Chapter 34: Spiritual Power
When Zhang Ruochen saw the Eighth Prince and Shan Xiangling, they also saw him standing outside the Rune Inscription Guild.
Upon seeing Zhang Ruochen, the Eighth Prince felt a surge of anger and sneered, "Ninth Brother, aren't you supposed to be a martial arts prodigy now? What are you doing at the Rune Inscription Guild?"
Zhang Ruochen gently shook his head, unwilling to entangle himself with the Eighth Prince. He instructed Yun'er, "Sister Yun'er, wait for me on the antelope-drawn carriage. I'll go into the Rune Inscription Guild to buy some things."
Zhang Ruochen stepped down from the carriage and walked toward the guild's entrance.
Behind him, a soft and melodious voice called out, "Ninth Prince, wait a moment."
Zhang Ruochen stopped, turned around, and glanced at Shan Xiangling as she approached. "You are?"
He had seen Shan Xiangling once at Qingxuan Pavilion but didn't know her identity or name. He only knew she seemed to be the Eighth Prince's junior sister from some sect.
"Shan Xiangling of the Fire Cloud Sect. Ninth Prince, your performance at the year-end assessment truly opened my eyes—defeating a Yellow Extreme Realm Great Extreme Position martial artist while only at the Yellow Extreme Realm Small Extreme Position. If there's a chance, I'd love to discuss martial arts with you."
Shan Xiangling walked gracefully toward Zhang Ruochen, a faint fragrance emanating from her. Her eyes held a hint of anticipation.
As one of the Four Beauties of the younger generation in the Yunwu Commandery, Shan Xiangling was indeed stunning. Her eyebrows were like willow leaves, her eyelashes long and curled, and her features exquisitely refined—like a meticulously crafted work of art.
Initially, when she first saw Zhang Ruochen at Qingxuan Pavilion, she had dismissed him as a cripple unable to cultivate martial arts, even suspecting he was Qin Ya's paramour, and looked down on him.
But after the year-end assessment, Zhang Ruochen displayed terrifying martial talent—lifting a thousand-pound stone slab as if it were child's play, hunting first-grade upper-tier savage beasts, and defeating enemies across two minor realms.
Among young martial artists, achieving even one of these feats was no easy task.
How could a martial prodigy like Zhang Ruochen stoop to being someone's paramour or a plaything for a wanton woman?
Zhang Ruochen studied Shan Xiangling briefly, inwardly surprised. "This woman is not only beautiful but also highly gifted in martial arts. She's already at the Yellow Extreme Realm Great Extreme Position, surpassing both the Ninth Commandery Princess and Lin Ningshan."
In truth, the Ninth Commandery Princess, Lin Ningshan, and Shan Xiangling were all included among the Four Beauties of the younger generation because of their beauty and martial talent. Without martial aptitude, no matter how beautiful, they wouldn't qualify as goddess-like figures admired by countless martial artists.
At seventeen, Shan Xiangling was slightly older than the Ninth Commandery Princess and Lin Ningshan, so her cultivation was naturally higher.
Seeing Shan Xiangling take the initiative to show goodwill toward Zhang Ruochen, the Eighth Prince sensed a threat and hurried over. "Junior Sister, have you forgotten about Ninth Brother and the Qingxuan Pavilion owner's affair? Stay away from someone like him—"
Shan Xiangling raised her hand slightly, cutting him off. With a bright smile, she said, "How could a young prodigy like the Ninth Prince be the kind of person you describe?"
The sense of crisis grew stronger.
"Junior Sister! Let's go! We'll come back another time to seek a master!" The Eighth Prince grabbed her wrist, trying to pull her away.
"Whoosh!"
True Qi surged within Shan Xiangling's body, and a powerful force emanated from her wrist. With a gentle flick, she sent the Eighth Prince flying backward.
"Eighth Prince, men and women should maintain proper boundaries. Please show some restraint," Shan Xiangling said coldly.
"Junior Sister..." The Eighth Prince's fingers went numb with pain, and he couldn't lift his entire arm.
Shan Xiangling glanced at him and shook her head slightly.
Turning back to Zhang Ruochen, her face immediately softened into a gentle smile, her voice pleasant. "Ninth Prince, I'm here at the Rune Inscription Guild to seek a master and learn artifact forging. What about you?"
Zhang Ruochen had observed everything. He replied calmly, "I'm here to buy inscription brushes and spiritual paper to study rune inscription."
"Really? That's wonderful! I've studied rune inscription since childhood and can already inscribe some basic runes. I also know a bit about inscription brushes and spiritual paper. If you're looking to buy these, perhaps I can help," Shan Xiangling said.
Zhang Ruochen thought for a moment and realized he truly didn't know much about inscription brushes and spiritual paper, so he agreed.
Watching Zhang Ruochen and Shan Xiangling's retreating figures, the Eighth Prince felt utterly dejected.
