C9 Devil Crystal

Before Liu Feng returned home, he had thoroughly asked Wen Lu, the receptionist, about how to use the devil crystal. The devil crystal is essentially a solid form of Magicka that can speed up the replenishment of Magicka during combat and can also be used to hasten one's cultivation. Simply holding the devil crystal allows the body to absorb it automatically.

Wen Lu was patient and detailed in her response, which took Liu Feng by surprise. However, he quickly realized that there were opportunists within their ranks, yet they weren't foolish. They knew who not to cross, especially someone like him, recommended by the guild president.

Wen Lu wouldn't question the president's judgment. Lei Boshi was once just an ordinary man skilled in electrical work, an age considered too late for most to awaken and practice the arcane arts. However, the president discovered his innate connection with the thunder element and brought him into the guild. In just over a year, Lei Boshi had become an intermediate thunder arcanist—a feat that might take others three to five years to achieve. His rapid progress marked him as an arcane prodigy.

Liu Feng's own abilities were modest, and Wen Lu could easily discern his level of cultivation—it was certainly not high. But the fact that the president had brought him into the fold spoke volumes.

This gave Wen Lu a bold idea.

For Wen Lu, befriending a newcomer with untapped potential, despite lacking strength, was advantageous, especially with the president's backing.

This was how Wen Lu navigated life.

Some things just had to be done.

...

At that moment, in the Liu Yard, Liu Feng sat under a tree, devil crystal in hand. His father, Liu Guo, was an amiable man with a fondness for gardening. He often said that plants and trees possessed a spirit, followed natural laws, and embodied the Great Dao. At the very least, they were a means to cultivate one's character and nurture one's temperament.

The devil crystal in his grasp was reminiscent of an Awakening Stone—chilly to the touch, yet it was much smaller and lacked the heft of the Awakening Stone, being only the size of a fingernail. Following Wen Lu's instructions, Liu Feng held the devil crystal and allowed his consciousness to descend into the spiritual world.

The spiritual world was an expansive, infinite universe, dotted with arcane starlight and fly ash, flawless and undisturbed. Aside from the occasional presence of fly ash, it was engulfed in a cold, deathly silence.

Without warning, the spiritual world trembled violently, sending waves rippling through the space, reminiscent of the undulations on a lake's surface. A space storm, accompanied by a scarlet rift, furiously poured into the spiritual world, and a crimson crack began to widen from mere centimeters until it spanned the entire universe.

The fire-type fly ash, previously jesting with the shadow fly ash, sensed an anomaly and drew the shadow fly ash toward the cosmic fissure. Droplets of dew, brimming with Magicka, burst forth from the crack, drenching both the shadow and fire fly ash.

Standing to the side, Liu Feng's Thoughtform watched, his expression shifting from bewilderment to sheer ecstasy.

The fly ash, once comparable in size to Liu Feng, began to swell at an astonishing rate, growing rapidly as if fueled by some potent stimulant, a sight that was truly astonishing.

One black, one crimson, the arcane fly ash flourished under the nurturing rain and dew, stretching skyward like an ancient tree. Likewise, the spiritual world expanded at a pace visible to the eye, albeit slowly.

But just how vast was this spiritual world? To the naked eye, the rate of expansion was nothing short of terrifying.

As the cracks sealed, the two fly ash seemed to yearn for more, casting pitiful glances at Liu Feng that left him feeling rather uneasy.

Caught between shock and elation, Liu Feng marveled at the significant growth of both the universe and the fly ash, realizing the true value of the devil crystal. He resolved to visit the Hunter Guild to see if there were any more to be found.

"Don't worry, as long as you continue to perform well, you'll be well rewarded," he assured them.

The two fly ash circled Liu Feng joyously, as if celebrating their good fortune.

Exiting the spiritual world, Liu Feng turned his attention back to the devil crystal in his hand, intending to examine it further. To his surprise, the devil crystal had vanished, leaving behind only a fine white powder.

How quickly it had been depleted. Yet, this substance was truly remarkable. The fly ash, which had been growing at a leisurely pace, now seemed to have been given a dose of steroids, causing the universe itself to expand. I wondered if there might be any side effects.

Staring at the white powder that defied analysis, Liu Feng casually tossed it into the nearby woods, shaking his head in resignation before diving back into the spiritual world.

Maybe it was the recent sprinkle of rain that had delighted the fire elemental lady, for she was exceptionally cooperative with Liu Feng this time. Guided by the Thoughtform, a seemingly inexhaustible stream of Magicka surged wildly into Liu Feng's hands. The power was so intense that he felt almost unable to contain it, his palms seemingly on the verge of bursting with Magicka.

The flames in his grasp roared to life, fueled as if by gasoline, now more than twice as formidable as before. The fire element danced and flickered, drawn to the Magicka and clinging to Liu Feng's hands.

Swinging his arms, Liu Feng unleashed a sweeping fire dance that bathed the surroundings in a sudden, intense red glow, as if five fire dragons were wildly cavorting through the air.

"Fire Dance!" he bellowed.

The ensuing series of five thunderous booms carved out four large, crescent-shaped craters in the ground, with the final crater etched into a tree.

The very tree that had grown alongside Liu Feng had been caught in the blast and would grow no more.

With a heavy thud, the great tree slowly toppled to the ground, leaving Liu Feng with mixed emotions. He was thrilled to have finally mastered the second level of low-level fire arcane, edging closer to becoming the God of Arcane. Yet, he couldn't help but lament the loss of the tree.

Liu Feng pondered the fire dance technique. It was an effective area attack, akin to releasing five Flame Bursts simultaneously—ideal for decimating groups when surrounded, though it risked collateral damage. It was perfect when he was on his own.

Liu Guo had always been particularly fond of that tree. It was the finest in the yard, a source of pride for him. Liu Feng, too, had cherished the cool shade it provided during his Shadow Meditation in the summers. Now, returning home was no longer an option. What a predicament. It seemed his best course of action would be to seek refuge at the Hunter Guild for a while.

While pondering how to upgrade his dark weapon, Liu Guo was jolted by a thunderous noise that shook the ground like an earthquake. He couldn't help but think that Liu Feng had quite a knack for this, having already mastered the fire dance.

"Cough, cough, cough…"

Liu Guo, eager to commend Liu Feng for mastering the fire dance, stepped out into the courtyard only to be met with a choking cloud of smoke.

Initially thrilled, Liu Guo's joy turned to dismay when he discovered a majestic ancient tree toppled over with a gaping hole in its trunk, surrounded by scattered black charcoal.

"Liu Feng!" he bellowed into the heavens, his voice echoing across the land, unceasing.

By this time, Liu Feng had made a swift exit. Sneezing on his way to the Hunter Guild, he muttered a curse under his breath. It was just a tree, after all. He had mastered such formidable arcane skills; he'd make it up by buying a whole grove of trees another day.