Spells Grinding: From Basic Sparks to Divine Arts

Chapter 252: The Tricks of Fate

High in the firmament, white clouds drifted in lazy currents, encircled by a forest of towering peaks. The summits pierced through the sea of mist like lotus blossoms breaking the surface of a pond, majestic and ethereal.

Atop each peak, elaborate structures clung to the rock, and immortal cranes danced through the vapor. It was a scene of unparalleled serenity—a true paradise on earth.

On a flattened clearing atop one of these peaks, a young boy of six or seven years old was hard at work. Dressed in fine brocade robes, his face slick with sweat, he wielded a sharp longsword, his small body flipping and turning with acrobatic grace.

Despite his tender age, his swordsmanship was exceptionally proficient. He moved not like a child, but like a Master who had immersed himself in the Way of the Sword for decades.

A keen observer would notice that every strike was infused with Spiritual Qi. There was a faint shimmer in the air around his blade—the embryonic form of Sword Qi. The power contained within that small frame was astonishing.

If a high-level cultivator were present, they would be shocked to discover that this child had already reached the fourth level of Qi Condensation. Such talent was a rarity that appeared perhaps once in a century.

After a long, grueling session, the boy executed a final horizontal sweep, the blade humming as it sliced the air, bringing his practice to a halt.

Hu! Hu!

He panted heavily, his chest heaving. After taking a moment to catch his breath, he walked to the side, grabbed a towel, and carelessly wiped the sweat from his face.

Then, he sat cross-legged on the ground, closing his eyes to meditate on the insights gained from his practice.

The boy was Xiao Ziyun.

This place was the mountain gate of the Combined Sword Sect, a powerful sect led by Golden Core cultivators.

It had been nearly three years since Xiao Ziyun arrived. Under the personal guidance of a Golden Core expert, he had skyrocketed from a mortal child to a fourth-level Qi Condensation cultivator. In the entire Flowing Cloud Prefecture, such speed was nearly unheard of.

Just as Xiao Ziyun settled into his meditation, the sound of footsteps approached from behind.

Tap, tap, tap.

The steps were hurried, light but urgent.

Xiao Ziyun opened his eyes and turned toward the sound.

It was his mother, Zhang Meng.

“Mother.”

Xiao Ziyun immediately stood up, cupped his hands, and bowed. His demeanor was respectful, his etiquette flawless.

Zhang Meng, however, had no patience for formalities. Her face was flushed with excitement, and she was vigorously waving a book in her hand.

“Ziyun, look! Look at this!” she cried out as she rushed over.

Xiao Ziyun focused on the book cover. Five large, bold characters were stamped across it: Nine Truths Langya List.

He was no stranger to this publication.

His Senior Brothers often huddled together to discuss the rankings within, particularly the “Beauty List,” which always made their expressions turn strangely lewd. He had borrowed a copy once out of curiosity, so he knew the general content.

Seeing his mother so agitated, he asked, “Mother, what about the book?”

Zhang Meng didn’t answer directly. She flipped the book open to a specific page and pointed a trembling finger at a section of text.

“Look! Whose name is this?!”

Xiao Ziyun followed her finger. When his eyes landed on the familiar characters, he froze.

“This is… Uncle Qin?!”

The name “Qin Lu” was printed clearly on the page. Even after three years of separation, the name was etched into his memory.

“Yes! It’s your Uncle Qin…”

Zhang Meng lowered her head to read the report again, her eyes softening with deep affection. “I knew he would be fine. He’s so naturally timid and cautious; I knew the war in the Wuji Sect wouldn’t touch him. I was right…”

Xiao Ziyun stood on his tiptoes, craning his neck to read the text in his mother’s hands. He scanned the article quickly.

“Uncle Qin went to the… White Jade Market? And he was fighting there?”

Zhang Meng’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. “It seems he’s become very powerful. He actually fought toe-to-toe with a Foundation Establishment Senior. Look here, the article is full of praise for him.”

Her voice swelled with pride, as if the accomplishments were her own.

“Uncle Qin really is amazing…” Xiao Ziyun murmured, admiration shining in his eyes.

He read the report carefully, detailing the battle against the evil cultivators during the siege of the White Jade Market. Suddenly, his finger paused on a name.

“Hmm?”

“Mother, do you know this ‘Senior Gu Yue’?” Ziyun asked, pointing at the text. “It says here that Uncle Qin faced an army of enemies alone just to save her…”

Zhang Meng’s smile faltered. She shook her head slowly. “I don’t know. I’ve never heard him mention such a woman before. Perhaps they met later. It’s just…”

She paused, a frown creasing her brow. “I never expected someone as fearful of death as him to risk everything for a woman…”

Her tone had shifted. There was a distinct sourness to her words, a spike of jealousy she couldn’t quite hide.

Xiao Ziyun, precocious as he was, sensed the shift immediately. His eyes darted around, and he quickly changed the subject with a bright smile.

“Mother, how far is the White Jade Market from here?”

Zhang Meng, having lived in the Combined Sword Sect for three years, was no longer the ignorant village woman she once was. She composed herself and replied, “That market is within the territory of the Demon Slaying Sect, to our northeast. If we were to walk, it would likely take over a month.”

“Do you want to go find Uncle Qin?” Ziyun asked suddenly.

“Of course I do,” Zhang Meng replied instantly. But her expression quickly dimmed, replaced by helplessness. “But I promised your Master. We have to wait until you are at least ten years old before we can go looking for him. We have to wait a while longer. But… he should understand. I sent a message to him back then.”

“Mhmm!” Xiao Ziyun nodded vigorously.

He remembered that day clearly.

It was the day his Heavenly Spiritual Root was discovered at the Wuji Market. His Master, Wang Shenzhi, had descended like a deity, sweeping him and his mother away with undeniable force.

His mother had refused to leave Qin Lu behind. She had begged and pleaded for Master Wang to go back and bring Uncle Qin with them.

But Wang Shenzhi had refused cold-heartedly. In his eyes, even bringing a mortal woman like Zhang Meng up the mountain was a violation of the rules, allowed only because Ziyun was too young to care for himself. A random loose cultivator like Qin Lu had no place in the Combined Sword Sect.

When it became clear they could not return, his mother had desperately begged Master Wang to deliver a message to Qin Lu. She wanted him to know they were safe and that she would come find him in a few years.

Initially, Master Wang had refused that too. But unable to withstand Zhang Meng’s tearful pestering and the potential unhappiness of his new prodigy disciple, he had finally relented and agreed to pass the word.

Later, news of the war in the Wuji Sect territory and the siege of the market had reached them. For years, his mother had lived in constant fear for Qin Lu’s safety.

Now, seeing his name in the Nine Truths Langya List, the stone weighing on their hearts was finally lifted.

Xiao Ziyun turned his head to look at his sword, a sharp glint returning to his eyes. The desire to train surged within him stronger than before.

After all, the foundation of his swordsmanship had been secretly taught to him by Uncle Qin.

Zhang Meng clutched the book tightly against her chest, her gaze drifting out over the sea of clouds. Her eyes were misty, filled with longing.

She was already dreaming of the moment they would meet again…