Ti flows like a river, never pausing for any one person or event.
After receiving his certification from the Spiritual Craftsman Guild, Hong Yu had returned to the Beichen Family and dedicated himself to improving his skill in inscribing Spirit Array Runes.
In the blink of an eye, five days passed.
It was already the dead of night. In just a few more hours, the Youth Spiritual Craftsman Competition would begin.
Hong Yu sat cross-legged in his room. On his lap rested an Engraving Plate, which he was studying with intense concentration.
This was a 'Bloodthirsty Rune,' a Tier Two High-Level Rune. If inscribed upon a Primordial Weapon, it would allow the weapon to devour blood and increase its power.
Every Primordial Weapon has its own corresponding Spirit Array Rune.
Take the Breaking Army Spear that Hong Yu previously used. The Spirit Array Rune inscribed on it was the 'Breaking Army Rune,' which focused on offensive power and sharpness. This was why, despite being only a Mortal-level Middle-grade Primordial Weapon, the Breaking Army Spear's destructive power was comparable to a Mortal Level High-Grade weapon.
As for the Godslaying Spear he was currently using...
...that was a source of great frustration for Hong Yu.
The Spirit Array Runes on the Godslaying Spear were all sealed. It currently possessed the sharpness and strength of a Spirit-level Lower Grade Primordial Weapon, but none of the effects from its runes. Hong Yu had tried to study the Godslaying Spear before, but unfortunately, its creator, Luoo Kun, was far too powerful. As a result, Hong Yu couldn't decipher anything about it.
However, judging by the power the Godslaying Spear currently displayed, if he could upgrade it and break its seals one by one, its might would surely shock the world!
BUZZ!
A fine layer of sweat beaded on Hong Yu's forehead.
He was completely focused, concentrating all his Spiritual Power into his hands as he ticulously outlined every breakpoint and connected every energy channel.
He was just about to finish...
...when he reached the final step. BOOM! The rune erupted in a blinding flash of light. The "Bloodthirsty Rune" he had painstakingly worked on for eight hours shattered violently, taking the Engraving Plate with it.
"Fuck!"
Hong Yu threw the shattered Engraving Plate aside, thoroughly annoyed.
The floor was already littered with seven or eight broken Engraving Plates, all of them ruined by his failed attempts over the past few days.
He shook his head with a bitter smile. 'Right now, I can only manage to inscribe Tier Two Middle-Level Runes. I'm always just one step away from completing a Tier Two High-Level Rune. But in the path of runes, a hair's breadth of an error leads to a thousand miles of deviation. If I can't break through this barrier, I'll be stuck at the Tier Two Middle Level...'
'Tier Two Middle Level... At the Youth Spiritual Craftsman Competition in the Qin Kingdom, the Refining City, is a level like this enough to reach the top three?'
His gaze drifted towards the hazy night outside his window.
The sky was gradually turning a fish-belly white, but a few scattered stars still twinkled in the dawn.
Hong Yu narrowed his eyes slightly...
'Yaoyao, are you okay?'
'Dad, Mom... are you two all right in the distant Desert North Wilderness?'
He murmured to himself.
In the darkness of the night, Hong Yu would sotis feel a sense of loneliness.
Whenever the night grew quiet and he stopped cultivating, stopped thinking, he would feel loneliness creep over him like an endless darkness.
Yun ngyao, with whom he had depended on for survival, and the father and mother who gave him life.
Hong Yu couldn't help but think of them.
The words of the Tiger Instructor from when he left echoed in his mind: "Ever since that battle, the Mistress has been severely injured and remains in a coma. The Master's temperant also changed drastically after that battle. He did many crazy things, and even the Mistress..."
"Sigh... Young Master, if one day you have enough strength to cross the inter-regional barrier and go to the Desert North Wilderness, perhaps seeing you will change the Master!"
"If things continue like this, I'm afraid it won't be long before the Master collapses completely under the dual tornt of body and mind..."
'Father, Mother, little sister!'
