Spells Grinding: From Basic Sparks to Divine Arts

Chapter 255: Half a Year Has Passed

[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Mid Stage — 89/100]

Looking at the flickering values on his attribute panel, Qin Lu couldn’t help but smile.

Half a year of rigorous Secluded Cultivation had yielded tremendous results. His cultivation base had climbed steadily and was now knocking on the door of the ninetieth percentile.

At this rate, I should break through to the late Foundation Establishment stage by next month, he thought, nodding to himself in satisfaction.

However, his raw cultivation level was only part of the equation. The true priority of this retreat had been mastering his nine major skills.

The Spiritual Qi required to cast a Foundation Establishment spell was astronomically higher than that of a Qi Condensation spell. The energy reserves that could previously fuel hundreds of low-tier spells were now completely drained after casting just a few dozen Foundation Establishment techniques. This massive consumption rate naturally throttled his grinding speed.

But sheer consistency always paid off. After six months of relentless, daily practice, his progress was staggering.

Dividing his time with ruthless efficiency, Qin Lu had managed to grind all nine skills up to the Grandmaster level. Among them, the [Wind Pillar Technique] and [Earth Fire Technique] had even shattered the ceiling, reaching the coveted Legend tier. Furthermore, pushing the [Phantom Mantra] and [Gold Escape Technique] to Perfection had drastically enhanced his mobility, granting him elite, life-saving escape methods.

Overall, his raw combat power had multiplied several times over.

Qin Lu stood up, dusting off his robes. He rolled his shoulders, popping the stiff joints in his neck, and took in his surroundings.

He was currently standing at the bottom of a massive, desolate canyon. The towering rock walls were battered and scarred, and any trace of wildlife had long since fled the area.

This was his personal firing range. Foundation Establishment spells were simply too destructive; practicing them in a standard forest would easily spark massive wildfires or attract high-level Demon Beasts, leading to unnecessary trouble. This barren gorge, however, allowed him to cut loose without restraint.

Thanks to his relentless bombardment over the past six months, the canyon floor was now a jagged mess of craters and scorched earth, the local ecosystem thoroughly annihilated.

Qin Lu didn’t care in the slightest. He wasn’t exactly an environmentalist.

Whoosh!

Pushing off the ground, Qin Lu shot into the sky, banking toward the White Jade Market.

Despite spending the vast majority of the last half-year isolated in the gorge, he made a point to return to the city once a month. First, he needed a proper hot bath to wash away the accumulated grit and mental fatigue of his intense training. Second, he wanted a hot meal; even though Foundation Establishment cultivators could survive on Spiritual Qi alone, fasting for months on end still felt unnatural to him. Finally, he needed to check in on the Qin Sect, verify everyone’s safety, and handle any major administrative bottlenecks.

The flight back was peaceful. An hour later, Qin Lu touched down at the city gates.

As he strolled through the streets, his expression remained perfectly calm, ignoring the countless gazes of awe and reverence directed his way.

In just six short months, the Qin Sect had evolved into a dominant, untouchable force within the White Jade Market. A faction boasting three Foundation Establishment cultivators was practically unheard of for a mere commercial hub; their combat strength eclipsed even some localized Foundation Establishment sects.

As the sole founder and leader of the Qin Sect, Qin Lu was naturally the most famous man in the city. Coupled with his recent feature in the Nine Truths Langya List, his reputation had exploded. He was now a household name across neighboring markets and major sects alike.

Qin Mansion.

Qin Lu lay sprawled on a plush recliner in the courtyard. Sunlight filtered through the canopy of the grand spirit tree above, dappling his face with warmth. The tranquil atmosphere was so relaxing that he kept his eyes closed, drifting in a state of comfortable half-sleep.

Standing respectfully beside the recliner was Chen Ming, the Qin Mansion’s steward.

“Steward Chen, give me the rundown for this month,” Qin Lu said lazily, not bothering to open his eyes.

“Yes, Lord!” Chen Ming bowed sharply.

Accustomed to this monthly routine, the steward spoke clearly and efficiently, laying out everything of note that had occurred in the market. As Chen Ming listed off the ledgers, Qin Lu formed a clear mental picture of the current landscape.

First, the sect’s shops were stable. Thanks to the collective efforts of the core members, operations were running smoothly. While the monthly Spirit Stone revenue had dipped slightly, it was well within normal market fluctuations and nothing to worry about.

More importantly, Chen Ming’s report highlighted three distinct pieces of news.

Item One: Lu Anchen had officially departed the city to seek out his Foundation Establishment opportunity.

Qin Lu couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pride at this. During their last sect meeting, he had promised that whoever reached the Qi Condensation Perfection stage first would be gifted a Foundation Establishment Pill. The bounty had lit a fire under Lu Anchen, Nie Feng, and Cao Yunxi. In the end, it was the youngest of the three—Lu Anchen—who won the race.

True to his word, Qin Lu had personally handed over the pill. After spending the last few weeks meditating to consolidate his foundation, Lu Anchen had set out to find the right environment for his breakthrough. Qin Lu wasn’t worried about the kid; to hit Qi Condensation Perfection by the age of twenty-two required incredible talent. With the pill in hand, his advancement was practically guaranteed.

Item Two: A young cultivator named Yu Heng had arrived at the mansion seeking an audience.

Qin Lu remembered the boy well. Back when he had assisted Jiang Ge in wiping out the evil cultivator nest, he had crossed paths with a mortal crown prince. Discovering the prince had a rare dual-spiritual root, Qin Lu had casually tossed him a cultivation manual to jumpstart his journey, leaving an open invitation to find him in the White Jade Market if he ever wanted to pursue the Dao.

It seemed the young royal had finally made the trek.

Item Three: Disciples from Zou Chang’s camp had delivered a formal invitation to a Sect Opening Ceremony.

Zou Chang was a heavy hitter in the White Jade Market, boasting late-stage Foundation Establishment strength. For years, he had been scouting the wilderness for a decent leyline to establish his own formal sect. During the evil cultivator siege, Qin Lu and Zou Chang had fought shoulder-to-shoulder, spilling blood together against the hordes of Demon Beasts. That life-and-death struggle had forged a solid camaraderie between them, leading to regular correspondence and the occasional drinking session.

Qin Lu had known the ceremony was coming; this was simply the formal paperwork. Naturally, he intended to go.

All three pieces of news were positive.

Qin Lu kept his eyes closed, a faint, contented smile resting on his face as he continued to bask in the sun.

“Lord, that concludes the major events for this month,” Chen Ming said, respectfully snapping his ledger shut.

“Good.”

Qin Lu finally opened his eyes. He pondered for a moment, then waved his hand dismissively. “Go bring Yu Heng to me.”

“Right away, Lord!”