"What a strong soul force."
Sam thought with a hint of shock.
Even Jonas's soul force was inferior to this older man's precision.
Jonas undoubtedly focused most of his life's efforts on cultivating the martial path; being an inscription master was only an occupation he had on the side.
But this older man was a professional inscription master. To a true lifelong inscription master, cultivating the martial path was only a means to extend their lifespan and give them more time to study the infinite mysteries of inscription techniques.
Such a person is truly awe-inspiring in the achievements that they would accomplish in inscription.
Sam stopped watching after a while and turned around to see Alex unblinkingly staring at the young girl.
What a piggy little brother! Sam felt a big headache coming as he saw Alex's enraptured appearance. He immediately elbowed Alex.
Alex was startled with some embarrassment. He was clever but had a slow mind and scratched his head innocently.
By now, Sam had noticed a change in the fluctuations of the young girl's soul force; there was a glimmer of volatility.
The brilliant overlapping inscription symbols before her began to spark and smoke. It exploded into a cascade of colorful lights that shot out everywhere.
The young girl looked spent and said with a frustrated sigh, "Grandpa, I failed again."
The older man, who had been sitting peacefully as if he were meditating, opened his eyes and said with a smile,
"Yuhan, you've already done exceptionally well. If this trend continues, you will be able to obtain the certificate to become an inscription master in a few months or a year. Previously, granddad here received his certificate when he was 18 years old. At the very least, you'll be 16 or 17 years old."
This girl was the Inscription Association's talented inscription genius, Lan Yuhan, and the older man was her grandfather, the President of the Inscription Association, Lan Xuanji.
"Mmm... but in comparison to Hen Portia, she is a year younger than me and yet is already on par with me in inscription techniques. Also, my inscription progress has slowed significantly in the last several months for reasons I don't understand."
Geniuses and talents would always end up comparing themselves with each other.
Lan Yuhan admitted that there was no way she could pass Hen Portia regarding martial arts cultivation, but the inscription was her main occupation, and she did not want to lose to her in this.
Seeing Lan Yuhan and Lan Xuanji talking, the reception elder sister respectfully walked over and said, "Association President."
"Mm? What's the matter?"
The reception elder sister hesitated before he turned to Sam and said, "This young man would like to participate in the inscription master examination."
"What's your name? How old are you?" Lan Xuanji asked.
Sam hesitated a moment. He did not think this older man would be the Inscription Association's President.
As President of the Inscription Association, it was unlikely that he would covet anything of Sam's.
As long as he didn't reveal his knowledge of medicinal inscription or body inscription that the Starlight Havne Kingdom did not possess, he should have no problems.
Sam was wary of the gangsters and criminals who would covet possessing him over tens of thousands of gold.
As for Lan Xuanji and Jonas and other characters like them, they would only see Sam as a talented inscription genius of the younger generation.
Thinking this, Sam truthfully said, "Sam, 15 years old."
Hearing 15 years of age, Lan Yuhan's eyes widened as she looked over Sam up and down several times.
Was this young boy also a genius? His age was more youthful than hers, and his cultivation was not high; was this young boy just whiling away his time for some entertainment?
However, the Inscription Association did not provide the materials or the rare treasure, and people who looked to mess around would not come here, as it would take several thousand golds.
If they did, then they would have to have some severe brain damage.
"You will need to provide your own materials and rare treasure, do you know this?"
"Mm. I know. I would like to purchase them from the Inscription Association."
Sam took out a piece of paper with a small list of materials as he said this.
Sam had decided upon the 'Overwhelming Rune,' a simplified version.
The simplified version did not need Starlight Worm Silk and was naturally much more accessible.
However, its effect was a bit weaker and did not have an inscription technique.
His goal was only to pass the examination; there was no need to create a scene and shock everyone.
The 'Overwhelming Rune' also contained some inscription techniques lost in the Starlight Haven Kingdom, and Sam did not want to expose these.
"If I could purchase these materials, I would be very much grateful !." Sam handed the detailed list to the reception elder sister.
The reception elder sister took the list in hand and received a nod of confirmation from Lan Xuanji.
She said, "Very well. May I ask what sort of rare treasure you will use?"
"I want to use a sword. Yes, would the rare treasure belong to me after I place an inscription symbol on it?"
"Certainly. The treasure and the material are originally purchased by you for the examination. Please come and choose a sword with me."
"Mm. Good."
As Sam left, Lan Yuan was still looking at his back until he vanished, and she muttered, "Grandfather, this youth is only 15 years old and wants to test as an inscription master. If he passes the examination, I will lose out to Hen Portia and him."
Lan Xuanji replied with a smile, "The examination to be an inscription master is not some easy test. Since this young boy dares to take the test as an inscription master, then he must have his own unique ability, and is probably not someone from the Starlight Haven Kingdom. He might be a disciple of some reclusive master. Since his natural talent is outstanding and he practices diligently, he wishes to take the inscription master examination at 15 years of age and sweep away the younger generation of Starlight Haven City's inscription talent, and create his own legacy and fame. Haha, but this is not that easy."
As Lan Xuanji said this, he lit a sound-transmitting talisman. He passed a message to the two inscription masters who were usually responsible for the examination and bid them to come together.
Lan Yuhan bit her lip and whispered, "Mm, I will not lose to him. I will not lose to Hen Portia."
The Inscription Association had rare treasures they specifically kept to use in the examinations.
