Spells Grinding: From Basic Sparks to Divine Arts

Chapter 262: Life-Saving Grace

The two cultivators greeting Qin Lu were at the Qi Condensation stage—a man and a woman, both in their twenties. Dressed in identical magical robes, they were clearly disciples of the same sect.

Qin Lu recognized them immediately. They were from the Divine Fire Sect.

During the siege of the White Jade Market, the Blood Demon and a rogue beast tamer had used a forbidden art to drive the local demon beasts into a frenzy. Even species that were usually docile had turned into man-eating monsters.

These two had been cornered in the wilderness by a Crimson Wild Bull. Just as they were facing certain death, Qin Lu had intervened.

He had struck with lightning speed, decapitating the beast and saving them effortlessly. Afterward, they had briefly introduced themselves as Divine Fire Sect disciples before parting ways.

“It’s you two…” Qin Lu chuckled softly, his expression calm.

“Senior!”

The pair exchanged a glance before rushing forward. The male cultivator bowed deeply, his voice trembling with emotion.

“Senior, we owe you a life debt! We failed to visit your residence personally to express our gratitude, a failure of trust and courtesy on our part. To finally meet you here today is a blessing. Please, accept this bow!”

As he spoke, both cultivators performed a solemn, formal bow, bending at the waist to show their utmost respect.

Qin Lu didn’t dodge the gesture or offer false modesty. He stood tall and accepted the bow.

That day, they had asked for his name, intending to visit and repay him. However, adhering to his policy of “doing good without leaving a trace”—mostly to avoid trouble—he had simply vanished.

Since they hadn’t been able to thank him then, they were making up for it now.

Once they finished their formalities, Qin Lu asked, “So, are you two also here for the Sect Opening Ceremony?”

“Yes,” the male cultivator replied respectfully. “Our Headmaster and Headmaster Zou are old family friends. We were fortunate enough to accompany our elders to the banquet.”

“I see…” Qin Lu nodded.

The Divine Fire Sect was located several thousand miles east of the White Jade Market. Their Headmaster, Wei Yongyuan, had a decent reputation in the cultivation world. Qin Lu hadn’t expected Wei Yongyuan and Zou Chang to have such a deep personal connection.

“Senior, are you heading to the guest quarters to rest?” the young man asked suddenly.

“Yes, we just arrived.”

“Then let us lead the way! We were just heading back there ourselves.”

“Lead on, then.” Qin Lu didn’t refuse, agreeing with a smile.

The couple turned to guide them, and the group walked toward the guest area, chatting amicably.

They formally exchanged names. The man was Chang Wu, and the woman was Ma Yu.

Both were inner sect disciples of the Divine Fire Sect, currently at the seventh layer of Qi Condensation. As they spoke, it became clear they were childhood sweethearts who had recently become Dao Companions—a well-regarded “immortal couple” in their local circle.

However, their local fame paled in comparison to Qin Lu’s recent notoriety.

When they connected the dots and realized their savior was the Qin Lu from the rumors, their jaws practically hit the floor.

“Wait… you are that Senior Qin? The one who single-handedly held off dozens of evil cultivators?!” Ma Yu covered her mouth, her eyes wide with shock.

“Senior Qin! We’ve heard all about your heroism that day,” Chang Wu added, his admiration reaching fever pitch. “You are truly too powerful!”

Thanks to the sensational reporting of the Nine Truths Langya List, Qin Lu’s reputation had skyrocketed. Although his fame was mostly limited to the surrounding regions, he was now a genuine minor celebrity.

“Whoa, hold on. Dozens? That’s purely a rumor…” Qin Lu waved a hand, looking a bit helpless.

The gossip mill was terrifying. The story seemed to grow more exaggerated with every retelling.

“Ah? It wasn’t true?” Ma Yu looked slightly disappointed.

“No. There were only about ten of them,” Qin Lu corrected truthfully. “And I didn’t ‘hold them off’ in a grand battle. I merely stalled them for a few breaths before I was defeated.”

“That is still incredibly impressive!” Chang Wu insisted, his smile undimmed. “Thanks to Senior stalling those monsters, the White Jade Market escaped total destruction!”

“Heh, I suppose…”

Listening to their effusive praise, Qin Lu felt no ripple of pride in his heart.

He knew the truth. He had survived that day purely because Su Hao, the number one genius of the Nine Truths Sect, had intervened. Without Su Hao, no matter how fierce Qin Lu was, tens of thousands of cultivators in the White Jade Market would have been slaughtered.

He would have perished along with them.

Su Hao was the true savior. Qin Lu’s contribution was a footnote.

However, while Qin Lu remained unmoved by the flattery, his entourage was a different story.

“Of course he is!” Feng Xi shouted, her face glowing with pride. “My Lord is amazing!”

“Exactly! Our Sect Master’s power is unrivaled!” Cao Mo stuck up a thumb, his nose pointing toward the sky. “His strength reaches the heavens!”

“Heh… and the Sect Master has even stronger cards hidden away…” Wu Zhengtian added with a mysterious grin.

The three disciples immediately began posturing in front of Chang Wu and Ma Yu, eagerly puffing up their Master’s reputation. They looked as proud as if the praise were directed at them personally.

Thwack!

Qin Lu lightly slapped the back of Cao Mo’s head.

“Stop spouting nonsense,” he scolded with a laugh. “‘Strength reaches the heavens’? There is no such thing. You must remember: there is always a sky beyond the sky, and a person beyond the person.”

“Hehe!” Cao Mo clutched his head, grinning shamelessly. “I know, I know.”

Despite the verbal acknowledgement, Cao Mo’s expression didn’t change one bit. He remained smug.

…

Chatting and laughing, the group continued their stroll.

Soon, they arrived at their destination.

The guest quarters were a sanctuary of tranquility. Delicate mist drifted through the air, carrying the scent of exotic flowers and bird song. Several elegant houses were nestled among lush vegetation, creating an atmosphere of seclusion and peace.

“Senior, these are the lodgings prepared for you,” the Raging Waves Sect guide said respectfully.

“Good. Thank you for your hard work, little friend.”

Qin Lu thanked the guide and dismissed him. Then, he turned to his group.

“Alright, everyone rest up. We have the banquet to attend tonight.”

“Yes, Master!”

The continuous travel and nights spent in the wilderness had taken their toll on the three Qi Condensation disciples. Now that they had a comfortable bed, exhaustion washed over them.

“Time to sleep!” Gu Can yawned, clasping his hands behind his head as he sauntered toward one of the rooms, swaying slightly.

Seeing this, Chang Wu and Ma Yu bowed. “We won’t disturb you further, Senior Qin. Farewell!”

“Take care.”

Qin Lu returned the bow with a gentle smile.

The group dispersed, each retreating to their own room to recover their energy, waiting for the night’s festivities to begin.