Spells Grinding: From Basic Sparks to Divine Arts

Night draped over the city as Qin Lu strolled home, his body loose and his spirit high. The cool evening air felt good against his skin, a welcome reprieve after a long day.

As he neared his own doorstep, however, he paused. The heavy gate of the neighboring Gu estate stood wide open. A young man sat squarely on the threshold, clad in black martial silks, a silver long spear resting across his knees.

It was Gu Can.

“You certainly took your time,” Gu Can said, slowly rising to his feet. His tone was icy, though his eyes burned with anticipation.

“Hmph.”

Qin Lu didn’t bother with words. With a flick of his wrist, the Azure Rainbow Sword materialized in his grip. He tightened his fingers around the hilt and advanced.

Their gazes locked. A phantom chill bled into the air, silencing the chirping crickets.

Boom!

Qin Lu stomp shattered the quiet. Dust plumed as he launched himself forward, his body parallel to the ground like a fired arrow, closing the distance in a heartbeat.

The first to strike holds the advantage.

Gu Can didn’t panic. He kicked off the threshold, his figure blurring as he retreated deep into the estate.

Qin Lu didn’t let up. He surged past the front gates, chasing the retreating shadow through the vestibule and into the central courtyard.

There, Gu Can stopped running. He planted his feet, spun, and thrust the gleaming silver spear backward with lethal precision.

Clang!

Qin Lu pivoted, raising his blade to parry. Sparks showered the dark stones like fireworks. Using the momentum, he twisted his wrist, applying a subtle torque that knocked the spear tip wide. His left foot slammed down, propelling him into Gu Can’s guard from the flank.

Gu Can reacted instantly, retracting the spear to block the incoming slash.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Magical artifacts collided in a frenzy of steel and sparks. The courtyard lit up with the stroboscopic flashes of their spiritual energy, the ringing of metal piercing the night air.

In the servants’ quarters, lights flickered on. Sleepy heads poked out of windows, alarmed by the commotion. But the moment they recognized the rhythm of the steel, their shoulders slumped.

“Just the Young Master and the neighbor again,” one muttered.

“Back to sleep,” another grunted.

They rolled over, pulling blankets over their heads. They had grown accustomed to the noise. The two Immortal Masters sparred every few days; if the house wasn’t burning down, it wasn’t worth losing sleep over.

In the courtyard, the tempo increased.

Qin Lu channeled spiritual energy into the Azure Rainbow Sword. The blade hummed, growing lighter and impossibly sharp. He moved with an ethereal grace, his footwork slippery and elusive, weaving around the heavier spear strikes with contemptuous ease.

It had been over a month since Gu Can’s injuries had fully healed. Since then, the relationship between Qin Lu and the Gu siblings had shifted from transactional gratitude to genuine camaraderie. Gu Can, contrary to the rumors of his arrogance, had proven to be a decent man—measured, respectful, and fiercely loyal to those who helped him.

They visited each other constantly. It started when Gu Can caught Qin Lu practicing his sword forms and asked for a match. That first fight had stunned the spearman; he hadn’t expected a neighbor with supposedly lower cultivation to fight him to a standstill.

That draw had ignited Gu Can’s competitive fire. Now, he came looking for a beating regularly.

And Qin Lu, needing to sharpen his combat instincts, never refused.

Swish—crack!

Their figures were nothing more than blurred silhouettes merging into the shadows, flipping and colliding in mid-air. The air hissed as they tore through it.

Qin Lu suppressed a smile as he deflected a sweeping blow.

Back when I was at the seventh layer of Qi Refining, this was a challenge, he analyzed, watching Gu Can’s spear move almost in slow motion. But now that I’ve hit the eighth layer… I’m just farming him.

I’m actually really strong.

He could have ended the fight with a single decisive strike, but he held back. This was a spar, after all. Grinding proficiency was more valuable than a quick win.

Minutes passed. Gu Can’s strikes began to lag, his breath coming in ragged hitches.

Seeing his opponent’s fatigue, Qin Lu parried a weak thrust and used the recoil to backflip ten feet away.

“Alright, alright! That’s enough for tonight.”

“Huff… huff…”

Gu Can leaned heavily on his silver spear, sweat dripping from his chin to the flagstones. His chest heaved like a bellows.

Qin Lu sheathed his sword, shook out his slightly numb arm, and strolled over to a stone bench. He sat down, looking as fresh as if he’d just taken a walk in the park.

Gu Can dragged himself over and collapsed onto the seat beside him.

He took a moment to catch his breath, eyeing Qin Lu suspiciously. “You… you reached the eighth layer?”

They had fought for twenty minutes. Even with Qin Lu holding back, the disparity in their spiritual pressure was impossible to miss.

Qin Lu didn’t deny it. He leaned back, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “Sharp eyes. I broke through a few days ago.”

“I knew it.” Gu Can nodded, then let out a long, depressed sigh. “At the seventh layer, we were evenly matched. Now… I can’t even touch you. Just what kind of sword art are you practicing?”

Qin Lu spread his hands. “I told you. It’s a generic, standard-issue manual. Nothing special.”

“Bullshit. Show it to me.”

“I told you, some crazy old man burned it after I memorized it.”

Gu Can rolled his eyes, clearly finding the excuse insulting to his intelligence.

Qin Lu shrugged, feigning helplessness. He glanced around the courtyard, realizing something was missing. The usual white-robed spectator wasn’t there.

“Where’s your sister?”

“Out,” Gu Can replied, still wiping sweat from his forehead.

“This late?”

“She went to attempt Foundation Establishment.”

Qin Lu nearly fell off the bench. He shot to his feet, eyes wide. “What? Foundation Establishment?”

“Yeah.” Gu Can looked up, perplexed by the reaction. “She’s been at the peak of Qi Refining for over a year. It’s the next logical step.”

“When did she leave?”

“Few days ago. Said she felt the ‘opportunity’ arriving, so she ran off to find a secluded place to break through.”

“And you’re just… sitting here?” Qin Lu stared at him. “Isn’t that dangerous? People die trying to cross that threshold.”

Gu Can waved a hand dismissively, his expression relaxed—as if discussing the weather rather than a life-or-death tribulation. “My sister is a genius. She’s extraordinarily gifted. There’s no way she’ll fail.”

“I… suppose that’s true.” Qin Lu slowly sat back down.

He had to admit, hitting the peak of Qi Refining at twenty-four was rare. In the cultivation world, that level of talent usually guaranteed success. Still, Gu Can’s blind confidence was something to behold.

“Anyway, enough about her,” Gu Can said, suddenly leaning in. “Have you heard about the Market Arena Tournament? People are saying it’s going to be interesting this year.”

Qin Lu raised an eyebrow. “I heard. I already signed up today.”

“Hah?! Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Why would I? I didn’t know you cared about public brawls,” Qin Lu said idly.

“Well, I do now.” Gu Can grinned, the fatigue vanishing from his face. “If you’re in, I’m definitely signing up tomorrow. Let’s see who ranks higher.”

“Suit yourself.” Qin Lu stood up and stretched, his joints popping. “I’m heading back.”

“Alright. We’ll spar again next time.”

Gu Can remained on the bench, offering a lazy wave as Qin Lu walked back into the night.