After a moment of thought, Lin Changheng decided to keep only the Sinking Sand Bag and sell off the rest.

They were stolen goods, and two of the items were damaged, so getting a low offer was inevitable. Still, his bottom line was one hundred and eighty Lower Grade Spirit Stones.

He wouldn’t sell for any less, or else he’d be a complete fool.

The three used Storage Bags were each worth sixty to seventy Spirit Stones as well.

Doing a quick mental calculation, Lin Changheng couldn’t help but gasp. "All told, that’s nearly one thousand four hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones."

"Even after setting aside the Sinking Sand Bag and the Demon Beast Essence Blood for myself, it’s still close to nine hundred!"

"It’s true what they say: a horse never gets fat without a midnight snack, and a man never gets rich without a windfall! Tsk, tsk. Nothing beats a ’gift’ from others to get rich quick!"

Lin Changheng felt the rush going to his head.

A Pill Master like him could toil away in his Alchemy Room for a year or two and only just make this much. Yet, in less than fifteen minutes, he had made a killing.

But he quickly snapped out of it.

He took a few deep breaths and silently repeated to himself, ’No, I can’t...’

’Great rewards always come with great risks!’

’Those three Tribulation Cultivators were so well-coordinated. It clearly wasn’t their first robbery. But if you walk by the riverside long enough, your shoes are bound to get wet. One mistake, one misjudgment, and they lost everything—their fortunes and their lives.’

’I have to stick to the steady path. Avoiding conflict is the only way to go far and seek the Dao of eternal life.’

Lin Changheng suppressed the greed in his heart, and after a moment, his expression returned to its usual calm.

’First, I’ll refine the Sinking Sand Bag.’

Without delay, he began the long refining process, which took two to three days.

"Phew! Finally done refining."

Inside the Immortal Inn, the Sinking Sand Bag floated up and down at his will. Its mouth bulged, brewing a sandstorm that seemed ready to gush out and sweep everything away at any moment.

Lin Changheng nodded in satisfaction. He could sense the power it contained. After manipulating it for a moment, he withdrew his Magical Power, letting it fall into his hand before tucking it into his robes.

Next, he turned his attention to the Essence Blood in the box.

Without another word, he began the Spirit Stealing process.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

The Primordial Cauldron in his sea of consciousness trembled unceasingly, and in no time, more than half of the Essence Blood in the box had vanished.

The crimson Treasure Seed representing the Earth Fire Lizard had solidified, looking ripe for the picking.

[Earth Fire Lizard Treasure Seed·Fifth Layer]

[Eligible for refining the Demon Race Lifebound Talent: Fire Extinguishing]

With a mental command, he plucked the Treasure Seed. Lin Changheng felt a slight warmth spread through his Divine Soul as the Earth Fire Lizard Treasure Seed drifted down into his sea of consciousness. It was like a feather landing on a lake of fire, stirring only the faintest ripples, entering the flames but not being consumed.

As he closed his eyes to perceive the change, a strange vision appeared—

An Earth Fire Lizard bobbed in a pool of lava, its dark red Scale Armor completely insulating it from the searing heat as it swam about freely.

He saw it devouring and spewing the violent flames of the Earth Veins and molten lava, yet it remained completely unharmed, moving as if it were perfectly normal...

And now, he possessed this same ability.

’The Earth Fire Lizard’s Talent is now mine!’

[Acquired: Fire-Extinguishing Technique - Transformation]

[Utility: Nullify targeted Middle Grade Fire Techniques, grants the body flame resistance.]

A glint appeared in Lin Changheng’s eyes.

The first effect was easy enough to understand: he could completely nullify any Fire Magic up to Tier One Middle Grade. And based on past experience, it should also be able to partially weaken higher-level Fire Magic.

But the second effect...

"Hm?"

Lin Changheng tried channeling the Fire Extinguishing Technique. He immediately noticed something and looked inward.

What did he see?

An invisible film of fire had appeared not just on his skin, but over his very internal organs. It shimmered in concert with the Magical Power flowing through his meridians, casting a faint crimson glow.

But when he stopped channeling the technique, the film receded, hiding deep within his body once more.

It was still there, just no longer visible.

