Nearly three hundred thousand points of surprise!
If he exchanged that "fortune" for Heavenly Flames, it would be enough to claim the four flames after the Green Lotus Core Flame.
But there was no need. Deep in the Tagor Great Desert, an unclaimed Green Lotus Core Flame was waiting for him to "take," so why waste his precious points of surprise?
Thanks to the top donor, Gu Yuan, for all those points of surprise...
Ning Chen silently thanked the head of the ancient clan, without a trace of sincerity, for his "outstanding contribution."
Then he rubbed his hands together and clicked without hesitation into the system's glowing lottery section.
"Let's try nine draws first!"
[Points of surprise spent: 9,000]
A translucent roulette wheel appeared out of nowhere. Its light flared, then it spun at a dizzying speed, leaving a blur of radiance in its wake.
[Thanks for participating!]
[Thanks for participating!]
[Thanks for participating!]
[Thanks for participating!]
The opening was the same familiar recipe: "four blanks in a row."
Ning Chen's expression didn't change. He was already used to the system's "quirks."
But perhaps his luck had finally turned, or perhaps it was simply a good day. The next few chimes brought something different.
[Congratulations, host. You obtained: Spirit Absorber (one)!]
[Congratulations, host. You obtained: Third-tier pill · Wind Travel Pill ×3!]
[Congratulations, host. You obtained: Third-tier pill · Qi Recovery Pill ×5!]
[Congratulations, host. You obtained: A fourth-tier alchemist's lifetime of pill-refining memories and insights (can be fused)!]
[Congratulations, host. You obtained: Flying item · Wind Riding Boat (high-tier flying item. Infuse it with Dou Qi to activate a protective barrier. Extremely fast; can fly five thousand li in a day)!]
Nine draws had yielded five items in total.
"Spirit Absorber?"
Ning Chen raised an eyebrow. This was essential for containing Heavenly Flames. He couldn't use it yet, but it was undoubtedly a rare material he'd need in the future.
The third-tier pills were standard supplies.
The fourth-tier alchemist's memories and insights... This was a valuable prize. It would instantly grant him the experience and knowledge of an alchemist of that tier, saving him countless hours of trial and error. For someone like him, who currently lacked systematic knowledge of alchemy, it was a godsend.
As for the Wind Riding Boat, it would solve the problem of traveling long distances or carrying someone else while flying.
"Not a bad haul."
Ning Chen nodded in satisfaction. Spending nine thousand points of surprise hadn't been a waste.
Just as he was about to continue drawing, something stirred in his mind. He suddenly remembered something.
Ning Chen turned his attention to another section of the system shop.
[Technique Exchange]
A dazzling list of techniques streamed through his mind like a waterfall, ranging from the highest Heavenly Tier to the lowest Yellow Tier. It had everything, but the staggering prices listed beside them made Ning Chen skip straight past most of the entries.
His gaze slid downward, finally stopping at the vastest section: Low Yellow Tier.
This was where trash techniques gathered. They were cheap, and no one would want one even if it were free.
But Ning Chen's gaze settled precisely on one unremarkable technique there—a technique that was all too familiar to a transmigrator like him.
Flame Mantra (Low Yellow Tier)
Price: 100,000 points of surprise
Description: Has limitless potential; an evolvable technique. By devouring and fusing multiple Heavenly Flames, its tier and power can rise by leaps and bounds.
Currently in an incomplete initial state. Its path of evolution is exceptionally difficult and extremely dangerous. Only those with great perseverance and great fortune should cultivate it.
"Flame Mantra..." Ning Chen's eyes narrowed.
As expected, the system had even this.
One hundred thousand points of surprise was an astronomical price for a technique that was currently only Low Yellow Tier. But considering its terrifying potential for growth, the price seemed reasonable.
Should he switch to the Flame Mantra?
Ning Chen's thoughts stirred. At least according to the original story, there shouldn't be a faster cultivation technique anywhere on the Dou Qi Continent.
Besides, only by cultivating this technique could one obtain Tou She Ancient God's inheritance.
But as he pondered, the corner of his eye caught another technique beside the Flame Mantra, also listed in the Low Yellow Tier section.
"Whoa, that's a bold name."
Ning Chen raised an eyebrow in surprise. The technique was called—[Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art]!
Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art (Low Yellow Tier)
Price: 120,000 points of surprise
Description: Its origins are mysterious. An extreme evolvable technique, it differs greatly from the Flame Mantra's path of devouring and fusing myriad flames. This technique advocates "one flame supreme, all things nourishing the flame."
