"The little bugs from the Monster Race, Insect Race, and Automaton Race have already entered the Star Palace. It seems I should give them a taste of sweetness!" Inside the Star Palace Main Hall, Qin Hao opened his eyes, a playful smile on his lips.
Qin Hao had always kept an eye on the actions of the three races. The area where the Star Palace was located was completely under Qin Hao's control, and not a single anomaly within it could escape his perception.
Even if Qin Hao didn't pay constant attention, everything in the Star Palace would automatically be relayed back to Qin Hao through the Zhou Tian Star Array. The Zhou Tian Star Array was like a self-operating heaven and earth, a system; as long as Qin Hao wished to understand or change anything within it, everything could be instantly overturned, transforming in the blink of an eye.
Qin Hao did not deliberately stop the alien races who entered the Star Palace, nor did he intentionally relax his vigilance; instead, he let everything unfold and act on its own.
Under such natural circumstances, Qin Hao wanted the Monster Race, Insect Race, and Automaton Race to understand something, or for something to be revealed, which would appear even more natural.
Qin Hao did not harbor specific malice or hatred towards the three races. In the Universe, the sole purpose of any race is to survive. The three races were no different; their targeting of the Human Race was also for more living space.
However, even if he understood the purpose of these actions and knew they were merely for survival and the benefit of their own race, Qin Hao, as a member of the Human Race, naturally had to plan for the Human Race's interests and development.
The three races were a threat to the Human Race, with potential for conflict at any moment. Taking advantage of his current presence in the Human Race and being unburdened by any affairs, resolving or conquering the three races was the best timing.
Moreover, the Human Race was developing too quickly. Their current territory would inevitably be unable to nurture more Strongest in the near future. Waging war against the three races, or being jointly targeted by them out of fear, was already inevitable.
Given this, holding all initiative in his own hands was more beneficial for the Human Race.
"However, I can't be too hasty, nor too deliberate," Qin Hao was well aware of the three races' keen sensitivity. Having existed for countless years and endured innumerable challenges, both the Monster Race, Insect Race, and Automaton Race had extremely powerful ways of survival.
To give the three races hope, yet ensure everything remained under control, gradually dismantling their resistance, and maximizing the Human Race's advantage—this was Qin Hao's current objective.
With that thought, Qin Hao's mind stirred, and the Zhou Tian Star Array began to change. The entire array seemed to instantly become less coordinated, less fluid, and a slight instability appeared.
However, a powerful force immediately reversed this unstable situation, restoring everything around it.
Deep within the Zhou Tian Star Array, Xu Zhen, who had been trapped for tens of thousands of years, instantly became clear-headed, a hint of excitement in his eyes, as if he had found a way to escape.
"A momentary flaw appeared?" Although somewhat disbelieving, the feeling from that brief instant was not wrong. The formation binding him seemed to momentarily feel as if it would collapse, but it was forcibly reversed.
After waiting for tens of thousands of years, an opportunity had appeared, but Xu Zhen was still more uncertain. There had been no flaw for tens of thousands of years; what was the meaning of one appearing now?
Was Star Lord trying to lure him? But he was already trapped in this cage; what was there left to lure? He couldn't get out, nor could he break the surrounding cage, but Star Lord also couldn't kill him. It was a stalemate.
There was no need to probe him, which meant that the momentary flaw was real, and it was his chance to escape. Since it appeared once, that flaw would surely appear again.
Xu Zhen knew that with such a massive formation, a flaw was not easily mended. Perhaps it would take tens of thousands of years for this flaw to reappear, but for a Universe Strongest, tens of thousands of years was not long. As long as there was hope of getting out, tens of thousands of years could be endured.
As long as he seized the momentary flaw and escaped from this space, he would be able to escape the Human Race's clutches.
Thinking this, Xu Zhen instead calmed down, pretending that nothing had happened, and lay there with his eyes closed.
At the same time, Qin Hao's figure appeared in this space. After entering, his eyes scanned the entire space, and after confirming its stability, his figure vanished again.
The moment Qin Hao disappeared, Xu Zhen's eyes slightly opened, further confirming his inner conjecture. This formation indeed had flaws, and now he only needed to wait for the instant the flaw appeared, unleash his power, break through the seal, return to the Primordial Universe, and then he could flee far away.
Qin Hao's appearance confirmed his suspicion. If he hadn't appeared, perhaps it was just a lure, and whatever the purpose, he had to be careful. Now, Qin Hao's appearance more likely meant he was checking if there was a problem with this space.
What's more, even if it was a trap, what then?
His current situation was not good. He had been trapped in this space for tens of thousands of years, even having his divine power absorbed. There was no life-threatening danger, but he was constantly humiliated.
A powerful Universe Strongest, reduced to this state, was even more aggrieved than Origin Ancestor back then. Origin Ancestor was suppressed by the Original Universe Will, while he was suppressed by a mere Universe Lord.
Both being Universe Strongest, the difference in treatment highlighted the disparity in Xu Zhen's strength. In the past tens of thousands of years, Xu Zhen had continuously tried various methods, but none had succeeded.
He had tried everything, without a single mistake!
Even during the tens of thousands of years Qin Hao was away from the Primordial Universe, Xu Zhen found no method, and in the last ten thousand years, he had gradually given up.
He hadn't expected that just when he gave up, an opportunity would appear. Thinking this, Xu Zhen continued to pretend that nothing had happened, but all his focus was now concentrated, waiting for that momentary opportunity.
In the Star Palace Main Hall, Qin Hao sat on the throne, not acting immediately, but also waiting. He knew that Xu Zhen might not fully believe the recent situation and was also wondering if he was being lured.
However, Qin Hao believed that no matter what, Xu Zhen would not let go of this opportunity. That was enough; as long as Xu Zhen didn't give up and would act, his goal would be achieved.
The stronger one is, sometimes the more fear they harbor in their heart.
