Huang Shi breathed heavily staring at the aftermath of the battle, as the White King Lion laid on the ground slowly turning into ash, after a few moments of silence he suddenly gave the circular halo floating behind his back—which seemed to be flowing with concentrated golden flames—a deep look as he remembered the circumstances that led to him developing this new all-powerful technique.
A few days ago, after once again being smashed into the ground by Bai Xinyue, Huang Shi was trying to analyze what went wrong in their fight while his face was eating dirt. He grumbled and stood up.
"Why the hell can't I even touch you? We are basically at the same cultivation level since you're holding back; the difference between us can't be that big!"
Bai Xinyue looked at him with a thoughtful expression, showing none of the smugness she usually had when she managed to beat him up. After a few seconds, she finally spoke words that made him quickly turn his head in attention.
"I think I know what problem you have right now."
Huang Shi, who was already feeling a bit depressed at his seemingly poor performance, quickly replied, "What is it? What can I do to improve?"
Bai Xinyue kept quiet for a few seconds, walking around his body in circles as if trying to analyze him like a specimen.
"You don't have enough direct offensive techniques. From what I've noticed, the only things you have currently are forming your golden flames into that massive sword and just throwing out a straightforward punch. How is that enough?"
Huang Shi stayed quiet for a few seconds. This was something that he had already noticed beforehand; however, for some reason, he refused to acknowledge it. Finally, he opened his mouth and spoke with a bit of hesitation.
"I already have my Nine Sun Immortal Codex. What more do I need? Do I need to learn those inferior cultivation techniques just to make up for my offensive and defensive abilities? What happens if I outgrow those techniques? Will I learn something else again?"
Bai Xinyue furrowed her brows as this was a philosophy she couldn't understand. However, as a person who also had a Heavenly Physique just like him—which also had its own innate cultivation technique—she could sort of see where he was coming from. However, she still felt the need to correct him.
"You do understand that the innate cultivation technique of our Heavenly Physique is primarily used for gathering spiritual energy and advancing our cultivation. It's not really an offensive, defensive, or even evasive technique. This means that if you find an enemy that you can't beat, they'll just outpace you and win because of the vast amount of tools in their arsenal."
Huang Shi still wore an unconvinced expression, as if he still could not understand the necessity of learning other techniques. Bai Xinyue, on the other hand, didn't feel the need to force the issue.
After all, different people had different ways of seeing the world. Even if, in her opinion, it was very inefficient for Huang Shi to not bother to learn any other cultivation technique, she would still choose to respect his decision.
However, just because she respected his decision did not mean that she wouldn't beat him up for his choices. After all, if his decisions made him a weakling, that was his fault and no one else's.
After a full day of being thrashed by Bai Xinyue, Huang Shi finally had enough. He turned to the system for advice regarding his current predicament.
[The host can use his Scum Points to buy different techniques from the shop.]
Instantly, a scowl formed on Huang Shi's face as he rejected the idea. He barely had enough Scum Points to support the advancement of his cultivation; he couldn't afford to waste them on techniques that he would eventually replace one day.
Think... think... there has to be a way...
Huang Shi then thought of something as he remembered a technique he had largely ignored, despite being interested in it when he first saw it at the Information Hall.
[Pill Flame Control Art]
Hmm... this is basically a way for alchemists to improve their control over alchemical flames. It increases the purity of the medicinal pills they create and makes it so that their flames can be used in combat if they wish.
After reading through the manual for about an hour, he finally caught the gist of it. He raised his palm and focused.
WHOOSH!
All of a sudden, a tiny circular halo appeared in the middle of his hand, with an empty space in its center. After a few seconds of thought, his golden flames suddenly erupted from within the halo, and he immediately felt the difference.
Hmm... it's definitely easier to control. I can use this...
However, the moment Huang Shi started trying to utilize the technique for his own benefit, a notification from the system suddenly resounded within his mind.
[Analyzing Pill Flame Control Art...]
[Analysis Failed.]
[Trying Again...]
[Analysis Failed.]
[Analysis Failed.]
.... DING!
[Analysis Success.]
[Pill Flame Halo has been converted to Primordial Sunfyre Halo.]
WHOOSH!
All of a sudden, a massive amount of information was sent directly into Huang Shi's head. He felt the ins and outs of the technique flood his mind, and the moment he learned what the technique was truly about, his eyes instantly shone with pure excitement.
This... this thing is amazing... with this, I can finally accomplish the goals I had when I first received my Heavenly Physique...
A wide grin spread across his face as the possibilities became clear.
I can be a so-called pyromancer... just like in one of those games from my previous world!
With this new technique that the system had analyzed for him he was no longer limited to just swinging a big fire sword or throwing a basic punch filled with golden flames.
With the Primordial Sunfyre Halo, he could shape, command, and launch his flames with the precision of an all powerful magician, or even a flame spirit if those things existed in this world
Dang… I can't believe I'm such a genius!