Chapter 9 : Peak level crafting

“I cant believe you can actually make these many in only one month , the fact you can even make it at all is rather unbelievable, runes and formations are most difficult of professions, that’s why there is not a single fourth grade runic or formation master on the entire Seven great islands , here you are easily making so many of these low level 1st grade scrolls and you even made mid-level one on your first try."

“ Sigh “

"So what do you want to gift Rong Rong “, Ning Lian asked .

”That’s a secret “I replied mysteriously .

“Oh so that’s why you have been visiting artefact Shops all over the island” She said , my nonchalant demeanour faltered for a moment .

As Ning Lian's eyes bore into mine with a mix of curiosity and suspicion, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt at my covert activities. She was no fool; she knew me well enough to sense when something was amiss, and my recent escapades to various artefact shops hadn't gone unnoticed.

"Ah, well, you know me," I chuckled nervously, attempting to deflect her scrutiny with a casual shrug. "Just exploring my options, you know? Trying to find the perfect gift for Ning Rong's upcoming ceremony."

Ning Lian arched an eyebrow "Exploring your options, huh? More like embarking on a mission to scour every artefact shop on the island. And for what? A simple gift?"

"Hehe That's a secret and even you will have to wait for ceremony to know plus I want to gift her something useful but i still have to thank you for all the money " I chuckled.

" Don’t worry Feng'er, anyway its for a gift and knowing you it will be well spent , I honestly feel weird talking like this to a 3 year old but I don’t what mystical herb Lu Jia ate before giving birth to you , well I guess I know ."Ning Lian regarded me with a curious look.

"I suppose that's commendable" She conceded, though her eyes twinkled with amusement.

"But all this secrecy has increased my curiosity even more ."

As Ning Lian turned her attention to more pressing matters—the preparations for Ning Rong's upcoming ceremony. With only a week left until her meridians formed and her true talents were revealed, there was much to be done.

"I'll need to gather the necessary materials and artefacts," Ning Lian mused aloud, her brow furrowed in concentration. "And we'll need to ensure that the ceremony proceeds smoothly, without any disruptions."

Disruptions, huh? The mention of potential disturbances around the sub-realm dungeon brought a grimace to my lips. It wasn't uncommon for monstrous beasts to wander perilously close to the dungeon's entrance, especially in recent weeks.

Rumors of strange occurrences and sightings had spread like wildfire throughout the island, causing no small amount of concern among the populace.

"Speaking of disruptions," I interjected, unable to resist the urge to broach the topic. "Have you heard about the disturbances around the sub-realm dungeon? Monstrous beasts seem to be cropping up with alarming frequency, and there are whispers of something... unsettling lurking within." I asked with some apprehension.

Ning Lian's expression darkened, her features drawn with concern. "Yes, I've heard the rumors," she admitted, her voice tinged with unease. "It's troubling, to say the least. We'll need to keep a close eye on the situation and ensure the safety of our clan members."

I nodded in agreement, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on my mind. As if planning for Ning Rong's ceremony wasn't stressful enough, now we had to contend with potential threats from the sub-realm dungeon. Just another day in the life of a cultivator, I supposed.

But amidst the chaos and uncertainty, there was one thing I remained steadfastly focused on—the task of crafting the perfect gift for Ning Rong. It had to be something special, something that reflected her unique talents and boundless potential. And with my newfound proficiency in runes and formations, I was determined to make it a reality.

Runes and formations were divided into Low, Mid , High , Peak level ones within the given Grade and for a master othe failure rate , difficulty , time consumed, Soul essence , Qi , resources everything increased with every level .

The Fireball rune was a first grade Mid level rune as for first grade low level runes they were mostly for utilities by cultivators for various purposes like lighting fire, creating water from atmosphere , helping plants and herbs grow , etc.

Well that’s the case for every Low level Rune for every grade they were extremely important unlike what their name might suggest as they made it possible for cultivators to live more comfortably basically almost at the level of modern world .

For what I am about to create is a peak Level First Grade rune and imbue it with a effect that will extremely helpful for her but creating it would put me out of commission for three days .

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Normally it would be created by someone at second grade as those who can create peak level ones in their own are considered geniuses of this craft.

But it was the peak-level runes that truly captured my imagination. These runes represented the pinnacle of runecrafting mastery, capable of achieving feats that bordered on the miraculous.

Crafting a peak-level rune required not only exceptional skill and knowledge but also a deep understanding of the underlying principles of qi manipulation and spiritual energy.

As I contemplated the task ahead, I knew that creating a peak-level First Grade rune would be no small feat. The sheer complexity and power of such a rune meant that only the most skilled and experienced formation masters could hope to succeed.

