After half a day of excitement, the guests gradually departed. West Lake Manor finally returned to silence.
"Since I've returned to preside over Earth, I should truly act as its guardian," Bai Yue thought.
His figure vanished from the manor.
When he reappeared, he was already standing in the void outside Earth. With a single sweep of his perception, the concealment technique Hu Yanbo had once arranged surfaced clearly in his senses. From Bai Yue's current perspective, the method was crude, riddled with flaws—simple to the point of being almost laughable.
Hu Yanbo had taken a shortcut.
Because of the disparity in spatial ratios between the Original Universe and the Dark Universe, Hu Yanbo had concealed a Dark Universe coordinate region of roughly ninety thousand kilometers. Reflected back into the Original Universe, this translated into a concealed area spanning thousands of light-years—the very mystery Babata had once described.
As long as that concealment technique remained undiscovered, any spacecraft traveling through the Dark Universe would be forcibly diverted to regions outside its coverage. Only those who already knew the precise coordinates—Hu Yanbo, Babata, and their successors—could freely traverse the Dark Universe within that zone.
Without Dark Universe travel, relying solely on sub-light flight to locate Earth across thousands of light-years would require an absurd amount of time. The only exception would be stumbling upon a rare wormhole that happened to connect directly to the Solar System, like Nolan Mountain's reckless expedition in the past.
Looking back, it was precisely this flawed and simplistic technique that had sheltered Earth for countless years, shielding it from interstellar pirates, slave traders, and other predators. Even now, it remained effective.
Spending nearly a full day, Bai Yue thoroughly surveyed the vast region—thousands of light-years across—centered on Earth and later modified by Zuo Shanke.
Earth lay on a branch arm of the Orion Spur within the Milky Way. This arm stretched over twenty thousand light-years, like a brilliant, multicolored ribbon drifting through the galaxy. Earth's position was near the very end of that ribbon.
Once the situation was fully understood, Bai Yue began his true preparations.
Hu Yanbo, who had barely reached the Lord level tens of thousands of years ago, had been capable of arranging a concealment technique on this scale. For Bai Yue, the task was effortless.
But his goal was no longer simple concealment.
He re-sealed the Dark Universe coordinates of the entire region and layered additional secret techniques atop them. Teleportation, God Kingdom transmission, spatial displacement, even certain forms of Space and Time manipulation would all fail once an enemy entered this area—much like the restrictions within the Primitive Mystical Region controlled by the Primordial Chaos City Lord.
With that, Bai Yue immersed himself in the construction of formations and secret techniques.
Silent years flowed past unnoticed.
In the blink of an eye, twelve years had gone by.
Eight hundred light-years from Earth, deep within the void, a vast and magnificent palace complex now floated in silence. Grand halls rose and fell in layered succession, solemn and imposing.
Within the central palace, Bai Yue sat upon a divine throne. Below him stood his soul slaves, lined in orderly ranks. More than a decade of preparation had brought everything into place—concealment, suppression, surveillance, all perfected.
With his divine body now exceeding ninety thousand kilometers in height—far larger than Earth itself—it was impossible for him to reside permanently in West Lake Manor. Thus, he had taken a palace-type treasure from his collection and transformed it into this immense complex as his temporary residence.
The palace was sufficient not only for Bai Yue and his soul slaves, but also for his next objective: overseeing and guiding Human Race powerhouses who pursued the path of fusion laws. That task demanded space—vast space.
The surrounding void was a barren region within the modified zone, sparsely populated by stars. Precisely because of this emptiness, Bai Yue had chosen it.
This was also where he intended to place a continent—one moved directly from his Original Universe—to serve as a future cultivation ground for fusion-law experts and geniuses of the Earth lineage.
That continent was still undergoing reinforcement within his Original Universe, ensuring it would not be damaged by future conflicts.
…
Within the Original Universe, a colossal maple leaf–shaped continent floated quietly.
This was the continent Bai Yue intended to relocate into the Primordial Universe.
Its diameter spanned an astonishing twelve light-years. Thick clouds blanketed its surface, obscuring the land below. Passing through them revealed endless mountain ranges, vast forests, and the distant roars of countless beasts.
Although only a little over ten years had passed in the Primordial Universe, the Original Universe operated under a time acceleration of ten thousandfold. More than a hundred thousand years had elapsed here, giving rise to a flourishing, vibrant ecosystem.
