Crimson Flame Fist Technique

Qin Rushuang calmly met his gaze. "There are no absolutely right or wrong methods, only personal choices. But breaking through with a shortcut, even if you painstakingly hone it to Perfection later, will ultimately make it difficult to match the combat power and foundation of those martial artists who take one step at a time and pursue their limits at each level. More importantly, this is tantamount to putting the cart before the horse and overdrawing one's potential. Perhaps someone who originally had higher talent and could have gone further will have exhausted their future path prematurely."

These words resonated deeply, prompting many to reflect.

Upon hearing this, Instructor Snow Dynasty chuckled, a hint of self-deprecation mixed with disdain. "While your words have merit, they are far too idealistic. We are all mere ants in this mortal world, our hopes of leaping over the dragon gate are already slim, relying on a mere sliver of luck! In that case, why bother with those so-called limits and foundations? Being able to seize the opportunity before us and elevate our cultivation is already a stroke of good fortune!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Rushuang's heart stirred slightly, and she glanced at the Snow Dynasty instructor with some surprise.

'This person... it seems he's not entirely ignorant of the affairs of the Central Continent. What he said isn't wrong; for martial artists in this remote place, even with poor talent, if they are fortunate enough to obtain a sliver of opportunity from the Central Continent, let alone Qi Refining, reaching a higher realm is not impossible...'

However, most of the students present were confused, not quite understanding the arguments about "ants" and "luck," and only feeling that the Snow Dynasty's cultivation methods seemed somewhat... utilitarian?

Just then, a long, regretful sigh came from the area near the Crimson Flame Stele. A Qi Refining Realm expert who had been sitting cross-legged for a long time slowly opened his eyes, his face filled with deep disappointment and resentment. The faint flames that had just risen around him went out suddenly, like a candle flickering in the wind.

"Sigh, another failure! Just a hair's breadth away!" The Qi Refining Realm expert pounded his chest and stamped his feet in frustration.

"Yes, the artistic conception of this Crimson Flame Stele is too domineering. To truly Entry is as difficult as ascending to heaven!" someone next to him echoed, clearly sharing the same sentiment.

Hearing the discussions in front, the trainees in the back couldn't help but start whispering their own thoughts.

"What did you all see?" Wang Bufan spoke first. He had been staring at the stone tablet for a long time, and his eyes felt swollen and his mind was a mess.

"It's fire." Zhao Jin said succinctly, as if she could sense a pure fire power within it.

"No, it's destruction that burns everything!" a female student from the Snow Dynasty said coldly, her understanding clearly more extreme.

Upon hearing Xi Feng, Xi Feng grew even more anxious, secretly vowing, 'No! I must understand more and more deeply than them! This might be my chance to catch up with or even surpass them!'

A sense of urgency enveloped everyone. They stopped talking, focused their minds, and once again immersed themselves in comprehending the Crimson Flame Stele, trying to glean some secrets from it.

After the initial scorching heat, Dongfang Yueming seemed to see countless leaping and surging flames flashing before his eyes. These images eventually intertwined and condensed, transforming into a set of powerful, domineering, and majestic fist techniques, which were deeply imprinted in his mind.

A thought struck him, and his consciousness sank into the system panel.

[Character: Dongfang Yueming]

[Realm: Body Tempering - Tendon Transformation Realm (Minor Accomplishment) (Gain 20 points daily)]

[Techniques: Basic Skin Tempering Method (Perfection), Layered Wave Skin Tempering Method (Perfection), Crimson Sun Flesh Refining Method (Perfection), Nine-Turn Coiled Dragon Force (Perfection), Hundred Beasts Bone Tempering Method (Perfection), Ten Thousand Beasts Bone Tempering Method (Perfection), Furious Tiger Tendon Transformation Method (0/100, Minor Accomplishment)]

[Martial Arts: Basic Thirteen Fast Saber Forms (Perfection), Swift Gale Movement Technique (Perfection), Venomous Snake Dagger Technique Fierce Tiger Fist Technique (0/1, Not Yet Entry), Fierce Tiger Fist Technique (Perfection), Gale Saber Technique (Perfection), Whirlwind Leg (Perfection), Blood Burning Secret Method (Perfection), Crimson Flame Fist Technique (0/200, Not Yet Entry)]

[Points:360]

Sure enough! A new martial art called [Crimson Flame Fist Technique] had appeared on the panel. Its initial state was "Entry," but it required a full 200 points to upgrade to "Entry"! This undoubtedly proved that the fist technique was of extremely high quality!

