C18 Pills Techniques Burning Flame

The selection trials have concluded.

Qin Ming emerged victorious, claiming first place, while Qin Yong secured second.

To Qin Ming's surprise, Qin Hao not only possessed an astonishing aptitude for alchemy but also managed to place sixth in the competition.

Qin Shan announced the results, presenting three Body Tempering Pills as rewards to the top three disciples.

This outcome was nothing short of miraculous. Qin Ming, at the Fourth Phase of the Spirit Founding Stage, had triumphed over Qin Wu, who was not only at the Sixth Phase but also skilled in Pills Techniques.

Everyone had already been impressed by Qin Ming's second awakening, but they were astounded that he had advanced to the Fourth Phase of the Spirit Founding Stage and won first place in the selection trials within just half a month.

It all seemed like a dream, one that Qin Shan was still struggling to believe.

Qin Zhenhsing appeared before the crowd, his voice detached, "Qin Xianer and Qin Ming will represent us at the Mobei City Newcomer Large Competition. I trust you will not disappoint the Qin Family."

Upon returning to his dwelling, Qin Ming was greeted by a large black and white dog sitting and smoking. It appeared Elder Chu had returned to the courtyard before the awards ceremony.

Since Elder Chu had awakened Little White's Heavenly Dog bloodline, the dog was no longer purely white but now sported a black and white coat, looking even more majestic.

Elder Chu commented lightly, "You did quite well."

Qin Ming scratched his head and grinned, "Without your Supreme Purity Pill Heart, I might not have made it."

The fact that Qin Wu had mastered Pills Techniques had taken Qin Ming by surprise. Without finding a breakthrough, even with his Great Completion Flat Heaven Seal, victory might have eluded him.

"The Pills Techniques he used must be incomplete," Elder Chu remarked.

Qin Ming looked puzzled.

"Do you understand why I haven't taught you the Pills Techniques?" Elder Chu asked with a smile.

Elder Chu explained that Pills Techniques were unique combat skills created by alchemists using themselves as the template, a special subset of martial arts.

With their endless variety, ordinary people would not dare to practice another alchemist's Pills Techniques. Qin Wu was such a case; his bloodline was ruined, and his realm had plummeted.

The Pills Techniques, despite their astonishing power, also come with significant limitations. They are restricted to the individual who created them and lack the versatility of martial skills.

This concern was precisely why Elder Chu had previously refrained from teaching Qin Ming the Pills Techniques, fearing the potential for backlash.

"The Pills Techniques that you craft yourself will be the most suitable for you," Elder Chu advised in the end.

Qin Ming nodded, deep in thought. His journey in alchemy was just beginning, and the idea of creating his own Pills Techniques seemed a distant goal.

"But life is full of surprises," Elder Chu remarked out of the blue. "Take these Pills Techniques, and try not to die too soon."

If Qin Ming hadn't had some understanding of the Pills Techniques during today's duel and found a breakthrough, he likely would have perished.

Burning Flame was one of the Pills Techniques Elder Chu had selected after scouring all known techniques, finding it to be one of the most compatible with Qin Ming's constitution.

Burning Flame wasn't a move but a technique to unleash the latent potential of one's bloodline. Activating it would cause the bloodline to combust, allowing Qin Ming to forcibly elevate his cultivation by one or two realms, depending on how much his bloodline was consumed.

Upon a slight application of the technique, Qin Ming felt his bloodline ignite.

"Hold on! While Burning Flame is somewhat compatible with your physique, it's not a perfect fit. Your body will reject it, so don't attempt it unless absolutely necessary," Elder Chu warned.

He explained that the repercussions of Burning Flame might not be as dire as those experienced by Qin Wu, but it could still leave Qin Ming weakened for a couple of weeks.

Qin Ming acknowledged this with care, stowing away the Burning Flame cautiously.

In a secluded room, an elder gently stroked the hair of an unconscious youth.

"Qin Ming, you dared to ruin my grandson's prospects; I will have your life for this," he seethed.

The elder was none other than Grand Elder Qin Kun of the Qin Family, and the defeated youth was his grandson, Qin Wu.

Qin Wu's status as a prodigy, and his potential to succeed as the Qin Family Chief, had been shattered, and Qin Kun blamed Qin Ming for it all.

From a shadowy corner of the chamber, Qin Kui interjected, "Qin Ming is the sole direct descendant of Qin Sheng. Should you act against him, you may well face their wrath in full measure."

He had the audacity to openly defy the royal family just to reclaim his grandson's lineage. It's uncertain if he'll even return alive.

That's the royal family of Gilt Country we're talking about. Qin Sheng's actions were akin to a futile attempt to shatter a rock with an egg.

"Qin Kui, seize the first chance you get to kill him," Qin Kun ordered, his eyes glinting with a murderous intent.

"Understood." Qin Kui vanished swiftly from the secret chamber.

"Qin Ming, you'll rue the day you were born," Qin Kun sneered maliciously.

