Spells Grinding: From Basic Sparks to Divine Arts

Feeling the hostility radiating from the crowd, Qin Lu’s expression hardened. “Fellow Daoist Liu,” he warned, his voice a low, commanding rumble. “Do not hurl baseless accusations. I already have a Dao Companion, and I would never commit the vile acts you suggest.”

Liu Qingyan’s expression flickered. Dropping the pitiful, tearful facade in an instant, she tilted her chin up and studied Qin Lu with newfound, predatory interest.

“Junior Sister Liu… what you said wasn’t true, was it?” “Did this brute really…?” “Impossible! Our Junior Sister would never!”

The young talents flocking around her were far more frantic than Qin Lu, bombarding her with panicked questions.

“Hehe~”

Liu Qingyan suddenly covered her mouth, letting out a demure giggle. Her voice dripped with sweet affection. “Senior Brothers, please relax! I was merely joking. A man like him isn’t nearly qualified to touch me.”

“Thank the heavens!” “Whew… Junior Sister, you nearly gave me a heart attack!” “Good, good…”

The collective sigh of relief from the young elites was palpable. Watching the pathetic display, Qin Lu felt nothing but cold disdain.

“If there is nothing else, I will take my leave,” he said, his face a mask of indifference.

“Wait!” Liu Qingyan called out, a saccharine smile curving her lips. “Don’t be so icy. I remember you’re from the Flowing Cloud Prefecture, aren’t you? What brings you all the way to Qinghua City?”

“None of your concern. Farewell.”

Qin Lu was surgical in his brevity. He turned on his heel and walked away without a flicker of hesitation, his actions broadcasting a singular desire to put as much distance between them as possible.

“You!” Liu Qingyan’s smile shattered, replaced by a flash of indignant fury.

“Hah! Time to go, time to go!” Liu Sangeng chuckled heartily, turning to follow without lingering.

Once the trouble magnet was far out of sight, the tension finally bled from Qin Lu’s shoulders. He and Liu Sangeng drifted slowly through the sprawling, megalithic expanse of Qinghua City, exchanging idle chatter.

“Old Qin,” Liu Sangeng teased, his voice rugged and boisterous. “Why are you so terrified of that little slip of a girl?”

“Terrified?” Qin Lu gave him a flat, deadpan look. “Where did you see fear? I simply have no interest in crossing paths with her. You know as well as I do—women like that are beacons for mindless conflict.”

“True enough,” Liu Sangeng conceded. “But from where I was standing, it looked like the lass might actually have a bit of a spark for you.”

Qin Lu stared at him, stunned, before snapping back. “Don’t speak nonsense. Her? Interested in me? Impossible.”

“Hehe, just a thought. Don’t let it ruffle your feathers.” Liu Sangeng paused, casting a curious glance. “But tell me, you’re so young. Do you truly have a Dao Companion already?”

“I do.” Qin Lu admitted without hesitation. His tone softened slightly, stripped of its usual ruthless edge. “Her name is Gu Yue. She is an extraordinarily brilliant woman…”

He never minced words when it came to praising Gu Yue. With a rare, quiet enthusiasm, he recounted the solemn bond they shared and the journey they had walked together on the immortal path.

Hearing the depth of their devotion, a pang of genuine envy crossed the seasoned wanderer’s face. “That’s truly something to cherish. It seems this Sister Gu of the Gu Family is your fated match.”

“Naturally.” Qin Lu nodded, stating it as an immutable fact of the universe.

The two continued their leisurely flight across the volumetric cityscape. Soon, Liu Sangeng guided Qin Lu toward a massive, floating stone structure.

“This is the spot I mentioned—the nerve center for information in Qinghua City,” Liu Sangeng explained, gesturing broadly. “There are specific parlors here dedicated to resolving doubts. You trade Spirit Stones for secrets. If you want to dig into matters concerning the Weitian Realm, this is exactly where you need to be.”

Qin Lu nodded slowly. “Let us hope it proves fruitful.”

“Follow me. I know a joint called the Inquiry Pavilion. The proprietor’s network is deeply rooted.”

“Lead the way.” Trusting the seasoned wanderer’s judgment, Qin Lu followed him through the bustling thoroughfare without hesitation.

Deep within the soundproofed confines of a private chamber, Qin Lu met the proprietor of the Inquiry Pavilion.

