Yuan Ming watched as the hunchbacked man walked away, furrowing his brow as his expression turned somber.

He had previously devised a rather thorough escape plan, but now it had been completely disrupted.

If he had known this would happen, he should have immediately attacked the seal and fought his way out; at least he would have had a sixty percent chance. But now his Nascent Soul was under the opponent's Forbidden, and his actions were constrained, it's too late for anything.

Yuan Ming stood in place for a moment, quickly taking a deep breath and forcing himself to calm down.

"Hua Zhi, take a look at the Purple Fluorescent Poison in my Nascent Soul, is it possible to neutralize it?" He opened the Stealing Heaven Tripod space passage and informed Hua Zhi of the situation.

"Master, I'll know once I try!" Hua Zhi said, immediately manipulating a stream of demonic power from the space passage to envelop Yuan Ming's Nascent Soul.

"Hm, how strange, what kind of poison is this?" Moments later, Hua Zhi appeared surprised, muttering to herself.

"What, is there anything unusual about this poison?" Yuan Ming asked upon seeing this.

"The poison that Master has been afflicted with is very peculiar, it does not belong to the Five Elements, nor is it a Yin or Yang poison. It might take some time to determine its nature..." Hua Zhi said somewhat uncertainly, clearly lacking confidence.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Ming's heart sank. Even Hua Zhi found the Purple Fluorescent Poison somewhat challenging; now that they hadn't even determined what it was, let alone neutralized it.

However, he quickly adjusted his emotions: "No rush, take your time to study it."

"Master, rest assured, I will definitely uncover the details of this Purple Fluorescent Poison within a month!" Hua Zhi said solemnly.

Yuan Ming nodded and looked at the Jade Scroll in his hand.

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Since the poison couldn't be cured, the temporary solution was to follow the arrangments of the other side.

He took a deep breath, used his Divine Sense to dive into it, and a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes.

The Jade Scroll recorded a Fire Control Secret Technique called "Zhu Rong Heart Technique," which seemed quite exquisite at first glance.

According to the Jade Scroll, there are five levels of this Secret Technique. With each level mastered, one's control over flames increases incrementally, and if one can cultivate it to the Great Perfection of the Five Levels, they can command all the flames in the world.

"That hunchbacked freak wants me to cultivate this Fire Control Secret Technique, could it be related to Emperor Yan's Tomb?" Yuan Ming thought, speculating.

He quickly discarded distracting thoughts, circulated his mana, and focused on trying to cultivate the Zhu Rong Heart Technique.

Yuan Ming had not originally cultivated a Fire Attribute Technique, but in order to study Artifact Refining, he had practiced some fire control methods, so getting started was not difficult.

However, upon entry, Yuan Ming quickly discovered a problem.

The Zhu Rong Heart Technique was extremely obscure; he could enter quickly due to having some fire control foundation.

Yet as he delved deeper into this heart technique, solely relying on diligent practice to cultivate it to a profound level seemed impossible in a mere month.

Just when Yuan Ming was furrowing his brows.

In a dim room within an undersea cavern, Mao Yi was playing with the Emperor Yan's Ruyi Scepter, with one fire after another flying out from the body of the scepter, swirling around his body yet emitting no trace of temperature.

Sitting on a stone chair in front of him was a burly man clad entirely in Black Armor, with only his eyes exposed, his gaze fixated on Mao Yi as he exclaimed, "Tsk tsk, you can control the Flame of Emperor Yan to such an extent. Your Zhu Rong Heart Technique is nearly at the Great Perfection of the Five Levels, isn't it?"

This person was enveloped in dense demon energy, having reached the Level 5 Peak, clearly the Black Dragon Turtle transformed.

"I'm still a bit short. This secret technique is the cherished one of the Zhu Rong Sect, and breaking through to the Great Perfection of the Five Levels requires undergoing the baptism of the Zhu Rong Fire Pool. Reaching the Fifth Level is already lucky." Mao Yi shook his head and said.

