The next day in class, Shen Xiu’s continuined her lecture. "Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, azure, and indigo—these are the seven tiers of soul realms, with red being the lowest grade. Over the last hundred years, only a handful of individuals have reached the silver rank demon spiritist level with a red soul realm. Without some stroke of fortune, a red soul realm can only contain a maximum of 600 soul force. The higher you push it, the harder it becomes, and the more you’ll need to rely on expensive resources like elixirs and soul crystals."
Her words landed heavily on the ears of the commoner students. A quiet murmur of discontent spread through the room, and disappointment showed on their faces. To hear that their soul force could cap at just 600, barring any extraordinary circumstances, felt like a sentence of mediocrity. It meant that the most they could hope for was the 5-star bronze rank, a far cry from the heights of power they longed for.
For those born with red soul realms, Shen Xiu’s words felt like a death knell. They couldn’t help but inwardly curse their fate, questioning why they had been born with the weakest potential. It seemed unjust, a cruel twist of destiny.
Shen Xiu watched them with satisfaction, her sneer deepening. Some things are simply dictated by the heavens at birth, she thought smugly. Some are born to rule, and others are destined to remain inferior, no matter how hard they struggle. She delighted in reinforcing this bitter truth, reminding them of their place.
But it wasn’t just the commoners who were upset. Despite the Sacred Family’s growing disrepute, the noble children harbored their own disdain toward Nie Li. Even though he had exposed the family’s corruption, many still saw his actions as a direct insult to authority. Offending one's superiors, especially the Sacred Family, wasn’t something they could forgive easily.
"He dares to challenge his betters," one noble muttered under his breath. "Even if the Sacred Family has its flaws, they’re still one of the three major families in Glory City. Nie Li has no right to act like some hero."
Another student chimed in, "He thinks he’s some kind of champion for the commoners, but in reality, he’s just bringing himself down to their level."
"He’s lucky the Sacred Family didn’t bother with him after all that. If it were my family, he wouldn’t be so fortunate. He’d be paying dearly for his arrogance by now."
"So what if he’s read a few more books than the rest of us or knows an ancient language? Does he think he can get stronger just by reading? It won't change the reality that he’s stuck with a red soul realm. All that knowledge means nothing if your potential is capped at bronze rank."
"Didn't Teacher Shen Xiu tell him to stay quiet and stop acting so high and mighty? Why hasn’t this guy been expelled yet?"
"Don't worry," one noble reassured. "He’ll be expelled in two months. The only reason he’s still here is so Naraku can put him in his place when the time comes."
The whispers of scorn and ridicule towards Nie Li carried on throughout Shen Xiu’s lesson, a chorus of sneers echoing in the background. For these nobles, no matter how much Nie Li accomplished, he would always be beneath them.
As the afternoon sun began to set, the majority of students at the Holy Orchid Institute left to eat, leaving the library eerily quiet. Nie Li and his group, having had their meal, returned to the library to resume their cultivation, undeterred by the ridicule of others.
---
The next day, Nie Li and his group entered the library, chatting as they walked through the grand hall of shelves. Mid-conversation, Nie Li’s gaze was drawn toward a distant figure amidst the rows of books. Among the dimly lit shelves stood a graceful young woman with flowing purple hair, engrossed in a thick volume. Nie Li's heart raced at the sight, and he suddenly had a long flashback of his past life with her. This woman was Ye Ziyun.
Taking a deep breath, Nie Li calmed himself, trying to push aside the flood of emotions. He had longed for a way to reconnect with Ye Ziyun in this new life, but the circumstances were too different now, and he didn’t want to disrupt her life unnecessarily. However, the knowledge that her engagement with Shen Yue hadn't yet been finalized gave him a sense of urgency.
But unbeknownst to Nie Li, fate had already taken a new course in this timeline. Naraku, with his superior cyan soul realm, better aptitude, and looks, had been chosen by the Sacred Family to approach Ye Ziyun, replacing Shen Yue in the mission to win her favor. Naraku’s talent and cunning had put him at the center of this delicate plan, and Nie Li, still guided by memories of a previous life, had no idea that his rival was no longer the Shen Yue he remembered. Instead, a much more dangerous opponent stood in his path.
