Spells Grinding: From Basic Sparks to Divine Arts

Chapter 228: Second-Order Mid-Stage

As he shot toward the cave, Qin Lu expanded his spiritual senses, activating the [Heavenly Eye Technique] to its maximum range.

The world shifted into grayscale and energy lines. At full power, he could now survey everything within a two-mile radius—a significant upgrade from his Qi Condensation days, though less impactful at Foundation Establishment speeds where two miles could be crossed in seconds.

“There it is.”

Qin Lu sensed the presence immediately.

“Hmm? Two signatures?”

Inside the cave, two distinct auras flickered. One was strong but unstable—undoubtedly the mid-stage Foundation Establishment [Green Profound Bear] Anyang had mentioned. Its energy felt erratic, weaker than expected for its rank.

The second aura was tiny, barely registering at the Qi Condensation level.

Whoosh!

Qin Lu didn’t slow down. He flew straight into the mouth of the cave. A beast of this level wasn’t worth complex tactics; brute force would suffice.

A pungent, musky odor assaulted his nose the moment he crossed the threshold. He frowned, suppressing the urge to gag.

“ROAR!”

A deafening bellow echoed from the depths.

“Sharp senses,” Qin Lu muttered, a cold smile touching his lips. “It knows I’m here.”

He didn’t stop. He accelerated, rushing through the dark, winding tunnel until the beast’s aura was directly in front of him.

Then, he raised his hand.

Flash!

An intense [Illumination Technique] exploded in the gloom, turning the dark cave into a blinding white void.

“ROAR—?!”

The bear’s defiant roar turned into a shriek of pain as the sudden brilliance seared its sensitive eyes. Blinded and disoriented, it thrashed wildly.

That was all the opening Qin Lu needed.

He was already there.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The Silver Sand Sword became a streak of white lightning.

Schlick!

Infused with lethal Spiritual Qi, the blade sliced through the bear’s tough hide like paper. A massive wound opened across its belly, spilling hot blood and entrails onto the stone floor.

BOOM!

The massive beast collapsed, its limbs twitching as life rapidly drained from its body. It gasped for breath, its eyes glazing over.

One strike. One kill.

Qin Lu stood over the corpse, flicking the blood from his sword.

This instant victory wasn’t just because the bear was weakened. It was a testament to his own growth. The desperate battles during the siege of White Jade Market had tempered him. His swordsmanship was sharper, his strikes more lethal. He was no longer the same cultivator he had been a month ago.

“Squeak…”

A faint, trembling sound came from the shadows behind the corpse.

Qin Lu turned.

Huddled in a dark corner was a tiny cub, its fur still wet with birth fluids. It looked exactly like the monster lying in the pool of blood, only miniature and helpless.

Qin Lu lowered his sword, realization dawning.

“So that’s why it was weak,” he murmured. “It had just given birth.”

He felt no guilt. In the wild, weakness was a death sentence, and survival was the only law.

He looked past the cub to the source of the cave’s spiritual energy. A small pool of water glowed faintly in the darkness, emitting a steady pulse of Spiritual Qi.

“A wild Spiritual Spring…”

It was a natural cultivation spot. The density was comparable to the core residential district of White Jade Market. For a rogue cultivator, finding this place would be like winning the lottery.

“Not bad,” Qin Lu assessed. “But not worth my time.”

He turned back to the corpse. With practiced efficiency, he harvested the valuable materials—claws, gall bladder, fur—and stowed them in his Storage Bag.

He left the cub untouched. Its fate was up to the Mountain God.

Qin Lu flew out of the cave to find Anyang waiting anxiously by the entrance.

“Senior! What happened?” the spirit asked, wringing his hands. “Is it dangerous?”

“It’s dead,” Qin Lu said simply. “There’s a cub inside. Do what you want with it.”

“Ah… already?”

Anyang’s jaw dropped. “But… you were only in there for a moment! I didn’t even hear a fight!”

He had assumed Qin Lu was just scouting. To hear the battle was over before it began was inconceivable.

Qin Lu smirked. “Go see for yourself.”

Anyang didn’t need telling twice. He zipped into the cave, returning moments later with a look of pure awe on his face.

He bowed deeply, his transparent form trembling with excitement. “Senior’s divine might is terrifying! I admire you! Thank you for reclaiming my home. I will never forget this kindness!”

“Hehe. It was nothing.” Qin Lu waved a hand dismissively.

Anyang straightened up. “As promised!”

With a wave of the spirit’s hand, a large, glowing object floated out of the air.

It was an oval stone, roughly half the height of a man, with a smooth, pine-green surface that seemed to absorb the light around it. It pulsed with a strange, heavy energy.

“This Strange Stone has been nurturing in the heart of my mountain for centuries,” Anyang explained proudly. “I don’t know its name, but I know it is precious. Please, accept it!”

Qin Lu caught the stone with his Spiritual Qi. It was heavy, dense, and undeniably valuable, though he couldn’t identify the material either.

“Then I won’t be polite,” he grinned, sweeping the stone into his Storage Bag. “I’ll find an expert to appraise it later.”

Business concluded, Qin Lu brushed off his robes.

“Well then. I’ll be going.”

“Wait! Senior!” Anyang called out. “May I ask your esteemed name?”

Qin Lu paused, hovering in the air.

“I am Qin Lu. A Loose Cultivator of White Jade Market.”

“I will remember it!” Anyang bowed again. “Safe travels, Senior Qin!”

Qin Lu smiled faintly.

“Take care.”

He turned and shot into the sky, a streak of silver light disappearing into the horizon.