Chapter 20: A Deal
Chapter 20: A Deal
A ripple, starting as a point, became a line, then gathered into a surface. Soon, it spread across the entire Butian Pavilion.
Gossips whispered excitedly, their words filled with relish. It was about the genius Qin Yun, returned from his studies, and how he would crush that loudmouth Li Yi, who was all talk and no substance. It seemed the more brutal the method, the greater the laughter it provoked.
“Silence! Everyone, silence!” Yan He cleared his throat, his voice loud and commanding. “There are twenty-one questions this time. Each question concerns a legendary Dao Transformation Armament! After the question is presented, each of you will write down your answer. Yan He and Su Xuan’er will jointly evaluate them… Understood?”
“Of course!” Qin Yun replied coldly.
Li Yi nodded to show he understood.
Yan He manipulated equipment on the Alchemy Platform. Soon, shimmering light coalesced, projecting an image: dark armor rippling with star-like traces. Its shape resembled a dead star, radiating waves of baleful, oppressive darkness.
“This is the Dao Transformation Armament – Luminous Gate!”
The surrounding crowd felt their minds gripped; their breath caught in their throats.
Li Yi and Qin Yun, being closest, felt their hearts sway uncontrollably.
“Such power from just a projection?” Li Yi felt dizzy, thinking to himself, “Dao Transformation Armaments truly live up to their reputation as magical creations standing atop an era!”
As the host, Yan He wore an expression of reverence and began explaining in detail. However, it seemed he had inherited some of Wu Yi’s long-windedness, straying a little off topic.
“This Dao Transformation Armament can commune with the ‘Lusterless Star’ great gate, borrowing stellar power to produce ‘luminous Starfire’! Its power is perhaps…”
“Senior Brother Yan He, please get to the point. Just state the question,” Qin Yun’s straightforward nature was the opposite. He cut Yan He off before he could finish.
Though he used the respectful term “Senior Brother,” his tone and manner held not a shred of respect.
Yan He frowned slightly, a cold glint in his eyes. He wanted to reprimand Qin Yun but knew that despite joining later, Qin Yun held a higher status. Yan He was wary.
Burning with anger in his heart, Yan He suppressed his humiliation and began operating the Alchemy Platform again.
Seizing the moment, Qin Yun turned his head and spoke provocatively. “Know why I challenged you? I want you to realize your ignorance…”
“What a coincidence,” Li Yi gave a cold, sharp smile, showing no weakness. “My goal is exactly the same as yours.”
The projection shifted, focusing on the chest and belly area of the “Luminous Gate.”
“Here lies the ‘Star Communion’ Rune Matrix. Its function is to ‘commune with the Lusterless Star.’ However, the ‘Star Communion’ matrix possesses a significant defect. Please identify this defect and propose a path for improvement…”
“Effortless!” Qin Yun laughed arrogantly, lowered his head, and began writing immediately.
Li Yi, however, wasn’t rushed. He observed the projection for a while, pondered briefly, and only then picked up his brush to write.
One after the other, they handed in their answers.
Qin Yun wore an expression of pride, his sidelong glances full of disdain. Li Yi looked calm and indifferent, as if detached from the whole affair.
Not long after, Su Xuan’er’s voice rang out.
“After joint consideration and confirmation by Senior Brother Yan He and myself… the winner of this question… is Li Yi!”
“What?” Qin Yun’s face twisted as if he had been punched, half of it contorted in shock.
…
Outside Butian Pavilion.
A portly man skulked about near the entryway.
“You… Senior Brother Wang Sheng?” A young Mage, initially on the lookout for an intruder, recognized the stout figure and knew he was responsible for the Star Radiance Tower’s arrays. He dared not be rude. “Senior Brother, is there… something you need?”
“Oh, Lin Ming! It’s you.” Wang Sheng relaxed when he saw it was someone he knew and asked with a smile, “Is the outer disciple Li Yi in there?”
“Li… that waste?” Lin Ming thought for a second, then understanding dawned. He leaned in eagerly, face excited. “Senior Brother Wang Sheng, has that kid messed up again? That guy, all he’s got is a mouth on him, nothing else…”
“No, no, it’s just a small private matter.” Wang Sheng waved a hand, dismissing the notion. Lin Ming looked slightly deflated. The portly man thought to himself: A monster like that, called a waste? When did Butian Pavilion’s standards get this high?
…
“That’s impossible!”
Qin Yun was shocked at first, then the words burst out. He couldn’t believe this was the result!
“Both of you found the defect,” Su Xuan’er stated coolly. “The ‘Star Communion’ Rune Matrix allows communication with stars. But the Gate is linked to the Lusterless Star; its brilliance is weak. The ‘Star Communion”s power was insufficient.”
“Qin Yun, your solution was to add an ‘Amplifying Array’ below the chest and belly to boost the flow of Arcane Energy and enhance its effect.
