Chapter 0764: Leaving a Mark with Strength

Chapter 0764: Making a Name Through Power

This competition not only offers Sun Patterns as rewards but also Moon and Star Patterns, along with Dao and Mystic Runes—all of top-tier or king-grade quality.

Most competitors are here for the Sun Patterns. Though aware it won’t be easy to obtain, they believe even if they fail, they might still walk away with other prizes.

Mu Fengxiao felt the same way. He sent a voice transmission to Qin Yun: "Little devil, there are at least thirty Rune Masters from the Jian family here, and nearly a hundred Mystic Rune Masters!"

Qin Yun was startled upon hearing this.

But considering it involved the entire Jian family from the Spirit Desolate Mortal Domain, it didn’t seem too surprising.

Jian Linglong was also from the Jian family, though she belonged to the Immortal Armament City.

"Fat Mu, what’s the scoop?" Qin Yun asked while scanning the crowd. Among the rune masters here, he only recognized Mu Fengxiao and Jian Linglong.

"There are three young Rune Masters here—you must’ve noticed them too, all around a hundred years old," Mu Fengxiao said.

"A hundred years old?" Qin Yun sneered. Both he and Liu Jingmeng were way younger yet had already become Rune Masters.

"Little devil, that’s already impressive! Did you think everyone could be as freakish like you?" Mu Fengxiao retorted.

At this moment, many also noticed Qin Yun, the kid.

Qin Yun suddenly realized that Xiao Yuemei’s decision to transform him into a teenager backfired—it still drew too many eyes on him.

It almost seemed intentional on Xiao Yuemei’s part!

Standing beside Mu Fengxiao, Qin Yun felt increasingly uncomfortable under the scrutinizing gazes.

To participate in this Sword and Rune Masters’ Tournament, all one needed was Purple Crystal Coins.

Qin Yun had paid ten billion Purple Crystal Coins, so even if he knew nothing about runes, the Sword Immortal Pavilion wouldn’t complain—they were getting free cash, after all.

"Which clan’s rich enough, wasting ten billion Purple Crystal Coins just to let this kid in?"

"Maybe this little devil is a spoiled brat trying to show off so he can brag later!"

"Spending ten billion Purple Crystal Coins to flex here? Wouldn’t that just make him a laughingstock when he brags about it?"

"Who knows? The minds of the super-rich are beyond our comprehension!"

Among the spectators outside the arena, some found it normal, while others deemed it an outrageous waste.

Even the Rune Masters inside the competition felt the little devil stood out too much.

Especially in the eyes of those ancient elders who had lived for thousands of years—he was practically just a baby.

A white-robed elder with a beard nearly touching the ground approached Qin Yun and asked with a chuckle, "Kid, where are your guardians? Did you spend so many Purple Crystal Coins just to find a master?"

Hearing the elder’s words, many had an epiphany.

Everyone knew how difficult it was to find a mentor in the *Way of Odd Patterns*.

Skilled Rune Masters only took disciples based on personal preference.

If spending ten billion Purple Crystal Coins could secure a good Rune Master as a teacher, it would be a bargain.

"My guardians are all dead!" Qin Yun shot back, grinning.

"Well..." The Longbearded Elder was momentarily speechless.

"They died because they were old—that's perfectly normal! Everyone grows old and dies eventually!" Qin Yun's words hit hard to the senior Runes Masters.

The atmosphere in the competition arena immediately grew tense.

Not just the Runes Masters, but even the elders watching from the sidelines seethed silently upon hearing Qin Yun's remarks.

"This little devil really has no tact, speaking without considering the occasion!" someone muttered under their breath.

The Longbearded Elder chuckled and said, "Young one, to be so indifferent to life and death so young is truly admirable!"

Qin Yun grinned. "No big deal. I’ve just lived for a good ten thousand years. Once you’ve lived that long, you’ll surely grow indifferent to life and death too!"

This immediately set the crowd abuzz throughout the arena!

This youth had lived for ten thousand years? It was unbelievable!

To maintain a youthful appearance at such an age, he must've either eaten immortal elixirs or cultivated some extraordinary technique.

The Longbearded Elder's eyes widened in disbelief—he couldn’t fathom that the little devil before him was actually an old-timer over ten thousand years old!

"Th-this... is this true?" the Longbearded Elder stammered.

"Of course not! I was just joking!" Qin Yun let out a laugh, his expression so smug it was downright punchable.

Many in the crowd started cussing, though a small number wondered if it might actually be true.

This left everyone completely baffled about the boy’s real age.

Someone shouted, "Give him the age-testing device!"

Though the suggestion was made, no one actually went to test him—after all, the only rule for entering the competition was having enough Purple Crystal Coins.

Suddenly, Jian Shitian swooped down from his seat, hovering in the air above the arena.

Silence fell over the crowd.