Coincidentally, at this time, I was also in the library, and I had come for a specific purpose. The Book of Divine Lightning Fire had caught my interest. With the principal’s permission, I managed to get access to the original, on the condition that I didn't damage or tamper with its contents.
To be clear, I had no personal stake in the scandal surrounding the Sacred Family. My interest lay purely in the knowledge hidden within the book's pages.
Recently, I discovered a new function in my Karma Template: the ability to record and store information. This allowed me to retain any data I encountered, making it accessible at will, almost like a mental archive.
Although demon spiritists had similar abilities for memorizing techniques or information, my template streamlined the process in a way that surpassed anything they could manage. Moreover, it could decode and analyze complex information, uncovering hidden clues that would be difficult for a regular person—or even a demon spiritualist—to detect.
In the case of the Book of Divine Lightning Fire, the challenge came from the ancient language it was written in. Many ancient languages were lost, and without its knowledge, no demon spiritualist could comprehend its full contents.
Fortunately, the first volume had been translated long ago, and the translation had been made available in the library. Naturally, I recorded this translation as well, and through a comparison between the original and the translated text, I could read other untranslated volumes and similar texts in the same language.
The more I used my Karma Template for these tasks, the more convinced I became that it was something akin to supreme artificial intelligence, reminiscent of the most advanced technologies from my previous life.
At this time, Nie Li had entered the library. He turned to his friends, waving them off with a casual gesture. "You guys go up first; I still have some matters to attend to."
Curious, his friends exchanged glances and then hid in a corner, watching him as he made his way toward Ye Ziyun. Nie Li’s heart raced, but as he drew closer, he noticed that she wasn’t alone. His steps faltered when he saw me, sitting not far from her, engrossed in the Book of Divine Lightning Fire as well.
I had been quietly reading when Ye Ziyun, who seemed absorbed by the same book, furrowed her brows in frustration.
"This book is too profound; I just skimmed through it and realized that I couldn’t read a lot of things inside!" Ye Ziyun said and elegantly closed the Book of Divine Lightning Fire.
She turned to me, her eyes searching for understanding. "I'm having trouble understanding these inscriptions," she admitted, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity. She looked directly at me. "Can you actually make sense of what it says?"
I glanced up from my reading, locking eyes with her briefly before standing. My mind was already decoding the complex symbols with the help of my Byakugan and the Karma Template. As I activated its ability, the ancient language on the page that Ye Ziyun was pointing at began to rearrange itself, shifting into meanings that could be comprehended.
"Oh, the meaning of that inscription is like this," I said, pointing to the symbols and explaining their significance one by one. I spoke calmly, unraveling the intricate patterns of the text that had confounded her moments ago.
Ye Ziyun listened attentively, her expression brightening as the meaning of the inscriptions became clearer. She nodded with understanding, her initial confusion giving way to clarity.
"I see, so that's how it works," she said, her voice soft but thoughtful. Despite her noble upbringing, she had the intellect to grasp the complexity of the symbols. As the daughter of the City Lord, Ye Ziyun had been raised with access to the best tutors and resources. She was far from naive when it came to inscriptions, but this ancient language clearly posed challenges even to someone of her knowledge.
While I continued explaining, I could feel someone's presence nearby.
I was too engrossed in the ancient symbols to remember the Sacred Family’s mission—to get close to Ye Ziyun. The realization hit me, and I adjusted my tone, speaking with deliberate clarity, my words laced with subtle profundity. The shift in my demeanor caught Ye Ziyun’s attention, and she listened even more intently. But I could feel eyes on me, and when I glanced up, there was Nie Li, standing a distance away, frowning.
Why is this guy here? Why is he talking to my Ye Ziyun? Nie Li's thoughts were written on his face as his gaze darted between the two of us.
His earlier confidence seemed shaken, his assumptions unraveling the longer he observed. After a moment, he gathered his courage and walked over, positioning himself at our side. He interrupted our discussion, his voice cutting through the air with an edge.
"So, you’re both interested in the Book of Divine Lightning Fire, huh?" Nie Li's tone carried a hint of arrogance as he crossed his arms, trying to insert himself into the conversation.
I frowned, barely disguising my annoyance. "Nie Li, go away. We don’t require your help," I said, dismissively waving him off. His sudden intrusion irritated me, especially since I had just begun making progress with Ye Ziyun.
