Chapter 6: Wind Blade Spirit Rune Plate

Chapter 6: Wind Blade Spirit Rune Plate

Cang Cheng picked up a Spirit Rune Plate and observed it with curiosity.

The Spirit Rune Plate was made of a special synthetic metal designed to store and release spirit runes. Injecting energy activates the rune’s effect. It was portable, plug-and-play, but degraded with each use.

It resembled a magic scroll.

Cang Cheng tapped the Spirit Rune Plate with his knuckle, producing a dull sound.

Then he ran his fingers gently over the plate and injected a bit of magic to probe it.

As soon as the magic touched the plate, it was like water entering a swamp, moving sluggishly.

Increasing the output made the magic flow slightly smoother.

This Spirit Rune Plate consumes a significant amount of magic power… It was not nearly as efficient as the magic vein stones and magic scrolls from the Siaxi Continent.

At least 40% more magic was wasted.

Cang Cheng: "Is this the only material used for the Spirit Rune Plate?"

Hilmeth: "This is the only type.

This is the standardized Spirit Rune Plate released by the Academy of the Star Region 50 years ago, and all Spirit Rune Masters use it."

Cang Cheng felt slightly disappointed. "The energy waste is quite substantial. This metal has excessively high internal resistance. Using materials with better conductivity and absorption could greatly reduce the energy consumption during the rune crafting process."

It was the first time Hilmeth had encountered someone making requests about the standard Spirit Rune Plate.

He couldn't help but ponder.

Before the Canglan Awakening War, the Canglan Star Region favored hot weapons. This led to the fact that even after the entire star region changed its combat methods and began to get used to using Spirit Runes, the researchers in the star region still focused most of their efforts on updating hot weapons, neglecting the development of Spirit Runes carriers.

Thus, the hot weapons of the Canglan Star Region were updated batch after batch, while the last update of the Spirit Rune Plate had been 50 years ago.

Thinking about it, the Canglan Star Region had indeed neglected the development of Spirit Runes over the years.

Hilmes made a mental note of the matter.

If he wakes up, he’ll mention it to the Academy!

Cang Cheng focused entirely on the runic plate, with blue magical energy flickering and condensing at his fingertips. As his fingers moved, a pattern soon appeared on the dark gray plate.

Hilmes was startled, “Cang Cheng, wait—”

Drawing runes on the plate requires a specialized pen. Without it, the spiritual energy would become uneven, potentially causing the plate to explode.

Cang Cheng looked up, his bright black eyes blinking, “What is it?”

The blue magical energy at his fingertips had faded, and a diagonal ‘slash’ pattern was now visible on the previously blank plate, occasionally glowing with a bright hue.

“A specialized pen helps regulate the energy flow while drawing runes on the plate.”

“Oh, there’s a specialized tool for it! No wonder this plate is so difficult to use.”

Cang Cheng scratched his head, “This plate isn’t user-friendly. The energy output is too hard to control! I almost failed.”

After complaining, Cang Cheng handed the plate to Hilmes, “Was it successful?”

Hilmes glanced at it and knew the plate had been successfully inscribed.

Cang Cheng had completed the plate without using a pen.

Hilmes was taken aback.

“Inject magic into it, and it will activate its effect.”

Cang Cheng opened the window and took out the plate, injecting magic into it.

In the next moment, the plate lit up, and a wind blade about 30cm wide appeared out of thin air, shooting straight up into the sky with a whoosh.

It vanished once the wind dispersed into the air.

“Success!”

Cang Cheng smiled brightly.

Although it was just a basic Wind Blade, successfully creating a wind blade spirit rune plate in a different world made the forbidden magic mage Cang Cheng incredibly happy.

He ran to Hilmeth, looked up with sparkling eyes, and said, "Mo, did you see it? I succeeded!"

Hilmeth nodded, his face serious as he praised him, "You did a great job."

"Why do you look so unhappy? Can you smile a little?"

Cang Cheng stood on tiptoe and moved closer to Hilmeth’s face, starting to tease him.

Hilmeth turned away, and Cang Cheng turned to follow.

Hilmeth stepped back, and Cang Cheng moved closer.

Hilmeth furrowed his brow, and Cang Cheng smiled even more brightly.

……

In the end, Hilmeth had no choice but to furrow his brow and lower his voice, "Stop fooling around."

Cang Cheng finally stood still and sighed.

"You don’t seem happy for me at all, do you? I’m so sad.

Oh, even though we are the closest people in this world, you're ignoring me and always keep a straight face.

I’m so pitiful..."

Hilmeth heard but stayed silent.

"Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore."

Seeing that Hilmeth really wasn’t saying anything, Cang Cheng stopped teasing him.

