"So that was how it happened."
Lin Yu Xin understood as well, but she still pushed the "token of gratitude" back and said, "No matter what, you saved Yun'er. You must accept this token."
"And Xin Xia, older sister truly didn't know things had happened like this... Don't worry, older sister will definitely... tomorrow..."
"It's alright, Sister Yu Xin."
Ye Xin Xia smiled gently and interrupted her. "Yun'er often helps me at school. By all rights, I should be the one thanking Yun'er."
"That's a separate matter."
"As her older sister, I have to thank you both."
Lin Yu Xin said firmly.
"Alright." Qin Yuan raised a hand to interrupt her and chuckled. "Isn't this just about thanking us? That's easy."
"Just have Lin Yun Er take better care of Xin Xia at school from now on. That way, I can rest easier too."
"Mm-hmm!"
Lin Yun Er agreed without hesitation.
Lin Yu Xin nodded slightly and placed the "token of gratitude" on the table. Though she appeared to agree, she was still thinking of thanking Ye Xin Xia properly tomorrow.
Qin Yuan felt it had merely been a "convenient favor."
But that was relative. Qin Yuan's "convenient favor" had saved her only "family." She could never repay such a debt of gratitude, so she could only do it little by little.
Qin Yuan and Ye Xin Xia were kind-hearted and could refuse it.
But she could not refrain from giving it. It was the bare minimum.
Sensing the silence, Lin Yu Xin took the initiative to change the subject. "Qin Yuan, you're a student at Tianlan Magic High School, right?"
"Yeah. Third year of senior high school this year."
"You already possess such strength in your third year. It seems Bocheng's Earth Sacred Spring spot next year is bound to be yours."
"I don't need the Earth Sacred Spring."
Qin Yuan shook his head.
"You don't need it?" Lin Yu Xin froze for a moment and instinctively asked, "Why?"
The Earth Sacred Spring was Bocheng's greatest treasure.
A mage at Primary Level Completion could use the Earth Sacred Spring Power to break through into the Intermediate Level. It was what countless Beginner Magic mages yearned for.
"In one year, I can break through to the Intermediate Level on my own."
"Rather than giving the Earth Sacred Spring spot to me, why not give it to Beginner Magic mages at Primary Level Completion who truly need it? Let them break through to the Intermediate Level and contribute to Bocheng."
Qin Yuan did not reveal that he was already an Intermediate Level mage. Instead, he put on an act of having a "greater vision."
Just as he had expected.
Lin Yu Xin's beautiful eyes filled with admiration as she sighed. "You really do have a broad vision."
Qin Yuan was handsome, exceptionally talented, and had a good character. No wonder Lin Yun Er liked him.
Forget Lin Yun Er—even she had developed quite a favorable impression of Qin Yuan.
Unfortunately, he already had a girlfriend.
"A broad vision? Perhaps."
Qin Yuan smiled faintly.
Lin Yu Xin kept smiling. In her eyes, Qin Yuan truly was an exceptionally perfect man—no, a young boy.
The group chatted for a while longer before the Lin family sisters finally left.
Before leaving, Lin Yun Er specifically asked Qin Yuan for his contact information, claiming, "If Xin Xia has an emergency, I'll be able to contact you."
Qin Yuan thought about it and did not find anything wrong with that, so he gave her his private contact information.
What he did not know was that as soon as the Lin family sisters left the residential complex, Lin Yu Xin pried his contact information from Lin Yun Er's phone.
Whether it was fate or not, only time would tell.
Eight months later.
Snow Peak Mountain.
Qin Yuan moved with agile speed, coming and going freely amid the encirclement of dozens of One-eyed Demonic Wolves.
His figure was as swift as the wind, appearing and vanishing without a trace.
With the Thunderclap Blade in hand, he unleashed Lightning Slash again and again, and three One-eyed Demonic Wolves fell to the ground.
After three Lightning Slashes, Qin Yuan clenched his right hand into a fist and smashed it toward a One-eyed Demonic Wolf's head.
Bang!
The One-eyed Demonic Wolf died.
