novelraw Chapter 671 490: Profit Credited, Xi's Trial
Chapter 671 490: Profit Credited, Xi's Trial
She raised her hand to dip the ink, and the hand holding the brush was even more peculiar.
From wrist to elbow, the entire forearm was not of a human skin color, but as if deeply stained by green ink, forming a naturally harmonious background.
Over that ink base, white and red pigments, like a painter's casual strokes, outlined a winding and ancient dragon pattern, appearing mysterious and timeless under the dim light.
A figure silently emerged from the shadows at the doorway.
It seemed as if he had been standing there all along.
The president of Longteng University.
A giant of the Thunder Division.
One of the magnates of Yue Shui Province.
Li Jiatu.
Today, he was still wearing that impeccably tailored black three-piece suit, standing quietly with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze resting on the nearly finished painting under the woman's brush, his expression calm and silent.
After a long time, he finally spoke, breaking the silence.
"Did you receive the letter I sent to you a few days ago?"
The tip of the woman's pen continued to move steadily over the rice paper.
Her voice was as clear and cold as a mountain stream, with a hint of laziness.
"I don't remember where I left it."
Li Jiatu seemed to have anticipated this, remaining calm and composed, he simply smiled and slowly said, "And what about the promise made more than a century ago?"
The woman's pen, originally steady as a mountain, suddenly halted.
"In this past century, you've been able to paint quietly in this realm because I and He have shielded you from all criticism and coveting."
Li Jiatu blinked, "In exchange, you promised me that one day, you would take a true apprentice and teach them everything."
"This, you haven't forgotten, have you?"
"The person I want to choose for you is not only extraordinarily gifted, renowned in Great Xia, but also the student of that old friend who visited you a hundred years ago."
"If not for my sake, at least for the sake of your old friend."
"He still carries the token you gave—your painting. By this account, you are truly destined."
Token.
That painting.
For some reason, these words caused her hand to shake slightly imperceptibly, as if an indescribable flush spread from her elf-like pointed ears, only to swiftly fade away.
A drop of thick ink fell from the brush tip, landing precisely at the crucial point of the nearly finished painting, instantly spreading like a blemish on white jade, ruining the entire painting's aura.
The ruined painting was suddenly crumpled by an invisible force and gently floated into the corner's shadows, followed by a brand-new sheet of snow-white rice paper silently spreading over the drawing desk.
As if nothing had happened, the woman picked up the brush again, dipping it into the inkstone, as she uttered two words in her cold, lazy voice.
"As you wish."
......
September 27th.
Vast Sea Secret Realm.
Inside a tower in the core teaching area of Longteng University.
Drapped in [Void Black Steel] which can block out light, yet filled with a high concentration of spiritual element ether, a high-level meditation room.
Crack—
As the spirit pattern crystal in his hand gradually shattered into powder, Lin Guang stopped the overwhelming absorption of spiritual element ether from the spirit rune array, and promptly opened his eyes.
An aura of dark golden light pierced through the darkness.
He felt the spirit patterns floating like stars on the sea of spirit's inner wall, and with the accelerated pace of meditation, he couldn't help but let out a small sigh of relief.
"Finally..."
The [Translucence] spirit pattern had already been upgraded, enhanced to four-star through the spirit pattern crystal.
It was the last spirit pattern, apart from the one in the blank spirit pattern slot, to advance to four-star.
[Translucence], [Burning Water], [Split Thought], [Ethereum Charging], [Demon Refining]...
Those artificial spirit patterns, naturally, were advanced using spirit pattern crystals.
The natural spirit patterns found their way when Dao Marks were engraved in the artificial divine domain, by consuming corresponding attribute spiritual materials and understanding with the [Heaven Refining Acupoint].
At least at the four-star and five-star stage, using a seven-star peak divine object to infer spirit patterns was without any problem.
At this point.
In the month since enrolling, not only did he get involved in countless chaotic matters, but he also thoroughly pushed his current spirit pattern system up to the four-star stage, enhancing its power.
Presently, his level was 38, meaning each one was crafted beyond his tier.
Creating beyond one's tier is the privilege of a genius.
Typically, a purple grade mystical technique consists of four or five spirit patterns of the same tier, complemented by additional low tier spirit patterns.
Even those who have engraved numerous Dao Marks usually only craft the main one or two spirit patterns in a mystical technique beyond their tier, while the rest are generally kept at the same tier.
This is to conserve one's sea of spirit capacity and to reduce the burden, allowing for better control.
Before reaching the six-star stage, talent, spirit patterns, and the meditation contract technique are all kept separate within the sea of spirit.
Only when breaking through the six-star Celestial Gate using the seed of intent, and at the moment true intent is born, will they be fused into one, fully transforming the sea of spirit into a small world belonging to oneself.
From that point on, a Spirit Master achieves True Master status, enabling them to unfold their personal domain in the external world.
Incidentally.
This is also why true intent inheritance and empowerment beyond six stars are difficult to define and hard to assimilate; they are neither mere spirit patterns nor pure spiritual power, but include a large component of knowledge.