Our eldest brother never hides good things from us.

"No, I just want a safety net. Is that so hard?"

Thinking about this, Chang Wen's initial joy at obtaining the Emperor-grade cultivation technique quickly vanished.

While obtaining a top-tier cultivation technique is certainly cause for celebration, the loan still needs to be repaid. If the loan cannot be repaid, it won't be a matter that can be resolved with a few laughs. It could very well plunge Haoran Peak into an abyss of no return.

"Is Xiaoman too lucky?"

Chang Wen thought about this problem. Up to now, all his rare item returns have come from investing in Su Xiaoman's returns. His success rate is incredibly high.

"Looks like I'll have to find someone else to vote for."

Chang Wen adjusted his mindset. After packing up 500,000 mid-grade spirit stones, he found Lin Yuan, who was fast asleep. "Yuan'er, if you're hungry, go outside and buy something to eat. Eat whatever you want, don't be stingy."

This time, he refused to believe it wasn't a guaranteed minimum!

"Thanks, senior brother. Let me have a lick."

Lin Yuan didn't have many questions and accepted it directly. Then he rushed towards Chang Wen. This was his way of expressing his affection.

"Get lost, don't give me that crap."

Chang Wen fled this place and awaits his return.

[Your investment of 50 mid-grade spirit stones in Lin Yuan will ensure he no longer goes hungry, triggering a return.]

Chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp...

[Congratulations, you have gained insights into a century-old cultivation technique. Note: Insights into a century-old cultivation technique can be used with any cultivation technique.]

Chang Wen...

No? What's going on? Another shipment?

"System, are you trying to destroy me?! I need spirit stones!"

Chang Wen was speechless. He had no idea what was going on today. He had invested 160 million mid-grade spirit stones without any guarantee of success; all the items he got were rare.

Normally, Chang Wen would probably be very happy. But now... it's hard to explain.

After deducting the 160 million, only 60 spirit stones are left for investment. 120 million remain uninvestable. Meanwhile, 485 million in loans still need to be repaid.

In other words, Chang Wen only has one last investment opportunity left. If this one isn't guaranteed, he'll face an unexpected debt crisis.

"It seems like it's best to avoid borrowing money if possible!"

Even with an investment system, he would still struggle to make ends meet when faced with huge loans. Without the system, he would inevitably be reduced to working to pay off his debts, thus ruining his life.

However, having just gained five hundred years of cultivation, his mind was more clear than before. He quickly regained his composure.

"Since the shipment rate is so high today, I might as well not invest today. I'll deal with this cultivation technique insight first."

With a mindset of following the will of Heaven and accepting cause and effect, Chang Wen no longer insisted on investing. He focused his attention on the insights he had just gained from the century-old cultivation technique.

"This thing came at just the right time. I just obtained an Emperor-grade cultivation technique, and now I'm getting insights into it."

Chang Wen smiled and directly applied his insights into the cultivation technique to the Emperor-grade cultivation technique.

[You have successfully applied your insights from a century-old cultivation technique to the Emperor-grade cultivation method, "Ice and Fire Yin Yang Technique."]

This manual is divided into two volumes. The first volume, "The Dual-Pole Technique of Ice and Fire," focuses on cultivating ice and fire spiritual power, characterized by its fierce and powerful nature. The second volume, "The Yin-Yang Transformation Technique," focuses on cultivating the harmony of Yin and Yang, characterized by its long-lasting and profound nature. They cannot be practiced simultaneously.

[You've always preferred straightforwardness, so you chose the first volume, "The Art of Ice and Fire."]

In your first year, you will begin to comprehend the "Art of Ice and Fire" from scratch.

This technique is exceptionally powerful, requiring the simultaneous circulation of both icy and fiery spiritual energy within the body. The slightest mistake can sever one's meridians. You carefully divided your spiritual energy in two: the left meridian channeled frost, and the right meridian channeled flames. For the first five years, you made almost no progress.

[It wasn't until the eighth year that you finally found the trick. Using the Nascent Soul field as a buffer, you allowed the ice and fire spiritual energies to flow independently, without interfering with each other.]

[In the fifteenth year, the dual meridians of ice and fire are initially formed. You have officially entered the first level of the "Ice and Fire Dual-Pole Technique." With a flip of your palms, your left hand condenses ice, and your right hand generates flames, its power far surpassing other techniques of the same level.]

[In the twentieth year, the first level was perfected; the ice and fire spiritual energies flowed freely within the two meridians.]

[In the fortieth year, at the completion of the second level, you unleashed your ice and fire spiritual power simultaneously. The two forces collided and exploded with a deafening roar, their power tripling compared to using either one alone.]

