Chapter 193 Display of Ability

Interrupted by Lin Xun, the beautiful attendant immediately flushed and dared not to overthink any more. She quickly took Lin Xun to the second floor of the association.

They walked along a long corridor and arrived at a quaint hall.

A scholarly man was sitting cross-legged behind a desk. He was dressed in a forest-green brocade robe and had a neatly trimmed beard.

The man had a tobacco pipe in his left hand and a rune brush in his right. As he blew out a puff of smoke, he leisurely carved runes onto a piece of indigo beast skin.

“Young master, this is Chu Feng, the president of our Rune Master Association.” The attendant introduced Lin Xun.

Lin Xun nodded. In his view, Chu Feng was no doubt an elegant and refined man who knew how to enjoy himself.

His clothes were made of exquisite extraordinary materials and covered with cryptic undulating runes. Each one of the accessories on him was of extraordinary quality. Even the tobacco pipe in his hand emitted a faint azure glow as it was made from the rib bone of an earth dragon beast.

However, Chu Feng’s beard left the deepest impression on Lin Xun. The hair on his upper lips was beautifully trimmed and curled upwards at both ends, which added an elegant charm to his scholarly face.

However, Lin Xun’s attention was soon drawn to the runes that Chu Feng was engraving. He identified the indigo beast skin on the table to be made from the wings of an Indigo Lightning Bird, which was a superb rune material ideal for making upper human grade inner armor.

The rune brush that Chu Feng used was extremely unique in shape. It was slender, translucent, and shaped like a pointy cone. As Chu Feng continuously maneuvered the brush with smooth, flowing motions, runes densely spread across the beast skin.

With one glance, Lin Xun could tell that Chu Feng was a rune master who had been practicing the art of runes for years from his skilful movements.

While Lin Xun was studying Chu Feng, the attendant had already informed Chu Feng of their reason for coming.

“Friend, take a seat. Allow me to complete the Wind Shadow Lightning Rune Array first, and then I will verify you as a rune master.”

Chu Feng didn’t lift his head once. He continued to engrave runes onto the beast skin, but his voice was gentle, friendly and pleasing like a spring breeze.

Lin Xun nodded and sat on the other side.

The maid stepped back and withdrew from the room.

The quaint hall fell silent and only the rustle of the brush strokes across the beast skin could be heard.

Lin Xun grew increasingly impatient as time passed. He couldn’t help but look at Chu Feng and saw that his forehead was wrinkled and his eyes were fixed on the indigo beast skin. It was as though he had encountered a huge problem.

At that moment, he was as motionless as a statue. The tobacco pipe in his hand had been extinguished but he seemed to not notice.

As a rune master, Lin Xun could tell that Chu Feng had fallen into deep thought. Chu Feng could still be sitting at the table in three to five days if he couldn’t solve his problem.

He had encountered such a situation before when he was a child, and so had Mister Lu.

Lin Xun couldn’t stop himself from getting up and moving towards the table. His gaze immediately landed on the indigo beast skin.

He didn’t want to just sit and wait around. It was a waste of time.

Almost from one glance, Lin Xun could tell that Chu Feng was creating an inner armor. But it was different from ordinary inner armor in that it was engraved with three different rune formations—Mountain Accumulation Rune Array, Golden Diamond Rune Array and Wind Shadow Lightning Rune Array.

The first two rune arrays were classified as defensive rune formations. One was of earth attribute and the other was of gold attribute, but both were initial-level rune formations.

Only the third rune array was more special in that it had two attributes—wind and lightning. The rune pattern was also very complex and belonged to an intermediate-level rune formation.

The problem that Chu Feng was faced with was related to the third rune array. There wasn’t a problem with the refining but that there was an absence of medium between the three rune arrays, making it difficult for the three to integrate and connect.

In those conditions, even if the refining was successful, the inner armor’s power would be weaker than normal.

Lin Xun studied it closer and then he suddenly said, “If you verify me as a rune master now, I can help you solve the problem.”

Chu Feng seemed to not hear Lin Xun. Or perhaps he was fully concentrated in his thoughts and had forgotten everything around him.

Lin Xun sighed inwardly, leaned over, and snatched the rune brush from Chu Feng’s hand.

Abruptly awakened, Chu Feng furiously snapped at Lin Xun. “Nonsense! What are you doing!”

“Help you solve your problem.” Lin Xun casually answered him and sat himself down on the ground. He clasped the rune brush and was about to engrave on the indigo beast skin.

“Who are you? Who let you in? Quickly get out of here!”

Deeply worried, Chu Feng repeatedly yelled out. But even in fury, he still maintained his elegant demeanor and didn’t immediately resort to violence.

“If you disturb me again, the inner armor will be ruined…” warned Lin Xun as he began to engrave.

“You—you—you—” Chu Feng was so furious that his chest heaved up and down. He hated the fact that he couldn’t send Lin Xun flying with a slap to his face.

