Chapter 189: Free Refining

"In ten years, our Human Race will march on the Primordial Star!"

In the Chaos City Lord's calm, sea‑like resonant voice, the supreme council concluded.

Boom— the Temple doors swung open, and the Universe Venerables, one by one, chatted and walked out of the Temple entrance.

"I didn't expect the Lord of Reincarnation would actually forge Supreme Treasures for us for free."

"Ha ha, wonderful! Two eras ago I happened to harvest a batch of Phoenix Blood Stones in the Extreme Heaven Secret Realm, just enough to craft a Supreme Treasure armor!"

"The few famous Artifact Refining Masters of our race charge exorbitant prices, and you have to queue to see them; thanks to the Lord of Reincarnation, we now have confidence in this march on the Primordial Star."

"Thanks to the Lord of Reincarnation."

At this supreme race council, the Chaos City Lord's second announcement truly lifted the spirits of those Universe Venerables.

In this Reincarnation Era, the Original Universe is still in its early growth stage, and the overall Artifact Refining level is actually rather average.

Aside from Zuoshankè, the reincarnation of Jin Zhi Shen Wang, among all the myriad races of the Universe, only the Master Craftsman God and two others—three "Artifact Masters" in total—can forge Top-tier Supreme Treasures.

Basically, most Top-tier Supreme Treasures and Peak Supreme Treasures can only be obtained from places like the Primordial Star or the Universe Sea.

Even the Artifact Refining Masters who can forge Ordinary Supreme Treasures and High-tier Supreme Treasures are extremely rare.

Within the Hongmeng camp, only a handful have reached this level, and among the Human Race, there are merely two, and those two can only forge Ordinary Supreme Treasures.

First, Artifact Refiners who can forge Supreme Treasures are scarce, and Supreme Treasure materials are genuinely hard to come by, resulting in a severe shortage of Supreme Treasures within the Human Race.

Even if the race's treasury holds some circulating Supreme Treasures, finding one suitable for personal use is exceedingly rare.

As for commissioning those two Artifact Masters in the race to custom‑make a Supreme Treasure, the price skyrockets; beyond the required materials, one must usually provide an extra fifty to one hundred percent of materials as loss and payment.

That means spending twice the materials to custom‑make a Supreme Treasure—a cost that is far from small.

Of course, once the Supreme Treasure is forged, its value far exceeds the material cost, so it's not a loss; it's just that those Venerables feel a deep pang of regret.

Now, these Universe Venerables have learned that by simply providing materials, the Lord of Reincarnation can forge Supreme Treasures for them for free, and if the forging fails, the Lord of Reincarnation will bear all material loss. How could that not stir their hearts! It's equivalent to turning material that previously could only produce one Supreme Treasure into enough for two, and eliminating the obstacle that previously prevented hiring others due to insufficient payment.

If they successfully obtain a suitable Supreme Treasure as protection, their chances of seizing treasures on the Primordial Star will greatly increase!

Most importantly, the Lord of Reincarnation even promises to assume all material loss if forging fails—this is literally a gift from the heavens!

"Thanks to the Lord of Reincarnation, ha ha, I'll head straight to the Lord of Reincarnation's Temple to wait; before marching on the Primordial Star I'll already have my own Supreme Treasure—how delightful."

"Let's go, let's go, I'm coming too; over my countless eons I've luckily saved up some materials, enough to forge a Supreme Treasure weapon."

"Old friends, who will lend me two hundred jin of Tianhe Sand? I'll repay double after we leave the Primordial Star!"

"You'd better stay put and teach your disciples; you've been resurrected by reversed time twice and still haven't learned your lesson."

A great number of Universe Venerables laughed and dispersed; in an instant, the Temple was left only with the Great Axe Founder and a dozen or so Universe Masters.

"Zhou Yang, I never imagined you not only cultivate at a monstrous speed but also possess the skill to forge Supreme Treasures—truly admirable to us!"

The towering Longxing Lord, as massive as a mountain, smiled at Zhou Yang.

"Hehe, Reincarnation truly hides its depths."

The plump Penggong Lord also chuckled and joined the conversation.

"Ha ha, I didn't expect our Human Race to produce another Artifact Refining Master capable of forging Supreme Treasures."

"Reincarnation, respect!"

One by one, the Universe Masters smiled as they spoke; a single Artifact Refining Master who can forge Supreme Treasures even commands the respect of these Universe Masters.

