Swallowed Star: Lord of the Wolf

Xu Yang's expression remained calm.

He tapped his knuckles lightly on the stone tabletop, producing a crisp echo.

The Nine Tribulations Secret Manual and the 10081-fold increase in life gene level are unparalleled secrets that overturn the rules of the universe for ordinary strong individuals!

But it held no appeal for Xu Yang.

His gaze fell on the face of the man sitting on the mountain, and he slowly said, "The Star Tower has immense power. It is Cangya's destiny to have it recognize him as its master, and it is also because he owes you a debt of gratitude. I accept this item."

Xu Yang's tone was calm and he did not shy away from the topic. "The Nine Tribulations Secret Manual directly points to the leap in the essence of life. It can indeed be called a path to defy fate and change destiny. It is of great significance for Cangya to consolidate its foundation and climb to a higher peak."

Xu Yang continued, affirming the value of the "Nine Tribulations Secret Manual".

Upon hearing this, the mountain dweller nodded, revealing a hint of agreement that "it should be so."

But Xu Yang abruptly changed the subject, his deep gaze seemingly able to see through the past and present of the Mountain-Sitting Guest: "But Mountain-Sitting Guest, what is your origin, hmm?" As he spoke, he glanced mysteriously at the empty space above his head.

The primordial will of the universe could not possibly tell him the origin of the Mountain-Sitting Guest, so he could not directly point out that it was a fabrication. He could only use this ambiguous attitude to let the Mountain-Sitting Guest guess and fill in the blanks on his own.

In this way, no flaws will be left.

Xu Yang's voice was not loud, and his words were straightforward, yet they struck the heart of the man sitting on the mountain like a heavy hammer.

The four words, "Your origins," resounded like thunder in the mind of the mountain dweller!
He maintained a calm demeanor, but a surge of barely suppressed turmoil flickered deep within his eyes! His greatest secret, his deepest roots, had been so casually exposed by Xu Yang!
This was a hundred times more powerful than the shock he brought when he showed off the Star Tower and the Secret Codex!
His gaze toward Xu Yang instantly filled with unprecedented apprehension and a hint of barely perceptible horror.

There was still a hint of suspicion in him; he wasn't entirely sure whether Xu Yang was bluffing him or not.

Xu Yang seemed oblivious to the intense emotions surging in the eyes of the Mountain-Sitting Guest. His fingertips tapped on the cold stone table, producing a soft "tap": "The Star Tower is both an opportunity and a shackle. Once this object recognizes its master, the karmic bond between you and Cangya is already established and cannot be changed. That's the first point."

"The Nine Tribulations Secret Manual... is ultimately a 'path exclusive to those who can cultivate it under your guidance, given your identity as Shi Xing.' This connection goes even deeper. That's the second point."

Xu Yang's gaze sharpened as he looked directly into the astonished eyes of the man sitting on the mountain: "With these two causes and effects combined, it seems reasonable to call you 'half a master'."

After revealing the identity of the Mountain Guest, Xu Yang relented, leaving the Mountain Guest with mixed feelings. This caused the dignified God-King level expert to panic and lose his composure.

Taking a deep breath, the Mountain Hermit suppressed his shock and said in a deep voice, "Tianlang, you have keen insight. Now that you know the cause and effect have been resolved, then..."

“No,” Xu Yang interrupted him, a smile curving his lips. “Cause and effect have varying degrees, and the truth is revealed through effort. Sitting Mountain Guest, you should know that although the Star Tower and the Nine Tribulations Secret Manual are important, Cangya’s future path requires more than just ‘tools’ and ‘techniques’; it also requires insight into… everything about the place he is about to set foot on.”

Xu Yang leaned forward slightly, exuding a sense of superiority that he himself was unaware of.

The information gap brought about by his transmigration meant that he had no respect whatsoever for the reincarnation of the God-King, Zuo Shan Ke. Coupled with the confidence gained from the system's protection as he reached the pinnacle of the universe, he was now displaying his sharp edge and was invincible.

An invisible pressure quietly permeated the silent space, and Cangya fell silent, not daring to look at the two.

“That place is the real stage. The structure there, the power there, the… ‘potential risks’ and ‘real opportunities’ there. Since Cangya has inherited your karma and embarked on the path you pointed out, then he is qualified and must know everything about that world. Especially… those beings that may be closely related to his future, or even fight to the death with him.”

Perhaps it was the pleasant atmosphere that made Xu Yang talk more and more, revealing some secrets that should not have been known to this universe.

