The Effect of Fire Control

The Fireball spell, bolstered by [Fire Control], exuded an aura of extreme danger.

He raised his hand and struck toward the small pool inside his cave dwelling.

"Boom!"

Lin Changheng's vision suddenly flared. The fireball shot from his hand, moving far faster than before, whistling through the air with a trail of crimson flame before detonating in the center of the pool.

"Hiss—!"

The pool water instantly boiled and churned, and a white mist surged toward the ceiling like a wild dragon—a truly massive commotion!

When the thick fog dissipated, three fish-shaped lumps of charcoal floated to the surface.

"This power is more than twice as strong as before! And with the increase in casting speed and flight velocity, hitting a target will be much easier!"

"I could even... suddenly accelerate it mid-flight by layering on the 'Fire Control' technique! I might just catch an enemy off guard and pull a fast one on them!"

Lin Changheng was very satisfied with this power; he had even begun to plan the perfect moment to use it.

It was just a pity he hadn't mastered any other fire-type spells yet, otherwise, he would have certainly tried a few more.

"Still, there's no need to obsessively practice such spells in the future. With the augmentation of various [Monster Treasure Seeds], I might end up stronger than those who spend years or even decades honing their skills!"

What Lin Changheng did not know was that his Fireball spell, which he had spent considerable time practicing to the proficient stage, now possessed an advantage over the Fireball spells of others even at their mastery stage, thanks to the [Fire Control] technique!

The entry-level of basic spells was quite simple, but progressing through proficient, mastery, minor success, and great success was incredibly difficult. Each step tested one's affinity for the spell and their cultivation talent, requiring time to polish!

Yet, Lin Changheng enjoyed a unique path—a shortcut!

He achieved entry in a very short time, then added the treasure seed to become stronger than them all!

"Right, my spiritual roots!"

Lin Changheng suddenly remembered something and hurriedly cast [Spirit Inspection] on himself.

"As expected, my fire spiritual root has... ten wisps of spiritual essence!"

"This is the limit for mixed spiritual roots. If I can add just one more wisp, I can break through the ten-wisp threshold and become a 'low-grade spiritual root'!"

A low starting point was not terrifying; the ability to steadily improve was the greatest "promise of the future"!

The path of immortality was long. How many geniuses were initially stunning, only to perish halfway due to their eagerness for quick success? And how many mediocre people claimed to be late bloomers, only to waste a century and achieve nothing?

But he was different.

One step, one footprint; neither greedy nor impatient.

Today, his fire control grew a fraction stronger; tomorrow, his spiritual root would rise by another wisp. One day—

He suddenly looked up.

The fire-colored clouds on the horizon surged, reflecting in his eyes as if they were burning...

Bright and startling!

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

Suddenly, a knocking sound came from the door.

His grand ambitions were interrupted. Lin Changheng frowned slightly. It was nearly evening; who would come looking for him?

He pinched the hand seal for the Fireball spell, ready to unleash it at a moment's notice, while his other hand pushed the door open just a crack, his eyes peering directly through the gap.

Utterly vigilant!

If anything seemed the least bit wrong, he would smash a fireball into their face without a second thought.

A female cultivator stood outside the door.

She was pretty, with an exquisite oval face framed by cherry lips and rosy cheeks.

Wearing no makeup, her natural posture was enchanting.

It was none other than his next-door neighbor, a woman named Su Shuangjiang.

With a cultivation base at the sixth level of Qi Refining and impressive skills, she was a monster hunter.

She had once had a fiancé, also a monster hunter. The two were childhood sweethearts who had come to Zichuan Market together to make their fortune, intending to marry once they had saved enough.

Consequently, they often went to the edge of the Wilderness to hunt monsters.

Four years ago, during the "Small Reclamation" organized by the Purple Extreme Sect, her fiancé had been momentarily careless. A monster ambushed him, biting off his head, and he perished on the spot.