Nie Li, however, didn’t back down. "Hmph. And how exactly do you plan to explain the Book of Divine Lightning Fire without understanding the ancient language? I’m the only one here who truly comprehends it." His words were sharp, meant to undercut my authority, and his gaze flicked toward Ye Ziyun, as if to say he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
I narrowed my eyes, and my Byakugan activated subtly. You think you're the only one who can grasp this? I thought, but kept my composure, knowing that this battle was no longer just about the book—it was about who could gain Ye Ziyun's trust.
"Sorry to disappoint you, Nie Li," I said with a calm but condescending tone, "but I come from a noble family, and I've been trained to read and decipher ancient texts long before you could even imagine understanding them. My Sacred Family's foundation runs deep—no less than the Snow Wind Family. You, someone from the declining Heavenly Marks family, are in no position to lecture me about such things."
Nie Li scoffed, his pride clearly wounded. "How can you be better than me? You talk as if your bloodline automatically makes you more knowledgeable. But I’ve studied these texts too and have full understanding of the Book of Divine Lightning Fire. Don’t assume you’re the only one with knowledge."
"Regardless," I interrupted, my voice dropping into a more threatening tone, "you’ve already offended my family once. We’ve chosen not to take any action against you—yet. But make no mistake, I won’t hold back if you push me further. If you don’t walk away, things will not end well for you."
Nie Li's defiance flared. "I’m the library clerk. How can you kick me out of here? You have no right!"
"I don’t care about your position," I replied coldly. "Just stay away from me." I turned my attention back to the book, dismissing him entirely, letting the silence drive home the point that I had no further interest in engaging with him.
Ye Ziyun, sensing the tension, looked between us and was uncertain of what to say. Her slender figure stood gracefully, and though she was just a few steps away, the faint scent of her fragrance wafted through the air. Nie Li knew this scent well—it was her unique body fragrance, something that once felt so familiar and comforting to him. It stirred old memories—memories of closeness, of moments that felt destined. But now, those memories were distant, and his thoughts were cut short by my words.
"Aren't you here to stalk Ye Ziyun anyway? Using your authority as the library clerk just to spy on others—how pathetic." I shook my head slowly, my voice laced with mock disappointment.
Nie Li's face twisted with anger, his fists clenched at his sides. Slandering him like this in front of Ye Ziyun was unforgivable. He was trying to remain calm, but the frustration was building quickly.
What made it worse for him was that I had already planted seeds of doubt in Ye Ziyun's mind before this confrontation. "Ye Ziyun," I had said to her not long ago, "you need to be careful around Nie Li. I overheard him saying that he plans to pursue you to make you his. The way he acts—frankly, he’s a stalker. I just wanted to give you a heads-up."
Now, as I openly accused Nie Li of stalking her, Ye Ziyun’s face turned pale with a mixture of disgust and fear. My words had taken root, and the idea of Nie Li being a stalker seemed all too believable to her considering the past incident in class.
‘Don’t worry, Ye Ziyun,’ I thought inwardly, watching her troubled expression. ‘I’ll protect you from Nie Li.’
Nie Li stood there, completely blindsided. He had come to offer help, to maybe impress her, but instead, he was being treated as though he were some sort of criminal. He saw the way Ye Ziyun recoiled, the distrust and suspicion in her eyes. He was lost, trying to comprehend how things had gone so horribly wrong.
"Ye Ziyun, wait, I—" Nie Li began to speak, his voice shaky, but Ye Ziyun cut him off, her voice firm yet trembling with uncertainty.
"Nie Li, I think it’s best if you leave me alone for now." Her tone carried a finality that struck like a blade.
Nie Li's face turned pale. Realizing the turn of events wasn’t in his favor, Nie Li’s shoulders slumped slightly. Defeated, he turned away, walking off in silence, his shame evident in each step.
His friends, watching from the shadows, exchanged sympathetic glances. They had seen their friend stumble in arguments before, but this—the sting of rejection in front of the girl he cared about—seemed far worse.
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However, I couldn’t care less. People like Nie Li were like persistent, bothersome insects. The only way to handle such types was to expose their flaws, unravel their pretenses, and slander them until they had no choice but to retreat.
