Pressure

Pressure...

Bailu Yi's heart raced within her chest, her beautiful eyes locked in an unblinking gaze upon Qin Wentian.

"Fourth-rank?" Her voice wavered as her rosy lips formed the question.

On the Moon Continent, the youngest fourth-ranked Inscriptionists were no younger than fifty, with the majority of them being eccentric elders aged a hundred or more. These extraordinary geniuses often excelled in both cultivation and inscription, yet focused their efforts predominantly on advancing their martial prowess. The painstaking path of Divine Inscriptions was largely ignored by such individuals.

Qin Wentian, however, was in a category of his own.

"Not yet," Qin Wentian replied with a smile, prompting Bailu Yi to release a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. In response to his words, her twin peaks inadvertently jiggled, creating a mesmerizing effect that she was blissfully unaware of.

"You scared me," she chided with a glare.

"Which rank of Inscription is this?" Qin Wentian inquired, gesturing toward the seemingly unremarkable vertical line he had etched earlier—a deceptively simple mark that concealed a potent sword-type Inscription within.

"The third rank," Bailu Yi answered, her eyes still brimming with astonishment. Although Qin Wentian hadn't ascended to the fourth rank, he had transcended the norm in his understanding of the Dao of Divine Inscriptions. How many third-ranked Inscriptionists could inscribe a third-ranked Inscription instantaneously with a mere flick of their fingers? Such a feat might even elude some fourth-ranked Inscriptionists.

"Instantaneous inscriptions, and you've condensed the essence of that sword-type Inscription into a single line. A remarkable breakthrough indeed," Bailu Yi observed with a smile.

"It's all thanks to your advice—reverting to simplicity from complexity. Before this, from the first to the second rank, and on to the third, the nature of the Inscriptions was fundamentally simple, gradually growing more intricate. Each runic outline weaves together to form a clearer, more intricate design as our understanding of Divine Inscriptions deepens. The complexity naturally corresponds to the level of difficulty. But following this principle, if we want to progress from the third to the fourth rank, wouldn't that entail incorporating even more runic outlines, making the Inscriptions exponentially more intricate? If that's the case, inscribing fourth-ranked Inscriptions would become immeasurably challenging."

Bailu Yi nodded in agreement. "You're right. That's why those who excel in both cultivation and inscription often choose to concentrate on their martial path. Advancing from the third to the fourth rank might be more formidable than transitioning from Yuanfu to Heavenly Dipper. Furthermore, in battle, a Heavenly Dipper Sovereign could dispatch a fourth-ranked Divine Inscriptionist before they complete their inscription. Real battles seldom allow for the leisure of inscribing fourth-ranked Inscriptions."

Qin Wentian grasped the inherent truth behind this logic; it was an argument that Di Cheng had used to belittle him, and it carried validity. If this weren't the case, Qin Wentian's peak-tier attainment among third-ranked inscriptionists would have translated to a combat capability comparable to that of peak-level Yuanfu cultivators. But alas, such an equivalence was far from reality.

The cultivation path and the Dao of Divine Inscriptions simply couldn't be correlated in such a direct manner.

Nevertheless, this disparity wouldn't undermine the prestige and reverence bestowed upon a fourth-ranked Inscriptionist. After all, a fourth-ranked Inscriptionist possessed the capacity to forge fourth-level Divine Weapons and construct fourth-ranked formations. Their expertise was in high demand, sought after even by Heavenly Dipper Sovereigns.

"The journey of cultivation, much like the path of Divine Inscriptions, is diverse in its approaches," Qin Wentian replied. "Other Inscriptionists surely have their own methods for inscribing, whereas my method—reverting to simplicity from complexity—is my personal comprehension. It's a part of who I am. At any rate, the path becomes clearer as one progresses. While I remain a third-rank Inscriptionist for now, crossing into the fourth rank is merely a matter of time."

