Q: What’s it like when something really clicks for you?

Qin Ruqing: Before, I didn’t know. But now, it’s one word—awesome! Two words—really awesome! Three words—totally awesome!

A Spirit Treasure Detector!

This thing’s function is like a treasure-finding cheat, essential for the early accumulation phase that main characters in major cultivation novels always get!

Could it be that now I’ve somehow landed the role of the female lead?!

Just thinking about this made Qin Ruqing want to cry.

Which female lead in a novel starts out this miserably, selling off all the newbie packages and item rewards?!

Qin Ruqing quickly asked the system, “How do I use this Spirit Treasure Detector?”

[System: The Spirit Treasure Detector is software that can be downloaded onto the system interface, similar to a functional plugin. Once the host confirms receipt, the system will activate this function.]

Ah, so that’s how it works.

Qin Ruqing had worried before that the treasure-finder might be a specific treasure, which would have required explaining where it came from to the clan members.

If it could simply be loaded onto the system, it would save her a lot of trouble.

Qin Ruqing promptly said, “Confirm receipt.”

The system interface rippled like water, and in the directory page, a new “function” surprisingly appeared.

Qin Ruqing thought to herself, could it be that the system’s capabilities aren’t just limited to treasure-finding? It seemed this fat sheep of a system still had a lot to offer.

She clicked on the Treasure Detector, and a map page appeared directly.

It showed “Qin Clan Territory” at the top.

Then, several places were circled with red lines on the map, faintly glowing and very prominent.

These places were the Qin Clan’s Medicinal Garden, the Rear Mountain Clan Repository, and the Patriarch’s Shadow Residence.

Wow! The Qin family really did have treasures in these places.

Qin Ruqing covered her mouth, laughing so hard her eyes disappeared. It seemed this thing was really useful.

After studying it for a while, Qin Ruqing understood the advantages and disadvantages of the Spirit Treasure Detector.

The advantage was, of course, its precise ability to sense celestial and terrestrial treasures, discern their aura, and mark their locations.

However, the disadvantage was that these locations were not exact; they were vaguely circled within a certain range.

In other words, you still had to go and find the exact spot yourself.

If the treasure was too close to you, it might actually be harder to find, like looking for something in a well-lit area.

To explain it further, in cultivation novels, there’s often the scenario where the protagonist picks up overlooked items at stalls.

That wouldn’t happen to Qin Ruqing because the Spirit Treasure Detector couldn’t pinpoint specific items if they were too close.

Even so, Qin Ruqing was still very satisfied.

She wasn’t greedy; the current capabilities of the Spirit Treasure Detector were already impressive enough for a “Golden-Tier Item .”

If it started feeding her every good thing directly, Qin Ruqing felt it might hinder her path to immortality.

With the Treasure Detector in hand, Qin Ruqing was eager to give it a try.

After some thought, she turned her gaze to the Qin family’s Secret Realm.

Wasn’t this a perfect place for experiments?

Most importantly, now that she had reached the third stage of Qi cultivation, she was qualified to practice in the Secret Realm.

Qin Ruqing bumped heads with Qin Qirong, who was very interested in her plan to visit the Secret Realm and decided to go with her.

Qin Qirong envied her and said, “Sister, you’re already at the third stage of Qi cultivation, while I’m only at the second stage. Before, I thought if I could cultivate faster than you, I could protect you.”

Qin Ruqing snorted and said, “Don’t brag.”

“Thinking about it, after all, I’m the eldest, destined to protect you,” Qin Ruqing said.

Qin Qirong nodded, “But I also want to protect sister.”

“Tsk.” Qin Ruqing belatedly realized how childish and immature their conversation was and quickly stopped, “We’re heading to the Secret Realm. First, we need to consult with the Ancestor and then report to the family.”

“Okay!” Qirong nodded vigorously.

After hearing their thoughts, the Ancestor didn’t oppose.

It was time.

Just like young eagles eventually have to leave the nest to conquer the sky, the Qin family was not one to spoil their children.

The Ancestor nodded, “There’s nothing more I can teach you. It’s time for you to venture out. The areas cleared by the Qin family in the Secret Realm are relatively safe and suitable for your current level.”

“However, before you depart, there is one more thing.” The Ancestor looked at Qin Ruqing, “Now that you’ve successfully cultivated your Qi and entered the Qi Training stage, you should choose a suitable cultivation technique.”

“The level of the technique isn’t a big deal. Just choose one that suits you now; you can always change it later if needed. The main thing is the type of technique, which determines your path.”

The Patriarch pointed to Qirong, “Like Qirong, with his singular Gold Spirit Root and awakening of Devouring Constitution, both greatly enhance his physical attributes. Therefore, Qirong chooses a path focused on body cultivation, which results in more efficiency.”

