Huo Lin made no attempt to hide his blatant and unscrupulous efforts to give Hong Yu a hard ti.
The world has no shortage of opportunists who know which way the wind blows. Seeing their chance, the three n who had been mocking Beichen Guang earlier imdiately tried to curry favor with Examiner Huo Lin.
"Tsk, tsk. Having to create a Tier One Spirit Array Rune from scratch on the spot... what terrible luck!"
"If I were him, I'd just give up, pack my bags, and leave."
"Maybe he's just here to make a fool of himself!"
"You can tell what kind of character he has, hanging out with a loser like Beichen Guang!"
The three n chid in one after another, their words dripping with sarcasm and scorn, each more vile than the last.
On the platform, a satisfied expression crept onto Huo Lin's face as he listened.
This only made the trio more excited, and their taunts grew even more vicious...
Hong Yu, however, tuned them out completely, acting as if it had nothing to do with him.
It was Beichen Guang, instead, who glared furiously at the trio. "Haven't you three said enough? How can you be so sure he won't pass the exam?"
"Fuck, Beichen Guang, are you asking for a beating?"
"Believe it or not, I'll ss you up in a minute."
The three were long accustod to Beichen Guang's ek submission and had never been contradicted by him before. Instantly enraged, they prepared to make a move.
From the high platform, Huo Lin frowned. "That's enough. Let the exam begin!"
"Goddammit, Beichen Guang! You just wait."
The three threatened him resentfully.
Beichen Guang glared back fiercely, but his defiance quickly faded, replaced by dejection and frustration...
Watching from the side, Hong Yu couldn't help but study Beichen Guang for a mont, a strange feeling stirring within him.
Before the exam, his impression of Beichen Guang had been one of an enthusiastic, overly familiar, and timid person. In the face of the trio's scorn, he had never shown any anger or resistance, simply taking the abuse with ek cowardice.
But what Hong Yu hadn't expected was that this guy would actually defy others for his sake. Gazing at Beichen Guang's slumped figure, Hong Yu had a mont of clarity. 'He must be repaying for the advice I gave him on the Clear Wind Rune.'
'This man is grateful and loyal. I should ntion him to Beichen Celestial Frost when I get back and see if she can make good use of him!'
As he thought this, the exam officially began.
Hong Yu propped his chin on his hand, deep in thought. 'A Tier One Inscription that I have to design and create myself... I can do that easily. The question is, what level of Inscription should I make? Tier One Junior? Or sothing higher?'
'Forget it. Since they want to give a hard ti, I'll just create a more advanced one and really rub it in their faces!'
Having made up his mind, Hong Yu began to work on his Engraving Plate.
Watching Hong Yu working so earnestly, Huo Lin's eyes filled with contempt. 'Is this guy actually putting on a show of designing it? He really doesn't know his own limits. Designing a Tier One Inscription from scratch is sothing only a Tier Two Spiritual Craftsman can do. If you can pull it off, kid, I'll eat this table.'
Huo Lin sat leisurely in his seat, fingers tapping lightly on the table, looking completely relaxed. 'This task Master gave is just too easy!'
On the other side...
Hong Yu worked continuously on his Engraving Plate. He had originally planned to create a Fla Attribute Inscription, as the Fla Attribute was his specialty.
But after seeing Huo Lin's smug face, he couldn't help but change his mind.
'You want to humiliate , do you? Heh heh, we'll see who embarrasses whom in a little while!'
The mischievous scher within Hong Yu quietly awakened, stirring with anticipation.
The speed at which he worked on the Engraving Plate grew faster and faster, the design becoming ever more profound, far surpassing the scope of an ordinary Tier One Spirit Array Rune.
Of course, no one else noticed.
After all, Hong Yu didn't want to be too conspicuous, so he deliberately held back his speed.
Half an hour later, the first person finally finished engraving their Spirit Array Rune. It was none other than Beichen Guang.
The Clear Wind Rune was the one he had studied the most, and with Hong Yu's guidance, his understanding of it had beco far more accurate and precise. Engraving it now was practically effortless.
Holding up the completed Engraving Plate, Beichen Guang went before Huo Lin. "Lord Huo, I'm finished!"
"Hm? You're finished? You?"
Huo Lin's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Beichen Guang.
Beichen Guang had taken this exam eight tis without ever once making it to the second round!
How could he possibly be the first one to finish today?
Half-believing, half-doubting, Huo Lin took Beichen Guang's Engraving Plate. After briefly inspecting it, the corner of his eye twitched. He gave Beichen Guang a strange look. "How bizarre. You actually succeeded?"
Huo Lin waved his hand, gesturing for Beichen Guang to stand aside and wait, still finding it hard to believe. 'Even Beichen Guang can pass this exam? What the hell... Well, whatever. As long as that other kid fails, it's fine!'
After Beichen Guang passed, the other participants began to finish their tasks one by one.
The trio also passed the exam.
The three n surrounded Beichen Guang, threatening him in low voices. "Kid, you actually dared to talk back to us. You've really pissed us off. After this exam is over, you'd better be waiting for us by the door."
"If you dare try to run... heh heh..."
The three let out sinister sneers.
Beichen Guang's face paled slightly. He lowered his head, his thoughts unreadable.