[In your sixtieth year, having reached the third level of perfection, you can now convert all your spiritual power into ice flames, resulting in a surge in combat strength.]

[In the eightieth year, the fourth level was perfected. With a slight thought, the icy flames transformed into blue and red ribbons, slowly burning the towering mountain into ice shards. Eerie and awe-inspiring.]

[One hundred years, fifth level perfected. You have mastered the Ice and Fire Domain. Within this domain, you can manipulate temperature at will. One thought freezes, one thought incinerates the heavens.]

After the comprehension was completed, a wisp of blue and red energy flowed into Chang Wen's body, slowly returning to calm.

"Well……"

Chang Wen opened his eyes; his left eye was a deep blue, like ancient ice, while his right eye was a pure red, like the blazing sun. Only after he suppressed his aura did his eyes return to their normal colors.

"An Emperor-grade cultivation technique is too terrifying."

Chang Wen felt the dual sensations of ice and fire within his body and sighed from the bottom of his heart. He then took out a mid-grade spirit stone and activated his ice and fire true energy.

The next moment, the mid-grade spirit stone burst into flames and shattered, turning into tiny ice shards. Even the spiritual energy it contained was burned away.

"If the sixth level alone can shatter spirit stones, what kind of power awaits at the higher levels?"

Chang Wen's eyes were filled with fascination, and he couldn't help but look forward to it.

But he quickly dismissed the idea. His current understanding of the Ice and Fire Dual-Pole Technique was entirely due to the system returning his insights from a century of cultivation techniques.

If he were to try to comprehend it on his own, it would probably take him a thousand years to succeed. To improve further, he would have to wait for the system to return his insights on the technique, which is entirely dependent on luck.

But it's not a big problem, since he can invest indefinitely. As long as he's willing to work hard, he can have everything he wants.

"There's another problem. This Emperor-grade cultivation technique is divided into two volumes. The first volume is the Ice and Fire Dual-Pole Technique, and the second volume is the Yin-Yang Transformation Technique. Since I've chosen the first volume, the second volume is useless to me. It just so happens that Nianqing has an extremely Yin body and has also fused with the Nine Yang True Phoenix Nirvana Fire Seed. She is inseparable from Yin and Yang. I wonder if this cultivation technique will be useful to her. I'll show it to her when she comes out of seclusion."

Having made his decision, Chang Wen pulled himself out of his thoughts and watched Su Xiaoman toss spirit stones around.

the next day.

With a heavy heart, Chang Wen sought out Su Xiaoman again, intending to make one last attempt.

Su Xiaoman was used to it and accepted it directly. She secretly planned to find Chang Wen a Daoist partner, considering it a fair trade.

Chang Wen was unaware of her thoughts and silently prayed for a safety net.

[You invested 50 mid-grade spirit stones in Su Xiaoman, which allows her to buy whatever she wants, triggering a return.]

Chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp...

[Congratulations, you have obtained 500 million mid-grade spirit stones.]

"call……"

Chang Wen breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, the system hadn't failed him at the crucial moment. With these 500 million spirit stones, the loan crisis was finally resolved.

Just as Chang Wen finished his investment, Han Yaodong and Han Xiao arrived with smiles on their faces.

They were followed by a large group of people, all carrying mining picks. It seemed they planned to mine Haoran Peak extensively.

"Nephew Chang Wen, how's the loan preparation going?"

Han Yaodong inquired kindly. Qionghua Peak and Haoran Peak are adjacent, and as the saying goes, "being near the water tower, one gets the moon first," he had long had his eye on Haoran Peak.

At his level, spirit stones could no longer sway his will. Only the desire to leave a lasting legacy filled his heart.

If he could simultaneously control both peaks, he would become the first peak master in the history of the Haoran Immortal Sect to control two peaks, and would be remembered by future generations.

How can one control two peaks simultaneously?

Let's think about it first: if Haoran Peak is taken over, who is most likely to take over its management?

It must be him, who is closest to Haoran Peak and has an extraordinary seniority!

Lending money to Chang Wen was preparation for this step. As long as Chang Wen agreed to let him mine on Haoran Peak, he could then conveniently arrange for the disciples of Qionghua Peak to be stationed on Haoran Peak.

When Haoran Peak is taken over, he will volunteer to take charge. Even if the other peak masters object, he has already made arrangements; who can uproot him completely?

However, doing so might draw criticism from other peak masters. But that's not a big problem, as long as he takes over Haoran Peak and makes it flourish, his fame and achievements will overshadow all the criticism.

Thinking of this, his expression became even more kind and amiable.