Qi Refining Fourth Layer, Perfected Fireball Technique! (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Inside the Great Hall, not a sound could be heard.

Every gaze fell upon the handsome young man in the corner of the Great Hall, their faces filled with utter astonishment.

No one had expected that just as Qi Chan'er, a genius with a Fourth-grade Spiritual Root, stepped forward and used her Qi Refining Fourth Layer Cultivation Base to directly suppress everyone, leaving them in despair and giving up on competing for the Inner Sect Quota, someone else would stand up and declare that he intended to contend with her.

But unlike the previous two at the Qi Refining Second Layer, this was a genuine Qi Refining Fourth Layer cultivator. And judging by his appearance, he was indeed about the same age as Qi Chan'er.

Moreover, Vast Majority of the people had barely seen him before. He was completely unfamiliar.

Clearly, a true Dark Horse had emerged.

"Impossible..."

At the front of the Great Hall, the Transmission Elder stared at the young man within the hall, his expression slightly blank and his eyes brimming with disbelief.

He had originally believed that the Inner Sect Quota was already in his Granddaughter's pocket. Who could have known that an unfamiliar young man would suddenly appear, also possessing a Mid Qi Refining Stage Cultivation Base, and seek to compete with his Granddaughter for the quota?

No, he was not entirely unfamiliar. That face seemed faintly familiar...

The Transmission Elder's thoughts raced. The next moment, he suddenly remembered... Wasn't this the Immortal Seedling he had personally met four years ago?

He had even personally bestowed the Evergreen Art upon him.

Back then, the other party had just entered the Main Vein and had still been a Mortal. Yet now, after only four years, he had already reached the Mid Qi Refining Stage and was competing with his Granddaughter for the Inner Sect Quota?

How could that be possible?

On the other side, Qi Chan'er looked toward Qi Chuan, and astonishment surfaced on her lovely face as well.

She knew her own talent.

Yet even she had needed five years of unceasing effort, along with the resources bestowed by her Grandfather, to reach her current realm.

Therefore, she could not imagine that someone else around her age had reached the same realm at the same age.

Could this person also possess a Fourth-grade Spiritual Root, or perhaps something even higher?

No, I think I've seen this person before...

Staring at the young man's handsome face, Qi Chan'er could not help widening her eyes in disbelief.

She, too, vaguely recalled what had happened four years ago.

This person... was the Immortal Seedling from back then?

But wasn't he... a Lower Eighth-grade Spiritual Root?!

"So impressive! Another genius..." Not far away, Qi Baicang turned back to look at Qi Chuan, marveling inwardly.

But in the next moment, his eyes abruptly widened.

Wasn't this his Junior, A Chuan?

No wonder that voice had sounded somewhat familiar earlier...

But he was at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer? How was that possible?

Qi Baicang's mind buzzed, and he completely failed to process what was happening.

In another direction, Qi Li and Qi Huo naturally recognized Qi Chuan as well. Their expressions were filled with shock amid their surprise.

"That's Clan Brother Qi Chuan, who underwent the Spiritual Root Assessment Ceremony with us and took first place in the ceremony. He's at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer? Terrifying... Is this what an Eighth-grade Spiritual Root can do?"

At the same time, at the head of the Great Hall, Patriarch Qi Wuyou and the Elders stared at Qi Chuan's figure in the hall in silence, their eyes filled with astonishment.

Because they had long known that Qi Chan'er had reached the Qi Refining Fourth Layer and had essentially secured the Inner Sect Quota, most of their attention had remained fixed on Qi Chan'er.

Yet none of them could have imagined that another person would appear to contend against Qi Chan'er, who possessed a Fourth-grade Spiritual Root.

And he seemed to have reached the Qi Refining Fourth Layer at the same age as well!

Xiu Xian practitioners possessed remarkable memories. As the head of a clan or an Elder, they naturally knew more or less about every Clan Member in the Main Vein, which numbered only around a hundred people.

They quickly recalled Qi Chuan's basic information. Qi Chuan had emerged from the Spiritual Root Assessment Ceremony four years ago and was indeed fourteen years old.

But that meant he had only cultivated for four years before reaching such a realm?

This...

At that thought, Patriarch Qi Wuyou and quite a few Elders turned their gazes toward the Transmission Elder, their eyes carrying questioning intent.