Qin Wentian's words conveyed a sense of matter-of-fact confidence, void of any conceit. His distinct inscription technique owed much to the Spirit Refinement Method he had uncovered within an old sage's memory fragment. This method hinged on using Divine Inscriptions to transform Astral Energy into Divine Energy. Indicators of its mastery included the instant conversion of Divine Energy from Astral Energy using any first-ranked Divine Inscription, and the same for second-ranked ones at their respective levels.

As of now, Qin Wentian hadn't yet achieved perfection in the third level of the Spirit Refinement Method. Yet, he could effortlessly execute certain simpler third-ranked Inscriptions with the swiftness of thought. This implied that he had, at the very least, reached the great success stage of the third level—a mere step away from perfection.

Indeed, the Spirit Refinement Method was the cornerstone of Qin Wentian's unique inscription approach.

"In essence, are you suggesting that you're on the brink of a breakthrough to the fourth rank?"

"Since I've unlocked this insight, advancing to the next rank is just a matter of delving deeper into its understanding. It's like I've already found the door—I just need to swing it open wider. It shouldn't pose too much of a challenge," Qin Wentian said, a smile gracing his lips. His casual remark sent a fresh wave of excitement coursing through Bailu Yi's heart.

A nineteen-year-old fourth-ranked Inscriptionist?

The very idea seemed to set her heart racing.

"I guess I'll have to retreat into seclusion again," Qin Wentian sighed with a hint of resignation. While his primary focus was on enhancing his cultivation, the Dao of Divine Inscriptions was a way for him to rapidly earn recognition from the White Deer Institute. Thus, he had temporarily decided to concentrate on this aspect, striving to break through to the fourth rank.

This way, as a nineteen-year-old fourth-ranked Inscriptionist, he'd command respect and recognition akin to the top-ranking individuals on the Heavenly Fate Ranking.

The White Deer Institute would inevitably regard him in a new light, smoothing his journey toward taking control once he finally unveiled the Azure Emperor Token.

"Alright, give it your all and concentrate. You absolutely must break through, okay?" Bailu Yi's small fist clenched tightly in the air, her smile a mix of innocence and beauty. "Once you enter the fourth rank and couple that with the authority token, no one will dare challenge your control."

"Indeed," Qin Wentian agreed, understanding that the weight of a fourth-ranked Inscriptionist brandishing the authority token was immeasurably heavier than a fourth-level Yuanfu cultivator doing the same.

Bailu Yi then raised her hand and clenched her fist, a gesture that Qin Wentian mirrored. Their fists connected in a gentle "boom" before she turned and walked away. It was a fist bump of camaraderie and encouragement.

Qin Wentian took a deep breath before seating himself in a cross-legged position, his mind ready to be cleared. Time was all he needed.

Before Di Feng's hold on the Institute became irreversible, Qin Wentian had to change the course by revealing the authority token. Otherwise, it would be too late.

...

In the tranquil depths of the back mountains, a carpet of green grass extended as far as the eye could see. Sunshine, rain, and a gentle breeze graced the area, nurturing it. Here, a young man sat cross-legged with closed eyes, seemingly insulated from the outside world. Nothing could disrupt the serenity he felt within.

Beside him, a snow-white pup attempted to mimic his posture, struggling to sit cross-legged—an effort that came off as adorably comical.

During the daytime, the snow-white pup would engage in whimsical escapades, often chasing its tail in circles. Other times, it displayed a sense of camaraderie, affectionately licking the young man's face as if it regarded him as family. Yet, the most astonishing spectacle occurred nightly when beams of Astral Light cascaded down, penetrating the pup's body. This infusion of starlight transformed it into a radiant creature, emitting a luminous golden glow.

Meanwhile, Chu Mang and Fan Le faced the relentless challenges of the Moon Continent's grueling landmark—the Hell Arena. In this crucible of real-life battles, their combat prowess skyrocketed.

