After the rewards Shihua Island Master had received were announced, the entire Primal Universe fell briefly silent.
Two Supreme Treasures, along with the Divine Power Burning Technique—Shihua Island Master's strength had reached a level that left others in despair.
Yet even more breathtaking was the fact that he was only third!
Just how terrifying were the two ranked above him?
For a time, countless eyes fixed intently on the Sky Screen, waiting for the rankings to update again.
At last.
On the enormous ranking list spanning the starry sky, words slowly appeared.
[TOP 2: Founder Giant Axe.]
"What?!"
"Founder Giant Axe!"
"Giant Axe of the Human Race!"
The entire Primal Universe erupted!
Virtual Universe, the Human Race's highest council chamber.
The moment they saw Founder Giant Axe's name appear in second place, the entire hall fell into deathly silence.
Then—
"Hahaha!"
"I knew it! I knew it!"
Desolate Mirror Lord was the first to leap to his feet, his eyes shining with excitement. "Giant Axe, I knew your strength would put you near the top! Second place! You're second!"
"Good! Good! Good!"
Even City Lord of Chaos, usually so composed, couldn't help repeating the word three times. His eyes had even reddened slightly.
He had waited so long for this day!
Ever since Original Ancestor was suppressed, Giant Axe had carried the entire Human Race alone.
For countless eras, Giant Axe had walked on thin ice, never daring to make a mistake.
Without a Supreme Treasure, whenever he encountered the strongest beings of the Alien Races in the Universe Ocean, he could only swallow his pride and refrain from unleashing his full strength.
City Lord of Chaos had seen it all.
But now, at last!
The Sky Screen had acknowledged Giant Axe's strength!
The second-strongest being of the Third Reincarnation Era in the Primal Universe!
"Giant Axe..." Darkness Master's hoarse voice rang out. His eyes, hidden in the darkness, gleamed with excitement. "You deserve this ranking."
"Second place!" Dragon Walk Master swayed his massive tail, his voice brimming with delight. "Let's see who dares look down on the Human Race now!"
Peng Gong Lord, Ice Peak Master, Void Gold Master...
Every Human Race Universe Master present was so excited they could barely contain themselves.
The oppression of countless eras was utterly released in this moment!
Founder Giant Axe himself stared blankly at his name on the rankings.
His fists clenched, and a relieved smile appeared on his rugged face.
"Second place..."
He murmured softly, his voice trembling slightly.
Not because he was afraid, but because it had been so long.
Far, far too long.
So long that he had almost forgotten how powerful he was.
"Original Ancestor, did you see that?"
Founder Giant Axe looked up, as though his gaze could pierce the Virtual Universe and reach the white-robed figure suppressed in the deepest reaches of the universe.
"I haven't let you down."
In the deepest reaches of the universe, in a land of chaos.
Original Ancestor sat silently, dressed in white robes. An invisible force suppressed and sealed him, leaving him unable to move.
Yet now, a smile of relief appeared on his face.
"Giant Axe... well done."
Original Ancestor spoke softly, his eyes full of pride.
Back when he had guided Giant Axe, he'd known that beneath the man's rugged appearance lay an unwavering heart devoted to the Dao. His talent and insight were astonishing, too.
After Original Ancestor was suppressed, Giant Axe had carried the entire Human Race by himself.
For countless eras, Original Ancestor had watched everything Giant Axe did.
He knew how much Giant Axe had suffered, and how hard things had been for him.
But now, everything was different.
"Second place... You're not far behind where I was back then."
Original Ancestor chuckled. "And judging by the Sky Screen's rules, the reward for second place must be beyond imagination. With those rewards, Giant Axe will truly stand at the peak of the Primal Universe. When that happens..."
His gaze turned toward the distance, as if he could already see the Human Race's glorious future.
"I'll be able to rest easy."
Earth, in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Luo Feng, who had just finished cultivating, looked up at the enormous ranking list in the starry sky.
"Founder Giant Axe... the strongest being in the universe from the Human Race!"