Ye Ziyun, though feeling a flicker of pity for him, didn’t dwell on it for long. Nie Li wasn’t at the forefront of her thoughts. As the library grew quieter with Nie Li’s departure, she looked back to me, curiosity in her eyes.
I nodded in acknowledgment, dismissing the distraction that was Nie Li from my mind. Turning my attention fully back to Ye Ziyun, I resumed explaining the inscriptions she had been studying, my voice calm and clear.
"This Book of Divine Lightning Fire is written in the language of the Snow Wind Empire era," I began, offering a faint smile as I pointed to the symbols. "The words from that time are esoteric and hard to grasp. But if you first study the language of the Black Gold Empire era, the texts from later periods, including this one, will become easier to understand."
"Black Gold Empire?" Ye Ziyun’s brow furrowed slightly as she thought back. She knew of the ancient eras before the Age of Darkness.
Three major periods were relatively well recorded: the Saint Spirit Empire, the Snow Wind Empire, and the Sacred Empire eras. The Black Gold Empire had been influential during the Snow Wind Empire’s time, a powerful force in its own right.
"I’ve read about these empires," Ye Ziyun said softly, her voice tinged with curiosity. Though she knew much, hearing it discussed so casually made her look at me with a hint of admiration. Perhaps it was because she had never heard someone speak so naturally about these distant histories.
"I’m no expert in all these eras," I admitted, "but the Sacred Family keeps some hidden texts, and I’ve studied a few. That’s where I picked up some of this knowledge."
"But," I continued, shifting the subject, "learning an era’s language just to read this book is not entirely necessary. It's important to understand the broader context, but don’t be overly concerned with mastering the language just to read this book. There are more efficient paths for you."
She looked at me, curiosity flashing in her eyes. "More efficient paths? What do you mean?"
I continued, "The Book of Divine Lightning Fire has cultivation techniques that revolve around Lightning Fire, but they're not necessarily suited for your own unique path. Your innate talent and aptitude lie elsewhere. Instead of focusing on techniques that aren't ideal for your cultivation, you can extract the principles, the essence, and use them as inspiration to craft arts that match your own strength and elemental affinity."
Ye Ziyun considered this, her expression growing thoughtful. "I see… So, it’s less about following these ancient techniques directly and more about understanding the underlying Dao of them."
"Exactly," I said. "You're intelligent enough to craft your own path. While these techniques are impressive, trying to cultivate them directly could hinder you more than help you. It's about evolving, not imitating."
Her eyes brightened at the idea, and I could tell that my words had struck a chord. She admired the old ways, but she wasn't one to blindly follow them. She sought mastery, not simply following the shadows of those who came before her. "I hadn't thought of it like that," she admitted, a small smile gracing her lips. "Thank you for the insight."
I nodded. "Remember, the foundation of cultivation isn't just in copying what's written. It's in understanding, adapting, and making it your own."
"Oh? Then what cultivation technique is suitable for me?" Ye Ziyun asked curiously.
"Since you come from the Snow Wind family, the Snow Wind techniques would suit you best. Lightning Fire is hot and destructive, while Snow Wind is cold and graceful. If I’m guessing correctly, someone in your family used their soul force to examine your body and give you cultivation advice; you must be practicing the Snow Wind cultivation technique, which is likely the best fit for your physique," I said.
Ye Ziyun’s eyes widened; I had guessed correctly. Her grandfather indeed used his soul force to examine her body before, but that was a secret not known to many. After all, such an examination consumed a significant amount of soul force. How did Naraku know about this?
She blinked, a look of realization crossing her face. "You’re right," she said slowly. "I’ve been practicing the Snow Wind technique under my father’s guidance. He told me it complements my natural soul force and physique well, but I was curious if there were other techniques that might offer something more."
I nodded, smiling slightly. "Curiosity is good—it shows you're willing to explore beyond boundaries, which is a key trait in cultivation. But sometimes, the most suitable path is the one closest to you. Snow Wind techniques may seem graceful and calm, but their power lies in precision and control, not just raw destruction. Mastering them will give you an edge that many overlook."
Ye Ziyun contemplated my words, her expression softening as she began to reconcile her curiosity with the wisdom of sticking to her roots. "I suppose I’ve always admired techniques with explosive power like Lightning Fire because they seemed more... tangible, more exciting. But you’re right. The Snow Wind technique has always felt natural to me."
