After all, what Luo Fan said was the truth.
And the truth was often the most hurtful.
These Universe Masters had all been drawn in by Luo Fan's million clones.
They had forgotten that Luo Fan's most terrifying aspect lay in his cultivation time.
In just a single epoch, he had already reached the level of a Universe Master.
And now, how many epochs had it even been?
Even within the Universe Sea, there were not many Universe Masters stronger than him.
If his clones were taken into account, there was no Universe Master in the Universe Sea who could be his opponent.
Even the strongest beings in the universe would not casually take action against Luo Fan.
After all, if so many clones attacked together, even the strongest beings in the universe would not come out unscathed.
Because of this, during this period of time, basically no one took the initiative to provoke Luo Fan.
Hearing Luo Fan's words, quite a few people looked at him with faint killing intent in their eyes.
Just based on the talent Luo Fan had displayed so far, it could be said to be the strongest.
Even the former leader of the human race had not possessed such strength at this age.
Those few Universe Masters from the Primal Universe were the ones who understood Luo Fan best.
Especially several Universe Masters from the three great races.
These individuals all possessed clone techniques.
The ones who had entered here were merely their clones.
A Universe Master from the mechanical race said coldly,
"Back then, our three races once attempted to assassinate Luo Fan."
"Because he was very likely to become the next supreme existence!"
At that time, the reason the three races used a supreme treasure to hire the Illusion True Demon God to assassinate Luo Fan at the Ancestral God Sect was precisely because they believed Luo Fan might become an existence like that former leader.
Even if it was only a possibility, they would not allow it.
That was why they had hired the Illusion True Demon God to carry out the assassination.
Although in the end, the Illusion True Demon God ended up imprisoned alongside that former leader,
the three races still did not give up.
When Luo Fan had just entered the Universe Sea, they had tried to assassinate him again.
But in the end, they still failed.
The result was that the Master of Nianjian was still being suppressed within the small universe of the Giant Axe.
Because of this, the demon race agreed to the human race that for one million epochs, they would no longer actively target them as before.
Later, after learning that Luo Fan possessed a million clones, both the mechanical race and the insect race abandoned the idea of assassinating him.
It was simply too difficult.
A million clones!
As long as even one clone remained alive, he could not truly die.
At most, he would only lose some supreme treasures and a portion of divine power.
Unless an overwhelmingly powerful soul attack was used to instantly kill him before he self-destructed,
only then could all of his clones be completely eliminated.
Of course, that was the thinking of outsiders.
In reality, even that would not completely kill Luo Fan.
At most, it would destroy the space worm clone along with all the other clones.
With Luo Fan's current willpower at the level of the strongest beings in the universe, it was extremely difficult to annihilate his soul before he could self-destruct.
Even if his clones did not carry soul-type supreme treasures, it would still require an eighth-tier or even ninth-tier soul attack.
And even then, success was not guaranteed.
Once it failed, what awaited would be retaliation from countless clones.
Even the strongest beings in the universe could not ignore the combined assault of so many clones.
Moreover, within the Universe Sea, there were very few who could unleash eighth-tier or ninth-tier soul attacks.
Especially ninth-tier soul attacks, there were almost none who could use them.
This was also why the experts of the Universe Sea feared that former leader so deeply.
Soul attacks were simply too terrifying, not to mention ones at the tenth tier.
Even the soul masters of the Universe Sea knew that Luo Fan's will had recently broken through to the level of the strongest beings in the universe.
After all, within the black-patterned stone pillars, when his clones entered regions with over five thousand times time flow, many forces had witnessed it.
Because of this, even fewer people dared to provoke Luo Fan.
But now, things were different.
This was about the inheritance of an ancient civilization.
As long as one could obtain this inheritance, it would almost guarantee the rise of their race.
Especially for the forces within the Primal Universe.
After obtaining it, a large number of Universe Masters could appear.
It was even possible for multiple strongest beings in the universe to emerge.
Just look at the Divine Eye Race.
The inheritance they obtained was nothing compared to this ancient civilization inheritance.
If this inheritance could be obtained, it was even possible for more than ten strongest beings in the universe to appear within a single race!
And there was even a chance to establish a Sacred Land Universe.
The hope of transcending reincarnation.
This was something everyone coveted.
If it truly came down to talent, very few were confident they could surpass Luo Fan.
Even the strongest beings in the universe were the same.
They had all risen from weakness.
These experts all understood how difficult it was to grow from weakness to the level of a Universe Master, and how much time it required.
In a single epoch, some had not even broken through to the Immortal being level.
But Luo Fan had reached the Universe Master level in just one epoch.
Thinking of this, the surrounding Universe Masters looked at Luo Fan with increasingly hostile gazes.
"Kill the human Hunyuan Master!"
In the next moment, several Universe Masters from the First Reincarnation Era directly charged at Luo Fan.
After all, once this reincarnation era ended, they would cease to exist.
So what if they offended Luo Fan?
As long as they could obtain the ancient civilization inheritance, why fear him?
Just as their attacks were about to land on Luo Fan—
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Several beams of extreme light shot out, and the Universe Masters who had attempted to attack Luo Fan instantly fell.
The middle-aged man looked at everyone and said indifferently,
"Killing is forbidden within the General's Residence."
"This time is only a warning. Destroying these individuals' clones and stripping them of their qualification to participate in the assessment."
"Next time, even clones will not save you."
"You can try and see whether I can annihilate even your true bodies."
Hearing this, everyone felt a chill in their hearts.
What had just happened was too terrifying.
