Chapter 11: Inscribing Runes

Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Inscribing Runes

There were many basic rune arrays to choose from, and the round disc contained hundreds of the most common templates.

For instance, the "Basic Perception Array" was the most common and versatile one. It had a high selection rate because it was stable and simple. In addition, there were the "Basic Element Array," "Basic Spirit Array," "Basic Mechanical Array," and more. Each apprentice could choose according to their own talent.

This choice would embed itself into a person’s spiritual traits, granting them the ability to use runes, but it would not affect their subsequent development and research direction.

Chen Shang did not rush to make a choice. Instead, he first opened his entry panel.

[Concentration (White)], [Copper Skin (White)], [Mechanical Perception (White)], [Spiritual Talent (White)], [Fighting Qi Fullness (White)], [Endurance Enhancement (White)], [Power Burst (White)], [Fire Element Affinity (White)], [Energy Control·Fragment (Green)]...

The ones related to fighting spirit were obviously useless here. The only ones that could help him were [Mechanical Perception], [Fire Element Affinity], or [Energy Control]. Among these, Energy Control was an entry extracted from a wizard himself, and its quality was the highest. He would have to be out of his mind not to choose something related to it.

After making his decision, Chen Shang opened a "Basic Energy Array," and a three-dimensional rune array appeared before his eyes.

The entire array consisted of thirty-seven runes, arranged in a three-tiered structure according to a specific pattern. The bottom tier comprised seven basic runes: absorb, convert, store, release, stabilize, amplify, and circulate. The middle tier had twelve auxiliary runes used to regulate the relationships between the bottom-tier runes. The top tier contained eighteen expansion runes, which were meant for practical application.

Fully engraving this array was the standard for a First Level Apprentice.

Chen Shang began to memorize the runes. While doing so, he studied other materials, such as the history of runes, the transformation rules of common runes, and the structural differences between various arrays. Having never received a systematic education in this field, he could only cram these subjects now.

He also browsed through many anecdotes, one of which left a deep impression on him. Early wizards believed that runes were gifts from the world. They could not be altered or moved and had to be copied exactly as they were. Later, a madman completely scrambled and rearranged the structures of all the runes, surprisingly inventing a brand-new system. That system subsequently became the foundation of modern rune theory.

On the night of the fifth day, feeling he had memorized enough, he went to find Leia.

"Senior Sister, I’m ready."

Leia, busy with some unknown task, looked up at Chen Shang. "Done memorizing?"

"Yes."

"Alright, wait for me a moment. I’ll guide your meditation shortly."

A person’s first meditation required someone to watch over them to prevent any accidents that might turn them into an idiot. After a while, Leia finally finished her work and brought Chen Shang to the quiet room.

"You chose the Energy Foundation Array? Take your time, there’s no rush. First, figure out its shape, structure, and the direction of energy flow completely. Only then should you start engraving."

Chen Shang closed his eyes, and the [Concentration (White)] entry activated. All distracting thoughts around him vanished, leaving only himself in the entire world.

His spiritual world was an endless, hazy gray void. Chen Shang focused his attention on the center of the void and began to construct the first rune, [Absorb]. He had long since memorized its shape—a vortex-like structure with lines spiraling inward. The gaps on the outside were wide, growing narrower toward the inside until they finally converged at a single point in the center.

He imagined his spiritual power as an engraving knife and began to carve according to this shape.

With a light stroke, the energy flowing within the void followed his engraving knife, melting into the engraved lines together. Then came the second stroke, and the third. It went much smoother than he had expected. With the help of the [Energy Control·Fragment (Green)] entry, the energy was extremely obedient. It spontaneously filled every line, making the outline of the rune increasingly clear.

As the final stroke fell, the center closed. In an instant, the entire rune lit up, and the whole vortex radiated an even and stable light.

Chen Shang vaguely sensed that the world seemed to have changed!

He opened his eyes. Leia stood before him, looking utterly astonished. "You finished engraving?"

"Yeah... I think I’m done." Chen Shang was a little uncertain. Seeing Leia’s expression, he wondered if he had missed something.

Leia checked and found that the [Absorb] rune was firmly embedded in Chen Shang’s spirit. The small vortex rotated slowly, its light even and stable.

"Very good, you’ve officially initiated!"

Hearing Leia’s praise, Chen Shang finally realized. "Senior Sister, did I engrave it very fast?"

"Indeed. Going from an ordinary person to a First Level Wizard Apprentice usually takes about three years on average. If you can keep this up, you might be able to meet the requirements in just one year."

Chen Shang smiled, knowing this was thanks to the help of his entries. "So, does that make me a genius?"

Leia couldn’t help but chuckle and shook her head. "In the Wizard World, there is only one kind of genius: someone who can glean and master truth from all things in the world.

"The fact that you construct runes quickly only shows that you are sensitive to energy. Based on your situation, I’m guessing it might be a mutation caused by the elevation of your acquired spiritual power.

"Many people’s spiritual power has some sort of inclination. Some are sensitive to elements, some to life fluctuations, and some to spatial structures. You just happen to lean toward energy construction.

"This counts as a special trait. Keep engraving. Once you finish the first seven runes, you’ll be able to initially grasp a portion of rune power. I’ll teach you more when that time comes."

Over the next half month, Chen Shang took his time to engrave all seven basic runes.

Every morning, he spent two or three hours engraving, dedicating the rest of his time to devouring the books in the round disc. Rune theory, Wizard Common Language, basic elements, Plane Common Sense... all of that knowledge flooded into his brain like a tide, stuffing it full.

After half a month, he felt like he was cramming for finals week, only the subjects had changed from calculus and linear algebra to rune arrays and elemental theory. During this period, he also met a few apprentices, but everyone was very busy and had no time for idle chatter. Chen Shang didn’t mind; he had too much to learn and no time for socializing either.

On the day he finished engraving the seventh rune, he went to find Leia. It was time for him to learn some "wizard techniques."

Just as he arrived at her place, the door was suddenly pulled open from the inside. Leia stood in the doorway, her hair tied up neatly. Her eyes lit up when she saw Chen Shang.

"I was just looking for you! Come on, follow me to run an errand!"

Chen Shang was slightly taken aback. "Senior Sister, I’ve finished engraving the basic runes and was just about to learn from you..."

"Learn on the way!" Leia interrupted, yanking him into the room. She fished a small device out of a cabinet and clamped it onto his wrist.

CLICK.

The device snapped shut around Chen Shang’s wrist, and a ring of blue light lit up on its surface.