Seeing Ye Ziyun’s expression, I smiled and said, "Although your family examined your physique before, they definitely couldn’t detect the form of your soul realm. The cultivation technique they chose might not be suitable for you."
"The form of the soul realm?" Ye Ziyun frowned, unsure of what that meant.
"How about letting me examine your soul form?" I asked.
Ye Ziyun raised her head to look at me. After a moment's thought, she shook her head. "No need!" She maintained her distance, cautious of any possible contact. Given my connection to the Sacred Family, she was understandably wary.
"Actually, the method is very simple, and there’s nothing to be afraid of. All you need is an unused soul crystal. By injecting your soul force into it, I just need to observe the crystal for a while to determine the form of your soul realm."
I learned of the existence of soul forms from Lu Piao when I acquired his cultivation technique. While I didn’t possess in-depth knowledge, I was skilled at pretending otherwise.
Furthermore, my Sacred Family had its own resources, and since they planned to become future rulers of Glory City, they possessed information pertaining to the Snow Wind family and their techniques. Though this information might not be particularly profound, when I returned to the Sacred Family, I would make sure to visit our personal library and delve deeper into the texts. It would be enough for me to piece together something convincing by tomorrow.
"Oh? That simple?" Ye Ziyun looked at me apologetically; it seemed she had misunderstood my intentions. A single soul crystal wouldn’t cost much at all.
"If you want to test the form of your soul realm, come find me here tomorrow around this time. I’ll be here further studying the Book of Divine Lightning Fire. And remember to avoid Nie Li; he probably won’t give up so easily." With that, I waved goodbye and turned to leave.
Ye Ziyun stood there, astounded. Usually, when boys talked to her, they sought to prolong the conversation to gain her attention. What kind of person is Naraku, she wondered? She had always thought him as quite arrogant, but now she realized she didn’t understand her classmate at all.
As a transmigrator from another world, I was not foolish enough to make that mistake. I continually sought to get closer to Ye Ziyun, but I understood that reminding her of the persistent young masters chasing after her would only push her further away.
Time was on my side; I would take it slow. I wouldn’t be simping like Nie Li. Instead, I aimed to leave a good impression on Ye Ziyun, gradually earning her favor and building a deeper relationship.
With a plan in mind, I made my way back through the quiet hallways of the Holy Orchid Institute.
---
The next day, I met Ye Ziyun at the library. Fortunately, that brat Nie Li wasn’t around to disrupt things.
Ye Ziyun hesitated for a moment before softly calling out, “Classmate Naraku.”
I turned my head slightly, still seated on the floor with a book open in my lap. “What’s the matter?”
“Classmate Naraku’s knowledge of inscription patterns is profound,” Ye Ziyun began, her tone respectful. “I have some questions for you, if it’s okay.”
“Ask away,” I replied casually, my eyes still skimming the pages. I wasn’t too concerned; whatever she had in mind, I felt confident I could handle.
Ye Ziyun seemed uncertain, likely aware that the questions she wanted to ask weren’t ones ordinary people could easily solve. Coming from one of the major families, her knowledge of inscription patterns already far surpassed that of most of our peers.
What she didn’t know, though, was that I had spent hours the night before poring over everything I could find in my family’s archives. In addition, I’d even borrowed some rare texts from Shen Yue of the Sacred Family. While I hadn’t had the chance to visit the Sacred Family’s personal library yet, I’d already recorded all the relevant information in my template for quick reference.
Ye Ziyun reached into her interspatial ring and pulled out two inscription scrolls. My eyes momentarily flickered with interest—those were no ordinary scrolls.
Inscription patterns were crucial for experts, allowing them to store powerful battle techniques within scrolls. By inscribing these techniques onto the scrolls, they could activate them during combat much faster than performing the techniques manually.
However, these kinds of high-quality inscription scrolls came with a steep price. A simple blank scroll could cost hundreds of demon spirit coins. Bronze rank inscription scrolls? Those would run you about a thousand demon spirit coins. Silver rank? Several thousand. But gold rank inscription scrolls? Their price was in the tens of thousands, depending on the type of technique and the power level of the inscription. The more stars an inscription technique had, the more formidable—and costly—it became.