But moments later, determination returned to his eyes. "As long as I become Master Zoen's disciple, Junior Sister will surely come back to me."
...
"Inscription brushes and spiritual paper are divided into five grades: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Heavenly, and Divine, corresponding to the five levels of rune inscription."
"To inscribe basic runes, you only need basic-grade brushes and paper."
"Those with spiritual power below the thirtieth rank can only inscribe basic runes. The higher your spiritual power, the more basic runes you can inscribe, the more stable they are, and the higher your success rate."
Shan Xiangling explained as she walked. "I've been cultivating spiritual power and studying rune inscription since childhood. My spiritual power has now reached the sixteenth rank, and I can inscribe a few basic runes, but my success rate is quite low—only one success in twenty attempts."
"Someone like Master Zoen, a master forger, has a much higher success rate—seven or eight successes in ten attempts."
The Fire Cloud Sect also employed spiritual power cultivators who were artifact forgers. But as a martial sect, their highest-level forger had only reached the eighteenth rank of spiritual power. At that level, he could no longer guide Shan Xiangling effectively.
That's why she came to the Rune Inscription Guild in the royal capital, hoping to become Master Zoen's disciple and continue learning rune inscription and artifact forging, aiming to reach the First-Rank Artifact Forger level as soon as possible.
"Your spiritual power has reached the sixteenth rank?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Reaching the fifteenth rank of spiritual power before the age of twenty was considered genius. Shan Xiangling's spiritual power intensity was quite impressive among girls her age.
Mentioning her spiritual power, Shan Xiangling felt a sense of pride, a hint of superiority rising within her. "Generally, reaching the fifteenth rank of spiritual power gives you a chance to become a First-Rank Artifact Forger."
She paused, then added with some frustration, "But my forging techniques and rune inscription skills are still lacking. I've taken the exam twice and failed to pass the First-Rank Artifact Forger test. If I could become a disciple of a Second-Rank Artifact Forger and receive their guidance, I'm sure I could become a First-Rank Artifact Forger quickly."
Zhang Ruochen asked, "What's so great about becoming a First-Rank Artifact Forger? Are there any benefits?"
"Tons of benefits! First, becoming a First-Rank Artifact Forger allows you to officially join the Rune Inscription Guild as a member. You can learn more advanced spiritual power techniques and attend lectures by spiritual power masters."
"Also, as a First-Rank Artifact Forger, you receive a specially crafted forger's robe from the guild. Wearing that robe signifies your status. Unless it's a personal grudge or you start a conflict, if anyone dares to harm you, the guild will step in to protect you."
"Of course, as a First-Rank Artifact Forger, you're also highly respected by martial artists. Generally, no martial artist would willingly offend a forger or alchemist."
Zhang Ruochen found this intriguing. The Rune Inscription Guild had a long history, dating back to the Middle Ages, over a hundred thousand years ago. Even the First Central Empire, established by Empress Chi Yao, was only eight hundred years old.
In fact, even the First Central Empire, which now ruled the Kunlun Realm, couldn't compare to the Rune Inscription Guild's depth.
No one knew the true extent of the guild's power, but no one dared to provoke it.
Becoming a guild member seemed like a good idea. Zhang Ruochen nodded thoughtfully.
Inscription brushes and spiritual paper were extremely expensive.
A basic-grade inscription brush cost a thousand silver coins.
A single sheet of basic-grade spiritual paper cost one silver coin.
Seeing the prices, ordinary martial artists would have turned and fled.
Studying rune inscription was like burning money. Only large families and major sects could afford to train a few alchemists and forgers, and even then, they had to carefully select candidates with strong spiritual power.
If they failed to produce a First-Rank Alchemist or Forger, they'd lose everything.
Zhang Ruochen bought ten inscription brushes and ten thousand sheets of spiritual paper, spending a total of twenty thousand silver coins. Even though he wasn't short on money, it still stung.
After purchasing the brushes and paper, Zhang Ruochen went with Shan Xiangling to meet Master Zoen. He knew nothing about rune inscription and was relying entirely on self-exploration. With guidance from an expert, he might make faster progress.
From a distance, they heard a voice.
"Congratulations, Eighth Prince! Your spiritual power has reached the twelfth rank. Have you truly never cultivated spiritual power before?" Master Zoen said with some amazement.
For someone the Eighth Prince's age to reach the twelfth rank without training was truly extraordinary.
"Of course I've never cultivated spiritual power before."
Seeing Zhang Ruochen and Shan Xiangling approaching, the Eighth Prince's eyes gleamed with smugness. He deliberately raised his voice. "Does that mean, Master, that I'm a natural-born spiritual power prodigy?"
With Master Zoen's affirmation, the Eighth Prince was ecstatic and couldn't wait to show off his talent to Shan Xiangling.
...
There's another chapter today!