Chapter 33 Old Rowan’s Shock, Who Exactly Is the Mercer Family Patriarch?

Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Old Rowan’s Shock, Who Exactly Is the Mercer Family Patriarch?

Meanwhile, using his powerful Soul Sense, Old Rowan could clearly see the contents recorded in the cultivation manual.

However, as he continued reading, the relaxed expression on his face gradually disappeared. Within moments, it had transformed into one of utter solemnity.

Was this really a cultivation technique bestowed upon Ethan by a mere Purple Mansion Realm Patriarch?

As a former Celestial Human Realm powerhouse, Old Rowan could naturally recognize the ingenuity of the Pure Yang Technique.

Although it was only an Earth Rank Top Grade cultivation technique, its power, once mastered, was sufficient to rival that of a Heaven Rank Low Grade technique!

Even more astonishing were the profound circulation routes recorded within its pages. After examining the entire technique, Old Rowan couldn’t identify a single flaw.

There was only one word that could describe it.

Perfect!

He had never encountered an Earth Rank cultivation technique so flawless. It could be called an ultimate method for cultivators with ordinary foundations, allowing them to cultivate efficiently and establish an exceptionally solid foundation.

If such a technique had appeared in the region where Old Rowan once lived, the great Holy Lands and Imperial Dynasties would probably have fought desperately to obtain it.

Yet somehow, such a miraculous technique had appeared in this remote corner of the world.

Old Rowan was utterly bewildered.

Suspicion gradually emerged in his eyes as he looked at his newly accepted disciple.

For some reason, he suddenly felt that this boy wasn’t telling him the whole truth.

"Are you certain your clan’s Patriarch is only at the Purple Mansion Realm? Could the strongest person in your clan be someone else entirely? Or perhaps there are other powerful cultivators living nearby?"

Faced with Old Rowan’s barrage of questions, Ethan was completely confused.

Nevertheless, since he had already acknowledged the old man as his master, he answered honestly.

"The strongest person in our Mercer Family is naturally our Patriarch. I’ve heard that the City Lord of Wexford City has also reached the Purple Mansion Realm. As for the strongest sect in the surrounding region, the Aldercrest Order, it’s overseen by a cultivator at the Origin Sea Realm..."

As Ethan revealed each piece of information, Old Rowan’s brow furrowed more tightly.

For some inexplicable reason, he felt as though his liver were aching, despite the fact that he currently existed only as a remnant soul and no longer possessed a liver.

By this point, he had made a startling discovery.

Despite having once stood at the Celestial Human Realm, he was finding it surprisingly difficult to see through this seemingly ordinary Purple Mansion clan.

After a moment, Old Rowan shook his head, deciding that there was little point in continuing to ponder the matter.

Perhaps the Mercer Family simply possessed extraordinary opportunities.

"The circulation of this Pure Yang Technique is so profound that even I cannot find a single flaw in it. You can cultivate it without worry."

He paused before continuing.

"Furthermore, this technique is far more precious than you realize. For your Patriarch to bestow such a method upon you, he must have placed considerable expectations on your future. You must treasure it and cultivate diligently. Don’t disappoint him."

Hearing his master say this, Ethan felt warmth spreading through his heart.

In the past, he hadn’t even had the opportunity to cultivate a Profound Rank technique. Naturally, he had possessed little understanding of just how valuable Earth Rank cultivation techniques were.

But now, hearing such praise from a former Celestial Human Realm powerhouse, Ethan finally understood how extraordinary the Pure Yang Technique truly was.

His Patriarch had actually entrusted him with such a precious inheritance!

Feeling deeply moved, Ethan silently made a firm promise to himself.

In the future, he would repay the Mercer Family for everything it had done for him. He would never betray the Patriarch’s trust or disappoint the expectations placed upon him.

Meanwhile, Old Rowan fell into brief contemplation.

Since Ethan already possessed such a suitable cultivation technique, there was no need to give him another one for the time being.

After all, when it came to cultivation techniques suitable for someone with Ethan’s foundation, even Old Rowan couldn’t produce anything better.

Still, this was his newly accepted disciple. Allowing the boy to leave without a proper welcoming gift would be somewhat unreasonable.

After thinking for several moments, Old Rowan finally presented another cultivation manual before Ethan.

