Invite

Invite...

The night hung in silence, undisturbed like calm waters.

Qin Wentian devoted himself to cultivation within the confines of his room. Brilliant columns of Astral Light descended from the heavens, casting intense beams that danced upon the room's ceiling.

In her courtyard, Leng Ning swayed gently on a vine swing suspended between two sturdy trees. In her childhood, her mother used to push her on this very swing, but since her mother's passing, her life had become increasingly mundane. Her father's low status within the clan didn't help; he often yielded to the decisions of the clan's elders without question.

Sighing softly at her circumstances, Leng Ning couldn't help but think of Qin Wentian. She chuckled to herself, finding him rather amusing. Qin Wentian's audacity in admitting he was in a relationship with Mo Qingcheng was laughable. Even when faced with such an obvious lie, he had simply nodded along.

As dawn approached, Qin Wentian emerged from his room. Seeing Leng Ning peacefully asleep on the vine swing, he walked over and gently covered her with his coat.

Leng Ning stirred, her eyelashes fluttering as she gradually woke up. She smiled when she saw Qin Wentian and greeted him, "Good morning, Mr. Grandmaster Inscriptionist."

"Eh..." Qin Wentian sweatdropped. "Good morning."

"It's already morning. Would you like some breakfast? I'll go prepare something." Leng Ning gracefully descended from the swing and fetched some light pastries. Although Yuanfu Realm cultivators didn't require regular meals to sustain themselves, many still enjoyed indulging in the flavors of food from time to time.

"Not bad," Qin Wentian remarked with a smile as he took a bite.

"High praise from a Grandmaster. Should I inform the other two young masters as well? It's almost time for our lessons at the White Deer Institute."

"No need," Qin Wentian replied. "Chu Mang and Fan Le have no interest in Divine Inscriptions. They can stay here and focus on their own cultivation."

"Alright, let's get going then," Leng Ning agreed, and they set off for the White Deer Institute.

However, just as they reached the institute's entrance, they found themselves blocked by a figure.

Yan Kong, dressed in a deep blue robe, stood before them. His followers wore scowls as they obstructed Qin Wentian and Leng Ning's path.

"I heard you spent the night in her courtyard," Yan Kong said, narrowing his eyes at Qin Wentian.

Leng Ning furrowed her brows and shot a sharp look at Yan Kong. "Yan Kong, you have no business meddling in my affairs."

"Soon, you'll become a member of my Yan Clan. You better watch your actions," Yan Kong warned, locking eyes with Qin Wentian. "It's fine if you have a fondness for women, but there are some women you aren't qualified to touch. Otherwise, you won't even realize how you've met your end. Consider this a friendly warning—you'd be wise to distance yourself from the Leng Clan as soon as possible."

After their mocking departure, Yan Kong and his followers strolled into the Institute.

Leng Ning felt a tinge of guilt. "I'm sorry for causing you trouble."

"Why are you apologizing? We chose to stay in your residence," Qin Wentian replied nonchalantly, as if he couldn't care less. Fan Le had informed him that while Yan Kong's cultivation was at the third level of Yuanfu, his proficiency in the Dao of Divine Inscriptions was only at the peak of the second level. He posed no real threat to Qin Wentian. The real issue was the potential trouble that his clan might bring. Nevertheless, if Yan Kong decided to confront him, Qin Wentian was more than willing to oblige.

Leng Ning observed Qin Wentian and asked, "Do you want to move out?"

"It's fine, just ignore him," Qin Wentian said and walked into the Institute without giving Yan Kong any more thought. Leng Ning watched him go and shook her head. This guy seemed to have a penchant for trying to act cool. He had nothing to say to Yan Kong, but the moment Yan Kong was gone, he reverted to his cool, aloof demeanor, leaving her utterly speechless.

Inside the Institute, Qin Wentian immersed himself in the study of Divine Inscriptions. The White Deer Institute's teachings had broadened his understanding of the Dao of Divine Inscriptions.

In the past, he had only known that Divine Inscriptions could be used to craft weapons and convert Divine Energy. Now, he realized that his previous knowledge was just the tip of the iceberg. The Dao of Divine Inscriptions was vast and profound.

According to the Institute's teachings, the Dao of Divine Inscriptions could be categorized into four main branches:

Divine Inscriptions for Forging Weapons – used in crafting Divine Weapons.

Divine Inscriptions for Etching Formations – employed to set up various kinds of formations or arrays.

Divine Inscriptions for Battle – involved in combat, like manifesting sword beams from Sword-Type Divine Inscriptions.

Divine Inscriptions for Refining Puppets – using Divine Inscriptions to create and enhance puppets.

As Qin Wentian delved into these teachings, he marveled at the immense depth and complexity of the Dao of Divine Inscriptions, realizing that he had only scratched the surface before.

Although the White Deer Institute didn't provide detailed instructions on refining puppets, Qin Wentian was filled with excitement. He had already made the connection that Divine Inscriptions and Innate Techniques were rooted in the same source. He had shown that he could harness innate techniques through Divine Inscriptions, using his arterial pathways as a conduit. Similarly, when he converted Astral Energy to Divine Energy using Divine Inscriptions, he also used his arterial pathways. With this in mind, Qin Wentian had a bold hypothesis: could the arterial pathways in human bodies be a form of runic outline derived from the same source as Divine Inscriptions? If so, he might have unlocked insights into the Dao of Puppet Refinement.

