Friendly Reminder

Friendly Reminder...

Beside Yang Fan stood two elders, each exuding a unique presence. One of them bore a visage of profound seriousness, with eyes that gleamed as sharp as honed blades.

The other elder possessed an air of fragility, his demeanor scholarly. Cascading black hair framed his shoulders, his eyes a radiant beacon in the midst of darkness. His appearance commanded admiration and respect from the onlookers.

"Grandmaster Fenrir," a chorus of reverence swept through the crowd as many Divine Inscriptionists bowed in deference.

Bailu Yi's eyes sparkled with intrigue as she shared, "That's Grandmaster Fenrir, a fourth-ranked Divine Inscriptionist. It's quite a surprise that the Star-Seizing Manor managed to secure his presence. This exchange holds immense importance for them."

"Is everyone present? Will all interested Divine Inscriptionists please proceed to the training ground? Grandmaster Fenrir will officiate this exchange," the solemn elder stated in a voice that, while not loud, bore a striking intensity.

"Grandmaster Fenrir as the judge..." A ripple of anticipation swept through the spectators as the participants gathered on the platform.

Three-person teams constituted the participants, each representing a major power within the Eastern City of the Moon Continent. Notably absent were solo Divine Inscriptionists. This was the norm, as powerful inscribers were in high demand and major clans were willing to offer generous remuneration for their services. As the participants settled into their positions on the platform, the crowd collectively held its breath. This exchange drew forth the presence of rarely-seen inscribers, lured by the promise of the secret realm. The major clans spared no expense, enlisting these formidable talents in exchange for their aid.

"Ghaus, you've joined as well," a voice intoned. Grandmaster Ghaus turned to find three elderly men whose likenesses were strikingly similar. Their appearance stirred a flicker of displeasure within him. These three eccentrics had joined the exchange—a most troublesome development indeed.

"The Li Clan's trio," Bailu Yi commented with a furrowed brow. "They're blood siblings whose true identities remain obscured. Yet, they're renowned across the Moon Continent for being third-ranked Divine Inscriptionists. What's more astounding is their unique bond—they can intuit each other's thoughts and intentions. Whenever one starts inscribing, the others instantly grasp the concept, acting in perfect tandem."

Other major powers' eyes narrowed as they noticed the Li Clan's three brothers. Their hopes of seizing first place dwindled instantly. Many had initially banked on Yan Tie's victory, but now it seemed the odds were stacked against him. With Ghaus representing the White Deer Institute and the Li Clan's brothers standing for the Watermoon Mountain Villa, not to mention the potent representatives of the Scarlet Thunder Sect and the Demon Cult, competition had never been fiercer.

The Yan and Leng Clans wore evident expressions of worry and dismay. Yan Tie was under immense pressure; even securing a top-three position appeared daunting.

"Damn it, the rumors were true. We're out of luck this time." Curses resounded silently among the disgruntled participants.

Yan Tie, however, remained undaunted. His gaze was solely locked onto Qin Wentian. It seemed fate was indeed on his side; with Qin Wentian present, he could execute his plan to eliminate him during the exchange. Yet, the exchange's rules and criteria for victory remained an enigma.

Nine teams, each comprising three members, totaling twenty-seven participants, stood for the nine major powers of the Eastern City. Grandmaster Fenrir presided from an elevated position, his eyes glinting with amusement as he observed the contestants.

"I've ventured into the Divine Inscriptions' secret realm before. A brutal proving ground it is, laden with traps, intricate formations, and formidable Puppets. Although the rewards are tempting, it's a treacherous domain. Only the utmost elite can emerge unscathed. Regrettably, I've surpassed the entry criteria; otherwise, I'd dive in again," Grandmaster Fenrir remarked, a wistful note tinging his words. Besides being a fourth-ranked Divine Inscriptionist, he was a Heavenly Dipper Sovereign, rendering reentry into the secret realm an impossibility.

