Chapter 220 – Shock! Madness!
After the endless rain of inheritance crystals, five supreme treasures suddenly manifested in the void.
An axe!
A battle armor!
A spirit orb!
A mountain!
A seal!
After all, the oath of rules had promised him a complete set of supreme treasures—just like how the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas outfitted Monkey King with his divine gear.
"The axe is for close combat. The battle armor, defense. The orb, for the soul. The mountain, a palace-type treasure. The seal, domain control…"
Draped in silver robes, Jiang Zhe floated them up with his phantasmal divine power, carefully inspecting one after another. Then, with a grin, he said:
"Brother, this isn't a full set! You're missing long-range weapons, mental attack types, sealing types, and the special category—like escape treasures, binding, origin, concealment, and so on. We're family, aren't we? Why not complete the set for me?"
The void quaked at a high frequency, pressure rolling out like a prison.
The will of the Original Universe itself surged forth in fury.
But in the end—it was just impotent rage.
It ignored Jiang Zhe's endless greed. Having fulfilled the promised oath, it was already preparing to withdraw.
Sensing the link in his consciousness about to sever, Jiang Zhe quickly shouted:
"Wait! Brother, we're not done talking yet!"
"I'm not tricking you—don't leave!"
"I won't ask you for more supreme treasures. Let's talk about the Beast Calamity."
"That's the second matter I mentioned earlier."
Jiang Zhe could clearly feel the will's confusion ripple through the link.
Beast Calamity?
Hadn't they already covered this? Jiang Zhe had promised to wipe out ten billion world beasts, including the eventual Beast King…
Wait. Something wasn't right.
Reviewing the oath, the focus was only on non-hostility between them. The will received his promise not to covet its origin or attempt possession.
It had simply assumed that Jiang Zhe, having obtained the "Spear Technique Inheritance," would naturally lead the resistance against the beasts.
But that condition was never actually written into the oath.
It had been tricked!
The realization stoked its anger further.
Jiang Zhe—you dare!
But before the furious will could erupt, Jiang Zhe seized the opening and "grabbed the scruff of the angry big cat."
"When the Beast Calamity breaks out, there's no way I can stand aside. The beasts will destroy every miniature universe across the Cosmic Sea before they turn on you. That means I'll inevitably clash with them first, fighting to the death long before they ever reach you. But…"
He shifted tone, having set the stage.
"If I contribute to ending the Beast Calamity, I hope you won't be stingy with rewards. I only ask that you permit me to merge my consciousness into the core of the Original Universe—just once—to personally experience its destruction and rebirth."
That was the privilege Luo Feng enjoyed in the original timeline, and Jiang Zhe demanded the same.
"Oh, and while you're at it, release my Human race's Primal Ancestor. He poses no threat to you while trapped outside the [Void]. Think of it as a bonus."
Why didn't Jiang Zhe ask for the Primal Ancestor's release before the Beast Calamity? After all, that would've given them a powerful fighter at the critical moment.
Because even the will of the Original Universe itself had no authority.
The Primal Ancestor had violated the supreme laws and was suppressed under those same laws. Release was only possible through offsetting his crime with a contribution great enough to balance it.
The will hesitated.
Normally, such a request—to merge one's consciousness into its core—would have been met with outrage and suspicion. But Jiang Zhe was bound by oath; there was no danger of him attempting possession.
[Granted. But only once.]
Jiang Zhe smiled broadly, then quickly added: "Brother, since I haven't made things difficult for you, how about one more supreme treasure? I need a flying-escape type."
Before the will could flare up again, he hurried to explain.
"You know as well as I do—those beasts, even at the lowest level, excel at fleeing. If I don't have a top-tier escape treasure, how will I chase them down? This is all for the survival of the Original Universe!"
He radiated righteousness.
[…]
Abruptly, a jade tiger-talisman appeared in the void—the will's answer.
And then the link severed. The oppressive aura faded.
Felt like a hasty retreat.
Jiang Zhe chuckled, storing away the full set of treasures, but kept the tiger talisman in hand, playing with it.
This flying treasure was the one he valued most.
Because when techniques weren't enough, treasures filled the gap.
Luo Feng had built his fearsome reputation on the battlefield largely thanks to Triple Shuttle Universe, praised endlessly as unmatched in movement techniques.
But Jiang Zhe was still using the side-technique from Nine-Refinement Fist. Hardly impressive.
"Tch! That will pretends like it's suffering a huge loss. As if I don't know better—inheritances are nothing to it, and it's hoarded supreme treasures for countless eons…"
Never underestimate the accumulation of the Original Universe's will.
He infused divine power into the tiger talisman, claiming ownership.
Supreme treasures could normally be claimed by any True God, though sub-True Gods required willpower strength to qualify.
The talisman acknowledged him—but he still couldn't activate it.
He didn't understand the internal rune patterns, nor was his divine power strong enough to force it.
That was normal.
Not every treasure perfectly matched him like the Primordial Umbrella, Bloodblade, Aegis, or Martial Spirit Orb.
"Other than the Umbrella, even my true body can't fully drive it yet. For now, I'll just enjoy the passive effects."
He remembered Luo Feng nearly burning himself out trying to force the Star Tower, losing 30% of his god-body.
His own divine body was merely 200 million times world-lord level in quality. Quantity, yes—but unless absolutely necessary, there was no need to burn away "light-year sized" divine flesh just to push a supreme treasure.
So for now, most would sit in storage collecting dust.
"For this stage, ordinary treasures are still the most practical…"
After admiring the talisman a while longer, Jiang Zhe set it aside and turned his gaze to the Scepter of Destruction.
