Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art

Nearly 300,000 Surprise Points!

If this "huge fortune" were exchanged for Heavenly Flames, it would be enough to pocket the four Heavenly Flames that come after the Green Lotus Core Flame.

But there was no need for that at all. Deep within the Tagor Great Desert, there was already a masterless Green Lotus Core Flame waiting for him to "take." Why waste these precious Surprise Points?

"Thanks to the top-tier donor, Gu Yuan, for the Surprise Points..."

Ning Chen muttered to himself, offering a completely insincere thanks for the "outstanding contribution" made by that patriarch of the ancient clan.

Immediately, he rubbed his hands together and clicked into the system's glowing lottery area without a moment's hesitation.

"Let's start with nine pulls to test the waters!"

[Consumed Surprise Points: 9,000]

A phantom roulette wheel suddenly appeared, shining brilliantly before spinning at a dizzying speed, leaving behind a blur of light.

[Thanks for participating!]

[Thanks for participating!]

[Thanks for participating!]

[Thanks for participating!]

The opening was the same familiar "four-fold emptiness" recipe.

Ning Chen didn't change his expression; he was already used to the system's "personality."

However, perhaps his luck had turned, or maybe he was just having a decent day, as the next notification sound finally brought a different result.

[Congratulations to the host, obtained: Spirit Absorber (one)!]

[Congratulations to the host, obtained: Tier 3 Pill · Wind Travel Pill × 3!]

[Congratulations to the host, obtained: Tier 3 Pill · Qi Recovery Pill × 5!]

[Congratulations to the host, obtained: Lifetime Alchemy Memories and Insights of a Tier 4 Alchemist (can be integrated)!]

[Congratulations to the host, obtained: Flight Tool · Wind Riding Boat (High-grade flight tool, can activate a protective barrier when infused with Dou Qi, extremely fast, capable of traveling five thousand li per day with continuous flight)!]

Nine pulls, a total of five items obtained.

"A Spirit Absorber?"

Ning Chen raised an eyebrow. This was the key item for containing Heavenly Flames. Although he didn't need it right now, it was undoubtedly an essential rare material for the future.

The Tier 3 pills were standard supplies.

The memories and insights of a Tier 4 alchemist... this was worth a fortune. It would allow him to instantly possess the alchemy experience and knowledge of that level, saving him countless hours of trial and error. For someone currently lacking systematic alchemy knowledge, it was like rain after a long drought.

As for the Wind Riding Boat, it solved the problem of long-distance travel or carrying others while flying.

"Not a bad haul."

Ning Chen nodded with satisfaction. These 9,000 Surprise Points were well spent.

Just as he was about to continue the lottery, his heart suddenly stirred, and he remembered something.

Ning Chen immediately turned his focus to another area in the system shop.

[Technique Exchange]

A dazzling list of techniques flowed through his consciousness like a waterfall, ranging from the highest Heaven-tier to the lowest Huang-tier, covering everything. However, the staggering prices listed behind them made Ning Chen skip them entirely.

His gaze slid all the way down, finally stopping at the vast Huang-tier low-grade area.

This was a gathering place for trash techniques—cheap, and nobody would want them even if they were given away for free.

But Ning Chen's gaze locked precisely onto one unremarkable technique that was, however, incredibly familiar to a transmigrator like him.

Burning Art (Huang-tier low-grade)

Price: 100,000 Surprise Points

Note: Infinite potential, an evolutionary technique. Can achieve a leap in rank and power by devouring and fusing various Heavenly Flames.

Currently in an initial, incomplete state. The path of evolution is exceptionally difficult and carries high risks. Not to be practiced by those lacking great perseverance and great opportunity.

"Burning Art..." Ning Chen's eyes narrowed.

Sure enough, even this thing was in the system.

One hundred thousand Surprise Points was an astronomical price for a technique that was currently only Huang-tier low-grade, but considering its terrifying growth potential, the price seemed reasonable.

Should he switch to practicing the Burning Art?

Ning Chen felt a stir in his heart. At the very least, judging from the original story, there shouldn't be a technique on the entire Dou Qi Continent that allowed for faster cultivation than this one.

Moreover, only by practicing this technique could one obtain the inheritance of Ancient Emperor Tuoshe.

However, just as he was pondering, his peripheral vision caught another technique lying in the Huang-tier low-grade area right next to the Burning Art.

"Oh? Such an arrogant name?"

Ning Chen raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. The name of that technique was clearly—[Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art]!

Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art (Huang-tier low-grade)

Price: 120,000 Surprise Points

Note: Of mysterious origin, this is an extreme evolutionary cultivation technique. It differs significantly from the Burning Art's path of devouring and fusing ten thousand flames; this technique advocates that "one flame reigns supreme, and all things nourish the fire."