“These two inscription scrolls are Snow Wind inscriptions,” Ye Ziyun said, slowly unrolling one of the bronze rank scrolls. “There seems to have been an error when they were drawn, which is why they can’t be activated. I’ve been studying them carefully, but I can’t find the root of the issue.”
I scanned the scrolls, using my Byakugan to capture every detail. The information was instantly recorded in my template, and a hologram appeared above the scroll, offering a clear view of the inscription patterns.
As the template analyzed the patterns, I knew it would take some time, but I didn't need it to solve this problem. My own comprehension, combined with the Byakugan, would suffice.
After a few moments, the error became clear. Though I wasn’t a master in inscription patterns, my understanding was good enough, and with the Byakugan’s ability to pierce through illusions and hidden flaws, spotting the mistake was easy.
I raised an eyebrow, glancing at Ye Ziyun. “Even if the professors couldn’t figure out the issue with these bronze inscription patterns, given your family background, you could have asked your father for help, right?”
A flicker of sadness passed through Ye Ziyun’s eyes. She had never known her mother, and her father, the City Lord, was constantly occupied with his duties. Her grandfather, a legendary demon spiritist, was often away, leading expeditions in the St. Ancestral Mountains to protect Glory City from threats. She had no one to turn to for guidance.
Understanding this, I softened my tone. “If you ever need help in the future, you can find me here around this time.”
Ye Ziyun seemed taken aback by my offer, but she nodded quietly.
I returned my attention to the scrolls. The inscription itself seemed flawless at first glance, and these scrolls should have activated properly. But if the problem wasn’t with the inscription, then it had to be with the imprinting process.
Creating battle scrolls required not only perfect inscription but also precise use of the right materials and the correct method to imprint the energy onto the scroll. The problem was likely hidden in the way the energy had been applied, or perhaps the materials used were not of the right quality.
“It’s not the inscription that’s the issue,” I said, standing up and brushing off my robe. “The imprinting method or the materials used are likely at fault. These scrolls can be fixed, but they’ll need to be re-imprinted with proper energy flow and, if necessary, on new materials.”
Ye Ziyun’s eyes widened. “You mean the entire process was flawed?”
I pointed at one of the two bronze rank inscription scrolls, smirking slightly as I began to explain.
"This bronze rank inscription scroll contains the Snow Wind Attribute’s Icy Wind, Sharp as Knives inscription. While the structure of the inscription seems fine, the real issue lies in the scroll itself—it’s a faulty one. You won’t be able to activate it."
"Faulty?" Ye Ziyun repeated, her surprise evident.
"Exactly," I said. "The person who made this was either careless or deliberately cut corners. If you don’t have sharp eyes, it’s easy to get tricked into buying something like this." I let out a small laugh before continuing. "The Icy Wind, Sharp as Knives inscription is supposed to be drawn using the blood of a Snow Wind Spiritual Worm. Normally, the blood of an adult Snow Wind Spiritual Worm is silver-grey. But this one? It’s silvery-red, which tells me it was drawn using the blood of a larval Snow Wind Spiritual Worm. The blood from a larva simply doesn’t have enough potency, and that’s why this inscription can’t be activated."
Ye Ziyun’s eyes widened in understanding. "So that’s it... I never considered something like that."
"Neither did your professors," I replied, noticing her astonishment. "I’m guessing that’s why none of them could figure out the problem. The inscription itself is technically correct, which threw everyone off. But without the right materials, it’s just decoration."
Ye Ziyun fell silent for a moment, clearly processing what I had said. "I consulted several professors and even the vice principal, but none of them caught this... It’s surprising the problem was something so small yet so crucial."
I nodded. "That’s the tricky part about inscriptions. It’s not just about the pattern—it’s the materials, the method, even the source of energy. Every detail matters. If one piece is off, even a perfectly drawn inscription becomes useless."
She looked at me, visibly impressed. "Naraku, I didn’t expect you to know so much about this."
I shrugged nonchalantly. "Sometimes, all it takes is paying attention to the details. The Snow Wind Spiritual Worm’s blood is something most people would overlook. It’s an easy mistake to make, but costly in practice."
This mystery had been weighing on Ye Ziyun's mind for a long time. Until today, when it was finally resolved.
Her entire approach had been wrong; there had never been an issue with the inscription itself. It was no wonder she couldn’t find the problem—she had been looking in the wrong place!