Since then, Su Shuangjiang had lived as a widow, often dressed in plain clothes.

After all, they had been neighbors for years, seeing each other every time they stepped out; how could they be anything but familiar?

"Fairy Su, may I ask what brings you to my door?"

Lin Changheng set aside his outward vigilance and pushed the door open further, though his other hand remained free, ready to form a seal at any moment.

Su Shuangjiang's pretty face went blank at the question, then she reacted, shaking her head repeatedly. "It's nothing, nothing at all. I just heard a huge commotion coming from your place, Fellow Daoist, and thought something had happened, so I came to see if you needed any help."

I never expected this neighbor to be such a warm-hearted person.

Lin Changheng instantly realized why she had come.

Given his previous cultivation level and attainments, he had likely never caused such a commotion at home before. It was no wonder she was surprised; perhaps she thought a thief had broken into his house?

"Many thanks for your concern, Fairy Su. Lin was merely testing a spell at home just now; nothing else has occurred. I did not intend to disturb you, and I hope you will forgive me."

Su Shuangjiang's beautiful eyes swept over Lin Changheng, a flash of surprise crossing them, yet she still nodded and said, "It is no matter. As neighbors, we ought to help one another. Since Fellow Daoist Lin is unharmed, this little woman shall not intrude further."

"Would Fairy Su care to come inside for a seat and a cup of spirit tea?"

Lin Changheng had faintly caught a trace of a very faint, bloody scent on the female cultivator before him. Although it was masked by the lingering fragrance of a post-bath scent, it could not escape his nose, which was extremely sensitive to the essence blood of demonic beasts. His heart stirred, and he smiled as he extended the invitation.

"I only just returned from the Wilderness at noon and am still quite fatigued. I shall come to bother Fellow Daoist Lin another day."

Su Shuangjiang offered a slight smile, revealing a timely touch of weariness.

"Very well."

Lin Changheng naturally would not force the issue, watching as the lithe female cultivator departed.

In his heart, however, he began to ponder whether he could rely on this female cultivator to obtain demonic blood.

At the same time.

Su Shuangjiang was also filled with confusion.

Specifically, there were two points.

The first was that this Fellow Daoist Lin had appeared preoccupied from the very first day she moved in. Over the past two years, this had been even more pronounced; his brows were always tightly furrowed, and he seemed exceptionally gloomy.

However, during this period, she had been out hunting demons for long stretches or resting at home, rarely going out, and had not encountered him.

Yet, upon seeing him this time, Fellow Daoist Lin seemed like a completely different person.

His mental state was entirely changed, and he was no longer so withdrawn or gloomy.

This left her quite surprised.

One must know that while rivers and mountains may change, a person's nature is hard to alter. Personal transformation is difficult unless one encounters a great upheaval, but generally speaking, such changes tend to be for the worse, a decline...

The second point, was that the power of that spell... it was truly a bit too great.

At the very least, it was something only a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator could produce, unless one were to smash a first-grade mid-tier talisman.

But a mid-tier talisman would cost at least three or four spirit stones; would anyone really be so wasteful? Unless their brain had been clawed by a demonic beast.

With those possibilities excluded, the answer was quite obvious.

Yet, she had clearly sensed just moments ago that Fellow Daoist Lin's cultivation was still at the early stage of Qi Refining...

This led to a dead end.

That neighbor, who had undergone such a drastic change in state yet possessed such an unremarkable appearance, truly held some mysteries.

Perhaps, he could not be judged by common logic...

Lin Changheng, unaware of what was passing through Su Shuangjiang's mind, had by now boiled a pot of spirit rice porridge, the spiritual aroma compelling.

As he drank the porridge, he began to calculate something on his fingers.

"In three more days, the [Origin Treasure Seed] will continue to absorb essence blood, and I will fall into a state of blood-qi depletion. Since I have no [Blood Replenishing Pill] left in my hands, I must acquire a few more as soon as possible..."