The Golden Finger's True Worth

About half a month later.

On the Nameless Independent Peak where Qi Baicang and Qi Chuan lived.

Whoosh!

A Crimson Light streaked through the air, landing on the branch of a Nameless Great Tree.

Boom!

The date-sized fireball wrapped within the Crimson Light transformed into a Sea of Fire the instant it touched that branch, spreading in a flash and engulfing the entire Nameless Great Tree.

Whoosh, whoosh!

In that instant, it seemed as though wind and fire had joined forces. More than half the Mountain Top was bathed in crimson, like dusk beneath Burning Clouds.

A moment later, the entire Nameless Great Tree turned directly to ash and scattered down. Perhaps because it had burned too thoroughly, there was very little ash—only a small circle of it, quickly dispersing in the Wind Current.

In but a short time, a towering, living tree had vanished into thin air, leaving almost no trace behind.

"So this is the power of spells. As expected, no Mortal Fire can compare."

Watching the shocking sight, Qi Chuan could not help but sigh.

Naturally, Qi Chuan had caused the scene before him.

Over the past half month, he had diligently cultivated spells and had finally brought all Five Basic Five Elements Spells to the entry level.

As an ordinary person in his Previous Life, he had never encountered such Mystical Power as spells. After holding himself back for so long, he had ultimately failed to resist coming out to test their power.

The Fireball Technique's power did not disappoint him. It was unexpectedly formidable.

Fortunately, he had not tested the Fireball Technique in his room earlier. Otherwise, the entire room would likely have vanished, and he would have had nowhere to live.

"What a sin, A Chuan! Why did you burn this tree for no reason?"

Not far away, Qi Baicang hurried out of the Simple House where he lived after hearing the commotion. Seeing the situation, he immediately cried out.

He had thought some Outsider Cultivator had come to attack the mountain, only to find that his own Junior was Causing Trouble.

"Ah, it's going to catch! It's catching!"

Before he could finish speaking, he spotted a small cluster of Tail Fire drifting through the air and falling toward a patch of forest below. If it touched down, more than half the Mountain Top would be destroyed. This was no small matter.

Qi Baicang immediately widened his eyes and formed a Hand Seal, preparing to cast a spell and extinguish that cluster of Tail Fire.

But Qi Chuan had already noticed it. He had finished forming his seal, and a Water Arrow Technique of Thumb Thickness shot forth, colliding with the Tail Fire in midair. Both vanished together.

"Phew..."

Only then did Qi Baicang, who had been forming a Hand Seal, let out a breath and disperse it.

He then turned and scolded Qi Chuan. "A Chuan, you are Young and Playful, so I will not say much about it. But fire is not something to play with casually. One moment of carelessness, and more than half the Mountain Top could be destroyed..."

"Second Master, I only saw that this Nameless Great Tree was blocking sunlight from these Spirit Herbs, so I removed it for you. Besides, didn't it cause no trouble?"

Qi Chuan pointed innocently at a small Spirit Field not far from the circle of ash.

That small Spirit Field held some unknown Spirit Herb Crops. However, their Grass Leaves were somewhat yellow and Wilting, clearly the appearance of plants lacking sunlight.

"The Spirit Herbs I planted are Semi-Free Range to begin with. They are not worth many Spirit Stones. But I planted this great tree decades ago, and I had some feelings for it. Yet you burned it just like that..."

Qi Baicang scolded him, his tone full of regret.

"Fine, I was wrong."

Qi Chuan obediently admitted his mistake upon hearing that.

It seemed he had overthought things. Looking at the Messy and Wild Appearance of the Spirit Fields on this Mountain Top, Second Master probably chose only Tough and Not Delicate spirit plants to raise casually, exchanging them for some Spirit Stone resources now and then. They did not need much tending at all.

"...I will forgive you this time. Do not do it again."

Seeing Qi Chuan admit his mistake, Qi Baicang sighed. Fortunately, the Spreading Fire had not occurred. It was only a tree that was not even a spirit plant; it was far less important than his own Junior. Besides, Qi Chuan was still young, and being playful was normal.

