Origin Qi Manipulation Art!

"Backpack Space! This was far superior to any storage tool like a Storage Ring.

Unfortunately, while it had no limit on space, the number of items it could hold was tied to soul power. Otherwise, it would be the perfect weapon for ambushing people."

Just imagine it: storing an entire mountain in the backpack, then suddenly releasing it during a battle. Tsk, tsk. They would all be crushed into pancakes.

Inside a room on the second floor of an inn.

Mu Chen played with the gold coins in his hand, letting them flow between his fingers. The crisp clinking of coin against coin was exceptionally pleasing to the ear.

The gold coins taken from Bali and the others were negligible. Mu Chen currently had only a little over a hundred thousand gold coins on him, but these universally accepted currencies of the continent were still quite valuable to him.

The system's unlocked function was related to lotteries. It was called the "Wheel Prize Pool," and the rewards within made Mu Chen drool.

Naturally, drawing prizes required drawing chances. Aside from completing the "missions" issued by the system, he could also spend a certain number of "points" to draw.

Points came from sacrificing items. The value of the sacrificed item would be converted into an equivalent amount of points, and gold coins were also considered sacrificial items.

After putting away all the gold coins, Mu Chen took out the "technique light orb" he had obtained from the Newcomer Gift Box.

The technique light orb was only the size of a ping-pong ball. It radiated a purple glow like the starry sky, resembling a brilliant, shining star.

Origin Qi Manipulation Art, Lower Volume. Earth-tier Low-Grade Technique. Purple Quality.

Effect: Open up "Origin Space"! It can absorb energy of all attributes and convert it into Dou Qi of attributes possessed by the user.

Once enough energy of a corresponding attribute has been absorbed, the user can gain that attribute. The user can freely switch among awakened energy attributes. (Only the host may cultivate this technique!)

"Gasp! What a monstrous technique. Wasn't this far stronger than that Flame Mantra?"

Mu Chen's face was full of shock. It accepted energy from every attribute without discrimination, meaning he could absorb energy of every attribute. There would be no restrictions from his physique, and his cultivation efficiency would be several times that of ordinary people. Even someone with poor aptitude could become a genius by cultivating this technique.

Moreover, according to the technique's description, as long as he absorbed enough energy, wouldn't he be able to gather every attribute and forge them into one body? Imagine fighting an enemy and suddenly switching attributes—sparks laced with lightning, hail carrying blazing flames...

Mu Chen rubbed his hands together and hurriedly absorbed the technique light orb. In an instant, the cultivation method of the Origin Qi Manipulation Art was imprinted into his mind, while the purple star-like orb passed through his body and opened up "Origin Space" at the center of his qi vortex.

"Wood Attribute. This is the attribute originally possessed by my physique. It provides a certain degree of defense and speeds up Dou Qi recovery. Its offensive power is a little lacking, but overall, it's not bad."

Mu Chen smiled and took out another card that shone with golden light.

Divine-Grade Talent Card: Golden Quality!

Effect: After use, the host's innate talent will be raised to Divine Grade.

The description was simple and straightforward, yet it was worthy of its golden quality.

Everyone knew that cultivating Dou Qi required talent, learning Dou Techniques required talent, refining pills also required talent... In short, this card could turn Mu Chen into an all-around god-tier genius.

After he used it, the card in his hand transformed into countless golden particles and merged into Mu Chen's body, just like the previous Douzhe Cultivation Card.

Within his body, his meridians expanded on their own. Each speck of golden light acted upon them, and some specific meridians even began to generate new branches. Under the effect of the golden sand, his meridians were expanded to the limit and became more resilient. They could hold and absorb far greater amounts of energy, and activating Dou Techniques would become easier than for others. The benefits in battle went without saying.

Mu Chen clicked his tongue in amazement, his eyes filled with delight. Although the Divine-Grade Talent Card had not brought a tangible increase in strength, the hidden benefits it offered for cultivation were enough to make everyone jealous.

Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he formed a cultivation seal with his hands, closed his eyes slightly, and began his initial cultivation.

In an instant, as the Origin Qi Manipulation Art circulated, countless strands of heaven and earth energy were drawn in. They streamed through the cracks in the open doors and windows, pouring into Mu Chen's meridians, where they were greedily devoured and absorbed under the control of his mind.

His mind was clear as a mirror. Mu Chen methodically controlled the energy surging into his meridians, moving it into the qi vortex one strand at a time and converting it into Dou Qi that belonged to him.

Thanks to the changes brought by the Divine-Grade Talent Card, he no longer needed to worry that his meridians would be unable to withstand the cultivation efficiency of an Earth-tier Technique.

The Origin Space at the center of the qi vortex trembled slightly, as if it had been awakened. A tiny crack opened, and the energy entering the qi vortex was drawn toward Origin Space. That crack was like a bridge connecting Origin Space and the qi vortex. Gradually, all the heaven and earth energy flowing in from outside was pulled into Origin Space.

Mu Chen discovered that as energy entered Origin Space, it separated into several smaller spaces. The energy entering them was likewise divided into the energies of various attributes. As the technique circulated, those small spaces glowed faintly, purifying the energy before it finally flowed into the qi vortex and transformed into Wood Attribute Dou Qi, increasing Mu Chen's strength.

The feeling of growing stronger step by step made Mu Chen unable to stop. It was not boring in the slightest.

Mu Chen could not resist increasing the force with which he drew in heaven and earth energy. At once, the rapidly surging energy actually formed a faint energy funnel above the inn.

At that moment, everyone in Qing Mountain Town who had reached the Dou Zhe realm turned their shocked gazes toward the sky above an inn in town. When they saw the faint energy funnel, countless gasps rang out.

