Zhang Meng was very proactive about finding a job.

After learning that a place was hiring, she left early the next day to go to the so-called Yueman Tower for an interview.

This left Qin Lu and Xiao Ziyun at home.

With nothing better to do, Qin Lu practiced his swordplay in the courtyard. The sword techniques, enhanced by the [Soft Wind Technique], carried an air of effortless grace in every movement.

These cool moves immediately caught Xiao Ziyun’s attention. He had somehow found a tree branch somewhere and began imitating the movements earnestly from the side.

After Qin Lu finished a round of sword practice and crafted two more talismans, Zhang Meng finally returned from outside.

Upon inquiry, she had successfully secured the job and officially became a member of Yueman Tower.

The so-called Yueman Tower was actually a restaurant. Zhang Meng’s job was reportedly as a helper, responsible for various odd jobs.

She could earn twenty Spirit Stones a month.

Seeing Zhang Meng find a livelihood so quickly, Qin Lu was happy for her. He added two more dishes to dinner again to celebrate.

The atmosphere among the three was warm and joyful.

And so, Zhang Meng went to work every day, while Qin Lu stayed home to look after the child.

Qin Lu spent his days either practicing swordplay or drawing talismans, leading a very fulfilling life.

Time passed in this manner, and over ten days slipped by quietly.

…

That day.

After finishing dinner, Qin Lu simply said goodbye to Zhang Meng and walked out of the courtyard.

He headed towards the outskirts of the market.

The sun was setting in the west, bathing the earth in the colorful glow of the evening clouds. Within the market, pedestrians walked the streets in twos and threes. A gentle breeze carried a faint floral scent, refreshing the heart and mind.

At the market gate, many Loose Cultivators were queuing to leave the city. At this hour, everyone was starting to head home for dinner and rest.

Qin Lu followed the flow of people, walking at a leisurely pace.

After exiting the market, he strode purposefully towards the outer edges of The Slums.

The entire Slums were built around the Wuji Market, forming a circle that tightly surrounded the market.

The area beyond the edge of The Slums was uninhabited wilderness.

As the houses around him gradually decreased, the surroundings immediately became desolate, overgrown with weeds and sparse in human presence.

Qin Lu walked along a small dirt path trodden by people, his gaze constantly surveying the surroundings.

He had been in this world for so long, yet this was his first time venturing beyond the market’s boundaries.

Leaving the market meant he might encounter demonic beasts.

Encountering demonic beasts also meant he might lose his life.

Therefore, one must be extremely cautious when venturing into the wild!

These past days, his skill proficiency had been steadily increasing.

Especially the [Ignition Technique] and [Finger Flick Technique] he had been secretly practicing.

The proficiency for both had already reached 599, just one more activation away from an upgrade.

So, Qin Lu could no longer suppress the restless excitement in his heart. Today, he planned to go to the wilderness to test the power of his new skills.

As he walked, Qin Lu suddenly spotted two cultivators.

Both walked wearily from the distance, their clothes stained with blood and covered in dust. They were carrying the corpse of an unknown demonic beast together.

“They must be Loose Cultivators who make a living hunting beasts…”

Sensing the killing intent in their eyes and the baleful aura on their bodies, Qin Lu couldn’t help but become alert. He tightened his grip on the [Shangqing Sword] at his waist, his expression tense.

Both sides eyed each other warily as they slowly passed by.

Their figures gradually faded into the distance.

“Whew, thankfully no conflict broke out…”

Qin Lu let out a sigh of relief and continued forward along the path.

Soon, he arrived at a small, dense forest.

Here, the grass was lush, trees were everywhere, and dense leaves blotted out the sky, giving off a sinister feeling.

Occasionally, the mournful cries of wild beasts came from deep within the woods, sending chills down one’s spine.

Qin Lu advanced slowly with a serious expression, his nerves taut, maintaining a vigilant posture of observing all directions and listening intently.

“Pfft!”

An invisible force abruptly burst forth from Qin Lu’s fingertip.

The impact immediately blasted a small, colorful snake hanging from a tree with ill intentions into two segments, sending it straight to the ground.

