Chapter 169: Two Supreme Strong Ones

Zhou Yang felt a stir in his heart, and tentatively spoke to the old man before him:

"Senior, whether it's a treasure or not doesn't matter; I wonder if I, a junior, could learn some Treasure Refining Art from you?"

He suddenly realized that the most precious opportunity on this Mountain Hermit was not a mighty Supreme Treasure nor the Nine Tribulations Secret Code, but the perspective and inheritance he possessed as a former Divine King; and the Treasure Refining Art was his hallmark technique that made him famous.

Just as the Master Craftsman God, after a single guidance from him, one's forging skill would almost surpass the entire Original Universe.

If one could acquire even a fraction of his Treasure Refining Art, it would be far more valuable than a single Peak Supreme Treasure.

"Oh?"

The old man before him, who was in fact the mysteriously unparalleled reincarnated Jin Zhi Shen Wang sitting as a Mountain Hermit, couldn't help but laugh at the words.

"You little brat, what I prepared for those two bloodline leaders, even if precious, are just worldly things; yet you go straight for the technique I keep hidden at the bottom of my chest?"

"Hehe, senior, please don't be angry; I just am eager to improve."

Zhou Yang forced an awkward smile, "If that's not possible, senior, just grant me any Peak Supreme Treasure Armor."

"Senior?"

The notoriously capricious Mountain Hermit stared at him with a half‑smile until Zhou Yang felt a chill, then sighed softly, "You've learned my Chaos method and now wish to learn my forging technique, yet even now you still refuse to call me teacher?"

"Huh?"

Zhou Yang was first stunned, then his heart was instantly flooded with ecstatic joy!

He actually agreed! In the original work, even Luo Feng was deemed by the virtual Doppelganger left by the Divine King of the Jin Zhi Shijie as unsuitable for forging, thus missing this powerful inheritance.

And now, he finally had this opportunity!

Moreover, the Chaos Decomposition Secret Diagram from the depths of the Temporal‑Spatial Abyss was indeed left by the Mountain Hermit! He rose at once, bowing respectfully to the hermit.

"Disciple Zhou Yang, greetings, teacher!"

In this Swallowing Universe, it is commonplace for a disciple to pay respects to multiple teachers, so Zhou Yang felt no mental burden.

"Hahaha, good, good disciple!"

The Mountain Hermit laughed heartily.

Cultivation on a path becomes increasingly difficult, and external resources provide diminishing aid.

Even with his perspective and accumulation, in this Original Universe, fostering Immortality is easy; cultivating a Universe Venerable is fairly simple if the disciple works hard, but nurturing a Universe Master is an exceedingly arduous road.

As for advancing further to produce a Universe Strongest, no treasure can help; it relies solely on the disciple's own insight and the accumulation of time.

And this little fellow before him, somehow possessing a not‑weak inheritance, has already embarked on the Chaos Fusion path ahead of schedule, showing great talent—a tremendous surprise for him.

If such talent endures, perhaps one day there will be a sliver of hope to transcend reincarnation and become a Chaos Sovereign.

Although this hope is now exceedingly faint, it already far exceeds any life he has witnessed in this Original Universe.

If Zhou Yang's fate and insight are sufficient to advance beyond becoming a Chaos Sovereign, it would greatly aid his revenge plan—that was the main reason he finally chose to appear before Zhou Yang.

"Disciple, since you acknowledge me as your teacher, I cannot be stingy."

The Mountain Hermit smiled, "Focus on secluding yourself to achieve Immortality; in the meantime, I will arrange materials to forge a Supreme Treasure perfectly suited for you, as a gift for your ascension."

Saying so, he handed something to Zhou Yang.

It was plain and unadorned, like an ordinary black stone. "This is a fragment of my Treasure Refining Inheritance; once you achieve Immortality, you may comprehend it."

"The essence of cultivation is truly the insight and application of laws; Treasure Refining is likewise a means of such insight, especially as you now explore the Chaos Fusion path—it should greatly promote your cultivation."

Zhou Yang solemnly pocketed the black stone, then offered a respectful bow.

"Thank you, teacher, for bestowing the technique."

"Mm."

The Mountain Hermit calmly accepted the bow, then added, "Although I am your teacher, I teach disciples, not Secret Techniques; I care not for life or death, only for providing resourceful Supreme Treasures. If you fall midway, I will not reverse time to revive you. You should know that a true Strongest One cannot be taught."

"Disciple understands; I will certainly strive."

Zhou Yang replied respectfully.

"Mm."

The Mountain Hermit nodded, "Very well, my task here is complete; I shall depart. You continue your cultivation."

As he spoke, his gaze fixed on some point beyond Earth in the Xingkong, a faint smile playing at his lips.

"Hehe, if I linger any longer, your Human Race's Giant Axe Founder will probably drive us away."

"Haha, senior, you jest; my Human Race always welcomes you as a guest—just don't blame us for any lack of hospitality!"

A bright laugh echoed from deep within the Xingkong, and a towering figure with wild hair, resembling a primitive man, materialized in the night sky.

"Well said."

The Mountain Hermit gave a gentle nod, his figure slowly fading in place.

"Hoo—"

The universal laws that had receded because of his presence, and the stagnant spacetime, began to gradually resume their flow.

And countless dormant lives began to awaken one after another. "Kid, break through soon; don't waste too much of my time!"

The towering figure, still standing in the Xingkong like a primitive man, gave Zhou Yang a brief glance before vanishing instantly.

Everything on Earth resumed its motion; neither the Earthlings, the immigrants, nor the strong ones stationed in the Wei'e Shen Gong of the Solar System noticed the recent anomaly.

In the Mingyue residential area, Zhou Yang sat beneath a pavilion, his mind unable to settle for a long while.

He had only been quietly staying at home on Earth with his parents, never expecting the Mountain Hermit, hailed as the most mysterious strong one of the Original Universe, to seek him out.

After their conversation, he not only took him as a disciple and bestowed his powerful forging technique, but also promised to forge a Supreme Treasure perfectly suited for him.

This experience was like a pie falling from the heavens.

And the Giant Axe Founder appeared outside Earth at once, and his words—"don't waste too much time"—suggest that the Founder has been watching him all this time?

If that were true, the clan's higher‑ups were overvaluing him; a Universe Supreme's time is so precious, yet it's wasted on a mere Realm Lord like me? "Looks like I must break through quickly."

Zhou Yang's gaze gradually drifted; unknowingly, he had already spent nearly four hundred tranquil years on Earth.

After four hundred years of continuous growth, the world within his body now faintly approaches a certain limit. (End of Chapter)