The outskirts of Star Ruins.
Lu Qingshan, who was just outside the Black Butcher Holy Land Universe, returned here in the blink of an eye.
His brow furrowed slightly as he looked toward the depths of the Star Ruins.
"Such a heavy baleful aura. It seems this Star Ruins might really be an ancient battlefield. I just don't know why it ended up in this Universe Ocean dimension."
With the blessing of the Eye of Wisdom, Lu Qingshan's perception seemed to have been given a cheat code. Everything seemed to be transparent to him, whether it was his Law Comprehension, his analysis of biological materials, or his perception of danger.
Deep within those Star Ruins, he sensed a profound sense of crisis; clearly, something there posed a threat to him...
It is something that even a crisis at the level of Void True God might not be able to pose a threat to him.
"Never mind, none of this is relevant to me right now. I should go back and check on things first."
Having not returned for millions of years, Lu Qingshan had no idea what his home in the Star Ruins looked like now.
On the outskirts of the Star Ruins, in a familiar location.
Lu Qingshan's Xue You Clone clone appeared in the Chaos air currents, his gaze falling towards the palace personally built by the Master of Stone Steps. However, when his gaze pierced through the surging Chaos air currents, what he saw was not the majestic silver palace, but a dilapidated ruin.
Broken stone pillars, shattered rocks, and fragments of metal lay scattered in the void, with faint traces of divine power still visible.
Clearly, a fierce battle had taken place here previously.
Lu Qingshan frowned slightly.
He leaped onto the ruins, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings. Clear fluctuations of divine power remained at the broken points. Although the aura had mostly dissipated, Lu Qingshan, relying on his Eye of Wisdom, could still determine when the battle took place—approximately one million years ago.
" Stone Steps..." he murmured.
He turned and flew towards a fragment of a star not far away. There lived a Universe Master from the Second Reincarnation Era, whom he had met a few times.
" Master Xue You?"
When the Universe Master saw Lu Qingshan, the expression on his face changed from surprise to awe.
"Where did the Master of Stone Steps go?" Lu Qingshan asked directly.
The Universe Master hesitated for a moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons, before finally speaking truthfully, "Millions of years after the master left, a Fifth-Order Universe Master from the Demon Race Alliance came here and fought a great battle with the Master of Stone Steps. Although the Master of Stone Steps possessed the Peak Palace Supreme Treasure bestowed upon him by the master, the opponent's strength was too great, and he was ultimately sealed away and taken away. Many powerful figures in the Star Ruins know of this great battle."
Although the Master of Stone Steps was only a newly ascended Level 4 Universe Master, he managed to hold his own against a peak Level 5 Universe Master for a considerable time thanks to his powerful Supreme Treasure. Although he lost that battle, his fame still spread. Of course, everyone knew that after being captured by the Demon Race Alliance, the Master of Stone Steps' fate was likely not good, and he might even have already perished.
After all, the Master of Ten Thousand Demons of the Demon Race Alliance was the first True God born from the Primal Universe, possessing Small Universe. Even if he hid in the Peak Palace Supreme Treasure, once he was brought into the Small Universe, he would naturally not be able to escape.
" The Demon Race Alliance... which Universe Master from their alliance made the move?"
Lu Qingshan raised an eyebrow slightly.
"It's the Master of the Final Nightmare," the Universe Master whispered. "He's Universe Master in the Demon Race Alliance, at the peak of the Level 5, and quite famous in the Universe Ocean."
In a flash, Lu Qingshan quickly learned the information about this Universe Master.
As the natural enemy of the Sea Race Alliance, the Demon Race Alliance naturally has very detailed records of the core powerhouses of the Sea Race Alliance.
"I understand." He nodded slightly, then turned and left.
The Universe Master watched his departing figure and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although Master Xue You did not show any anger, he vaguely sensed that the Master of the Final Nightmare was about to be in trouble.
He shook his head.
"However, this has nothing to do with me. My backing is stronger than that of the Master of Stone Steps. The Demon Race Alliance wouldn't dare to attack me. Besides, Master Xue You has returned, and the Demon Race Alliance is probably too busy taking care of itself!"
Faced with a choice between Master Xue You and the Demon Race Alliance, he would naturally choose to side with his neighbor, Master Xue You.
Several days later, deep Inner Domain the Star Ruins.
In a hazy, gray void, several figures were suspended above a huge fragment of a star.
Leading the group was an Alien Race figure shrouded in black mist. He was tall and slender with a sinister face; he was none other than the Master of the Final Nightmare of the Demon Race Alliance. Beside him were three Universe Master, two from the Second Reincarnation Era and one from the First Reincarnation Era, all of whom were friends he had met in the Universe Ocean.