The practitioner must first obtain a flame to serve as their life-bound fire. Thereafter, they cannot devour or fuse other Heavenly Flames. Instead, they must devour vast quantities of natural treasures, rare artifacts, and even special energy bodies or soul bodies, using their essence to nourish, refine, and strengthen the life-bound Demon Flame.

As the Demon Flame grows stronger, the technique advances, and the cultivation level rises.

Devouring all things to serve a single flame leads to rapid progress but easily invites the jealousy of heaven and the resentment of men. Those with insufficient mental fortitude should cultivate it with caution.

"Hmm?"

Ning Chen's eyes narrowed suddenly, a strong sense of curiosity rising in his heart.

It wasn't the Burning Art, yet it was also a technique capable of evolution, and its path was so peculiar?

He focused his mind and opened the detailed description of the Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art.

Information flowed across the light screen, and more specific descriptions emerged.

In short, this Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art essentially turns the practitioner and their life-bound fire into a Void Devouring Flame. The more natural treasures one devours, the stronger the life-bound fire becomes, and the higher the grade of the technique rises.

"Only cultivate one flame, and devour everything to nourish it?"

Ning Chen rubbed his chin, his eyes sparkling with brilliance.

"This is the complete opposite extreme to the Burning Art's path of fusing ten thousand flames."

The Burning Art is like a shrewd chef, gathering the strengths of many flames to carefully prepare a full-course feast.

The Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art is like a single-minded tyrant, identifying one strongest flame and then plundering all nutrients at any cost to push it to the limit.

The former is inclusive and accommodating, with known potential.

The latter is singular and extreme, its path appearing more domineering and greedy.

Ning Chen's gaze swept back and forth between the introductions of the two techniques, falling into a brief contemplation.

He had originally just wanted to draw a prize, but he hadn't expected to encounter such an important choice that could affect the foundation of his future cultivation.

After much deliberation, Ning Chen ultimately chose the Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art.

"If I didn't have the system, I would have to find a way to cultivate the Burning Art. If I have the system and still have to cultivate the Burning Art, then wouldn't the system have come for nothing?"

"System, redeem the Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art!"

[Consumed Surprise Points: 120,000 points.]

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the technique: Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art (Yellow-tier Low-grade) scroll.]

Accompanied by the system prompt, the panel flickered with a subtle distortion, and immediately, an ancient, pitch-black scroll that felt like neither gold nor wood slowly manifested.

This was the Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art!

Looking at his Surprise Points, which had shrunk significantly to just over 170,000, Ning Chen couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.

120,000 points! That was enough for over a hundred more prize draws!

After redeeming the technique, Ning Chen did not immediately begin cultivating the Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art.

The starting requirement for this technique is at least a Tier 5 beast fire or a lower-tier Heavenly Flame to serve as the "fire seed" to condense the life-bound Demon Flame.

The strongest flame in his possession was merely the Tier 5 beast fire, Chi Xin Fire, which he had drawn previously.

While it was possible to lay the foundation with a beast fire, the starting point would undoubtedly be much lower, and the "nutrients" required to fill the gap in the future would be even more immense.

He preferred to find a true Heavenly Flame; even if it were ranked low, using it as a foundation would ensure his potential far exceeded that of a beast fire.

"The choice of the life-bound fire concerns my foundation; I cannot be hasty."

Ning Chen suppressed the urge to immediately try the new technique, his thoughts becoming clear.

"The top priority is to improve my immediate combat power to prepare for obtaining a more suitable 'fire seed' and subsequent cultivation resources."

His next clear target was within the Chu Yun Empire, where a Heavenly Flame might exist that could happen to remedy the defects of Little Fairy Doctor's Woeful Poison Body.

--Nether Poison Fire!

This flame possesses highly toxic attributes, which perfectly matches Little Fairy Doctor's constitution. If he could obtain it, it would be an excellent choice, whether for Little Fairy Doctor to control her poison body or for his own future use as a foundation for the Heaven Swallowing Demon Flame Art.

However, the Chu Yun Empire is a place where poison masters run rampant, the environment is treacherous, and the Nether Poison Fire is even more elusive and unpredictable.

Capturing it in an unfamiliar place would be no easy task.

He had to be fully prepared!

Ning Chen's eyes turned sharp as he sank his consciousness into the system mall again, but this time, he wasn't looking for prize draws; he headed straight for the section containing special items with clear price tags and various functions.

With over 170,000 Surprise Points left, he had enough to purchase a batch of "heavy-duty" gear.

"First, I need enough trump cards for survival."

Ning Chen's fingers swiped rapidly, and he quickly locked onto his target...