Victor blinked before scratching the back of his head.
"I don’t really know either, Master." He answered with a perfectly innocent expression. "Perhaps... the cultivation technique is simply very compatible with me."
The old man’s smile instantly froze.
The corner of his mouth twitched several times as he stared at his newest disciple.
"Compatible?"
"I created countless cultivation techniques throughout my life, cultivated thousands of secret arts, and even I required several millennia to reach the Seventh Layer." He sighed deeply before shaking his head helplessly. "And you simply call it... compatible?"
Victor smiled awkwardly but wisely chose not to continue that topic. Instead, he changed the subject immediately.
"Master, since I’ve already reached the Seventh Layer... may I receive the remaining three layers of the technique?"
The old man looked at him speechlessly before bursting into laughter once again.
"So impatient."
"Young people truly have no patience."
His laughter gradually faded, replaced by a solemn expression. He gently placed the teacup onto the table and looked directly into Victor’s eyes.
"Before I hand them over, there is something you deserve to know."
"This cultivation technique..." He paused briefly before continuing. "It is not my creation."
Victor’s pupils contracted.
The Progenitor slowly nodded.
"I obtained it from an ancient trial by chance countless ages ago. The technique originally contained twelve complete layers. Unfortunately, I only managed to obtain the first ten."
His voice carried a trace of regret.
"If someone could cultivate all twelve layers to perfection, that person would completely transcend space and time. Their existence would stand beyond the reach of karma, destiny, causality, and even the river of time itself. At that point, not even a Universal Supreme would be capable of truly erasing them from existence."
Victor couldn’t hide the shock in his eyes.
Even someone as powerful as his Master spoke of that realm with admiration.
Just how terrifying would the complete technique be?
The old man sighed softly.
"I have cultivated for millions of years..." he said quietly. "Yet even now, I have failed to reach the Tenth Layer."
Victor frowned in confusion.
"Master, is the Tenth Layer truly that difficult?"
The Progenitor slowly shook his head.
"Actually... no."
He gently tapped the table with a finger before continuing.
"The difficulty isn’t comprehending it. The true obstacle is energy."
"The Tenth Layer requires such an unimaginable amount of energy that even if every Supreme expert in the universe gathered together and willingly transferred all of their power into my body, it still wouldn’t be enough to complete even a single full cultivation cycle."
A trace of unwillingness flashed across his ancient eyes.
"The only place where the Tenth Layer can truly be cultivated... is inside that ancient trial ground."
He looked toward the endless sky beyond the garden.
"Unfortunately, after I cleared the trial once, its entrance disappeared forever. No matter what methods I used over the past millions of years, I was never able to find it again."
Only then did Victor finally understand.
So this was the real reason why the Progenitor had searched the entire universe for disciples instead of simply cultivating alone.
The old man’s gaze gradually returned to Victor. Although his expression remained calm, there was a faint trace of expectation hidden deep within his ancient eyes.
"That is why I accepted disciples from every corner of the universe," he said. "Not because I needed successors, but because I hoped that one of you would one day surpass me. If someone can reopen that ancient trial, perhaps all of us will finally have another opportunity to enter it."
Only now did Victor completely understand why his Master had been so generous toward every disciple. The priceless inheritances, the countless treasures, and the personal guidance he provided were never meant to create loyal followers. He had been nurturing future companions who might one day stand beside him and open a path that had remained closed for millions of years.
Victor looked at the old man with determination shining in his eyes.
"Master..."
"What must I do to enter that trial?"
Cristofer studied Victor’s expression for a few moments before a satisfied smile slowly spread across his face. There wasn’t the slightest hesitation or fear in his newest disciple’s eyes. All he saw was unwavering resolve.
"Good."
"I was waiting for you to ask that question."
He leaned back slightly before continuing in an unhurried tone.
"However, now isn’t the right time. The weakest person who has ever survived that trial was at the Black Hole Realm. Anyone weaker would simply die the moment they entered."
He paused briefly before adding,
"Your senior brothers and sisters are already at that realm. Once you also break through to the Black Hole Realm, I will personally take all nine of you there. Whether the entrance can be reopened... will depend on your fortunes."
Victor nodded firmly.
"I understand, Master."
Cristofer smiled before gently waving his sleeve. Three ancient jade slips appeared out of thin air and floated toward Victor. Countless mysterious runes flowed across their surfaces, each one radiating an indescribably profound aura.
"These contain the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Layers of the Eternal Body Cultivation Technique."
"They belong to you now."
Victor carefully accepted the jade slips with both hands.
Cristofer continued, "For the time being, focus entirely on cultivating the Eighth Layer. As for the Ninth Layer, you needn’t think about it yet. The amount of energy required is comparable to the total energy possessed by a Galactic Overlord. Even with your current talents, you’ll have to accumulate it step by step."
As soon as he finished speaking, another object appeared in his palm.
It was a transparent crystal vial.
Inside floated a single drop of crimson-golden blood.
The tiny drop seemed to contain an endless ocean of vitality. Merely appearing in the open caused the surrounding space to distort slightly, while Victor felt every cell in his body trembling with desire.
Cristofer looked at the vial with a nostalgic expression.
"This is a Grade Nine Blood Essence."
"I obtained it from that ancient trial as well."
"I originally acquired ten drops. I consumed one myself, and over the years, I gifted one drop to each of your eight senior brothers and sisters."
He gently placed the vial into Victor’s hand.
"This..."
"...is the final drop."
For a brief moment, the old man remained silent.
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that after millions of years, he would encounter someone capable of reaching the Seventh Layer of the Eternal Body Cultivation Technique in only a few days. For the first time in an unimaginably long time, hope had truly appeared before him.
Victor held the crystal vial carefully as though it were the most precious treasure in existence. He immediately stood up and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Master."
Cristofer nodded with a satisfied smile.
"When you reach the World Realm, come back here."
"I’ll personally guide you through cultivating the Eighth Layer. With my assistance, you’ll avoid many unnecessary detours."
Victor smiled gratefully.
"Then I’ll have to trouble Master again."
The atmosphere became quiet once more as both of them leisurely drank their tea. After a while, another thought suddenly crossed Victor’s mind.
"Master..."
Cristofer raised an eyebrow.
"Yes?"
Victor placed his teacup down.
"Is there a place with even more monsters than the battlefield I previously entered?"
Cristofer fell silent for several moments, seemingly weighing something in his mind. Finally, he slowly nodded.
"There is."
His expression became noticeably more serious.
"It’s called..."
"...the Universal Battlefield."
He looked directly into Victor’s eyes before continuing.
"That place gathers geniuses, armies, and monsters from countless races across the universe. Every single day, trillions of beings die there. Opportunities beyond imagination exist within its depths, but so do dangers that can claim even the lives of Black Hole Realm experts."
A faint smile appeared on Victor’s face instead of fear.
To others, it was a battlefield filled with death.
To him...
It was an endless sea of Evolution Points waiting to be harvested.