Massive waterways spread across the land like veins within a maple leaf. Viewed from the starry sky, the resemblance was uncanny—natural, balanced, alive.
Yet beauty alone was not enough.
This would be a battlefield as much as a sanctuary.
Before moving it, Bai Yue reforged the continent entirely. Its internal materials were replaced on a fundamental level, and dense law patterns were carved throughout its structure.
Outwardly, it appeared unchanged.
In essence, it had become a terrifying treasure.
It possessed the suppressive force of a palace-type treasure and the spatial-temporal dominance of a domain-type treasure. Its might surpassed that of ordinary top-tier treasures, and in value, it rivaled peak treasures.
Back in the barren starry sky of the Primordial Universe, flames burned beside each of the thirty-six massive pillars within the palace's main hall. Upon the divine throne sat Bai Yue, towering ninety thousand kilometers tall.
"Since the modifications are complete," he said calmly, "it's time."
His figure vanished.
Appearing in the Universe Starry Sky, Bai Yue extended both hands and connected his will to the Original Universe. His consciousness enveloped the maple leaf continent completely.
With a single thought—
Boom!
Without sound or shock, the continent disappeared from the Original Universe, leaving behind endless void. In the Primordial Universe, directly beneath the palace complex, a maple leaf–shaped continent twelve light-years wide materialized.
Under Bai Yue's control, the continent did not disturb nearby celestial orbits, as though it possessed no mass at all. Yet the moment one entered its domain, a terrifying gravitational force became undeniable.
Even the atmosphere itself pressed down with crushing weight.
Only those who had reached the Astral Rank—capable of generating a magnetic field—could fly freely upon its surface.
After observing the continent for a long while and confirming its complete integration into the surrounding starry sky, Bai Yue returned to the palace complex hovering above its center.
This continent bore his title.
Hunyuan Continent.
Immediately afterward, Bai Yue sent a message to the Primordial Chaos City Lord, informing him that all arrangements were complete and requesting personnel support.
At his current level, handling everything alone was impractical. Though he commanded many Undying slaves, they were all of alien races and ill-suited for certain affairs. Assistance from the Human Race was essential.
The reply came swiftly.
A few days later, a large contingent from the Virtual Universe Corporation arrived.
They were led by five Universe Exalts—three of whom walked the Beast God Dao.
Within the main hall, Bai Yue gazed down at the five figures kneeling below.
"Greetings to the great Lord of Hunyuan," they said in unison.
"Teng Lei, Yu Mu, Shi Feng, Huan Ying, Huo Zhi," Bai Yue said evenly. "I'll be relying on you."
"It is our honor to serve," Teng Lei replied, deeply respectful.
"As long as you serve diligently, I will not treat you unfairly."
With a wave of his hand, five streams of light flew forth, stopping before each Exalt. The treasures resonated with their respective attributes.
"Accept them."
"Thank you for the Lord's bestowal!" All five bowed deeply, excitement burning in their eyes.
Each had just been granted an ordinary treasure upon arrival—something that countless Universe Exalts could only dream of.
After assigning duties and dismissing them, operations within the palace complex quickly fell into order.
Soon, God Kingdom passages linking the Primitive Mystical Region, the four other peak powers, and the 1,008 Universe Countries were established. Bai Yue also constructed a fixed passage between this place and his own God Kingdom.
From here, Earth was only a single teleportation away.
His next task followed immediately.
Within the palace complex, a grand hall was remodeled into the Beast God Inheritance Land. Drawing from the Ancestor God Religion's inheritance system, Bai Yue anchored it directly to his Original Universe.
Its effect surpassed even the original—its coverage extending beyond the Beast God Dao, influencing Space and Time laws as well.
"Teng Lei, Huo Zhi, Shi Feng," Bai Yue ordered. "You three follow the Beast God Dao. Enter and test the inheritance."
Moments later, they emerged, faces flushed with excitement.
"It's no different from the Ancestor God Religion's Inheritance Land!" Huo Zhi exclaimed.
Bai Yue smiled faintly.
After the others also completed their trials, Bai Yue nodded in satisfaction.
"Two of you will rotate duty here, guiding future inheritors."
"Understood!"
"When can we receive inheritance again?" Teng Lei asked carefully.
"Once per epoch."
The hall fell silent—then erupted with gratitude.
"Prepare an opening plan," Bai Yue concluded. "Once finalized, this place will be opened to the entire Human Race."