Dongfang Yueming felt a chill run down his spine; this expenditure was almost the sum of several martial arts techniques he had previously Perfection.

'But... should we Point Allocation now?' He hesitated slightly.

To directly comprehend a profound fist technique from the Crimson Flame Stele is simply too astonishing. Moreover...

After a moment's thought, Dongfang Yueming slowly stood up.

"Hmm?" Wang Bufan, who had been secretly observing Dongfang Yueming, was taken aback upon seeing this. This guy... gave up already? I thought he could figure something out!

The female student from the Snow Dynasty who had previously grasped the essence of "burning away" noticed a strange glint in her beautiful eyes as she watched Dongfang Yueming rise. She thought to herself, 'This person's aura is restrained, his steps are steady; he seems destined for greatness... Why did he rise so quickly? Was it because he gained nothing, or... is there another reason?'

Ignoring the stares of others, Dongfang Yueming walked straight to Qin Rushuang.

"Instructor Qin," he said with a hint of curiosity, "Won't you go and study this Crimson Flame Stele?"

He was indeed puzzled. Since this stone tablet was so extraordinary that even Zhao Qingfeng, Qi Refining Realm, was eager to possess it, why did Qin Rushuang remain indifferent?

Upon hearing this, Qin Rushuang smiled faintly and shook her head, "I don't need it."

These three simple words exude an indescribable confidence and... transcendence.

Dongfang Yueming was startled, his curiosity about Qin Rushuang's background growing even stronger: 'It seems her background is far more profound than I imagined!'

He composed himself and asked another question, "Instructor Qin, if... I mean, if someone were to comprehend a method from this Crimson Flame Stele, would they necessarily have to join the Earth Spirit Sect?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Rushuang glanced at him with some surprise. 'This kid is only at the Tendon Transformation Realm, and he's already thinking about such long-term issues? However, given his talent, it's not entirely unfounded.'

She pondered for a moment, then said, "If you want to steadily cultivate the methods you've learned from the Crimson Flame Stele, and even use them to reach higher realms, such as... the Grandmaster realm, then joining the Earth Spirit Sect and obtaining subsequent cultivation techniques is almost the only option."

Grandmaster... Dongfang Yueming's heart stirred slightly. Judging from Instructor Qin's words, there were realms beyond Grandmaster?

Seemingly sensing his confusion, Qin Rushuang lowered her voice slightly, offering a hint of guidance, and quietly transmitted her voice. "Grandmaster is not the end of Martial Dao. After Grandmaster, if one wishes to reach the Innate, one must use the Martial Dao True Intent that one comprehends as a guide to reshape the physical body and forge Innate Physique. Different Martial Dao True Intent and methods will forge different grades of Innate Physique! And the Earth Spirit Sect, or rather the Scarlet Flame Sect behind it, provides such a path. But..."

She then changed the subject, "Once you choose this path and cultivate their Entry techniques, your future choices of cultivation methods will be greatly limited. If you want to switch to other systems, the conflicting attributes will cause your cultivation to stagnate or even lead to qi deviation. Even if you succeed by chance, your combat strength at the same level will be greatly reduced."

Dongfang Yueming understood, and then asked, "Isn't it possible to cultivate multiple different attribute techniques at the same time? For example, combining water and fire?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Rushuang chuckled and said, "You little rascal, you're quite greedy! Ordinary martial artists find it difficult enough to dedicate their entire lives to mastering just one technique, let alone dare to aspire to cultivate multiple techniques simultaneously. Water and fire are incompatible, yin and yang are incompatible; how can you balance two conflicting techniques if you force yourself to cultivate them? The slightest mistake will result in internal energy disorder and death from body explosion! Throughout history, those who have been able to achieve this have all been exceptionally talented individuals with extraordinary fortune!"

But she couldn't help but think of that name— Dongfang Ri.