" Final Nightmare, did you manage to extract anything from the Master of Stone Steps you captured last time?" asked the Universe Master friend from the First Reincarnation Era.
"No, the Master of Stone Steps is both foul and stubborn, so the Master of Ten Thousand Demons can't just kill him directly. He'll slowly work on him until he speaks up."
The Master of the Final Nightmare shook his head and said.
A Universe Master from the Second Reincarnation Era asked with some concern, "I've heard that Master Xue You's strength is unfathomable; even the True God Guyuan perished at his hands. Is the Master of Stone Steps one of his subordinates...?"
"Haha, you don't need to worry about me." The Master of the Final Nightmare waved his hand dismissively. "Our Demon Race Alliance's Universe Master personally witnessed Master Xue You enter the Sunken Moon Pool. Once you enter that place, you can't come out. In countless Reincarnation Era, only two from the Black Butcher Holy Land have managed to emerge. Back then, they were Universe Master, and that's how they managed to escape. Master Xue You is True God... He has no Clone; once he enters, there's no way he can come out."
"But what if..."
"There's no 'what if'," the Master of the Final Nightmare interrupted him. "Logically speaking, you should know better than I what the Sunken Moon Pool is. It's not so easy to get out of there."
The three Universe Master nodded. This is the logic. Countless powerful beings have entered the Sunken Moon Pool throughout countless Reincarnation Era, but how many have truly emerged? Entering it without Clone is practically a certain death.
They were also aware of the Demon Race ' thoughts. Master Xue You was of mysterious origin and possessed countless Supreme Treasure... He might not have taken all the treasures with him when he entered Sunken Moon Pool. The Master of Stone Steps Master Xue You's only subordinate, might know where Master Xue You had placed those treasures.
The Primal Universe was rife with conflict. The Demon Race Alliance held an absolute advantage, but it was unable to annihilate the Sea Race, so it set its sights on the treasures left behind by Master Xue You.
But just then, a calm voice suddenly rang out behind them. "Who said I can't come back?"
The smile on the Master of the Final Nightmare's face froze instantly.
He turned his head sharply and saw a blood-red figure standing in the void not far behind them. The figure wore a blood-red robe and had a calm expression, as if he had just casually greeted someone as he passed by.
"Blood... Master Xue You?!"
The Master of the Final Nightmare's pupils contracted, and his voice began to tremble.
He instinctively tried to activate the Palace Supreme Treasure, but found that his body seemed to be locked by a terrifying force, and he couldn't even move a finger.
The other three Universe Master also changed their expressions, revealing disbelief.
Didn't the Master of the Final Nightmare say that Master Xue You went to the Sunken Moon Pool?
They quickly retreated, indicating that the matter had nothing to do with them. Lu Qingshan naturally had no intention of taking his anger out on anyone else. He looked in the direction of the Master of the Final Nightmare and said coldly, " The Master of Stone Steps is my subordinate. Are you provoking me by sealing him off?"
"I... I didn't know you would come out..." The Master of the Final Nightmare's voice became filled with fear, "I heard you went into the Sunken Moon Pool, I thought..."
"You thought I wouldn't be coming back?" Lu Qingshan smiled.
He raised his hand, his five fingers slightly spread.
A powerful force gripped the Master of the Final Nightmare tightly. The Master of the Final Nightmare struggled desperately, but the force far exceeded his limits, and he was finally caught by Lu Qingshan.
"Take me to the Master of Stone Steps," Lu Qingshan said calmly. "Otherwise, you know the consequences."
" The Master of Stone Steps resides within the Master of Ten Thousand Demons ' Small Universe..." The Master of the Final Nightmare's voice trembled, "I can take you there..."
Lu Qingshan glanced at him, then looked at the three Universe Master beside him who dared not even breathe loudly. "I'm taking him away, do you have any objections?"
"No, no!" The three Universe Master shook their heads in unison, like rattles.
"That's good."
With a wave of his hand, Lu Qingshan caused the figure of the Master of the Final Nightmare to disappear from the spot.
The three Universe Master stood there, exchanging bewildered glances. After a long while, one of them whispered, " Master Xue You... he really came out of the Sunken Moon Pool..." "Only a few million years have passed. How could someone who entered the Sunken Moon Pool come out so quickly? Perhaps the Universe Master of the Demon Race Alliance made a mistake?"
"It's quite possible that another powerful figure impersonated Master Xue You to enter Sunken Moon Pool. Master Xue You must have been in seclusion somewhere all these years."
