that is the purpose of summoning you all today. From now on, I will appear in the universe under my other identity."

As soon as Noah said this, Chaos City Lord immediately caught on.

But he also knew that some secrets could not be spoken aloud, so he simply nodded in silence, putting on a look of feigned profundity.

"I understand!"

Chaos City Lord was the first to speak.

Noah looked at him, and after confirming the look in his eyes, he nodded with satisfaction.

"Since that is the case, let us disperse!" Noah said, "Peak, Woz, Chaos, Giant Axe, Peng Gong! The five of you, stay behind!"

"Yes!"

Soon, only the figures of the six remained in the entire grand hall.

"Peak, do you know why I have asked the five of you to stay behind?" Noah asked.

"I do!"

Peak did not hesitate in the slightest and spoke directly.

"It is good that you know!" Noah nodded in satisfaction, "This time, it is not just a test for the entire human race, but also a test for you administrators, especially you, Giant Axe!"

"Me?!" Giant Axe pointed at his own nose in disbelief.

"Not just you, but also you two, Woz and Peng Gong!"

"Ah? Teacher/Senior Noah, how am I involved in this?"

The two of them also spoke in disbelief.

"As the first-tier existences among the Universe Masters of the human race, you few have truly disappointed me!"

Noah did not offer an explanation, but instead launched into a harsh scolding.

"Let us start with you, Peng Gong. Although you call me senior, in terms of the time you have existed, you are far more ancient than I am by countless years.

Yet now... your strength has instead become the weakest among these few.

Sometimes, you do not need to be so concerned with the development of the faction, but rather, you should put your heart into cultivation."

"This... what Light Ancestor says is true! But I..."

"There are no 'buts.' Is it not just a lack of opportunity to break through? I will give it to you!"

As Noah spoke, a mysterious rune appeared in his hand, but it dissipated in an instant.

"It seems that the current Primal Universe still does not allow these things to be passed down directly!"

Seeing this scene, Noah understood in his heart.

"Peak, you will bring them to see me. Some things cannot be transmitted through the Virtual Universe!"

"Yes!"

"Very well, Peng Gong, you head toward the direction of the Land of Light in the Primal Universe first, and Peak will bring you to see me!"

"Understood!"

The figure of Peng Gong Master dissipated instantly.

Noah then turned his displeased gaze toward his disciple, Woz.

"You brat, I..."