Chapter 39 - Thunder Guiding Rune!
Despite being encircled by foes, Lu Lixing felt neither helpless nor sorrowful. He tilted his head skyward, letting the icy rain patter against his cheeks. Watching the cobalt streaks of lightning dance among the clouds, he let out a wistful sigh.
“Are you truly unwilling to back down?”
Silence was the only reply to Lu Lixing's query. Seizing the moment of his sigh, his adversaries charged. Some excelled in hand-to-hand combat, others in the art of the blade. Each assailant launched their attack, tailored to their own deadly skill, all aimed at reducing Lu Lixing to nothing more than a heap of flesh.
The sky above crackled with electricity as thunder boomed. A bolt of azure lightning sliced through the dark clouds, striking the heart of the arena, which erupted in a blinding radiance.
The Crystal Screen, meant to display the battle within the arena, was now a blur. The audience squinted through the downpour, straining to discern the scene unfolding before them. But the relentless lightning veiled everything else from view.
What had transpired there?
The spectators weren't the only ones gripped by curiosity; the VIPs in the private box shared the sentiment.
Those who had been lounging on the sofas now stood pressed against the expansive French windows, eyes wide with astonishment, staring toward the arena. Why had lightning struck so unexpectedly?
Na Youye's expression was dark as storm clouds. He turned to his secretary and commanded, “Find out what's going on, immediately!”
But before the secretary could move, a tall, alluring woman materialized in the room, blocking his path.
“There's no need for an investigation. I'm aware of what's transpired,” she declared.
Zha Yanhui eyed the sudden arrival warily, the woman in the moon-white qipao exuding an air of mystery. “Huan Qiwei, what brings you here?” she asked, her voice tinged with apprehension.
The others in the room shared her surprise. It was unexpected that Blackmoon Academy would send Huan Qiwei as their envoy. Zha Yanhui's discomfort was palpable; she had been wronged by Huan Qiwei in the past.
Unfazed by their astonished faces, Huan Qiwei glided to the window, her gaze following the fading flashes of lightning over the arena. “I had thought my visit to Skyhaven would be nothing more than a leisurely escape,” she mused, “yet here I am, encountering a prodigy who has awakened the Talent Rune.”
Upon hearing Huan Qiwei's words, everyone paused, a flicker of shock quickly spreading across their faces. Who could possibly be the genius capable of activating such an array? Was the lightning they witnessed actually part of an array?
Huan Qiwei calmly offered an explanation to the astonished crowd, “That young man arrived at the scene an hour early. It's likely he prepared the Thunder Guiding Rune in the arena beforehand. The thunderstorm today serendipitously played into his hands. Even though the Thunder Guiding Rune is one of the most fundamental Lightning arrays, for him to have set it up with mere mortal strength is no small feat.”
The revelation left everyone astounded. As they turned their gaze back to the arena, they noticed a dramatic transformation.
“This young man hasn't even reached the Qi Refining Stage and he's already capable of arranging an array. He's definitely a prodigy,” Zha Yanhui remarked offhandedly, casting a glance at Zhang Yande, whose face had turned ashen with shock. She let out a cold laugh, “Your family has indeed found a needle in a haystack—a runemaster genius among thousands. Quite impressive.”
It was clear to all that Zha Yanhui's words were laced with sarcasm. Anyone who could activate an array on their own during the Body Tempering Stage was bound to become a runemaster in the future. Even as a level one runemaster, he was not someone the Zhang family could afford to cross.
In that moment, Zhang Yande's mind was a blank slate. Staring out the window, his eyes clouded with confusion, he was overwhelmed with a sense of hopelessness. How had the Zhang family managed to provoke such a talent?
“Huan Qiwei, your sudden appearance suggests you've taken an interest in this young man,” Yi Yubo said with a sly grin. “While Blackmoon Academy is indeed a sanctuary for runemasters, I'd advise against holding him back. Perhaps you should consider passing him on to our Stardragon Academy.”
Blackmoon Academy, despite being one of the Six Great Academies, had the smallest enrollment. Even at its peak, it boasted no more than a thousand students. This was because Blackmoon Academy exclusively recruited runemaster prodigies and focused solely on teaching runes. In essence, every student who graduated from Blackmoon Academy was destined to become a runemaster.
In this day and age, the legacy of arrays is fragmented. Most arrays that have been handed down from the Great Chaos Period are auxiliary, primarily used to be inscribed on magical instruments or warships to enhance their power. These auxiliary arrays don't have a direct impact on combat, and the ones that do are exceedingly rare. Blackmoon Academy is the bastion for the inheritance of Battle Arrays!
The exact origins of Blackmoon Academy are shrouded in mystery, as it has been around since the Federation's inception. Initially, as a hub for array prodigies, Blackmoon Academy held an esteemed position within the Federation. However, due to its steadfast focus on Battle Arrays, the academy has seen a gradual decline. Today, although still revered as a sacred ground for runemasters, the number of individuals eager to study Battle Arrays at Blackmoon Academy has dwindled.
This also explains why the group didn't wait for Huan Qiwei before proceeding; their interactions were minimal.
“Fatty Qian, Divine Sword Academy will surely claim him!”
Xiang Yicai was resolute in securing Lu Lixing. Renowned for its swordsmanship, Divine Sword Academy has cultivated numerous runemasters adept at inscribing Sword Arrays. The academy has always been a haven for the gifted in the runemaster's path.
“When the time comes, it'll be every man for himself!”
Zha Yanhui spoke up once more. Lu Lixing, a prodigy in the art of arrays, was worth the competition. The disparaging remarks she had previously made about him had long since slipped her mind.
In the crowd, it was Sheng Qing who buzzed with the most anticipation. He could hardly believe that this was the surprise Wen Shi had hinted at!
“This time, Cosmic Star Academy is destined for success!”
With the connections between Wen Shi, Wen Shanmei, and Lu Lixing, Cosmic Star Academy was poised to win over Lu Lixing for sure!
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