Jian Shitian announced, "The Sword Martial Conference hosted by our Jian Family is not only an invitation for everyone to visit our new Sword Island but also an opportunity for us to gift valuable Dao Runes to the right people!"

"To receive these precious Dao Runes, you must first prove your strength!"

"Thus, the Sword Martial Rune Competition will make everyone give it their all—it will be a grueling test!"

Qin Yun glanced at Jian Linglong ahead of him, his face twisted in anger.

The Jian Family was willing to give away precious Dao Runes to outsiders, yet they wouldn't even give them to her—a member of their own family who possessed the Dao Lord Rune Soul.

"Today’s first test will test the most fundamental skill of a Runes Master: mental energy!" Jian Shitian announced.

Mental energy mattered most for Runes Masters.

Qin Yun wasn’t surprised, though he was curious about how the test would be conducted.

One Runes Master asked, "Elder Jian, will this test truly force us to push our mental energy to the limit?"

Jian Shitian smiled. "If you wish to take it easy, you may refrain from using your full strength—but be warned, you’ll likely be eliminated!"

To the Runes Masters present, this mental energy test was nothing more than a cakewalk.

They all brushed it off indifferently.

Qin Yun, however, took it seriously. He knew the Jian family wouldn’t simply give away so many runes without reason.

This test of mental energy was clearly targeted at Runes Masters outside the Jian family.

If the ones who ultimately obtained the precious runes were Jian family members, then the Jian family would lose nothing—in fact, they’d make a hefty profit in amethyst coins.

What's more, the Jian family would also gain prestige.

It was a cheap trick, and Qin Yun saw right through it.

"Only one hundred Runes Masters will pass the mental energy test!" Jian Shitian’s announcement sent shockwaves through the crowd.

This was just a test of mental energy, yet hundreds of Runes Masters would be eliminated!

Qin Yun had expected as much.

With a wave of Jian Shitian’s hand, many members of the Jian family stepped forward, bearing large translucent crystal orbs.

These orbs, each waist-high, were placed around the vast plaza.

There were exactly one hundred of them encircling the square.

Jian Shitian announced, "These crystal orbs are specially crafted. You must focus your strongest mental energy into them and leave your name inside!"

"With only one hundred orbs available, you’ll need to constantly overwrite the names left by others before imprinting your own. Only if your mental energy is strong enough can you overwrite the existing names!"

"So, if you wish to advance to the next round, pour all your mental energy and inscribe your name into one of these orbs!"

A middle-aged Runes Master shouted, "Mystic Rune Masters will undoubtedly outmatch us!"

Many other Runes Masters joined in protest.

"Mystic Rune Masters may possess stronger mental energy, but some Runes Masters have cultivation levels equal to theirs. There’s no unfairness here," Jian Shitian replied with a smile.

Among the Runes Masters and Mystic Rune Masters, many held titles like Martial King or even Emperor Wu.

Just half the Runes Masters were at the Xuanwu Realm.

The rules were set by the Sword Immortal Pavilion, and they had their reasons.

The lower-level Runes Masters could only grin and bear it.

Truthfully, those with weaker cultivation had come prepared for this outcome, though some still held out hope.

"The competition begins now! Line up and begin. It will conclude by evening!" Jian Shitian announced.

The crowd of hundreds quickly split into a hundred queues.

Leading the queues were both Mystic Rune Masters and Runes Masters.

The names left on the crystal orbs had to match those used during registration.

Soon, many Runes Masters began leaving their marks.

Qin Yun, waiting further back, watched intently.

He noticed that the names left by Mystic Rune Masters were the most resilient, making it difficult for subsequent Runes Masters to erase them.

And when the Rune Masters left their names inside the crystal balls using mental energy, the Mystic Rune Masters could easily erase them.

That's the difference!

At this point, Qin Yun stopped queuing and just watched from the sidelines.

Mu Fengxiao did the same, since the Mystic Rune Masters would hog all the crystal balls at first.

Trying randomly would just be a waste of effort.

Everyone only got a short window to erase the mental energy in the crystal balls.

No time for extended tries—only continuous queuing.

This way, the Mystic Rune Masters could easily lock in their names inside the crystal balls.

Qin Yun also saw Jian Linglong’s name; she had claimed one crystal ball, with the queuing Rune Masters unable to erase it in the time given.

Jian Linglong stood beside the crystal ball, watching, which put serious pressure on them.

Soon, everyone noticed that nearly half of the hundred-plus crystal balls had Jian family names!

"Did the Jian family design this test just to show off?" Mu Fengxiao grumbled.

Obviously!

Inside the crystal balls, glowing golden names shimmered, most starting with "Jian," making it obvious that the Jian family’s Rune Masters had the strongest mental energy.

The Long family also had many Rune Masters, holding quite a few.

Time passed quickly, and before long, it was evening!

Some in the crowd had not even attempted to queue, such as Qin Yun and Mu Fengxiao.

But now, Qin Yun got in line!