299: Be gentle

Having selected the Purple Fire Illusory Spirit Art, Jiang Donghua carefully placed it into his storage ring, a heavy weight lifted from his heart.

With this Earth Rank High Tier Fire Attribute Cultivation Technique, his cultivation foundation would be even more solid, and his future path clearer.

The two walked one after another, descending the ancient and quiet stairs of the Cultivation Technique Pavilion.

In the tranquil environment, only the soft echo of their footsteps resonated.

As they reached the corner of the stairs, about to leave this solemn place, Jiang Donghua paused, as if remembering something, and turned his head, a perfectly appropriate look of inquiry on his face, asking in a relaxed tone.

"Great Elder, you have traveled extensively, possess vast knowledge, and have over a hundred years of experience. What great storms haven't you seen?"

He first offered a well-placed compliment, then got to the point, asking with a hint of curiosity.

"I just wanted to ask, do you know if there might be any Heaven Rank Cultivation Techniques of the Fire Attribute in this world?"

Great Elder, who had just been slightly pleased by Jiang Donghua's comment about his vast knowledge and was stroking his beard, heard the words 'Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique,' and his smile instantly froze. Then, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, he nearly jumped!

His old face immediately fell, filled with an expression of helplessness and horror that screamed, 'You kid, you really dare to think big!'

"My little ancestor!"

Great Elder almost cried, grabbing Jiang Donghua's arm and lowering his voice, urgently advising him.

"Your curiosity is too strong! Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique? Is that something you can casually inquire about?!"

He looked left and right, afraid of eavesdroppers, and lowered his voice even further.

"Which force that possesses a Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique isn't a colossal entity that makes the Central Plains tremble with a mere stomp of its foot?"

"Those are ancient families or super sects with countless years of heritage! Their foundations are terrifyingly deep! Let alone you, even I, in front of them, am just like a slightly stronger ant!"

Great Elder earnestly advised, fearing that Jiang Donghua, being young and impetuous, might not know the immensity of heaven and earth and go after a Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique. That would be like an old man eating arsenic—simply courting death!

"Listen to my advice: it's good to like high-tier cultivation techniques, but you must also act within your capabilities!"

"Earth Rank High Tier is already enough for you to benefit immensely. Those Heaven Rank items are absolutely not something we can covet! You must not harbor any improper thoughts!"

Looking at the Great Elder's nervous and anxious expression, as if he feared Jiang Donghua would go to his death the next second, Jiang Donghua couldn't help but smile.

He naturally knew the weight of a Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique; he had merely asked casually to satisfy his curiosity.

He smiled and reassured him.

"Great Elder, rest assured, I was just asking out of curiosity. I know my limits and will never act recklessly."

Seeing that Jiang Donghua's expression was not feigned, Great Elder finally breathed a sigh of relief, patted his chest, and said with lingering fear.

"You kid, you almost scared me to death!"

He pondered for a moment, seemingly feeling that saying nothing at all was also not good. After all, Jiang Donghua's talent was indeed monstrous, and he might truly have the chance to reach that level in the future, so he cautiously began to speak.

"However, since you asked, I do know of a few places where clues to Heaven Rank Fire Attribute Cultivation Techniques might exist."

He held up two fingers.

"The foremost, naturally, is the Pill Tower of the Central Plains!"

"The Pill Tower gathers the continent's top Alchemists, and high-tier Alchemists are almost all exceptional in the Fire Attribute. Its foundation is unfathomably deep, making the possibility of it possessing a Heaven Rank Fire Attribute Cultivation Technique extremely high!"

"Secondly, there are those ancient families or sects in the Central Plains renowned for their Fire Attribute Dou Qi, such as the Fire Dragon Gate, Burning Flame Valley, and the like. These forces have a long heritage, with earth-shattering figures in their ancestry, and they also possess Heaven Rank inheritances."

At this point, Great Elder once again gravely warned.

"But it's only a 'might'! Moreover, these are all just rumors, and their veracity is hard to ascertain."

"Even if true, those are the very foundations of their existence, valued more than their own lives! You kid, just listen and don't take it seriously, much less go inquiring about it! Remember! Remember!"

Jiang Donghua committed these names to memory and nodded with a calm expression.

"Thank you for informing me, Great Elder. I understand."

In his heart, however, it was perfectly clear. Names like the Pill Tower, Fire Dragon Gate, and Burning Flame Valley were sown like seeds.

One day in the future, he would indeed interact with these forces, but definitely not now.

Hearing Great Elder mention forces like the Pill Tower and the Yan Clan, Jiang Donghua secretly nodded. This coincided with his own previous conjectures.

To obtain a true Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique, especially one of a mainstream attribute like Fire Attribute, the path through the Pill Tower, which allows advancement based on alchemy skill and contribution, was indeed the relatively most stable and autonomous choice.

He didn't want to join a major power for the sake of a cultivation technique, be constrained by it, and become someone else's enforcer or tool.

"Thank you for your guidance, Great Elder. I have a clear idea now."

Jiang Donghua cupped his hands in thanks, the blueprint of his future plans becoming even clearer in his mind.

At this moment, although the physical scroll of the Purple Fire Illusory Spirit Art still lay quietly in his storage ring, the moment he touched and perceived it, with the powerful Spirit Realm Soul Power, the complex cultivation chants, energy circulation diagrams, and various cultivation essentials and Precautions recorded within it had already been clearly imprinted into the depths of his mind, like a brand.

With just a thought, he could access and comprehend them at any time.

This was one of the benefits of powerful Soul Power.

Seeing Jiang Donghua's knowing and clear-eyed expression, Great Elder also relaxed.

He knew that although this kid sometimes acted unexpectedly, he was meticulous and definitely not a reckless person.

The two walked out of the Cultivation Technique Pavilion's shadow, into the sunlight.

Great Elder seemed to suddenly remember something, stopped, turned around, and said to Jiang Donghua with a hint of helplessness and a touch of mischievous amusement.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing I need to remind you about, kid."

"Tomorrow is the official start of the inner academy strong ranking list competition. With your current cultivation, go easy!"

Great Elder sized up Jiang Donghua, his tone a mix of teasing and seriousness.

"When you go on stage, you need to have some sense of measure and go easy! Don't reveal all your Four-Star Dou Huang strength; restrain yourself a bit, understand?"

He was mainly worried that if Jiang Donghua didn't control his strength well and accidentally injured those Dou Spirit and Dou King level students, it would be difficult to deal with the aftermath.

After all, the strength of a Four-Star Dou Huang was truly an over-the-top existence for Inner Academy Students.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Donghua immediately nodded repeatedly like a pecking chick, showing a docile expression of 'I understand, I get it,' and patted his chest, guaranteeing.

"Great Elder, rest assured! I know the importance of moderation! It's just a formality; I guarantee I'll stop at the right moment and won't harm my fellow students in the slightest!"

"My strength, I'll definitely hold back, hold back!"

Seeing Jiang Donghua's earnest demeanor, Great Elder nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand, saying.

"Alright, go. Prepare well. Tomorrow, well, just show an appropriate performance."

In his heart, however, he silently mourned for Qin Xiao and the other students who were eagerly preparing to challenge Jiang Donghua.

These kids probably still didn't know what kind of monster, holding back his strength, they were about to face.

Jiang Donghua bowed again and took his leave, turning to depart. Sunlight spilled on him, casting a long shadow, and the corner of his mouth subtly curved into an arc.

"An appropriate performance, huh? Got it."

He thought to himself.