"Since the cultivation of the Zhu Rong Heart Technique is so challenging, you still expect them to achieve the third level within a month? It's impossible." The Black-armored Man said puzzled.

"I don't actually expect them to truly achieve the third level; just reaching the first level would be enough. It's just that if I say so directly, they might feel complacent. There's no time left." Mao Yi said.

"Oh, is there news from the Dongji Palace?" The Black-armored Man's eyes lit up.

"His own son has been captured; Ouyang Qiang can't sit still." Mao Yi chuckled.

...

In the prison, Yuan Ming's brows were tightly knit.

Seven or eight days had already passed, during which he had been practicing tirelessly, not wasting a single moment.

However, the Zhu Rong Heart Technique was overly obscure, his progress was minuscule, not even scratching the surface of the first level.

"Hua Zhi still hasn't found anything, and the advancement of the Zhu Rong Heart Technique is so sluggish. This time I'm really in big trouble." Yuan Ming muttered to himself rather helplessly.

Even though given his current Soul Cultivation Realm, if his Nascent Soul declined, his main soul could still seize a body and be reborn, but Magic Practitioner and Body Cultivation aspects would have to start over, rendering all previous efforts meaningless.

Unless absolutely necessary, he naturally couldn't abandon this body.

"Ah, why am I here stubbornly cracking the Zhu Rong Heart Technique all by myself when there's an easier way?" Yuan Ming suddenly thought of something and slapped his forehead in frustration.

He made a hand seal, and dazzling red light burst from his body, forming a flickering flame protective shield around him, making it seem as though he were comprehending the Zhu Rong Heart Technique.

Inside the flame protective shield, Yuan Ming flipped his hand, and a Silver Token appeared in it.

He softly chanted a few spells, activated the token, and opened a hemispherical silver barrier.

After doing this, he summoned the Stealing Heaven Tripod, took out a Black Incense, lit it, and possessed Qu Jiuhuang.

Qu Jiuhuang is currently obediently staying in the Shura Hall, seemingly in prayer.

Yuan Ming took out a blank Jade Scroll from Qu Jiuhuang, recorded the content of the Zhu Rong Heart Technique, and finally instructed Qu Jiuhuang to suspend all actions and focus entirely on cultivating the Zhu Rong Heart Technique.

The possession time quickly passed, and Qu Jiuhuang's consciousness returned.

"What just happened?" His expression was somewhat bewildered.

He had been praying just now, and his thoughts were suddenly interrupted, as if something had happened. No matter how he tried to recall, he couldn't remember what had occurred.

Qu Jiuhuang then discovered the Jade Scroll on the ground in front of him. His Divine Sense immersed into it, and a flash of realization appeared in his eyes.

"Am I to stop Planting Beans into Soldiers and switch to cultivating this Zhu Rong Heart Technique?" Qu Jiuhuang was somewhat reluctant.

The Planting Beans into Soldiers was profound and mysterious, vaguely containing a trace of the ultimate principle. He had already started to master it, finding more and more pleasure in cultivation, and really didn't want to stop.

But now, his life and death were under Yuan Ming's control, so he could only follow the arrangement. He sighed lightly and began to comprehend the Zhu Rong Heart Technique.

"This... such a mystical Fire Control Secret Technique. In terms of grade, this Zhu Rong Heart Technique is probably not inferior to Planting Beans into Soldiers. Isn't Yuan Ming a Loose Cultivator? Where did he find so many profound secret techniques?" Qu Jiuhuang was shocked after a brief comprehension.

A moment later, the shock on his face dissipated, replaced by joy. His earlier dissatisfaction had long vanished.

As an Alchemist, such a delicate Fire Control Secret Technique as the Zhu Rong Heart Technique was of immense benefit to him. If he could master it, his Alchemy Technique might advance further.

Qu Jiuhuang took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and began cultivating the Zhu Rong Heart Technique.

In the Undersea Prison, Yuan Ming opened his eyes, a slight smile on his lips.

