Lu Zhiruo was timid and always tried to reduce the chances of coming into contact with others. Hence, her activity location was very fixed.
Other than the dormitory, canteen, library, and other places where one could stay alone, there was also the warehouse area.
Li Gong's little nest had become Lu Zhiruo's secret base for cultivation and meditation.
When Sun Mo came over, he saw the papaya girl practicing her sword.
She was panting heavily and her clothes were drenched in sweat. However, she had no intention of stopping.
Sun Mo nodded. Although Lu Zhiruo's potential value was very low, her hard work and attitude were worthy of praise.
"Teacher Sun?"
Upon seeing Sun Mo, Lu Zhiruo immediately stopped and jogged over. Her beautiful big eyes immediately curved into two crescent moons.
"How are you getting along with your roommates?"
Sun Mo passed a pear blossom candy over. After Lu Zhiruo took it, he rubbed her hair in passing.
"Still... still alright!"
Lu Zhiruo peeled off the candy wrapper, but she didn't eat it herself. Instead, she fed it to Sun Mo.
"You eat it, I don't like sweets."
Sun Mo dealt with it verbally and silently muttered 'open'.
The silver treasure chest that floated before him immediately emitted a brilliant glow and then dissipated, leaving behind a book that was enshrouded in a faint golden glow.
"Skill book?"
Sun Mo felt joy in his heart and couldn't help but want to shout out. My big breasts papaya girl's luck is truly number one in the world. To think that another skill book appeared after touching her head!
Ding!
"Congratulations, you've obtained the grandmaster-grade in the 'Spirit Gathering Rune' Drawing Technique!"
The system's congratulatory voice rang out.
"Haha!"
Sun Mo laughed loudly. It was another grandmaster-grade. Excellent!
Lu Zhiruo sneaked a glance at Sun Mo. What was wrong with her teacher? Why was he smiling so happily? Did he pick up money again? No, her teacher wasn't such a lowly person. Even if he picked up money, he would return it to others.
"Although there's nothing wrong with working hard, you have to pay attention to rest. Don't tire your body out."
Sun Mo instructed and went to the library to do some research. Although there was some knowledge regarding the study of 'spirit runes' in the original body's memories, it wasn't enough. He needed more detailed information.
The learning atmosphere in the Central Province Academy wasn't bad. At any time, there were almost no empty seats in the library. Therefore, some students simply took the books and sat on the ground, leaning against the bookshelves to read.
Sun Mo found the area where spirit rune books were placed and started to read from the most basic ones.
The study of spirit runes was the study of spirit runes.
Spirit runes were diagrams drawn with a special ink that was rich in spirit qi. After it was activated, it would produce all sorts of different effects.
For example, the Spirit Gathering Rune depicted a pattern that could gather spirit energy on a piece of paper. After activating the pattern, the surrounding spirit energy would gather.
Sun Mo flipped through the book for a while and understood.
Spirit runes were like the magic scrolls in western magic games and movies. After activation, they could release the magic recorded on the scrolls.
It was like a Fireball Scroll. After activation, it could release a large magical fireball.
The ink used to draw spirit runes had to be rich in spirit qi. Therefore, it was common to use the blood of ferocious beasts that contained spirit qi, powders from crushed bones, certain herbs, ores, and so on.
In the Middle-Earth Nine Provinces, if teachers wanted to become great teachers with 'stars', they had to grasp one or more secondary occupations. This was a hard rule set by the Saint Gate.
Alchemists, Craftsmen, Beast Tamers, Herbalists, Spiritual Tattooists, and Doctors were all quite popular sub-professions.
Why did teachers flock to them?
Not only did they have a high standard and high demand, but they could also earn money.
This was especially so for alchemy and weaponsmithing. They were the most popular. Even cultivators who weren't great teachers would study these two subjects.
It was because alchemy pills and weapons could be said to be things that would accompany a cultivator for life. Alchemy pills that could aid in leveling up, healing, spirit qi replenishing, and so on. If one could refine them, even if they couldn't sell them, they could keep them for their own consumption. It would be cheaper than buying the finished product!
Also, weapons. If one could refine a spirit weapon or even a saint weapon, they'd be rich.
The secondary occupation that Sun Mo's original self had chosen was alchemy. His standard was at the entry-level, and he'd most probably be despised as an apprentice.
Spirit rune masters weren't as popular as alchemists and weaponsmiths, but it wasn't bad either.
Sun Mo continued to flip through the book, understanding the study of spirit runes in more detail.
Three hours later, the system was unhappy. "Do you want to learn or not?"
From the system's point of view, this was a form of humiliation.
"I have to repeat it again. As long as it's a skill given by the system, there won't be any trash. You should maintain a grateful heart!"
Sun Mo ignored the system's nagging. Seeing that there was no one in the surroundings, he took out the grandmaster-grade 'Spirit Gathering Rune' Drawing Technique and shattered it with a slap.
Pak!
The skill book shattered into golden motes of light. They were like fireflies, shooting into Sun Mo's glabella, leaving not a single speck behind.
A vast amount of knowledge instantly gushed into his mind, causing Sun Mo's head to ache a little. This made him feel very unwell. He recalled the scene when he was young in the countryside, where he saw those illegal pig dealers using water pumps to fill the pigs with water.
However, this process didn't take long. Roughly ten seconds later, the knowledge was digested. All sorts of professional terms and concepts flashed past his mind.