The cultivator must first obtain a flame to serve as their natal flame. After that, they must not devour or fuse with other Heavenly Flames. Instead, they must devour vast quantities of natural treasures, rare and precious items, and even special forms of energy and souls, using their essence to nourish, temper, and strengthen their natal demon flame.
The stronger the demon flame, the greater the technique's progress and the faster the cultivator's cultivation rises.
Devouring all things to nourish a single flame leads to rapid advancement, but invites the jealousy of Heaven and the resentment of others. Those lacking resolve should cultivate with caution.
"Hmm?"
Ning Chen's gaze sharpened, and intense curiosity rose within him.
It wasn't the Flame Mantra, but it was also an evolvable technique—and its path was so unusual.
He focused his thoughts and opened the detailed description of the Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art.
Information flowed across the light screen, revealing a more specific explanation.
In short, the Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art directly turned the cultivator and their natal flame into Nihility Devouring Flame. The more natural treasures the cultivator devoured, the stronger their natal flame became, and the higher the technique's tier rose.
"Cultivate a single flame and devour all things to nourish it?"
Ning Chen stroked his chin, his eyes gleaming.
"That's the complete opposite of the Flame Mantra's path of fusing myriad flames."
The Flame Mantra was like a shrewd chef, drawing on the strengths of countless flames and carefully combining them into a lavish feast.
The Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art, on the other hand, was like a tyrant devoted to a single cause. It chose the strongest and then plundered every source of nourishment, sparing no expense to push it to the limit.
The former embraced many possibilities, with known potential.
The latter was singular and extreme, its path far more overbearing and greedy.
Ning Chen's gaze shifted back and forth between the descriptions of the two techniques. He fell into brief contemplation.
He'd only meant to try a few draws, but he'd stumbled upon a decision that might shape the foundation of his future cultivation.
After weighing it over, Ning Chen finally chose the Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art.
"Without the system, I'd have to find a way to cultivate the Flame Mantra. But with the system, if I still cultivate the Flame Mantra, what the hell was the point of getting it?"
"System, exchange for the Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art!"
[Points of surprise spent: 120,000.]
[Congratulations, host. You obtained a technique: Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art (Low Yellow Tier) scroll.]
As the system notification sounded, the panel rippled faintly. A simple scroll, neither metal nor wood, slowly appeared. It was pitch-black from end to end.
This was the Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art!
Seeing his points of surprise shrink dramatically, leaving just over 170,000, Ning Chen couldn't help wincing.
One hundred and twenty thousand! That would've been enough for more than a hundred draws!
After exchanging for the technique, Ning Chen didn't immediately start cultivating the Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art.
The technique required at least a fifth-tier Beast Flame—or a lower-tier Heavenly Flame—as the "seed" for condensing a natal demon flame.
The strongest flame he had was the fifth-tier Beast Flame he'd drawn earlier: Chi Xin Fire.
He could use a Beast Flame as his foundation, of course, but the starting point would be much lower, and he'd have to make up the difference with far more "nourishment" in the future.
He'd rather find a true Heavenly Flame, even one near the bottom of the rankings. A foundation of that kind would surely have far greater potential than a Beast Flame.
"The choice of a natal flame determines the foundation. There's no need to rush."
Ning Chen tamped down his urge to try the new technique at once, his thoughts clearing.
"The priority is to improve my immediate combat strength and prepare to obtain a more suitable 'seed,' along with the resources I'll need for cultivation afterward."
His next clear goal was the Heavenly Flame that might exist within the Chu Yun Empire, one that could happen to make up for the flaw in Xiao Yi Xian's Woeful Poison Body.
The Nether Poison Fire!
Its poisonous nature suited Xiao Yi Xian's constitution perfectly. If he could obtain it, it would be an excellent choice—whether he gave it to Xiao Yi Xian to help control her poison body or used it as the foundation for cultivating the Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art himself in the future.
But the Chu Yun Empire was a place ruled by poison masters, and its environment was treacherous. The Nether Poison Fire was even more strange and unpredictable.
Capturing it in an unfamiliar place would be no easy task.
He had to make thorough preparations!
Ning Chen's gaze sharpened. He sank his consciousness into the system shop again, but this time he skipped the lottery and headed straight for the section of special items with fixed prices and various functions.
He still had over 170,000 points of surprise—enough to stock up on some real "heavy-duty gear."
"First, I'll need some life-saving trump cards."
Ning Chen's fingers flew across the screen. He quickly locked onto a target...
Before you continue