“Li Yi’s solution was simpler: outlining four circuits within the ‘Star Communion’ matrix itself, using sealing wards to consolidate its power!”
“What? His solution is far worse than mine!” Qin Yun slammed the table, leaping to his feet, almost shouting accusations of foul play. “‘Amplifying Array”s effect is a hundred times stronger than those simple circuits!”
“That is correct,” Su Xuan’er nodded. However, a faint trace of mockery appeared in her eyes. “But you forgot to account for something else – Bearing Capacity.”
“B… Bearing Capacity?” Qin Yun’s defiant posture crumbled instantly. His expression turned ugly as he slumped back into his seat, silent.
“Indeed,” Su Xuan’er confirmed. “The Luminous Gate is already a peak-tier Dao Transformation Armament. The load it places on the physical body is immense! And yet, you added an entire ‘Amplifying Array’. This significantly increased the risk of causing the user’s body to collapse. In fact, its creator, Master Meng Qi’s final modification in history… was identical to Li Yi’s solution.”
Qin Yun’s face clouded over with a bluish pallor. After a long moment, he ground out a few words through gritted teeth: “Just… petty cleverness…”
Su Xuan’er didn’t speak. But the mockery in her eyes only grew stronger.
Still doesn’t see it? Seems this supposed genius doesn’t live up to his name…
That wasn’t petty cleverness. That was true wisdom. Vision that sees the whole picture. The composure of a king!
An Armament Master is no mere craftsman. They are a sovereign, commanding runes, wards, arrays, and Rune Matrices!
“I believed you would be my greatest rival. It appears I was mistaken…”
“Li Yi… Li Yi… just how much are you hiding? You keep surprising people, making them unable to tear themselves away…”
…
Lin Ming led the way. Wang Sheng probed cautiously with side questions.
“That kid, he’s Butian Pavilion’s top waste!” Lin Ming’s face showed undisguised contempt. “To this very day, he hasn’t managed to draw a single rune! The waste is astonishing! Thankfully, he won’t be around much longer…”
“Oh? How so?”
“Senior Brother Qin Yun is already moving to kick him out!” Talking about Qin Yun, Lin Ming’s eyes shone with respect. “Senior Brother Qin Yun is famous for having zero tolerance for incompetence! A mediocre waste like that naturally couldn’t escape his notice!”
“Oh? Qin Yun’s just a disciple. Does he have the authority to expel someone?” Wang Sheng scratched his head, considering this.
“Of course he has a way! Senior Brother Qin Yun plans to crush Li Yi… defeat him at what Li Yi thinks he’s best at! Destroy his will and confidence! Like that, even with Li Yi’s thick skin, he’d be too ashamed to show his face…” Lin Ming said with relish.
“Is that so…” Wang Sheng felt secretly pleased. If Li Yi was expelled, it would greatly benefit his own plans.
Ahead, waves of commotion and murmuring grew louder.
But the closer they got, the noise steadily diminished, fading until it became complete, stunned silence.
It was as though everyone had their throats clutched shut.
“What’s going on?” Lin Ming sensed something wrong. He pushed through the crowd with difficulty.
Halfway in, whispers near his ears froze him like a statue.
“The winner… is Li Yi? You’re joking, don’t lie to me…”
Compared to Lin Ming, whose jaw practically hit the floor, Wang Sheng wasn’t quite as shocked. He pondered, showing some hesitation.
This Li Yi… really might have something…
Do I need to raise the stakes? Should I really offer… that thing?
…
Twenty-one questions. Fourteen wins to seven. A complete, overwhelming defeat!
“I… lost? And so badly?”
Qin Yun clutched his head. Anguish and confusion showed through his fingers. His mind was a swirling Chaos.
He had trained hard for three years and traveled for another year. He truly believed he had grasped the essence of being an Armament Master. He had built his momentum and prepared to prove himself.
He never imagined such a crushing defeat… at the hands of a disciple who had joined only two months prior!
This blow shattered his arrogance, his confidence, and his ambitions in one fell swoop.
“Reading without understanding was worse than not reading at all…” Li Yi looked at him with a touch of pity. This young man trapped himself by his books and his own blind arrogance. He built his own prison.
Amidst countless envious and jealous gazes, the Crane-Luan Brush changed hands. Qin Yun turned and left without looking back, his frame trembling with barely controlled emotion.
“Li Yi? I am Wang Sheng. I have a small matter I’d like to consult you on… Could we find a quiet place?” Wang Sheng appeared with perfect timing. But the word “consult” sent another wave of shock through the audience.
Consult?
Most recognized Wang Sheng as one of Dawn Cliff’s top theoretical array Mages. At this moment, “consult” added another layer of prestige to Li Yi.
“Who are you?” Li Yi played with the Crane-Luan Brush in his hand. He didn’t recognize the man.
Wang Sheng leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper near Li Yi’s ear.
“I want to talk to you about a deal…”