Sun Mo didn't need to think and naturally knew what they were talking about.
It was like seeing a question of 1 + 1 = what and writing down the answer '2' casually. Because this was too simple, it had already become an instinct.
Sun Mo thought of all the information regarding the 'Spirit Gathering Rune' Drawing Technique. After that, his expression turned into one of surprise and he couldn't help but praise.
"Awesome, my great system!"
The Spirit Gathering Rune was the most basic, most common, and most practical type of spirit rune in the study of spirit runes. It could be said that as long as one was a cultivator, if they wanted to buy a spirit rune, their first choice would definitely be the Spirit Gathering Rune.
As the name implied, the Spirit Gathering Rune was used to gather spirit qi.
Cultivators needed spirit qi for meditation, cultivation, and breakthroughs. One could say that spirit qi was the source of all cultivators in Middle-Earth Nine Provinces.
When cultivators cultivated, it was a process of absorbing spirit qi. If the density of spirit qi in the surroundings was very high, they would be able to achieve twice the results with half the effort.
"Hmph, that's only natural. I'm the best!"
The system was proud.
"Then how amazing is my Drawing Technique?"
Sun Mo still had questions that he hadn't finished asking. Hence, he allowed the system to be complacent for now.
"Ranked third in the Central Province Academy, seventh in Jinling City, and 26th in the entire Central Province."
The system replied.
"You aren't even number one in your school, yet you still dare to say that you're the best?"
Sun Mo teased. He was actually very satisfied.
"Of course, you just obtained the Spirit Gathering Rune Drawing Technique. Are you still not satisfied with this ranking?" The system retorted, "Those who are ranked ahead of you are all specialized in the study of spirit runes. Which one of them hasn't immersed themselves in this subject for over ten years, twenty years, or even half of their lives? What do you have to compare with them?"
Sun Mo had long since guessed this possibility, but he still couldn't help but want to ask.
"What if I set an age limit? Let's say below 30 years old. What rank can my Drawing Technique be? "
Sun Mo was 20 years old this year. His requirements weren't high. It was fine as long as he was stronger than those who were ten years older than him.
"Ranked first in the Central Province Academy, second in Jinling City, and fifth in the entire Central Province."
The system's reply wouldn't be fake at all.
"Only second in Jinling City?"
Sun Mo smacked his lips.
"You should be content. You haven't drawn a single Spirit Gathering Rune yet!"
If the system had eyes, it would really want to roll its eyes a hundred times.
"How should I raise my ranking?"
Sun Mo was unhappy. He wanted to be number one, at least in Jinling City.
"Practice makes perfect."
The system's reply was filled with the simplest logic.
"Seems like I have to work hard for a while!"
Sun Mo decided to make the study of spirit runes his first secondary occupation.
In order to become a 1-star great teacher, other than grasping three great teacher halos, one also had to be proficient in a secondary occupation.
Given his pitiful alchemy standard, it was unknown how much time Sun Mo would have to spend if he wanted to be proficient in this subject. However, the study of spirit runes was different.
Sun Mo had already grasped the grandmaster-grade 'Spirit Gathering Rune'. This by itself would become a valuable wealth of experience.
One must know that this was the 'grandmaster-grade'. Ordinary people would have to spend at least ten years to reach this standard. Hence, Sun Mo could be considered to have entered it. If he worked harder, he'd be able to get twice the results with half the effort.
Of course, other than this, it was also very tempting to earn money through 'Spirit Gathering Runes'.
Sun Mo had grasped the grandmaster-grade Traditional Painting Technique — a branch of figure painting. His paintings would definitely be presentable, but what was the use of it?
No matter what era it was, those who could admire these paintings and were willing to spend money to collect them were few and far between. Moreover, many painters were poor and dejected when they were alive. Only after a few hundred years after their death would their paintings be sold for a sky-high price as antiques. However, what did that have to do with the painters?
The Spirit Gathering Rune was still better. Once it was drawn, it could be sold for money.
"Alright, I have no more questions. System, you can kneel and rest!"
Sun Mo hummed a tune as if he could already see a lot of money flying into his pocket. He believed that it wouldn't be long before it wouldn't be a problem to raise Lu Zhiruo. Moreover, he could even add two eggs for breakfast every day. Eat one, throw one away!
Ding!
"New mission issued. Please complete 1,000 cases of Spirit Gathering Rune Depiction within a month. Reward: 1 black-iron treasure chest. If you fail the mission, you will be punished by having your skill level drop."
"Note: The so-called 'Spirit Gathering Rune' Depiction Technique's proficiency level at the grandmaster-grade will drop by one or a few levels."
"F * * *!"
Sun Mo cursed. (Do you have to be so petty? I only said to kneel and rest, and you issued such a punishment mission?) (Can we still be friends?)
If he couldn't complete the mission and his Depiction Technique dropped to the elementary-grade, wouldn't he cry to death?
Although he had received the punishment mission, Sun Mo didn't have the time to draw the Spirit Gathering Rune. It was because the first public lecture was about to arrive. He had to make some preparations and get off to a good start.
With the identity of An Xinhui's fiance, Sun Mo knew that many people were biased against him and didn't like him.
During the first public lecture, there would be a question-and-answer session. At that time, there would surely be many people making things difficult for him, wanting to give him a psychological blow until he became autistic and scram out of the school.
"Hmph, I will definitely not let you guys do as you wish!"
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