It had to be known that the Universe Masters who acted just now were all fifth-tier Universe Masters.
Only the supreme treasures remained scattered across the ground.
Among them were even several peak supreme treasures.
Everyone looked at the treasures on the ground with greed and desire in their eyes.
But no one dared to pick them up.
At that moment, several treasures flew toward the middle-aged man.
After landing in his hands, they immediately disappeared.
"Alright, next, we will begin the first round of screening."
As soon as the middle-aged man finished speaking, a spherical machine appeared before everyone.
"Screening? I wonder what the first screening will test."
"It can't be age, right? If so, wouldn't the human Hunyuan Master pass for sure?"
"Maybe it's testing talent or genetic level?"
Everyone looked at the spherical machine in the distance and began discussing.
They were all guessing what the first round would test.
"Alright, one by one, enter."
As he spoke, the spherical machine split open, revealing a space inside.
Everyone exchanged glances, and one Universe Master stepped forward first.
Although the spherical machine did not appear large from the outside,
inside, it seemed to contain an entire world.
As soon as that Universe Master entered, his body began to shrink.
After he entered, the machine slowly closed.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The spherical machine began emitting loud sounds.
Luo Fan could sense intense energy fluctuations and law fluctuations from within.
The surface of the machine, originally black, began to display intricate secret patterns.
These patterns emitted a bright yellow glow.
Everyone stared intently at the machine.
Even these Universe Masters of the Universe Sea felt a bit nervous.
Because none of them knew what the requirements of this screening were.
What kind of person could pass the first round?
Soon, the sphere opened.
The Universe Master inside slowly walked out.
There was a trace of confusion on his face.
At that moment, the middle-aged man spoke.
"You have passed the first round."
Hearing this, the Universe Master immediately showed a hint of joy.
Several nearby Universe Masters quickly surrounded him.
"Congratulations, Master Liunian. May I ask what is tested inside?"
"Master Liunian, congratulations. Could you tell us what's inside?"
"Yes, tell us."
Everyone stared closely at Master Liunian.
Master Liunian was a fifth-tier Universe Master from the First Reincarnation Era.
He did not belong to any major race.
His life imprint was anchored within the small universe of a solitary strongest being from the First Reincarnation Era.
Originally, he was a special stone lifeform.
Later, he developed consciousness and obtained a clone technique.
The one who entered the Eternal Ancient City's General's Residence was just one of his clones.
Because he belonged to a solitary strongest being's small universe, he had few enemies among the various forces.
At this moment, he also looked somewhat puzzled.
"You'll have to see for yourselves when you go in. I don't know what the criteria are either."
At that moment, the middle-aged man spoke indifferently,
"Next."
The Universe Masters around Master Liunian hesitated briefly.
One of them stepped forward first.
The same scene as before repeated.
Soon, as the secret patterns dimmed, that Universe Master walked out.
"Passed. Next!"
Hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up.
Because that Universe Master was from the Second Reincarnation Era.
He only had third-tier strength.
Among the Universe Masters present in the General's Residence, he was one of the weakest.
The one who entered was merely one of his clones.
Seeing that even he could pass, everyone gained confidence.
"I'll go first!"
This time, everyone rushed forward to enter.
A nearby skeleton-race Universe Master entered first.
The others who tried to follow were blocked by an invisible barrier.
It was the same kind of barrier as the one at the entrance earlier.
The middle-aged man said calmly,
"One at a time."
"No need to rush."
Hearing this, everyone had no choice but to comply.
Soon, the skeleton-race Universe Master came out.
His face was full of confidence.
Although he did not know what was being tested, even that third-tier Universe Master had passed.
He himself was a fifth-tier Universe Master, so how could he possibly fail?
At that moment, the middle-aged man spoke.
"You did not pass. Leave on your own."
The skeleton-race Universe Master's expression instantly changed.
"How is that possible?!"
"That third-tier trash passed, so why didn't I?!"
His face was filled with anger.
He felt that the middle-aged man was deliberately targeting him.
The other Universe Masters also changed expressions upon hearing this.
Because many of them were only fourth-tier Universe Masters.
They were weaker than him.
Yet the third-tier one had passed.
No one understood the criteria.
The middle-aged man said calmly,
"Those not of my race cannot pass."
Hearing this, the skeleton-race Universe Master was filled with despair.
Race.
The first round was actually testing race.
If that was the case, then before the real assessment had even begun, their entire race had already been eliminated.
His face was full of despair.
The hope for his race to transcend had vanished.
Something so close, yet forever out of reach.
To gain hope, only to lose it in an instant.
The feeling left him lost.
"Next."
The middle-aged man ignored him and continued.
This time, no one rushed forward.
Because the two who had passed earlier were not of the same race either.
They still did not understand what kind of race could pass.
Seeing this, the middle-aged man randomly pointed at someone.
"You. Go in."
That Universe Master's face darkened.
After hesitating briefly, he still entered.
After all, sooner or later, everyone had to be tested.
If the condition was race, then it could not be changed.
Soon, he came out.
"Passed. Next, you go in."
The middle-aged man pointed again.
The previously selected Universe Master was now full of excitement and relief.
Next, the middle-aged man began selecting individuals one by one.
Some failed, like the skeleton-race Universe Master.
After seeing the failure, another skeleton-race Universe Master tried his luck.
As expected, he also failed.
The remaining skeleton-race Universe Masters, though unwilling, had no choice but to leave the General's Residence.
They planned to try their luck elsewhere in the Eternal Ancient City.
Soon, one Universe Master after another completed the test.
Finally, it was Luo Fan's turn.
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