"Anyway, thank you for teaching me these skills. You’ve taught me well, Mo, it’s wonderful to have you around."

After a moment of silence, Hilmeth simply uttered a monosyllable, "Hmm."

The tip of the tail wrapped around his thigh was twitching slightly and uncontrollably.

Cang Cheng then created another Wind Blade rune, and under Hilmeth's guidance, uploaded it to the database and set its level using the light computer.

"A new rune has been detected, Level C. Please assign a name to the rune."

Cang Cheng had no difficulty coming up with a name and named it on the spot: "Wind Blade."

"Level C rune 'Wind Blade' has been logged into the database, with default restricted authorization. Please authenticate the rune with your Rune Master name and draw your signature on the projection screen."

Cang Cheng understood the signing process—it was simply his publicly known name.

Without much hesitation, Cang Cheng drew his name on the projection screen using the name ANKEN, which he uses in the Siaxi Continent.

"No duplicate Rune Master name detected. Would you like to create a new Rune Master account?"

"Yes."

"Please channel your mental energy into the designated area. The system will immediately determine your Rune Master level."

Cang Cheng hesitated and glanced at Hilmeth.

He had just transferred into a new body; would this test detect that?

Hilmeth thought Cang Cheng was worried about having a low detected level, which could be disappointing.

"Don't worry, you must have just awakened, right?"

The original Cang Cheng hadn't awakened; it was only after Cang Cheng, the forbidden spell mage, arrived that he was able to use magic resembling mental energy.

In that sense, Hilmeth wasn't wrong to say he had just awakened.

"For the first three years after awakening, you'll be in the growth phase of your abilities. Even if your starting level is low, there's plenty of room for growth."

"Did you achieve an S+ level later on?" Cang Cheng asked, curious.

"Yes, my initial grade was A+."

Hilmeth didn't hide it.

However, due to his mixed human and alien heritage, he reached S+ grade within half a year after awakening.

Cang Cheng took a deep breath and released magic from his fingertips.

"Assessing ability..."

"Assessment complete.

Vocational aptitude: Spirit Rune Master

Mental strength: B

Physical strength: D"

"'ANKEN' Spirit Rune Master profile has been established; you can use this account to log into the holographic network 'Canglan World'."

Only a B rank?

That's so weak.

Cang Cheng said, dissatisfied.

Hilmeth said, "In the Canglan Star Region, B-grade Spirit Rune Masters are respected as much as planetary governors. If I recall correctly, fewer than 5,000 people in the entire star region have achieved the B-grade rank."

It wasn’t so bad, after all.

Cang Cheng felt reassured.

Cang Cheng asked, "What is Canglan World?"

"Canglan World is a virtual holographic world developed 60 years ago for awakened individuals. Its main features include a trading street, an auction house for rare items, an arena for friendly combat, a training ground to enhance skills, and a simulated battlefield with 90% realism."

Hilmeth explained, "You can explore it or test your rune in the arena."

Trading street, auction house, and more...

It sounds similar to the functional places on the Siaxi Continent, but... Creating a virtual world that can accommodate so many people using only magic would be quite difficult in the Azure Star Region.

The Azure Star Region is really fascinating.

"How do I enter?"

"Place the connector on your temple and release your mental energy. Battles and crafting Spirit Runes in the Azure World will also consume your own energy, so if you feel any discomfort, log out immediately."

"Alright, I got it. I'm going in."

Cang Cheng placed the network connector on his temple and released his mental energy.

After a distorted dark-blue tunnel flashed before his eyes, Cang Cheng opened his eyes to find himself in the bustling virtual world of "Azure World."

Towering white metallic buildings, bustling streets, and sensory fidelity of nearly 60%...

This was Cang Cheng's first time entering a virtual world this way, and it felt somewhat strange.

Well... how to put it, it felt as if his senses were wrapped in a beautiful canvas, creating a sense of distance.

If it were an illusion-type spell, the sense of distance wouldn't be as strong.

"Detected: ID 'ANKEN' is entering the virtual world for the first time, please construct your appearance."

So, you can even change your appearance—

That’s quite interesting.

Cang Cheng concentrated his thoughts, and a pure white mask adorned with blue patterns appeared in his hand.

He placed the mask on his face.

The mask covered the upper half of his face, leaving only a pair of deep black eyes exposed.

They were a deep black, and without the beauty mark to complement them, the black eyes appeared unusually cold, frigid like winter.

However, his exposed lower face, with its pale thin lips slightly curled upwards, neutralized the coldness conveyed by his eyes.

As for clothing, Cang Cheng chose a style that was popular among magicians on the Siaxi Continent.

The upper body featured a wide white cloak, embellished with a few sapphires, and a meticulously crafted shirt beneath.