"When you test spells next time, remember to call me over to Stabilize the Scene. This time, if not for that Water Arrow Technique afterward..."

Qi Baicang warned Qi Chuan, but before he could finish, he abruptly stopped.

Only then did he gradually realize that he had been too anxious earlier and had forgotten: Qi Chuan was merely at Qi Refining First Layer. How long had it been since he broke through? How had he cast the Water Arrow Technique, not to mention the Fireball Technique from before...?

"A Chuan, you... you have brought the Fireball Technique to the entry level? Not only that, but the Water Arrow Technique too? Both spells have reached the entry level?"

Coming back to himself, Qi Baicang asked in disbelief.

"Yes. They only entered the level not long ago."

Qi Chuan nodded.

All his Basic Five Elements Spells had already reached the entry level. With the Water Arrow Technique he had Secretly Prepared, a single Fireball Technique naturally could not accidentally cause Spreading Fire.

Otherwise, he would not have casually burned a tree.

"They both entered the level! How is that possible? It has only been half a month!" Qi Baicang stared wide-eyed. About half a month ago, he had been the one to remind Qi Chuan to Cultivate Spells.

Back then, it had taken him more than a month just to bring a single Fireball Technique to the entry level.

Yet Qi Chuan had brought two spells to the entry level in only half a month?

Qi Chuan wanted to say that not only had the Water Arrow Technique entered the level, but all five Basic Five Elements Spells recorded in the Evergreen Art had entered the level.

But seeing the look on his Second Master's face, he felt there was no need to say it. Otherwise, the latter would find it even stranger.

Qi Baicang stared at Qi Chuan for a long while, then went over to inspect the pile of ash several times. Only then did he stroke his Beard Root and mutter thoughtfully, "A Chuan, it seems you are a Magic Talent after all..."

"With this kind of Magic Talent, if you can break through to the Mid Qi Refining Stage, your strength will certainly not be weak."

"You should know that within the Lineage, aside from the few Late Qi Refining Stage Elders, those in the Mid Qi Refining Stage are the backbone."

"And once you break through to the Mid Qi Refining Stage, relying on your Magic Talent, your strength will definitely surpass most Mid Qi Refining Stage cultivators in the Lineage, making you an Outstanding Person among them."

"By then, with your status, I can enjoy some Good Fortune too."

As he spoke, Qi Baicang's eyes glimmered faintly. He had talked himself into delight.

After all, with his current Qi Refining Third Layer cultivation, he was a Marginal Figure within the Lineage, fated to toil in mediocrity and receive little care from the Lineage.

"This already counts as being a Magic Talent?"

Qi Chuan could not help feeling somewhat surprised.

It seemed that bringing five Basic Five Elements Spells to the entry level in half a month carried even more weight than he had imagined.

"A Chuan..."

Qi Baicang chuckled and turned, wanting to say something more to Qi Chuan.

Clang!

But at that very moment, a majestic Bell Sound suddenly rang out over Red Maple Valley and spread in all directions. In an instant, a stir arose across every Mountain Top in Red Maple Valley.

Qi Baicang's expression changed, and he immediately looked toward Red Maple Valley's Main Peak, where the Bell Sound had come from.

Qi Chuan also looked over in great surprise, wondering what had happened.

Figures appeared on many Mountain Tops, racing toward the Main Peak at great speed.

"What happened?" Qi Chuan looked to Second Master and asked.

"Come with me to the Main Peak!" Qi Baicang's face was grave. He quickly descended the mountain and headed toward the Main Peak, his uneasy voice drifting back:

"When the Main Peak bell rings, it means something significant enough to affect the entire Lineage has happened. Every Qi Family Xiu Xian cultivator must immediately head to the Main Peak."

"So something truly serious has happened?" Qi Chuan looked somewhat surprised, but he did not hesitate for long. He immediately set off, following Second Master toward the Main Peak.