Chapter 88: Thousand Catty
Chapter 88: Thousand Catty
“My uncle often says that in this world, there are many who fish for fame and reputation, most of whom have a reputation that outweighs their actual abilities… I really didn’t expect that Butian Pavilion, with its great reputation, would also fail to live up to its name! What a disappointment, truly disappointing!”
From afar, an arrogant and insolent voice could be heard.
“That’s not entirely true. Master Wu Yi’s Armament Master skills are still clear for all to see. It’s just that I’ve long heard Butian Pavilion lacks good successors, and among its disciples, there aren’t many who are truly impressive…” another person chimed in, appearing to agree on the surface, but with a pointed meaning.
“Yes, Runes are the foundation of Dao Transformation Armament. If one can’t even draw a Rune well, how can they hope to touch Dao Transformation Armament? It’s like a fool’s dream!”
The two echoed each other, hurling every possible insult, acting completely overbearing and despotic.
“Where did these crows come from, making such a noisy racket?” Li Yi’s face darkened, his eyes turning cold, yet he also felt somewhat puzzled. “Butian Pavilion is a holy land-like existence here at Dawn Cliff. How dare someone speak slander against it?”
No matter what, he was also a member of Butian Pavilion. Hearing such words, especially so close, was particularly grating.
Walking closer, he saw Yan He leading a group from Butian Pavilion, their faces filled with anger as they confronted two people across the way.
The opponents, one fat and one thin, though only two in number, were commanding the scene with ease, looking composed and confident, their momentum not at all inferior.
In contrast, Yan He and the others seemed to shrink back a bit, somewhat lacking in confidence.
“Who are these two? So arrogant?” Li Yi pulled aside one person and asked softly.
“Li Yi?” That person saw Li Yi, his eyes lighting up as if he had spotted a savior. Then, as if remembering something, his expression dimmed. “These two are disciples of Zhang Baichi. The fat one is named Zhang Yu, and he’s also a distant nephew. The thin one is named Zhou Xun.”
“‘Thousand-Fathom Hand’ Zhang Baichi?” Li Yi’s expression shifted slightly.
“Thousand-Fathom Hand” Zhang Baichi was also a famously renowned Armament Master, known throughout the world for his Dao Transformation Armament—”Thousand-Fathom Standing Wall.” This piece of Armament was called the “Iron Wall,” the “King of Defense,” reputed to remain unbroken even if pierced by ten thousand arrows and unyielding even under ten thousand arts.
In terms of Armament Master rankings, Zhang Baichi even ranked above Master Wu Yi.
“So what if he’s ‘Thousand-Fathom Hand’? Our Master Wu Yi is not inferior to him!” that person said indignantly, his eyes darkening, seeming somewhat dejected. “It’s just that we disciples are useless. We lost too badly in the Thousand Catty Test! Hmph, if only Qin Yun and Su Xuan’er were here…”
“Thousand Catty Test?” Li Yi’s gaze became distant, a playful look appearing in his eyes.
The Thousand Catty Test was a method of competing in Runes.
First-grade Runes, though the lowest level of Runes, held profound mysteries of the Great Dao, unpredictable and inscrutable.
For example, the Bedrock Rune—a single small Rune weighed a hundred catties, almost the weight of a full-grown adult!
The so-called Thousand Catty Test involved both sides continuously drawing ten Runes on a weight-measuring platform and comparing their weight.
This was the simplest, most straightforward means of conflict in the Rune path.
“Isn’t Elder Brother Yan He known for his Rune path?” Li Yi asked curiously. “With his Rune skills, he still lost?”
“That fat guy looks shady, but he’s quite capable. He can draw Ultimate Peak Runes!”
Hearing this, Li Yi understood in his heart.
A Rune used Rune ink as its bones and Mana as its soul, taking shape through the pull of Rule/Law.
Generally, when drawing a Rune, one needed to purify the Mana, releasing attribute-less Mana to avoid the Mana itself affecting the Rune’s formation.
However, there were also those who drew directly with their own Mana. Such Runes were extremely difficult to form and often had unique, divine effects. They were called Ultimate Peak Runes!
Everyone’s Mana, due to bloodline, talent, Meditation Art, bone structure, and other reasons, was completely different, just like how there were no two completely identical leaves in this world. Therefore, for every Ultimate Peak Rune, there was no precedent to follow. One needed to understand the Rule/Law and have sufficiently exquisite comprehension of the Rune path to accomplish it in one go.
This person could draw Ultimate Peak Runes. He was not simple!
“Li Yi?” While talking, Yan He also spotted Li Yi. Grabbing onto him like a lifeline, he loudly said, “You, kid, finally arrived! What are you standing around for? Hurry up and come over…”
Li Yi followed as told, but in his heart, a strange feeling arose.
When he first arrived, everyone looked at him sideways, either ignoring him or mocking him coldly, their attitudes terrible.
Later, after the battle with Qin Yun, many people changed their views and began to look at him properly.