The lower body was dressed in tailored, form-fitting trousers, decorated with metal patterns on the sides.

Traditional attire in the Canglan Star Region was mostly form-fitting styles that allowed for ease of movement, which made Cang Cheng, used to wearing mage robes, feel somewhat out of place.

Clothing styles from the Siaxi Continent are more comfortable. I’ll have Philip make me a few pieces later!

Cang Cheng quickly finalized his appearance.

"Mo, what do you think of my clothes..."

No sooner had he spoken than Cang Cheng realized that Mo hadn’t come to the Canglan World with him, which left him momentarily displeased.

Why can’t Mo come in?

He rated the Canglan World poorly.

After silently cursing the Canglan World a few times, Cang Cheng’s mood lifted.

"Fine, I’ll just browse around for now!"

On the Trading Street, many Awakened ones were setting up stalls to sell their wares. This street-vending style of trading was quite traditional, but it also made the entire trading street bustling with activity.

"B-grade Deceleration Runes for a bargain! 10 for 4.8 million.

Free shipping to the main star and first-class stars, delivery within five days. No shipping to border stars."

"Second-hand dual-core electromagnetic cannon, priced at 4.5 million. No shipping to third-class stars and border stars, free shipping elsewhere!"

"Pain-relieving sleep potion effective for B-grade Awakened ones, guaranteed to give you a good night's sleep. 10 vials for 9999 Star Coins!"

A quick glance revealed that the number of stores selling Spirit Runes and weapons was roughly equal, making up about 85% of all the shops, with around 10% selling potions and star beast pets, and the remaining 5% being miscellaneous goods.

However, after comparing, Cang Cheng found that the prices here were significantly higher than what Simon had offered.

Simon doesn’t seem to be taking a kickback.

Cang Cheng noticed that due to the long delivery times between star regions, transactions between the central planet and first-tier planets would take at least about five days to arrive.

As a result, the holographic world's transactions couldn't be used for emergency purchases.

Worse still... almost every shop had a sign that read: "No delivery to border planets."

What did border planets do to you?

Every 50 meters along the trading street, floating screen billboards stood:

"Cangse Auction House sold an A-grade Gravity Rune for 3.2 million credits!"

"Congratulations to player 'Mighty Lord' for winning the arena championship!"

"Guild 'V587' is hiring A-grade Spiritual Rune Masters, offering excellent benefits. Interested candidates contact Star ID: XXX..."

...

At the end of the trading street was a large plaza. The sunken design of the plaza allowed people at the edge to clearly see below and the 'Daily News' broadcast screen floating in the center.

"Admiral Hilmeth Lazel led the elite forces of the Canglan Star Region to three victories in the Star Region Runic War. The Canglan Star Region may have the opportunity to rise from a Class C civilization to a Class B civilization.

According to reports..."

Cang Cheng glanced at the screen and saw a person with silver hair and blue eyes, dressed in a dark blue military uniform.

On his chest, he wore a nebula medal symbolizing the highest honor of the star region.

His expression was cold, with sharply defined, deep-set eyebrows, and eyes as icy as the polar regions, radiating a lack of warmth.

Even through the screen, Cang Cheng could feel the chill of someone who should not be approached.

But...

Cang Cheng pondered.

Why does he look familiar?

Ah... maybe it's because he's handsome!

"Whoa, who projected the Admiral on the screen? Turn it off quickly; I feel like I can't breathe."

"A month ago, the Admiral destroyed half a border planet, reportedly leaving no survivors, that's just terrifying..."

"Great, I’m going to have nightmares tonight."

...

The previously relaxed atmosphere in the square suddenly became cautious, with an involuntary fear and trembling.

Cang Cheng glanced at the screen, then at the crowd, feeling puzzled.

Admiral Hilmeth... is he really that terrifying?

Cang Cheng sifted through the original owner’s memories and recalled Hilmeth’s life story.

At 18, he graduated from the military preparatory academy and entered the battlefield. He killed an S-rank beast king and earned a rapid promotion from Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant after a significant victory.

Over the next three years, he successfully repelled multiple beast tides, earning another promotion from Lieutenant to Major.

After that, Hilmeth led the elite fighters of Canglan in the critical Star Region Spirit Rune War, with his victories being reported almost annually.

Last year, Hilmeth was promoted to Admiral, making him the youngest Admiral in the Canglan Star Region.

Rumors say he is cold, swift, and decisive, with military discipline so strict it borders on harsh. Those who served under him found it incredibly grueling.

But what did Hilmeth have to do with Cang Cheng?

To Cang Cheng, Hilmeth was merely a distant stranger.

"Compared to him, Mo is clearly cuter, with horns and fluffy fur."

With that thought, Cang Cheng headed towards the arena.