It wasn’t that he didn’t dare to do so but the inner armor in Lin Xun's hands was extremely valuable and the rune materials that made it up were extremely rare. It took him many years to finally acquire them all.

If he disturbed Lin Xun and caused him to make a slight mistake, the incomplete inner armor could be completely destroyed.

Chu Feng didn’t want to see such a scene.

However, if he didn’t act, he would have to helplessly watch Lin Xun cause trouble.

Chu Feng was suddenly caught in a dilemma. His elegant face reddened with exasperation. It was the first time he had met such a daring young man ever since he became the president of the Haze City Rune Master Association.

“Let me ask you a question. Ground symbolizes earth, swamp symbolizes gold, wood symbolizes wind and thunder symbolizes lightning. If you want them to resonate with each other, what medium should be used?” asked Lin Xun suddenly as he leisurely carved.

“Water!”

Chu Feng was at first taken aback but he then replied subconsciously. Immediately after that, a wave of anger surged to his heart. This kid dares to lecture me!? How arrogant!

“Correct, earth benefits from water, swamp is born from water, wood and water complement one another, and thunder and water resonate with each other. Now that you know this, why don't you engrave a Four Water Division Rune Array as a medium?”

Chu Feng replied almost without hesitation, “That’s impossible! This inner armor is based on the skin of the Indigo Lightning Bird. It already contains two attributes: water and thunder. It simply cannot accommodate four rune arrays at the same time! “

He grew more enraged. What is wrong with me today? Why am I doing what a kid says?

However, soon, he was drawn to Lin Xun’s words.

“Who says it can’t? The Four Water Divisions Rune Array is extremely powerful, but why don’t you abandon the rune structure in the array and leave only the four division positions to provide a water cycle supply. As a medium, it will be compatible with the other three rune arrays.”

As Lin Xun explained, he completed the rune pattern on the beast skin.

It was then that Chu Feng froze as though struck by lightning. Only after a while did his eyes light up and he clapped his hands. “No wonder. I understand now!”

He had completely snapped out from his shock. His gaze shifted to Lin Xun and a strange expression came to his face. Just now…it was this young man guiding me?

How is that possible?

How old is he? How could he do this?

Lin Xun set down the rune brush, got up and pointed to the indigo beast skin emitting a soft glow on the desk. “Okay, the rune array on the inner armor is completed, but if you want to bring out its greatest power, it’s best to soak it in True Heavy Water for a while.”

Strictly speaking, it was no longer a piece of beast skin, but an inner armor filled with spiritual qi and it flashed glints of illusionary colors!

Chu Feng hurried forward, picked up the inner armor and examined it closely for a good moment. Shock and astonishment filled his heart.

An intermediate human-grade Wood-Thunder Armor was successfully refined like that?

Too unbelievable!

Chu Feng felt he was dreaming. Only after a long moment could he say to Lin Xun, “Friend, who are you?”

His voice contained a hint of admiration.

Lin Xun smiled. “I already stated my reason for coming. I’m here to be verified as a rune master.”

Chu Feng looked blank. He thought for a long moment before he slapped his forehead and exclaimed, “I remember it now. It’s just that…”

He stared at Lin Xun’s young and handsome face, finding it hard to believe how such a teenager could be so amazing.

“Now that the inner armor has been completed, will you help get me verified?”

Lin Xun felt helpless as he saw the look of disbelief on Chu Feng’s face. He already had enough of the feeling of being treated like a monster from Old Mo.

“Right, right, of course.”

Chu Feng nodded. Then, he took several deep breaths in a row, suppressing all kinds of shocks and puzzlement in his heart, and he said with a smile, “However, haven’t I verified you just now?”

Lin Xun said in puzzlement, “When?”

Chu Feng pointed to the inner armor on the desk.

Understanding dawned on Lin Xun’s face and he smiled.

“These are four different badges that represent the different levels of a rune master.”

Chu Feng casually brought out a jade box with a flip of his hand. Four different coloured badges were housed in the jade box. Each one was the size of a copper coin and had a simple and classical shape.

“They represent the four levels of rune master—initial, intermediate, advanced and expert. What level are you currently at, little friend?”

Chu Feng’s eyes blazed with intense curiosity.

“Initial.”

After contemplating, Lin Xun chose the qualification of initial rune master, which was represented by a bronze badge with jade-like qualities. The front was engraved with the symbol of the Rune Master Association and the back was blank.

“Initial?”

Chu Feng said in bewilderment, “Little friend, in my opinion, given your skills you showed in refining the inner armor just now, you are already worthy of the intermediate rune master badge.”

Lin Xun had to explain patiently, “I just stole your light. I only engraved a simple rune array. You are the one who truly completed the inner armor.”

A light dawned on Chu Feng’s face and he said with a smile, “It’s very rare to see a young rune master like you. If people learn about you, it will definitely cause a huge uproar. Your action wisely protects yourself. I understand.”