"Since we're going to compete, let's start with the basics," Tang Xiaoxi said, "Since Mu is a beginner, how about we compete in Level 1 Engraving?"
Wei Miao was confident, the arrogance in his eyes was unconcealed. He looked at Lin Muyu with disdain and said, "Level 1 engraving? I'm afraid … Commander Yu hasn't been practicing for long and hasn't mastered Level 1 Engraving yet. "
"Then let's go with Level 1 Engraving!" Lin Muyu smiled, "But what's the point of just competing? Let's have a wager."
"Alright, what wager?" Wei Miao asked.
Lin Muyu said, "If I lose, I'll give you 50,000 Jinyin dollars. If I win, Master Wei Miao, you must work for the Ziyin Flower Chamber of Commerce for free for a year. What do you think?"
"Alright!"
Wei Miao said proudly, "Then let's compete in Level 1 Engraving Fire Engraving. It's the most basic engraving formation. Let's compete in perfection. What do you think?"
"Sure."
"Bring two sets of armor and two red agates," Jin Xiaotang ordered with a smile.
…
Soon, a group of people gathered in the back hall of the Chamber of Commerce. Almost all the engravers had arrived. Everyone was looking forward to the competition. Of course, most of them thought that Lin Muyu, who was known as one of the Four Heroes of Lan Yan, was destined to be humiliated this time. Engraving was different from martial arts. It was not something that could be achieved with perseverance and talent. What was more important was potential and wisdom.
Rustle, rustle, rustle …
The Emperor's Combat Flame circled around the carving knife. The moment Lin Muyu started carving, her skillful technique shocked Wei Miao.
But Wei Miao was an Engraving Master after all. He was one of the top engravers in Lanyan City. After calming himself down, the carving knife flew across the surface of the armor. True Qi gathered around the carving knife, turning the surface of the armor into powder. The carving knife spun rapidly like a dragon swimming in the sea. In terms of technique, he seemed to be even better than Lin Muyu!
In the blink of an eye, the two sets of armor had been engraved.
At the side, Jin Xiaotang, the notary, announced loudly, "The engraving is complete. Master Wei Miao, 327 cuts. Brother Yu, 334 cuts!"
In terms of knife skills, Wei Miao won. Fortunately, this was not a competition of knife skills, but a competition of perfection.
Lin Muyu held the armor with full confidence. The profound formation had a strong resonance with him, and he could even confirm that his engraving would definitely win!
Sealing Master Zhang Zhao walked forward and placed the testing crystal on Wei Miao's work. Under the illumination of the light, the profound formation's energy seeped into the crystal. Instantly, the number jumped up and stopped at a huge number — 92%!
"Alright! Alright! "
In the surroundings, the group of engravers cheered. Although it was only a simple Level 1 engraving, the number of people who could achieve 90% and above was definitely a minority.
Holding the crystal, Zhang Zhao approached Lin Muyu and said respectfully, "Commander Yu, I apologize for my lack of manners."
"Come on." Lin Muyu smiled brightly.
When the testing crystal was placed horizontally on the armor, the Imperial Fire Seal had already appeared on the armor. A fiery red seal formation appeared very beautiful, and the seal formation's energy seeped into the crystal continuously. The number jumped up and down violently, finally stopping at a shocking number — 100%!
In an instant, the surroundings became silent. All the engravers were dumbfounded.
A few seconds later, an uproar of applause sounded — "Commander Yu, you're too amazing!"
"As expected of the Four Heroes of Lanyan …"
"One hundred percent perfection, my god, this is too unbelievable …"
… …
Jin Xiaotang announced with a smile, "Brother Yu wins!"
Wei Miao's face was full of disappointment. He sat there desolately, like a defeated rooster.
"Master Wei Miao, the engraving of the Purple Flower Chamber of Commerce for the next year will be in your hands." Lin Muyu stood up and smiled, "Don't worry, we will still provide for your basic necessities."
Wei Miao stood up as well. The arrogance in his eyes disappeared as he said, "Commander Yu, I admit defeat and admit defeat. I just don't know who your master is. How … How did you achieve a perfect engraving?"
"I don't have any master, I'm self-taught."
"Self-taught?" Wei Miao and the other engravers' jaws almost dropped. Lin Muyu's words had completely overturned their understanding of engraving.
"Yes, I'm self-taught, I can attest to that." Tang Xiaoxi smiled.
Wei Miao's face was solemn, "Commander Yu's talent is extraordinary, I, Wei Miao, am sincerely convinced."
"What's there to be convinced about?" Lin Muyu laughed at herself, "I can do a level one engraving with 98% perfection, but I've never done a level two engraving. They're all failures."
"What?" Wei Miao couldn't help but laugh, "Commander Yu, please don't lie to me. How is that possible? You haven't completed level two engraving?"
"Yes, it seems like there's a problem."
"Where did you learn to verify?"
"In a book."
"Which book?"
"The Engraving Formation Manual."
Suddenly, Wei Miao laughed so hard that tears almost rolled down his cheeks, "Commander Yu, no one has read that book for ten years because many of the manuals are flawed and incomplete. Not a single engraver still studies those engraving formations."
"This …" Lin Muyu stood there awkwardly.
Tang Xiaoxi said, "Master Wei Miao, since you're an expert in engraving, why don't you lend your manual to Mu?"
"I'm sorry, Princess Xi."