Huo Lin checked the ti. Seeing that Hong Yu was the only one left in the examination area, he raised an eyebrow and shot him a mocking look. "Hey, if you can't finish, don't waste everyone's ti."
"Ah? Is it my turn?"
Hong Yu looked like he had just woken up. He glanced at Huo Lin with drowsy eyes and yawned. "My apologies. They were all so slow, I couldn't help but doze off."
Huo Lin: "..."
The crowd: "..."
The faces of every participant in the exam turned dark.
'What does he an, "they were all so slow"?'
'He was the last one to finish, wasn't he?'
The crowd grumbled internally.
Huo Lin snorted. "You're the only one left. If you can't finish it, just leave!"
"Oh, is that right? Well, I've already finished designing and engraving my Spirit Array Rune."
Hong Yu nodded.
"Oh, you're finished? Then get lost... Wait, did you say you're finished?" Huo Lin's eyes flew wide open.
Hong Yu nodded again. "Yes, I'm finished! Please inspect it, Examiner."
'How is that possible? Even I couldn't design a brand new Spirit Array Rune in such a short amount of ti. It's absolutely impossible.'
Huo Lin shook his head and glared at Hong Yu. "If I find out you cheated or tried to deceive in any way, I'll make you suffer in ways you can't even imagine!"
Hong Yu just shrugged, unconcerned.
"Do you think that kid actually finished?"
"Finished my ass! Have you ever seen a Tier One Spiritual Craftsman design and engrave a rune from scratch, all in one go, in such a short amount of ti?"
"So he's just ssing with Lord Huo. Tsk, tsk, that kid is done for."
Ignoring the crowd's whispers, Huo Lin snorted and looked down at the Engraving Plate...
The Spirit Array Rune on Hong Yu's Engraving Plate was sowhat complex. At first glance, Huo Lin's vision swam; it seed inexplicably chaotic.
'The way these breakpoints and energy channels connect is a total ss,' he thought. 'Even if it's held together by so special ans, it can't be very stable. Break a single point and this whole Inscription will collapse!'
Musing to himself, Huo Lin began to test Hong Yu's Engraving Plate.
But...
When the Inscription remained stable even after he had severed three breakpoints and two energy channels, his brows furrowed in confusion.
He continued his rigorous testing...
Five breakpoints, six breakpoints, seven breakpoints...
By the ti he reached the twelfth breakpoint and ninth energy channel, a fine sheen of cold sweat had broken out on Huo Lin's forehead. His Spiritual Craftsman uniform was soaked through, and his hands, which held the Engraving Plate, began to tremble.
After he severed the fifteenth breakpoint, Huo Lin collapsed, plopping right onto the floor.
He stared at Hong Yu, utterly dumbfounded. "Th-This... how is this possible?"
Generally, a Tier One Spirit Array Rune has thirty-six breakpoints. An ordinary Inscription will collapse when a tenth of these are destroyed.
A Tier One Middle Level Spirit Pattern is more stable and can withstand ten broken breakpoints.
A Tier One Advanced Spirit Array Rune, on the other hand, can withstand the destruction of at least fifteen breakpoints while still maintaining a stable structure.
The Spirit Array Rune Hong Yu had designed now had fifteen broken breakpoints, yet it remained as stable as it was at the start. This was what left Huo Lin so utterly shocked.
Fifteen! That was the standard of a Tier One Advanced rune!
Moreover...
Judging by the stability of the Spirit Array Rune Hong Yu had created, fifteen broken breakpoints was likely far from its limit. This ant the rune might even surpass Tier One Advanced quality. Tier One Advanced! That was sothing even he couldn't create!
"Examiner Huo, I assu this ans I've passed?" Hong Yu asked with a grin.
Huo Lin shuddered, pointed a trembling finger at Hong Yu, and bellowed, "You cheated! You're cheating! How could you possibly create such a high-level Spirit Array Rune? It's impossible! You must have cheated!"
Hong Yu frowned and said coldly, "Examiner Huo Lin, your every word and action represents the Spiritual Craftsman Guild. You'd best think carefully before you speak again. If you're going to accuse of cheating, you'd better have proof. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to report this matter to the Guild's senior leadership!"
"You... you..."
Huo Lin was so angry he was speechless. He gritted his teeth. "Don't get too arrogant, Hong Yu. Fine, you can pass today, but only if you explain exactly how you did this and prove it's your own work. Otherwise, I won't let you pass this exam, even if you complain to the Chairman!"
A playful expression appeared on Hong Yu's face. He pursed his lips mysteriously. "Are you sure you want to know?"
"I'm sure!"
Huo Lin's tone was firm.
"You won't regret it?" Hong Yu asked, raising his eyebrows suggestively.
Huo Lin gritted his teeth. "I need to know how it works."
"Alright, then."
Hong Yu shrugged and said casually, "Co here, stick your head closer. I'll show you sothing precious."
"Hm?"
Huo Lin froze, frowning in hesitation. But then a thought struck him: if there really was so treasure that could make an Inscription so stable, he could just steal it later and be set for life.
Spurred on by greed, Huo Lin actually leaned his head forward.
And then, sothing happened that Huo Lin would never forget for as long as he lived...
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