190: Chapter 19, 32 points!

"Among the five core legacies of the Five Elements Sect, based on years of attempts and statistics by our Modu University of Martial Arts,

only the Metal-element 'Tai Bai Sharp Gold Art' and the Earth-element 'Thick Earth Kun Yuan Art' have seen sporadic success, with a few seniors or students achieving some accomplishment in them.

As for the Water-element 'Dark Ice Water Manual', the Wood-element 'Yi Mu Evergreen Art', the Fire-element 'Nan Ming Li Fire Art', and the legendary 'Five Elements Primordial Scripture',

practitioners either progress extremely slowly or simply cannot even begin, with very few records of anyone cultivating them to a profound realm."

Qin Yan committed every word of his teacher's warning to heart and nodded solemnly: "I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Teacher."

He was now almost at the third rank and needed to start preparing for the middle-rank realm in advance.

Whether it was to accumulate 'Skill Points' for the future initiation of cultivation techniques or to learn in detail about the desired techniques, their cultivation conditions, and the required 'medium' resources, it was time to put these on the agenda.

"Good. Since you are so determined, I will explain it to you in detail."

Seeing Qin Yan's serious attitude, Xiao Huo refrained from further admonishment and began his detailed explanation. "The more powerful a cultivation technique, the more demanding its 'initiation' requirements are for 'external medium' resources.

This is often one of the barriers that block countless geniuses."

"Based on the university's years of research on the Five Elements Sect's techniques within the Secret Realm Tower, aside from the 'Five Elements Primordial Scripture', every other known core technique has a prerequisite for 'perfect initiation': it requires a seventh-rank primary material resource of the corresponding element to serve as the core medium!"

"Seventh-rank resources?!"

Qin Yan's heart shook.

"That's right. Seventh-rank."

Xiao Huo's expression was grave. "For example, the 'Nan Ming Li Fire Art' requires seventh-rank Fire-attribute treasures of extreme Yang and fierceness, such as 'Earth's Core Flame Marrow' or 'Sun Essence Gold'.

The 'Yi Mu Evergreen Art' likely requires seventh-rank Wood-attribute holy items like 'Ten-Thousand-Year Tree Heart' or 'Yi Mu Spiritual Root', which contain vast life essence..."

"And that's just the primary medium!"

Xiao Huo continued, "In addition, several sixth-rank 'auxiliary medium' resources are needed to harmonize, stabilize, and nourish the technique's core, gradually unlocking its potential.

The cost is so immense it could drain a small clan's century of accumulated wealth!"

The Alchemy Room fell silent, with only Xiao Huo's low voice echoing within.

Ye Hongxiao, Chu Feng, Ancient Yue, and the others also wore solemn expressions. Although they weren't cultivating Five Elements Sect techniques, they were well aware of their harshdemands.

Lu Youyou was also shocked by the terrifying resource requirements.

...

At noon.

Qin Yan and Lu Youyou walked side by side out of the Alchemy Room.

The cool outdoor air refreshed Qin Yan's spirit, but the heaviness in his heart caused by the technique's high threshold did not completely dissipate.

The towering resource demands of the Five Elements Sect techniques hung over his future path like a dark cloud.

Seemingly sensing the thoughts beneath Qin Yan's silence, Lu Youyou slowed her pace, turned her head slightly, and said softly, "Junior Brother, don't put too much pressure on yourself.

Teacher just mentioned that the technique mediums are allowed to be 'substituted' to a certain degree."

"Using a perfectly matched seventh-rank resource for initiation is naturally the optimal state, called 'perfect initiation'. It provides the most solid foundation, ensures smooth subsequent cultivation, and yields the highest quality of true qi.

Using a substitute for initiation, while it may reduce cultivation speed, true qi purity, and even some of the technique's unique capabilities, as long as you successfully initiate, the path is considered open."

Hearing this, Qin Yan's mind cleared somewhat.

The road must be walked step by step; a meal must be eaten bite by bite.

First, obtain the qualification for initiation and start climbing using available conditions—that is far more practical than standing still and gazing up at the peak.

"Moreover, this 'substitution' is not permanent.

As long as, in the future, before breaking through to the Grandmaster realm where the technique requires further transformation and sublimation, you can find and supplement it with the perfect seventh-rank medium, all the defects caused by the earlier substitution can be remedied."

"Thank you for the guidance, Senior Sister," Qin Yan said sincerely.

Lu Youyou waved her hand, a hint of emotion appearing on her face. "But honestly, the techniques of the Five Elements Sect are truly outrageous.

Ordinary techniques mostly require fourth or fifth-rank resources as initiation mediums. More formidable ones might demand sixth-rank, which is already remarkable.

But these? They directly demand seventh-rank, Grandmaster-level treasures..."

The two chatted a while longer. At the fork in the road, Lu Youyou went to attend to her own matters, while Qin Yan headed straight back to his manor.

...

In the afternoon, inside the manor.

Qin Yan first took out the jade vial gifted by Fourth Senior Brother Chu Feng, poured out a 'bone nurturing pill', and swallowed it.

The pill melted upon entering his mouth, transforming into a warm current.

It wasn't intense; instead, it quickly permeated his entire body like hot spring water, especially gathering towards his bones.

His bones, already refined to Perfection, emitted faint, almost imperceptible hums under the nourishment of this pure medicinal power.

They began a subtle process of strengthening and 'polishing'.

"Truly worthy of being a precious pill valued at 16 academic credits. The medicinal effect is indeed potent and long-lasting," Qin Yan silently praised. This 'bone nurturing pill' did not focus on violent refinement but rather on 'nurturing' and 'sublimation'.

It was gentler and more focused on the foundation, perfectly suited to his current need to consolidate and push his limits.

At the same time, Qin Yan spent 30 academic credits to purchase a bottle of second-grade pills called 'Spirit Condensing Dew' from the regular exchange list.

The main ingredient of this pill was 'Ice Heart Grass', which grows in extremely cold regions.

Supplemented by several calming medicinal herbs, it had a notable effect on nurturing and enhancing spiritual power.

His spiritual power had already reached 68 Hertz, just a step away from the 70 Hertz required to qualify as a Second-Grade Alchemist. He decided to give it a final push with medicinal power.

Once the Spirit Condensing Dew arrived, Qin Yan consumed it immediately. Instantly, a cooling sensation rushed straight to his mind.

It invigorated his spirit, making his thoughts clearer and sharper.

He wasted no more time and immediately began his high-intensity cultivation session for the afternoon and evening.

Spear shadows danced; blood and qi surged.

Time flew by in his focused state.

When that night's cultivation ended, Qin Yan called up his status panel and was satisfied to see an increase of 12 points in the Skill Points column.

Added to his previous remaining points, the total was now 32.

Ever since his 'Nine Revolutions Golden Body Spear' reached Perfection, he hadn't immediately used the Skill Points he gained but chose to save them.

Currently, the skills he could directly apply points to were 【Alchemy】. However, he wasn't in urgent need of resources recently, so there was no need to hastily use precious Skill Points to forcibly elevate it.

The other was 【Spear Technique】, which he hadn't considered adding points to for now.

Moreover, he already had a plan in mind—once he broke through to the second-rank limit, he would challenge the 'Secret Realm Tower'!

According to Teacher Fang Yan, passing an integer floor for the first time granted an opportunity for 'Martial Arts Skill Infusion'.

He was saving his Skill Points to prepare for cultivating the subsequent chapter of the 'Nine Revolutions Golden Body Spear'—the 'Blood Refining Chapter'." ],