With a thought, his divine power peeled away the "black mist cocoon" covering it.
The scepter was dismantled piece by piece.
He sighed. "What a pity. A treasure no less valuable than the Chaos Golden Wings—ruined in my hands. And worst of all, I'll have to destroy its core: the 'Source.'"
Then his regret shifted to excitement.
"But if I transplant the Beast King's 'Domain' into my Thunder Prison Realm… what kind of miracle would be born?"
Had the original craftsman preserved the full destructive origin within?
The raging Gale of Silence that had devastated Herod's Secret Realm had all come from this cocoon.
"I should first shut down the cocoon, collect the gale, and seal it away."
As the core of the scepter, the "Source" alone was already a top-tier supreme treasure.
And he could activate it only because it still contained remnants of its former master's energy—no need for his own weaker power.
But just as he was about to act, he froze.
"No, not yet. I need to account for the Human race first."
He could mess around freely in the Ancient God World or the Abyss—those spoils belonged to Virtual Universe Company anyway.
But Herod's Secret Realm belonged to humanity. If the Beast God Clan's relic suddenly vanished, the upper echelons would never sit still.
That would put him at the eye of the storm.
Without the combat strength of a Universe Overlord, Jiang Zhe didn't want that attention.
A Universe Overlord wasn't defined by how many treasures he owned, but by pure combat strength.
—If one could unleash 600–1000 billion world-lord power without relying on treasures, one qualified.
For example, Venerable Peifeng, with a divine body of 600 million world-lord power and a hundredfold soul amplitude, was already one.
"Once I complete three primal evolutions with the Thread Nest, I'll reach Overlord. Four, and I'll be a top Overlord—on par with Palace Master Tianshi!"
"And I shouldn't forget to give Palace Master Tianshi his share—his 'Panling' battle armor really is excellent…"
Muttering, Jiang Zhe logged into the Virtual Universe.
He first considered visiting the Dark God Nation, but then decided on Thunder Island's Chaos Hall—better to speak directly with Chaos City Lord, humanity's steward.
…
On Thunder Island, deep within the Chaos Hall, a man in golden robes opened his eyes as the silver-clad youth entered.
"Silver robe—that must be Jiang Zhe's peculiar avatar. Did something happen in the Silent Gale Region?"
Before Jiang Zhe could bow, the Chaos City Lord asked: "What brings you here, Jiang Zhe?"
Jiang Zhe bowed and replied, "I've exchanged a treasure from the will of the Original Universe itself, and wish to dedicate it to the Human race. In return, I'd like to trade for certain conveniences with clan contribution points."
The Chaos City Lord's eyes widened. "The will of the Original Universe? You're not deceiving me? This isn't from the Beast God Clan's relics?"
"It isn't." Jiang Zhe shook his head. "I understand our precarious situation in both the Original Universe and the Cosmic Sea. That's why I bargained with the will itself. See for yourself."
He transmitted a projection from the Virtual Universe system.
Beside him appeared a massive golden axe, nearly ten thousand kilometers long in reality, scaled down to ten meters here—but its oppressive aura remained undiminished.
The axe blade was vast, blood-red runes covering the shaft, radiating ferocious might.
Even just standing near it threatened to overwhelm the senses.
Swish!
The golden-robed figure flashed before the axe, trembling hand reaching to touch it—but fearing it might shatter at a touch.
"Jiang Zhe… this is real? Truly in your possession?"
For once, the Chaos City Lord lost composure, unable to contain the pressure of his spirit and will.
Fortunately, Jiang Zhe was no ordinary man, and in a silver-robe soul-form—otherwise he would have been crushed outright.
Regaining control, the City Lord withdrew his pressure. "Apologies, Jiang Zhe. I was simply too excited."
"I understand, Uncle. Our Human race, though one of the pinnacle races, has always lacked a supreme treasure. It kept us restrained, forced to hold back. That's why I secured this axe from the will of the Original Universe. If it wasn't lying, this is without doubt a genuine supreme treasure."
After confirming again and again, the Chaos City Lord exhaled deeply. Relief and vigor filled his expression, as though countless burdens had been lifted.
Just then, a booming voice echoed from outside the hall:
"Chaos! What's the matter? You called me here so urgently!"
A barefoot giant strode in. When Jiang Zhe turned, he saw his eyes blazing with wild light.
In the blink of an eye, the giant vanished and reappeared beside the axe.
One hand gripped the shaft, the other caressed the blade, and he roared with near-ecstatic release:
"A supreme treasure? Yes! No mistake! Roarrr!"
The roar shook the hall as though it would collapse.
Jiang Zhe braced himself to be logged out by force.
Luckily, Chaos City Lord reacted instantly, isolating a separate space and transferring both the axe and the Giant Axe Founder into it—so he could calm down with his "new toy."
The Chaos City Lord patted Jiang Zhe's shoulder, smiling gently. "You must understand the Founder. The weight of our race rests solely on him. Since the rise of our people across countless eons, his path has been far from easy."
"I do understand," Jiang Zhe nodded. "That's why I specifically asked for the battle-axe type. But I also hope the Founder stays true to his heart. If his growth leads him astray… then what I've brought back for the Human race would not be hope, but calamity. Despair."
The Chaos City Lord shuddered at the thought. "I understand. I'll speak with him when the axe is handed over."
Then he asked:
"Now tell me, Jiang Zhe—what did you sacrifice for this treasure? The race must remember your contribution."
Even the Ancestral God School had only ever received one supreme treasure for serving the will.
So for Jiang Zhe to secure this axe, the Chaos City Lord knew the price must have been enormous.