Wei Miao cupped his fists, "It's not that I'm unwilling to teach Commander Yu, but there's a rule in the engraving world. Family engraving cannot be passed on to outsiders. This is what my father taught me when I was young. Please forgive me for not being able to teach Commander Yu."
"It's fine."
Lin Muyu waved her hand and smiled, "I'll study it myself. There will be a way out."
"Thank you for your understanding, Commander Yu!"
…
As they walked out of the Ziyin Flower Merchant Association, Tang Xiaoxi couldn't hold back her temper anymore. She pouted and said unhappily, "That Wei Miao is such a jerk. How dare he say he won't teach it to outsiders? Hmph, our Mu is giving him face by learning engraving from him. How dare he be so arrogant! I'm so angry!"
Lin Muyu couldn't help but laugh and patted her shoulder, "Xiao Xi, you're too hot-tempered. It's not good."
"Then, Mu, are you still learning engraving?"
"Of course, but without a better and more complete manual, I can't continue learning. There are many different martial arts manuals in the Ziyin Flower Merchant Association, but there isn't a single book related to engraving. It's strange. It seems like the engraving world's rules are true. Every family's engraving cannot be passed on to outsiders. The versions that are circulated outside are either incomplete or full of mistakes. "
"Then what should we do …" Tang Xiaoxi pouted and looked unhappy. It was as if she was unhappy because Lin Muyu couldn't learn engraving.
"It's okay. One must have ambition. If they don't want to teach me, I don't want to learn from them." Lin Muyu crossed her arms and suddenly squinted her eyes and said, "Xiao Xi, help me find out who the most famous sealers are in the past few thousand years and where their graves are buried. The more specific the better, hmph …"
Tang Xiaoxi couldn't help but smile, "You, a dignified General of the Empire and a Grand Deacon of the Temple, don't tell me you want to rob a grave?"
"Otherwise, only the corpses would have some ancient books on advanced engraving techniques. It's much better to look for them than to randomly search for them. What's wrong, Little Xi, you don't want to rob the tomb with me? Or do you think it's beneath you to do such a thing? "Lin Muyu asked with a smile.
Tang Xiaoxi's cheeks instantly turned red. She smiled shyly and said, "No, it's just that … I'm just going to rob a grave with you. Just thinking about it makes me a little excited!"
"Damn, you bastard …"
…
In Ze Tian Palace, Empress Qin Yin was wearing a simple dress that outlined her graceful and perfect figure. The Heaven-suppressing Sword was placed on the sword rack at the side, and she was flipping through a book called The Strategy of Governance. When she heard Lin Muyu's words, the book in her hand immediately fell to the ground. Her majestic demeanor disappeared in the blink of an eye. She stood up and said, "What … You are going to rob a grave?"
"Yes."
Lin Muyu said, "I want to become a top engraver, so … I have to do this!"
"Brother Yu, you are leaving again!" Qin Yin looked unhappy.
Shangguan Jingyue smiled and said, "Your Highness, are you … acting coquettishly?"
Lin Muyu was amused.
Qin Yin blushed and said, "No, I just … feel that the Grand Deacon of the Temple should stay at Lanyan City to accompany the emperor …"
"Hmph." Shangguan Jingyue smiled. This smile made Qin Yin even more bashful, and her face blushed.
"Then … have you decided where to go?"
"Yes." Lin Muyu nodded and said, "The most recent engraver is Qin Bing, a divine engraver from 4,000 years ago. He is also a prince of the empire. It is said that his mausoleum is in the Cloud Refining Mountains in Qihai Province, so I plan to go there with Xiao Xi. If we are lucky, we might be able to find a decent engraver book in Qin Bing's mausoleum. I hope that Xiao Yin can allow me to go."
Qin Yin didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She said softly, "Brother Yu …"
"What's wrong, Xiao Yin?" Lin Muyu's voice was also very gentle.
Qin Yin raised her eyebrows and stared at him with her starry eyes. "You, you mean to tell me that you want to dig up the mausoleum of the Qin family's ancestors and you have to inform me?"
Suddenly, Feng Jixing and Zhang Wei burst out laughing.
Lin Muyu was slightly embarrassed and said with a fist and palm salute, "I promise that I will not destroy Qin Bing's body. Besides, it has been so many years, it is hard to say whether the mausoleum has been destroyed by tomb robbers or not."
"Hmph!"
Qin Yin raised her eyebrows proudly and said, "If you want to go, then go. You don't need to inform me. I only have one request, come back early. The empire needs you in Lanyan City."
"Yes, this general will obey!" Lin Muyu cupped her fist and saluted seriously. She said with a smile, "Then I will leave in the afternoon."
"Yes."
Qin Yin looked at Lin Muyu and Tang Xiaoxi walking side by side and felt lost.
Feng Jixing saw this and said with a fist and palm salute, "Your Highness, you see … If Yu and Princess Xi go alone, I don't know what will happen!"
Qin Yin felt even more uncomfortable. She looked at Feng Jixing faintly and said, "General Feng, what are you trying to say?"
Feng Jixing laughed and said, "I want to say … find a chance to settle the matter! It's reasonable for the Empress to get married. We can't possibly leave the Great Qin Empire without a successor. After you and Ah Yu get married, it will be perfectly justifiable for Ah Yu to be conferred the title of Queen. "
"This …"
Qin Yin blushed and said with a voice like a mosquito, "Let's wait for him to come back …"
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