"Ha ha, you all flatter me; I can only forge Ordinary Supreme Treasures, which isn't much."

Zhou Yang replied modestly.

"That's still impressive—our Human Race has only ever had two Artifact Refining Masters, and you're so young. Keep accumulating experience; perhaps you'll become another Master Craftsman God, and then we'll all be in need of your help."

The Longxing Lord, Penggong Lord, and other Universe Masters smiled and drew closer to him. Previously, they had only regarded Zhou Yang as a newly‑promoted junior Universe Master—respectful, but not particularly attentive.

But upon learning that he is also an Artifact Refining Master, their attitude shifted, and they became warm toward Zhou Yang.

As the Longxing Lord and others said, Zhou Yang is still so young yet already able to forge Ordinary Supreme Treasures.

If he studies diligently, who can say he won't become another Artifact Master capable of crafting Top-tier Supreme Treasures?

Top-tier Supreme Treasures are immensely attractive to these Universe Masters! One by one, the Universe Masters chatted enthusiastically, Zhou Yang responded with a smile, and after a lengthy idle talk, the dozen‑plus Universe Masters finally dispersed.

Before parting, the Quiet Marquis Lord approached Zhou Yang.

"Junior brother, this is your first time experiencing the opening of the Primordial Star and you may be unfamiliar—how about we, as senior brothers, form a team and venture forth?"

"Form a team and venture?"

Zhou Yang smiled at the Quiet Marquis Lord, understanding that the other perhaps thought he had only recently become a Universe Master, his power limited, and wanted to give him some guidance.

After all, there are 10,081 Primordial Stars, and Teleportation is impossible on them; when Universe Masters act together, the efficiency of treasure hunting is relatively low.

However, he had his own plan.

"Senior brother, I'm truly sorry, but I'd like to venture out on my own first."

He smiled and politely declined the Quiet Marquis Lord's offer.

It wasn't arrogance; he simply had genuine confidence.

The Original Universe has existed for ninety thousand years, and the New Universe has endured hundreds of millions of years.

In such a long span, he hasn't just been studying Artifact Refining.

First, he broke through to the Venerable realm, his Life Gene amplified a hundredfold, reaching the level of those 'new‑comer' Universe Masters.

Moreover, while refining artifacts, he continuously delved into and refined his understanding of the Fusion Law.

Previously he could only fuse the first 1,080 mysteries of the Eight Lower Laws, but after hundreds of millions of years he can now fuse all 5,900 mysteries, making a great leap in his grasp of the Fusion Law.

At this moment, when he unleashes the 'Chaos Hole Suppression' technique, its power surges severalfold, fully reaching the level of the Universe Master's Strongest Secret Method; with the aid of the Reincarnation Divine Armor, it even hints at surpassing the Light of Annihilation!

His Life Gene Level rivals that of the most ordinary Universe Masters; combined with the Reincarnation Divine Armor and the two greatest Strongest Secret Methods, all together his combat power now certainly ranks among the upper echelons of the vast Universe Masters.

Moreover, after such an immense span, even without intense focus, his insight into the Time Law has neared its limit, lacking only the final step of temporal‑spatial resonance.

At this point, he is but a sheet of tissue away from the Universe Master realm.

Perhaps at any moment a flash of insight could perfectly align time and space, truly taking the final step into the ranks of Universe Masters.

By that time, he would truly have nothing to fear in the entire Original Universe. After the highest council concluded, Zhou Yang returned to his Temple.

Over the following period, many Universe Venerables gradually came to visit, asking Zhou Yang to help refine Supreme Treasures.

These were all senior Universe Venerables; over the long ages, they had naturally accumulated many rare refining materials.

Upon learning that Zhou Yang could freely help them refine Supreme Treasures, they were overjoyed and hurriedly came to visit.

Thus, each Universe Venerable provided materials, while Zhou Yang was responsible for refining them; with the Time Acceleration of the New Universe, it didn't take much of their time.

In the end, those Venerables obtained Supreme Treasures, and Zhou Yang also took the opportunity to hone his refining skills; everyone was pleased.

Amidst such a bustling atmosphere, ten years slipped by quietly.

On that day, a vast surge swept across the domains of countless races in the Original Universe in an instant.

The Primordial Star has opened!

(End of chapter)