Chapter 17 : Battery Rune

“Looks like someone knows of our arrival , I just sensed a disturbance in the qi around us I think its one the clan’s formation but I didn’t know that the clan had a such sneaky sensory formation .

I cant even sense the formation it must have dissipated after being revealed by our arrival in its range .

But wouldn’t it just be triggered by anyone crossing the boundary so whats the point of putting it up here .

Maybe someone designed it to ignore already known Qi signatures it was only a level 1 formation but it is such a good idea” The man mumbled as he analysed the formation he just experienced.

Being a level 2 formation master he had keen insight into this type of stuff and was able to tell in such a short amount of time that it was a formation and not some person who sensed them.

There were three kids following him one of them a handsome nine year old boy with black hair and black eyes said” Master your clan is most powerful force in these islands .

So it shouldn’t be surprising they were able to sense us coming and you already said your father has already sensed even before this so what’s the big deal .” Ning Jian looked at the boy who spoke

“ Li Liang you should focus on your concepts and you have not been able to get even a preliminary understanding of the concept of fire.

Despite having the special physique of fire and don’t use all your time training your technique its good that you are so dedicated towards your goal , but you should try and comprehend higher levels of this body tempering realm , you have the fortune of having a special physique which very very few people in the entire world have .” the boy li liang looked disgruntled

“Master I am the least talented one amongst the three of us , these two monsters will surpass me in a few years if I don’t train and improve my understanding of technique and my Qi control I will be left behind .

They already have better concepts than me in their physiques , I don’t even how you managed to get all three of us to be your students , those top sects might just die of jealousy .”

The sun had just begun to rise over the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the Ning Clan estate. The air was crisp and filled with the promise of a new day.

Birds chirped merrily, and the soft rustling of leaves in the gentle morning breeze added a serene ambiance to the scene.

Amidst this tranquil setting, a figure walked steadily toward the estate, accompanied by three children.

Ning Jian, a tall man with an aura of quiet strength and determination, had been away for almost eight years.

His journey had been long and fraught with challenges, but now, as he approached the familiar gates of the Ning Clan estate, a sense of anticipation and nostalgia welled up within him.

He glanced down at the three children walking by his side, each carrying the unique traits of their heritage.

The first child, a boy with jet-black hair and piercing black eyes, walked with a confident stride.

He had a look of seriousness that belied his young age, his gaze often drifting to the surroundings as if constantly assessing their safety.

The boy's demeanor hinted at the hardships he had endured alongside his father.

The second child, also a boy, had striking blue hair and vivid blue eyes. His face was lit with curiosity and excitement, a stark contrast to other boy.

He moved with an energy that seemed boundless, often running ahead a few steps before returning to Ning Jian's side.

The boy's inquisitive nature had always been a source of amusement for Ning Jian.

The youngest of the three was a girl with golden hair that shimmered like the morning sun and eyes that mirrored the same golden hue.

She clung to Ning Jian's hand, her steps small and delicate.

Despite her youth, there was a resolute determination in her eyes, a reflection of the strength.

As they neared the estate, Ning Jian's thoughts turned to his wife, Ning Lian.

He could almost picture her, standing at the entrance, her face alight with joy and relief.

For eight long years, she had waited for him, her faith unwavering despite the passage of time.

The thought of reuniting with her filled Ning Jian with a mixture of eagerness and apprehension.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

He knew that much had changed, but his love for Ning Lian remained as strong as ever.

The gates of the Ning Clan estate loomed before them, grand and imposing.

Guards stationed at the entrance recognized Ning Jian instantly, their expressions shifting from surprise to recognition and then to respectful nods.

One of them hurried ahead to announce his arrival, while the others opened the gates, allowing Ning Jian and the children to enter.

The estate was bustling with activity, as it always was in the early hours of the day. Clansmen and women moved about, attending to their duties.

Conversations paused, and heads turned as the news of Ning Jian's return spread like wildfire.

Whispers and murmurs filled the air, expressions of curiosity and excitement evident on everyone's faces.

Ning Jian walked steadily, his children close by.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as he observed their reactions.

Despite the attention, they remained composed, a testament to their upbringing.

He glanced down at them, offering reassuring smiles. They had come a long way, and he was immensely proud of each of them.

As they approached the main courtyard, Ning Jian's heart quickened.

This was the moment he had dreamed of for so long. And then, there she was. Ning Lian stood at the entrance of their home, her eyes wide with disbelief and joy.

She looked exactly as he remembered, her beauty timeless and her presence exuding warmth and grace.

"Ning Jian," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. She took a hesitant step forward, as if afraid that he might disappear if she moved too quickly.

"Lian," he replied, his voice equally filled with emotion. He closed the distance between them in a few long strides, and in an instant, they were in each other's arms.

The years of separation melted away as they held each other tightly, the world around them fading into the background.

Ning Lian finally pulled back, her eyes brimming with tears. "You've come back," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "After all these years, you're finally home."

Ning Jian cupped her face in his hands, his own eyes misty. "I promised I would return," he said softly. "And I never break my promises."

…………

“ Alright I want to give this back to you “ Ning Feng pulled out a ring with artefact seal modified to look like three pronged lightning bolt .

I have taken the artefact seal from her to modify it and try the first ever Level 2 rune I created and a theory that I have turned into practical application , this is what I call-

“Battery rune”

this rune can slowly use the Qi absorbing rune to accumulate Qi actively or passively from user for 3 charges of powerful release of lightning which will be offensive in nature in its natural state but Rong can control that electricity using her concept in future .