"Who is inside that inn? Such a phenomenon appeared during cultivation. Could the technique being cultivated be a legendary Earth-tier Technique?" A burly mercenary at the Dou Zhe level spoke with suspicion in his voice, his eyes full of burning greed.

Beside him, a Dou Master expert living in seclusion in Qing Mountain Town withdrew his gaze. Seeing the greed on everyone's faces, he snorted heavily. "Do not seek your own deaths! How rare are Earth-tier Techniques? Even the empire's dominant force, the Misty Cloud Sect, may not possess an Earth-tier Technique.

"In this old man's view, the person cultivating inside that inn is at least a Dou Ling expert. Only such an expert could cause such a shocking phenomenon while cultivating."

Hearing the old man's words, especially after sensing the Dou Master aura he inadvertently revealed, the mercenaries reluctantly withdrew their covetous gazes.

A Dou Ling expert! Even within the entire Jia Ma Empire, such a person held considerable status. At the very least, Qing Mountain Town, which did not even have a Da Dou Shi, could not afford to provoke one.

Immediately, everyone extinguished the greed in their hearts. Their gazes toward the inn were now filled with reverence.

No reckless fool chose to verify whether the old man's words were true. The people of Qingshan Town were mostly mercenaries. They might have more courage than ordinary people, but that did not mean they did not value their lives.

Whether or not there was truly a Dou Ling inside the inn, judging by the situation, it was not someone a mere Dou Zhe could provoke.

Naturally, Mu Chen, immersed in cultivation, had no idea that his cultivation had stirred up such a commotion in Qing Mountain Town. Only half an hour later did he reluctantly withdraw from his cultivation state.

"With this cultivation speed, I only need to cultivate in peace for two or three days to raise my strength by one star.

"Tsk, tsk. Divine-Grade Talent combined with this technique makes cultivation absurdly easy. Increasing my strength is as simple as eating and drinking."

Half an hour was enough for Mu Chen to fully understand the benefits brought by the technique. The key was not its speed of absorbing energy, but Origin Space! That was the greatest benefit this technique provided.

"Xuan Huang Flame, ranked twenty-third among the Heavenly Flames."

Mu Chen looked at the yellow flame floating in the empty air before him. The instant it appeared, the temperature in the room became scorching hot. The slowly rising, intertwining flames were held in midair by a strange force. With the system suppressing it, its terrifying heat was only slightly revealed. Otherwise, the moment it appeared, it would have been enough to turn all of Qing Mountain Town into a sea of fire.

"Devour!"

Mu Chen admired it for a moment, then used the Origin Qi Manipulation Art to devour the Xuan Huang Flame into his body.

After becoming Mu Chen's exclusive item, the flame could no longer harm him in the slightest. Thus, the devouring process went smoothly. Unlike in the original story, Xiao Yan had been tormented until he was covered in wounds in order to subdue a Heavenly Flame, barely succeeding after narrowly escaping death countless times.

The vast energy carried by the Xuan Huang Flame turned into a torrent of fire and entered the Fire Attribute small space within Origin Space.

The Xuan Huang Flame had originally been born from the purest Fire Attribute source energy, so just as expected, Mu Chen awakened the highly destructive Fire Attribute one minute later.

The Xuan Huang Flame was stored within the Fire Attribute small space. The tremendous energy it contained then flowed out of that small space and entered the qi vortex outside.

Mu Chen hurriedly circulated the Origin Qi Manipulation Art. His Dou Qi rapidly increased, and his cultivation realm also broke through at astonishing speed.

Outside, the people of the town looked at the even larger energy funnel above the inn, and the reverence in their eyes deepened. Everyone now believed that the person inside the inn was definitely a Dou Ling expert of noble status. Perhaps he might even be a legendary Dou Wang capable of forming Dou Qi Wings!

Mu Chen focused his mind and did everything he could to guide and organize the newly born Fire Attribute Dou Qi. His cultivation was soaring at an incredible rate.

Two-Star Dou Zhe!

Three-Star Dou Zhe!

Only after advancing to a Six-Star Dou Zhe did Mu Chen worry that his foundation would become too unstable. He then forcibly suppressed his urge to continue breaking through and restrained the rise of his realm.

As the Origin Qi Manipulation Art circulated, the energy belonging to the Xuan Huang Flame was tightly sealed within the Fire Attribute small space. Even after raising Mu Chen's strength by a full five stars, more than half of its energy still remained.

"As expected of a Heavenly Flame. It truly is terrifying! If Xiao Yan learned of my speed of advancement and how easily I absorbed this Heavenly Flame, he would probably start doubting his life."

Since the Wolf Head Mercenary Group still existed, the plot probably had not yet progressed to Qing Mountain Town.

The protagonist, Xiao Yan! To be honest, Mu Chen rather admired him. To prove himself, he had walked alone out of the fallen Xiao Clan and eventually became the Flame Emperor revered by all. Who knew how many hardships and twists he had endured along the way? His character, clearly distinguishing gratitude from grudges, was also praised by many. He was often used to compare against a certain third-rate negative example...

As for his flaws, it seemed there was only the fact that he flirted but never married, which drew plenty of criticism. Mu Chen was very dissatisfied with that. If he wanted to be a playboy, then fine—but if he had the nerve to provoke someone, he had to have the nerve to take responsibility.

Xiao Yi Xian, Yun Yun... What a pity.

Mu Chen had no intention of stepping on Xiao Yan. Of course, that was only on the condition that Xiao Yan did not provoke him.

Although he admired Xiao Yan somewhat, since they were in the same world, Mu Chen had no intention of living beneath anyone else. The only one who would rule over the Dou Qi Continent in the future could be himself.

"Since I've come to this world, then I'll write my own legend to my heart's content."