"A Lower Eighth-grade Spiritual Root..."

Sensing their gazes, the Transmission Elder understood their meaning. The Patriarch and these Elders knew that someone like Qi Chuan existed, but they might not know his Spiritual Root. As the Transmission Elder, however, he was naturally familiar with it.

Thus, the Transmission Elder revealed Qi Chuan's Spiritual Root with a complicated expression.

A Lower Eighth-grade Spiritual Root, four years of cultivation, and the Qi Refining Fourth Layer?

The Elders exchanged glances, shock appearing in their eyes.

How could that be possible?

Even if he was exceptionally suited to the Evergreen Art for personal reasons, it should not be possible! He might cultivate somewhat faster, but not to such an outrageous extent.

Could there be some special bloodline or constitution within his body?

Regardless, Qi Chuan's circumstances were right before them. At such an age and with such a Cultivation Base, he was qualified to compete for the Inner Sect Quota no matter what.

At once, all the Elders turned their gazes toward Patriarch Qi Wuyou, awaiting his decision.

Qi Wuyou looked at the two within the hall. Qi Chan'er was secretly gritting her teeth and clenching her fists, looking somewhat nervous, while Qi Chuan appeared rather calm.

With two Xiu Xian geniuses like this appearing at once, Qi Wuyou, as Patriarch, was quite delighted inwardly.

But as for how exactly to choose between them, Qi Wuyou truly hesitated.

Judging by age and Cultivation Base, both had entered the Qi Refining Fourth Layer at fourteen. Neither was inferior to the other.

However, Qi Chan'er had the advantage in Spiritual Root. Her Fourth-grade Spiritual Root was far superior to Qi Chuan's Lower Eighth-grade Spiritual Root. In principle, her Xiu Xian talent should be greater, and she should possess more potential.

Yet likewise, Qi Chuan had cultivated for one year less. He had only begun Xiu Xian at ten, unlike Qi Chan'er, who had been assessed early by the Transmission Elder at nine and brought into the Main Vein to cultivate.

From this point alone, compared with Qi Chan'er reaching the Qi Refining Fourth Layer in five years, Qi Chuan's four realms in four years made his cultivation speed even more astonishing.

"Hmm... What do you Elders think?" With hesitation in his heart, Qi Wuyou looked toward the Elders and asked thoughtfully. It would not hurt to first hear their opinions.

"This..."

The Elders exchanged glances, finding themselves in a difficult position as well.

"My Granddaughter possesses a Fourth-grade Spiritual Root, so she should hold the advantage..." The Transmission Elder hesitated briefly before speaking up to fight for his Junior's interests.

"But do not forget that Qi Chuan achieved four realms in four years!" the Exchange Pavilion Elder pointed out.

Hearing this, the Transmission Elder's expression stiffened. He found himself somewhat speechless and ultimately cupped his hands. "The Patriarch should make the decision."

"Patriarch, Elders, there is no need to trouble yourselves."

Just as the Patriarch and Elders found it difficult to decide, Qi Chuan's voice rang out within the Great Hall.

They looked over, only to see Qi Chuan smile faintly and say, "I think you should choose me instead!"

Upon hearing this, several Elders could not help frowning slightly.

With even the Patriarch yet to speak and still caught in hesitation, Qi Chuan's action was somewhat lacking in etiquette.

"Why?"

Hearing Qi Chuan's words, Qi Chan'er turned to stare at him, a trace of defiance in her eyes. The Inner Sect Quota was far too important, and naturally she would not give it up lightly. As long as there was a chance, she had to fight with all her strength for it. Besides, she was no less capable than him.

For her to willingly yield the Inner Sect Quota to him, he would have to present evidence that left her utterly speechless.

"Because... of this."

At that, Qi Chuan smiled faintly. His strength was not limited merely to his Cultivation Realm.

He immediately formed a hand seal with one hand, his lips moving almost imperceptibly. Raising his left palm slightly, streams of Spell Power surged forth and swiftly formed a Crimson Fireball.

It was precisely the Fireball Technique!

However, the Crimson Fireball formed by the Fireball Technique was now more than the size of a fist. Clusters of dark flames rose and swayed upon it, radiating scorching heat that caused the surrounding air to twist and ripple without cease.

This was... the Perfected Fireball Technique!

In an instant, breath after breath caught in their throats.