If she is keeps it for that long to do whatever she wants with the lightning and it will be powerful enough to kill a mid level Qi manifestation Disciple if it hits directly as it’s a high level Grade 2 rune.

lThe only reason I am able to create it is because I am the one who designed it and know every nook and cranny of this rune but it took almost a week to create it and another to recover my soul sense while the materials came from my adoptive mother.

It needed a special kind of material which can carry Qi temporarily but after applying my self created rune I can make it permanent in way but obviously it leaks Qi and is not as efficient natural materials which can carry Qi for almost as long as they exist but they are too rare.

I took inspiration from modern world and it took me 4 months to create this design from scratch , even though I have a background in creating new and innovative software unlike people from this world who are not given proper or formal education which hampers their development of critical thinking skills required in designing in new stuff and of course culture .

I would say my education is probably my greatest advantage in this world while these people start doing this when they reach core formation and are over 150 years old , I am doing it while I am six , well more like 25 + 6.

Ning Rong's eyes widened with curiosity and excitement. “A ‘Battery Rune’? What does it do?”

I grinned, holding the ring up to catch the light. The silver band gleamed, and the three-pronged lightning bolt engraved on it pulsed with a faint electric blue glow.

“It’s the first ever Level 2 rune I created,” I explained. “This rune stores and releases Qi, just like a battery stores and releases energy.

You can use it to attack your enimies with lightning three times when you’re running low on Qi.”

Ning Rong reached out to take the ring, her fingers brushing mine. “You really think it will work?”

“Of course it will work,” I said with mock indignation. “Have I ever given you something that didn’t work?”

She gave me a look. “Do you want the honest answer or the polite one?”

I laughed. “Alright, fair point. But I’m serious about this one. It’s a game-changer.”

She examined the ring closely, her dark pink eyes, now with that rainbowish hue, reflecting the light. “It looks impressive. I’ll give you that. How did you even come up with the idea?”

I leaned back, feeling a bit smug. “Well, it started with my annoyance at how quickly you would deplete during training.

I thought, why not create something that could store excess Qi and release it when needed? well the main reason is it can be your trump card when an enemy thinks you are out of Qi you can give a elecrtrifying response."

Ning Rong raised an eyebrow. “You know, for someone who pretends to be lazy, you sure put a lot of effort into this.”

I shrugged. “What can I say? Genius strikes when you least expect it.”

She rolled her eyes and slipped the ring onto her finger. “Alright, let’s see if this ‘genius’ really works.”

As soon as the ring settled on her finger, the three-pronged lightning bolt glowed brighter. Ning Rong closed her eyes, and I could feel the shift in the air as she tested the rune’s functionality.

“Whoa,” she whispered, her eyes snapping open. “I can actually feel it storing Qi. This is amazing!”

“Told you,” I said, feeling immensely pleased with myself. “Now you can use it whenever you need an extra attack.

But remember, it’s a Level 2 rune, so it might take a bit more practice to use it efficiently and it can store only three charges.”

She looked at me, her eyes sparkling with gratitude and mischief. “You’ve really outdone yourself this time, Feng.

Maybe I won’t have to punch you as hard next time you tease me.”

I laughed. “I’ll take that as a compliment. But seriously, take care of that ring. It’s the only one of its kind at leat to my knowledge but as always it's our little secret.”

Ning Rong nodded, still looking at the ring in awe. “You know, I might actually start to believe that you’re a genius.”

“Start to believe?” I echoed, feigning hurt. “And here I thought you already knew.”

She punched my arm lightly. “Don’t get cocky. Just because you made one cool artefact doesn’t mean you’re off the hook.”

“Ow,” I said, rubbing my arm. “You’re really into this whole violent tsundere act, aren’t you?”

Ning Rong’s expression softened, and she smiled. “Thanks, Feng. Really. This means a lot.”

“Anything for you, Rong,” I said, meaning every word. “Just don’t go overboard with it. The last thing we need is for you to blow up things.”

She laughed. “No promises. But I’ll try to keep the destruction to a minimum.”

I watched as she admired the ring one last time before slipping it into her pocket. Seeing her so happy made all the effort worthwhile.

Despite all the teasing and banter, I knew we had each other’s backs.

Ning Rong smirked. “Especially since it’s from the famous Ning Feng, the rune genius.”

I chuckled. “Now you’re getting it , young clan leader.”

I have also been comprehending the Concept of fire as one can do that after opening meridians and I have gained a preliminary understanding of it evident by the fact natural and to some extent conjured fire cannot harm me anymore for those who master a concept to this level they can to some extent control that element but cannot create it from Qi and as for Ning Rong she has been struggling to get hold of her lightning.

But it seems that after her breakthrough in body tempering she has also gained a preliminary understanding of her lightning element.

She can completely control left eye’s ability to control the output and use that lightning to attack objects a few metres away from her , this is very impressive as usually people take over 1 year in body tempering stage to get that kind of comprehension for even low level concepts yet she has done that and better with a mid level concept .

Name – Ning Feng

Stage – N.A.

Soul sense- 10 m

Strength – 3

Stamina – 3

Defence-3

Reflexes- 3

Essence Qi-10

Unique abilities-

Rune master – Grade 2

Formations master – Grade 2

Concepts-

Fire(preliminary stage)

Techniques-

N.A.