Gongsun Yan had just left the shop, and a middle-aged man with a scruffy beard entered.
“Captain Zhang, what would you like to buy?” The shopkeeper hurriedly greeted upon seeing him.
The man was named Zhang Hongyu, served as the captain of the guard in the city lord’s mansion, and gained some reputation for maintaining stability in Zhongzhou.
Zhang Hongyu glanced at the runic symbols crafted by Jiang Yuan and asked, “This runic symbol only costs 800 gold coins?”
“Captain Zhang, this is a runic symbol prototype so it’s unlikely to have an amplification effect which made it more affordable,” the shopkeeper nodded.
Although slightly disappointed, Zhang Hongyu still examined the runic symbol. Drawing upon his past experience studying runes, he could distinguish between a finished runic symbol and a prototype.
In his view, what he held was definitely not a runic symbol prototype but a finished product.
“Shopkeeper, are you sure this is a prototype?” Zhang Hongyu asked seriously.
“Yes,” the shopkeeper affirmed.
Zhang Hongyu fell into contemplation instead of continuing the conversation.
Two months ago, the position of the head guard in the city lord’s mansion became vacant. A competition was held to select a new head guard, and Zhang Hongyu reached the final round. However, facing a formidable opponent, he sought ways to enhance his strength quickly.
If he could use elixirs or runic symbols before the final, his chances of winning would significantly improve. However, both elixirs and runic symbols were beyond his financial means.
Finished runic symbols cost at least ten thousand gold coins, an amount he couldn’t afford. He disheartened and coincidentally stumbled upon this shop, only to find the runic symbols priced at a mere 800 gold coins.
Out of curiosity, he inquired with the shopkeeper and learned they were runic symbol prototypes.
Despite some initial disappointment, when he checked them with his spiritual power, he realized they were finished runic symbols. A product worth over ten thousand gold coins was now available for only eight hundred.
“This runic symbol, I’ll take it!” Without hesitation, Zhang Hongyu paid the 800 gold coins for the remaining runic symbol.
*
The next morning at the Rune Master Guild.
In the classroom of Yu Wenhao, several youths sat at their desks, and each of them had a runic symbol prototype before them. Like Gongsun Yan, they were all disciples of Yu Wenhao.
“Have you all completed the prototypes Master assigned us to make?”
“Such a simple task. Besides that little girl Gongsun Yan, who wouldn’t be able to make it?”
“Hahaha, you’re right. None of us here are foolish to that extent.”
Amidst the discussions, Gongsun Yan strolled into the classroom. Although the others stopped talking when she entered, disdainful gazes were still cast her way.
Ignoring the glances, Gongsun Yan walked to her seat. Soon, a gray-bearded old man arrived at this classroom.
“Master.”
Upon seeing the old man, everyone in the room stood up to salute. Obviously, this old man was their master, Yu Wenhao, the exclusive runemaster of the Rune Guild.
“Submit your assessment results.” Yu Wenhao walked to the lectern, addressing everyone seriously.
One by one, everyone walked to the front and submitted the runic symbol prototypes they had made.
After everyone had submitted theirs, Yu Wenhao turned to Gongsun Yan and said, “What about yours?”
Everyone looked at Gongsun Yan mockingly, seemingly eager to witness her reprimand.
In the midst of their mocking glances, Gongsun Yan confidently walked to the lectern, holding out a runic symbol. Seeing this, everyone was surprised.
“What’s going on with that girl? Did she really make the prototype?”
“No way! With her talent, how could she possibly make it?”
Amidst the crowd’s skepticism, Yu Wenhao took the runic symbol from Gongsun Yan and probed it with his spiritual power.
“What! This…”
In that moment of proving, Yu Wenhao seemed struck by lightning, freezing in place like a statue. His expression went from shock to questioning, then from questioning to horror, finally settling into disbelief.
Gongsun Yan also looked bewildered, and completely unaware of what was happening.
The young people present were equally puzzled, unable to understand the current situation.
After a half-moment of shock, Yu Wenhao finally regained his composure, inhaling a deep breath.
“Incredible… unbelievably perfect… such an enchanting runic symbol…”
He cradled the runic symbol like nurturing a newborn baby, expressing excitement in his voice. Upon hearing this, everyone was dumbfounded.
Perfect?
Enchanting?
Such lavish praise had never been used by Yu Wenhao for anyone before. And today, he used it for the runic symbol made by Gongsun Yan.
What on earth was going on?
After checking the runic symbol in his hand multiple times, Yu Wenhao turned around, and looked at Gongsun Yan solemnly.
“Tell me honestly, where did you get this runic symbol?”
Everyone suddenly realized that the runic symbol prototype wasn’t made by Gongsun Yan but bought from outside.
Gongsun Yan lowered her head, somewhat guilty, and said, “Master, I… I made this myself…”
“Nonsense!”
Yu Wenhao was excited and even used profanity, “This is a tenth-grade runic symbol, something even I have never seen! How could an apprentice like you create it?”
His words were like a thunderbolt which left everyone in shock, revealing expressions of disbelief.
Tenth-grade runic symbol…
Did such legendary runic symbols truly exist in this world?
