Chapter 38 How unfair the world is

Old Wang wasn't too accustomed to placing Luluto on the table; bending over was too tiring. Instead, he held it in his hand, which was still useful for early rune practice.

Wang Feng casually held Luluto in his left hand, infused soul power into the soul engraving knife, and began carving.

His speed was so fast that no one could see clearly. In less than ten seconds, a Liqibao witchcraft rune had fully appeared on Luluto's back.

The three people beside him were silent. Li Sitan's eyes hid a hint of surprise, while Yin Fu's eyes were full of confusion, and only Mo Tong's eyes were filled with bewilderment.

What happened in those dozen seconds?

Is it over already?

This guy is just scribbling, right?

The lines formed by soul power faintly glowed as Old Wang activated them with more soul power. However, what should have been the final step went awry, and the rune dimmed immediately after shining briefly.

It was clear that when the rune flickered, Luluto seemed a bit uncomfortable but remained motionless.

"It failed." Old Wang carelessly handed Luluto back.

Mo Tong finally reacted this time.

Damn, all that show, and it still failed!

But this guy is really cunning, drawing so fast that even failure seems superior.

"Wang Feng, you're not good at this," Mo Tong said, unsatisfied. "Do it again! I'm telling you, don't rush. If you can't handle it, draw slower! Learn from me!"

"Maybe we should just stop practicing?" Old Wang suggested, having no interest in showing off to a child. After all, he had bigger things to do.

But Yin Fu, somewhat excited, asked, "Senior Brother Wang Feng, can you draw it again?"

She paused and said seriously, "I think I found something earlier, but it happened too quickly. I want to see it again. Senior Brother, can you?"

With Junior Sister Yin Fu making such a sincere request, it was hard to refuse. After all, she was now his biggest benefactor.

"Alright, since you want to see it..." Old Wang picked up the soul engraving knife again.

The same process, the same speed, and every stroke without any deviation, but the final infusion of soul power still failed.

This time, Li Sitan's eyes, which had previously shown only slight surprise, had completely changed.

The basic techniques of rune engraving are limited to a dozen methods like chiseling, flat cutting, and infusing. Controlling the strength of soul power during infusion and the speed of the knife are essential to capture the 'essence' of the rune, refined through countless trials by predecessors.

Beginners like Yin Fu need to simplify these techniques because they cannot control them freely. Advanced practitioners, however, integrate these methods seamlessly, applying them appropriately in different situations.

But Junior Brother Wang Feng was neither a beginner nor an advanced practitioner.

His technique lacked a specific form; it seemed like flat cutting to Mo Tong, with casual movements. But Li Sitan could see that beneath the casualness lay a profound mastery of various engraving techniques, distilled into simplicity!

During the first attempt, Wang Feng drew too quickly, and Li Sitan hadn't truly paid attention, doubting his own eyes.

But this time, he saw it clearly.

This wasn't the level of a beginner; this was the skill of a seasoned rune master.

Yet, Junior Brother had only studied runes for a few months!

If judged by common sense, this would be impossible, but Junior Brother was clearly not ordinary.

Master always said that the upper limit in rune mastery depends not on effort but on talent. Junior Brother's talent was... truly humbling.

"You see,

Wang Feng, you failed again." With two failures each, everyone was now even. In front of Senior Brother and Yin Fu, Wang Feng and he were both twice-failed.

Mo Tong wanted to laugh out loud but knew it would be petty. This was the moment to return the favor. He suppressed his laughter and patted Old Wang's shoulder, pretending to be concerned: "Wang Feng, stay calm! Failure is the mother of success. Keep trying, and I believe you can do it."

Wang Feng shrugged helplessly and looked at Li Sitan.

"Senior Brother Wang Feng, can you... can you draw it again?" Yin Fu's voice trembled, her eyes filled with anticipation. She clasped her hands together and raised them high: "I really want to see it again. Please~~!"

"Let's not..." Old Wang felt a bit reluctant.

He was a decent person; taking someone's money meant fulfilling their wishes. Having taken a bottle of spirit jade ointment, he needed to make them happy for future business.

"Junior Brother Wang Feng," Li Sitan smiled, knowing his junior brother was deliberately holding back. With such skill, he could even engrave third-order runes, let alone first-order ones: "Draw it again if Yin Fu wants to see it. Your technique is fascinating, and I'd like to see it again."

"Yes, yes! Do it again!" Mo Tong finally grinned, knowing that Wang Feng would then have three failures, forever beneath him: "Have confidence. You were just too fast earlier. Remember, in rune engraving, haste is a mistake..."

Old Wang had almost given up, but with the one who paid insisting, what could he do?

Old Wang had a conscience.

Third time...

"I might be mistaken, but I think Senior Brother Wang Feng draws better than Senior Brother Li Sitan." Yin Fu was completely entranced and couldn't help blurting it out.

"Yin Fu, you shouldn't say that. How can you comfort someone at the expense of respect..."

"Your feeling is correct." Li Sitan, not bothered by explaining his usual teaching method, smiled and said, "Junior Brother Wang Feng's engraving technique is indeed masterful! Honestly, this is just a low-level first-order rune, which doesn't show his true potential."

Mo Tong, who had been waiting for a joke, instantly opened his mouth wide.

This guy clearly failed! Just like me!

Are you guys crazy? What are you saying? How can you be so biased?

Fourth time...

