Starting with Proficiency Panel

"There's such abbreviations?" Li Qing asked, intrigued.

"Of course!" The store clerk replied skillfully, "For example, if a woman's phone isn't using a screen protector or case, we call it unprotected internal shooting. If the camera is in beautification mode, it's called beauty shooting. There are also names like front shooting, back shooting, and a whole series of shooting methods."

Chen Chencheng frowned, "I have a feeling something's a bit off."

"Oh, is that so? My phone's battery has been bulging recently. What's generally the cause?" Li Qing asked curiously.

"Actually, most phones now have non-removable internal batteries. An original battery shouldn't have this problem. Sir, you probably replaced it yourself after buying a battery online, didn't you?"

The clerk explained with a smile, "But there are many reasons for a battery to bulge.

For example, charging for too long, not unplugging the charger; using different model chargers frequently; erratic plugging and unplugging of the charger; unstable charging voltage; different international standards; using more than two chargers simultaneously; alternating between DC and AC current; using additional cooling devices while charging that make the battery extremely unstable; and lastly, burning and blackening of the socket due to high charging frequency."

The clerk summarized, "In general, those are the reasons... Sir, why do you have some marks on your face?"

Li Qing: "I don't know, it feels like something just ran over me, but it's nothing to worry about."

He turned to ask Chen Chencheng, "This phone seems pretty good, let's go with this one."

"Sure, supporting local goods is always good."

She bluntly said, "Doesn't Huami have poor quality control? If there's an issue, can we get it replaced?"

The clerk wasn't bothered by Chen Chencheng's nitpicking. After all, they knew their products, and replied with a smile, "Of course, as long as it's not man-made damage, we'll replace it with a new one if there's any issue."

Chen Chencheng paid swiftly, fiddling with the phone as they left the mall, and after having dinner at a small shop.

They stood at the street corner, looking at each other.

Seeing Chen Chencheng hesitating to speak, Li Qing wondered, "What's up?"

"Do you think when a girl doesn't say she wants to go home, it means she wants to spend more time with the guy?"

Li Qing: "But I feel like you don't want to spend more time with me, but rather to observe my behavior, right?"

Chen Chencheng didn't deny it but said seriously, "Exactly."

"Why?"

"You're different!"

Li Qing couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, "Different how?"

"You're odd!"

"Huh?"

Chen Chencheng looked serious and determined, "You have issues in your heart, I can see it."

Li Qing chuckled, "Then tell me, what's wrong with me?"

"I've encountered many cases like yours before."

A spark flashed in Li Qing's eyes, "Oh? Do tell."

Chen Chencheng assessed, "You're the type completely immersed in your own world, unable to extricate yourself, totally self-centered, disregarding others' opinions, with an unfounded sense of superiority in thinking you've seen through everything."

Finally, Chen Chencheng concluded, "In ancient terms, it's called hysteria; in modern terms, it's conversion disorder. You're sick and need treatment!"

Afterward, she hesitated a bit, "We've known each other for so long, I'll charge you a symbolic fee for the treatment."

"Ha-ha, you're so kind..."

Li Qing let out two emotionless laughs, a typical fake smile, and turned to leave.

If he stayed any longer with this psychiatrist, she'd brainwash him into doubting his worldview, his life, even the magic he's been learning, imagining it all out of a refusal to live an ordinary life...

Too scary, he must stay away from this woman!

"Hey!! Hey! Come back!"

Chen Chencheng watched Li Qing quickly walk away, a knowing smile on her face.

"Haha, looks like I've hit a sore spot. With more force, I might just wake him up."

She somewhat narcissistically said, "Eh, who can blame me for being a good person? I can't just ignore it when I've encountered it."

Li Qing disappeared into the night without turning back.

Back home, Li Qing sighed deeply, finding it hard to believe Chen Chencheng was treating him with the mindset of him being a patient. He was surprised she could tell his recent oddities just from his behaviors.

But as for hysteria...

Li Qing sneered, when I can ignore the whole world someday, she'll see what hysteria really is!

Ignoring message from Chen Chencheng, Li Qing lay in bed and gradually entered a meditative state. Ever since he gathered his magic power to become apprentice level, his talent of Wise Man's Time greatly improved his efficiency in practicing meditation, learning new magical knowledge, or casting magic.

Generally speaking, even for apprentices to cast Level 0 magic, incantation spellcasting is required, though the syllables are brief, it's still necessary.

But not for Li Qing, he just needs to complete the magic nodes connections to perform spellless magic.

Analyze, construct, solidify, release.

Analyze the magic, construct magic power nodes, keep the nodes running, and guide the release with spiritual power.

Analyzing magic is, of course, the learning process, understanding the principles of magic, setting up the magic flow nodes, maintaining and solidifying them, then using one's spiritual power to guide the magic release.

It sounds simple, but if not practiced extensively, the success rate of spellcasting can be quite low.

Four hours later, Li Qing woke up from meditation, donned a black robe, entered his safe house, and went straight to the alchemy platform beside the magic altar in the basement.

In the gloomy and dim basement, Li Qing brewed for a moment, holding a magic book, slowly followed the 'Light Technique' magic flow nodes as documented.

Maintain, then release.

Seeing the sudden appearance of a light ball in his hand flicker and then unresponsive, Li Qing wasn't discouraged. The success rate of magic isn't 100% from the start but requires a lot of practice.

After four hours of tedious practice, Li Qing enthusiastically raised the light ball released by the Light Technique, about the size of an egg, dimly illuminating the entire basement.

This was an unsuccessful magic release result. Normally, this egg-sized Light Technique should brightly illuminate the entire 90 square meter basement.

The soft light resembling daytime.

This was still with his Wise Time Talent activated, requiring only four hours to achieve such a level. For a typical magic apprentice, within four hours, all they could do is practice the magic nodes proficiently.