Mastering Flames

"That's right, you." Chen Yuan smiled and patted Spark's little head.

The weeds grew with remarkable vigor, often reaching over a meter in height. Cutting them down with a sickle would be terribly inefficient and would surely waste a lot of time.

But what if they used fire?

As a fire-element Extraordinary Creature, Spark could breathe flames.

And flames were plants' greatest nemesis.

"But with Spark's current firepower, getting rid of these weeds won't be easy." Chen Qi's gaze flickered as he pondered in secret.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up. He remembered that he still had one unused Origin Point.

With a thought, Chen Yuan summoned Spark's status panel. He tapped the plus sign beside the Flame Surge skill, and its proficiency instantly became 1.1/3.

"With this, those weak little flames should be useful."

As Chen Yuan pondered, Chen Weiyi stared at Spark for a while before suddenly asking, "Is this that Fire-Spitting Little Bird from this morning?"

Xuanhe Village was not large, and with all the uncles and aunties spreading the news, what had happened that morning could quickly become known throughout the entire village.

"Chirp."

Seeing the stern, unsmiling Chen Weiyi, Spark fearfully shrank its neck, trying to hide behind Chen Yuan's head.

Chen Yuan smiled. "Yeah, this Fire-Spitting Little Bird can weed the fields."

After saying that, Chen Yuan turned to Spark. "Try using Flame Surge now."

"Chirp?"

Spark looked somewhat confused, but it obediently followed its Beast Tamer's command. Opening its beak, it suddenly spat out a cluster of scorching flames. The intense heat made Chen Yuan feel as though he had been thrown into a furnace.

Chen Yuan was secretly shocked. "One point of proficiency increased its power this much?"

"Chirp?!!"

Spark's eyes flew open. It instinctively flapped its wings, scarcely daring to believe that it had produced those flames itself.

"I told you that you could do it." Chen Yuan smiled.

But merely being able to breathe fire was not enough. It also had to learn to control the flames. Otherwise, once the weeds caught fire and the blaze grew, it could spread everywhere and easily get out of control.

With that in mind, Chen Yuan said to Chen Weiyi, "Grandpa, wait a moment."

Then, Chen Yuan took a cardboard box from the farm warehouse and placed it before the Flame Cloud Falcon.

"Light this with your fire."

After saying that, Chen Yuan noticed the bandages on its wings again. He pursed his lips and changed his mind. "Forget it. We'll try again after your injuries heal."

To his surprise, Spark was unwilling to accept that. It hurriedly flapped its wings, signaling that it was fine.

Chen Yuan eyed it suspiciously. "Really?"

"Chirp chirp chirp!"

Spark nodded vigorously, then flapped its wings with all its strength. Gusts of air swirled up, actually lifting it into the air.

"Chirp~"

To further demonstrate that its body had mostly recovered, Spark even flew circles over Chen Yuan and Chen Weiyi's heads, circling them again and again before finally landing back on Chen Yuan's shoulder.

"Hahaha." A smile appeared on Chen Weiyi's stern face, and the wrinkles on his face eased with his laughter.

"Awoo, awroo!" Cola howled anxiously on the ground, but there was nothing it could do.

"Alright, then let's give it a try." Chen Yuan was somewhat surprised by Spark's recovery ability, but he still nodded.

Spark lightly landed before the cardboard box, puffed out its cheeks, and sent a cluster of scorching flames straight into it.

In an instant, sparks first appeared on the cardboard box. As the flames continued to gush forth, it burst fully into flame!

The blaze grew fiercer and soon spread across the entire box, its fiery glow reflected in Chen Yuan's eyes.

Chen Yuan spoke at the right moment. "Learn to draw those flames back."

To control flames, one not only had to be proficient at breathing them out, but also learn how to retract them, until one could wield them as one wished.

"Chirp?"

For a moment, Spark looked lost. It stood there blankly for a long while before opening its beak and trying to draw the flames back.

First, a tiny wisp of flame flowed into Spark's stomach like a current of air. Joy appeared on its face, as if it had found the trick.

Then, one cluster of flame after another was swallowed by Spark. Only faint sparks remained on the surface of the cardboard box, swaying in the breeze.

Spark closed its beak and involuntarily let out a full belch.

"Chirp."

Perhaps realizing it had embarrassed itself, Spark hurriedly glanced at Chen Yuan. Only after seeing that his expression remained unchanged did it finally relax.

"You did very well."

Chen Yuan nodded, lavish with his praise.

"Chirp chirp!"

Hearing Chen Yuan's praise, Spark instinctively puffed out its chest and flapped its wings. At the same time, it shot Cola a sidelong glance, looking utterly pleased with itself.

"This little fellow is quite capable." Chen Weiyi exclaimed in surprise.

Chen Yuan nodded. "This child is called a Flame Cloud Falcon, a type of Extraordinary Creature."

Afterward, Chen Yuan told Chen Weiyi everything Chen Wenhao had told him, then asked, "Grandpa, do you want to try meditating?"

Chen Weiyi chuckled and waved a hand. "I'm already this old. What would I be fussing with that for?"

Chen Yuan fell silent for a moment.

That was true. Grandpa was already advanced in years and rarely left Xuanhe Village. There was no need for him to trouble himself with such things.

Besides, with Chen Yuan by his side, even if turmoil arose nearby, they could face it calmly.

"You're all grown now, more capable than this old man, and better suited to this society." The old man looked straight at Chen Yuan, his voice slow and weathered. "Whatever happens, you can handle it yourselves. You don't need to tell me everything."

After a pause, he smiled. "Just remember one thing: think thrice before you act."

"I will." Chen Yuan nodded heavily.

Afterward, due to the midsummer heat, Chen Weiyi returned indoors to rest while Chen Yuan stayed with Spark and continued practicing Flame Surge.

For Chen Yuan, a beginner, beast taming was an unfamiliar and mysterious field. There was no one else's experience he could draw upon, so he had to be cautious about everything.

They could practice slowly, and their efficiency could be low, but there could be no accidents.

The blazing sun high overhead slowly moved westward. The merciless sunlight forced Cola to hide beneath the shade of the eaves, where it stared longingly at the person and pet training so diligently.

Its ears drooped as it lay on the ground, its eyes filled with the sorrow of having its owner taken away.

Throughout the training, Chen Yuan kept a close eye on Spark's condition while recording its improvement after every practice session.

After training again and again, both Chen Yuan and Spark were drenched in sweat, but the results were extremely gratifying.

Spark's ability to control flames had visibly improved, its proficiency had risen by 0.1, and its level had become 2.

"Alright, we can clear the weeds now." Chen Yuan waved a hand grandly.

"Chirp chirp chirp!"

Spark flew energetically onto Chen Yuan's shoulder, its eyes bright with fighting spirit.

"Awoo."

Cola lowered its head and followed behind the man and bird step by step, the sunlight casting a dejected shadow behind it.

A cool breeze happened to brush past, whirling continuously around its body. Cola suddenly lifted its head, looking somewhat bewildered.

At that moment, the old man slowly walked out. Looking at the spirited man and bird, he said, "I should remind you that burning weeds in the yard is illegal."

"Are you ready to pay the fine?"

Chen Yuan: "?"