However, at this moment, the mountain dweller's heart was no longer filled with a few turbulent waves, but rather with a complete upheaval!

In his eyes, Xu Yang's gaze was like a deep black hole, as if he could see through his past glories and tears.

"What I need is all the core and crucial information you have about that place, the 'map' and 'warning' that you, as someone who has been there, can give to your disciple to guide the way forward and avoid calamities. Only then can you be worthy of the title of 'half a master' and gain a real sense of initiative for him and for yourself in the face of the overwhelming karma in the future."

"Do you get me?"

The last question, though seemingly ordinary, completely shattered the mountain dweller's defenses.

These few seemingly casual words, like a poisoned blade, pierced with unparalleled precision the deepest, most painful, and most secret core of the reincarnated god-king, the Mountain-Sitting Guest!
Xu Yang not only knew that he was the reincarnation of a god king, but he also knew that he had a mortal enemy on the Origin Continent!
This is by no means a simple speculation or test; it is a thorough insight!
It is a terrifying power of control that holds the most core secrets of their past and present lives in its palm.

Who on earth told him... the primordial will of the universe? Impossible! Although the primordial will had killed him, it only knew that he came from the Origin Continent, how could it know his origins?
The supreme rule? Theoretically possible, the supreme rule is omnipresent! But the key point is, a rule is just a rule, how could it possibly gossip about its own secrets?

The turmoil of his thoughts made the mountain dweller restless and uneasy. Fear, a fear stemming from the unknown and the complete exposure of his secrets, overwhelmed him in an instant!

"Well!"

The mountain dweller let out a muffled groan, his composure, which he had maintained for countless years, completely collapsed. The color drained from his gentle and proud face, turning it deathly pale. His hand holding the teacup trembled violently, spilling some of the tea onto the stone table, leaving a few dark marks, just like the panic that had overwhelmed him at that moment.

Followed by.

The man sitting on the mountain suddenly stood up!

His movements were hurried and stiff, and he didn't even notice that he had knocked over the chair. He stared intently at Xu Yang, his eyes filled with an extremely complex mix of emotions: a tidal wave of horror, the fear of being completely seen through, the anger of having one's sore spot touched, and even a hint of... instinctive apprehension in the face of the unknown!
“Sirius…” The Mountain Dweller’s voice became unusually dry and hoarse, each word seemingly squeezed out with difficulty from between his teeth, “You… your ‘demand’ is far too… too important! Far beyond my expectations!”

He gasped for breath, as if the space Xu Yang had casually created was suffocating him: "Today...today my mind is in turmoil, I can't make a decision! I need...I need time...I need to think carefully! This matter involves so much, and the consequences are so unpredictable, it can't be decided in a short time!" In his haste, he didn't even dare to look into Xu Yang's all-knowing eyes, turning his gaze to the shocked and stunned Cangya, forcing out an extremely ugly smile: "Cangya...let's leave today's discussion here. The Star Tower, the Nine Tribulations Secret Manual...you can keep them for now, and study them in peace. As for...what your teacher said..."

He paused, seemingly unsure how to continue, and finally let out a long sigh filled with panic and complexity: "Alas! Farewell!"

Before he could finish speaking, the Mountain Guest couldn't even maintain his most basic composure. Like a startled fish, he suddenly swayed, his figure instantly becoming blurry and distorted, transforming into an extremely unstable stream of light. In an almost disheveled manner, he tore apart the spatial barrier that Xu Yang had casually constructed and vanished without a trace!

……

"Clap."

The empty teacup, knocked over by the mountain dweller's hasty rise, rolled slightly on the stone table before falling silent again. The tea had long since evaporated, leaving only a dark, damp stain at the bottom of the cup, much like the last trace left by the mountain dweller in his disheveled escape.

Cangya remained frozen in place, his mind blank, and he subconsciously held his breath.

He looked at the empty stone bench and the overturned teacup, then at his teacher's calm, almost indifferent face. The stark contrast made him feel empty inside.

What exactly were those "existences" that the teacher mentioned at the end? Could a mere riddle have left the mountain dweller so distraught?

The immense mystery and a sense of awe that came from the depths of his soul made his throat dry, and he dared not easily ask any questions.

“My disciple, there are some things that you can’t do by knowing too much about now; they will only cause you more trouble. You only need to remember two things.”

