Chapter Twenty-Four: Schemes

"Of course!"
Fearing that Tu Lu might not understand, Zhao Yuyang continued, "Let me put it this way—for all my years in Divine Wind City, his mastery of inscriptions is the highest I have ever seen! At least, judging from those gravity marks, his technique is approaching perfection. Gravity marks may not be advanced sigils, but to refine the basics to such a level—even if he hasn't made much progress with the higher sigils—there is much I could learn from him."
Tu Lu swallowed hard and asked, "So... his inscription skills are greater than yours?"
Zhao Yuyang hesitated for a moment and nodded. "Indeed, at least in gravity marks, I am not his equal."
"Really?" Tu Lu's eyes widened.
Even Zhao Yuyang's expression turned strange, but after a pause, he nodded again.
"Ha!"
Tu Lu couldn't help but burst into laughter. The moment the sound escaped him, he realized his loss of composure and quickly covered his mouth, yet his heart brimmed with joy.
He had always thought Zhao Yuyang was too cunning, and if given the chance, would wish to see him dead. But now, he found himself reluctant to let him go.
After all, the foremost inscription master of Divine Wind City had admitted, repeatedly, that he was inferior. Tu Lu felt an unparalleled satisfaction.
Especially knowing that Zhao Yuyang was praising him without realizing it, he felt a thrill.
Yet while Tu Lu was pleased, Zhao Yuyang and Hu Tu were thoroughly discomfited.
Tu Lu's attitude was that of a petty man who had gained the upper hand; and after asking such a question, he had laughed brazenly in their faces.
Hu Tu, disgruntled, could not help but speak out, "You're a cultivator of the Moving Mountain Realm, yet how could you—!"
"Hu Tu!"
Zhao Yuyang snapped, cutting him off.
Hu Tu immediately caught himself, fell silent, stepped back a few paces, though his face remained displeased.
Tu Lu paid no mind, coughed lightly, and spoke solemnly, "Master Zhao, you have helped me greatly today, not to mention gifting me a secret method. If I can help you, I certainly will.
However, my master is not from Divine Wind City. As you saw, I knew he practiced inscription arts, but I never imagined his skills would be so profound. Ahem... I would like to help you, but people with such mastery are not easily approached by anyone who wishes to meet them..."
Seeing Zhao Yuyang's brows furrow, as if about to speak, Tu Lu hurriedly interrupted him.
"Naturally, Master Zhao, as the city's foremost inscription master, you are no ordinary man. But you must understand, my master has only recently arrived and does not know that you are the top inscription master here. Even if he did, he might not know what level that title represents. Given his abilities, he may not regard our city's foremost inscription master highly at all..."
His voice faded, as if hesitant to continue. He glanced furtively at Zhao Yuyang, speaking with care.

Hu Tu, standing behind, grew furious at these words and was about to step forward, but Zhao Yuyang held him back with a gesture.
He pondered for a moment, then drew a thin booklet from his robes, slimmer than the previous "Small Zhou Tian Imagery Technique."
"You raise a fair point. This is the legacy of the Fire Sigil, one of my research achievements over the years. Present this Fire Sigil to your master; I believe it will allow him to judge my skill."
With that, he handed the booklet to Tu Lu.
Hu Tu's eyes reddened as he watched from behind. Though the Fire Sigil was not his master's greatest secret, it was one of his signature techniques. As one of only three disciples, and the last to join, Hu Tu had not yet learned it himself. Now it was being given to an outsider!
Tu Lu accepted it, glanced over a few pages, and nodded. "Very well. I will report this to my master truthfully. If he wishes to meet you, I will notify you at Tianlong Pavilion."
"Agreed. Then I shall take my leave."
"Farewell."
As Zhao Yuyang departed, Tu Lu could not restrain his laughter the moment the master left the shop.
He had been troubled by his limited spiritual power, which allowed him to inscribe only twice a day. Zhao Yuyang had just gifted him the "Small Zhou Tian Imagery Technique"!
Moreover, with only a beginner's manual on inscriptions, the sigils he knew were too few. Zhao Yuyang had now provided the legacy of the Fire Sigil—a gift as timely as a pillow for a tired man!
If not for the need to avoid suspicion, he would have tried to wrangle even more, especially the Spirit Appraisal Plate, which he coveted deeply. For an inscription master, it was nearly legendary!
But for now, what he had was enough.
He took stock of his assets: excluding the Marrow Cleansing Pills, he possessed fifteen grade-four Thunder Stones, three grade-three Thunder Stones, and two medium-grade magical implements.
"Too few implements."
Without implements, inscription work was impossible. He tidied himself, spoke briefly to the young girl, changed his appearance, and set off for Tianlong Pavilion.
He needed to purchase more implements and hire a few more assistants to help run the shop.
...
Meanwhile, Zhao Yuyang and Hu Tu were also heading to Tianlong Pavilion, though their mood was far gloomier than Tu Lu's.
"Damn it!"
Halfway there, Hu Tu suddenly stopped and turned to Zhao Yuyang. "Master, why did you give him the Fire Sigil? He's obviously extorting us!"
"Not necessarily."
Zhao Yuyang halted as well, shaking his head. "If he is indeed an inscription master, a bit of pride is only to be expected. Letting him see the Fire Sigil is no harm."

He sighed softly. "This trip was meant to watch the spectacle of Dongfang Xiao and Xu Lei, but unexpectedly, we encountered a master of such caliber. I am intrigued.
Of course, my earlier words were not merely an excuse. I am truly at a bottleneck. If I can break through, so much the better; if not, I will not force it. At least, I will have formed a good connection."
His gaze grew deep, and he sighed again. "Hu Tu, you must look further ahead. Divine Wind City is in grave peril. If we cannot protect it, we will have to leave and become outsiders in another city. We will need friends, and an inscription master is the best ally one can have!"
"I understand, Master."
Hu Tu nodded, flattering him. "As expected, your foresight is unmatched. The Fire Sigil is a low-level technique, and if it helps us connect with this master, the price is negligible!"
"Exactly so!"
Zhao Yuyang nodded in satisfaction.
Yet Hu Tu frowned. "But... what if he takes our gifts and doesn't help us, claiming his master refuses to meet?"
"Hmph! He wouldn't dare!"
Zhao Yuyang sneered. "If I can raise him up, I can bring him down again. If he does not help after accepting my gifts, he will learn the cost."
But his expression turned troubled, and he muttered, "More than that, I am concerned about the City Lord's mansion. As far as I know, our City Lord has not sent for help from Qingxuan Prefecture. What is she planning..."
"Master, what are you talking about?"
"Nothing. Let us return," Zhao Yuyang replied, shaking his head.
"Yes!"
...
Elsewhere, in a corner of the slums, a lavishly dressed man suddenly opened his eyes and spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Damn it! Argh!"
In a rage, he punched the ground, causing a tremor and blasting a deep pit tens of meters wide.
"That cursed witch dared to seal my powers, leaving me at nothing but the peak of the Fill-Sea Realm. Unforgivable!"
His chest heaved with fury, his eyes bloodshot.
Had Zhao Yuyang or Tu Lu been there, they would surely have recognized him as none other than Lin Fengtian, a great figure from Qingxuan Prefecture!