Aside from lectures on the Dao of Divine Inscriptions, the White Deer Institute instructors covered various subjects, including research methods, inscription techniques, and how to nullify inscriptions. Without realizing it, the one-month timeframe was nearing its end. For people like Fan Le, it had indeed been a costly month in terms of Yuan Meteor Stones. But for Qin Wentian, the knowledge he gained far exceeded the expense.

Inside the Institute, Bailu Yi stood in front of an inscription stone wall, emanating an aura of purity that captivated countless males.

"Alright, since tomorrow marks the end of the one-month period, I won't hold the final lecture within the Institute. Instead, I intend to take all of you to the Hell Arena in the Eastern City to witness a battle using Divine Inscriptions," Bailu Yi announced, causing many in the crowd to raise their eyebrows. The Hell Arena.

Curious, Qin Wentian leaned towards Leng Ning and asked quietly, "What's the Hell Arena?"

Leng Ning wore a solemn expression, her scalp tingling at the mere mention of the Hell Arena. Wasn't Bailu Yi being a bit too audacious? She wanted to take them to the Hell Arena?

"The most insane place in the Moon Continent, known as either Heaven or Hell, or even the Grandest Casino of the Grand Xia Empire. People there are willing to wager their lives for profit," Leng Ning explained, prompting a thoughtful expression from Qin Wentian.

"Moreover, after tomorrow, I plan to choose one person from this group to continue their study of the Dao of Divine Inscriptions with me," Bailu Yi added, sparking excitement in the students' eyes. They all wondered who would be the fortunate one to become Bailu Yi's student in the art of Divine Inscriptions.

Upon hearing her words, many eyes turned to Yan Kong. It was logical to assume that Bailu Yi would select the student with the highest proficiency in the Dao of Divine Inscriptions, which would likely be Yan Kong.

However, Qin Wentian had a different perspective. He noticed that Bailu Yi had cast several glances in his direction. Qin Wentian understood that his Sword-type Divine Inscription, which had garnered Bailu Yi's attention a month ago, played a part. Throughout the past month, he had subtly hinted at his talent in the Dao of Divine Inscriptions.

This was his chance to make contact with the "hidden" members of the Azure Faction. It seemed that opportunity had come knocking.

"Leng Ning, I'd like to invite Bailu Yi for a meal after this. You can head back first," Qin Wentian whispered to Leng Ning beside him. His statement left Leng Ning utterly flabbergasted. After recovering from her surprise, she shot Qin Wentian a glare. "Bailu Yi rarely interacts with men. Even a few days ago, Yan Kong asked her out and was rejected. Where do you get such confidence from?"

Qin Wentian simply nodded, seemingly unfazed. Leng Ning had no words left to say. If he wanted to run headlong into a brick wall, let him do so.

Yan Kong, seated a few rows ahead of them, turned to look at Qin Wentian. This guy was incredibly stubborn. Despite Yan Kong's previous warnings, Qin Wentian still hadn't moved out of Leng Ning's courtyard. Now, he wanted to take Bailu Yi out for a meal? It was preposterous.

"All right, that's all for today. Class dismissed," Bailu Yi declared.

"Teacher Bailu," Qin Wentian called out as he saw Bailu Yi preparing to leave.

Bailu Yi halted, her attention now fully on Qin Wentian. She had been impressed by him from the beginning. Throughout the month, Qin Wentian had been diligent in his studies, asking questions without hesitation, no matter how elementary they seemed. He didn't mind being seen as a novice.

Bailu Yi found it curious how someone who struggled with the basics could inscribe such a profound Divine Inscription. She sensed that Qin Wentian's level of expertise might not be limited to just the peak of the second level. This was why she had announced her intention to select a student to continue studying with her.

"Is there something you need?" Bailu Yi inquired.

"May I have the pleasure of inviting Teacher Bailu for a meal? I have some questions about Divine Inscriptions, and I wonder if Teacher Bailu would be available?" Qin Wentian stepped forward, a polite smile gracing his face as he made his request.

A collective exhale swept through the group of students. Qin Wentian's audacious invitation sent shockwaves through their ranks. Was he out of his mind? Did he think he was dreaming? He wanted to take the goddess of Divine Inscriptions out for a meal?

Was he trying to become the laughingstock of the school? They were all waiting for the inevitable rejection that would turn Qin Wentian into a joke. After all, when Yan Kong had asked Bailu Yi out, she had swiftly and resolutely declined.

Yan Kong stared at Qin Wentian, thinking he looked utterly ridiculous. His gaze then shifted to Leng Ning, and he couldn't help but chuckle softly. "Is your friend all right in the head?"

Laughter erupted among the onlookers.

Leng Ning's face turned extremely unpleasant, but she couldn't control Qin Wentian's actions, could she? She had already warned him!

However, at that very moment, a melodious voice wafted through the air. Yan Kong's face twitched, his mocking smile frozen in place, and his eyes widened so much that it seemed like his eyeballs might pop out.