The Hong Yu of the past was all alone. He didn't understand what kinship ant, nor did he know the warmth of a ho.
But that didn't an he didn't long for a family reunion, didn't yearn for kinship!
On the contrary, deep in his heart, his desire for family was stronger than anyone else's.
'I must cultivate diligently and increase my strength. I need to get to the Desert North Wilderness as soon as possible, find Mom, Dad, and Yaoyao, so our family can face all hardships and enemies together. I absolutely will not let Dad shoulder all the burdens alone anymore...'
Hong Yu slowly rose to his feet, his gaze fixed on the distance, his fists clenched tightly. "No matter who it is, if they dare to harm my family, I will never let them go, even if I have to give up my life!"
Standing before the windowsill, Hong Yu closed his eyes.
He quietly felt the gentle caress of the night wind.
Soon, a ray of dawn broke through the sky, and morning arrived as scheduled.
Dressed in white, Little Feng ca skipping to Hong Yu's door. The little guy held a hearty breakfast in his hands and pushed the door open with his butt. "Big Brother, ti for breakfast!"
"Hm?"
Hong Yu slowly opened his eyes, a gentle smile gracing his lips.
Beichen Celestial Frost was wearing an ice-blue long dress today. Her cold, goddess-like temperant, like that of an ice mountain, was accentuated by the blue dress, adding a touch of loftiness to her aura.
After spending the last few days together, this young miss of the Beichen Family, one of the four great beauties of the Qin Kingdom, had beco much more familiar with Hong Yu.
She followed behind Little Feng. Seeing Hong Yu look over, she gave a small smile, as beautiful as a snow lotus blooming on an icy mountain. "Little Feng said you're participating in the Youth Spiritual Craftsman Competition today. He insisted on coming to your room to have breakfast with you and then go to the competition venue to cheer you on!"
Hong Yu smiled and nodded, ruffling Little Feng's hair. "You've got a good heart, little guy. You didn't forget about your Big Brother!"
"Hehe, Big Brother and Auntie are the most important people to ! How could Little Feng ever forget you?"
Little Feng tilted his head up, a pure, innocent smile on his face.
Hong Yu grinned, took the breakfast Little Feng offered, and began to wolf it down.
This beast never cared about his image!
Even with the great beauty Beichen Celestial Frost sitting beside him, he acted as he pleased, eating and drinking as he wished, unlike so hypocrites who would put on airs.
Beichen Celestial Frost took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Little Feng's forehead, then with her other hand, she took out a sheet of white paper and handed it to Hong Yu. "A few days ago, I heard you were entering the competition, so I had my people gather so intelligence on this year's contestants. Most of the more competitive participants are on this list!"
"Thanks!"
Hong Yu mumbled his thanks, his mouth full of a stead bun.
He took the paper and spread it open.
It was densely covered with nas, each followed by a corresponding introduction.
With the Beichen Comrce Association's influence in the Royal City, gathering this information wasn't difficult, but Hong Yu was still quite grateful for Beichen Celestial Frost's proactive help. A quick scan gave Hong Yu a decent understanding of his opponents.
There were approximately 13,600 nas written on the paper.
Of course...
...the vast majority of them were below Tier Two and could be disregarded.
As for the Artifact Spiritual Craftsn at Tier Two or above, there were about one or two hundred of them.
This made Hong Yu marvel at the strength of the Qin Kingdom.
Although the promotion path for an Artifact Spiritual Craftsman was slightly faster than for an Alchemy Spiritual Craftsman, for a single kingdom to have one to two hundred Tier Two Spiritual Craftsn under the age of thirty was a ratio that still topped the Southern Ten Nations Alliance. No wonder the Qin Kingdom could dominate the Southern Ten Nations and be known as the 'Refining City'!
The requirents for the Youth Spiritual Craftsman Competition were relatively lenient, but participants still had to be Spiritual Craftsn under the age of thirty.
And those who could achieve the rank of Tier Two Spiritual Craftsman before the age of thirty were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.
Every one of them had a certain degree of fa.