Next, the Hundred Puppets War was what truly made everyone start to take him seriously, even look up to him.
Personally experiencing this process of gradually accumulating reputation and earning respect—the satisfaction in his heart was richer and longer-lasting than skyrocketing to fame overnight.
“So? Any ideas?” Yan He asked, his face full of indignation, gritting his teeth as he spoke. “I lost. I embarrassed myself. I admit it! But Master’s reputation absolutely must not be tarnished!”
“I’ll give it a try…” Li Yi nodded, speaking straightforwardly.
“Who are you?” Zhang Yu glanced sidelong at him, deliberately sounding contemptuous.
He could sense a clue from the looks around him.
In this Butian Pavilion, everyone was proud and arrogant. Even towards Yan He, they weren’t very respectful, but when they looked at that youth, there seemed to be a hidden admiration?
“Li Yi, a nobody, that’s all.” Li Yi gave a light smile and waved his hand. “Enough talk. Let’s begin!”
“Hmph, I’ll see what skills you have…” Zhang Yu sneered, his expression arrogant as he waved a big hand. “Even if it’s a battle of attrition, I’m not afraid!”
On the weight-measuring platform, ten sheets of Mist-Haze Sandalwood Paper were laid out in order. Mist swirled, sometimes taking the form of ancient pines and old bamboo, gathering and dispersing, extremely mysterious.
The Crane-Luan Brush was held in his palm.
Slowly exhaling, a feeling of mental connection naturally arose.
“It’s been a long time since I used such good paper and brush…”
With a faint smile, Li Yi’s eyes became focused, his aura suddenly changing!
His figure seemed to rise ten thousand zhang high, giving off a majestic pressure.
He possessed a towering, imposing presence, deep as an abyss and steady as a mountain, yet also an ethereal quality, nimble as the wind!
Zhang Yu and Zhou Xun’s expressions abruptly changed, becoming extremely grave.
Just from the starting posture alone, the two caught a glimpse of something unusual.
“This guy really isn’t ordinary! No wonder everyone else places their hopes on him…”
Slowly lowering the brush, his strokes were like dragons and snakes, ideas shifting and emerging one after another, endlessly flowing.
The tip of his brush was steady as a mountain, yet his movements were smooth as silk. These two incompatible feelings converged in one person, making it dazzling and mesmerizing!
Stroke by stroke, there was almost no pause. The speed and precision of his brushwork seemed divinely assisted!
In just a few breaths, a Rune was completed—yellow light fluctuating, the majesty of mountains, the depth of stone, condensed and gathered!
Bedrock Rune!
“Hiss!”
“A Bedrock Rune! It really is a Bedrock Rune, and it only took five breaths!”
“What magical elixir did this kid take after his trip to the Dragon’s Burial Ground?”
“Is this person really Li Yi? My heavens!”
Exclamations of amazement rose and fell.
“Everyone, the Thousand Catty Test compares the effects of Runes, not who draws faster!” Zhang Yu let out a cold laugh, unable to resist reminding them. “My Rune weighs a hundred and fifty catties!”
In his view, what was so special about a Bedrock Rune? It made these people exclaim as if they’d never seen the world.
Of course, he didn’t know the impact of Li Yi, infamous in Butian Pavilion for being “all thumbs,” personally drawing a Rune.
Zhou Xun, standing to the side, looked at the numbers on the weight-measuring platform, his expression somewhat grave.
“One hundred catties, not a milligram more, not a centigram less! This guy is someone…”
This youth, whose brush moved faster than a strong wind yet landed steadier than Mount Tai, the talent faintly emanating from him was chilling!
“Find a way to eliminate him…” Zhou Xun’s eyes flickered, a murderous thought rising in his heart, his gaze malicious. “Master said that Butian Pavilion absolutely must not have a successor!”
Without resting much, Li Yi moved to the second sheet of Mist-Haze Sandalwood Paper.
Raising his hand, a milky-white aura coiled and flowed at the tip of the Crane-Luan Brush.
Seeing this, Zhang Yu’s expression changed dramatically. “You also want to draw an Ultimate Peak Rune? Overestimating yourself!”
Even as he said this, a hidden fear arose in his heart.
This time, Li Yi’s brushwork was slow and heavy, as if a massive mountain was pressing down on the brush tip, making his expression appear strained as well.
Bang!
Amid several sighs, a Rune exploded and dispersed.
“Haha, I said it already—overestimating yourself!” Zhang Yu secretly wiped off a cold sweat and laughed loudly.
Li Yi shook his head and turned to the third sheet of Mist-Haze Sandalwood Paper.
A crowd surrounded them, craning their necks to look inside. After a moment, dust rose, everyone leaning back, sighing again.
“High ambition but low skill, overestimating yourself…” Zhang Yu continued with his cold mockery.
Not long after, the fourth sheet of Mist-Haze Sandalwood Paper was also destroyed.
“Can I do a few drafts first?” Li Yi rubbed his head and turned to ask.