His sinister laughter echoed through the chamber.

Three days on, Qin Ming had taken the Body Tempering Pill, his physique growing increasingly resilient, with a fearsome potential energy brewing within.

Having consumed five bottles of Beast Blood Pill, he had at last advanced to the Fifth Phase of the Spirit Founding Stage, his strength soaring to an impressive eight thousand Jin, partly thanks to the Body Tempering Pill.

To think he absorbed five bottles of Beast Blood Pill in just three days. No one would believe him if he shared this, but his Domineering Body, akin to the Green Essence Pill Body, could ingest an unlimited amount of pills, which explained the terrifying rate of absorption.

Qin Ming gazed at the ten remaining bottles of Beast Blood Pill in his hand and sighed softly. These Mix Pills were now ineffective for refining his bloodline.

Having ingested an excessive amount of Mix Pills, Qin Ming's body had developed a certain tolerance. To enhance his cultivation level swiftly, he would need higher quality Beast Blood Pills.

As Qin Ming stepped outside, the disciples who saw him recoiled with respect. In hushed tones, they greeted him, "Brother Ming."

Initially puzzled, Qin Ming soon caught on and acknowledged them with a nod.

Previously, none of the family's youth had shown him kindness. But now, having bested Qin Wu, he had inadvertently cemented his own authority.

Even the female disciples in the family would let out excited shrieks upon seeing Qin Ming.

"There goes Qin Ming. A once-in-a-generation talent of our family. A true man," they whispered, cheeks flushing.

The more audacious among them didn't hold back their admiration. "Qin Ming, I want to have your children," they declared unabashedly.

Qin Ming fled in a panic, his heart racing with fear.

He navigated the desolate streets until he arrived at the Ju Hsing Building once again.

In recent times, Guo Jie had grown noticeably gaunt. Helpless against Dayu Pharmacy's aggressive price undercutting of the Beast Blood Pill, he found himself without a single pill left in stock. Many loyal customers had deserted him.

With each passing day, the situation worsened, prompting headquarters to consider the likelihood of the branch's closure.

The Ju Hsing Building in Mobei City was merely a branch. Though Dayu Pharmacy was the cause of its troubles, shutting down the shop would invite severe consequences from the main office.

Upon seeing Qin Ming, the clerk wasted no time in notifying Guo Jie.

"Brother, have you come to trade Beast Blood Pills at Ju Hsing Building today?" Guo Jie asked, his eyes betraying his eagerness.

"Indeed. But I'm not interested in money; I'd like to barter the Beast Blood Pills for goods," Qin Ming replied, casually setting ten bottles of the pills on the counter.

"What do you need? Anything we have in Ju Hsing Building is yours for the taking."

Guo Jie's spirits lifted. Though ten bottles of Beast Blood Pill weren't a large quantity, they would help sustain the business for a while. Moreover, this was just the start of their partnership.

"I'm in need of aged Bloodmelting Vine, at least fifty years old. Additionally, I'm willing to trade for fresh Blood Essence," Qin Ming stated calmly.

Elder Chu had mentioned that older medicinal herbs increased the likelihood of producing higher-quality pills.

As for fresh Blood Essence, despite the risk of stirring chaotic Bloodline Power, when refined with the Miracle Hand Returning to Spring technique, the resulting Beast Blood Pills would be significantly more potent.

After a moment's thought, Guo Jie responded, "We have plenty of aged Bloodmelting Vine in stock. We don't have fresh Blood Essence at the moment, but I can arrange for hunters to procure some. It usually takes about five to six days."

Qin Ming replied promptly, "That works for me. I'll leave it to you then, Mr. Guo, to organize that."

Qin Ming wasn't surprised when he couldn't acquire fresh Blood Essence in time. Both Ju Hsing Building and Dayu Pharmacy consistently purchased dried Blood Essence to facilitate transport to other cities for trading Beast Blood Pills.

"Are all the Beast Blood Pills going to be traded for aged Bloodmelting Vine?"

In total, there were fifty Beast Blood Pills across ten bottles. Each pill was valued at 500 taels of silver, amounting to 25,000 taels in total. To any disciple, that represented a substantial amount of money.

"I'll first trade for 5,000 taels' worth of Bloodmelting Vine," Qin Ming stated.

Bloodmelting Vine was relatively inexpensive. With 5,000 taels, Qin Ming could refine it numerous times.

Guo Jie converted the remaining 20,000 taels into two hundred gold coins.

"Brother, you're always welcome to come back."

While two hundred gold coins was a significant sum, it could only fetch twenty jin of fresh Blood Essence.

The cost of Blood Essence was exorbitant; one jin equated to ten gold coins. Typically, a single demon beast contained only a small amount of Blood Essence.

As Qin Ming prepared to depart, an ostentatious voice echoed from outside.

"This store's location is prime. If we open a Wind Moon House here, I guarantee it'll be profitable."