Xu Yang smiled and raised a finger: "First, I will not harm you. The Star Tower and the Nine Tribulations Secret Manual are both unprecedented opportunities, which you deserve. You should not touch the Nine Tribulations Secret Manual for now, but you should focus on comprehending and cultivating the Star Tower. This is your path, and you should not let the giver shake your resolve."

The calming power of the calming force slightly soothed Cangya's chaotic emotions.

Then, Xu Yang raised his second finger. "Secondly, the Mountain Guest has a complicated background and deep karmic ties. Although he left in haste, he will never abandon you, nor will he give up the opportunity to establish contact with me."

Xu Yang's tone was extremely confident.

"Why?" Cangya asked instinctively.

Xu Yang's gaze fell in the direction where the Mountain Guest had disappeared. His deep eyes seemed to pierce through the endless void, seeing through the most intense and irreplaceable obsession in the depths of the other's soul.

He did not directly explain the name "King of the Food Kingdom," but said in the tone of an observer telling a story: "Because, in his heart, there is something heavier than the Star Tower and heavier than the Nine Tribulations Secret Manual—it is a boundless hatred and an unyielding obsession engraved in his marrow and burning in his soul."

"For this obsession, he was willing to lie low, endure waiting, and give up everything he had, including the capital he had painstakingly accumulated over countless eras, including those precious intelligence."

“The Star Tower and the Nine Tribulations Secret Manual are the chips he used to select you and invest in the future. And the ‘map and warning’ that I exposed his background and asked for are the costs he had to pay.”

"He had no choice but to make this deal."

"Hate is his shackle, but also his driving force. He will come back."

Xu Yang gently blew on the rim of his teacup, his tone carrying a sense of complete control, "Moreover, he won't keep us waiting too long. That deep-seated hatred will keep him up at night, and will make him even more eager than us... to continue this game."

"So, there's no need to worry. Focus on comprehending your Star Tower, and I will handle the rest. Your destiny will not escape you, and his karma will not be spared either."

Cangya nodded, and then Xu Yang's voice came to his ears again.

"Strive to cultivate and break free from this world. My true form will soon leave this place, and I look forward to reuniting with you in another world then."

Cangya's cultivation level is too low to understand 'this world' and 'that world', but he can sense the excitement and anticipation in his teacher's tone, the joy of finally getting something he has been looking forward to.

Xu Yang was naturally happy because his clone, which had been sent to the Hundred Refinements Gale area of ​​Liuchong Mountain, had met Ku Yanju again and received the treasure that Ku Yanju had promised him... a treasure of immense value, which was also the reliance that Ku Yanju had relied on to reach the invincible level of Eternal True God while in a 'semi-rogue cultivator' state!

On the other side, the clone carrying the World Beast Guji was also relentlessly hunting down World Beasts. With the mechanical treasure and the Heart of the True God providing a constant power source, it was practically a perpetual motion machine... Combined with the internal fighting among the World Beasts, it wouldn't be long before the World Beasts became a thing of the past.

So far, he has few trivial matters that can hinder his progress in this cosmic sea. He only needs to keep comprehending the 'Great Dao of Destruction', accumulate strength and unleash it, and then break through to the level of Eternal True God in one fell swoop, so that he can truly go to the Origin Continent.

Oh, right, there's one more important thing—I need to leave behind an offspring in the Cosmic Sea before I leave!
Now that he and Mengcha are both flesh and blood beings, they are capable of having offspring. Although the higher one's cultivation level, the lower the probability of having offspring, even with a low probability, diligence can make up for it. Otherwise, how did those beings on the Origin Continent who reached the strength of True Gods upon adulthood manage to reproduce and survive?
Isn't it also about normal life reproduction?

As long as offspring are left in this cosmic sea, whether the offspring have high talent and can break through reincarnation to reunite with their family on the Origin Continent, or low talent and can only live in this cosmic sea... they are all a continuation of his bloodline and a mark left in this world.

Although Xu Yang had always been cautious and deliberate, the more he cultivated, the more he realized the wonder and vastness of the world, and he couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't encounter any accidents. Leaving offspring was also a form of insurance.

Of course, relatives and offspring have another function.

That is a spiritual haven, an anchor point. In his previous life, when he read this author's books, he found that the protagonists, whether it was Luo Feng or anyone else, always had such anchor points to help them overcome difficulties at critical moments when their hearts were struggling.

He didn't know if it would be useful to him, but since there were so many benefits to having offspring, Xu Yang naturally couldn't give it up for nothing. (End of Chapter)