In preparation for the task, I spent countless hours refining my understanding of rune crafting techniques and honing my skills to perfection. I meticulously planned out every aspect of the rune's design, ensuring that each symbol and inscription was perfectly aligned to achieve the desired effect.

As the day of creation drew near, I set out to embark on what would undoubtedly be the most ambitious undertaking of my fledgling rune crafting career.

I brought out the artefact seal on which I am going to place , engraving tools and lots of qi stones and one thing that other might not consider but I had to, the instability caused by environment qi and possible lack of chi during engraving.

I had been practicing for this for a while now , normally it would be impossible for me but I have come up with a great plan to use qi gathering formation although modified by me which normally would be impossible for someone at my grade without advanced mathematics and my soul calculator using those formulaes.

Its my first time using runes and formation in true synergy using one to create other which normally wouldn’t possible for someone at my grade let alone my cultivation level.

With a deep breath, I carefully laid out my tools on the table before me. The artefact seal gleamed softly in the dim light of the room, its surface polished to perfection.

I reached for the engraving tools, their sharp edges glinting in the faint glow. Each tool had been meticulously crafted for precision and accuracy, essential qualities for the delicate work ahead. With steady hands, I began to etch intricate patterns and symbols onto the surface of the seal, channelling my qi with precision and control.

With the artefact seal as my canvas, I had woven a tapestry of qi , each rune intricately intertwined to create a masterpiece of enigmatic power. It was a testament to my ingenuity and resourcefulness.

As I worked, I could sense the subtle fluctuations in the environment qi around me. It was a constant struggle to maintain stability, to prevent the volatile energy from disrupting my delicate engraving. But I refused to be deterred, pushing forward with determination and resolve.

In addition to the qi stones that I had gathered for the task , the special qi gathering formation, the formation would help me to harness the ambient qi in the environment and channel it into the artefact seal, providing a steady source of energy to sustain me throughout the engraving process.

It was a risky gambit, one that required precise calculations and perfect execution. But I had faith in my abilities, in the knowledge that I had gained through years of study and practice. With each stroke of the engraving tool, I felt a surge of confidence coursing through me, driving me forward towards my goal.

Despite the challenges posed by the unstable environment qi, I remained focused . I refused to let anything stand in the way of completing the task at hand. With each passing moment, the symbols on the artefact seal began to take shape, their intricate designs coming to life under my skilled hands.

Hours passed in a blur as I worked tirelessly, pouring my heart and soul into every stroke of the engraving tool. The room was filled with the soft hum of energy as the qi gathering formation siphoned energy from the surrounding environment, feeding it into the artefact seal and sustaining me in my efforts.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I lifted my gaze from the completed seal, a sense of satisfaction washing over me. The symbols etched onto its surface shimmered with an otherworldly glow, their intricate patterns radiating with latent power.

I think I need to rest now. I feel really tired.

The artefact seal pulsated with an ethereal glow, its surface alive with a kaleidoscope of shimmering colours that danced and swirled like wisps of smoke in the wind. With each beat, a surge of power emanated from its core, filling the air with a palpable sense of energy and vitality.

As I reached out to touch it, I could feel the thrum of magic coursing through my veins, sending tingles of excitement racing along my skin. The runes etched into its surface seemed to come alive, their intricate patterns shifting and changing in response to the flow of qi that permeated the air.

With each pulse, the seal seemed to draw upon the very essence of the world around it, channelling the elemental forces of nature into a swirling vortex of power. It was as if the seal itself was a conduit.

As I held the artefact seal aloft, I could sense its power growing stronger, its aura expanding outward like ripples on a pond.

Suddenly the sound of lightning crackling was heard in the room .

Then my consciousness faded away into oblivion.

….

For the next three days, I just rested on my bed and read a lot about formations and cultivation process related books and as usual tried to sense my spirit roots and soul sea as after almost three and half years in this world and reading how cultivators formed their Dao seals, I have a few theories in mind.

But I will need to accumulate more knowledge to solidify those understandings which became a lot clearer after, I opened my soul sea and sensed my spirit roots and the next step would be to wait for my 5th birthday as after that my meridians can form anytime in that year, like for Ning Rong it happened after almost 5 months, which will be tomorrow and its time for me to get out of my bed .

Name – Ning Feng

Stage – N.A.

Soul sense- 10 m

Strength – 0.25

Stamina – 0.25

Defence-0.25

Reflexes- 0.25

Essence Qi-1

Unique abilities-

Rune master – Grade 1

Formations master – Grade 1

Concepts-

N.A.

Techniques-

N.A.