Chapter 316: Runes and Formations!

Chapter 316: Runes and Formations!

Spanning thousands of miles of hills and rivers, countless gigantic beams of sword light converged. Like a heavenly cloud of ten thousand swords, they crisscrossed and intertwined, weaving a dense net of sword aura that carpeted the sky of the Sword Ruins.

In an instant, this realm transformed into a fortress of swords!

"I can't believe it. The Ruination Sword Array has been activated. Did the Sword Warden really do this to protect Exile Yun?"

Suddenly, a million Sword Cultivators in the Sword Ruins felt a tremor in their hearts.

"Those unaware would think the Nine Hells were gearing up for war..."

The Ruination Sword Array, designed for warfare, was to be activated only in times of dire peril, as instructed by the ancestors.

With the array now active, many Sword Cultivators pondered its deeper implications.

"Is the Sword Warden afraid of the other eight hells, or the return of Exile Ling?"

Whispers and murmurs spread among the Sword Judges and disciples in the Sword Ruins.

The activation of this array signaled impending turmoil, unsettling them.

"Overseer Sikong." Dozens of Peak Masters and several Supreme Adjudicators gathered at Overseer Sikong's residence.

Overseer Sikong stood with his hands behind his back on a cloud platform, his gaze coldly fixed on the myriad swords in the sky.

"The Sword Warden is afraid." Overseer Sikong chuckled, an unexpected smile breaking his stern demeanor. "Who would've thought? Exile Ling, you've hidden your cards well."

"Feigning weakness to serve as a sword slave, seeking an opportunity to turn defeat into victory. After enduring hardship, he emerges a model for us all," the Supreme Adjudicators and Peak Masters complimented.

"Overseer Sikong, we all support Exile Ling. When he rises to power, please speak well of us on our behalf."

Their intentions were clear.

"Have you all heard?" Overseer Sikong asked with a smile.

"Yes! We've heard Exile Ling has taken control of the Heavenly Land, using it as his Life Sigil. Now, he's a master of both sword and sigil; he's destined to be the light of humanity in the Nine Hells," they said with trembling voices.

The concept of using the Heavenly Land as a Life Sigil was astounding.

"Indeed, only he can unite the ways of sword and sigil, rallying the human forces to dominate this world," Overseer Sikong's eyes gleamed with a hint of warmth.

"Now, we hope Exile Ling can withstand the onslaught from the other eight hells and return to the Sword Ruins. Then, with the Heavenly Land Life Sigil, he can rise against all odds..."

"Yun Xiao managed to return. So, with such a heaven-defying Life Sigil, Exile Ling must have prepared a path to victory."

"Indeed, I long to see that life-defining sigil."

Their voices mingled, each word laced with anticipation.

Overseer Sikong raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "You're quick on the uptake, a bunch of sharp cookies knowing which side to butter."

"Yes," they agreed, with sheepish grins.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

"What should we do, Overseer Sikong?"

"Head to the array's focal point. Once Exile Ling and the former Sword Warden return, activate it to receive them!" Overseer Sikong instructed coolly.

Du Zhongyuan promptly placed a small, exquisitely crafted white pen in Yun Xiao's hand, clearly a sophisticated magical instrument.

"Inscription manual," Yun Xiao requested next.

"Oh?" Du Zhongyuan was slightly surprised as he took out a few thick books, explaining, "We in the Sword Ruins have limited material on inscription manuals, but it should suffice for now. Take your time with them... We don't have Inscription Cultivators in the Sword Ruins, so I'm not sure how to get you started..."

While Du Zhongyuan was still speaking, Yun Xiao had already begun flipping through the manual, his eyes intently scanning the pages. His flipping speed increased rapidly, eventually matching the speed of a gambler blowing through their money.

"It goes like this..." Du Zhongyuan recalled the basics of inscription cultivation. "The Runes on a Life Sigil are essentially drawn by an Inscription Cultivator using the Rune Pen dipped in Rune Spirit Ink, ground from spiritual herbs and medicines, following various methods outlined in an inscription manual. The more Runes, the stronger and more functional the Life Sigil."

As Du Zhongyuan explained this, Yun Xiao placed a Bag of Holding before him, instructing, "Then help me grind this into Rune Spirit Ink."

"I'll do it!" Mu Xiaolong volunteered, eagerly stepping forward.

"Fine." Yun Xiao nodded, continuing to read.

Grinding the Rune Spirit Ink also required magical tools, namely a pestle and a mortar, which Du Zhongyuan had occasionally used in his alchemy.

So there was Mu Xiaolong, her little hands gripping the golden pestle, her cheeks flushed as she pounded away, her mind likely wandering through a world of its own.

Du Zhongyuan, having a moment of leisure, continued, "These inscription manuals are the culmination of the trials and experiments of Inscription Cultivator ancestors, detailing miniature inscription formation, each with a specific function. Take the Heavenly Fire Formation, for instance. It consists of 18 Runes. If drawn on a Life Sigil, it greatly enhances the sigil's affinity with fire spells... And now, with the evolution of Inscription Cultivation, there are hundreds of millions of these miniature formations, some consisting of just a few Runes, and others thousands!"

"So, the inscription Runes on a Life Sigil aren't just about quantity, but also about content?" Yun Xiao asked, flipping through the manual.

"Exactly! The content is crucial! It's different from our Sword Soul and Sword Aura. Their Runes are more akin to a blend of Sword Aura and Sword Ring, with more variations. Since each Inscription Cultivator can only inscribe their own Life Sigil, it really tests their talent in formations," Du Zhongyuan said earnestly.

"Formation talent?"

"Yes. Inscription Cultivators excel at drawing formations because Life Sigils and formations are one and the same. Like our Ruination Sword Array, it's formed by countless miniature runic formations etched on mountains, sword peaks, and rivers.

"In essence, inscription Runes form miniature formations, which can either make a Life Sigil for personal battle or set up a grand immovable formation. The former is for combat, the latter for monumental undertakings... That's why we Sword Cultivators may not understand Life Sigils, but we can't afford to be ignorant of formations," Du Zhongyuan explained.

"Can all these miniature formations be inscribed on a Life Sigil?" Yun Xiao looked up.

"Of course not, every Life Sigil has its innate attribute. For instance, carving water attributes on a fire-attributed sigil is a death wish," Du Zhongyuan grinned. "Remember Fu Longxiang's Myriad Manifestations Sigil? Its power lies in its versatility, capable of inscribing any miniature formation, offering immense growth potential!"

"Mhm." Yun Xiao nodded, just as he finished reading the last manual on miniature formations.

"Mu Xiaolong, hand me the Rune Spirit Ink," Yun Xiao said.

"Yes!" Mu Xiaolong carefully brought the mortar to Yun Xiao.

With the Prison Warden Sigil in one hand and the Rune Pen dipped in Rune Spirit Ink in the other, Yun Xiao began to draw.

"W-wait, wait! What are you doing!?" Du Zhongyuan asked in bewilderment.

"Drawing Runes," Yun Xiao replied.

"But you're just starting out. I doubt you understand the basic principles, don't mess up... Ah?" Before Du Zhongyuan could finish, Yun Xiao's pen flowed like a dragon and snake. A miniature formation with 99 Runes had already taken shape on the Prison Warden Sigil.

"Mu Xiaolong, grind all of these herbs," Yun Xiao directed, pushing the herbs toward her.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Mu Xiaolong nodded excitedly.

Du Zhongyuan, feeling a twitch in his gut, looked to the heavens and muttered, "What in the world is this..."



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