Moreover, the force of the attack did not diminish, blasting a large hole in the tree behind it.

Qin Lu looked down at the colorful little snake corpse before him, his heart tightening involuntarily.

“This snake is so colorful, it must be poisonous. The wilderness is truly dangerous. I need to finish testing my skills and hurry back…”

Encountering this little snake, Qin Lu instantly became more alert. He hurriedly took out a [Water Qi Shield] talisman and slapped it directly onto himself.

A layer of pale blue, semi-transparent light enveloped his entire body, emitting a faint ripple of spiritual power.

With the talisman’s protection, he felt slightly more at ease.

Soon, he stopped and looked at a thick, sturdy tree about ten meters away that would take two people to encircle.

“Let’s try the upgraded [Finger Flick Technique]…”

He extended one hand, leveling it, curled his middle finger, and aimed at the tree before him.

“Hoo!”

Qin Lu took a deep breath, his expression solemn, and flicked his finger!

“Pfft!”

A powerful gust of wind shot straight from between his fingers. The immense recoil even caused Qin Lu’s body to stagger back slightly.

“BOOM——!”

The wind force struck the large tree directly. Two-thirds of the trunk was pierced through instantly, and the leaves shook with a rustling clamor.

Losing its foundation, the trunk could no longer support the weight of the upper part of the tree. With a creak, the entire tree collapsed with a thunderous crash, raising a cloud of dust.

“What incredible power!”

Joy surged in Qin Lu’s heart. If the previous [Finger Flick Technique] was like a Desert Eagle pistol, then the upgraded version now was comparable to a cannon shell!

Qin Lu looked at the fallen tree, and an idea struck him. He raised his head, scanning his surroundings.

After a pause, he raised his hand again, aiming at a tree about a hundred meters away.

“Pfft!”

The fierce wind burst forth once more, accurately striking that distant tree. The tremendous force caused the entire tree to tremble, leaves showering down.

“Tsk tsk, after the upgrade, not only has the power increased greatly, but the accuracy has also improved quite a bit.”

Qin Lu retracted his finger and moved his feet, running towards the tree a hundred meters away.

Up close, he saw the trunk now had a large hole blasted through it, wood chips scattered everywhere, as if hit by a heavy sniper rifle at close range.

“It seems the killing power of the [Finger Flick Technique] decreases significantly with increased distance. Still, this level of power is more than enough. Tsk tsk, if this were used against a cultivator…”

“It truly is… terrifying to such a degree!”

The corners of Qin Lu’s mouth couldn’t help but curl upwards. The power of this spell finally gave him a bit of self-preservation capability.

Suppressing his excitement slightly, Qin Lu stood still, focused his mind, and raised his right hand to snap his fingers.

With a snap, a fireball the size of a soccer ball appeared above his fingers, emitting clusters of flames.

Qin Lu moved his finger casually, reabsorbing the fireball, completing one spell practice session.

Focusing his mind, he glanced at his status panel.

He saw both skills had now changed:

「Ignition Technique」(Master): 1/3000

「Finger Flick Technique」(Master): 2/3000

“Come on, Master-level [Ignition Technique]…”

Qin Lu whispered softly. His body was tense now, his heart pounding, his eyes filled with anticipation.

“Snap!”

Another snap of his fingers.

A warm, comforting spiritual power instantly enveloped Qin Lu’s fist. Looking closely, one could see fierce flames burning on his clenched hand.

Pale yellow flames danced continuously, emitting a scorching light.

Qin Lu felt his unharmed fist, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes. He looked at a huge rock beside him and suddenly swung his right hand forward.

“Whoosh——!”

A massive blaze of fire erupted from his fist, carrying powerful explosive force as it slammed fiercely into the giant rock.

“KABOOM——!”

White smoke billowed from the rock, accompanied by a sizzling sound.

As the smoke slowly dissipated, a huge, deep crater appeared in the center of the rock mass. The stone was fractured, rubble scattered everywhere, and the area around the crater was already charred black.

Qin Lu stared blankly at the shattered, ruined giant rock before him. Slowly, he raised his right hand, looked at his fist, and said in astonishment:

“Am I… Fire Fist Ace?!”

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