Therefore, the intelligence on them was exceptionally detailed.
Hong Yu scanned the list of Tier Two Spiritual Craftsn. He skimd past the Tier Two Low-Level and Middle-Level ones; with his current strength, only the Tier Two High-level geniuses could truly surpass him.
This file was organized in great detail.
Among them, three individuals caught Hong Yu's attention.
Two of these three were Tier Two Middle Level Spiritual Craftsn, and one was a Tier Two Advanced Spiritual Craftsman.
These two Tier Two Middle Level Spiritual Craftsn were nad Tang Muxue and Qin Mutian, respectively.
The information showed: Tang Muxue, female, fifteen years old, granddaughter of Tang Long, the Chairman of the Spiritual Craftsman Guild. She had shown imnse talent in the Artifact Dao since childhood. She began learning Spirit Array Runes at age five and started refining Primordial Weapon Embryos at age eight. At ten, she successfully refined her first Mortal-Level Primordial Weapon.
Now, at fifteen, she was already a Tier Two Middle Level Spiritual Craftsman.
There were even rumors that her true strength had already reached the level of a Tier Two Advanced Spiritual Craftsman.
Qin Mutian, the current Crown Prince of the Qin Royal Family!
He had an Early-Stage Celestial Soul Realm Cultivation, yet possessed the skills of a Tier Two Middle Level Spiritual Craftsman. He was already twenty-nine years old. In the last Youth Spiritual Craftsman Competition, Qin Mutian had made it to the top ten. This ti would be his last ti participating, and his goal was set on the top three!
As for the only Tier Two Advanced Spiritual Craftsman, Huo Yan...
...the intelligence on him was just a single sentence: A Direct Disciple of a Guiyuan Sect Elder, his strength is unfathomable, a favorite to win the championship!
Beichen Celestial Frost said, "I know little sister Mu Xue. Her strength is definitely greater than what the report says. She should be at the Tier Two High-level."
"Qin Mutian's strength is at a similar level. As for Huo Yan, there are rumors that he can already attempt to break through to the rank of a Tier Three Spiritual Craftsman. His power is imasurable. If you want to make it to the top three, those three will be your greatest obstacles. You'll only have a chance if you defeat them!"
Beichen Celestial Frost hesitated for a mont before adding, "There's one more thing I hope you'll be ntally prepared for."
"Hm?"
Hong Yu raised an eyebrow and looked at her.
Beichen Celestial Frost gave a bitter smile. "Huo Yan's master is my eldest sister-in-law's father. I received word that my sister-in-law is worried that if you make a na for yourself in the competition, you'll beco a powerful asset for in my fight against her. So, she specifically brought Huo Yan here from the Guiyuan Sect to suppress you. Moreover, Huo Yan is a ruthless person who acts without restraint, relying on the Guiyuan Sect for backing. You'd best be careful."
"Oh? How is he ruthless?" Hong Yu asked curiously.
Beichen Celestial Frost's delicate brows furrowed slightly. "Once, a disciple from the Royal Family had a conflict with him, and the two made a bet on an Artifact Refining competition. Huo Yan directly refined a Primordial Weapon with a corrosive inscription and used it to blast that disciple to death, leaving not even bones behind. Out of respect for the Guiyuan Sect's Elder Wang, the Royal Family could only swallow their anger and let it go."
"If you end up fighting him, I'm afraid you'll..."
Beichen Celestial Frost suddenly shook her head and said with self-deprecation, "Look at , what am I even thinking? You'd only have a direct conflict with him if you were competing for the top three. But you only just received your Spiritual Craftsman badge. How could you possibly make it that far? I'm overthinking things."
Looking at Beichen Celestial Frost's delicate face, Hong Yu then glanced down at the na "Huo Yan" written on the paper and rubbed his nose in frustration...
'An opponent with one foot in the door of a Tier Three Spiritual Craftsman? Tsk tsk, it looks like the situation this ti isn't very optimistic...'
User Comments
0 comments from readers