The Grand Xia Empire boasted eighteen refinement grounds and secret realms, each tailored to specific cultivator realms—accessible to the Arterial Circulation Realm, the Yuanfu Realm, and even the Heavenly Dipper Realm. Among them, the Divine Inscriptions' secret realm had its entry requisites set at the Yuanfu level.

"Today, there shall be three trials," announced Grandmaster Fenrir, his figure emerging and hovering in the air. A sweep of his hand conjured a colossal, radiant painting that descended from the heavens.

Boom! A resounding shockwave echoed through the void, materializing the landscape depicted within the portrait—mountains and rivers—on the grand training platform, shaking the very earth.

"In the secret realm trial, countless concealed dangers lurk. I can't replicate that degree of peril, but one thing's certain—if you can't surmount this initial challenge I've devised, which is to detect the hidden Divine Inscriptions within the landscape, you're better off not venturing into the secret realm. Here's how it works: we'll go round-robin until no one can spot any more hidden Inscriptions, at which point the test concludes."

With a hint of authority, Fenrir continued, "Feel free to start at any time. As soon as you identify one, the concealed Inscription will dissipate on its own."

"I'll be the first to strike," declared Old Third of the Li Clan's trio. Extending his fingers, he generated Astral Light, giving form to a phoenix-shaped runic outline that soared into the sky before vanishing into thin air.

Beside him stood Yan Tie, choosing to wait for later rounds before making his move. He exchanged a knowing glance with his assistants, using eye signals to communicate his intentions. One assistant gestured toward a specific direction, materializing the fleeting image of a fierce tiger that dissolved moments later. Then, Yan Tie's second assistant, provided by the Leng Clan, took his turn.

Following them, the representative of the Scarlet Thunder Sect acted. Left in the sequence were the participants from the Demon Cult and the White Deer Institute. The Demon Cult's representatives consisted of three members, with a striking surprise—leading the trio was a young man! His eyes were shut, projecting an air of confidence. One of the middle-aged assistants stepped forward on his behalf, promptly identifying an Inscription.

"It's my turn," Bailu Yi declared, her actions invoking the manifestation of a runic long spear that dissolved into thin air.

In the blink of an eye, all nine teams effortlessly identified the Inscriptions. However, as time passed, some began to struggle with spotting the concealed runes, as if the dwindling flame of a candle. Luckily, the three-member team format allowed the burden to be shared—if one failed, the others could take over.

After nine rounds, a total of 81 Divine Inscriptions had been uncovered. Now, it was the Han Clan's turn from the Eastern City. However, all three Divine Inscriptionists from the team shook their heads in embarrassment. None of them could identify more Inscriptions, leading to their elimination.

"Regrettably, our Han Clan withdraws from this exchange," an elder from the Han Clan announced from below the training platform, his tone awkward.

Clearly, the Han Clan's preparations had fallen short.

Following suit, Old Second of the Li Clan's trio took the stage, creating a palm strike that revealed a palm-type Divine Inscription upon impact, causing the hidden area to collapse.

Then Yan Tie, leading his assistants, personally identified a concealed Divine Inscription. Two more rounds ensued before Bailu Yi faced a challenge. Qin Wentian glanced at Ghaus, who remained serene with closed eyes. Bailu Yi's predicament prompted Qin Wentian to softly suggest, "Ancient Tree."

Bailu Yi turned her attention to a grove of trees and delivered a palm strike, unveiling a hidden Inscription. A bitter smile played on her lips as she glanced back at Qin Wentian.

Responding with a subtle nod, Qin Wentian encouraged her. He knew she couldn't progress any further, and it was his turn to act.

As more rounds unfolded, participants withdrew one by one. While Fenrir refrained from publicly announcing eliminations, participants were aware of their diminishing prospects in the competition.

Among the nine major powers, four teams had stepped back, leaving five remaining: Qin Wentian and the White Deer Institute, Li Clan's trio representing Watermoon Mountain Villa, Yan Tie of the Yan Clan, the youth from the Demon Cult, and the white-bearded old man representing the Scarlet Thunder Sect. Known as Zuo Yu, the third-ranked Inscriptionist held a measure of fame in the Moon Continent. Focusing on the Dao of Divine Inscriptions due to a stagnated cultivation, he was determined to excel in this field.