“Qingqing, have you thought about which path you want to take in the future?” The Ancestor finally got to the point.

Qin Ruqing knelt upright, seriously seeking advice, “In your opinion, Ancestor…”

The Ancestor shook her head with a smile, “This is your own path. It should be your decision.”

Qin Ruqing couldn’t help but stroke her chin, deeply contemplating.

This question was crucial, almost like choosing a major in college, directly affecting her future path in immortality cultivation.

Moreover, choosing a major allowed for changing one’s mind afterward, but in cultivation, once chosen, it wasn’t easy to switch.

Of course, it was possible to change, but all previous efforts would be wasted.

Considering that the Qin family was renowned for alchemy, and she herself had talent in alchemy, after studying under the Ancestor for so long, Qin Ruqing initially thought about becoming an alchemist.

However, soon she hesitated.

Because one knows oneself best, during these years of learning alchemy under the Ancestor, Qin Ruqing vaguely realized that her talent in alchemy seemed…

Average.

Well, average was putting it mildly. It wasn’t average—it was mediocre.

Alchemy heavily relied on talent! Qin Ruqing felt that if she chose this path, she might waste her greatest advantage—Dao physique.

Because alchemy emphasized insight and didn’t care much about the speed of cultivation progress.

And the advantage of alchemy lay in its long-lasting effects (after all, you could take pills), which somewhat overlapped with her Dao physique abilities.

They say to play up strengths and avoid weaknesses, but her strengths weren’t emphasized much, and the weaknesses were unavoidable.

Therefore, Qin Ruqing decisively crossed out the option of becoming an alchemist.

That definitely wouldn’t work.

What other “major” would be suitable for her? Her strength lay in the Blue Lotus Dao physique, strong recovery ability, very resistant to attacks unless subjected to major firepower…

She healed minor injuries in the blink of an eye.

Her shortcomings were also apparent.

So far, her awakened Blue Lotus Dao physique lacked a strong offensive ability, meaning her firepower was weak.

If she could find a “specialty” to compensate for this weakness in attack power, wouldn’t she be invincible?

The words “Spell Cultivation” naturally popped into Qin Ruqing’s mind.

Spell Cultivation, in modern terms, was somewhat like a mage, relying primarily on spells for attacks.

It had strong firepower and long attack range, but its weaknesses were fragile defenses and insufficient spiritual energy (mana).

But were these weaknesses really an issue for Qin Ruqing?

Fragile defenses—Qin Ruqing possessed the Blue Lotus Dao physique, specializing in resilience and strong recovery abilities.

Unless faced with an overwhelming attack, she was like an unstoppable force.

Insufficient spiritual energy—Qin Ruqing had achieved innate perfection in nurturing her spiritual energy, with a rapid absorption rate.

Thinking this way, Spell Cultivation seemed tailor-made for her.

Qin Ruqing no longer hesitated and immediately made up her mind, proclaiming, “Ancestor, I’ve decided. I want to choose Spell Cultivation!”

“Spell Cultivation?” The answer seemed to surprise the Ancestor somewhat, but with her vast experience and cultivation, She quickly understood Qin Ruqing’s reasoning.

She said with a hint of amusement, “Indeed, Spell Cultivation is exceptionally suitable for you.”

The Ancestor gradually smiled, “You, child, really know yourself. If you had chosen Alchemy, I might have had to think twice. But choosing Spell Cultivation is for the best. I happen to have a technique manual suitable for Spell Cultivation here. It will serve you well until the Golden Core stage.”

‘If you had chosen Alchemy, I might have had to think twice…’ Qin Ruqing felt like crying without tears.

Ancestor, did you have to be so direct? You practically said my talent in alchemy is lacking.

From her storage ring, the Ancestor took out a jade slip and handed it to Qin Ruqing, “This technique is called ‘Thousand Laws, Thousand Fires,’ a profound fire-based cultivation technique.

Given your affinity with Heavenly Fire Spirit Root, it’s perfect for you.”

Qin Ruqing respectfully accepted it, and the Patriarch added, “After you’ve finished studying this technique, inform your parents, and then you can set off for the secret realm.”

With everything settled, Qin Ruqing and Qin Qirong temporarily moved out of their residence, Shadow Pavilion.

After all, they hadn’t formally returned home in a long time, so it was a good opportunity to spend time with their parents before setting off.

In the first few days back home, Qin Ruqing’s parents treated her with exceptional warmth and care.

But a few days later, her mother, Luo Xian, frowned and urged her to attend classes at the family school.

Her mother’s exact words were, “Since you’re idle at home anyway, you might as well attend classes at the school.”