It was a passive effect!

As everyone knows, a "passive" is often better than an "active." Active abilities require skill and timing, while passive ones are always on.

’But there don’t seem to be many situations where I’d need flame-resistant internal organs. After all, it’s not like I’m going to be swallowing lava from the Earth Veins like an Earth Fire Lizard... ’

Lin Changheng considered it for a moment, then smiled. ’Still, better to have it than not.’

Meanwhile, Lin Changheng’s Spirit Roots had changed once again.

His Spirit Detecting Skill immediately revealed the changes.

His Fire Spirit Root had gained another two wisps of Spiritual Charm, bringing it to a total of twenty-two!

His Wood Spirit Root was at fifteen wisps of Spiritual Charm, more than halfway there.

His Earth Spirit Root had ten wisps and was on the verge of advancing to a Lower Grade Spirit Root.

His Gold and Water Dual Spirit Roots remained unchanged, each with five wisps!

...

Though the description made it sound long, the entire process had taken less than half an incense stick’s time. Lin Changheng glanced at the Metamorphosis function that had appeared for his Treasure Seed Fifth Layer.

[Mixed Grade Demon Beast Bloodline with Innate Fire Attribute. Spirit Stealing is complete and Metamorphosis has nurtured the Dao. Eligible to refine into the Bloodline Ancestor Demon Technique: "Fire Extinguishing."]

’Excellent. Continue!’

Lin Changheng resumed absorbing the Earth Fire Lizard’s Essence Blood.

When he could no longer absorb from the last dozen or so vials, Lin Changheng took out the twenty vials of Flame-tailed Spirit Fox Essence Blood he had set aside and continued the process.

[Earth Fire Lizard Treasure Seed·Fifth Layer]

[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]

[Metamorphosis: 10/10]

...

[Essence Blood Full. Metamorphosis Success!]

[Earth Fire Lizard True Core: Supreme]

[Eligible to refine into the Demon Beast Bloodline Ancestor Demon Technique: Fire Extinguishing]

Unlike the formation of the Fire Crow Treasure Seed, which had conjured the magnificent and terrifying image of a Flaming Giant Bird, this was almost completely silent, much like the creation of the Cyan Wood Snake Treasure Species.

’This is enough, though.’

Lin Changheng was not greedy. The birth of a new Demon Technique was right before his eyes.

This would be his second Demon Technique, after the Poison Transformation Demon Technique!

Atop the Primordial Cauldron, a crimson True Core the size of an infant’s fist formed in an instant.

He let out a soft breath.

Lin Changheng took a moment to perceive the changes, comparing this new ability to the Fire-Extinguishing Technique - Transformation he had just acquired.

He quickly discovered that the effect—the ability to nullify targeted Fire Magic—was faster, more powerful, and more... intuitive.

Of course, this wasn’t just his imagination; the casting speed of the Fire Extinguishing Demon Technique was simply that fast.

He didn’t know if the Earth Fire Lizard’s talent was simply that astonishing to begin with, or if his own comprehension was enhancing it, but the technique felt as if it had been tailor-made for him.

From intent to execution to casting—it all happened in a single breath!

At the same time, Lin Changheng had an intuitive feeling that the upper limit of its power had been raised again.

From now on, he could even nullify Tier One Upper Grade Fire Magic.

It was a total nullification, striking directly at the source—the Fire Spiritual Power itself.

In other words, from this point forward, individual Tier One Fire Magic spells would have a hard time harming him.

He could even nullify fire-based shield spells, creating an opening in an opponent’s defense.

It was just that fire shields were relatively rare, so he wasn’t likely to encounter them often.

Furthermore, his body’s fire resistance had also increased. Though the exact amount was hard to quantify, it was definitely a significant improvement.

「The next day.」

Lin Changheng once again left the market district.

He didn’t go far, finding a deserted area less than a mile away.

He began testing the Fire Extinguishing Demon Technique.

Whether it was the Tier One Lower Grade Fire Bomb Skill he cast or the Tier One Middle Grade Rocket Talisman he activated, the moment the spell formed, it was nullified.

They dissolved into a wisp of smoke, leaving not even a hint of flame.