Chu Mang had long broken through to the sixth level of Yuanfu, while Fan Le had just advanced to the fourth level.

The two of them frequently engaged in sparring matches. Although Fan Le's cultivation lagged behind Chu Mang's, his activation of the bloodline limit allowed him to barely keep pace, making their fights evenly matched. This time proved to be well-spent, as the Moon Continent offered a far more immersive experience than the smaller realm of Chu.

Amidst these events, the Moon Continent buzzed with another significant development: news about a figure named Qin Wentian, who had stumbled upon a stroke of good fortune—the inheritance of the Ascendant. The revelation of an ancient scroll of Divine Inscriptions from a secret realm instantly sparked waves of excitement. Greed simmered within several Grandmasters, lured by the tantalizing prospect.

The Gold-Element Ascendant wasn't just a powerhouse in terms of cultivation; he was also a formidable fifth-ranked Divine Inscriptionist. The allure of this inheritance was irresistible to fourth-ranked Inscriptionists.

Yet, when their investigations revealed that Qin Wentian resided in the White Deer Institute, many aspirations were dashed. The White Deer Institute was renowned for its expertise in Divine Inscriptions. With Qin Wentian present there, it seemed likely that the inheritance had found its way into the Institute's possession. Subsequent findings indicated that Qin Wentian had remained within the White Deer Institute for an extended period. This either implied that his movement was restricted or that he was held captive by the Institute's elders.

In the midst of the growing attention on Qin Wentian, the man remained entrenched in closed-door seclusion within the depths of the White Deer Institute's back mountains.

On this particular day, Bailu You led two junior disciples towards the back mountains, but as they reached the base, they encountered Bailu Yi, who stood in their way.

"Little Yi, what is the meaning of this?" Bailu You's face wore an unhappy expression as he spoke with a touch of irritation.

"Uncle You, I'm aware of your purpose here. He's currently in closed-door seclusion. I ask that you refrain from disturbing him," responded Bailu Yi. Bailu You, the elder son of Bailu Tong, held some proficiency in the Dao of Divine Inscriptions, although not particularly high. His intentions for visiting the back mountains were transparent.

"When did an outsider occupy the back mountains of my White Deer Institute? Shouldn't someone with the surname Bailu be able to enter?" Bailu You scoffed with a cold smile. "I'm here today because there are important guests who wish to meet with him. Even if I didn't mention it, you should understand their significance."

"He won't meet them," Bailu Yi asserted with unshakeable certainty. She was well aware of the identity of these individuals. Lately, numerous fourth-ranked Divine Inscriptionists had come to the White Deer Institute, all eager to meet Qin Wentian.

The institute couldn't afford to reject the visits of these fourth-ranked Grandmasters due to their influential backgrounds. However, it was apparent to Bailu Yi that someone intended to exploit these fourth-ranked Divine Inscriptionists to exert pressure on Qin Wentian.

With the mounting pressure, if the Institute abandoned him, Qin Wentian would be isolated in the Moon Continent. His only remaining option for safety would be to surrender the ancient scroll to the White Deer Institute—an outcome that would undoubtedly serve his best interests.

"Really? Your friend is quite arrogant if he won't even meet fourth-ranked Grandmasters," Bailu You sneered. "Even if he chooses to decline the meetings, he should have the courtesy to reject them personally. Step aside."

With those words, Bailu You continued advancing, but Bailu Yi's figure flickered, and she reappeared before him, obstructing his path once more.

"IMPUDENT!" Bailu You bellowed, unleashing a formidable aura. At this point, he discarded familial considerations. He was prepared to confront Bailu Yi directly if that was what it took to see Qin Wentian today.

Bailu Yi's expression turned grim. She hadn't anticipated that a family member would turn against her.

"If Senior wishes to meet me, why would I refuse?" A voice, seeming almost ethereal, drifted from a distance, causing Bailu Yi's eyes to light up. The owner of that voice was someone she recognized all too well!