Spells Grinding: From Basic Sparks to Divine Arts

Chapter 293: Comprehending Sword Qi

Qin Lu was no stranger to the Sword Dao.

Though his body’s previous owner had been a degenerate gambler, the man had still considered himself a swordsman. Even in death, he had left behind the Shangqing Sword. It was precisely because of this blade that Qin Lu had first taken an interest in the martial path, eventually purchasing an introductory manual—the Gray Shadow Sword Art—from a humble street stall.

From that moment on, his fate was intertwined with the blade.

Beyond the Gray Shadow Sword Art and the Falling Leaves Sword Art, his core cultivation technique, the Heavenly Heart Sword Art, was fundamentally rooted in the way of the sword. Up to this day, he had walked this path for four years. From his first stiff, awkward thrusts to his current fluid mastery, it had been a long and arduous journey.

Yet here, standing before a natural wonder carved by a single strike from a peak Nascent Soul sword cultivator, Qin Lu plunged into a state of Epiphany in less than half an incense stick of time.

Memories of his training surged to the forefront of his mind. The Shangqing Sword, the intricate pathways of his qi, the worn pages of his manuals, and the deep muscle memory of his flesh—all of it began to bleed together. A profound, mysterious resonance battered against his consciousness.

The fundamental truths of his Sword Dao shattered like glass. The fragments of his sword arts, techniques, and hard-won insights swirled together, naturally coalescing to rebuild themselves atop a higher foundation. The rigid boundaries between forms dissolved, forging an entirely new paradigm of understanding.

This sensation continuously washed over his mind, deepening his connection to the blade with every passing second.

He lost all sense of time.

Boom! A thunderous crack reverberated through his consciousness. It was a torrential gale that violently scoured away the lingering mental fog, leaving behind a state of crystalline clarity! By anchoring his mind to the residual Sword Dao will of that ancient Nascent Soul master, Qin Lu elevated his own comprehension to an unprecedented peak.

The will of the sword: absolute, tyrannical, and razor-sharp.

……

Qin Lu slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and opened his eyes.

Glancing around, he spotted Liu Sangeng lying on the ground nearby. A bamboo hat covered the man’s face, and he was snoring like thunder, completely dead to the world.

Qin Lu rose to his feet. “Old Third, wake up.”

“Hmm?” Liu Sangeng tipped his hat back, blinking up at Qin Lu through bleary eyes. “You… you’re done?”

“I am. The moment we entered the canyon, I felt a sudden burst of insight and went straight into meditation. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Liu Sangeng pushed himself up, stretching his arms high with a loud, lazy groan. “It was a bit of a wait. Sat here so long my back is aching.”

“How long was I under?” Qin Lu asked.

“Over ten days,” Liu Sangeng replied smoothly.

“Ah? It’s been that long?” Qin Lu blinked in surprise, the passage of time having felt like mere moments to him. Then, a thought struck him. “Wait, didn’t we miss the spirit boat?”

“Yep. But what can you do? An Epiphany is something you stumble upon, not something you can schedule. Just consider those hundred Spirit Stones tossed into the river,” Liu Sangeng said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

“Then I truly must thank you for acting as my Dharma Protector,” Qin Lu said, his voice carrying genuine weight.

Liu Sangeng unhooked the wooden wine gourd from his hip and took a deep swig. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and shrugged. “It’s nothing. I didn’t have anywhere urgent to be anyway. Besides, I couldn’t just leave you sitting out here completely exposed.”

Hearing this, Qin Lu felt a quiet sense of gratitude. He was more convinced than ever that Liu Sangeng was a rugged, genuine soul—a rare and worthy friend in the cutthroat jianghu.

“Alright, enough standing around,” Liu Sangeng grunted. “Let’s go find some decent food and a few jars of wine. My mouth has been tasting like dust for days!”

“Agreed,” Qin Lu nodded, then added, “When does the next spirit boat to Qinghua City leave?”

“Probably in a couple of days. We can ask around the local market to be sure.”

“Perfect. Then we rest. But hear me now: I am covering the room fees for the spirit boat from here on out. Don’t even try to fight me on this.”

“Hehe, relax, I wouldn’t dream of it!”

After exchanging a few more words, the two took to the sky. As they flew out of the canyon, Qin Lu couldn’t help but glance back at the megalithic scale of One Line Sky, a deep sense of awe welling up within him.

It was a stroke of immense fortune that he had come here; otherwise, he would have entirely missed this leap in strength. Although he hadn’t yet drawn his blade to test his newly refined techniques, he could feel it in his bones—his lethality had increased by at least thirty percent.

……

Wherever spirit boats docked, a bustling cultivation market was sure to follow. This region was no exception.

The nearby settlement was known as Wuyun Market. Thanks to the towering spectacle of One Line Sky, a massive influx of cultivators passed through daily. It possessed the vibrant, chaotic energy of a mortal tourist hub, packed shoulder-to-shoulder with travelers and merchants.

With his spirits high from his recent breakthrough, Qin Lu led Liu Sangeng to the most renowned restaurant in Wuyun Market. He ordered a lavish spread of delicacies, and the two drank merrily into the evening.

Through the haze of good wine and easy conversation, they traded stories, gaining a much deeper understanding of each other’s roots.

Liu Sangeng hailed from Jishi Prefecture. He was an Elder of the Changhong Sect, a Golden Core faction, and his own cultivation had bottlenecked at Foundation Establishment Perfection. This grand excursion was his attempt to find the elusive opportunity required to break through to the Golden Core realm.

According to the rugged wanderer, he had been traveling for over five years without a single glimpse of that breakthrough. Weary of the fruitless search, he planned to return to his sect one last time before leaving the Nine Truths Region entirely, hoping to find his fortune in far more distant lands. His stories of the road were magnificent and perilous, painting a vivid picture that commanded Qin Lu’s respect.

In turn, Qin Lu offered a clear explanation of his own background and his reasons for traveling to the Weitian Realm. Their bond deepened significantly over the meal.

Since the next vessel to Qinghua City wasn’t due for another two days, they spent the time relaxing in the market, drinking and resting up.

……

Two days later, they boarded the sprawling spirit boat bound for Qinghua City. True to his word, Qin Lu paid for the passage.

The massive flying ships were all largely identical, as were the standard guest quarters, making any further exploration unnecessary. The moment Qin Lu stepped into his private cabin, he immediately sat cross-legged on the meditation mat.

With a thought, he called up his attribute panel, his eyes locking onto his cultivation progress.

[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Late Stage: 36/100]

“Just comprehending that sword qi bumped my cultivation up by five full points… Still, it’s a long and grueling road ahead. Even at this pace, it will take over a year to reach the next stage. The further I walk this path, the steeper the climb becomes.” Staring at the floating interface, Qin Lu couldn’t suppress a quiet sigh. But he quickly banished the stray thoughts, centering his mind. He closed his eyes and sank back into his cultivation mantra, refusing to waste a single second of his time.

Shortly after, the high-grade spirit boat shuddered to life. With a deep, resonant rumble that shook the air, the massive vessel tore through the clouds, speeding steadily toward Qinghua City.