Spells Grinding: From Basic Sparks to Divine Arts

Chapter 247: Departure

Back at the inn, Qin Lu ceased his wanderings.

He settled onto the Qi Gathering Formation in his room, cycling his cultivation technique with disciplined repetition. Under the dual influence of the formation and his medicinal pills, the cultivation progress bar on his system panel inched forward with steady, reassuring consistency.

On the seventh day of his seclusion, the steward from the Fan Estate arrived at the inn with excellent news.

Fan Yueren had succeeded.

Moreover, the eccentric genius had achieved perfection with the Calamity Crossing Pill using only two sets of materials.

Overjoyed, Qin Lu immediately followed the steward back to the Fan Estate. He found Fan Yueren standing outside the alchemy chamber, looking disheveled but radiating an aura of triumphant high spirits.

The moment he saw Qin Lu, Fan Yueren tossed a wooden box through the air.

“Fellow Daoist Qin! I certainly didn’t disappoint, did I?” Fan Yueren’s voice boomed carelessly. “The Calamity Crossing Pill. Flawless quality. This will pull your friend back from the brink, guaranteed!”

Qin Lu caught the box, his face lighting up with excitement. He popped the lid open.

Inside, a pill as crystalline and translucent as white jade rested in the velvet center. Seeing it, the heavy stone that had been pressing on Qin Lu’s heart finally vanished.

He carefully stowed the box away, then retrieved two thousand Spirit Stones, handing them over without hesitation.

“I truly must thank Fellow Daoist Fan for your skill. You’ve saved me a great deal of trouble.”

“Easy, easy!”

Fan Yueren swept the Spirit Stones into his storage bag with practiced familiarity. He paused, scratching his head. “Oh, right. There was a set of herbs left over from what you gave me. I’m too lazy to sort them back out for you, so how about I trade you a finished pill for them?”

Qin Lu had no reason to refuse. Raw herbs were of little use to him compared to a finished product from a master.

“That would be excellent,” he agreed immediately.

Fan Yueren smirked, flipping his hand. Another wooden box materialized in his palm, and with a casual wave of his spiritual energy, he floated it over to Qin Lu.

“This is a Foundation Establishment Pill. It’s useless for you now, Fellow Daoist, but it’s a decent gift for the juniors back home,” Fan Yueren said casually.

Qin Lu froze, then snatched the box from the air.

He opened it to reveal a pill that was perfectly round, smooth, and a deep, vibrant red.

“It really is a Foundation Establishment Pill!” Qin Lu couldn’t hide his delight.

This pill could significantly increase the success rate of a Qi Condensation cultivator breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm. In remote areas like the Wuji Market or the White Jade Market, a single one of these would cause a bloodbath. Even in the prosperous Shuntian City, they were rare commodities.

Qin Lu hadn’t expected Fan Yueren to toss one out as a casual throw-in.

Then again, Qin Lu thought, glancing at the alchemist, he is at the peak of Foundation Establishment. To a man of his standing, this is probably just spare change.

“Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Fan!”

Qin Lu checked the pill’s quality before stowing it away, bowing in gratitude.

Fan Yueren stretched his arms, cracking his back. “Alright, that’s done. Now that I’ve cleared my queue, I’m going into secluded cultivation. It’s time to take a crack at the Golden Core realm…”

Qin Lu’s eyes narrowed slightly. He recalled the previous rumors. “Was Fellow Daoist Fan searching for materials for the Golden Core Formation Pill a while back?”

The Golden Core Formation Pill was to the Golden Core realm what the Foundation Establishment Pill was to the Foundation Establishment realm. It was the key to breaking the barrier, a treasure that countless peak Foundation Establishment cultivators would kill for.

“Exactly. I’ve already handed the materials to my Master. It won’t be long before the pill is ready,” Fan Yueren said, his face beaming with unmasked pride.

Qin Lu cupped his hands, smiling. “I see. Then let me congratulate Fellow Daoist Fan in advance on achieving the Golden Core!”

“Hah! I appreciate the auspicious words, Fellow Daoist Qin!”

The two chatted for a few more minutes before Qin Lu bowed formally and took his leave.