"That guy, Final Nightmare, is probably finished," another person said, shaking his head. "Hopefully, Master Xue You won't take his anger out on us."
"Probably not... we're just ordinary friends with him?"
"What friend? Do we know the Master of the Final Nightmare?"
The other two Universe Master' eyes lit up, and they immediately said, "Yes, yes, we don't know him at all; we just happened to run into him."
" Master Xue You was able to kill even the True God Guyuan. This Master of the Final Nightmare has offended him, and I'm afraid he has little hope of surviving."
"He deserved it. Who told him to covet someone else's treasure and attack Master Xue You's subordinates?"
"To act without proper investigation only shows one's inexperience..."
"After all, the Primal Universe has only been evolving for a very short time..."
The Universe Master conversed, not daring to linger, and soon headed deeper into the Star Ruins.
... The Universe Ocean, outside a Small Universe near the thin membrane of the Primal Universe.
This Small Universe is extremely rudimentary, with very weak Universe Origin energy, clearly indicating that it has only recently evolved.
Lu Qingshan held the body of the Master of the Final Nightmare with one hand, looking in the direction of the Small Universe.
Not long after.
An avatar dressed in a long black robe, shrouded in an aura of evil, appeared outside the Small Universe.
" Master Xue You... we are truly sorry... our Demon Race is willing to compensate you."
The Master of Ten Thousand Demons clearly knew what had happened, and his attitude was very sincere.
"Hehe..."
Lu Qingshan narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You think an apology can solve the problem? As for compensation... you're a newly ascended True God, you don't even have Supreme Supreme Treasure, what do you think I would want?"
"I know Master Xue You wants the materials for the Innate Beast God."
The Master of Ten Thousand Demons quickly replied, "Oh? You can produce it?"
Lu Qingshan asked.
The Master of Ten Thousand Demons took a deep breath and said, "Now our Demon Race Alliance is about to unify the Primal Universe. After we destroy the Sea Race, we can focus all our efforts on dealing with the Celestial Beast God. At that time, we will kill those Celestial Beast God and hand over all the materials to Master Xue You."
"You're just offering empty promises?" Upon hearing this, Lu Qingshan's gaze darkened, and he coldly said, "Hand over the Master of Stone Steps."
"Please return the Master of the Final Nightmare to our Demon Race first, and I will definitely send the Master of Stone Steps out of the Small Universe safely."
You want to negotiate with me?
Please forgive me, Master.
The Master of the Final Nightmare is the second most powerful Universe Master the Demon Race after the Master of Ten Thousand Demons. He was able to reach the peak of the Level 5 in the early stages of the Primal Universe, and the probability of him breaking through to the True God level is very high. Naturally, the Master of Ten Thousand Demons would not abandon this friend.
He is merely an avatar; his true form resides within the Small Universe, so he is not afraid of Master Xue You turning against him now.
"Fine, your Demon Race Alliance has some backbone."
Lu Qingshan simply flung his hand and threw the Master of the Final Nightmare away.
Having escaped control, the Master of the Final Nightmare hurriedly fled into the Small Universe of the Master of Ten Thousand Demons. The Master of Ten Thousand Demons kept his word and handed over the Master of Stone Steps, who had been tortured to the point of near death.
Now that Master Xue You has already shown up, the Master of Stone Steps is completely meaningless to them. They still have room to maneuver. If they don't hand over the person, they fear that their Demon Race will have nowhere to go in the Universe Ocean.
" Master Xue You, you're back."
The Master of Stone Steps was extremely excited when he saw Lu Qingshan.
"Yes, I'll take you away."
Lu Qingshan glanced at the Master of Stone Steps, then turned and left. Although the Master of Stone Steps was seriously injured, flying in the Universe Ocean was still not a problem, so he quickly followed behind Lu Qingshan.
"Thank goodness, they're gone..."
The Master of Ten Thousand Demons breathed a sigh of relief as he watched the two depart.
However, just as he turned around and looked at his Small Universe, suddenly, a loud bang... a violent explosion resounded within his Small Universe.
Inside a magnificent palace within the Small Universe, everything was in ruins. Not a single trace of the palace remained. The already meager Universe Origin had been greatly depleted and was now repairing the damaged cosmic membrane.
Where the palace once stood, only the Master of Ten Thousand Demons remained. All six of their Demon Race's Universe Master, including the Master of the Final Nightmare who had been brought back, perished in the explosion.
This terrifying explosion originated from the self-destruction of the Master of the Final Nightmare. "How could this be!"
The Master of Ten Thousand Demons was pale with disbelief. Even he, a master of souls True God Level, had absolutely no chance of controlling the Master of the Final Nightmare...