But how could Naraku, with just one glance, uncover what even the professors and vice principal couldn't? The precision and depth of his knowledge seemed far beyond what she had encountered before. Could it be that Naraku’s understanding surpassed even theirs?
In reality, my knowledge wasn’t nearly as deep as that of those experts at the institute. But as a researcher in my previous life, I had learned not to make hasty assumptions. Narrow thinking could blind you to the truth. Sometimes, finding the answer required questioning the very fundamentals of a problem.
Ye Ziyun’s wariness toward me began to fade, replaced by a growing admiration. Naraku’s knowledge is vast and precise, she thought, her mind slowly shifting. Surely, someone so knowledgeable couldn’t have a bad character, right?
I could feel her guard lowering as she warmed up to me, though I kept my expression neutral. Gaining her trust was all part of the plan, but there was no need to rush things.
"What about this bronze rank inscription?" Ye Ziyun asked, pointing to the other scroll. As she did, her gaze lingered on me—my sharp brows, refined features, and dark hair that framed my face. There was no denying I had a presence that demanded attention.
I examined the scroll and replied, "This inscription pattern is the Snow Wind attribute’s Icy Wind, Sudden Snow. Originally, this was a silver rank inscription pattern, but the version left behind from the Age of Darkness was incomplete. Over time, people attempted to patch it, but in doing so, they caused it to drop in rank, reducing it to a bronze rank inscription."
Ye Ziyun’s brows furrowed. She had never heard of such history behind this inscription. Where was this recorded? How could she have missed something like this in her studies?
In truth, I had just fabricated that part. But from my analysis using the template, I could see that some parts of this inscription were flawed—its structure was incomplete. It wasn’t uncommon for old inscriptions to be patched hastily, which often led to errors. My Byakugan had already pinpointed the flaw moments ago, but there was no need to reveal that yet.
I continued speaking, "In addition to being demoted to a bronze rank, the patches to Icy Wind, Sudden Snow introduced structural flaws. That's why it frequently fails to activate. It just needs to be corrected."
"Structural changes? How would you change it?" Ye Ziyun’s voice was filled with doubt. Even her legendary grandfather wouldn’t dare tamper with ancient inscription patterns—these were considered perfect forms, passed down through the ages. Altering them was no simple task, even for someone of his rank.
I gave her a calm look. "Do you have a pen?"
With a slight hesitation, Ye Ziyun retrieved a silver horn pen from her interspatial ring, crafted from the horns of a rare horned sheep.
I turned my attention to the task at hand, activating my Byakugan as I reached for a blank sheet of paper. The corrected version of the inscription pattern appeared in my vision, projected like a hologram on the blank paper, and I began sketching.
Each stroke was precise, the pattern emerging flawlessly, like it had been printed by a machine. My fingers moved effortlessly, translating the complex geometry of the inscription with a few simple strokes.
As the pattern of Icy Wind, Sudden Snow took shape on the paper, Ye Ziyun couldn’t suppress her amazement. The once-simple inscription had evolved into something more intricate, its complexity doubling. She studied it, brows furrowed, clearly struggling to comprehend the changes.
"Alright, this is the completed Icy Wind, Sudden Snow inscription," I said casually. "It should function as a silver rank inscription pattern now."
Ye Ziyun’s gaze lingered on the new design, her doubt still evident. The updated version was far more complicated than before, and while she couldn't yet verify its effectiveness, it was clear she was impressed. "This inscription pattern is now built with 36 foundational strokes, forming a much more stable structure. The previous one was too unstable," I explained.
She nodded, still unsure but choosing not to challenge me further. She tucked the altered inscription pattern away, likely planning to have it tested and crafted into a proper scroll. After all, without the right materials, even the most brilliant design was only theory.
For the next few hours, we discussed other topics—Snow Wind inscription patterns, cultivation techniques, and the intricacies of both. Slowly, Ye Ziyun’s wariness dissolved. The more questions I answered, the more she seemed to realize the depth of my knowledge. How much study and dedication would it take to reach this level of expertise? Her admiration grew.
"Classmate Naraku, thank you so much for your help," Ye Ziyun said with a smile as she prepared to leave. "Shall we meet here next week, same time?"
"Of course," I replied, watching her depart with a slight nod.