Walking out of the Fan Estate, Qin Lu didn’t head for the gates immediately. Instead, he turned his steps toward the city’s central trading district.

Now that his business was concluded, it was time to buy gifts for the Qin Sect.

He had traveled thousands of miles to the most prosperous city in the prefecture; returning empty-handed would be poor form. Furthermore, the two thousand Spirit Stones he had just paid Fan Yueren were effectively covered by the two thousand he had earned from Tang Bai earlier.

He still had six thousand Spirit Stones in his pocket. He was flush with cash.

Arriving at the bustling market, Qin Lu strolled through the stalls. The floating lanterns turned the evening into day, and the air was thick with the scent of rare herbs and the metallic tang of refined ore.

Whenever he saw something interesting or suitable for the sect members’ specific cultivation paths, he bought it.

This time, Qin Lu was generous. In less than an hour, he spent three thousand Spirit Stones, filling his storage bag with resources and artifacts.

That should do it, he decided.

He turned and headed toward the city gates.

The streets of Shuntian City were a crush of humanity, the noise of bartering and the roar of spirit ships overhead creating a wall of sound. Walking through the crowd, Qin Lu felt a pang of emotion. He didn’t know when, or if, he would ever return to this place.

If the Qin Sect grows strong enough, perhaps one day I can bring them all here to see the world, he mused.

Following the flow of travelers, Qin Lu passed through the massive gate tunnel, stepped out of the city’s protective illusion formation, and saw the sky outside swarming with magical artifacts.

As the jewel of the Flowing Cloud Prefecture, Shuntian City was a magnet for cultivators from every corner of the realm.

Qin Lu was just about to summon his Silver Sand Sword to take flight when a thunderous shout exploded from the sky.

“Kid! You really made us wait!”

The voice was amplified by spiritual energy, booming like a thunderclap. It instantly drew the attention of every cultivator entering or leaving the city. Hundreds of heads snapped upward.

Qin Lu was startled and looked up as well. He recognized that voice.

Hovering in the air were several young men dressed in expensive brocade robes. Weapons drawn, faces twisted in sneers, they had surrounded a lone figure in black.

Qin Lu’s eyes narrowed.

They were the three “young talents” he had seen at the Merit Hall—arrogant, wealthy, and dangerous. And the black-robed youth they had cornered was none other than Tang Bai.

They actually set up an ambush for him… Qin Lu thought, shaking his head.

The confrontation cleared the airspace immediately. Nearby cultivators scattered like frightened birds, terrified of getting caught in the crossfire of a Foundation Establishment battle. A stray spell could easily obliterate a Qi Condensation bystander.

Qin Lu blended into the crowd on the ground, watching from a safe distance.

Up in the sky, Tang Bai stood alone against the encirclement. He held a massive greatsword that looked heavy enough to crush a boulder. His expression was utterly indifferent, his eyes cold as he surveyed the three men.

“Just you three?”

Tang Bai’s voice was flat, devoid of fear or anger. It was a statement of fact that dripped with ice-cold disdain.

“Arrogant!”

The leader of the group, a young man in dark robes, roared in fury. “You nameless trash! Today is the day you die! Get him!”

There was no further posturing. Led by the dark-robed youth, the three attackers lunged forward, their artifacts glowing with lethal light.

Tang Bai didn’t waste breath on words. He swung his greatsword.

The blade moved with terrifying momentum, the air screaming as it was cleaved apart.

Instantly, the sky above the city gate turned into a chaotic battlefield. Energy ripples exploded outward, sending the onlookers on the ground fleeing further back.

Qin Lu watched the spectacle with calm, detached eyes.

He had no intention of playing the hero.

He had met Tang Bai twice. They had conducted one transaction. That was the extent of their relationship.

We aren’t friends, Qin Lu told himself firmly. I’m not going to offend three cultivators with powerful backgrounds for a stranger.

If he got involved, he could die. If he survived, he would have powerful enemies hunting him. The math simply didn’t work out.

So, he stood among the spectators, hands clasped behind his back, and watched the violence unfold.

And in the sky, the battle raged on, the sounds of combat echoing like thunder!