Silence befell the battlefield as victory was achieved.
The remaining golden soldiers' faces seemed to regain some form of clarity for just a moment before they cracked and dissipated into golden light that drifted away into the Universe.
Everyone was relieved for a moment before the strongest remembered they were still among enemies.
They warily glanced at each other while leaving. Even the once close humans and beasts were now enemies.
Everyone soon went back to their home lands. Within the human realm, the first monster increased his eating speed. He didn't know what sort of other threats would one day come from beyond the walls of their Universe. They had been able to handle them so far, but that may not be the case forever.
Quintillions of years passed in peace. For Immortals, this was not a lot.
The first monster had felt his growth speed slowing down tremendously, and he was not the only one. The first human and the first beast also felt the effects hit. Even the human ruler noticed far slower growth.
The boost from the creation of a new Universe had finally ended, and cultivation speeds would be the same as the rest of the Universe. This meant that it would take Sage Years to produce new Immortals.
And indeed, in this new state, Sage Years passed.
More and more Sage Years passed as the first monster settled at the peak of the Heaven Immortal realm.
He was in the same realm as the first beast and the first human.
It was just another day of cultivating when the walls of the Universe trembled, cracks forming all over them.
Looking from far enough away, one could see six figures standing around the Universe and attacking it. The Universe's walls could not hold on for long as the figures broke through.
By this time, the first monster, first human, first beast, and the human ruler had all gathered. But when they saw these six individuals, their pupils shrank.
Whatever these beings were, they were beyond their imagination.
When the six figures looked around, everything instantly entered their vision. Nothing in this just recently completed Universe could possibly escape their gazes.
A few of them narrowed their eyes when they saw humans, but did not react much. Humans were everywhere. It was less likely for a new Universe to not have some than it was for them to have some.
After taking a few glances, they simply pointed out. "Go and round up the life in this Universe. In the future, it will be a training ground for our younger generation."
Following this command were around twenty beings, each one far more powerful than even the first monster. A giant net fell from the heavens, capturing every being in one fell swoop.
They were helplessly transported to a hastily constructed platform. It was completely flat and made of dirt. A formation appeared that sealed the outside Universe away. In the process, around half of the life in the Universe was killed.
In just a few short moments, the heavens had turned upside down. The beings which had stood at the peak had become caged beasts.
Few were able to react to this sudden change.
The first monster, still in the form of Nie Shanzi, was also stunned into silence.
The six beings were already gone, a few of their servants remaining to keep watch over the Universe. Despite that, even their servants were on an entirely different level.
A few days passed by in confusion. All of the life in the Universe had been confined on a large, empty plain.
It was only after five days that a figure descended. It looked like a wolf, but the gray on its fur was well defined.
Its power suppressed every being combined with ease as it spoke.
"Congratulations, you have, in a way, become connected to the six high clans. This is your honor. From now on, your Universe will serve as a training ground for the younger generation of our clans. If you follow our instructions, which will allow you to retain a bit of freedom, you will experience a long life. Otherwise, you will just die."
"Your first task is to build temples for the six sovereigns of our clan. Any being who dares speak ill of them will have their entire bloodline wiped from existence."
With that, the wolf slightly moved as six statues appeared and floated in the air. It took its time to bow to all six of them, showing complete devotion. One looked similar to the wolf. The others were all different. None were humanoid. Then, piles of powerful and beautiful materials appeared and fell to the ground.
The wolf left. No being dared so much as touch the statues floating in the air.
Eventually the first beast and the human ruler gave directions to follow the wolf's order and build temples. With so many powerful beings, this was finished quickly. They did not dare slack at all. The temples were built to absolute perfection.
After a few days, the wolf reappeared. "This will do. Don't worry, the six sovereigns don't require blood sacrifices or anything, just your fealty. Come out Earthsmelter."
A being came out. It was a giant wrapped in chains from head to toe, covering its entire body. Only a red eye filled with hatred was visible below the chains.
"Terraform this world so that these… creatures can sustain themselves."
For a moment, the giant looked at the wolf with the desire to kill. But eventually, it sat down.
It pointed its finger down and the chains receded. When it touched the earth, everything changed.
Hills, mountains, rivers, seas, caves, plants, minerals, everything essential to a world appeared. In just moments, the plain the size of a Universe was turned into a vibrant, flat world.
The chains once again took over the finger and the giant left.
"That is the result of revolting against the sovereigns. Of course, only the useful even get the opportunity to be enslaved. The rest just die."