"Wang Feng, stop it already. Look, you failed again!" Mo Tong felt that they couldn’t keep pretending anymore. If they didn’t speak up today, who knew what the old and young duo would say next. He really couldn’t stand this unfair treatment: "I’ve told you, you draw too fast and don’t listen to others!"

"Mo Tong, you don’t understand this."

"How can you always help him, Yin Fu! I’m right, look at Luluto’s belly, he drew all over it. This little cutie is so pitiful! He was scared stiff, definitely threatened by some evil method!"

"Junior Brother Wang Feng." Li Sitan glanced at the indignant Mo Tong and spoke meaningfully to Wang Feng: "Being humble and not arrogant is a good virtue, but as a senior brother, sometimes you need to set an example for your juniors. That’s not showing off."

Damn!

Mo Tong’s eyes widened.

Wang Feng failing is being humble and not arrogant, while when I fail, I’m stupid and don’t get a third try.

Senior Brother Li Sitan, do you have something going on with him?!

"Senior Brother Wang Feng, go for it!" Yin Fu’s eyes sparkled.

Old Wang was helpless.

In truth, he hadn’t deliberately tried to fail. After all, Li Sitan was knowledgeable, and intentionally failing would be too easy to spot. Some engraving habits were hard to hide.

So he had just been drawing casually, succeeding if he did, failing if he didn’t. Because of the soul compatibility, the success rate was naturally low, and he didn’t care either way.

He thought that drawing twice would satisfy Li Sitan and Mo Tong, but now it seemed endless.

Fine, let’s try one more time.

Old Wang gathered his spirits. Drawing a First Order Rune five times was ridiculous.

A ten percent success rate was essentially luck; it could happen on the first try or the tenth.

This time, his luck was good. The final step went smoothly, and the rune activated under the soul power’s influence. But instead of the deep blue when Li Sitan succeeded or the light blue when Yin Fu succeeded, a golden hue covered the rune, followed by a brilliant golden glow!

The same rune showed different colors based on its completion level. Generally, it was the light blue glow like Yin Fu’s, then the standard 2% ‘Liqibao’s Witchcraft’ drawn by Li Sitan, which was deep blue, maximizing the soul crystal powder’s effects, releasing all its energy instantly.

But above these standards was another color, gold!

By perfectly blending, surpassing the rune and material’s limits, it pushed the low-level rune to a higher realm!

Old Wang remained calm; he hadn’t intended to show off. Meanwhile, Yin Fu and Mo Tong were stunned.

Even Li Sitan, who was mentally prepared, showed surprise.

Beyond perfection, beyond limits!

Such a golden rune was every rune master’s pursuit. Even he and his teacher, Dean Hawkland, could only achieve it occasionally, by sheer luck.

But Junior Brother Wang Feng managed it in just five tries, effortlessly!

This!

Genius, prodigy!

A beginner engraving a golden rune, whether by coincidence or any other reason, couldn’t hide his brilliance!

Moreover, his skilled engraving technique wasn’t a coincidence!

Rose Holy Sanctuary once rose to fame through runes, but in recent years, except for Chancellor Karida, who had given up on runes, there hadn’t been a decent rune talent. They had lost their last shred of dignity, being relentlessly pursued by the Judgment Holy Sanctuary.

But now, things were different!

"Junior Brother Wang Feng," Li Sitan looked at Old Wang with a deeper respect and more hope in his eyes: "Impressive!"

He didn’t elaborate. Junior Brother Wang Feng’s humility was wise; the other juniors might be discouraged if they understood the significance and difficulty of the golden rune.

"Nowhere, nowhere, it was pure luck! Of course, it was also thanks to Senior Brother’s guidance. Your tailored teaching, serious yet flexible, free yet rigorous, innovative yet traditional, has led to my progress. Any other teacher wouldn’t have worked!"

Old Wang looked respectful: "Junior Sister Yin Fu, Junior Brother Mo Tong, our gathering here and learning from Senior Brother is fate, predestined. Every time I see Senior Brother, it feels like meeting a long-lost brother..."

Mo Tong’s open mouth snapped shut, his face twitching... Flatterer!

That guy succeeded only once out of five attempts. If given five chances, he could... at least succeed once, right?

How unfair this world is!

Li Sitan smiled slightly, "Junior Brother, I look forward to your future achievements. I’ll report this to the academy."

While he couldn’t claim much else, his tailored teaching had been praised even by his teacher. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been chosen to teach two special Eight Guardians. Young people tend to be arrogant, but a humble and steady junior like Wang Feng was a great talent. He needed to discuss this with the dean and chancellor.

Is this guy human or what, a long-lost brother? Where does this shameless person’s limits lie!

Mo Tong’s head buzzed with annoyance.

"Let’s end class for today."

Li Sitan quickly interrupted, but he felt warm inside. Junior Brother Wang Feng was truly loyal and righteous.

"Thank you, Senior Brother! Goodbye!"

Old Wang was delighted. Flattery was just a side effect; Li Sitan was a card to play against Karida, and he needed to use it well.

Whether runes or potions, the operations weren’t difficult; the challenge was the final touch.

Last time, it took ten tries to succeed, but today, it only took five. It seems luck played a role.

Next time before making potions, he’d burn incense and wash his hands, pray devoutly, and maybe he could get the remaining payment for thirty potions in one go.

It's time for Fantasi to go gather some herbs!

Wang Feng left in high spirits, while Mo Tong was slightly puzzled. Could Wang Feng really have a talent for runes?

...I feel like I'm missing something, forgetting something important...