Luo Feng clenched his fists, his eyes filled with excitement and longing.
He was only a minor member of the Virtual Universe Company, but he wasn't entirely ignorant of the Human Race's situation.
His teacher, King Zhen Yan, had sighed countless times that if the Human Race could produce another strongest being in the universe, life wouldn't be so difficult.
As the Human Race's only strongest being in the universe, Founder Giant Axe had always been Luo Feng's idol and the goal he strove toward!
"Second place! The second-strongest being of the Third Reincarnation Era in the Primal Universe!"
Luo Feng trembled with excitement. "So the Human Race is this powerful!"
At that moment, a powerful sense of pride welled up in Luo Feng's heart.
It was the pride of being a member of the Human Race!
At the same time, a seed of ambition took root in his heart, quietly sprouting and growing.
"One day, I'll be on this list too!"
While the Human Race was overcome with joy, the other factions in the Primal Universe were plunged into shock and fear.
Demon Ancestor Secret Realm.
"Giant Axe... It's actually Giant Axe!"
Dream Demon Ancestor's enormous silver serpent body suddenly reared upright, disbelief filling his scarlet eyes.
"How is this possible! How could he be second!"
Tremor Demon Ancestor could no longer remain calm. A flicker of dread passed through the eyes beneath his serrated shell.
They had fought Giant Axe in the Universe Ocean.
Back then, Giant Axe had been reasonably strong, but without a Supreme Treasure, he could only fight them to a draw—or even be at a slight disadvantage.
So they had never taken him too seriously.
They had thought the Human Race was nothing special, relying entirely on the foundation Original Ancestor had left behind.
But now, the Sky Screen was telling them—
Giant Axe's true combat strength ranked second in the entire Third Reincarnation Era!
Stronger than True Void Demon God!
Stronger than Shihua Island Master!
Stronger than the Zerg Queen, Starry Sky Progenitor, and even the Beast Ancestor!
"Peak Eighth Order++..."
Tremor Demon Ancestor murmured, his eyes filled with bitterness.
His secret technique was only ordinary Eighth Order, while Dream Demon Ancestor was only Peak Seventh Order.
And Giant Axe was Peak Eighth Order++!
It meant the secret technique Giant Axe had created had reached the Eighth Order limit, and he was only one step away from breaking through to the Ninth Order!
The difference was simply despairing!
"Zhen Jiao..." Dream Demon Ancestor's voice trembled slightly. "With Giant Axe's secret technique so powerful, what if he also gets the Divine Power Burning Technique..."
Before he could finish, Tremor Demon Ancestor's expression changed completely.
If Giant Axe obtained the Divine Power Burning Technique and combined it with a Supreme Treasure...
His combat strength would break through the Ninth Order and reach the Tenth Order!
Or even higher!
With strength like that, he could crush the entire Universe Ocean!
"It's over..."
Inside the hall, Sky Wolf Master and the other Demon Race Universe Masters were all ashen-faced.
Just moments ago, they had been discussing how to expand their territory and deal with the Human Race.
Looking back now, it was practically a joke!
Zerg Territory.
The breathtakingly beautiful Zerg Queen furrowed her brows, a trace of apprehension in her eyes.
"Giant Axe... second place..."
She murmured softly, her voice tinged with bitterness.
As the Zerg Race's only strongest being, she had always thought that even if she wasn't the strongest, she would at least rank among the top five.
Instead, she was only seventh.
And Giant Axe, who had always kept a low profile, was actually second!
"The Human Race really knew how to hide its strength..."
The Zerg Queen sighed, a trace of worry in her eyes.
Although she had obtained the Eternal Pearl and brought her Soul Attack to the Ninth Order, she still had no confidence against an opponent like Giant Axe.
After all, how could someone capable of creating a Peak Eighth Order++ secret technique have a weak will?
And a powerful will was the best defense against Soul Attacks!
"Looks like we'll have to reconsider our plans to deal with the Human Race..."
Before you continue