Sam looked at his options until he selected a magnificent long sword and said, "This one."
This sword was valued at 3600 gold and was one of the more expensive treasures in the storehouse.
The reception elder sister was a bit surprised; generally, those who participated in the inscription master examination would choose a more modest and less expensive treasure.
This young boy chose something so expensive; it must be that his family was ridiculously wealthy, or he was confident in himself.
Sam had his ideas. Since he had to choose a rare treasure to use, he could not naturally select something that would be wasted. It was best to combine a superior quality treasure with a suitable inscription symbol to sell at a high price.
"Our treasures, once sold, cannot be exchanged." The receptionist elder sister said.
She did not want Sam to feel like he would be cheated and wanted to ensure that this sword was what he wanted.
Sam took out four gold banknotes and said with a shy smile, "This I certainly know."
"Mm. Then come along with me."
After the payment had been successfully made, the reception elder sister asked Sam to return to the examination room before she left.
Sam returned to the inscription room and noticed two other people who appeared to be between 40 and 50 years old. The first was a middle-aged man dressed in a long green robe, and the second was a smiling man who appeared to be a permanently happy, charming, overweight older man.
These two were the Inscription Association's examination officials responsible for the inscription master examination.
Lan Xuanji usually did not attend these examinations, but this time, he had been interested in staying and observing.
"Are you ready?" Lan Xuanji asked.
"Mm." Sam nodded. He placed the long sword on the inscribed stone platform.
The materials for this symbol began to unfold one at a time. The Inscription Association materials had already been processed quite well and did not require Sam to grind, purify, melt, or do anything else to them.
The middle-aged man, who wore a long green gown, gave Sam a blank look and said, "The time limit for this examination is two hours. If you have three consecutive failures, then you will fail. If the end product has less than a 20% increase in strength, that is also a failure."
"Understood."
"Good. You may begin." The middle-aged man turned over an hourglass, and the sand within began to pass silently.
Sam sat in repose with his eyes closed for a moment. He revolved the true essence in his body until it reached an optimal condition and then placed his hands outwards.
A few tiny drops of blue-colored juice jumped to his palm as if they were under Sam's control.
This was only a simple gesture, but the people present could feel the young man wrap the blue-colored juice in a strong soul force.
"This soul force… I'm afraid this young man might be a fifth-grade talent."
Lan Xuanji said with surprise.
"No wonder he dares to take the test at only 15 years of age, he has some ability."
The middle-aged man said as he slowly nodded.
Lan Yuhan pursed her lips. She naturally noted Sam's soul force and muttered in her heart.
"Fifth-grade soul talent!? That's the same as me. Before now the only rival I had was Hen Portia, now there is another!"
Fifth-grade talent was scarce.
Generally speaking, a martial artist's soul talent and martial talent did not have too large of a difference, but the soul talent was usually lower than the martial talent.
Therefore, a high-grade soul talent was scarce. If a fifth-grade martial skill were only seen once every decade, then a fifth-grade soul talent would be seen once every two or three decades.
Lan Yuhan's martial talent was only fourth grade, but her soul talent was higher than her martial talent. This was likely something that she inherited from her grandfather.
Lan Yuhan's medium fifth-grade talent was the top tier of inscription talents that was only seen once every several dozen years.
In addition, Lan Xuanji had been gently guiding Lan Yuhan since childhood.
Now, regarding inscription techniques and talent, she was similar to Hen Portia, but she was also older.
Sam did not have a fifth-grade soul talent, but his soul law formula was the 'Overbearing Soul Tactic,' which originated from the Realm of the Gods.
Therefore, he could thicken his soul force well and give the impression that his arms had strings on them.
If that initial movement of Sam's had startled Lan Xuanji, then the following action made everyone doubt its possibility.
When the blue-colored drops reached Sam's fingertips, his fingers moved in a series of movements like a blur.
The droplets were gently pulled apart with the stretches of his fingers like they were glimmering azure meteors in the night sky. Faint afterimages followed each movement, like the tails of glistening meteors as they traced through the air.
In a few blinks, a complex symbol had already been completed.
Lan Xuanji inhaled a sharp breath, and the older man's smile froze.
"Bright Buddha Plucking the Lotus!"
A layman would only watch for fun, but an expert would see the way. Sam's hand movement was like the passing clouds and flowing rivers. There was a particular term for this among inscription masters, called the 'Bright Buddha Plucking the Lotus.''
The Bright Buddha was a myth of ancient times called the Thousand Finger Buddha.
The fable said the Buddha had ten hands, each with a thousand fingers. Every year in the Bright Buddha's garden, the water lotuses would bloom, and he would collect the seeds.
The Bright Buddha could pick out hundreds of water lotus seeds in a single move.
Therefore, the ancient religious texts described this as 'Bright Buddha Plucks the Lotus,'' and the inscription masters co-opted this word to describe peerless great masters of inscription who would draw inscription symbols so speedily that there would be shadows left behind.
Indeed, if they discussed only the speed of drawing, some inscription masters with higher cultivation in martial arts would be quicker. Still, if they wanted to maintain their soul force at such a high speed and not lose any stability or accuracy, that would be more difficult than ascending to heaven.
This sort of shadow that was created, one would only be able to practice with heaven-defying perception and painstaking effort!
This young boy? Even if he started to practice inscription techniques from within his mother's womb, he would not be so adept at such finger speed!