C11 [mixed Yuan Exercise]

"Here are two hundred and ten Spirit Stones for you, sir," the maid said as she swiftly presented the Spirit Stones. Cradling a brocade pouch in her hands, she offered it to Qin Ming with due reverence.

Qin Ming accepted the pouch and nonchalantly selected a few mid-grade Spirit Stones. "I'd like several batches of Spiritual Plants for Qi Refining Pills. Could you arrange that for me?"

The Qi Refining Pill was a fundamental pill, essential for aiding cultivators at both the Martial Warrior and Martial Master Stages.

"Certainly, sir. Just a moment, please." The maid accepted the Spirit Stones and made her way behind the counter.

"May I have the honor of knowing your esteemed name?" inquired Manager Lee.

Qin Ming responded with a polite nod, "I am Qin Ming, of the Qin surname."

"Aha, the young master of the Qin Family! Your reputation precedes you. The Qin Family is truly blessed with many talents," Manager Lee beamed.

Beside him, Qin Qing pursed her lips in skepticism. Despite being the Qin Family's eldest son, Qin Ming had been unrecognized by Manager Lee for quite some time. Clearly, the manager was feigning familiarity.

Besides, within Liu City, the Qin Family barely made a mark compared to others.

The city's four major families—the Zhao, Chen, Wang, and Ouyang—each boasted at least one Martial Grand Master. Even smaller clans often had multiple peak Martial Masters.

The only notable figure in the Qin Family was Qin Ming's father, who had reached the peak of the Martial Master Stage. Geniuses were scarce in their ranks.

Qin Ming merely nodded, aware of the pleasantries, and offered a gracious smile in return.

"Sir, your Spiritual Plants are ready," announced the maid, approaching with a redwood box.

Without a glance, Qin Ming took the box and, with Qin Qing in tow, made his way back to the Qin residence.

Once he had parted ways with his sister, Qin Ming retreated to the solitude of his bedroom. He had much to sort out, not least of which was selecting a suitable cultivation technique for himself.

In his past life, he had been practicing the Lightness Technique, an upper-grade Yellow Level technique of the Qin Family. However, Qin Ming found its potency lacking. Apart from a slight edge in speed over similar Yellow Level techniques, it offered little advantage.

"What cultivation technique should I pursue?" he pondered. "The Thunderbolt Technique or the Thirteen Spirit Golden Lock Arts?"

The decision weighed heavily on Qin Ming. As a Pill Monarch in his former life, he had encountered numerous Celestial Techniques. The Thunderbolt Technique, for instance, allowed one to harness heavenly thunder for cultivation, making breakthroughs as effortless as slicing through butter. Moreover, it imbued one's Spiritual Energy with the force of lightning, doubling the power of attacks.

The Thirteen Spirit Golden Lock Arts was another formidable technique, storing and releasing Spiritual Energy at thirteen times the rate of ordinary techniques.

"Perhaps I should cultivate that particular technique," Qin Ming mused, recalling a technique bestowed upon him by Jue Wuya in his previous life.

Jue Wuya, his closest ally and a peak Martial Saint, had painstakingly acquired the technique from an Ancient Secret Realm. Known as the "Mixed Yuan Exercise," it was a Yellow Level technique of unparalleled difficulty. Yet, once mastered, its formidable power was enough to shake the heavens and terrify the spirits.

Whether it's a Celestial Technique or even the most basic Yellow Level technique, the absorption of Spiritual Energy traditionally occurs at the Heaven Spirit location.

However, this particular technique absorbs Spiritual Energy throughout the entire body.

Don't be misled into thinking that absorbing Spiritual Energy through the whole body is quicker than just at the Heaven Spirit spot.

A person's focus is finite, and to channel Spiritual Energy into the body, one must concentrate fully.

Absorbing with the entire body is actually less effective than doing so solely at the Heaven Spirit.

And that's not even the most frustrating part.

The real kicker is that while the technique uses the body to absorb energy, the majority is expended in the process, leaving only a tenth of it to be truly assimilated.

This is precisely why all techniques prefer the Heaven Spirit for absorption – it's the only method that ensures no loss of Spiritual Energy.