"Extreme Cold—Ice Lock—Ice Chains!"
Qin Yuan gave a sharp cry, and a dazzling Ice Blue Star Chart interwove before him. The immense energy within it spread in all directions.
Crack! Crack!
The frozen ground suddenly split apart.
Amid the cracks, accompanied by metallic clanging, thick ice chains as wide as bowls shot into the air.
The ice chains were linked by sturdy clasps. Like icy spirit serpents, they hung proudly around Qin Yuan.
Puchi!
Crack!
Bang! Bang!
Under Qin Yuan's control, the ice chains shot toward the surrounding One-eyed Demonic Wolves, piercing, smashing, and whipping them.
One One-eyed Demonic Wolf after another fell to the ground, devoid of life.
Clang, clang, clang...
Qin Yuan withdrew the ice chains, and everything returned to stillness.
"System, check in."
[Ding, detected that the host has checked in for 90 consecutive days. Quarterly check-in in progress.] [Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining Lightning Element Spirit Seed Fragment x10.]
"Spirit Seed Fragments again. The last batch failed when I tried to refine them. I wonder whether it'll work this time."
Qin Yuan stroked his smooth chin as he thought.
A few months ago, he had gathered ten Lightning Element Spirit Seed Fragments. After adding several supplementary materials, the refinement had still ended in failure.
"Hope it works. It'll save me the cost of a Spirit Seed."
Qin Yuan tossed the ten Spirit Seed Fragments into the System Space, then began sorting through what he had gained over the past eight months.
"System, open my panel."
[Ding, the host's information panel is as follows.] [Host: Qin Yuan] [Age: 19] [Cultivation: Intermediate Level Mage] [Spiritual Power: Second Realm Peak] [Magic Elements: Ice Element (Intermediate Level 1), Lightning Element (Elementary Level Three), Summoning System (Beginner)] [Summoned Creature: Mutated Flame Wolf (Advanced Servant level)] [Talents: Innate Spirit Seed (3x Extreme Cold), Pure Yang Spirit Body (minor achievement)] [Cultivation Method: Pure Yang Divine Art] [Items: Spirit-grade White Tiger Vessel, Mind Stone, Lightning Element Spirit Seed Fragment, Thunderclap Blade, Crimson Flame Spear, Rock Army Demon Armor, Water Raging Shield, 120 million Huaxia Coin...]
Over eight months, Qin Yuan had improved tremendously.
He had completely mastered the Ice Element's Intermediate Level 1 spell, Ice Lock.
His Lightning Element had reached Elementary Level Three, and his Summoning System had gained its own Summoned Beast—a mutated Blaze Wolf.
Qin Yuan had originally wanted to choose a flying Summoned Beast, but he happened to encounter a Blaze Wolf instead—and it was an incredibly rare mutant.
His Blaze Wolf could not only control flames, but also absorb the power of fire and transform it into Blazing Flame Armor, increasing its survivability while strengthening its attributes.
That was precisely why Qin Yuan had chosen her.
"Time to head back."
Qin Yuan glanced at the time on his phone, then summoned his Summoned Beast. "Xiao Yan."
Crack!
A dimensional rift opened, and a Blaze Wolf larger than a One-eyed Demonic Wolf stepped out.
Its fur was deep black, while bright yellow patterns ran along its belly like flowing magma. The red flame-like fur atop its head gave it an air of nobility.
Its gaze resembled raging lava, and its crimson claws seemed capable of tearing apart anything. A cold, ferocious aura radiated from its body.
By human standards of beauty, the Blaze Wolf was remarkably good-looking, exuding a unique wild beauty.
Qin Yuan had originally wanted to name her Little Red, but she was quite intelligent and dissatisfied with that name. After considering it carefully, he named her Xiao Yan.
"Xiao Yan, let's go."
Qin Yuan leaped onto her back.
Awoo!
The Blaze Wolf stretched her long body and howled toward the sky before sprinting toward Bocheng.
From afar, she looked like a streak of blazing fire racing across the land.
Before you continue