"Emberheart Body Tempering Art"

"This is an Earth Rank Medium Grade body-refining technique. If you cultivate it to Great Accomplishment, your combat strength will far surpass that of cultivators at the same realm. You’ll even be able to withstand attacks from a Profound Rank Top Grade Dharma Treasure with your physical body alone!"

Ethan glanced through the manual a few times.

A look of disappointment appeared on his face.

This time, there was no hesitation or attempt to soften his words.

"Master, the Patriarch already gave me a body-refining technique a long time ago..."

The moment those words left Ethan’s mouth, Old Rowan felt as though a bolt of blue lightning had struck him.

He had never imagined that, in addition to the flawless Pure Yang Technique, that Purple Mansion Realm Patriarch had also bestowed a body-refining technique upon Ethan!

And judging from Ethan’s expression, the body-refining technique he already possessed was evidently even more powerful than the Emberheart Body Tempering Art.

But how could that be possible?!

Body-refining techniques were inherently rarer than ordinary cultivation techniques. Even Old Rowan, who had once reached the Great Circle of the Celestial Human Realm, had obtained his own body-refining method only through an extraordinary stroke of fortune.

Yet this mysterious Mercer Family Patriarch seemed even more generous than he was!

Just who was the Celestial Human Realm powerhouse here?!

Old Rowan’s expression gradually became difficult to maintain.

What made matters worse was that he noticed Ethan’s expression changing. The admiration he had initially shown his new master was slowly giving way to doubt.

Old Rowan found this almost unbearable.

Even so, a final trace of hope remained in his heart.

Perhaps the Mercer Family Patriarch had simply stumbled upon an Earth Rank body-refining technique. Such a discovery would already count as an extraordinary opportunity, but surely the technique couldn’t be superior to the Emberheart Body Tempering Art he had just offered!

Thinking this way, Old Rowan forcibly suppressed his discomfort.

"Good disciple, quickly show your master the body-refining technique you possess. Let me examine it."

Ethan didn’t hesitate.

He reached into his robes, took out a duplicate copy of the Great Sun Body Refining Art, and held it before his eyes, turning through the pages one by one.

However, having learned his lesson from the previous encounter, Old Rowan no longer allowed himself to relax from the very beginning.

He concentrated completely, carefully examining every detail of the technique and searching for even the smallest imperfection.

Yet when Ethan finished turning through the Great Sun Body Refining Art, Old Rowan discovered, to his utter dismay, that he had once again failed to find a single flaw!

Just like the Pure Yang Technique, this was another cultivation method that appeared absolutely flawless.

But that wasn’t what shocked him most.

As a former Celestial Human Realm powerhouse, Old Rowan’s discernment was naturally extraordinary.

While examining the two manuals, he had discovered a remarkable similarity between the Great Sun Body Refining Art and the Pure Yang Technique.

The two techniques complemented each other perfectly.

If cultivated together, they could produce an astonishing effect, allowing the practitioner to achieve twice the results with half the effort.

How could two flawless Earth Rank Top Grade cultivation techniques, possessing such a powerful complementary effect, possibly end up in the hands of a mere Purple Mansion Realm Patriarch?

What kind of terrifying figure was this Mercer Family Patriarch, really?

The more Old Rowan thought about it, the more unsettled he became.

From that moment onward, he no longer dared to underestimate the seemingly insignificant clan where his disciple lived.

The depths of the Mercer Family were far greater than he had ever imagined.

After finally calming himself, Old Rowan spoke to Ethan again.

"This technique is just as flawless as the Pure Yang Technique, and its value may even surpass that of the other manual. If its contents were leaked, even Celestial Human Realm cultivators would be tempted to seize it, let alone those at the Primordial Spirit Realm."

He paused, then added with a complicated expression.

"Your Patriarch certainly has extraordinary generosity."

Old Rowan genuinely didn’t know what else to say.

The Mercer Family Patriarch had actually bestowed two such precious and powerful cultivation techniques upon a single young clan member.

Whether Old Rowan wanted to admit it or not, the man’s generosity was astonishing.

After all, if Ethan accidentally revealed the existence of these techniques, the consequences could be disastrous.

By then, countless greedy powerhouses might descend upon the Mercer Family, tearing the entire clan apart in their struggle to obtain its treasures.