Spells Grinding: From Basic Sparks to Divine Arts

Chapter 224: Setting Out on the Journey

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Black shadows zipped through the air, disappearing one after another into the mouth of Qin Lu’s Storage Bag. They were the spoils of war—dozens of Talismans, vials of Pills, Magical Artifacts, and rare Demon Beast materials.

Today was the day.

Qin Lu stood in the center of his room, conducting a final inventory of his supplies. The floor, once cluttered with loot, was now pristine.

He patted his chest, satisfied.

“That should do it. I’ll offload the spare Magical Artifacts at the neighboring markets on the way. The profits should cover the losses from the shop repairs.”

The battle for White Jade Market had been brutal, but profitable. While Su Hao had claimed the lion’s share of the loot from the twelve elite evil cultivators, Qin Lu had personally slain nearly a dozen enemies in the chaos.

Evil cultivators were essentially mobile treasuries. They didn’t trust banks or sects; they carried their entire net worth on their belts.

Qin Lu now possessed a staggering number of storage artifacts—pouches, rings, bracelets, and pendants. Since spatial items couldn’t be nested inside one another, he had distributed the surplus bags to the Qin Sect members, keeping only the three highest-capacity artifacts for himself: a Storage Bag, a Storage Bracelet, and a Storage Ring.

He had organized them meticulously.

The Ring: Emergency combat supplies (Talismans, weapons, recovery pills).

The Bracelet: Valuable trade goods and long-term resources.

The Bag: Daily necessities and miscellaneous loot.

In a life-or-death battle, fumbling for a potion meant death. Qin Lu wasn’t planning on dying.

He stretched his arms above his head, cracking his neck. It had been twenty days since the siege. His injuries were fully healed, his Spiritual Qi was topped off, and his affairs were in order.

It was time to go to Shuntian City.

He walked out of his room and into the cool night air. The sky was a tapestry of stars, the constellations twinkling in silent observation of the mortal world below.

“Hoo…”

Qin Lu exhaled a long breath and headed for the main gate. He moved quietly, suppressing his aura. He hated long goodbyes. The tears, the platitudes, the lingering sadness—it was easier to just slip away into the dark.

The streets were empty. The silence of the market felt different now—less peaceful, more heavy.

As he walked, Qin Lu reflected on how much he had changed.

Years ago, when he first arrived in this world, he had been terrified. He was a paranoid mouse, jumping at shadows, afraid that every stranger was an assassin. He wouldn’t have dared to walk to the privy alone at night, let alone travel across the prefecture solo.

But blood changes a man.

He had fought, killed, and survived. He had built a sect from nothing. He had stood toe-to-toe with monsters and looked death in the eye without blinking.

He wasn’t that scared little mouse anymore.

And more importantly, he had found something worth fighting for. The Gu siblings had saved him more times than he could count. They had bled for him. Now that Gu Can was trapped in a living death, Qin Lu would tear the world apart to find a cure.

It wasn’t just duty. It was loyalty.

Qin Lu passed through the market gates and stepped out into the wilderness. The protective light curtain shimmered behind him, a veil separating civilization from the savage dark.

He tapped his foot, preparing to summon his flying sword.

But just as he channeled his Spiritual Qi, a flash of white in the distance caught his eye.

He froze.

Standing under the shadow of an ancient tree was a woman in white robes. She stood perfectly still, her eyes gentle and sad, watching him.

Qin Lu sighed, a small smile touching his lips. He changed direction and floated over to her.

“Why did you come?” he asked softly. “I told you I hate goodbyes.”

Gu Yue didn’t answer the question. She simply looked at him, her gaze intense.

“Be careful on the road,” she whispered. “Stay safe.”

“Don’t worry,” Qin Lu nodded, his expression serious. “I’ll find the cure. I’ll be back before you know it.”

“Mmm.”

“Then… I’ll go first.”

He turned to leave.

Suddenly, warmth enveloped him.

Qin Lu stiffened. Gu Yue had stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her face against his chest. She held him tightly, as if afraid he would vanish if she let go.

“I will wait for you,” she murmured into his robes. “Right here.”

Qin Lu stood frozen for a heartbeat, his mind blank. Then, slowly, his muscles relaxed. He raised his arms and gently patted her back.

“I know,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ll be fine. Just… take care of the sect for me while I’m gone.”

“I will,” she promised, nodding against his chest.

Qin Lu gently pulled away, placing his hands on her shoulders. He looked into her eyes, burning the image into his memory.

“Wait for me obediently.”

“Mmm.”

He stepped back. With a wave of his hand, the Silver Sand Sword materialized at his feet, hovering inches above the grass.

He stepped onto the blade.

“I’m off!”

With a cheerful shout that echoed in the quiet night, Qin Lu shot into the sky. He became a streak of silver light, piercing the clouds and disappearing into the vast, star-filled darkness.

Gu Yue stood alone in the wilderness, watching the spot where he had vanished long after the light had faded.