He was a cultivator in his twilight years, his face a map of deep-set wrinkles. Yet, his eyes were startlingly lucid, possessing a piercing clarity that felt as though it could unravel the fabric of the world itself.

“Fellow Daoist,” the elderly cultivator murmured calmly, slowly stroking his long beard. “What mysteries bring you to my Inquiry Pavilion today?”

Pragmatic as ever, Qin Lu cut straight to the chase. “I am seeking a High Grade spiritual land to serve as the foundation for establishing a sect. Do you know where such a domain can be found?”

“A High Grade spiritual land…”

The elderly cultivator slowly closed his eyes. His fingers began to twitch and tap through complex mudras, projecting an aura of profound, unfathomable mysticism.

Watching this theatrical display, Qin Lu’s cynical mind immediately flared with suspicion. His trust plummeted. In his past life, the street-corner charlatans and fake fortune-tellers had used the exact same finger-tapping routine to swindle fools.

However, the elder’s next words shattered that skepticism.

“Fellow Daoist Qin, I have already calculated the path for you. Do you wish to hear it?” the elder asked, his eyes snapping open.

A flicker of genuine surprise crossed Qin Lu’s face. “How do you know my surname is Qin?”

“Hehe, the heavens naturally provided the calculation.”

“Is… your art truly that miraculous?” Qin Lu asked, his pragmatic guard lowered slightly by awe.

“Hey! Old Qin, relax,” Liu Sangeng interjected with a hearty laugh. “This venerable brother is a legitimate disciple of the Yin-Yang School. Divining a name is child’s play for them!”

The Yin-Yang School was a monolithic force across the Nine Provinces. Boasting countless disciples, their reputation was built on an uncanny, almost frightening ability to divine the secrets of the heavens and chart the flow of the future.

“Your companion speaks the truth,” the elderly cultivator continued, his tone eerily placid. “Not only do I know your name is Qin Lu and that you hail from the Flowing Cloud Prefecture… I also know you carry immense, world-shaking treasures on your person. You are by no means an ordinary man.”

A cold chill ran down Qin Lu’s spine. His internal alarm bells rang, but alongside the wariness came a begrudging respect. This old man was the real deal. Weighing his options with calculated logic, Qin Lu offered a formal bow. “I ask for your guidance, venerable sir.”

“To pry this answer from the heavens, it will cost two thousand Low Grade Spirit Stones.”

Qin Lu blinked at the steep price, but his brutal efficiency overrode any hesitation. With a swift wave of his hand, a cascading pile of two thousand shimmering Spirit Stones materialized on the table.

A faint, satisfied smile tugged at the corner of the elder’s mouth. With a sweeping gesture, the wealth vanished. “Your intuition has guided you true. The domain with the absolute highest probability of birthing a High Grade spiritual land is, indeed, the Weitian Realm.”

“Upon entering the Weitian Realm, project your search toward the southeast. There, you will find a landscape of overlapping, monolithic mountains and perilous, jagged cliffs. That is your destination. However, be warned: terrifying Demon Beasts guard that territory. I pray Fellow Daoist Qin acts prudently and measures his strength before striking.”

“Uh… is that it?” Qin Lu asked, his pragmatic side rearing its head. If two thousand Spirit Stones only bought him a cardinal direction, he had been severely ripped off.

“Naturally, there is more.” The elder paused, emitting a low chuckle. “Recently, a Nascent Soul mighty expert has begun assembling an expeditionary vanguard for a land reclamation effort within the Weitian Realm. You should secure a place in this vanguard. Not only will it grant you access to the High Grade spiritual lands you seek, but the heavens reveal a profound Fated Chance awaiting you there. It is a monumental opportunity. You must not let it slip through your fingers.”

Qin Lu’s eyes narrowed as his mind immediately went to work, calculating the risks and rewards. “An expedition led by a Nascent Soul mighty expert…” he muttered under his breath, awed by the sheer scale of such a power tier moving to claim land.

While Qin Lu was lost in his high-stakes strategic planning, Liu Sangeng eagerly leaned over the table.

“Venerable brother! What about me? I’d like to ask about the karmic opportunity for my Golden Core breakthrough…”

“Simple enough to divine!” the elder replied instantly. “Five thousand Spirit Stones!”