"At this stage, only experts remain, and they still manage to identify hidden Inscriptions," murmured the crowd. Once more, Old Third from the trio discovered another concealed runic marking within the landscape.

Yan Tie continued, followed by Zuo Yu and the youth from the Demon Cult, all succeeding. Qin Wentian then swept his sleeves, conjuring the runic image of a swordfish leaping from the rivers before vanishing.

"He's really something. Could it be that even Little Yi's talents in the Dao of Divine Inscriptions pale in comparison?" Bailu Shan whispered in the section where the White Deer Institute participants stood. Bailu Yi had already stepped back, unable to continue. Grandmaster Ghaus's brows twitched in surprise; he was taken aback by Qin Wentian's skill. The youngster's perception was indeed commendable.

Finally, when Zuo Yu's turn came, he examined the landscape and said, "No more hidden Inscriptions."

"Are you certain?" Grandmaster Fenrir, hovering in the air, responded with a chuckle.

Zuo Yu frowned and nodded, "Yes, I believe so."

"And you?" Fenrir directed his question to the youth from the Demon Cult. The young man remained silent, but with a flick of his finger, a large stone slab disintegrated, revealing the runic outline of a saber before fading away. Zuo Yu's expression darkened, and he sighed inwardly. He hadn't willingly stepped back, which implied that his perception was slightly weaker compared to the others. However, he still had a chance in the remaining two tests.

"How about your team?" Fenrir turned his gaze to the White Deer Institute's representatives. Ghaus opened his eyes and responded, "We still have some remaining."

Just as Qin Wentian was about to act, he pulled back upon seeing Ghaus stepping forward. With a wave of his hand, Ghaus identified another concealed Inscription, causing Zuo Yu's countenance to sink even further.

Following that, the Li Clan's three brothers unveiled another hidden Divine Inscription, and when Yan Tie's turn arrived, he frowned slightly and stated, "I believe there are no more hidden Inscriptions."

Ghaus narrowed his eyes, contemplating the landscape. As Qin Wentian noticed Ghaus hesitating, he whispered, "Grandmaster Ghaus, inside the swamp."

"Do I require your reminder?" Ghaus shot an annoyed glare at Qin Wentian. Then, with a forceful sweep of his sleeves, a flood dragon emerged from the swamp, bellowing before fading away, eliciting admiration from the crowd for the depth of Fenrir's portrait.

"Grandmaster, Qin Wentian was only trying to assist," Bailu Yi attempted to defuse the situation. After all, Ghaus was an elder, and although Qin Wentian's reminder was accurate, it might have come across as a junior guiding a senior, which would naturally embarrass Ghaus.

"Haha, the final Divine Inscription is right there," Old First of the Li Clan's three brothers burst into hearty laughter, revealing yet another hidden Inscription. Grandmaster Ghaus nodded while gazing at them. "Indeed, you three possess the potential to be my opponents."

"Is there anything left?" Fenrir inquired once more from above.

"None," the three Li brothers spoke in unison.

"There are no more," Ghaus affirmed with absolute certainty.

Fenrir merely chuckled. Just as everyone assumed the exchange had concluded, Qin Wentian suddenly slashed down with his fingers at astonishing speed, followed by a swift horizontal motion.

Two luminous beams formed a cross shape, surging forth. In an instant, the runic depiction of a colossal sword erupted from the mountains, radiating a menacing edge.

In that moment, a palpable excitement emanated from the crowd, their attention fixated on Qin Wentian. Grandmaster Ghaus's expression darkened considerably, his displeasure evident.

Yet, Qin Wentian paid no heed to Ghaus's annoyance, maintaining his tranquil stance. Since Ghaus had chided him for his earlier reminder, he might as well set aside formalities and take matters into his own hands!