Spells Grinding: From Basic Sparks to Divine Arts

Chapter 226: Visitor in the Dense Forest

The night sky was a pristine canvas, scrubbed clean of clouds and scattered with the brilliance of a thousand stars.

In the forest below, a campfire crackled merrily, sending sparks and wisps of blue smoke dancing into the darkness. A rich, savory aroma of roasting meat permeated the clearing.

Qin Lu sat cross-legged by the fire, his breathing slow and rhythmic as he meditated to recover his Spiritual Qi.

Around him, a faint shimmer distorted the air—a simple, oval-shaped barrier formation. It served two purposes: to mask his aura and to keep the local wildlife at bay.

Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator needed sleep. While his stamina was vastly superior to a mortal’s, mental fatigue was a creeping poison. And nothing ruined a good night’s rest like waking up with a wolf gnawing on your boot.

“Hoo…”

Qin Lu exhaled a long breath of turbid air and opened his eyes.

“Flying is exhausting,” he muttered, stretching his stiff limbs. “Three days of travel requires at least one night of solid rest. Sword flight burns Spiritual Qi like oil in a lamp.”

Sizzle!

He reached out and sliced a chunk of meat from the roast turning over the fire. He popped it into his mouth, chewing enthusiastically.

“Mmm! Tsk, tsk. Second-tier bird meat really lives up to the hype. Delicious even without spices.”

Grinning, he carved off another piece. As he chewed, a thought struck him. He produced his [Wine Gourd], popped the stopper, and took a long, indulgent swig.

“Hah! Refreshing!”

Fine food, good wine, and a quiet night. It was almost perfect.

Almost.

Qin Lu’s hand froze mid-drink. His eyes narrowed, darting toward the darkness on his right.

Someone is here.

Whoosh—!

He activated the [Heavenly Eye Technique] instantly. His vision shifted, scanning the surroundings in a wave of spiritual detection.

He sensed an aura. Weak. Flickering. Barely early Foundation Establishment stage.

Qin Lu relaxed slightly, taking another sip of wine. A threat level this low wasn’t worth panicking over. He could crush them in three moves if he had to.

He lowered the gourd and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Since you’re here, come out,” he shouted into the dark. “Why skulk around like a rat?”

The presence in the shadows trembled, clearly startled by being detected so easily.

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the clearing.

Howl!

The temperature dropped sharply. Leaves swirled in a chaotic dance, and a faint, eerie laughter seemed to echo from the trees themselves.

Qin Lu frowned. “Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit? If you keep playing ghost tricks, I won’t be polite.”

BOOM!

He flared his own aura, unleashing a shockwave of wind that shattered the eerie atmosphere instantly. The forest fell silent again.

A figure drifted out from the trees on the right, floating toward him.

Thud.

Qin Lu stood up abruptly, the Silver Sand Sword materializing in his grip. He pointed the blade at the intruder, his body coiled for combat.

He had expected a man. What he saw was… something else.

The figure was humanoid, with the delicate features of a young boy. But his body was translucent, shimmering like moonlight on water. He drifted above the grass, his feet not touching the ground.

“A ghost?” Qin Lu sneered, his tone contemptuous. “You dare haunt me?”

His [Heavenly Eye Technique] had detected the Spiritual Qi, but not the form. Now that he saw it, the conclusion was obvious. A spirit body formed of resentment and lingering will—a ghost.

Seeing the sword, the boy stopped dead in his tracks. He waved his hands frantically.

“Senior! Please don’t strike! This junior means no harm!”

“No harm?”

Qin Lu didn’t lower his sword. He eyed the spirit warily. “State your business, ghost. Why are you lurking here?”

“Uh…”

The boy hesitated. Then, he straightened his posture and bowed deeply, his movements elegant and practiced.

“I hope Senior understands… this junior is not a ghost.”

“Hmm?”

Qin Lu paused. He had seen ghosts before, in the Great Zhou tomb. They were frenzied, chaotic things driven by hate. This boy was… polite. Gentle. Refined.

A thought sparked in his mind.

“If you aren’t a ghost,” Qin Lu asked, lowering his sword slightly, “then what are you?”

The boy placed his right fist over his heart in a formal salute.

“This junior is named Anyang. I am the Mountain God of this range.”

“Mountain God?”

Qin Lu blinked, recalling obscure passages from his geography books.

“You mean… you are a Spirit Creature?”

“Exactly!”