Although Qu Jiuhuang walked an Evil Path, his Fire Control level as an Alchemist was far superior to Yuan Ming's own, so practicing the Zhu Rong Heart Technique would naturally yield twice the results with half the effort.

Once Qu Jiuhuang successfully cultivated it, Yuan Ming planned to use Black Incense Possession to glean experience.

Though unsure how far this could progress, the improvement speed of the Zhu Rong Heart Technique would certainly be much faster than now.

Even with Qu Jiuhuang's help, Yuan Ming was not idle.

He put away the Stealing Heaven Tripod, dispersed the silver barrier, and continued to comprehend the Zhu Rong Heart Technique.

In the blink of an eye, seven days passed, and the Tai Chi Pattern on the first-class Stealing Heaven Tripod was restored. Yuan Ming immediately possessed Qu Jiuhuang.

Qu Jiuhuang obeyed his command, was practicing the Zhu Rong Heart Technique, and a layer of flames surfaced on his body, dancing like elves.

Seeing this, Yuan Ming hurriedly calmed his mind to feel Qu Jiuhuang's thoughts.

A series of insights related to the cultivation of the Zhu Rong Heart Technique was transmitted over, and Qu Jiuhuang's Zhu Rong Heart Technique had already reached the Second Realm.

"Those with advanced Fire Control experience find the cultivation of the Zhu Rong Heart Technique progress rapidly," Yuan Ming thought to himself.

As Yuan Ming deepened his refining of the Stealing Heaven Tripod, the effect of Black Incense Possession also improved, and his Zhu Rong Heart Technique quickly advanced, soon breaking through the First Level.

Qu Jiuhuang's insights continued to flow over, and Yuan Ming's Zhu Rong Heart Technique continued to advance, soon reaching the Second Level.

But at this moment, the time for Black Incense Possession was up, and his consciousness returned to his body.

"What a pity, just a bit short. Once this matter is concluded, I'll need to find a way to extend the burning time of the Black Incense," Yuan Ming resolved secretly.

With this thought, he put away the Stealing Heaven Tripod and independently contemplated the Zhu Rong Heart Technique.

Without Qu Jiuhuang's insights to aid him, comprehending the Zhu Rong Heart Technique became as slow as a crawling turtle once more.

"Time is pressing, half of the one-month period has already passed, and I can at most possess Qu Jiuhuang twice more. It may not be possible to reach the Third Level. I must also find a way to make progress here," Yuan Ming mused, silent in thought.

A moment later, he took out the Stealing Heaven Tripod again, poured Mana into it, merging with the White Jade Lotus Platform, soon touching the Bright Soul Fire within the Lotus Platform space.

His current mastery of the Zhu Rong Heart Technique was close to the Second Level, and attempting to manipulate a powerful spirit flame might also enhance this mental method.

The Bright Soul Fire was controlled by the Forbidden of the White Jade Lotus Platform, making it very difficult to handle, but this could serve as a training opportunity.

The Mana Yuan Ming issued was mixed with Soul Power, and the moment it touched the Bright Soul Fire, his Divine Soul felt a sharp pain, but it was still bearable.

Yuan Ming took a deep breath, performing the Zhu Rong Heart Technique and attempting to control the Bright Soul Fire.

His eyes soon brightened, this method indeed proving effective, as the speed of advancing the Zhu Rong Heart Technique increased significantly.

Yuan Ming immediately closed his eyes, fully operating the Zhu Rong Heart Technique.

In the blink of an eye, another half month passed.

When Yuan Ming finished possessing Qu Jiuhuang for the third time, he sighed helplessly.

Currently, Qu Jiuhuang had already cultivated the Zhu Rong Heart Technique to the Second Level Peak, and through possession and insight, Yuan Ming's Zhu Rong Heart Technique swiftly advanced, also reaching the Second Level Peak.

However, the Third Level seemed like an insurmountable chasm, and neither Qu Jiuhuang nor himself could break through.

Of course, this was due to the short time; if there was ample time, he could comprehend it even without Qu Jiuhuang. Unfortunately, the one-month deadline was approaching, and there was no time left.